Jason slowed his steps as he approached the door that would lead him into Elizabeth's new office at Lily's club. The second floor was still receiving renovations during the club opening. Elizabeth had wanted her office moved upstairs along with the shower area. The bedrooms that previously housed the exotic dancers were converted into one large sleeping area in case Elizabeth decided to have fun one night and didn't want to make the trek home. Jason figured he'd start putting that area to good use in exactly one month.

While the leaves were changing and the sun decided that the days were getting shorter, Jason's watch was on another time schedule. The days seemed to be getting longer, the weeks dragging on as they inched closer and closer to Elizabeth's eighteenth birthday. The plans were already set; she was closing down the club and was going to have a party for herself and her close friends: the Corinthos', Sly, Emily and the newly married O'Briens. He was also invited but he didn't plan on staying long, just until the clock struck midnight and he was able to carry her out of the club and back to his penthouse. Turning back towards the hall where another door led to the large bedroom, Jason realized he might as well forget his penthouse and just walk up the flight of stairs.

The fact that they had started allowing heavy make out sessions was making the situation much more difficult. For months Jason avoided spending time alone with her and then he practically opened the flood gates. Kisses were okayed behind the penthouse door but the two of them quickly realized that one kiss was never enough. He drew the boundaries of removing clothing but Elizabeth fought him on that and since she insisted on removing his shirt, hers had to come off as well. So far their pants had always managed to stay on although he wasn't sure how long that would last in the next month.

Shaking all sorts of dirty thoughts from his mind, Jason knocked on the door and twisted the knob when he heard Elizabeth welcome him in. He first noticed the dark burgundy walls that matched well with the cherry wood furnishings she picked out. She had a leather couch, two matching chairs and a nice coffee table in the middle. He moved along to the desk she was sitting behind and then he noticed it, her attire, a pin stripe business suit. Her hair was twisted up in one of those clips and she was scribbling at something in front of her. When she looked up at him and smiled Jason felt the need to grip one of those new chairs.

"You can sit down," she smiled softly.

He was barely able to swallow as he closed his eyes and prayed to God that she was wearing a pant suit. He would be perfectly fine if she was in a pair of long suitable pants. He had hoped that his prayers were about to be answered when she stood up from her chair and made her way around her desk, in a skirt suit, with black vinyl three inch heels.

God was always testing him.

"Are you okay?" she asked laughing as she approached him and leaned up to give him a welcoming kiss. She frowned when he moved away from her and placed the chair between them. "Jason? Is something wrong?"

"Is that my chair?" he asked his eyes darting towards the chair behind her desk, "The chair from downstairs, the chair from the office, that one that…"

She laughed again, the warm chuckle was accompanied with a sultry smile, "Yeah. I found myself unable to part with it," she turned towards him with a sparkle in her eye, "For sentimental reasons of course."

Of course, Jason thought, how many times had they fucked senseless in that thing.

"I was going to see if you wanted lunch," he said retreating, "But I think I lost my appetite. Just call me later when you're done," he looked at her again, "And changed."

"Wait," she said reaching out and grabbing him by the sleeve of his jacket, "I've been thinking about Kelly's chili all day and I have it on good authority, and when I say that I mean my father," she winked, "That Sly is out working and he won't be there, so," she reached over her desk, giving him a nice view of her ample backside and grabbed her clutch purse, "My treat."

Oh she was a treat alright, one that he wanted to slam against the wall and fuck until the pretty little frames fell down from their place. He was eager to check the foundation of this building but he kept reminding himself that he still had a month to do that, a ridiculously long month.

"I can't," he said clearing his throat and somehow managing to tear his eyes away from the black skirt that ride up her thighs just a little, "I'll pick it up on the way home, we can eat it while we watch a movie," he swallowed again when she got that angry look on her face, "One of Adella's Disney movies."

"Jason Morgan if you don't tell me what is…"

"Elizabeth if I don't leave this room within the next three seconds I'm not going to be liable for what's about to happen between us," Jason said, "It is one thing to ask if I wanted to meet for lunch, it is another to dress like that."

"Like what?" she asked looking down at herself. She then met his gaze again, grinning wickedly, "You mean like all those times you answer the door in your jeans and nothing else?"

"What? No," he said shaking his head.

Elizabeth tossed her clutch purse on one of the leather chairs, "You mean like those times you tell me to come on over only for me to find you in the shower and you come downstairs in nothing but a towel with little droplets of water falling from that spiky hair."

"Elizabeth…" he said as he circled the leather chair and found himself back up against the desk.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you Morgan?" she asked as she stopped mere inches from him, "Two can play at that game."

Elizabeth watched the glint that appeared in Jason's eye and then the smirk that kicked up at the corners of his mouth. She realized too late the man that she was playing games with. Jason was always ready to match her on any challenge that she had. She let out a little gasp as he grabbed her around the waist and reversed their positions, causing her body to be pressed up against the desk.

"Jason…" she said in that warning tone he heard so many times over the last eleven months.

"I'll be good, Elizabeth," he said quietly as slid his fingers through her hair until he found the clip. He pulled it out, letting it fall from his hand to the floor as he watched her curls dance along her shoulders.

Her eyes darkened as she whispered, "Don't be."

Jason's hands encircled her waist as he lifted her up and dropped her on the edge of the desk. He could feel her nails scraping against the base of his neck, playing with the ends of his hair. She was tugging him closer and he was smiling as he kept moving forward and then back, teasing her, torturing her, until Elizabeth was practically growling.

"Jason if you don't…"

He did, pressing his lips to hers. He moaned as she hooked her leg over his hip and pulled him closer, arching her body against his as she started to slide off the desk. He held her tightly against him as his hands started to wander while his tongue found its way into her mouth.

Elizabeth pulled back panting before she went in for another heated kiss. Her fingers were pushing at his leather coat until it fell to the floor with a thud then she went to work on pulling his shirt out of his pants. She was dying to feel his skin against her own.

Jason slid the skirt higher up on her thighs and he groaned when his fingers came in contact with the lace material. He pulled back, gasping for breath and stared at her with passion filled eyes.

"Thigh highs, Elizabeth?" he groaned.

She smiled and laughed softly as she pushed him back slightly and pulled his tee shirt over his head, "And crotchless panties. You can thank Frederick's Of Hollywood."

Jason reached for her suit jacket and managed to rip it open, sending the large buttons flying, "I'll do that later. Right now…"

Elizabeth gasped as her suite coat was tugged down her arms and then thrown over her shoulder. His hands were against her silk camisole, pulling her closer to him as she felt herself enveloped in another heated kiss. His hands were moving into her hair as he was molding himself against her.

Jason moved his hands downward, cupping her ass and pulling the lower half of her body closer to him so she was tucked tightly against him. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his fingers danced their way back up her thigh while she pulled away from him and started to place damp kisses along his Adam's apple.

He cursed when she rubbed herself against him.

Elizabeth felt his hands on her backside again as he thrust his body against hers, rubbing that course denim between the ache in her thighs. She cried out and let her head fall back, her hands reaching down and gripping the edge of the desk as he continued his torment. His lips found her nipples, straining against the silk camisole and lavished them with his hot tongue. Her mind told her that they were taking things a little too far but her body was disobeying and continued moving in tune with his.

"Elizabeth," he moaned against her breast, "God Elizabeth…"

She wanted to tell him to stop as one of her hands moved from the desk and slid into his hair. She wanted to tell him that they needed to wait, that thirty one days was not that far away but when she opened her mouth his name came tumbling out. Her body was weeping for him and she knew that he could feel her heat soaking through his jeans. It was shameless, she felt wanton and her body felt truly alive for the first time in eleven months.

She wouldn't stop this man even if the building was on fire although they might be the ones causing the flames.

Jason heard the desk start to scrap against the hardwood floor as Elizabeth's body started to move off of it and thrust against his own. He kept a firm hold on her hips as he worked his way up her neck, along the side of her jaw line before he kissed her again, deep, passionately, until they both felt as if their lungs would start to burst. He wanted to reach between their bodies; he wanted to release his straining erection. He was tired of fighting a losing battle and he knew that Elizabeth was tired of fighting it too. He started to move his hand when he heard her cry out, felt her body start to shudder, felt her heat seeping through.

"Jason…" she moaned as her nails scrapped against the desk, as her body shuddered, "Jason!"

Jason groaned as his head hit something hard and when he opened his eyes he found himself staring at a pair of black sneakers that were partially hidden by a pair of blue jeans. Raising his head from the floor he blinked and saw a smiling Elizabeth who was swimming in a PCU sweatshirt.

"Honey, I know you're head over heels for me but you didn't have to literally show me," she laughed before leaning down and kissing him on the cheek, "I'm ready for lunch and I'm dying for a cup of chili so let's head over to Kelly's. Sly's working so he won't be there to bother you."

Jason watched her stand up and he himself sat up, getting a good look at his surroundings. He was in the entrance way of her new office. It was the same way as he pictured it, the burgundy walls, the dark furniture, the leather couches and chairs, including the one from the downstairs office. He then saw Elizabeth, not in the business suit, standing by the door that he must have fallen through.

He shook his head and laughed as he climbed to his feet and walked past her, "Only thirty one more days, Miss Webber."

She grinned as she smacked his backside, "I can't wait either, Morgan."

Sly ran his hands through his hair before he pulled open the door to Kelly's diner. It was after the normal dinner rush on a Friday night in late October. He knew the chances of running into any of his family members or friends were slim and he would be able to get upstairs unnoticed with the six pack that he had in his hand. One of the many perks of being involved with the mafia was underage drinking.

He nodded to one of the waitresses and started up the stairs, rolling his head from side to side as he tried to relive some of the tension from between his shoulders. He had been pulling double shifts, working the streets even when he wasn't paid and offered to cover Johnny's hours while he was away on his honeymoon with Sly's cousin Lu. He had told Sonny that he thought Jason needed a break from the shadow he was becoming and therefore Sonny had put him on less dangerous shifts but allowed him to work more on his own. This also allowed Sly to avoid everyone in his life. For the past few weeks he had successfully dodged Lu and Elizabeth, he was barely on speaking terms with Jason and Sonny called him every day just to get reports. He had also been able to avoid Emily for a good month and a half.

Sly sighed as he turned down the hall and made his way towards his room. He couldn't get Jason's sister out of his mind and he knew that wasn't a good thing. Jason had no idea what had taken place that night that all hell broke loose in Port Charles. He walked in on Sly and Emily but the turning of the door knob gave the two enough room to jump apart. He gave Jason an update on his condition, let the doctor come and bandage his head up and then he looked at Emily and the blood that had dripped from his body onto her designer clothes. He couldn't explain the horror that coursed through his body when he realized that he had tainted her. He left with a gruff goodbye and hadn't seen her since.

The prospect of being with Emily was always tempting. She was gorgeous, clearly not the little girl he left in Port Charles all those years ago and it made sense that she did some modeling while she was in Europe with Lu. The attraction was there and it was hard to resist but it was something he was going to have to do. He and Jason were slowly learning to respect one another and he couldn't loose that, not for a roll in the hay with Morgan's sister, with one of his best friend's. That was what Sly Eckert was about, fast cars, loaded weapons and lots of women. He had been that way as a teenager, ever since he met Louis Alcazar and he wasn't about to change. Hell, he couldn't.

Sly slid the key out of his pocket and unlocked his bedroom door. He walked in, closing in behind him and took the few steps towards his bed, placing his beer down and tossing his keys to the night table. He then kicked his boots off and withdrew his gun from the back of his pants before turning towards his side and aiming it at the person who was sitting in the chair by his door. The tension came rushing back as he lowered the gun to his side.

"For a man who works for the mob, you sure do leave your window unlocked a lot."

He did that out of habit. He always used to leave it unlocked for her to climb through it. He knew though he should have started locking it but a part of him didn't want to. A part of him still wanted to look over from where he lay shirtless on the bed and see Emily Quartermaine climbing through after a rough day of college classes. As much as he wanted to, Sly couldn't do it anymore.

"I'll look into new locks," he said as he walked over to the window and slammed it shut, "I don't think it's a good idea that you're here. I'm sure Jason or Lizzie, one of them will be here shortly to pick up take out, what they usually get. They shouldn't see you here."

Sly kept his distance, and his eyes, from her. He couldn't look into those chocolate orbs that seemed so desperate and sad. He heard her sigh as she stood up and wrapped her arms around her waist which was covered in just a plain cream shirt. She was also wearing brown velvet jeans and he had to admit that she filled them out incredibly.

"Do you want me to apologize?"

"For what?"

"For driving this wedge between us," she asked, "I shouldn't have crossed the line, Sly. I just assumed that you wanted it."

He snorted, "You know what they say about assuming."

"Yeah," Emily said as she tried to keep her voice steady, "It makes an ass out of you and me and I guess that's what I did. Instead of telling me that though you ran with your tail between your legs. You couldn't get out of my brother's penthouse fast enough."

"I was shot in the head," Sly said as he turned to her, his eyes blazing, "Pardon me for wanting to lie down."

"This is me Sly, me," Emily said, "I'm the one who went and helped you pick ants for your ant farms. I'm the one who rolled around in the mud with you. I'm the one who always chose you over Lucky Spencer whenever there was a fight and I was the one who was there…and you were the one who always knew what it was like…I thought there was something here."

"We're friends, Em." Sly said, "I draw the line there."

She laughed as she threw her arms up in the air, "All because of my brother, Jason Morgan. Here I thought you were big bad Sly Eckert, not afraid of anyone or anything."

"Don't talk to me about being afraid of your brother, Em," Sly said, "You couldn't get the window open fast enough when he was headed up here that one time. You never had any intention of telling him how close we were."

"What the hell was the point?" Emily asked, "I would have if I thought for one second that we could have taken this somewhere but nope, you can't take a risk."

"Did you ever think that I'm just not interested?" he asked with raised eyebrows, "That maybe all I want is to be your friend. I don't want to be tied down to one woman, Emily. Not when there's a whole buffet out there waiting for me. I'm a hit man, baby, and I'm sexy as fuck to a lot of girls. They're lining up as we speak. It'd be stupid of me to settle down with just you."

Sly thought the most horrible incident he ever witnessed with a woman was when Lizzie had stood up in front of a judge and married Luis Alcazar. The look of utter defeat and shame on her face did not compare to the sadness and hatred that now appeared on Emily's. It was as if he was watching her heart be shattered, spilling onto his wooden floor where he would have to sweep up the tiny pieces. It was if he was thrusting a knife into her gut and slowly twisting it. He had to do it however, he just had to.

"Okay," she choked out as she brushed a tear away from her eye, "Okay Sly, you're not interested. I'm sorry that I threw myself at you. I'm sorry that I…I'm sorry that I began to care. And…" he hated how her lip trembled, "I hope you rot in this hell that you've created for yourself."

"I'll try to enjoy it," he said pulling his eyes away from hers to look out into the back alley of Kelly's, "Emmy."

Her hand was on the door knob and she managed to pull it open, managed to get one foot out the door before she turned back and stormed towards him. He looked back over as she approached, her suede cowboy boots clicking against his floor.

"I might not be a bastard like you Sly and I might not be as experienced as you," she said closing the distance between them, "But I sure as hell can tell when someone is returning a kiss, and you my dear sweet friend are just as interested as I am."

Sly was shocked when she took his face into her hands and pressed her lips against his. He had been with plenty of woman but none of them were the aggressor so he was taken aback when Emily made that move and he was quiet pleased.

She was holding on tight and she had no intention of letting go. When his hands settled on her hips to push her away she moved herself closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and sliding her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, then she purred beneath him and any resistance that he had was gone, right out the window that he finally closed.

Growling beneath her, he walked her back towards the bed and they tumbled onto it. Emily was on her back, Sly on top of her, settled between her legs as her hands pushed the jacket off of his body. He was pushing her shirt up her body until his hands came in contact with the pretty lace bra that she had on. She moaned beneath him when his thumb ran over the tiny bud that was begging to be released.

"Sly…" she moaned as she arched against him while his lips moved down her neck, "Sly…take me…now…Sly…"

"What the hell are you doing to my sister?"

Sly nearly blacked out when he felt his head being slammed against his wall. One minute he was on top of Emily, the next he felt something hard hit his gut as his six-pack fell from his bed and shattered to the floor while Emily and Elizabeth looked on in horror. He gasped for air when he felt Jason's elbow press against his window.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't cut your circulation off."

"Jason let him go," Emily said as she pulled her shirt down.

"Jason, stop," Elizabeth said as she walked towards her boyfriend and started to pull on his arm, "Jason…"

"Do it," Sly whispered as he met Jason's icy glare, "Apply the two pounds of pressure."

"Jason, stop it," Emily said as she started to pound at Jason with her fist, "Jason let him go. This is my fault. I was the one who was over here. Let Sly go."

Elizabeth watched as Jason stood there frozen with Sly held back against the wall while Emily cried for her beast of a brother to release him. She growled in frustration before she reached into Jason's pants and pulled out his gun, tapping him on the shoulder with the muzzle.

"Release him before I knock you unconscious with this thing," she raised her eyebrows when he turned his head slightly, "Go ahead, tempt me Morgan and I'll make sure they put onions on your damn sandwich."

Jason stepped back from Sly and watched as the younger man gasped for air. When Sly finally looked up his face connected with Jason's fist and he slumped over again, falling to his knees. Elizabeth shoved Jason as hard as her tiny body allowed her to.

"What the hell was that for?" she asked.

"Sly are you alright?" Emily asked kneeling in front of him.

"Go home, Emily." Jason growled, "Both of you. Eckert and I need to have a word together."

"I am not leaving him with you," Emily snapped at Jason before she turned back to Sly, "Sly…"

"Go Emily," Sly said as he stood up and moved away from her, "Do what your brother says."

"Sly, I am not…"

"Go!" Sly screamed.

Emily backed away and turned towards Jason and Elizabeth with tears in her eyes. She was unable to hold back a cry as she ran out of the room and down the stairs. Elizabeth had wanted to run after her friend but she knew that she wouldn't be able to leave Jason alone in the room with Sly. He was already advancing on the younger man who had put his sister in tears.

"That goes for the both of you," Sly said, "Get out of my room. You aren't welcome here."

"If you ever touch my sister again," Jason said raising his fist, "If you so much as look at her…"

"Get the fuck out of my place, Morgan." Sly said, "Threats and all."

"Let's go," Elizabeth said quietly as she stared at Sly in shock. She held Jason's gun out to him, "Our dinner is getting cold," when he didn't move she slipped her hand into his, "Jason."

Sly watched as Elizabeth and Jason slowly made their way towards the door. Jason was glaring at him the whole time and Elizabeth had the one look in his eyes that Sly hated more than anything else in this world; the look of pity. He kicked his door shut and then turned back around towards his empty room. The blanket was crumpled, the beer was spreading into a large puddle on the floor and the sweet smell of Emily's perfume still lingered in the room. He growled as he stepped over the mess of beer and walked towards his window and threw it open.

It had taken nearly twenty years but he was finally where he belonged, rotting in hell.

Elizabeth sat back on the couch drinking her soda as she watched Jason finish his sandwich from Kelly's. They had picked up their take out and headed home in silence. Not a word was said between them as they ate dinner and she wasn't sure if she should be the one to start the conversation. She didn't want her defending Sly to be another argument between them.

"I already know what you're going to say," he said taking a sip from his beer.

"I love you."

He couldn't help the smile that tugged as his lips, "Elizabeth."

"If that is the person that she wants to be with than I think you should let her be with him," she said quietly, "Suppose Sonny moved me into his home, made me a part of his family and then all of a sudden decided that you were too old to be hanging around me. What would you do?"

"I'd move you right back out."

Elizabeth smiled softly, "Then I think you should give Emily the same courtesy. I think she should be able to choose whomever she dates. From what I hear, no matter who she brings home, the Quartermaine's are going to have a problem with him. Don't you think that she should have someone on her side?"

Jason sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "But Sly? His reputation with woman…"

"Which includes me," Elizabeth said with a raised eyebrow.

"After you," Jason said, "I don't want my sister to be another notch on his bed post."

She shook her head, "Sly wouldn't do that to Emily."

"It looks like that's exactly where they were headed when we walked in on them Elizabeth," Jason said as he placed his beer bottle down on the coffee table and stood up, "It's bad enough that I have to work with the guy, seeing him in my personal life…"

"Which you already do," Elizabeth said, "Because he's my friend and now he's Johnny cousin."

Jason looked down at her, "He was earning my respect."

Elizabeth stood up with him, "And he shouldn't have to lose what he gained because you have a problem with him dating your sister. You have to trust me on this Jason. Sly isn't that bad of a guy. I know that he makes your skin crawl but it could be worse, Emily could be dating one of your real enemies."

"Sly is an enemy," Jason said, "Did you see the look on Emily's face when she ran out of that room tonight."

"Yeah and you helped putting it that by making Sly turn blue," she sighed when she heard the knock on Jason's. "Sonny's usual check up. I think you need to call your sister and apologize."

Jason rolled his eyes.

"I could make you call Sly and apologize," she smirked as she opened the door, "Hey Sonny we're…Sly."

It took Jason two steps to reach Elizabeth but he was halted when she held her arm out across the doorway so he couldn't walk into the hallway and after the man who had a quickly growing bruise on his right eye.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Sly said, "I just wanted to stop by and speak to Jason. I wanted to let you know something," he said meeting Jason's glare, "I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be seeing Emily. There is nothing between us and there never will be. You gave me a second chance when I didn't deserve one and this is no way to pay you back. So, I'm staying away from Emily."

He nodded to Elizabeth and Jason before he turned and headed for the elevator. He pressed the button and stood there waiting for a few seconds before the door opened before him and he stepped int.

"Sly." Jason called.

Sly poked his head out with one hand holding the doors open. "Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Sly nodded and then he disappeared.

Elizabeth closed the door and watched Jason make his way back over to his beer. "Well, at least he still has your respect right?" she asked before picking up the remnants of her dinner, "Excuse me."

Jason sighed as he collapsed back into his leather chair and took another pull from his bottle. Yeah, Sly still had Jason's respect but it was at the expense of Emily's heart.