Chapter 8

He heard her bare feet slip across the floor toward him and looked up as she sat down on the sofa beside him. She was a vision of loveliness. The deep mahogany silk that covered her gave her a look of royalty… of elegance… refinement… a sensual electricity that set his blood on fire. He couldn't have known when he selected that particular outfit just how ravishing it would look on her. Soft wet tendrils of hair stuck provocatively to her skin and his fingers itched to free them.

"How do you feel?"

"Like a princess… like a pampered, spoiled, rotten little princess and you have no idea just how much I enjoyed that. I think I liked it more than anything else you've done to me this evening. And it was such a lovely way to end my little spa adventure."

"Who said anything about being finished?"

"Cameron, what more can you do to me… never mind don't answer that? I think I could get into a lot of trouble if I allowed you to answer that question with the look you're giving me."

"Nothing but the most innocent of intentions on my part, Miss Davis. Would you like another cup of coffee?"

"Yes I think I would like another cup, but I can get it myself, Cameron."

"Hogwash. Just be still and let me handle everything. And just so you're prepared, when I come back I will be shifting your seat again."

"Shifting my seat? Cameron, do you know what that sounds like?"

"Actually sounds pretty dicey, doesn't it?"

"At least."

"Good. 'Keep 'em guessing' has always been a favorite motto of mine."

She watched him walk from the room and felt her mouth water a bit. Not one single movement was wasted. A well orchestrated sensually arousing symphony that played upon her every nerve. As he left her sight she dropped her gaze and frowned at the quivering she noticed in her fingers. 'Not good, Alexis', she thought. 'Definitely not good but absolutely delicious.' She was unaware of the dancing light in her eyes when she looked up again to find Cameron standing beside her offering her a cup of coffee.

"You ready for the last phase of this little adventure?"

"My clothes stay on, right?"

Cameron kneeled down beside her and rested his elbows on the sofa. The light in her eyes sent his senses skyward and he felt his body shift toward her. Recognizing the intense desire of his body to feel her next to him began another tedious war in his head. 'It's not the right time, buddy. Don't mess this up. Just do what you planned to and somewhere down the road if you don't screw it up, maybe… just maybe…'

"Yes, Alexis. Your clothes stay on…….," but he couldn't resist a parting shot as he stood up, "And so do mine."

She again choked on the gasp that erupted from her and felt the heat spread across her face, brought on by the visual that flew through her mind. The gentle hand that tenderly claimed the center of her back did nothing to dispel the fire that was threatening to overtake her.

"Are you alright, Alexis? I'm sorry I didn't mean to cause you any distress… or embarrassment. It was just an attempt at a little humor.

"No, No… it's fine. I'm just not used to your brand of humor I guess."

"You'll get used to it in time, but for now… let's get started, shall we?"

"Cameron?"

Her quiet hesitant voice stilled the blood racing through him.

"Yes?"

"I'm not used to this kind of treatment… from anyone. I don't exactly know how to respond… or thank you. It's just…"

"Alexis?"

She looked up when he interrupted her and her heart cried out at the concern and compassion radiating from eyes that reached out and captured her soul.

"There is no reason to thank me, no reason for you to question what I'm doing. Right now all you need to do is just… accept. Accept what I'm trying to do for you… what I'm trying to give you. That's all I want from you. Just accept a kindness being extended to you. Can you do that, Alexis? Can you just sit back and let me do the giving for a while?"

"You don't understand. In my world there is no give without someone wanting something in return or vice versa. That's just the way it is. I accepted that a long time ago and learned how to survive and even make my own way."

"And in my world, people are what matters. I learned it the hard way. If there is something you want to do for someone, do it. Don't wait for the perfect opportunity… it may never come. Don't wait for them to ask… they may never ask. You simply do what you can to make their life a little easier to bear."

"How do I get from my world into yours?"

Her faint words struck a chord in him. Such the little girl lost wanting nothing more than to be found by a prince… wanting nothing more than to be saved from a lifetime of torment. Cameron knelt down in front of her, took the cup from her and placed on the coffee table then gathered her small hands into the comfort of his own.

"You already are a part of my world, Alexis. But, you're straddling the fence so to speak. You're afraid to jump off the fence for fear of losing what that other world offers you. My question to you is what do you find so fascinating about that other world that you stay so firmly connected to it?"

"There are people I care about in that 'other world' you're speaking of. There is Jax, Zander, and Stephan and… and…"

"Why do you hesitate, Alexis?"

Her eyes were filled with pain and it hurt him to see just how much she missed her family and friends… what few there actually were now.

"Nicho…"

"Wait let's analyze this for a minute. Let's take Zander first. We really can't count him as being a part of the 'other world' because there is this angel I know who is going to help bring him into my world." He was able to coax a weak smile from her, but lost it again with his next question.

"What about Jax? Where is he now, Alexis?"

"I don't really know. Off trying to find himself again, I suppose."

He could see she was desperately trying to keep the bitterness and hurt out of her voice. If he could wrap his hands around that idiots throat, just once…

"Again? I see. Tell me, when was the last time you saw him?"

"At the Quartermaine's I believe. He was there to see Skye."

"To see Skye or to help Skye?"

"I think he was trying to help her out some sort of trouble, I don't really remember."

"Yes you do, Alexis. In fact, didn't he tell you to back off of Skye when you were doing your best to protect your child?"

"He doesn't know everything that has happened. He doesn't know what I did."

"Alexis, don't you see? All he needed to know was that you were his friend and you were in trouble and needed help. That's all the man should have been concerned with. But, we'll leave that alone for now. I can see you are not about to let me get by with any derogatory remarks concerning Jax. You should try bottling that sense of loyalty you've got going there. You could single handedly rebuild the finances of the Cassadine empire."

"How…"

"How did I know about the Cassadine fortune or the lack thereof… Let's just say I keep my ear to the ground when certain friends of mine are in trouble. Which brings me to… Stephan."

"Leave him alone, Cameron."

"Like he left you alone?"

"I mean it, Cameron."

"I can see that. Just one question though, if I may. When was the last time your 'brother' inquired about you, your sister… your daughter…"

He lost her. Questioning the actions of her brother had crossed an unseen boundary. It broke his heart to see the distance in her eyes now. She wouldn't look at him; she simply stood up and walked away. She moved to stand in front of the balcony doors and pulled the curtain aside to stare out… unseeing. He followed and stood beside her without touching her. He felt her distance herself even more.

"I'm sorry, Alexis. I didn't see the line. I crossed it before I knew it was there. Please accept my apology. I never meant to hurt you. But, I won't apologize for caring about you."

She turned to face him and tears were quietly falling down her face.

"I can't ask for more than is my due, Cameron. This is my life… the one I chose. I live every day with the mistakes I've made. I choose not to dwell on my brother or Jax. To look any deeper than the surface would hurt too much. I have enough to deal with. They come and go… and if I'm real lucky they'll stop by every once in a while. That's just the way it is. I love them both, but if I want them in my life it has to be on their terms."

Cameron took the last step toward her and drew her into his arms. He felt her shudder against the tide of hurt that both men had caused and he pulled his arms tighter around her and lay his head atop hers. He held her for a while until the turmoil eased inside of her then bent down and placing his arm under knees lifted her into his arms. He couldn't stop the feeling born in his heart that he was holding his world in his arms.