Chapter 25

Elizabeth bit her lip nervously, looking over at Jason as she followed him into his penthouse. She'd been overly quiet on the walk back to the car and the ride back to his building, and he was worried that maybe she was having second thoughts. Or worse, that she felt like she had to come home with him and actually have to do something, but that wasn't the case. He really just wanted her with him, mostly because he didn't want the night to end.

Sighing, he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck as he leaned down to flick on the lamp setting atop the end table, but she placed her hand over his wrist. "Elizabeth," he murmured, turning to face her, but she just shrugged and dropped her hands to grip his t-shirt. "Are you sure?"

"Isn't it what you want?" she asked softly, looking up at him with wide blue eyes.

"I want what you want," he replied, not wanting to pressure her in any way. His hands settled over her hips and he slid a finger into her belt loop on either side of her waist.

Her eyebrow arched and a sneaky grin spread across her lips. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, running her hands up his chest. "It could turn out to not be what you expected."

He grunted as she dropped her hands to his waist, slipping them beneath his t-shirt. She grazed his stomach with the back her hand and he found himself biting back a groan. He knew Elizabeth well enough to know that if she was going to sleep with him, it wouldn't be quick and to the point. She'd drag it out, make it painful, and probably leave him for dead in the aftermath.

"I think I can trust you," he replied, squeezing her hips as he jerked her towards him.

"Oh, if I had a dollar for every man who's ever-"

His mouth crashed over hers, his tongue slipping between her parted lips to meet hers. When he tore his lips from her mouth to catch his breath, he pressed his forehead to hers, looking her in the eye. "Don't ever talk about other men."

She tossed her head back as she laughed, and he found himself only able to focus on her red, swollen lips, desperate to have them against his again. "I think I can agree to that," she said, laughing again as he pulled her against him and moved towards the couch.

Fisting her hands in his t-shirt, she jerked him down on her as she tumbled to the cushions, letting out a pained groan when his body crashed against hers. Somehow she managed to elbow him hard in the stomach, while hitting him in the chin.

"Not smooth, Jason," she growled, sighing pleasantly when he shifted his weight above hers.

"You started it," he hissed, rubbing his palm against his chin, holding himself above her with his other. "Dammit, Elizabeth."

"Aw, poor baby," she said, sitting up on her elbows and sticking out her lower lip.

"Don't patronize me," he replied, rolling his eyes as she reached out to touch his chin, clucking her apologies under her tongue.

"Stop being such a boy," she murmured, jerking his hand from his chin as she gave him a hazy-eyed grin. "I can make it better."

"Oh, yeah?" he asked, planting his forearms on either side of her head.

"If I must," she teased, slipping her hands beneath his shirt. "After all, I-"

"Shut up," he interrupted, dropping his mouth to hers and kissing her hard.

Sliding her arms around him, she pulled his body down to hers, forgetting any need to protest. She let out a flustered groan as his mouth slowly moved from hers, his lips brushing over her cheek, before settling against the curve of her neck. Her eyes fluttered closed as his tongue lapped at her creamy skin, and Jason let out a groan of his own as the feel of her skin, her smell, everything about her consumed him.

"Jason, wait," she panted, pressing herself into the cushions as his hands slipped beneath her shirt.

He growled against her neck, refusing to let her stop him and skimmed his hands over the smooth skin of her sides. She relented briefly, reveling in the warmth of his palms, but still tried to stop him.

"Jason, you asshole, I said wait," she hissed, bucking her hips up against his, her body colliding with his in a not-so-welcoming way.

"Son of a bitch," he groaned, pushing himself away from her with a grimace. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Rolling her eyes, she pulled her legs away from him, stumbling to her feet. "What do you mean what is wrong with me?" she asked, straightening out her clothes and tossing her messy curls from her face.

He glared pointedly at the couch, his face still twisted in pain.

"Come on, Jason," she said, giving him a crooked smile as she backed away from the couch. "What kind of girl did you think I was?"

"No," he grunted, slowly moving to his feet. "This teasing shit is-"

"Just because you bought me dinner and took me for a walk in the park – both ideas that were mine," she cut in, bracing one hand against the end table as she reached down to tug off one of her sandals. "Doesn't mean-"

"You're not funny," he said, stepping towards her.

She backed away in a hurry, slamming herself against the wall at the foot of the stairs. "I've always told you not to be one of those jerks-"

"Not even a little funny," he replied, placing his hands against the wall on either side of her head.

She leaned down to pull off her other shoe, his hand following her just in case she decided to dip and run. "Seriously, Jason?" she asked, smirking as she stretched to press a chaste kiss to his lips. "Did you think I was going to let you do me on the couch where you've done God knows how many women?"

Okay, he'd give her that one.

"I don't trust you to do me anywhere down here," she continued, working her lip thoughtfully between her teeth. "Who knows-"

"Pool table's safe," he cut in, arching his eyebrows.

"How do you know?" she asked, glancing over at it from the corner of her eye. "Ritchie and I-"

"I'll fire him," he interrupted, trying to grab her arm as she dipped below it and started up the stairs, having clearly distracted him.

"I'm kidding," she murmured, turning around halfway up the stairs, her hands gripping the hem of her blouse. "If I'm doing anyone on a pool table…" She paused, whipping her shirt over her head and revealing the mounds of her creamy breasts that were wrapped in a very lacy black bra. "I promise it'll be you."

She laughed, flinging her shirt at him before turning around and hurrying up the stairs. She had to be trying to kill him. There really was no other explanation.

"Elizabeth," he groaned, tearing up the steps after her and coming to a halt as he rounded the corner to find her standing in the middle of the hallway.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly, her shaky hands fumbling with the snaps of her jeans.

Once they were finally undone, she shimmied out of them, making a show of sliding her hands down her legs as she pushed them off. Her underwear matched her bra – if you could call it that. It was more so a scrap of lace that barely covered anything.

Not that he was complaining.

She cleared her throat, planting her hands on her hips as she looked at him expectantly. He waited a second longer before jumping her, growling his disapproval when she tried to run away again, only this time he didn't let her.

"Not funny," he snarled, pushing her up against the wall at the top of the stairs.

"It's a little funny," she whispered, sliding an arm around his neck and tugging his mouth to hers.

He wrapped his arms around her, running his hands over the silk of her skin, suddenly frustrated that he was still clothed. As if sensing his annoyance, or maybe having some of her own, she gripped his t-shirt, breaking their kiss to tug it over his head. He jerked her right back into his arms, and she hissed against the warmth of his body, her hands going straight for his belt buckle.

"Jason," she gasped, when one of his hands snaked up her back to fumble with her bra clasp.

"What?" he asked, nuzzling his face into her curls and breathing her in. She arched her back, pressing her hips to his as she reached around to undo the bra. His eyes lifted to hers, reflecting her own desire, and she let out a chuckle as she slid the straps down her arms.

"I'm the one doing the undressing," she murmured, dropping her bra to the floor as his eyes roamed over her.

Sucking in a breath, his eyes quickly roamed over her bare skin, the perfect swell of her breast, and he found himself unsure of what to do.

He wanted it all – then and there.

"That includes you," she whispered, batting his hands away as he started to unbutton his jeans.

Her eyes on his, she slowly lowered the zipper of his jeans, not-so-subtly pressing her hand against him. Groaning, he braced one hand against the wall to hold himself up, doing his best not to pull away as she slid one hand into his boxers to stroke him, and pushed his pants down with the other.

He stiffened as she dropped to her knees, taking his pants with her. Her hands skimmed back up his legs, molding his muscles to her palms, before finally pulling his boxers away. Closing his eyes, he buried his face in the crook of his elbow, telling himself he could let her have her fun now, that soon enough he'd get his.

Except there was nothing.

Shifting his face against his arm, he peeked down at the floor below him, surprised to find that she wasn't there. He dropped his hand from the wall, swearing under his breath. His head jerked down the hall when he heard her giggling, and he nearly fell to the floor at the sight of her standing between the two bedrooms – his and hers – her scrap of underwear hanging on the tip of her finger.

There was just enough light in the hallway for him to see the outline of her body, the shadow of her breasts, the smoothness of her curves. Despite the fact that she was teasing the hell out of him, he could only think about how beautiful she was and the fact that she was all his.

Sighing, she leaned back against the wall, twirling her underwear around her finger. "Where will it be, Morgan?" she asked, looking pointedly between the two bedrooms.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly made his way down the hallway. "Where do you think?" he asked roughly, jerking the underwear from her finger to toss the lace over his shoulder. Leaning in, he pressed his body against hers, his lips touching her ear. "I bring all the women home to the guest room."

"Jason Mor-"

She was cut off when he kissed her roughly and cradled her body to his as he pulled her in the direction of his room. Her legs hit the edge of the bed and they tumbled clumsily, their bodies slamming against one another.

"I don't think either of us are very smooth," she laughed, her hands roaming over the tight muscles of his shoulders as she looked up at him.

"I'll make up for it," he muttered against her mouth.

His hands stroked over her skin; the curve of her shoulder, the silk of her stomach, the creaminess of her thighs, and he felt like he was drowning in her. Murmuring his appreciations, he slowly moved down her body, leaving a blazing wet trail with his tongue.

"Jason," she moaned, raking her fingers through his hair and trying to lead him where she wanted him, but he bucked, refusing to do what she wanted after all the teasing she'd done.

His lips brushed over her shoulders, his tongue snaking out to lap at her skin as he made his way down her chest, gently kissing the mounds of her breasts. Nuzzling his face against them, he slid farther down, his hands still stroking her skin as his mouth moved against her. Elizabeth withered beneath him, pleading for him to really touch her, but he ignored her, chucking against her body. Letting out a cry of frustration, she shifted below him, deciding to take matters into her own hands as she slid her hand between his legs, gripping him tightly.

"You're cheating," he hissed, lifting his head to look up at her.

Her smoldering eyes met his as she pumped him in her hand. "You're not giving me what I want," she said, challenging him to give in or hold out. He couldn't decide which.

Grinning, he moved back over her, pressing his forehead to hers. "And just what do you want?" he asked, doing his best to ignore her silky palm as it moved around him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, licking her lips. "You can't figure it out? I sure as hell shouldn't have to tell you, Jason."

Arching an eyebrow, he placed a hand over her breast, gently molding it against his rough palm. Her nipple hardened instantly, reaching out and begging to be touched and he couldn't resist lowering his mouth to it. Elizabeth gasped as he rolled the peak between his teeth, and he had to pull her away from him when her grip hardened, but she barely noticed. Seconds later, he moved to her other breast paying it equal attention, and she was all but lost in his arms.

"See?" he murmured, glancing down at the marks he'd left on her breasts. "I know exactly what you want."

"Don't go getting a big head now," she panted, trying to catch her breath. "Don't think you know every – Jason!" Her rambling turned into a moan as he slid a hand between her legs, gently stroking her – he figured that was the best way to shut her up.

"What were you saying?" he asked, lowering his mouth to hers. She replied with a moan, her hips thrusting against his hand as she gripped the sheets, well past the point of delirious. Shaking her head, she grabbed his wrist, attempting to tug him away. "Elizabeth?"

"Now," she whispered, peeking at him through her lashes. "Please." It was a request he couldn't deny, stretching immediately to reach for the drawer of the nightstand. "Prepared, huh?"

"Always," he said, tearing the box open with his hands.

"New too," she murmured softly, still trying to catch her breath. "That's awfully presumptuous of you, don't you think?"

"Like you didn't know where this was headed," he replied, shaking the foil packets out on the mattress.

"Now that's very presumptuous," she said, glancing at the stack on the bed.

"Oh, I have plans," he replied, ripping the foil open with his teeth.

"Are you supposed to do that?" she asked, frowning at him. "I mean, it's not-"

"Elizabeth."

"Well, it's not," she laughed, holding a hand over her face. "Oh, God. Jason, are we really doing this?"

"Yes," he answered firmly, tossing the condom aside and grabbing another one. He wasn't going to give her the chance to pour over the possibilities and reasons why they shouldn't. "Here." She just looked up at him. "What? I don't want you telling me I did it wrong or-"

This time he was cut off by her mouth as she jerked him down towards her. Shifting below him, she spread her legs and he settled between her hips, as she fumbled with the wrapper and hurried to slide it over him. He groaned into her mouth as her fingers stroked him. When she was satisfied, she lifted her hands to his hips and pulled their mouths apart.

"There," she said, sounding pleased.

"You're not always going to get it your way," Jason replied, lifting one of her legs to wrap around his waist.

"Oh, no," she agreed, arching her hips in anticipation when she felt him against her. "I'll let you have a turn every now and then."

"Damn right you will," he groaned, thrusting his hips forward and sinking inside her.

Elizabeth's fingers dug into his hips as she let out a low moan, her body surging upward to curl against him. He wrapped his arms around her as he steadied their rhythm, burying his face in her hair; still disbelieving this was actually happening.

That he was here with Elizabeth, like this, and that it could be this good.

"Jason?" she asked suddenly, craning her neck to try and look at him.

"Yeah," he groaned, when she lifted her other leg around him, forcing him in deeper.

"You didn't really bring any girls home and sleep with them in my-"

"You are not thinking about that now," he growled, lifting his head to look at her.

She looked embarrassed as she nodded. "You said-"

"No," he grunted, taking her mouth in his, and kissing her long and hard as he picked up the speed of his thrusts. She quickly forgot anything else and glided her hands up to his shoulders to cling to him as he moved.

Breaking the kiss, he nudged his way down to her breasts, determined to shake whatever thoughts she had in her head- honestly with the way her mind worked, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. It would be easier to make sure it was just impossible for her to think.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fisted her hands in his hair as his tongue flicked over her nipple, then tugged the peak between his teeth, nipping it gently, before starting all over again. She clenched around him, her release building so quickly that it left her trembling, and he moved to slip a hand between them, seeking out the tiny bud between her legs. His name burst from her lips the moment he touched her, her eyes flashing open and searching for his. Seeing the desire in her eyes, he sped up his movements, stroking her faster and harder, forcing her to burst apart in his arms before allowing himself to let go and fall into her.

Silence filled the room, just the sounds of their steady breaths and heartbeats as Jason rolled off her, hooking his hand behind her knee and pulling her over on top of him. She shifted her body to settle against him, smiling faintly at the contrast of their bodies next to one another.

"Jason?"

"Yeah?"

She tipped her head back to look up at him, her cheeks flushed. "You never answered my question."

"Huh?"

"About the women in my room?"

"Elizabeth," he growled, rubbing a hand over his eye.

"Well, I think I deserve an ans – Jason!" she cried out, when he suddenly rolled them back over, pinning her beneath him.

"I can't believe you're bringing this up right now," he murmured, pressing his mouth to hers. She grinned briefly, then pouted, still unsatisfied with his answer. "And no, I never slept with anyone in your – in the guest room."

"Well, in that case," she grinned, stretching to grab one of the many condoms he'd dumped on the bed, and hold it up to him. "Why don't you start showing me some of these plans?"

Hours later, Elizabeth was curled up against Jason's side, her head on his shoulder as she traced circles across his chest. His eyes fluttered open and closed as he skimmed his hand along her spine, holding her against him. They hadn't talked much, except to make demands…and tease…and argue…and make up, but the making up was by far the best part, and she found herself wondering why they'd never made up in such a way before.

Things were different now – she knew this, had expected to feel something, but instead she felt nothing. It felt like it always had; comfortable and safe, but those feelings had strengthened, almost too intensely, and she wasn't sure what to feel. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, not sure what the hell had come over her, and she was hoping that Jason wouldn't feel the tears again his skin, but of course he did.

"Elizabeth, are you okay?" he asked, lifting his head. She nodded, moving away from him as he rolled onto his side so that he was eye to eye with her.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," she replied, her eyes welling up with tears. "I don't know what came over me. I just…" He started to reach out for her, but tensed up, and it was only when she grabbed his hand that he seemed to relax. "It's not this…I mean, it is – I just – I haven't been with someone that I really care about in a long time. I guess I got a little freaked out."

He grinned, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "It's okay. I figured you had to go all girl on me at some point, Webber."

"Oh, stop," she whispered, wiping at her face as he pulled her against him. "The last thing a guy wants is a woman crying after-"

"I didn't realize I was that good," he cut in, chuckling when she smacked him on the shoulder.

"I hate you," she said, looking up at him.

"I hate you more," he replied, kissing her again on the forehead.

Rolling her eyes, she placed a hand on his cheek, gently stroking his face. "I just think so much has happened, and it hit me all at once. You know, whatever I felt or thought I felt for Johnny, and now this."

"Do you…regret anything?" he asked nervously, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you going all worried boy on me?" she teased, running her thumb across his lower lip. "No, I don't regret this. Last year, with Johnny…I was afraid. I wanted something to hold on to. And when he came back with Lulu, I just freaked…It's not like he I expected him to wait an entire year for me – I sure as hell didn't wait for him."

She winced, realizing she was referring to other men, but that also included Johnny, and she figured Jason wanted to hear this. "I've always had these stupid relationships with men I know aren't available, which is funny when I think about it because you were the most available of them all."

"You were always around. I could trust you regardless of how close we were or weren't, and I knew you weren't going anywhere." She shrugged, dropping her hand to his neck. "Maybe that's why I was so afraid. I could take losing Lucky, Zander, Jax…Any of those idiots that I allowed myself to be with, but if I lost you…"

"Or Johnny," he tossed in.

"Johnny too. I need you both, but there was a time in my life when I didn't need him as much, and that's happened again," she confessed quietly. "I thought I did, but you'd been here the entire time he was gone. I was just too afraid of – of everything. I still am."

Jason swallowed hard, nodding understandingly. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," she replied, holding his face in her hands, "but he wasn't really either – and I'm sorry to bring him up. It's just a stupid fear that I can't get past and-"

"It's okay," he cut in, gently pulling her hands away. "To bring him up. To be afraid. To think about the past. I don't want you to shut any of that off, but I do want you to give me the chance to assure you that I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah, I know, but after tonight, everything's changed."

"Or not," he argued, swiping his thumb over her cheek. "Think of it this way, if it fails, we go back to hating one another and driving each other crazy – just without the sex."

She couldn't help but grin and think that maybe he was right. "And if it does work out?"

He shrugged, leaning over to kiss her. "Then every time you sleep over, you're in my bed."

"Oh, I like that," she murmured, sliding her arm around him and rolling onto her back as she pulled him over her. "Except sometimes you have to sleep over with me too."

"Yeah, yeah…It's always a give and take with you."

"Oh, please," she murmured against his mouth. "Like you'd have it any other way."