It took Claudia a couple of days to convince Johnny to be indisposed and not go to the meeting. She was so use to not explaining herself that she had grown very disturbed when he had questioned her motives. Although, her brother loved her completely he still was unsure if her presence was to help him or to try and take his power from him, knowing this left her feeling a little betrayed. After a few long debates, Johnny finally relented and agreed to make himself scarce over the next few days. She would update him via phone and text messaging and she would relay his requests word for word, without embellishment.

It took a few more days to arrange a safe house for Johnny. Only Claudia and two of her most trusted guards would know where he was and then there was Lulu Spencer. John had insisted on telling the blond where he would be. Claudia adamantly objected to this, so they compromised. Lulu would not know where he was, but would be allowed contact with him by phone. When Claudia received the call that John was safely tucked away she proceeded to call Jason Morgan for the meet.

"Morgan" He answered in his usual cold voice.

"My house. Ten minutes. No guards, No weapons. Just you." Said the woman on the other end.

Jason fixed his mouth to protest one of her conditions, but it was too late. The dang woman had hung up on him again. This was starting to become a habit with her. He had never met a more infuriating woman. He thought Carly was a piece of work, this woman was driving him insane. Did she ever stop to think he may be in the middle of something? He did have a life.

He looked over at Michael. "Hey man, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'm not going to be able to play video games with you tonight."

Michael gave him a look that showed understanding and disappointment. The child was use to things coming up and his needs being pushed aside. Jason hated to do it to him again.

"Carly." He called on his way down the stairs. She was sitting in the living room playing with Morgan. "I have to run." He told her as he picked up his jacket from the back of the couch.

"Everything ok?" She asked concern laced in every word. She knew him so well.

"It'll be ok." He answered her and then walked over and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Just do me a favor and hang close to home and the guards till you hear from me again."

"Jase?" She questioned.

"Just a precaution. We're starting negotiations with the Zacchara's and I won't be around for a few days. I don't want to be worried about you while I'm doing this."

"Of course." Carly reassured him. "Don't worry about us. We'll stay close to home and the guards." She placed a kiss on his cheek. "You be careful."

"Always am." He replied as he left out the house, phone in one hand dialing.

"Sonny, I'm on the way there now. Stay close. I'll call you soon." He hung up and started his bike.

ooooOOOOooooOOOOO

Why was she being so nervous?

She had held countless meetings like this one.

There was no sane reason for the butterflies she was experiencing in her stomach, nor why had she changed clothes three times, this was a meeting not a date.

She had finally settled on being practical. She wore a pair of black denim jeans, with a red razor back tank and a matching denim jacket. A pair of black Timberland boots completed the outfit. She had her hair pulled back into a conventional ponytail sitting high on her head and she went with the faintest bit of make up. A little cover up and gloss. The finally product was both menacing and sexy.

The doorbell rang, and she set her glass down on the bar and walked out of the living room to the main door. She had left the gate open for 10 minutes pending Jason's arrival. She looked at her watch. He had two minutes to spare. She took a deep breath for composure and then opened the door.

Jason stood in the door way in his usual attire. Blue Jeans, black short sleeve shirt and his leather jacket. She pulled the door opened and stepped to the side to motion him in.

He entered the hall without a word, but his eyes were dancing from corner to corner surveying the area for a trap. She watched him as he did it. She wasn't offended by it. She would have done the same thing. When it appeared he was appeased for the moment she spoke, "Are you armed?"

"No." He answered.

"You won't mind if I don't take your word for it." She said and then walked towards him motioning him for a search.

Jason tried to look exasperated as he lifted his arms for her, but the mere thought of her hands on him was doing things to him, and then when her hands began to peruse his body he found it very hard to tap down his physical response. When she finished Jason thought it was only fair to do it to her in return. "And you?" He asked.

She tried to look innocent, "It's my house of course there are weapons here. I never said there wouldn't be."

"Any on you?" He asked and then motioned her for a search.

Claudia lifted her arms to comply and her body heated as his hands slowly slid down her sides.

Was it her imagination, or did his hands linger a few seconds to long at the side of her breasts? He slid his hands down to her hips and gave them a slight squeeze. He was doing this on purpose. Then his hand slid around her hips and along her waist line. Ok, that's enough. She gave him a hard shove away.

Jason took one step back and then grabbed her by her waist again and pulled her close again. "I'm not done." He said, his voice clearly letting her know this was not a game. He was all business. "Do you think I've forgotten what you like to hide in your belt?"

He ran two fingers along her waist on the top of her belt. Two fingers that brushed against her skin just where her tank ended. She felt her stomach quiver and silently cursed the betrayal.

Jason's fingers stopped and picked one of her knives from one of the openings in her belt. "Take it off." He commanded. And then began to unbuckle the belt himself when she did not immediately respond.

She managed to return to her senses and took a step away out of his reach and began to remove the belt. "Like I said, I never agreed to be unarmed, just that you had to be." She held the belt in out in front of her. "But, I will concede this one to you." She took the belt and placed it into a drawer in a small desk in the foyer. "Will this do?" She asked.

"I'd prefer to not have so close, but it will do." Jason agreed.

"Fine then let's get started." Claudia said and then turned to lead him into the living room and Jason silently moaned and began to follow her. This was going to be more difficult then he imagined.