A/N – Thank you for liking the progression. I was laughing at some of your comments re: Patrick. I just want to reiterate that he sick and it's serious, just not as serious as Liz thinks it is.

Chapter 16

NC17

Another nurse came in prompting Patrick and Liz to separate, and when they insisted on doing another test, Elizabeth moved into the hallway to catch her breath. While she isn't in love with him anymore, her heart is breaking. No matter what, it had been good between them for a long while and knowing that he's so sick is killing her.

About a half hour later, they gave him the green light to leave and she walked him into the lobby.

"Where are you staying?"

"I'm at the Metro Court."

"Okay. I can drop you off."

He bashfully looked down. "I know how you feel about me. I don't want to put you out."

She reached up and touched his cheek. "The past doesn't matter anymore. I forgive you, remember?"

He slightly smiled and then hugged her again.

Jason stopped in his tracks beside the gurney. Luckily, several nurses had taken over because he is mesmerized by the tenderness he is witnessing.

When they start to walk his way holding hands, not realizing that he is there, he darts down a hallway and waits, observing as Elizabeth laughs and playfully pulls Patrick into the elevator.

His heart sunk. What if Patrick is luring her back because of the illness? Elizabeth is a compassionate person and she had been in love with the man. He hits the wall with his hand and then his shoulders pushed back in defiance. "I'm not giving you up," he mutters before moving back towards the waiting area. "Not in this lifetime."

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Elizabeth entered the cottage. "Jason?"

She frowned, noting his car and bike were in the driveway and then figured that he must be in the shower, so she headed to the bedroom. As soon as she clears the doorway, she is lifted and pressed against the wall and his mouth is on her.

Stunned by his intensity, she melts as he tongue slides against hers. The sound of her blouse ripping fills the room and then her bra is opened and she is lifted higher and his mouth claims her nipple as he sucks, bites, and licks it until it's hard.

"Jason…" A whimper leaves her lips as he conquers the other one and then she's lowered to the floor and her soon, her pants are off and the towel around his waist is discarded and then she pressed against the wall again.

Before she can even question, his cock fills her and a hard thrust knocks the wind out of her and when he repeats the motion, a shrill scream leaves her as he starts to pound into her.

"Does that feel good, Elizabeth? Do you like how hard I fuck you?"

"Oh, God!" she yelled as his dick rubbed against her g-spot. "Yes! Harder!"

He grunts as he tries to get better leverage and when he still can't get the rhythm he wants, he carries her to the bed and places her on it. "On your knees…"

She almost comes just from his tone as she scrambles to get into position.

As soon as she rises up, he pushes her shoulders down, grabs her ass, and then enters her to the hilt.

"Fuck!" he yells.

He snaps his hips again and strikes against her cervix, make her scream with pleasure and pain. Her head is pressed against the comforter and she is on fire for him. He has never been this rough and demanding and she loves every second of it. When he starts to drill into her, taking away all coherent thought, her body tenses and then she screams his name as her juices cover his cock. Not even slowing down, he fucks her through it as something builds within him that is too big to be described. "This is mine, Elizabeth! Say it!"

She's practically boneless as he continues to thrust hard, rubbing against her g-spot when he slightly changes his angle. "I'm yours! Oh God! Jason… I'm going to come again."

He leans forward and grabs her breasts, tweaking her nipples and this time when her muscles contract, he lets go and fills her with his seed as they both collapse.

The room is filled with heavy breathing and then he covers her back with kisses as he pushes off her.

She starts to laugh because it was so good. The second orgasm had been different and way stronger than the first. "I don't know what the hell that was, but it was so hot. I may never walk again."

He freezes. "Did I hurt you?"

"I'll be fine, once I can focus."

He slightly smiles and then lies beside her.

"What got into you?"

She watches as he closes his eyes.

"The truth?"

Her eyes slightly narrow. "Yes."

"I saw you with Patrick at Mercy and I was jealous."

"I'll have to thank him later."

His eyes snap open. "What?"

"I need to thank him for being the reason that I had the hottest sex ever."

Jason rolled his eyes. "I can be hotter."

She grinned and then moved closer. "I look forward to that and for the record, I don't want Patrick. I feel bad for him, but you're the only man for me."

"Good to know."

"He's sick and dying. And yes, he came back here to try and make amends and does want me back, but regardless of the circumstances, I'm not biting."

"I understand."

"I'm glad you do, because I'm struggling over here." She curled into his side. "In the beginning, it was exciting and fun. I just—we got caught up in our work and kind of drifted apart a little. I missed him and had a hard time letting it go."

"Do you still love him, Elizabeth?"

"I think part of me will always have love for him because I haven't had a lot of relationships and I was in love with him, but I'm not anymore."

He hated that she was ever with anyone before him even if that is totally unrealistic. His finger lifted her chin so she would look at him. "I know this is soon, but I'm falling in love with you and the thought of losing you—"

His words are cut off by her mouth as she puts everything she has into the kiss before pulling back. "You're not going to lose me. I'm falling in love with you too."

Her words sooth him.

When his phone buzzes he reads the text from Johnny and then sits up and puts his head in his hands.

"What happened?" she asks as she touches his back.

"Zander is dead."

She kisses his back several times. "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"What can I do?"

"Hold me?"

She laid on her back and held her arms out. "Come here."

He rested his head on her chest and she ran her finger tips through his hair.

"I am so proud of you."

"Why?" he asked.

"You knew that Zander's chances were slim, but you went in there and calmed him and did whatever you could to get him out of there. Every day you risk your life to save someone else's and I'm just so proud that you are so selfless."

"Well, I'm not totally. I could have encouraged you to go take care of Patrick and be with him for as much time as he has left, but instead, I decided that I want you for myself."

She kissed the top of his head. "I think you made the right choice."

"The alternative sucked."

She giggled. "I can be a friend to him without being with him."

"Is that what you want?"

"I—I think so. Is that okay with you?"

"I'll never tell you who you can be friends with."

"I just don't want to do anything to make you doubt me."

He pushed up on his elbow. "I'm sorry that I was insecure. I trust you."

She looked relieved. "Thank you."

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Two days later, Johnny walked into Jake's and spotted Claudia at a table. He grabbed a beer and then sat across from her. "You okay?"

She shrugged. "Not really…"

"Anything you want to talk about?"

Their gazes locked.

"Just having some problems with my dad."

"Does this have to do with the buildings that had structural failures?"

She sipped her martini. "Yeah."

"He could be in a lot of trouble."

"I know."

"Just don't let him drag you down with him."

She sighed heavily. "He brought up the rape."

Johnny hissed. "Why would he do that?"

"He thinks I owe him because he'd do anything to protect me from anyone who hurts me."

His jaw ticked. "Tell me that you don't buy that shit."

Her hands smack the table. "What else am I supposed to do?" Tears rim her eyes as she struggles to maintain her composure.

His hands cover hers. "I hate when he gets you all twisted." Anthony was always interfering in her life and making her feel indebted to him.

For a moment, her body stirred at his touch and then she remembered that he isn't hers anymore and she's filled with loneliness.

Sarah walked in and screeched to a halt.

Johnny's eyes honed on her and he smiled and waved her over.

Tentatively, she moved towards them. Johnny needed to unwind because he had been working so hard and they had decided that having some fun in the dive bar where they first met was a good option.

"Sarah, this is Claudia Zacchara."

Claudia turned towards her. "Hi." She isn't what Claudia expected at all.

"Hi."

Johnny stood. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Call me if you need to talk."

"Thanks, Johnny," Claudia said.

He grabbed his beer and moved to a table in the corner.

"She didn't look very happy."

"Her dad is a crazy asshole."

"If you need to go finish your conversation—"

He kisses her languidly. "I'm right where I need to be."

She smiled. "Remember the last time we were here?"

He graced her with a dazzling grin. "Oh definitely, but I'm surprised you do."

She smacked his leg. "Behave."

"What if I don't want to?"

She sucked in a breath. "Johnny, what if I told you that I didn't want to wait?"

His jaw drops open. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

She blushed. "I'm crazy about you and I think it's right."

He averted his gaze momentarily and then stroked the side of her face. "I would love nothing more than to make you scream my name, but I need you to be sure. You waited all this time and I don't want you to regret it."

"I won't."

"For the record, I'm falling in love with you, Sarah."

She smiled and then attacked his mouth, making him moan as her hand slipped under his shirt and when she sucked on his tongue, he growled.

"That's it. We're going back to the Metro Court."

"But what about just going upstairs."

"Hell no. Not for your first time, anyway."

He pulled her up and then they happily went to the car.

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Ewan sighed. "Patrick, I think you're making a huge mistake." They had a found a tumor in Patrick's brain, and are monitoring it. Sooner, rather than later, it will cause some severe problems and surgery will be necessary. When the headaches had gotten worse, Patrick had finally agreed to get scanned and was reeling from the serious prognosis. If he had been diagnosed sooner, it could have been dealt with medications, but he had waited too long. The adage about doctors being the worst patients is definitely true. Ewan had gotten upset with his friend when he stated he was leaving town because his condition is something that should be closely monitored.

"What else am I supposed to do? I love her." After a major pity party for a few weeks, he had decided that his life had turned to shit after Elizabeth left and he needed to fix it. While the tumor isn't terminal at this point, he knows that it will be easier to deal with if she is by his side and no one could tell him differently.

"If you truly did, you wouldn't be playing head games with her. You'd let her go."

Patrick slammed the cabinet in his kitchen. "No! I can't do that. She's everything."

"What if she doesn't take the bait? What if this changes nothing?"

"Then I'll do what I have to and convince her to take me back."

Ewan shook his head. "I don't even want to know what that entails, but you're walking a fine line. Is she really worth possibly losing everything for?"

"Yes."

"It's your funeral."

"I'll risk it. If something goes wrong, then I'll probably die anyway, but at least I will have her by my side."

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Johnny was drunk on kisses as he pressed Sarah against the wall. She had kept teasing him in the car and had no idea what kind of monster she had just released. God, he wanted her so badly, virginity be damned, and she was right there with him. His mouth makes her feel so good, that she grows even more crazy for him and wants him in every way.

"Johnny—God," she muttered as he kissed his way down her cleavage.

Before she could cry out again, she was being swept into his arms and carried to the bedroom where she was laid onto it like a sacrifice.

Johnny stepped back to admire his handiwork. Her lips are swollen and face flushed as her eyes perused him wildly. His jacket slipped off and he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside, not caring where it landed. "If you are having second thoughts, then you need to say so now."

Without hesitation, she said, "Make love to me, Johnny."

"You can't take it back, Sarah."

"I won't want to because it is you I have been waiting for, now get over here."

Johnny slightly smiled and took off his shirt. "You want to take off my pants?"

"Gladly."

Making her way to him, she kissed down his chest as she pushed them down. She is almost shaking with anticipation, but she knows what she wants and he's standing in front of her.

Johnny was already so hard, that he thought he would burst, and when her hand wrapped around his shaft, he groaned and then hissed as she started to move. "Jesus…," he muttered before grabbing her and pushing her backwards. Her dress is ripped away and he's surprised when she unhooks her bra and throws it to the side. "Beautiful."

She pulled him into her and they kiss like sex-starved teenagers, falling onto the bed as they grope each other and then he pins her down and slowly teases her body with his mouth until she trembles and jerks from an orgasm. After sheathing himself, he lines up his cock at her entrance. "Are you ready for me? It's going to hurt at first."

A shudder ran through her. "Do it."

As he starts to push, she bites her lip wondering how badly it will hurt. She is so tight that he has to stop moving so he doesn't come. A tear runs down the side of her face and he leans down and kisses her, stroking her clit before pushing on; not wanting to prolong the agony. Finally, he breaks through her innocence as she takes in a harsh breath. "Sarah?"

"I'm okay." It hurts and she really hopes that it will get better.

"I need to move."

"Do it."

With that, he sinks in further until he's buried to the hilt. Peppering kisses all over her face, he says, "I'm sorry," before kissing her again. Finally, he starts to slowly move again, opening her up and after a few minutes, her legs encircle his waist and he knows she is ready for more.

"Johnny," she sighs as the pain turns into pleasure.

He moves faster. "You feel so damn good." After ten minutes, she's about to burst and she cries out his name as he starts to pound into her.

"Johnny!" she screams as she shatters all around him, coaxing out his release. He shouts her name before collapsing onto her as their panting fills the air.

"That was incredible," she said.

"Amazing."

She hugs him against her body, knowing that everything will change now and she just hopes that Johnny is really with her for the long run because she's ready to go all in.