Chapter Two

Alexis had to separate them by pushing him away with her left hand. He didn't want to move, but she had to ... she was starting to feel nauseous.

"Ric," she whispered, her mouth close to his ear. This did wonders for him.

"No ..." he refused to let her up, holding her even closer.

"Ric, please." She squirmed against him.

"Just another minute, please ..." he begged. He felt no shame in begging for more of her.

"I'm going to throw up," she said louder, stifling a small giggle as he backed off quickly, looking at her with wide eyes and the smallest hint of pain, "It's not you ..." she explained and he noted the tone in her voice which made him think that she didn't want to break contact, "I'm sorry, I just ... I don't feel well."

"Let me take you home," he offered, and she wanted to accept ... God did she want to accept. They had already created many memories together ... each time he drove her home. Suddenly she remembered the flashback to when they were driving back from Maine ...

--

"We're going to wreck," Ric moaned as Alexis smiled. She was leaning over to him as he drove, planting small kissed down and up his neck, moving up to his ear. Her hand, which was the focus of his attention, was in a very inappropriate place for the passenger of a car, "Oh my God," he moaned and she responded by sucking the bottom of his ear between her teeth. He had to fight to keep his eyes open ... button unbuttoned ... zipper unzipped, tongue in ear ..."Okay stop!" Ric took a left turn down a dark path and pulled the car over as Alexis returned to her seat, looking confused and a little hurt. He turned the heat down a small bit and quickly hopped in the back seat, pulling off his pants in the process. Alexis watched him and the grin grew wider on her face, but she didn't move. He threw his shirt over his head and looked at her ... waiting.

"Well?" he asked.

"Would you like me to drive?" Alexis joked, starting to climb into the passenger's seat. He stopped her by leaning up to take her face in his hands, kissing her passionately, and practically dragging her into the back seat all on his own. She was smiling between kisses, ridding her clothes along with his help. Between kisses, she questioned him, "Do you think a car ... mmm ... a car will come by ... oh my God ... this time?"

"Well ... we'll just have to make it quick ..." and they did. Three times they made it quick.

--

Alexis sat in the passenger's seat and adjusted the scarf on her head. She looked over to him driving and had the strongest urge to lean over, but she couldn't. She wouldn't. Not for a million years would she let him know that she wanted him. It slipped in the courtroom that she missed him...the old him...and she wasn't unhappy that she said it...she just hated how vulnerable he made her...how honest. When he caught her eye, she returned her gaze quickly to the road and didn't notice his small smile.

He remembered that night as well...as he remembered all of the previous times they had made love in the backseat of his car...or her car...or the limo on the way home from a party...or in the office at the P.C.P.D. when he dropped in for a visit...or in their bed. That was his favorite. No matter how unique of a place they could find, he preferred their bed. She could be herself … loud, and that was his favorite kind of Alexis. He pulled into the driveway and quickly ran to her side to open her door, holding his hand out to hers, not actually sure if she'd take it. She hadn't smiled the whole trip home. He could practically see the walls being built back up.

She looked at his hand for a moment, debating whether or not to allow him to help her even more, and thought it too cruel to not take it. Her hand slipped gently into his as she stood. She didn't release it...he didn't release it...even after the car door was shut and she was leaning against it. He wanted to step closer, but he didn't want to frighten or unnerve her anymore. They stood, reading each other's faces, and when their eyes locked, she looked away to the house.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're welcome. Any time."

"Um ..." she stammered, "Would you like to come in? Molly should be napping, but ..."

"No ... well, I mean ..."

"Oh, it's okay. Forget it." She released his hand and he mentally kicked himself. She started to move to walk away, but he finally stepped closer, capturing her between him and the car. His arms pinning her in, palms on the car. She looked directly into his eyes as if ready to fight. He had moved too quickly ... she wasn't ready for more contact ... even if it were just his arms barely touching hers.

"Alexis. I would love to come inside ... if I knew that we wouldn't argue … we wouldn't fight. If I knew that we wouldn't talk about Sam, or Sonny ... or ..."

"Jason." She glared into his eyes.

"Right." He looked down ... only for a split second.

"You know he isn't dead," she said, maintaining her eyes on his.

"I don't want to talk about this ... this is my point."

"Fine, then let me go."

"I miss you too, Alexis." He leaned in closer, wanting so badly to kiss her, but knowing that it was out of the question unless she initiated it. He would make her initiate it...one day...he knew it wouldn't be today, or probably tomorrow, or maybe even next month...but he would get her back. In the car, thinking of them being together before, it made him realize that he'd never made her his agenda. Now things have changed and she would kiss him. She would ask for him back...and he would refuse...he had the speech already memorized in his head. She would say that she wanted him back and he would say no, explaining that she had no right to ask such a thing. She did nothing wrong. He would get down on his knee, and beg for her back, the way he should have done after Reese, the way he should have done months ago...and he would pull out the ring that he'd bought two weeks before the night he'd messed everything up, and he would slip it on her finger and all would be right with the world. He knew that it wouldn't happen this way, but if the end result came out the way he wanted, all would still be right with the world again. He would belong to her again.

"I um ... I have to get inside," she said nervously, him still looking into her eyes...clearly thinking of something.

"Oh...right. Okay, um..." He dropped his hands and watched her as she walked past him and up the path, "Alexis?" He yelled softly at her. She turned, a sad look on her face, "Would you um ..." why was he so nervous? "Would you like to have um ... dinner with me tomorrow?"

Alexis looked as if she were looking through him ... her walls were completely rebuilt now. "The D.A. and the defense attorney who are working on the same case, Ric ... said defense attorney's daughter's case, Ric ... you're ex-wife's daughter's case ... Ric? Which we all know is layered with completely unfounded charges and evidence ... Ric. No. I don't think I will." She turned and continued on her way.

Ric leaned against the car, watching after her, waiting until she closed the door to let out the whisper, "Oh, you'll have dinner with me. You just don't know it yet."