CHAPTER THRITY-TWO
answers


         Alexis.

Sonny.

Sonny and Alexis
         Alexis and Helena

Helena… What did that half-crazy old ex-queen of whatever have in mind?

Walking down the hall to her office, those were the thoughts that kept swirling around in Carly's mind. If Helena could get Alexis out of her way, her life would be that much easier, that's for sure. And Helena did want Alexis out of the way, same as Carly did. More than Carly did. Helena knew Alexis well enough, as she had explained in the limo. Alexis had always been one taking on airs being conceited when she had no real reason to be so. She wasn't even a real Cassidine, Helena had confided in her, but just a bastard fathered by her husband, that she had taken in out of pity after her mother had died.
         So it turned out that Alexis deserved whatever Helena wanted to hand to her, Carly was convinced of that… and once that decision was made, she put it out of her mind, just as she paused before the office door. Her first priority was on making things right between she and Jax. They hadn't really spoken since that last time, when she'd hurt him so badly. She hadn't meant to. He had to know that. He had to.

         Carly opened the door slowly. She peeked into the office. Jax looked up; his expression carefully neutral.

"Good evening Carly," Jax said as Carly walked into the office. "I thought this was the start of your vacation?"
         "It is. Michael's been missing me so much, I thought it was a good idea to spend some time with him. Thanks for understanding."

One thing Jax had learned was how deep the love for her son went. A mother's love was special; Jax knew that first hand, remembering how his own had – and still did – dote upon him and love him so remarkably unconditionally. In spite of himself, he smiled.  "Every boy needs his mother."

His father too,  Carly thought but kept that to himself. Neither did she mention that Sonny's birthday was coming soon as well. These next few days off should give her time to come up with a way to get herself back into his bed...and his life. Either would do; and both would get her what she wanted. She certainly didn't need any Cassidine to help her with that! 

         "I just wanted to make sure you had the latest invoices for this week." Carly handed him a folder.

Jax opened it and a card fell out. He picked it up. "Open reservations for the Crystal Garden in Chicago?"

Carly shrugged. "I thought we might check out some competition."

"Is this your way of apologizing?"

"It could be…" Carly admitted.

"But the reservations are in my name. So does this mean I pay?"

Carly's temper sparked. "Oh, like my name would get us an open reservation for the next month! Get real… I had to use your name to get the reservations."

"Whoa, Princess, you wanna aim that fire at someone else?" They both caught the familiar slip, and a sudden silence fell over them.

It was Carly who broke the silence between them first. "I can't. You're the only friend I've got right now. And anyway, this is business. Mostly."

"Mostly? And what else?"

"You're gonna make me say it, aren't you?"

"Yes." Jax looked at her, and after a long while, let a hint of a smile show. "Yes, I think I am."
         "Fine." Carly sighed dramatically, before crossing to the bar and pouring two shots of vodka from the bar. "It's partly business, but mostly it's me apologizing. Satisfied?"

"Maybe."

 "Come on, Jax. What else can I say?" She asked as she handed him one.

He only looked at her with those incredibly blue eyes  for an answer and Carly knew what he wanted. Yes, he's going to make me say it.

"Fine, I'm sorry!" She brought the other shot glass to her lips and downed it in one gulp.  "Should I take out an ad or announce it over the PA system?!"

"That won't be necessary, your majesty." He grinned at her in spite of himself. "Only you could make an apology so, well, unapologetic."

***

         A shiver went thru Alexis.

         "What was that?" Sonny asked. "What's wrong?"

         Alexis shook it off and tried to laugh it away. "Nothing".. but it felt like…what was the saying, someone walking across her grave.. A frisson of trepidation…of something indefinable uneasiness…but nothing she could put her finger on…and a moment later, she didn't want to as Sonny's fingers trailed across the back of her neck, sending another but much more pleasurable shiver through her.

         "Mmmm…" she murmured a wordless sound of pleasure. Sonny's other hand came to join the first, warm, firm fingers digging knowledgeably into the tense muscle points at the base of her neck.  Alexis let her eyes drift shut as she sat back from Sonny's desk. and leaned back into them.
         It had been a long afternoon at work on several new coffee contracts, broken only by a small business dinner. The remnants had been strewn across the coffee table until just recently. Alexis had returned to work, over Sonny's protests; and once he'd seen she was serious about them, he had busied himself cleaning up their leftovers. It was a homey feeling enveloping Alexis, so serene and comfortable that Alexis had slipped off her shoes as she began the last scrutiny of the folders scattered across his desk.

         Finished with the last of his chores, Sonny had come to stand behind her; now his hands slid themselves upwards to knead at the base of her skull, finding their way into the nape of the twisted bun of hair.

         "As much as I love seeing you in lawyer-mode.." Sonny was saying as his fingers worked their magic against her flesh. "You know how I prefer your hair?"

         His fingers were putting action to his words, answering the question on their own, smoothly and slowly removing the pins from her hair, letting the thick waves of dark chestnut spill down  over his hands.

         "Just like this…" Sonny's voice was like warm butter in her ear, as his hands caressed her skin, sending all the tension that comes after hours of sitting at a desk melt away. His hands slid up to massage her scalp, then moved slowly downwards again to massage her shoulders. He bent down to whisper those last words in her ear, "Loose and wild…" and as his lips touched the delicate curve of her ear, Alexis forgot all about the work spread out on the desk before her

         Somehow she managed to find her voice…"Sonny…there's no time for this…" She tried to sound firm, but her voice faltered as his lips trailed downwards, along the curve of her ear and found that juncture between ear and her jaw line.

         "No time for this?" He asked devilishly as the barest tip of his tongue traced a tiny pattern against her skin and then began to move tantalizingly, tortuously downward. "No time for this either?"  She turned her head to scold him, but before she could utter a single word, Sonny's lips settled over hers, drawing her into a thoroughly intoxicating kiss.

         "Business before pleasure…" Alexis said, thankful for the chance to regroup. As always, when he kissed her, which had been more and more often in these last few weeks, time seemed to stand still. His touch and his kisses always left her aching inside, waiting and wanting for more, but even so, something in her was holding her back from committing herself fully. And Sonny never pressed her further than she was willing to go, remembering what he had promised what seemed so very long ago

         Sonny finished his call.  "Pleasure, one of my favorite words, Alexis." His voice dropped down to a throaty growl and shivered its way through Alexis' body.

         He sat on the edge of the desk and slid one hand back into her hair. "Definitely one of my favorite words, especially when it happens in a sentence that includes your name." He leaned down and kissed her again. He drew her up into his arms, still kissing her, each one deeper than the next. When he had done, they were both left breathing hard.

         She looked into his dark, dark eyes, mesmerized by the passion she sensed lurking deep in them. When Sonny was in this mood, even her name on his lips was a caress. Between his gaze, his voice and his touch, she almost forgot what she'd been about to say.

         "Didn't you have business to take care of, or was that call a wrong number?" Alexis asked, murmuring softly against his lips. "It's not that I'm rushing you off, but we both have work to finish up. We've already stopped for dinner, and the messenger company will have someone here to pick up these contracts in a less than an hour.."

         "Are you sure you're not rushing me off, Alexis?" He pulled back slightly to look her in the eye. His smiled flashed out over her, daring her… "Whatcha scared of, Counselor?"

         "Not you, Mr. Corinthos…" Alexis replied. She proved that by slipping one hand behind his head around him and pulling him back into a torrid kiss of her own. When she had done, his breathing told her she'd gotten to him as much as he'd gotten to her… after all, two could play that game. "But as I said, we both have work to do…and the sooner it's done, the sooner we'll be done.."

         "And the sooner I'm gone, the sooner I can get back?"
         Alexis smiled. "That would be the general idea."

         "Sounds like a plan, Counselor. After all, I forgot about dessert." His smile deepened "How do you feel about whipped cream?"

         Whipped cream. That man could make the most innocent things sound incredibly erotic, Alexis thought.. the images that came to mind when she thought of Sonny and whipped cream brought a heated flush to her face.

         Alexis sighed aloud, opening her eyes. Even though Sonny had left her more than an a half-hour before, the taste of his lips still lingered on her lips. She smiled to herself. Well another clause or two and she'd be done; Sonny should be home soon. He'd said he'd call when his business was done. And best of all, there'd she be waiting for him. Somewhere along the way, the last few weeks had drawn them even closer together, Sonny's penthouse becoming almost like a second home to her. It was nothing for her to be as she was now, shoes off, and herself comfortably settled and working at his desk. And the rest of the evening would be spent just the two of them, sitting lazily in front of the fire as they talked and talked and talked.

         But this work wasn't going to get done by itself, she scolded herself. What she needed was another cup of coffee to get her through the last of her work. Lucky for her, Sonny had left her a carafe of his most excellent coffee in the kitchen.

         She quickly poured herself a cup in the kitchen. Sipping at it as she walked back into the living room, and still caught up somewhat in sweet memories, Alexis was startled by the sound of her cell phone. Just as she came back from the kitchen, the phone rang.

         "Missed me much?"

         "Enough."

         "Are you pleading the Fifth here?" Sonny demanded.

         "Oh, you are learning, aren't you?"

         "It comes from the company I keep. It's good for me."
         "You're good for me, Sonny." That admission came out of nowhere.

         "I was thinking the same thing…and I'm on my way to pick up dessert. How about some biscotti and hot chocolate to finish off the evening?"

         "That sounds…. nice."

         "Nice? All I get is nice? Don't think I've forgotten about the cream…Thirty minutes, then."

         Only after Sonny had hung up did Alexis become aware of the commotion out in the hall. Then a harried and irritated Johnny was opening the door and an equally irate Carly was standing in the doorway. "I told you he wasn't here, Carly."

         The sight of Alexis in Sonny's apartment obviously was doing nothing for her temper. "well, somebody's in here." Carly walked in and stood in the middle of the living room, looking around. "What are you doing here, Alexis?" She demanded.

         "What does it look like, Carly?" Alexis said, trying to resist the effort of talking to the other woman as though she were a child. Nonetheless a little voice in her head did it for her, in spite of her best efforts… See the chair. See the desk. See the desk with paperwork. Work, Carly. I am doing work. W-o-r-k.
         Alexis turned back to the desk, so she could hide the chuckle threatening to bubble up inside her. If Carly only knew how she looked, neck craning out as she looked for some trace of Sonny's presence. Did she think that he would hide because she was at the door? That thought only made it worse; Alexis wanted to laugh out loud, but it just wasn't worth  the scene it would cause.

         "He's not here, Carly." She managed to get out without laughing in her face.

         Carly didn't answer her, but instead marched herself over to the couch and flung herself down on it; hooking one leg over the couch arm. "Well, I expect he'll be back soon enough. I'll tell him you were here." She said dismissively.

          She'll tell Sonny that _I_ was here?  I hardly think so. Alexis thought to herself. She sat herself back down at the desk and picked up the last of the contracts to review. Without looking at Carly she began to leaf through the last pages, crossing her t's and dotting her i's. "Actually, you might want to leave a message of your own. When he gets back, we have these contracts to go over, so I'm not the one going anywhere."

         "So you think I am?" Carly said, the venom clear in her voice. "You think I'm going to stand back and watch you try and take my place? Didn't you understand me? I know that razor sharp Cassidine mind heard me loud and clear. I'll tell Sonny that you were here, so you can quit babysitting his apartment and babysitting him."

            Enough was enough. Alexis sighed as she laid the papers down on the desk. "I understand that Johnny probably let you in out of respect of you being the ex-Mrs. Corinthos and more importantly, Michael's mother...but don't you get it yet? You are the EX, Carly. Which means you have no right to throw anyone out of here anymore." Alexis looked at her over her glasses. "Not that you ever had the right to throw me out of anywhere, least of all Sonny's penthouse, did you?"
            "You always were barging in here any hour of the day or night, harassing Sonny." Carly spat at her. "You couldn't stay away from him, could you. Not from day one. You're one of the main reasons that Sonny left me...because of your meddling…always butting in where you weren't wanted."

            Alexis snorted a very unlady-like snort, that almost turned into a chuckle. She tamped that down. "Harassing Sonny? Is that what you want to call it? What soap opera are you watching?" Alexis stood up and walked over to stand in front of Carly. "Let me make something perfectly clear… I have never run after any man….."

            "Not for lack of choices." Carly sneered at her. "How many would have had you, to begin with. Not many, I bet."
            Alexis shook her head at Carly's interruption. And her denseness. "Allow me to clarify that statement – and try to keep up; I have never had to run after any man; I've never felt the need – or I should say neediness – to chase after any man…."
            "And what about my husband!" Carly shrilled, her voice screeching in a mix of frustration and rage.

            Alexis continued as though Carly hadn't spoken. "While he was married to you, I was Sonny's friend…and that was the extent of our relationship. You can believe that or not, I really don't care. But as I was saying… Nor have I had to lie or scheme to keep a man…I have always had discriminating tastes, like not sleeping with other women's husbands. And not having anonymous sex with multiple partners. That is why we all had to play who's the daddy with Mikey, isn't it?"

            Alexis circled Carly slowly. "I can see where you have a certain – earthiness – that appeals to men. Trust me, I'm not so insecure as to begrudge someone their strong points. The word sexy could be used..." Alexis finished her circuit and came to face Carly once again. "… in a cheap, common sort of way. But Carly, it seems like you can get them easy enough, but you just can't seem to keep them, can you?"
            Carly's lips parted, but nothing came out. Alexis reached out and using one finger, tapped her under the chin.

            "Do close your mouth; you might catch a fly." She paused, looking at Carly's stunned expression and allowed herself the tiniest of smiles. "It's all you'll be catching around here."

            Verbally outdone, outsmarted and outwitted, Carly reacted instinctively, one hand flying up towards Alexis' face.  Alexis didn't so much as flinch, but anticipating Carly's actions; only stepped aside smoothly. She grabbed Carly's wrist at the same time and using her own momentum to propel Carly past her and used that same momentum to sling her towards the door. To stop herself from crashing into it, Carly stumbled and fell to her knees hard enough to knock the wind out of her. She glared up at Alexis, gasping for breath and momentarily unable to speak.

            "Carly Benson…speechless… Never did think I'd see the day that would happen. A slight smile graced Alexis' face as though she were enjoying the sight of Carly silent. In fact she was. "I'm sure you fantasized doing exactly  that – slapping me --  any number of times." Alexis said. "But sorry, it's going to stay a fantasy. So get over it."

            Carly got to her feet. She was tugging at her clothes, putting them in place, when the penthouse door opened.

            "What's going on in here?" Sonny asked. His eyes went from one woman to the other.

            "Nothing much, Carly and I were just coming to an understanding." Alexis resettled her glasses, then walked towards the door, pausing to pick up the sheaf of folders on Sonny's desk. "About dessert -- maybe we'll have it later… maybe…since it seems like you are otherwise occupied for the moment." She walked past Carly without a glance, but paused in front of Sonny. "I'll leave you to deal with your distractions." With that, she was gone and Sonny was left staring at the closed door.