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Chapter7: Heat
Carly lumbered down the stairs her robe tied sloppily across her thin waist, instead of fixing it she let out a small groan tugging it to the side. She needed coffee, the thought made her salivate the tiniest bit and she almost broke out into a run to reach the kitchen quicker. Something made her stop though and his name was Sonny. She almost laughed and if she were not still mulling over her anger towards him she probably would have.
He looked so uncomfortable his arms and legs flailing in all directions his body perched precariously on the very edge of the couch. Carly couldn't resist leaning in just a few inches from his ear and yelling his name so loud she could hear Michael stir on the top level. Sonny stirred too so violently he tumbled from the couch and onto the floor with a heavy thud.
"What the…" He looked up and Carly was in the middle of holding her sides she had begun laughing so hard. He couldn't help but watch her for a second, hair tied in a sloppy bun, no makeup and cheeks flushed from laughter, she looked so beautiful. Carly stopped laughing raising an eyebrow at how uncharacteristically quiet he had become.
"What?"
"Your beautiful"
"I'm mad at you," She reminded him letting the grin slip away, replaced by the tight-lipped scowl he had seen the night before.
"I'm sorry, I just had to find a way to help Jason"
"You didn't even show up for his first trial date, were all he has Sonny. We are his family without us no one is going to be there to support him"
"That Courtney girl will be"
"When I said family I meant her too, she's Jason's future wife" Sonny backed up a little he knew that look in his wife's eye it screamed trouble, many men had fallen because of that look.
"Carly whatever you're thinking about don't"
"Watch it buster, I still haven't forgiven you so giving me orders right now not very smart"
Sonny sighed at this, what else could he do. No amount of dissuading would stop Carly from planning or acting on the plan so he chose to brush her words aside.
"You can't stay mad at me for too long"
"Oh really" Sarcasm dripped from her words but he ignored it, edging gradually closer to her. She kept backing up feeling behind her blindly until her hands struck something solid and smooth.
"Damn walls" Carly muttered looking up in time to see Sonny corner her, his body pressing against hers in one quick motion.
"I missed you"
"Good for you" Her voice began to shake a little and she gulped involuntarily his body heat beginning to melt her flesh. She was halfway between pushing him away and pulling him closer.
"Oh come on you know you missed me" Sonny sounded so arrogant in that moment Carly reached forward to push him off only to have her wrists caught and placed above her head. Sonny leaned in closer his warm breath falling against her neck, the ache in the pit of her stomach grew almost unbearable but she kept the emotionless façade going.
"I didn't miss you, I was actually so busy I barely noticed you weren't here" He smiled at that and in one fluid motion pressed his lips to hers. She could have resisted but there was not enough will power left within her so she gave in surrendering to the kiss. It was so passionate she felt her knees buckle, but he caught her before she fell managing to dip her slightly without breaking the kiss.
Pulling away her eyes remained closed while he put her back into an upright position.
"So you didn't miss me?"
"Not one bit" Smoothing the satin robe she wore Carly merely sauntered from the room appearing completely unfazed. The minute she reached the kitchen though she grabbed at the wall, her breath coming in heaving bursts. Skin on fire and tingling slightly she almost reached for an ice pack to cool down. Who said being mad was easy?
"Yea she missed me" Sonny felt so proud of himself he jogged up the stairs smile plastered on his tanned face.
What was it about non-stop movement that seemed to appeal so much to her? Spending half the night pacing was bad enough but most of the morning too? Courtney let out a shaky sigh fixing her blouse for what seemed like the millionth time, the sun had risen high above the clouds, a few birds whistling in an annoyingly high pitched way. The day was blossoming into something beautiful but Courtney couldn't bear to even turn to look out the window. It brought on too many thoughts, like when would Jason be able to feel the warmth of the sun again. What would it be like to go for a picnic with him? Stopping she shook her head hopping the thoughts would tumble out her ears, fall to the carpet and be forgotten.
There was a knock on the door and she jumped a few feet in the air, alarmed by the unexpected sound to the point of her heart beginning to beat like a jackhammer within her chest. Then it plummeted on the other side of the door was the main mafia man himself; he looked less rumpled then the night before his crisp expensive suit perfectly pressed.
"I was wondering if I could come in"
"I'm not in the mood for another game of twenty questions, I'm sure Michael would be up for it though" Her tone was so sugary sweet she could swear a cavity began to form but he only smiled chuckling a little in that way of 'what you said wasn't funny but I'll pretend it was. Courtney didn't enjoy being humored so she stood in front of the doorway, hands on her hips, obviously displeased.
"Look I just want to talk to you, I promise not too many questions" Sonny smiled again and Courtney relented smiling a little despite herself.
"Okay come in"
"So… you are coming to the trial today right?"
"Of course I am I came here to help Jason and I will do that"
"How"
"That's the part I haven't worked out yet" Sonny shook his head feeling inside his jacket pocket until he withdrew a slim pad. Courtney knew what it was the minute her eyes had a chance to see it, the display was enough to turn her stomach but Sonny kept on as if unaware.
"How much do you want to leave town and leave Jason's real family to worry about this trial?" Pen in hand he flipped the checkbook open all the way letting her see how serious he was.
Courtney didn't make a sound except for the slow and steady grinding of her teeth, keeping her from lashing out violently.
"A hundred thousand, sounds fair" he was almost trying to sound innocent all while his pen scratched loudly against the paper, ink flowing freely from the tip. Courtney stared as he thrust the offending document into her hands.
"I don't…" pausing she ripped the paper, scattering the pieces at his feet "want your money" her chest heaved a little in outrage but she just kept her tone even glaring ever so slightly at the little bits of white now resting along the floor.
"Look Courtney getting his hopes up isn't going to get him out of jail, I will do that, I will get him out of this mess" Sonny turned towards the door "You can't"
He stopped at this turning again to see Courtney shut her eyes drawing a painful looking breath.
"You can't help Jason, only I can" god you sound selfish, she thought dragging a hand through her shoulder length locks.
"What do you mean I can't help him?" It was Sonny's turn to be outraged and by the way, his cheeks began to flush, Courtney could tell he was.
"You don't know what happened that night to Elizabeth, only the killer and me know"
Shock began to settle onto his face and he peered closely at her trying to find signs that she was bluffing.
"Look, the only way you can help Jason is by staying the hell out of my way and letting me do what I came here to do, if I need anything from you I'll ask you for it"
Courtney had the slightest smile on her lips as she spoke, somewhere deep inside the feeling of satisfaction began to fill her something she had only ever experienced kissing Jason, Jason, stop, she chastised herself.
"If you help him I'll apologize but if you don't I want you to leave"
"Even if I make Jason happy" Courtney cast her round blue eyes on Sonny's tense form poised to leave the penthouse.
"Even if you make Jason happy"
Courtney listened to the door shut, hugging herself for comfort, there was no place for her in Port Charles Sonny made that clear.
"I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fail" Her heart pounded a little faster with that admission, but at the same time she had the urge to race onto the balcony feel the suns rays caress her face. The crystal blue sky began to shine and she felt a little glimmer of hope urge her forward, it was time to save Jason.
It had become the same tired melodrama, the guard's gruff voice calling him forward off the bus all so he could be man handled through a crowd of pushy reporters and into the stark courtroom. The guard un-cuffed him, giving the same glare he always did and then shuffling off to the side. Jason counted on schedules it gave him a sense of control enough to keep him sane. Then everything fell away, the structured walls he lived in gave way all because of her, her smell was enough to make all the thoughts slip from his mind.
"Jason" He turned at the sound of her voice, so soft he had trouble even hearing it. He scrambled into a standing position banging his knee on the desk in the process. Courtney let out a small giggle and any pain he was feeling no longer mattered, just her and the smile that caused him to smile despite himself.
She stepped a little closer standing just a few inches from him now, but her voice didn't seem to want to work, so instead she enclosed him in a hug.
"How are you?" She whispered.
"I'm better now, you?"
"Touch and go until I saw you" Courtney blushed slightly at her admission, thanking the fact he could not see her face now buried in his shoulder.
He pulled back stroking a strand of hair from her face, her eyes closed momentarily just enjoying the feel of his touch and the warmth that swept through her body even with the simplest of touches.
"Have you had anymore visions?" The connection broke so quickly, Courtney pulling back without warning.
"No" She didn't mean to sound so cold, she didn't even think it was in her to be so abrupt with him but the thought of him in the pool of blood. Courtney turned hiding her face from view but she knew he could sense the tears welling in her eyes, that's why his hands firmly gripped her shoulders, turning her body around to face his again.
"Look I am going to try not to die so you have to promise me no crying okay" He wiped at a lone tear falling down her cheek, his hand pausing to stroke the soft flesh beneath it.
Courtney's eyelids fell closed impatiently waiting the moment their lips would touch. He smiled a goofy smile of pride, leaning closer until the magical moment occurred. Her lips were so soft; it made his heart flutter slightly, everything fell away until it was just they. In this moment, no one else existed just the taste of strawberry lip-gloss, the feel of soft skin and the smell of peach shampoo. It drove Jason wild as he slowly parted her lips with his tongue, she did not resist in the least allowing him full access to explore her mouth. It took all his will power to not take it further then kissing, one hand snaking towards her hip, under the soft curve of her breast, enough to cause a small moan to tumble past her lips. It only encouraged him further, he knew they could be caught it only added to the excitement he felt with every kiss.
Pulling back breathless and panting, Courtney regretted having to pull his hand away, not before it innocently skimmed her stomach. The heat was so unbearable Courtney could swear she had begun to break out into a cold sweat. No one had ever made her feel so warm and alive with just a few kisses and almost innocent caresses. Resting her fore head against his, she waited until her breath no longer released in short bursts, for when her skin stopped crackling with electricity. Then the urge to keep kissing him assaulted her and as soon as enough air filled her desperate lungs, she entwined her fingers in the short hair at the nape of his neck and brought his lips to hers once again. His hands wanted so desperately to feel the soft skin that lay beneath the material of her clothes to get just a little closer to heat he felt pouring off her in waves. Resisting was necessary people would soon be arriving so he settled for wrapping his arms around her waist holding Courtney as close as possible.
"Well look what we have here a repeat performance of yesterdays show stopper" Courtney and Jason pulled away from each other so fast they both saw stars, but then calmed at the site of an overly pleased Carly.
"See Sonny told you Courtney was leaving a lasting impression on Jason"
Jason looked over Sonny who remained silent observing things with an overly cautious nature.
Courtney didn't even bother looking at Sonny; she could feel the cold gaze he directed at her stinging her flesh in an almost painful way. Jason noticed the tension and let out a small sigh, grabbing Courtney's hand in his he walked closer to the other couple, placing her hand into Sonnys'.
"Sonny I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine, Courtney Matthews" He knew with one look directed at Sonny he showed how much he trusted Courtney and that is why Sonny shook her hand.
Courtney smiled a little, relieved to feel some of the intensity deflate from the room; maybe things could be harmonious between her and Sonny.
"It's good to meet you Courtney, and I'm sorry" Her head whipped up with those words where had they come from? Why was he suddenly being so nice then she glanced at Carly who stopped giving Sonny the stare of death long enough to wink at her.
"Well thank you Sonny, I forgive you"
"Well isn't this a sweet little get together, have you four forgotten that your lovely Jason here is fast on his way to being convicted of murder? Maybe you just don't care, Sonny could probably replace golden boy here with someone younger" They all watched Alexis saunter over the hint of a smirk casually gracing her hauntingly pale face. Her eyes were bloodshot but she seemed to carry on as if everything was as normal as could be.
"Been drinking have you Natasha, nasty habit to get into before 10 in the morning, maybe that's why we have Kristina and you have well nothing" Sonny didn't even make a move to stop his wife, she was saying the things other feared too and it filled him with an unusual sense of pride.
"Don't call me Natasha"
"Why your living up to your Cassadine roots might as well start calling you by your true name"
Alexis gave Carly a fleeting glare focusing a new on the blonde woman she didn't recognize who had moved closer to Jason her hand firmly encased within his. Predatory gleam claiming her eyes Alexis stepped closer, taking in everything about the woman. Neutral colored knit sweater, a loose fitting black skirt, hair pulled back into an innocent loosely tied bun, the smallest hint of blush coloring her ivory cheeks. Youth, it ate away at Alexis an angry spiteful feeling bubbling in the pit of her stomach, nauseous at the display Courtney and Jason were obviously trying to make the lawyer stomped off.
"What's her problem?" Courtney inquired raising an eyebrow.
"Don't worry about her she just has a stick permanently wedged up her as…" Sonny shot a warning glance in his wife's direction "butt" She finished rather lamely.
"Why don't you take a seat over with Carly and Sonny I'll see you a little later," Jason whispered in her ear, his hand sitting on the small of her back. Courtney smiled secretively, she knew this feeling she had felt it before with the quarterback at her high school, only it had been two children this was different but she knew. She knew those butterfly feelings in the pit of her stomach anxiety and excitement combining every time she saw him. Courtney knew she was falling in love with Jason, even before she glanced up to catch his gaze, something that nearly knocked her off her feet. Then he placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head and she didn't want to move. His arms were slowly snaking around her waist and she wished they would never leave. Snuggling further into the embrace Courtney felt Jason shift a little, telling her it was time to let go and she did without protest despite how much she wanted to fight it.
Alexis leaned against the oak paneled wall squinting through the slight crack in the closed courtroom door. The judge had not appeared yet, breathing a sigh of relief she dialed her cell phone.
"Yeah"
"Look we have a problem her name is Courtney Matthews she's getting too cozy with Morgan I think we need to take care of this, now"
"Fine I'll look into it, stay calm I don't want you being goaded into saying something that could ruin our chances"
The man hung up leaving Alexis staring at the phone. Her hands began to shake and she reached for the silver flask in her bag taking a quick sip. She nearly regretted needing the little bit of alcohol to get going but then Kristina's little cherubic face flashed in her mind. Nothing seemed to evil or underhanded not if it brought her daughter back.
"Well then lets get this show on the road"
"How could you not tell me?" She screamed raising a glass vase in her shaky hands and letting it fall with a resounding crash just behind his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I thought it would just upset you" He had begun to plead with her something he didn't do often and it immediately softened her volatile mood.
"I just, he's, you know how much Jason means to me letting him go to prison, I couldn't do that"
"I know baby, but you're too weak to deal with this now let me take care of it" He reached forward stroking a few strands of hair from her forehead. Her cheeks were flushed in anger but she still appeared ghostly pale.
"You always take care of me" She finished her legs giving out beneath her, she was so tired if her eyes could just close a little maybe the strength she had could return. Resting her head on his lap, she sprawled comfortably onto the couch listening as his soft melodic voice lulled her slowly into sleep.
"I promise Jason will not get convicted it's not him I want its Zander" He didn't need to whisper anymore he knew she was too far gone to hear a word from his mouth, in some ways it calmed him to know she knew nothing about his plan, it was the only way.
And here is the return of the mystery couple I'll give you a clue to who they are if you look in the last chapter he called her 'my princess' I'll let you decide what that means… Please read and review and I promise to get another update out asap!