It only took one hundred and fifty chapters, but we are proud to present one of our newest couples: Mic. We think you'll thoroughly enjoy them! There's a chance this update won't be alone today. I'm just saying...
Courtney laughed quietly as she and AJ stumbled into the loft, his hands braced on either side of her head so that the door closed immediately. His lips moved to her neck and she felt her resistance quickly leaving her. This was a risk and he knew it, but he was damn persistent when it came to what he wanted. Besides, he had a lot to make up for since Michael had walked in on them just that morning. When he had suggested the loft as a change of venue, she might have agreed a little too hastily.
"Where's your room?" AJ whispered, his hands already moving to unbutton her top. A thorough sweep and the buttons would give way beneath his fingertips. He knew this much from the time they had spent fooling around in the car. She never let it go past that when they were in public and he couldn't particularly blame her, especially since they had met under some uncomfortable circumstances: him as an alcoholic and her as a stripper.
"Why do you want to know? You're not going up there with me." Courtney teased him, throwing her arms around his neck and catching his lips with hers. He responded eagerly, picking her up so that she slammed into his hardening anticipation and holding her there.
"I think you underestimate my power of persuasion." He croaked out, letting her slide across him before letting her feet reach the ground.
"Never underestimated that." She managed weakly, walking him backwards until they were beside the stairs.
He was almost certain he had convinced her before she turned her face away from him and her startling blue eyes went wide. "Is there something wrong?"
"Did you hear something like a picture falling over?" Courtney inquired instead. She didn't notice the confused look her question inspired to appear on her boyfriend's face. "I think somebody's up there." She nodded toward the stairs.
"Robin, maybe?" AJ offered, really hoping it wasn't her. If Robin was here, he would be asked to leave. It was just one of those things, hopefully something he wouldn't have to endure much longer.
Courtney knew better than to assume the noise coming from upstairs was caused by her roommate. Ever since Robin had spilled about Logan's release, she had found herself unable to even sleep in the loft, usually relying on AJ to provide a place for her to stay or staying at a hotel on the nights he was away on a business trip. "I don't think it's her."
"Well who else could it be for God's sake? And why does it matter?" AJ challenged crossly. It would be just like Robin to keep him from scoring with his girlfriend.
"It could be a burglar." Courtney posed it more as a question, but there was almost too much certainty in her tone for it to come out sounding like one. "I think we should check it out."
"A burglar? Please." AJ belittled her shortly. "The odds are not very good. You're not exactly living on the bottom floor."
"Is that the best argument you can come up with?" Courtney wondered stubbornly.
"I'm a desperate man." AJ replied gruffly.
"Don't I know it?" Courtney took one last glance up the stairs. "Let me prove to myself that there's no one up there and we'll finish what we started."
"You're not going up there alone." AJ argued, snatching up her hand.
"So you do believe there's someone up there?" Courtney asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Of course not. That doesn't mean I'm letting you go up there by yourself. We'll go together."
They took the stairs two at a time, their hands intertwined as if that provided any comfort. While AJ thought it ridiculous, he knew she'd never relax until she saw for herself that they were alone in the apartment. Courtney, on the other hand, knew what she had heard and maybe Robin was too oblivious to worry about Logan coming after her again, but she sure wasn't. He had tried and failed with Robin. What was to stop that madman from coming after her or Morgan?
Checking her bedroom first, they discovered nothing out of place. Courtney looked under the bed while AJ quietly opened the closet and bathroom doors. It was clear so he naturally pulled Courtney toward the bed.
"We haven't checked the other two rooms." She pointed out, pulling away from him. With a sigh of displeasure, he followed a step behind.
"Morgan's room is pretty small." AJ detected.
"Everything's small in relation to your mansion." Courtney retorted quietly.
"It's amazing you're not both suffocated in such a tiny space." AJ continued as if she hadn't spoken at all.
"Focus darling." Courtney advised him, never meeting his eyes. They did a quick sweep of the room and still came up with no burglar. "Now I know I heard someone."
"Do you want to talk about your paranoia issues, or should we save that for post-coital?" AJ asked tactlessly. At least he finally had her attention, even if she did look a little annoyed.
"I'm not paranoid." No sooner than the words had left her mouth did something else crash to the floor. "You see? Robin's room."
It was less than ten feet to Robin's room but they were still cautious crossing that space. Courtney kept one hand on AJ's shirt since he insisted on being in front of her and the other hand on her cell phone. If hell did break loose, she was not above calling the PCPD and making them do their jobs. They should have had more to hold Logan on. They should have dug around in where he had been living and see if there were any missing women in that area. Anything but let him out on a technicality.
"Well now, you're not Robin." Patrick addressed the couple, more startled than his tone had given away. He hadn't ever expected to see these two in the same place together, not with AJ's shady practices and Courtney's loyalty to Robin, but stranger things had happened. He had meant to surprise Robin with candles, some soft music, and Spin the Bottle, but it looked as though Courtney was going to ruin all his good fun.
"Patrick? Oh Jesus Christ!" Courtney shrieked, closing her eyes as she relayed the information to the dispatcher, "That's right. False alarm. It's not Logan Drake, but his brother. Yes, I'm aware of that, but this wasn't a prank call. I actually thought—"
"Logan? You thought I was Logan?" Patrick answered incredulously jumping to his feet.
"Well, it's not that far a leap." Courtney snapped the phone shut.
"How about the fact that Logan's locked up?" Patrick mocked her.
"What ever gave you that idea? Logan's been free and clear for weeks now. It's only a matter of time before he finishes what he started." Courtney corrected him cruelly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Patrick demanded hotly.
"Didn't Robin tell you? Oh right, why would she? With your temper. Anyhow, I suppose I had better spills the beans. Consider this the only gift I'm ever going to give you. Robin didn't press charges. She went to her uncle and made him let Logan go." Courtney snickered, enjoying breaking the news to him. "It's kind of funny that she didn't tell you."
"What game are you trying to play at here, Courtney?" Patrick wanted to know, refusing to take anything she said at more than face value.
"Game? The only one playing games is Robin, and it's about to blow up in her face. Don't believe me? Call Mac. I'm sure he'd love to tell you all about how Robin lost her mind and defended her ex-husband." Courtney ground through her teeth. "I'm surprised she didn't tell you, the man she loves." She said the last part with such disgust Patrick almost flinched. She really hated him, didn't she? He had always thought it was jealousy or misplaced drama, but he could finally see her hostility for what it was: rage and resentment. He would be making that phone call to Mac, because this had to be absolute nonsense. Though it did kind of explain Robin's distance, didn't it? Her insistence that they make love when she knew she wasn't ready for any such act. Innocent until proven guilty, he thought to himself, drilling a hole in Courtney's forehead with his burning chocolate stare.
Maxie took one glance into the grand hall of the Metro Court hotel and decided that this just wasn't going to work. Georgie was the one who always volunteered, not her. She had lasted two weeks as a volunteer at General and they had "fired" her. She wasn't reliable or something. This had disaster written all over it. She almost made it to the exit, almost. Uncle Mac and Alexis were blocking it obliviously having stopped to talk to Mayor Floyd about something.
Double damn, she ground through her teeth. Wasn't it just like her dad to show up when she was trying to do the dishonorable thing? It was like he knew or something. The best thing to do would be to sneak out and fake a few car mishaps. She could say she blew out all four tires. This was Port Charles, land of potholes. Something that sounded vaguely like her conscience nagged at her. Mac was counting on her. The entire hospital was counting on her. Everyone that benefited from this event was depending on her, not her alone, but her all the same.
Beats the hospital scrubs, she reminded herself. She could wear whatever she wanted and no one would be able to get onto her. They may not agree, but she was under no restrictions here. They couldn't tell her what to wear, when to talk, when not to talk. The only power they had over her came merely from scheduled tasks. She would be expected to be here at a certain time however many days a week. She had already made arrangements with Mike. She was getting paid even though she wouldn't physically be at work. This was a win-win. All she had to do was convince one of these committees that they needed her expertise in order to complete their project.
Maxie had always loved to draw and sew as a small child. Her Barbie Dolls were always the most fashionable on the block. She had sent a few of her ideas to Vogue, but they hadn't contacted her yet. They were busy, she understood, so continued to stand vigilantly at the mailbox until they responded. Until then, she could charm the pants off of these stiffs. Oh, she sighed in silent satisfaction. She hadn't realized this place would full of hotties. Starched white shirts. Dark suits. Blondes, brunettes, redheads, dark headed—it was lady's choice. Screw the rest of the women in here, it was her choice. She had always looked older than her actual age of twenty-two. Which of these fine gentlemen would like to take her home with them?
Now Maximiliana, she scolded herself. You're here for a purpose. No reason to get sidetracked just because of a few good-looking men. They would be lining up to get her once she was part of a group anyhow. She didn't have to go chasing after them. Still, a little perusing never hurt. Remember your purpose! Your purpose Maxie! Her conscience was persistent, but she had learned to tune it out at the most inconvenient times. She would get to work just as soon as she knew she wouldn't be leaving here alone. This entire ordeal was boring. She didn't even know why she had agreed. Oh, that's right, she hadn't. She had been volunteered by her father. Volunteered! As if she was still a child.
"You do know you actually have to approach the tables to join the committee right?" Ric laughed at the young blonde he had watched enter the room and promptly stop. It was impossible to miss her. "I promise they don't bite."
Her response should be tactful. She should be respectful. She was not immature. This was her chance to prove it. "Who the hell are you?" She demanded eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Ric Lansing." He'd offer her his hand, but she would probably smack it away. Traditional, this girl was most decidedly not. He grinned at her and tilted his head, catching her blue eyes with his. "This is the part where you tell me your name."
"Thanks for letting me know. Excuse me." Maxie scooted around him, but his hand immediately reached out to grasp hers. Didn't he know who she was, who her father was?
"Now how am I supposed to sign up for your committee if I don't know your name?"
"What's the matter? Doesn't a cutie like you have any friends?" Maxie couldn't believe she was taking time to flirt with him when he was nowhere near her type.
"Who said anything about friends? The hospital requires us to help with this and, if I must, I would rather look at someone beautiful while I do it." He smiled his second-best smile. This still nameless minx was fun. Ric couldn't remember the last time he enjoyed flirting this much.
"I'd hate for you to waste your precious time on little old me. I can promise you, nothing would come of learning my name." Maxie assured him, tugging on her bottom lip with her teeth unconsciously.
"Trust me Blondie, I never waste my time."
Maxie screwed up her face at the nickname. "I have to get going. Don't want to miss out on all the good committees." She would move away from him just as soon as he released her hand. His touch and nearness was having an unraveling effect on her and he must have noticed this. They both knew they were hot: they had that in common.
Ric used the gentlest of pressure to lead her in front of him, moving his hand from hers to the small of her back. "By all means, lead the way."
"Are you gay?" Maxie blurted, blushing immediately. If he was going to be in her committee, he must have been. In her experience, there were very few straight men in fashion.
Ric raised an eyebrow and resisted the urge to laugh. "I better work on my technique if you think I'm gay."
"If you're planning on being in my 'committee'—fashion that is—you had better work on more than just your technique." Maxie schooled him, patting his cheek and shivering slightly at the skin on skin contact. His face was warm under her palm and she had a difficult time appearing uninterested.
He smiled and touched the tip of her nose with his finger. "I think you'll find I'm very talented with my hands."
"Um, I need to volunteer." She hated herself for stumbling over her words, but damn he was good at this seduction game.
Maxie felt cold at the loss of his hands on her skin, but simply lifted her chin and stumbled into two deliverymen, causing the couch they were carrying in to fall on their feet. "Well, it serves you right for getting my way." She sniped at them, smiling her best smile when she finally found the table she was looking for. "Maxie Jones. I wanted to volunteer for help with the costumes. I was thinking—"
"Maxie Jones." Ric repeated behind her. "Now was that so hard to say?"
Maxie was about to respond when she heard the words she had dreaded. "We're full." A bland looking brunette assured her, never looking up.
"Full?" She was not above stomping her foot at the ridiculousness of this! How could they be full? They were clearly unaware of who she was.
"Did I stutter?" The middle-aged brunette asked tartly.
"Now..." Ric glanced down at the other woman, trying to place where he had seen her before. She had to work at the hospital. Everyone working the tables did. "Surely there's room for one more volunteer. The more the merrier and all that jazz?"
"No." The woman was about to continue when his brown eyes locked on her green ones. "What I mean is...what I mean..."
Suddenly Ric could place her. The receptionist in the dental clinic. What was her name again? Mitzi? Mindy? Mandy? Marty? Marty that was it. He smiled his most charming smile and leaned in closer to her. "Marty, we both know how flaky certain people are. And it wouldn't hurt to have a backup or two would it? Just in case some people aren't as dedicated to the cause as you."
Maxie spun around to face Ric, her arms folded. "I didn't ask for your help. Mind your own business."
"Excuse me but it looks like you needed some help."
"I don't need help from you or any other man. I was doing just fine on my own. My talent speaks for itself." She assured him snidely.
"I'm sure it does, but all talent needs nurturing. Consider this my contribution to the arts." He winked at Maxie and returned his attention to Marty. "What do you say, Marty? Can you help a talented individual such as my friend here make a difference in the world?"
"I suppose if you want me to I can." Marty answered bashfully.
Maxie took a second to sign up and then turned on her heel, stomping away from Ric.
"You're welcome Maxie Jones." Ric called after her. He winked down at Marty. "Can you call my nurse and remind me when the fashion committee meets?"