Chapter Twenty-Four

"I want more," she ordered on a breathless gasp.

He pressed another open mouthed kiss on her heated skin. He loved the taste of her skin. "Patience is a virtue," he murmured as his lips continue their loving descent over her body.

"I can't wait," Elizabeth pleaded.

He didn't listen, only continued exploring her flawless body. He was yet to learn what she liked, what made her gasp, what made her moan, and especially what made her scream in pleasure. He would take it one step at a time until he knew all her secrets. He brushed the pad of his thumb against sensitive nerves.

She moaned, arching off the bed. "Jason, please..."

"Please what, Elizabeth?" he taunted, again flicking his thumb against the heated lips of her center. Every inch of his body burned, but his need to prolong her pleasure and then bring her to ecstasy came first.

"Please don't stop," she sobbed. His fingers shifted, parting her to find her wet and swollen.

She whimpered.

He drew circles on her swollen slit and she shivered, clutching him closer. He nuzzled her neck, licking the spot where her shoulder met her neck. His fingers began their sweet torture, teasing her with long, slow strokes. Her hips quickly picked up the pace and soon she rocked to the rhythm he set.

Elizabeth panted. The sound sweet music to his ears.

Jason felt her body clench moments before she shattered in his arms. The universe stood still as he watched her. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her head thrown back in elation. Her luscious hair spread on the white satin sheets. Her skin flushed an enticing hue of pink. Her supple lips parted on an audible cry. She was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on.

His blood hummed as his eyes traveled over her slender frame. He couldn't help himself. He had to keep touching her. Gently, he brushed his mouth across her exposed throat. Then the dimple in her chin, her high cheek bones, and her forehead before his lips finally found hers. He kissed her softly, parting from her before he gave into temptation to deepen it.

Pulling back a scant inch, Jason licked his lips, savoring the taste of Elizabeth. He listened to their heavy breathing echo in the room.

"Jason," she sighed, her long lashes lazily rising. He started into her glazed cobalt eyes and his heart clenched painfully.

She was drunk and he was taking advantage of her.

"Make love to me," Elizabeth begged.

He felt the sweet friction of her skin against his as she absentmindedly moved her legs. Their legs were tangled. His bare chest pressed against hers. Her racing heartbeat echoed through him. Her talented digits danced along his spine and her parted coral lips called to him to devour them. The warm remnants of her orgasm on his and the heat between her thighs urged him to listen and give her what her body asked of him.

He wanted nothing more than to give in, but staring into her expressive eyes he knew he couldn't. Not tonight. He stood to lose more than he could gain by giving into her and lust. They had something special. He knew they did and he wasn't going to ruin them before they had the chance to begin.

Dipping his head, he brushed a lingering kiss across her lips. He broke away while his body pleaded for one last taste. He ignored the sting of Elizabeth's nails sinking into his biceps. Burying his face in her thick locks, he inhaled the scent of vanilla.

"Jason," she whimpered, tugging on his hair.

Rolling them over onto their sides, he gathered her into his arms and made sure they were covered.

"Jason, what's wrong?" she mumbled, her hands coming to rest over his heart.

"Shh," he whispered. "Nothing, go to sleep."

"Good night, Jason," Elizabeth yawned, snuggling into his side.

He pressed his lips to her temple and tightened his arms around her delicate frame.

"You're really not the brightest crayon in the box, are you?"

Brenda's patronizing voice cut through his memories and brought him back to his surroundings.

Pushing away from the wall he had been leaning against, he straightened to his full height and raised an eyebrow at his best friend's wife.

"Well?" she asked her hands on her hips.

"Well what?"

"You have nothing to say for yourself?" she huffed, her tone accusing.

Jason stared at her perplexed. Fire blazed in Brenda's brown eyes and her stance was defensive. Usually, the brunette got straight to the point before browbeating him. She had yet to mention what he had done wrong, which worried him. And to make things worse, Sonny was overseeing shipments, which meant there was no peacemaker around to keep Brenda at bay.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say," Jason said, brows furrowed. "What do you want me to say, Brenda?"

"Typical of a male to be oblivious to what he's done wrong," Brenda muttered as she began rearranging throw pillows a little too fiercely to be considered normal. "There's a reason why women rant and rave. It's because men are all—a bunch of Neanderthals. Why can't they just open their mouths like God gave them the ability to do and just be honest about how they feel? It would makes thing so much easier," she ranted moving to the stack of mail on the coffee table. "And men wonder why women are emotional and nutty, it's because they're so difficult! How can you be so oblivious?" she rounded on him.

"Why don't you enlighten me?" Jason retorted sharply.

"My pleasure," Brenda spat, jumping to her feet. "How are you able to go on and on about how you want Elizabeth to stay and that you care about her without telling her how you feel?"

Folding his arms, Jason frowned down at his best friend's wife. "Brenda, I may have asked for your help, but I don't see how this has anything to do with you."

"Of course, this has to do with me! As much as it has to do with you or Elizabeth. I love both of you and right now you're hurting her and if you continue as you are she will leave next week."

"Where is this coming from?" he said, exasperated. "Did she say something last night?"

"No really, Sherlock," she snapped.

Clenching his jaw, Jason glared at Brenda. He was growing tired of her condescending tone. He may have asked for her help as well as confided in her about Elizabeth, but it gave her no right to turn around and reprimand him for how he was going about things. He didn't want to hurt Elizabeth and he only would be if he forced her to stay without being able to give her what she wanted.

"I'm leaving," he said as steadily as possible.

"Of course, you are," Brenda retorted. "It's what you do best."

Jason froze, his hand hovering over the door knob. Slowly pivoting on his heels, he turned and faced her. His patient ready to snap. "Excuse me?"

"You run when the going gets tough," she swung her arms out in frustration. "You never stay and fight. You did it with Robin when she left for France and I hate to say it, but you didn't even make an effort when Sam left." Bowing her head, she shook it. "You didn't fight when the mother of your child walked out on you and you claimed you loved her."

A muscle ticked in Jason's jaw as he stared down Brenda. He reminded himself that she was Sonny's wife and was reading him the riot act because she cared for Elizabeth and for him in her own way. She was only doing this because she cared. Inhaling deeply, he held onto what little control he had on his temper and turned for the door again. If he stayed he would say things he would regret.

"You're not even going to stay and fight me this time," she remarked. "I never knew you were such a coward."

"What do you want to say?" he roared before the logical side of his brain could kick in. "What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to say you care about her. That you don't want to lose her!" Brenda shrieked back at him.

"You already know that," Jason hissed.

"But she doesn't. She doesn't know that," she said, defeated. Running her hands through her hair, Brenda collapsed onto the couch and watched him with pleading eyes. "I know you. I know that you don't share your feelings as easily as the rest of us, but Jason, you have to. Your track record with women isn't the best and I don't want to see you lose Elizabeth from your inability to communicate. You're going to break your own heart as well as hers and Lil's."

"I can't."

Brenda froze at his soft admission. He watched as each vertebrate of her spine neatly stacked on top of each other until it was perfectly aligned. She took one deep breath after another. "She's in love with you."

He already knew that.

"I wish you could see how much I love you."

"If you can't tell her how you feel than I hope she leaves before you break her. You don't deserve her."

The tendons in his forearms ached from the strain of clenching his fists. He wanted nothing more than to relieve the tension in his body by simply punching a wall or by picking a fight with a dock worker at Jake's. He chose to swallow Brenda's words and leave before he snapped.

"Please have one of the guards bring Lil home when you get back from the zoo." He opened the door and continued mauling over her words. Pausing, he looked back at the woman who drove him up the walls, but occasionally managed to be a voice of reason. "I know she loves me." He smiled wearily at Brenda's shocked expression. "And I know I don't deserve that love."