Elizabeth let her eyes drift up from where they were reviewing the material in her textbook. Jason sat across the room from her, in one of his plush leather chairs, working on the books for Lily's club. The inventory and delivery charges were always the hardest part for her and Jason was continually there with a pencil in hand.
It had been one month since that night back in April where she found him on the bridge in pain, ready to run out of Port Charles, ready to leave her life forever. It had been one month since she took him in her arms, cried with him, felt the pain with him and helped him realize that it was his loss as well as hers. It had only been one short month.
Dealing with the loss of their child was still a day to day process. Elizabeth was living with a woman who was carrying the baby that should have been hers. She watched Lily daily, her stomach extended, her face taking on a pregnant glow and her husband doting upon her and making sure that she never wanted for anything. Elizabeth couldn't remember being so utterly ecstatic and devastated at the same time and whenever she wanted to cry out in the furor of it all, Jason was there.
At the end of the day, when she came home from school and was greeted with the family picture, he would take her hand and squeeze it. When the baby started to move in her stomach and Lily asked Elizabeth if she wanted to feel it, Jason's hand settled on the small of her back and comforted her. There were also nights, when Elizabeth showed up at his door and not a word was said. He let her in, he took her in his arms and they somehow managed to get through it together.
Elizabeth tried to focus her eyes back on her Accounting homework, but as she chewed on her pen cap she found them drifting back towards the man who had come to mean so much to her. Somewhere between the strip tease and the broken heart Jason shifted from a lover to a friend and then to someone who made a permanent stamp on her life. She saw him every day and when he was shipped out of town on business he always found the time to call. Of the five days that she had school, four of them he would come to pick her up on his motorcycle. If they weren't at Lily's club watching over the renovations, they were at the warehouse, where a small desk was now situated near Jason's so Elizabeth could work in his office with him.
He had become her constant, her reassurance; the one thing that she knew was going to be there when she woke up in the morning. He was more than Sonny, he was more than Lily and he was more than Sly. He was Jason, just Jason, and he was feeling everything she was feeling, walking the steps with her and just when she thought she couldn't love the man anymore than she already had, she was proven wrong. Her heart bled and her body ached to touch him, but she knew that she had six more months before she could even try.
And even when November came who was to say that Jason would still want her.
"Stop it."
Elizabeth blinked her eyes and realized that Jason muttered those words while he was erasing another delivery charge she messed up, "Stop what?"
"Looking at me," Jason said, "I can feel your eyes boring into my head," he looked up quickly and threw her a half grin, "Back to work and I'm double checking this time."
She wanted to lick him.
Elizabeth felt her face flame and she buried herself further into the chair and her books. She had no idea where that thought came from and while she was still very much attracted to the man across from her, she hadn't imagined being with him like that in months, consciously anyway. Subconsciously was a different story.
"I need a break," she said slamming her textbook shut and sliding it onto the table in front of her, "I need to stretch. I need a breath of fresh air. I need a game of pool."
She eyed the table and then him again, who was still looking up at her with that same smile. The pool table was not such a good idea.
Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair and made her way towards the long glass doors near the pool table that led outside to the cement balcony. She was barefoot, in a pair of cuffed jeans and a long sleeve tee shirt. It was May already, but the air was still cool and as Jason put it, there was barely anything too her so she needed to stay wrapped up.
Pushing open the doors, Elizabeth stepped out onto the balcony and stared at the bustling city below. That was one of the great things about Harborview Towers. The penthouse suite offered a gorgeous view of Port Charles and that of the boats that were docked in the harbor, hence the name. She smiled as she crossed her elbows and leaned them against the ledge before jumping up when she felt two warm hands massaging her shoulders.
"You seem a little tense," Jason said from behind her as his fingers worked their magic on her shoulders.
Tense was not the word to describe how she was feeling right now. Tingly, sweaty and horny as hell were at the top of her list. Today her libido decided to kick back in and the man wearing tight jeans and t- shirt, standing way too close to her, was not helping. She had thought they were past the old lovers thing, she had thought they had settled comfortably well into the best friends routine and that loving one another was a nice bonus.
Nice bonus was becoming complicated.
"I'm alright," she said moving away from him and then walking a little further down the patio, "It's a beautiful day out here. I can't believe you're cooped up with me instead of taking the kids out and playing with them in the park. I'm sure they'd love to be spending time with their Uncle J."
Jason chuckled softly, "And I would have loved to take them but Sonny always takes off on days like these. You should see him in the summer; he's never in the office."
Elizabeth laughed softly as she leaned her hip against the ledge, "I'm sure you like playing in the sandbox more than you like correcting all the errors I've made."
"I like spending any kind of time with you, Elizabeth," he said quietly, "Whether it be in the office or out on the cliff roads. It doesn't matter to me," he ended with a shrug.
She wanted to reach out and twist her fingers in his shirt, pulling him close into a fiery kiss. She wanted this man; she wanted him like she did the first day she laid eyes on him. She knew the minute her sapphire orbs met his icy blue ones that he was going to be trouble.
What a delicious kind of trouble he turned out to be.
Licking her lips she looked away again and focused out on the harbor, towards the docks which would one day house her shipping offices. Sonny was going to be clearing the path in the future so that her business could merge with his own and he wanted to make sure that his daughter was well within the line of vision. He was being overly protective but Elizabeth was not going to complain. She loved the fact that someone wanted to keep an eye on her.
Feeling Jason hovering near her she realized that someone wanted to keep more than an eye on her. Turning back, she looked up at him and knew that if he made a move there was no way in hell she was going to be able to stop herself.
But this was Jason Morgan and he didn't make any type of moves.
"There's something on your mind."
"There's always something on my mind," she winked playfully and tried to move around him but found herself boxed into a corner, "I should get back to work."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"
She avoided his eyes and bit her lip while she tucked a strand of loose chestnut curls behind her ears. Talking was the last thing on her mind right now and if he had any idea what she was thinking he'd probably run straight out of the room.
"Elizabeth," he whispered.
Her eyes met his again and something happened, something crackled between them. His orbs were no longer so icy and her breathing was becoming a little more rapid. They were barely touching, they stood inches apart and his fingers started to dance along her cheek. She wanted to close her eyes and cry to the lord, why oh why did he have to make a man this gorgeous and so far out of her reach.
"Hey, come back to me," he teased playfully as he tugged on a strand of her hair.
She blinked her eyes open and there he was, now centimeters away from her and all she had to do was push him away, plant her hands squarely on his chest and give him a good shove before running out the door and putting some much needed distance between them. That was all that she had to do.
Instead she grasped his shirrt with one tiny fist, slid her other hand into his hair and stood up on her toes, pressing her warm lips against his own. She had no idea what possessed her to do that, but the same devil that was dancing inside of her was now dancing inside of Jason as well. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her tight against him and then backed her against the lovely ledge and pressed their bodies so intimately together Elizabeth could feel every inch of him.
God it had been way too long. She didn't know how she made it this far without this man. The way he kissed her made her body sing, made her blood boil, made her feel alive. She eagerly slid her tongue into his mouth, letting it duel with his own as her hands slid around to his waist before moving downward and cupping his backside.
He groaned, she moaned and then she wrapped her leg around him, rubbing her core right against his. She didn't care if they got naked, this was fine enough for her dry humping pleasured many a person and right now that was what she needed; pleasure from Jason. His hands moved upward and tugged at her bra and let it snap before they twisted into her hair and pulled her face back, allowing her to see the raw hunger that was dancing in his eyes.
Elizabeth nearly came on the spot.
Her hands were everywhere, pulling the shirt out of his jeans, pushing it upward, allowing her nails to scrap his skin. She fiddled with the button on the denim, tried tugging it downward as he was laughing at her, teasing her because she was so eager to have him inside of her. This man was so foolish, he had no idea what he did to a woman, but when she stopped all her ministrations and went directly to the heart of the matter, cupping him through the rough material. She realized what she was doing to him and she loved every minute of it.
"You deserve to be taken upstairs, to be spread out on my bed, our bed, and loved thoroughly," he said as he yanked her jeans open, "But right now we won't even make it to the fucking door."
Elizabeth moaned as she pulled him back towards her and he started to kiss his way along her jaw line. She was gasping, she was still trying to strip him and he was touching her in all the places that her dreams had made her think of. She was in heaven, she was trembling and it was only about to get better.
"Elizabeth."
She moaned softly letting her head fall back.
"Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth snapped upright in her chair, her books falling onto the floor in front of her as she stared at Jason, who was looking right back at her with worried eyes. She was still panting, she was still trembling, but she was fully dressed and he was halfway across the room.
"Are you okay? Did you fall asleep?"
"I don't…" she looked around her and then rubbed her hands over her face, "I guess."
She just prayed that she wasn't moaning in her sleep, which would be a mortification she could live without. Climbing out of the chair she fanned herself quickly and then bent down to pick up the books that fell from her lap.
"I'm sorry about that, Jason," she smiled, "I guess I was more tired than I thought."
"I thought that you needed a break," he said as he took the books from her and placed them on the table. He looked nervous as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, "I had to go shopping today and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."
"Shopping?" she asked with raised eyebrows, "You? Shopping?"
He nodded as he ran his hand over the back of his neck, "Well, you know its Adella's birthday tomorrow and Lily and Sonny are having a party. I haven't…I didn't go shopping yet."
Elizabeth smiled sadly as she took his hand and squeezed it, comforting him in the same way he always comforted her. He was asking her to go shopping with him because it was still too hard to face little girl items on his own.
Her libido started to die down.
"I'd love to go with you," she smiled as she reached for her coat, "And you know what? I'll even let you buy me lunch?"
A smile appeared on his face, "That's generous of you," she smiled and then said "Know what else? I'll let you drive too."
"You're too good to me," he said sliding on his leather jacket.
Elizabeth grinned as she held open the door for him, "And don't you ever forget it Morgan."
"Thank you."
Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled before she tossed her empty cup in a nearby trash can and they resumed walking in the mall, "You picked it out."
He nodded, "It's from the both of us, but that's not what I meant. You…you know," he shrugged.
"I know some days it's harder to breath than others," she said quietly as she slid her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, "I know that sometimes it hurts to see Lily waddling around and going out to buy toys for Adella or outfits for the new baby. It can break your heart all over again," she looked up at him, "I also know that you're here, that you're feeling it too and that thankfully Jason, I'm no longer alone."
Jason placed his hand on the small of her back as he guided her through the crowd. "It's still painful and it hurts more than all the bullets I've taken, but I've got you Elizabeth and sometimes that's all I really need." He bent down and surprised her with a kiss on her forehead, "So thank you."
"I'm just returning the favor," she smiled and then slowed down as they approached a jewelry store. "That's gorgeous."
"That?" he asked stopping as he looked at the window display.
He didn't see much, just some diamond earrings and a very gaudy diamond bracelet. There were also gemstones of the month and a sale sign in the window but Elizabeth's eyes were focused on the least expensive piece, it was a pear shaped diamond, no more than half karat, surrounded by white gold.
"Why don't you buy it for yourself?" he asked.
She laughed as she looked up at him, "I'm fine spending my money on other people but I still can't spend it on myself. We never had any money when I was growing up, that's why my dad got in so deep, at least that's what I tell myself, that was the reason he sold me," she said quietly. "Things like this were something I could never afford. It was always something you looked at from afar, something that was always on my Christmas list."
Elizabeth laughed softly as she wiped at the tears that were forming in her eyes. "One Christmas I told Santa I wanted nothing but diamonds, lots and lots of diamonds and my mom tried, she got me this diamond looking necklace that fell apart in a week and made my neck green. She tried though. She tried until she couldn't try anymore," she shook her head; "I cannot buy it for myself."
"Maybe this year," Jason said quietly, "Santa will find you."
She smiled softly, "Maybe Morgan. Oh hey," she pointed to the large cookie stand in the food court, "I wanted to get Adella a big cookie along with her birthday cake. Sonny will hate it," she giggled.
"I'm going to pull the bike up," Jason said as he held up the large box containing Adella's numerous Barbie accessories, including plane and mustang convertible, "And I have to figure out how to attach this."
Elizabeth laughed again, "She's going to love it."
"I keep telling myself that," he said, "Meet me outside the doors."
Elizabeth smiled as she thanked the woman for her time and patience with the large cookie. She was able to get some kind of edible Barbie sticker placed on top of the cookie along with happy birthday in pink. Adella was going to love it because she loved chocolate chip so much. Elizabeth's grin grew wider when she realized the tongue lashing she was going to get from Sonny for bringing sweets into the house.
Juggling the square box with her hands, Elizabeth watched her step and headed towards the exit. It started to get dark and she was glad that Jason was pulling the motorcycle up. Trying to manage the large cookie, along with Adella's toys, would have been a feat in itself. Pushing the clear doors open with her back she made it outside and turned around, stopping dead in her booted heels at the scene in front of her.
Jason had the bike at the curb, all packages strapped down, a tall looking blond, with a chest the size of Texas and a waist tinier than Elizabeth's was sidling up to him. Her hand was on his shoulder, her eyes were sparkling and she was laughing at whatever the hell he was saying.
Jason just sat there.
Elizabeth wanted to take the cookie and throw it in his face. How dare the man, who no less than a month ago, declared that he loved her, stand there and allow some bimbo to flirt with him? Who did he think he was? She didn't care that he looked like Adonis and he was prone to having women stare at him, he was with her and he should be respectful. She planned on telling him that with her three inch heels.
She started walking towards him only to stop again and back herself up against the wall. This was how he felt. This was why Jason was sending Sly all over the country on ridiculous errands that didn't need to be done. He was jealous, a green eyed monster was raging inside of him and now it was inside of Elizabeth too. She knew exactly how he felt. She wanted to deck this girl the same way Jason did with Sly.
Groaning, she stamped her foot in frustration. She had to be mature about this. She also had to face reality. There was a large age difference between her and Jason and there was still another six months before the law allowed them to touch one another. He was an attractive man and no saint. She couldn't blame him for finding comfort in some other woman's arms.
Shaking her head and blinking back her tears, Elizabeth started towards the bike again, this time seeing the woman slid a piece of paper, most likely with her number on it, into Jason's hands. She then gave him a small wave before walking off with an extra sway in her hips. Jason had yet to notice Elizabeth and for that she was grateful because more tears were appearing.
They went away when Jason Morgan crumpled up the paper and threw it on the ground.
"Hey," he said as he stood up to stretch and noticed her approaching. He quickly took the box from her and tied it to the back of the bike. "I don't know if we'll be able to get you on here."
"I'll squeeze in," she said with a small laugh as she tried to swallow the tears in her throat, "Ready to go?"
"Here's this," Jason said holding out the helmet for her, "And this."
Elizabeth looked down at his open palm and saw the necklace that she had been staring at in the window. It was laid out in his hand, no fancy box or bow. She smiled up at him as those damn tears came back. This was pure Jason.
"I like to buy things for other people too."
He watched her take the necklace and eagerly put it on, swooping her hair out of the way so it didn't get caught. He watched her, her eyes sparkling; her face lighting up like Morgan's did when they got a sundae at Kelly's. She was so beautiful and he still couldn't believe that she loved him.
Jason vowed to buy her a diamond every week.
She stepped up and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Now I'm ready to go."
Jason helped her secure the helmet on her head and they managed to both fit onto the bike, roaring out of the mall parking lot with Elizabeth's laughter dancing in his ears, even more determined now to somehow make the six months move faster.