As always your comments inspire me. And I thank you for all of them.

Chapter Sixteen

Elizabeth stood on the threshold, feeling terrified and foolish. She had had no reason to speak so cruelly to Jason, he had done nothing but try to help her. The tears came, she had spent the entire walk back to the penthouse, trying to control her emotions, to find some semblance of control, but standing before his door, everything seemed to crumble, falling apart like a house of cards before her very eyes.

But once again, Jason was right there. Sweeping through the door, scooping her into his arms and carrying her into his home. His voice soft with concern, his hands soothing. He mumbled nonsense words into her hair, but as he tried to set her upon the couch, she struggled in his arms. Not exactly sure what she wanted, Jason placed her on the couch and stepped back, ready to talk, if she decided now was the time.

He no sooner straightened than Elizabeth was back in his arms, holding on to him for dear life, or so it seemed.

"Elizabeth?" Jason enquired.

"Just hold me, I've been such a fool." Elizabeth said, tightening her hold. "Please don't let go, ever!"

Slightly take aback by her emotional plea, Jason tilted her tearstained face towards his, trying to capture and hold her eyes. At first her eyes denied him, looking everywhere but in his eyes, but slowly her gaze traveled back up, stopping momentarily on his lips, after what felt like forever, her eyes captured his and held.

"You are not a fool! When you feel like your are slipping and need a hand, please always know, I am here for you, always. I will catch you, if ever you fall." Jason said, taking possession of her lips with his. He kissed her until her legs grew wobbly and her eyes were glazed with lust, he knew the same feelings were mirrored in his eyes. But he also knew this kiss wasn't about the passion, albeit, there was plenty of it, this kiss was to assure her that no matter where life took them, he would always be there for her. He prayed that he was instilling every warm, loving thought and feeling into that kiss, so she could never doubt his love.

"Wow!" Elizabeth said in a husky whisper. Her pert pink tongue dancing out to moisten her lips, only to be replaced with her index finger, trailing it along the soft skin, a smile blooming upon her face. Her lips were on fire, but that fire never even compared to the inferno that raged within her. If asked she would have had to admit that even the fire's of he!!, couldn't compare.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked, his concern evident.

Instead of answering him, Elizabeth stalked towards him, suddenly making him feel like the prey. As she closed the small distance, her hands delved into his hair, while gently pulling his face closer to hers. Her small hands kneading and pulling, almost demanding in the continued search to bring him closer.

Jason's first reaction was to pull back, to stop the steadily heightening emotions, but her hands, lips and body rebuked any idea he might have had. He was as much an observer in this as she was, he felt like he was experiencing an out of body experience, his tethered mind knew he should stop, that it was too soon to be moving so quickly, especially after everything that had transpired earlier, but he was unable to pull away, unable to deny her, his body's longing driving him to a point beyond madness, into a realm of emotions and touches, no, he could not so much as deny her as he could stop breathing for breathing's sake.

She was such a part of him, filling his senses and demanding satisfaction that he was helpless to her demands, the only thing he could do was submit and pray that if this did go too far, that he could once again help her pick up the pieces, should she need that.

Her small hands pulled at his clothes, trying to divest him of the offending articles, and while he wanted to help her, he knew she had to do this on her own, to speed up the process could cause ramifications that he didn't truly want to think about.

She slid the shirt over his head, allowing a momentary break in their kiss, but only a fraction of a second, because as soon as the shirt was removed, she swiftly moved back to his lips, allowing him to take some control.

His hands gently played over her back, always mindful of the injuries that lie there, when her back was not enough contact, his hands delved into her hair, gently pulling and kneading the soft chestnut locks.

"Elizabeth?" Jason questioned against her lips.

"Hush, feel, no talking." Elizabeth said, pulling her lips away from his.

All rational thought fled as her hands began to slowly unbutton his pants, then worked on the zipper. She had to know what she was doing to him, the evidence lay beneath her fingers, and while he had tried to control his raging desire's, he was powerless to her.

Her lips and tongue seared over his chest, the skin seemingly growing taut with her ministrations. Her lips founded one of his nipples, causing a breathy, passionate moan to escape his lips. Her tongue flicked over the small patch of skin, drilling pleasurable sensations directly to his groin. She switched sides and continued to drive him mad, her hot mouth scorching his flesh and causing all thoughts to flee.

Unable to stop the exploration of his hands, Jason slowly pulled his hands from her hair, allowing them to final enjoy in the exploration of her body. His hands slid up and under the bulky material of the sweatshirt, only to discover another shirt. He slipped his hands under the second and came in contact with her skin, embarrassment was something that Jason was about to know, for the first time. Just the feeling of her skin caused his erection to twitch in anticipation, never before had he ever felt something so powerful and from so little.

Her ministrations ceased for a mere second, but it pulled Jason back to his body, allowing him to remember everything that had transpired that day. And even though the last that flowed through his body demanded that he take this beautiful woman, who stood before him, his mind knew the time was not right.

"Elizabeth, we should stop, this is too soon." Jason said, fighting his raging hormones.

"No, this is exactly what I need, Lucky be damned. He stole something from me, that I may never get back, but he will not be the cause of me loosing you." Elizabeth said, her eyes still glazed with wanton desire.

"No, you could never lose me, we don't have to make love, at least not right now, I want to wait, I want things to be perfect. I don't want you coming to me out of obligation or fear!" Jason said, pulling away from her prying fingers.

"This is not an obligation Jason, I am trying to take my life back, trying to take control. I want you more than I could ever say, I want to-t-to make love to you, because I love you, because I think it may be the only way I can heal. Your soft touches and gentleness hold the key to my salvation. Make me see the act of love as one to enjoy, not fear. Be gentle, but show me how it really is suppose to be, I need you, but I want you too, but more than that, I love you and trust you." Elizabeth said, fearing she wasn't conveying what she meant.

Jason stood shell-shocked, unable to process what she had just said, but slowly the words penetrated his lusting fog, and while he wasn't sure that he could save her by making love to her or be her salvation, he was willing to try, because at this point nothing else had worked. "Are you sure?"

"I have never been more sure about anything, ever." Elizabeth said, taking his hand and pulling him closer.

"If at any moment, you don't feel like continuing, please, I beg of you, tell me. I will not be the one to cause you more pain, I cannot." Jason said, knowing he should be keeping his head, but the come-hither looks were stealing all rational thought.

Not trusting her voice, she merely nodded her head. Now with him back in touching range, Elizabeth set to work on removing his pants and his boxer briefs below.

Jason gently slapped her hand away, he needed to find some semblance of control and if her hands kept working him the way they were, he was liable to end this session before it even began.

He grabbed the hem of the large sweatshirt, his eyes looking beseechingly at her, wanting a nod or a look of approval, seeing her desiring look, he pulled the offending material off her body. Then quickly took her in his arms, reclaiming her mouth, giving and taking in a battle of passion, their tongues dueling.

Jason's hands slipped down her back, his hands finding the firm globes of her butt, in a swift move, Jason picked her up and her legs automatically wrapped around him, her center pushing against his jean clad erection.

Elizabeth tried to move against him, an amazing sensation flowing through her body, a feeling she had never known before felt. But Jason's firm hold on her prevented her from moving, frustration warred with passion, but as Jason's mouth descended upon her neck, she realized passion had won out.

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