Chapter 13
This time, it was she who watched while he slept. It was early. Dawn was just breaking, but Elizabeth couldn't sleep. Her mind was too filled with thoughts of Jason and what they had shared. He had been so concerned with not rushing her and so caring of her feelings. She smiled as she remembered how gentle, yet incredibly passionate, he had been with her. She had never felt more loved, or more like a woman, than she had last night. Her dreams of what it would be like to be with Jason, had fallen far short of reality. Now she felt like they were truly part of each other.
As he began to stir, Elizabeth found herself looking into his clear, blue eyes. "Hey," he said, a sexy smile on his face.
"Hey," she returned quietly, suddenly shy.
Sensing her mood, he asked, "Are you OK, Elizabeth? Are you sorry about what happened?" He turned slightly, so he could face her, and lifted his hand to caress her face. "I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. I never want you to feel badly because of me." His voice was full of tender concern.
All of her insecurities melting away, she leaned over and kissed him. "I don't regret anything," she reassured him. "I feel closer to you than ever before. I love you with everything that's in me, Jason Morgan."
Moved by her words, Jason pulled her close and just held her for a moment. She felt so good in his arms, so right - like she belonged there. He closed his eyes, thankful that they had found their way back to each other. Only now, it was deeper, more meaningful than before. She was the other half of him and he would never be whole without her again.
When she raised her head from his chest and looked into his eyes, he felt like he could lose himself in her. He took her face between his hands and kissed her slowly, languorously, allowing the tension to build between them.
Turning her onto her back, Jason continued kissing her deeply, but not urgently. Her hands moved up to caress his neck and then moved into his hair. She loved the feel of his skin next to hers and the way his hair felt in her hands. As he kissed the sensitive spot right below her ear, Elizabeth felt like she was drowning in liquid fire.
When Jason groaned and dropped his head onto her shoulder, she realized that a phone was ringing - his cell phone. Jason swore. As it rang insistently, he raised his head and said regretfully, "I have to get that, Elizabeth. I'm sorry." He kissed her quickly, rolled over, and reached for his jacket. Taking out the phone, he said, "Morgan."
"Jason, it's Sonny. I'm sorry to disturb you, but I just got word that our lost bird is on its way home."
Sonny suddenly had his full attention. "How solid is your information?" Jason asked urgently.
"It comes from a very reliable source. I think it's for real, Jason." Sonny paused. "Can you come right away? We need to work out the details."
"I'll be right there," he responded, closing the phone. If Sonny's information was correct, Philippe was alive.
"Is everything OK, Jason?" Elizabeth asked, concerned. She had pulled on a t-shirt and shorts.
She looked slightly rumpled, but to Jason, she had never looked more beautiful. He reached out to smooth her hair back from her face. "That was Sonny. He just got word that Philippe Lafontaine may be alive," he said, relieved by the news.
"That's wonderful, Jason." She smiled, genuinely glad for him.
As he pulled on his pants and shirt, he explained, "He wants to see me now to make plans. Philippe will probably come here to get Sonny's help." He paused. "No one can know about any of this, Elizabeth. He could be in danger if anyone knows he's alive."
"I won't say anything. You can trust me, Jason," she said quietly.
He reached for her hand, pulled her to her feet and into his arms. "I know. I do trust you - completely," he told her lovingly. "I don't want to leave, but I have to." His reluctance was obvious.
She kissed him once and pushed him to the door. "Go. Make plans for your friend. I have lots to do today on Chloe's spring line," she told him.
Turning at the door, Jason touched her face and asked, "Why didn't you tell me about your designs, Elizabeth?" When she looked surprised, he said, "Chloe told me. I'm so happy for you - and proud."
Touched, she explained, "There were just so many things I wanted to say to you that were more important." She shrugged.
"What you do will ALWAYS be important to me," Jason said fiercely. "I want you to be able to tell me everything."
Since she felt the same way, she answered, "I'm glad. I want the same thing for you." She reached out and straightened his leather jacket, prolonging his departure. Reluctantly she said, "You had better go."
"I love you, Elizabeth." He kissed her one last time and turned to leave. "I'll call you later."
"I love you, too, Jason." She closed the door behind him and leaned against it, feeling grateful for this second chance with the man she loved.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As he approached Sonny's penthouse, Jason was having difficulty putting thoughts of Elizabeth from his mind. He knew that he would need to focus on this meeting and on the crucial details of keeping Philippe alive. Somehow, thoughts of Elizabeth kept intruding. He had never felt so consumed by a woman before. He needed her the way he needed air to breathe, and loving her felt as natural as breathing.
Pulling himself out of his reflections, he greeted Johnny at the door. Johnny responded, "Hey, Jason. He's waiting for you." He opened the door for Jason to go inside.
Sonny, sitting at the table with a pot of coffee, looked up and said, "Sorry to bring you out so early, but I wanted to work out some details before we put a plan in motion." He looked closely at Jason, knowing he hadn't come from across the hall, and wondering where he had been so early this morning.
Jason, oblivious to Sonny's musings, asked, "Do you have any more information on Philippe?"
"I received confirmation from one of my men in Paris just after I talked to you. He is alive, Jason," Sonny assured him. "To be safe, he will be following a very circuitous route to get here. It could be several days to a week before he arrives."
Relieved that his friend was alive, Jason asked, "How much danger is he really in? I know that the people responsible for the takeover would like to see him dead, but now that they have Lafontaine's operation, will they bother with him here?"
Sonny poured Jason a cup of coffee and answered, "Whoever planned the coup in Paris was a master. The final move was made swiftly and removed all Lafontaine's people almost simultaneously. However, he made one mistake. He underestimated Jules Lafontaine." Becoming animated, Sonny continued, "Jules was a brilliant tactician and he had been preparing for the assault for some time. In fact, he wanted his son to take over the legitimate part of his shipping business and get out of our way of life altogether."
Jason frowned, as he considered what Sonny was telling him. "It's not that simple to walk away. How did he plan to make it happen?"
"He had been gradually divesting himself of the less desirable business connections and pouring resources into the legitimate ones." Sonny paused and gathered his thoughts. "This is where it gets really interesting. Along with receiving word that Philippe had somehow managed to stay alive, I learned that right after the takeover, business ground to a halt in Lafontaine's territory. Nothing is moving in or out."
"That doesn't make any sense," Jason said. "They wouldn't take over his operation just to shut it down."
Sonny nodded. "You're right. They wouldn't. The fact is they desperately want to get business moving again, but it has been made very difficult for them - by Jules Lafontaine. All of the information regarding trade routes, contact names, bank accounts, officials on the take - you name it - has all disappeared. Instead of acquiring a thriving, fully functioning operation, they're faced with rebuilding from the ground up." Sonny chuckled.
Jason whistled, impressed with the older man's cunning. "So how does Philippe fit into all this?" he asked.
"I think Philippe may have all the answers these people want. They must be pretty pissed off right about now, and that means they'll come after him as soon as they can track him down." Sonny looked at Jason and said seriously, "I've acquired a new safe house that none of the men know about. Only you, me, and Johnny will know its location and NOBODY can know that Philippe Lafontaine is alive and here."
Jason sighed. "That may be a problem," he said. Seeing the concerned look on Sonny's face, he continued, "Elizabeth already knows."
"How did that happen?" he asked.
Jason stood and walked to the window. "We were together when you called and I told her," he explained quietly, knowing that Sonny was going to realize the full implication of his statement.
Sonny looked at his friend and saw his discomfort at discussing this, but beneath that, he saw the happiness that had eluded Jason for so long. "So I guess you worked everything out with her," he said.
Jason glanced at him quickly and answered, "Yes. We did." He paused, thinking of Elizabeth. "I love her and, through some undeserved stroke of luck, she loves me." His voice was thick with emotion.
"I know," Sonny said simply. "But you do deserve it, Jason. I'm really happy for you and I'm not worried about Elizabeth knowing that Philippe is alive. I think we both know she has more than proven she can be trusted."
Moved, Jason responded, "Thanks, Sonny. That means a lot."
"One more thing. Someone intercepted one of our shipments. It was done cleanly, leaving no trails. I think whoever is pulling the strings in Sorel's territory could be connected to the Paris takedown. They're targeting us in the same way they did Lafontaine."
Jason swore. "We need to know who is behind this. So far, he hasn't left any real clues to his identity." Frustrated, he raked his hand through his hair.
"I think Philippe Lafontaine could be the key to all of this," Sonny offered. "It is imperative that he be kept alive - not just for information, but because I gave his father my word I would protect him."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This time, it was she who watched while he slept. It was early. Dawn was just breaking, but Elizabeth couldn't sleep. Her mind was too filled with thoughts of Jason and what they had shared. He had been so concerned with not rushing her and so caring of her feelings. She smiled as she remembered how gentle, yet incredibly passionate, he had been with her. She had never felt more loved, or more like a woman, than she had last night. Her dreams of what it would be like to be with Jason, had fallen far short of reality. Now she felt like they were truly part of each other.
As he began to stir, Elizabeth found herself looking into his clear, blue eyes. "Hey," he said, a sexy smile on his face.
"Hey," she returned quietly, suddenly shy.
Sensing her mood, he asked, "Are you OK, Elizabeth? Are you sorry about what happened?" He turned slightly, so he could face her, and lifted his hand to caress her face. "I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. I never want you to feel badly because of me." His voice was full of tender concern.
All of her insecurities melting away, she leaned over and kissed him. "I don't regret anything," she reassured him. "I feel closer to you than ever before. I love you with everything that's in me, Jason Morgan."
Moved by her words, Jason pulled her close and just held her for a moment. She felt so good in his arms, so right - like she belonged there. He closed his eyes, thankful that they had found their way back to each other. Only now, it was deeper, more meaningful than before. She was the other half of him and he would never be whole without her again.
When she raised her head from his chest and looked into his eyes, he felt like he could lose himself in her. He took her face between his hands and kissed her slowly, languorously, allowing the tension to build between them.
Turning her onto her back, Jason continued kissing her deeply, but not urgently. Her hands moved up to caress his neck and then moved into his hair. She loved the feel of his skin next to hers and the way his hair felt in her hands. As he kissed the sensitive spot right below her ear, Elizabeth felt like she was drowning in liquid fire.
When Jason groaned and dropped his head onto her shoulder, she realized that a phone was ringing - his cell phone. Jason swore. As it rang insistently, he raised his head and said regretfully, "I have to get that, Elizabeth. I'm sorry." He kissed her quickly, rolled over, and reached for his jacket. Taking out the phone, he said, "Morgan."
"Jason, it's Sonny. I'm sorry to disturb you, but I just got word that our lost bird is on its way home."
Sonny suddenly had his full attention. "How solid is your information?" Jason asked urgently.
"It comes from a very reliable source. I think it's for real, Jason." Sonny paused. "Can you come right away? We need to work out the details."
"I'll be right there," he responded, closing the phone. If Sonny's information was correct, Philippe was alive.
"Is everything OK, Jason?" Elizabeth asked, concerned. She had pulled on a t-shirt and shorts.
She looked slightly rumpled, but to Jason, she had never looked more beautiful. He reached out to smooth her hair back from her face. "That was Sonny. He just got word that Philippe Lafontaine may be alive," he said, relieved by the news.
"That's wonderful, Jason." She smiled, genuinely glad for him.
As he pulled on his pants and shirt, he explained, "He wants to see me now to make plans. Philippe will probably come here to get Sonny's help." He paused. "No one can know about any of this, Elizabeth. He could be in danger if anyone knows he's alive."
"I won't say anything. You can trust me, Jason," she said quietly.
He reached for her hand, pulled her to her feet and into his arms. "I know. I do trust you - completely," he told her lovingly. "I don't want to leave, but I have to." His reluctance was obvious.
She kissed him once and pushed him to the door. "Go. Make plans for your friend. I have lots to do today on Chloe's spring line," she told him.
Turning at the door, Jason touched her face and asked, "Why didn't you tell me about your designs, Elizabeth?" When she looked surprised, he said, "Chloe told me. I'm so happy for you - and proud."
Touched, she explained, "There were just so many things I wanted to say to you that were more important." She shrugged.
"What you do will ALWAYS be important to me," Jason said fiercely. "I want you to be able to tell me everything."
Since she felt the same way, she answered, "I'm glad. I want the same thing for you." She reached out and straightened his leather jacket, prolonging his departure. Reluctantly she said, "You had better go."
"I love you, Elizabeth." He kissed her one last time and turned to leave. "I'll call you later."
"I love you, too, Jason." She closed the door behind him and leaned against it, feeling grateful for this second chance with the man she loved.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As he approached Sonny's penthouse, Jason was having difficulty putting thoughts of Elizabeth from his mind. He knew that he would need to focus on this meeting and on the crucial details of keeping Philippe alive. Somehow, thoughts of Elizabeth kept intruding. He had never felt so consumed by a woman before. He needed her the way he needed air to breathe, and loving her felt as natural as breathing.
Pulling himself out of his reflections, he greeted Johnny at the door. Johnny responded, "Hey, Jason. He's waiting for you." He opened the door for Jason to go inside.
Sonny, sitting at the table with a pot of coffee, looked up and said, "Sorry to bring you out so early, but I wanted to work out some details before we put a plan in motion." He looked closely at Jason, knowing he hadn't come from across the hall, and wondering where he had been so early this morning.
Jason, oblivious to Sonny's musings, asked, "Do you have any more information on Philippe?"
"I received confirmation from one of my men in Paris just after I talked to you. He is alive, Jason," Sonny assured him. "To be safe, he will be following a very circuitous route to get here. It could be several days to a week before he arrives."
Relieved that his friend was alive, Jason asked, "How much danger is he really in? I know that the people responsible for the takeover would like to see him dead, but now that they have Lafontaine's operation, will they bother with him here?"
Sonny poured Jason a cup of coffee and answered, "Whoever planned the coup in Paris was a master. The final move was made swiftly and removed all Lafontaine's people almost simultaneously. However, he made one mistake. He underestimated Jules Lafontaine." Becoming animated, Sonny continued, "Jules was a brilliant tactician and he had been preparing for the assault for some time. In fact, he wanted his son to take over the legitimate part of his shipping business and get out of our way of life altogether."
Jason frowned, as he considered what Sonny was telling him. "It's not that simple to walk away. How did he plan to make it happen?"
"He had been gradually divesting himself of the less desirable business connections and pouring resources into the legitimate ones." Sonny paused and gathered his thoughts. "This is where it gets really interesting. Along with receiving word that Philippe had somehow managed to stay alive, I learned that right after the takeover, business ground to a halt in Lafontaine's territory. Nothing is moving in or out."
"That doesn't make any sense," Jason said. "They wouldn't take over his operation just to shut it down."
Sonny nodded. "You're right. They wouldn't. The fact is they desperately want to get business moving again, but it has been made very difficult for them - by Jules Lafontaine. All of the information regarding trade routes, contact names, bank accounts, officials on the take - you name it - has all disappeared. Instead of acquiring a thriving, fully functioning operation, they're faced with rebuilding from the ground up." Sonny chuckled.
Jason whistled, impressed with the older man's cunning. "So how does Philippe fit into all this?" he asked.
"I think Philippe may have all the answers these people want. They must be pretty pissed off right about now, and that means they'll come after him as soon as they can track him down." Sonny looked at Jason and said seriously, "I've acquired a new safe house that none of the men know about. Only you, me, and Johnny will know its location and NOBODY can know that Philippe Lafontaine is alive and here."
Jason sighed. "That may be a problem," he said. Seeing the concerned look on Sonny's face, he continued, "Elizabeth already knows."
"How did that happen?" he asked.
Jason stood and walked to the window. "We were together when you called and I told her," he explained quietly, knowing that Sonny was going to realize the full implication of his statement.
Sonny looked at his friend and saw his discomfort at discussing this, but beneath that, he saw the happiness that had eluded Jason for so long. "So I guess you worked everything out with her," he said.
Jason glanced at him quickly and answered, "Yes. We did." He paused, thinking of Elizabeth. "I love her and, through some undeserved stroke of luck, she loves me." His voice was thick with emotion.
"I know," Sonny said simply. "But you do deserve it, Jason. I'm really happy for you and I'm not worried about Elizabeth knowing that Philippe is alive. I think we both know she has more than proven she can be trusted."
Moved, Jason responded, "Thanks, Sonny. That means a lot."
"One more thing. Someone intercepted one of our shipments. It was done cleanly, leaving no trails. I think whoever is pulling the strings in Sorel's territory could be connected to the Paris takedown. They're targeting us in the same way they did Lafontaine."
Jason swore. "We need to know who is behind this. So far, he hasn't left any real clues to his identity." Frustrated, he raked his hand through his hair.
"I think Philippe Lafontaine could be the key to all of this," Sonny offered. "It is imperative that he be kept alive - not just for information, but because I gave his father my word I would protect him."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*