CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
         Realities

                              

As they sank down into the soft cool sand, Alexis felt the last of her worries and concerns melt away. The only thing that existed was Sonny's lips, as he kissed her, and the feel of his body against hers. His arms around her were soul-stoppingly strong; in response, her own arms slipped around his shoulders to draw him even closer One of his hands dropped to caress the long and lean length of thigh exposed by her dress as they lay together, and then slid boldly upwards. Alexis let out a gasp as he touched her intimately. His lips lowered themselves to that long lovely expanse of throat, trailing feather light kisses along her skin, raising goosebumps as he went.

Sonny murmured a wordless sound of gratification at her response. His mouth found it's way to the sweet juncture where neck meet jaw line and he paused to swirl his tongue into that sensitive spot. As Alexis arched under him; he delighted in her response.

A whisper of Spanish love-words vibrated against her skin, sending a shiver of desire through her.

"Senór Corinthos.."

The voice was far off down the beach; for a second, it might even have been imagined, a secondary sigh in the hiss of the waves as they susurrated along the shore. Alexis paused; Sonny stilled. And the voice came again…. "Senór … a thousand pardons…" the voice trailed off into Spanish.

Reluctantly, his breathing short and ragged, Sonny raised himself to a sitting position, Alexis quickly following suit just as the bodyguard arrived. His eyes tactfully cast aside; a spurt of Spanish poured out of his mouth and there was no mistaking the apologetic tone of his voice, if not his words. Alexis watched as Sonny cut the flood of words off, answering them in a sharp toned voice. The bodyguard offered him a phone and then stepped out of range.

Her attention turned back to Sonny and she watched his face with a suddenly sinking sensation settling into the pit of her stomach. Somehow, across the countless miles, their lives in Port Charles had somehow managed to reach out and touch them, even here in this midnight paradise. And the Sonny she knew all too well took the place of the Sonny she'd just discovered moments ago. He disappeared between one breath and the next, right before her eyes.


         The two men spoke a few final words, with Sonny obviously giving orders and then the man was running back down the beach. Sonny was done. He turned to her, and in his gaze, there was a shadow of  Michael there, but then he was gone. This interlude was done. He put out his hand to her and unthinking, she took it. His grasp was tight, Alexis watched him as he struggled briefly for control to banish the anger inside. She heard the iron control in his voice and the growing fury that under laid it. "Courtney's missing…she's slipped her guards."

With that, Alexis knew their little escape from reality was over. Together, they began to walk back towards the pier where she was sure, their boat would be all ready standing by to whisk them away. "But Sonny, I thought you'd told me you promised her… no guards."


         "She has no idea of what she's dealing with… who she's dealing with!" Sonny's voice sharpened. "AJ's missing too.. how much do you want to bet that ain't no coincidence?" He began to walk faster, just under a run.

She wouldn't bet him either a Greek drachma or a Cossack ruble More than likely, Sonny was right. It was no coincidence at all.

***

         Esteban and Marisol were waiting at the boat when they arrived at the pier. The two man crew were rapidly preparing to cast off.

"My apologies, Senór Corinthos, for the problems that have cut your visit with us short." Esteban said. "I hope it is nothing here that has caused any unpleasantness?"

Sonny shook his head sharply. "It wasn't, Esteban. Everything here was handled satisfactorily. I am very much pleased. So let your people know this. But I appreciate your concern."


         While the two men spoke, Marisol turned to Alexis. "You left this." She draped Alexis' shawl over her shoulders, and pressed a small bunch of  pasión fuego blossoms into her hands. "Estos tiempos de la felicidad volverán. Sea lo que él necesita ahora, cuando usted ha sido antes. Sé que él tendrá grande necesidad de usted pronto. Y regresa a nosotros cuando usted puede."   Before Alexis could ask, she translated. "These times of happiness will come again. Be what he needs now, as you have been before. I know he will have great need of you soon. And come back to us when you can."

Marisol smiled at Alexis and stepped away and suddenly, there was no more time for words.It was time to go.

Other than a brief murmur of apology to her, Sonny had been all too quiet on the plane ride home. Once they were airborne, Sonny had left her to confer with the pilot, and had obviously stopped off in his private cabin to change. When he re-entered the cabin, he was dressed in his usual dark suited attire.

Here eyes dropped down to her own clothing. The red dress seemed overbright all of a sudden and Alexis figured it was past time she got out of it. She stood up as Sonny moved towards his seat. A sudden jolt of turbulence sent her stumbling slightly and then just as suddenly, Sonny was there, steadying her.

"Alexis?" Sonny had looked at her. "I'm sorry...for everything."

         She hadn't trusted herself to speak. Alexis nodded once then fled his embrace for the sanctuary of  the other cabin, determined to show nothing of the emotions ripping thru her. Behind the closed door, however, a single solitary ragged gasp of pain ripped through her. She struggled out of her clothing, throwing everything down  and then just as quickly, jamming the jumble of clothes into the suitcase Kristina had prepared with such care.

She dressed and then stared at herself in the mirror. Outwardly, she was the same as always, sleek and suited Alexis Davis, from the top of her Armani suit down to her Anne Klein shoes. Cool, collected, capable Alexis Davis. Nothing of what she was feeling showed in her eyes. She wouldn't let it.

**

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Except for the silence. Alexis tried more than once to talk to Sonny on the plane ride back to the States, but he had shut down on her.  She watched as he stared out of the window, lost in his own thoughts. Brooding no doubt. And probably blaming his sister's disappearance on himself, Alexis thought. All I can do is wait. Until he is ready…as long as he does nothing to hurt himself.  There was always that danger… as cold and as ruthless as Sonny could be when it came to "business", when it came to those he cared about, Sonny could be as reckless as any man. She only hoped that neither Courtney or AJ had done anything to provoke Sonny to act rashly. But even as she thought it, she knew it was a wasted wish.

            Alexis sighed.