Flames and Firelight
Dancing,
vibrant Alive. The flames of the
torch danced golden bright in the wake of the many gentle gusts of the tropic
night breezes. Alexis felt the same; alive – aware as she hadn't been in
a very long time, as she gazed into the heart of the torchiere nearest her
table. For the moment, she was alone. After they'd finished a dance and was
heading back to their table, Sonny had been drawn away by a group of men who
obviously had wanted to respectively speak to the respected senor Corinthos.
Not releasing her hand, Sonny had turned am inquisitive gaze on Alexis, clearly
giving her the choice. Alexis had smiled at him. Time meant nothing for the
moment…she'd be fine.
On the opposite side of the compound, Sonny watched Alexis, even as he accepted the respectful offerings by the men around him. Even from this distance, he was aware of her, he marveled. Sonny had escorted her back to her seat, his hand all too aware of the feel of the cool silk of her dress beneath his palm, and the lean curves just underneath, after a dance when the group of men had approached, respectfully asking for them to join them.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Sonny asked as he handed her into her seat. His eyes had been dancing; now they darkened. Sonny was all too aware of his responsibilities. He'd hurt her once, by being thoughtless and letting other "business" take precedence. But this night could be special, and he found himself ready to throw it all away – for just this one night. He hadn't realized that until this very moment. H was not about to make that mistake twice.
"I understand,
Sonny." Those great brown eyes looking up into his seemed to see deep inside of
him. And her smile was genuine. He was amazed at this woman all over again. She
did understand…without a word, without questioning him endlessly or feeling a
need to insinuate herself into the situation. She understood the boundaries of
who and what he was…she always did. Sonny felt a new wave of warmth go through
him as he looked at her
Her smile widened. "They want to pay their respects; it's only for a little while. We have the rest of the night." Sonny watched Alexis blush as she realized what she'd said. And a number of teasing remarks flashed into his head, any one of which would have reduced Alexis to a series of stammering and stutterings.
But he didn't.
"We have as
long as we want, Alexis." He'd meant to say it lightly, but then their eyes met
and held; and for a long, long moment nothing else existed in their world
except the two of them. Mentally Sonny shook himself. "This won't take long.
I promise."
***
Alexis' gaze shifted away from the torches,
moving to look around the compound, idled across the great open space where the
dancing was held and the long tables on one side that held a groaning load of
tempting food and drinks. Her gaze
continued to travel around the area, until she found Sonny standing talking
with the men that had claimed his
attention. Even in the midst of a group of men, some of who were taller and
physically stronger appearing, Sonny stood out. Even from this distance, his
aura of power was undeniable.
And that was
very dangerous thing, she realized. The female in her was responding
instinctively to the sheer maleness that Sonny exuded without even trying. And
without the restraints that their roles in Port Charles proscribed, that was a
very, VERY dangerous thing.
No
man should be allowed to look so good so often, or so many ways. Alexis
thought. She wasn't used to this Sonny. Shirt opened and contrasting warmly
against the light-golden tone of his skin, dark hair curling free of its usual
control. The lines of tension, control seemed to be banished, at least for the
night.
All you have
to do is relax." Sonny's sultry
voice echoed through her head. And it seemed he'd taken his own words to heart.
Everything tonight had gone so easily, and all she had to do was relax….
**flashback**
Earlier that
evening, after Marisol had delivered her dress and left her, she'd dismissed
her nieces and had sunk gratefully into a hot bath, letting the richly-floral
scented water lull her senses into sereneness. For a time, everything seemed to
awaken her senses -- the sounds of the ocean caressed her ears even as the
water caressed her skin. And even after, she was aware of the softness of the
warm tropical breeze as it washed over her bare skin and of the glide of the
oils as she rubbed it in all over her body. Alexis had decided to do her own
face and hair this evening. She would be herself, whoever that was, and that
would be all she wanted Sonny to see.
So she applied a light dusting of powder, and just the merest touch of
eyeliner and mascara. A splash of a light scent, one of a selection that
Marisol had had sent to her. It wasn't her usual lightly scented fragrance, but
one heavier, richer, with notes of tuberoses and musk and a hint of vanilla
sweetness… a last spritz and she was ready.
Alexis
emerged from the suite to find a guard waiting to escort her; and all too soon,
she was there with him, and very much aware of Sonny's eyes on her as she
descended the stairs to the pier where he was waiting for her.
He'd been standing at the pier's edge, idly twirling a flowering branch in his hands. He laughed to himself, he was as nervous as a teenage boy on prom night. But then again, how would he know? There had been no prom nights for him, not ever. Sonny leaned on the rail and stared out over the water, trying to still his thoughts. Tonight, they were away from all distractions…. Tonight, things could change between them forever…
Something
turned him around, and Sonny looked up to see Alexis coming down the stairs
coming towards him. A swirl of vibrant red silk caressed her body. Simple and
sleek, the sultry night breeze played along its length, fluttering against her
legs, and exposing a length of smooth and slender thigh that made Sonny catch
his breath in anticipation.
Alexis raised a perfectly arched eyebrow as she saw the speedboat.. "I didn't realize we were going on another trip, Sonny."
After a moment, Sonny found his voice. "What'samatter, Alexis. Don't you trust me?"
"Didn't I tell
you once already?" Alexis stepped forward and slid her hand into his. "Always."
Then
there was the boat ride, the thrill of feeling the powerboat powering thru the
ocean waves was exhilarating. Alexis stood at the side of the boat, hands
grasping the railing firmly as she watched the waves curl and dance along the
sides of the boat. She laughed aloud, feeling the wind whip her hair back from
her face.
"Why are you laughing?" Suddenly Sonny was standing behind her. The boat rocked as it danced along the waves, sending Alexis stumbling against the rail and instinctively, his arms came up from behind, sliding around her to hold her steady.
"I don't know?" Alexis said. She didn't know why, except that she felt so…free. That word again. Why was she using it so much? But here she was, free of Port Charles, and free of everyone there… The thought started her laughing again and Sonny joined in, the sound deep and rich and vibrant in her ear. "I'm just happy, I guess…why are you laughing?"
"Because you're
happy. That's all the reason I need." His hands slid atop hers and their fingers
intertwined. Once upon a time, not so very long ago, his nearness would have
sent Alexis into stammers and blushes. But not tonight. Instead, Alexis
deliberately let the motion of the ocean press her body backwards into his. She smiled to herself as she felt
his arms tighten around hers and leaned into his body, enjoying the feel of his
body firm and hard against hers. Neither one of spoke again for the rest of
their short journey.
A
small island soon appeared and they only moved away from one another as the
boat slowed and came to rest alongside a pier, and even then, it was very
reluctantly. Sonny climbed out first, and then held out a hand to help Alexis.
A touch of his regular devilishment sparkled as her dress once again gave him a
long clear look at of smooth thigh. Alexis could only shake her head and laugh.
Incorrigible… she said to herself.
Aloud she said:
"It just occurred to me that all of the dresses delivered to my room were exactly the right size. And in specific colors. Now how did that happen?"
Sonny, at a
loss for words. Alexis never thought she would see the day. He was looking at
her in a little-boy-shy manner that dismantled another piece of her heart's
armor. She was rapidly loosing the battle.
"I was hoping
you'd wear the red."
"Red's
not usually my color of choice. I wasn't sure if it was me."
"I was."
"But size
wise, how did you know…." Alexis
answered her own question. "…Kristina."
"I
plead the fifth, Councilor. But I will admit, she has her uses." Sonny
laughed. As usual, only Alexis could read him like a book. "She also said
to tell you something about tiny umbrellas?"
Alexis
giggled, a sound he'd never heard from her before; it melted into his heart and
ran through his veins like sweet rum and he was intoxicated by the sound. "You
want to share the joke?"
"Maybe
later...if you're good."
"I'm
always good..." Sonny said in a seductive tone. "And when I'm bad,
I'm...better..."
"What's
that supposed to mean?"
"Maybe
you'll find out later...if you're good." He held out his arm to her.
Alexis
took it. "I'm so not talking to you, do you know that?" she said. As they
walked towards the crowd gathering at the far end of the pier, she paused and
turned to him.
"Sonny?"
"Hm?"
Her eyes locked
onto his, serious again, if just for a moment.. Alexis squeezed his arm.
"Just in case I forget later on, I had a really nice time tonight."
Sonny
smiled, a genuine one that lit up his eyes and beamed a full gig hertz at her.
"And just think," he said...bringing up his other hand to lace his fingers into
hers. "The night is still young."
**end
flashback**
It was close to midnight. Alexis couldn't think of a more wonderful night than the one she'd had tonight. No accusing glances, no condemning words or admonitions. Just she and Sonny and a host of laughing smiling faces.
All the antagonism and opposition from the afternoon's long meeting was gone; they'd walked into a group of welcoming smiles and handshakes. They were shown to one of the tables laid out along the edges of a huge dance floor and their fun began. Dancing and food filled the evening. More than once, Sonny managed to coax Alexis onto the dance floor. And somehow, Alexis smiled to herself, she managed to keep her footing and not make a total fool of herself. Dancing had never been a strong point of hers. But in his arms, Alexis had felt sure of herself… the magic, the moonlight and the music, all of it was weaving a moonlit, flame kissed web of magical possibilities…and Alexis let it all sweep her away.
They had eaten
and danced the night away. Dinner had been an event.. nothing formal, but a
large - no huge - buffet spread out
along three enormous flower strewn tables. They'd joined the crowd around them,
plates in hand. Most of the food was exotic dishes she had never tasted before,
but Sonny had been all too happy to pick out those that he knew she'd most
likely enjoy, and then spent most of dinner feeding her by hand. Feeling equally adventurous, Alexis had even
gone so far as to lick the juices off his fingers more than once. If no one had known differently, they would
have sworn the two of them were lovers in every sense of the word. Up 'til now,
they'd only danced around that issue, Alexis realized; could things
change….would they?
That was all up to her, wasn't it?
