I know, still took too long. I'm going for a chapter a week. That's the plan.
But life so seldom goes as planned.
Anyway.
Chapter 17
AJ saw two possible outcomes to Juliette's movement. She was in a crawling position and in an instant he could imagine her crawling across the bathroom floor and curling up in his lap like a kitten.
He liked that idea for a variety of reasons. The obvious and the not so obvious.
But the two reasons that came to mind first were it would mean she trusted him and that he could touch her hair.
He knew it would feel like silk, just like he knew there was no way she trusted him.
So the other outcome was she was crawling across the floor like a cat so she could scratch his eyes out.
And even though he was about 99% sure it was the second one, the 1% chance that it could be the first, kept him sitting perfectly still waiting for his hands to slip into silk. To wrap his arm around her back, kiss her neck, whisper to her that it would all be okay.
She fooled him completely. She was only trying to stand, it was just an awkward process in her current condition.
She climbed up out of the floor, bent over the sink and washed her face.
He stood up as well and passed her a hand towel, which to his shock, she accepted.
"I want a bath."
He wasn't sure if she was addressing him or just her own reflection in the mirror.
"Will you take me home?" she asked.
He stopped in the doorway. "You have the room for the night."
"I don't have anything to wear to bed."
Ah, the opening line men dream of, but the way she was examining the vomit on her blouse let AJ know, in no uncertain terms, that now was not the time to flirt.
Was there ever such a time with Juliette?
Yes, there was. He could joke, tease, flirt and battle with her all he wanted.
So long as they weren't alone in a hotel room and he hadn't just gotten her drunk and watched her throw up.
"Take a bath, I'll get you something to wear in the gift shop down stairs."
She didn't answer, just closed the bathroom door. He stood in the hotel bedroom and a second later he heard the bath water running.
He supposed that was his cue to run down to the gift shop like a good little errand boy.
~*~*~*~*~*~
She heard water running and opened one eye to check out her surroundings. Yep, she was in the bedroom and unlike most mornings, she wasn't the least bit groggy, she was wide awake.
And in her jammies. Ha! Someone, and it had better not be Wong, had even tucked her in.
Tsk, tsk. This person had SO much to learn. He'd counted her out for the evening, he knew nothing of Alexis Davis.
She was merely taking a small break, resting up for bigger things.
Alcohol occasionally had the ability to slow her down, but it never fully knocked her out, at least not for long. In fact, it seemed the more she drank, the less sleep she needed over all.
And the braver she became.
Alexis untucked herself and attempted a stealth-like approach toward the open door of the bathroom.
Along the way she stubbed her toe, nearly knocked a glass of water off the bedside table and stopped to admire herself in the bedroom mirror when she realized he'd changed her into his pajamas.
Either she looked very sexy or she was very drunk. Since she never thought of herself as sexy, she figured it was the latter.
She looked at the alarm clock, it was only 9:00, she'd been out maybe two hours. It was probably all the sleep she would require and if she had her way, he wouldn't get any at all. She was not in the mood to spend the night alone. If he was staying with her, he was going to make himself useful. Very, very useful.
Alexis untangled the drawstring of the pajama bottoms and they instantly fell to the floor. She tripped stepping out of them and had to steady herself by hanging on to the door frame.
"Alexis?" Lorenzo asked.
Well he better not be expecting anyone else!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm sorry sir, we're closing." The clerk looked up from her register when AJ entered the gift shop. "Oh, Mr. Quartermaine, I'm sorry, I didn't realize.."
"It's okay, I'll just be a minute." AJ looked around wondering what Juliette would need.
He approached a small and discreet pharmacy like section. Aspirin, toothbrush, toothpaste. The basics. He laid them on the counter. But wait, she needed something to sleep in.
AJ left the counter and headed over to the clothing section, taking his time, being the owner's grandson should have some privileges. If he had to put up with the bartender babysitting him then the shop keeper could stick around and let him shop.
She shouldn't have been trying to close out the register before 9:00 anyway.
Half of the Port Charles Hotel gift shop was taken up by clothing, most of it tourist wear. Cheesy t-shirts, khaki shorts, baseball hats that had stupid logos like I heart PC.
But there was a small alcove for more delicate items and despite his best intentions he found himself wandering towards that section.
He'd passed it in the display window on his way in. Blush pink, the finest silk, spaghetti straps that crossed in the back.
What there was of a back.
The briefest chemise. The right size wouldn't even cover two inches of a womans thigh. Blush pink silk panties to match with a teeny, tiny, bow.
If he brought that back for her to wear, she'd shoot him. She didn't even have a gun but he knew she'd make a point of finding one just so she could shoot him.
Still, it didn't stop him from entertaining the idea. And going a little further with the idea so it became a full scene..a long scene.
"Sir, can I help you with anything?"
"I'll take one of those I heart PC T-shirts in a large," AJ sighed, never taking his eyes off the chemise. The T-shirt would swallow her whole, probably be past her knees.
"Will that be all, sir?"
AJ reached for his wallet but stopped at another display on his way back to the counter. A sterling silver hairbrush, comb and mirror set. She'd have to brush her hair. Sure, she didn't need a silver set but why waste money on some cheap plastic brush?
"I'll take one of these as well." AJ pointed out the set to the clerk and then looked around again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lorenzo opened the shower door and raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were asleep."
"I guess you thought wrong." Alexis crossed her arms and tried to look smug leaning against the door jam, but a lot of her confidence evaporated when she realized how bright the lights were in the bathroom.
"Are you just going to stand there?" he asked.
"I'm admiring the view." She smiled.
He didn't flinch, didn't move, didn't even blush. Men! Alexis stood there in the too big pajama top and panties and her smile started to fade as his eyes grew darker.
"Alexis?"
"I-I'm just going to get a glass of water."
Lorenzo stepped out of the shower and crossed the bathroom in two easy strides.
Alexis started to back out into the bedroom but his arm snaked around her waist and she was pulled up against his soaking wet body.
"There's plenty of water in the shower." And he pulled her in with him, pajama top and all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Moisturizer, she'd need that, right? Women always needed moisturizer, only he didn't know which kind, for oily or dry skin so he bought both and the facial cleansers to match.
There was shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom. But her hair was very long and he wasn't sure if there would be enough so he bought both.
A bottle of shower gel that smelled like lily. It was the least he could do, the bar of soap provided by the hotel was too small.
And the lily smelled so nice.
So he bought the matching perfume. And bubble bath.
And bath oil.
A manicure set. Just a little travel set. Nothing fancy.
Two bottles of polish.
Something called a top coat.
She didn't wear make up but he bought her some lip gloss, her lips might be chapped.
Chocolate, girls always liked chocolate.
And when he started asking about a pair of antique sterling earrings, he finally stopped himself.
He wasn't even sure if her ears were pierced. Normally he would assume so, but he couldn't even remember her wearing jewelry.
Just a hair barrette. A few, actually, and they were kind of in the style of the earrings. Old looking, intricate, sort of Victorian.
Reminded him a little of his grandmother. Something she would like.
He started to make his way back to the elevator with four shopping bags. He slowed as he passed the silk gown in the display window.
She'd kill him. Shoot him dead.
AJ turned around and went back into the gift shop. "I need the gown, the one in the window."
"What size?"
"Small and..and I need it wrapped."
"Yes, sir," the clerk nodded.
AJ waited for the chemise to be placed in a box and wrapped. He then proceeded past the elevators to his car where he put the box in the trunk.
What she didn't know wouldn't kill him.
And there was nothing wrong with hope.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Pressed back against the shower wall, Alexis felt some of her confidence return.
Or was it just need?
"You mentioned something earlier about waking the dead." Lorenzo worked buttons through holes and wondered for a moment why it seemed a little awkward. Then he remembered, he'd dressed her in his pajamas.
Pajamas he'd never worn. He couldn't even remember where they came from, but he liked the idea of her wearing them. He liked that idea much better than picturing himself in silk pajamas. Wasn't his style, but they looked perfect on her.
Of course, at the moment, he regretted dressing her in anything.
She eased up on tip toes and kissed him. It was meant to be a light kiss, but went deeper before either one of them meant to.
Alexis forced herself to draw back. "Did Wong take Gia home?"
"No, she's in the guest room." Lorenzo leaned in closer and felt Alexis tighten up all over. "What is it?"
"She's right next door," Alexis hissed and looked past him at the far wall.
Lorenzo, not remotely detoured, eased the soaking wet silk top over her shoulders and let it fall to the shower floor. "Alexis, have you not noticed the way these bedrooms are arranged?"
"Wha-what are you talking about?" Her eyes grew wide when he hooked his thumbs just at her hips and eased her panties down.
"I told you the owner was paranoid about safety and privacy. That's why the windows are so high, the location so remote." His hands slid back up her thighs, over her belly to finally cup her breasts. He squeezed the soft weight and pinched the nipple, causing Alexis to take in a sharp breath.
"Come on you can do better than that," Lorenzo teased.
"What? Do better than what?" she gasped.
"The rooms are stacked down this hallway. One after the other but not only was he a stickler for privacy on the outside, he seemed to want it inside as well. Each bedroom, for all intensive purposes, is sound proof."
"Sound proof?"
"Not only are the walls thick, there is a closet, running the length of the room, like a separate room in between. So unless Gia passed out in the closet, with her ear pressed against the wall, she couldn't possibly hear us."
"Are you sure?"
"Have you heard any outside noises when you're in our room? I mean besides from the baby monitor? Anyone in the hall? Water running? Anything?"
Alexis tried to think but it was hard to do with his hands all over her.
"Would I lie?" he asked as he nibbled on her ear.
"Probably." Alexis didn't even hesitate in her answer.
"You're going to pay for that one." His hand slid in between her thighs and cupped her.
She let out a whimper.
"That's better," he growled.
"Better what?"
"Wake the dead, Alexis. Make as much noise as you want."
"I was joking."
"I'm not." He grasped at her backside suddenly, ran his hand down the back of her thigh and hitched it up to his hip.
He was very serious and Alexis wondered what she'd gotten herself into. This would teach her to get drunk and tease arms dealers. "Lorenzo."
"I like when you say my name, but not like that." He grabbed her hips and pulled her up against him hard. "Whisper it."
Her throat was dry and she nearly choked it out. "Lorenzo."
"Better, but say it sweeter, say it like you'd never say it to anyone but me."
His words and their meaning were becoming confusing. She could feel the length of him pressed up against her and she needed him. Needed him inside her. "Lorenzo, please."
He settled one hand on the back of her neck and eased her head back slowly so she was looking straight up into his eyes. "What do you want?"
"Just you."
"I'm going to give you so much more."
She didn't even consider what the price would be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AJ stared at the results of his shopping binge and wondered what happened to him. He felt foolish, embarrassed, and still excited to see her reaction.
Juliette exited the bedroom nearly drowning in the supposedly one-size-fits-all hotel robe. She looked like a child playing dress up. The sleeves were rolled up several times and the robe itself was nearly dragging the floor.
Her hair was encased in a towel and she shuffled across the floor in too big slippers.
AJ held his breath, prepared to shrug off his extravagance as Juliette grabbed all 4 bags by their handles and took them back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her without so much as a thank you.
He heard the snick of the lock and sat in the silence that followed.
And felt that the money was well spent.
There on the chair next to the couch, Juliette had left a pillow and blanket.
He was locked out of the bedroom, but invited to stay the night in her suite.
So long as he stayed on the couch.
Which was more than he expected and perfectly fine with AJ because while some people might find him pathetic for his obvious interest in a woman who barely seemed to tolerate him...
...AJ had the feeling that for Juliette, this was pushing it. He was already closer to her in a few days than most people were after a life time.
That feeling made the couch seem comfortable.
She unlocked the door and stuck her head out. "Floss?"
"Damn." AJ let out a long breath.
She rolled her eyes, closed the door and locked it again.
He was an idiot. She didn't even like him. She barely tolerated him. Right? Maybe. He just wasn't going to get much sleep.
He might have slept better if he'd known that Juliette, a woman who'd never worn make- up in her life, went to bed wearing lip gloss.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Moans, groans, whispers, sighs and finally more than one scream. She ended up lying on her stomach in bed, her hair still damp, physically exhausted, but unable to sleep.
Lorenzo lay on his side rubbing her neck. "You're still awake."
She smiled and turned her head to face him. "I don't sleep much when I drink."
"I don't think that's it."
"Are you calling me a liar, Lorenzo?"
He grinned. "Say my name again."
"I've said it in a variety of ways and I've said it enough tonight. How much ego stroking do you require?"
"I don't know, how much stroking do you require to get rid of the knots in your neck?"
"I'm fine."
"Then yes, Ms. Davis, you're a liar."
"You should sleep," she sighed.
"You should relax, tomorrow doesn't matter." He felt her tense up even more.
"Tomorrow does matter, unfortunately."
Lorenzo leaned forward and pressed a kiss in between her shoulder blades. "He'll never take her from you, it's all going to be okay."
Alexis rolled over to her side so she could face him. "Don't...don't do that."
He smiled at her. "Do what? Tell you the truth?"
"Try to predict the future. You don't know."
"Alexis, it will be okay."
She sat up suddenly and gathered the sheet around her. She shivered, but it wasn't from the cold.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"The last man who told me that in bed, that it would be okay, is the one planning to steal my daughter."
Lorenzo fell onto his back and stared at the ceiling. She would never know how much that hurt.
"I don't want you to kill him, not for me."
"But if I did it for fun, for kicks, for drugs, for money, for territory..I heard you tonight, with Gia, when you told her it didn't matter because we were always trying to kill each other anyway."
"I was drunk."
"Do you think I'm an animal, Alexis?"
She climbed out of bed, the sheet still wrapped around her. She crossed the room, looked around, there wasn't really any place to go. She turned around to face him and leaned back on the dresser.
"You remember I told you who my step mother was."
"Helena Cassadine."
"And you knew who she was."
"She has a reputation."
"She slit my mother's throat."
He sat up suddenly; the ceiling was not nearly as interesting. "I know," he said softly.
"She slit my mother's throat and my father stayed married to her. I lived in her house, was dependent on her charity. I loved my mother, she was a sweet, kind, wonderful woman, from what I remember, but she was my mother so of course I thought so."
Lorenzo climbed out of bed as well. "Alexis, what is it?"
She was shivering all over now. "I won't let Kristina know the man who murdered her father. No matter what Sonny does, no matter what happens, I won't do that to her. And if she doesn't know you, I don't know you. I won't be with you Lorenzo."
He stood directly in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I have no plans to kill Sonny Corinthos. The only way he dies at my hands, is in self defense, or defense of you or Kristina."
"Not for me." She shook her head.
He squeezed her shoulders. "If it comes to a choice? Your life or his? He dies and you live without me."
Alexis swallowed hard. "What if I don't want to anymore?"
His heart skipped a beat and his hands slid up into her hair, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. "I know as well as you do that your daughter comes first."
She pulled away from him and stepped off to his side. He reached for her but she shook her head. "No." She pushed his hand away. "Not right now."
"Alexis?"
"Nothing intimate. Stop, listen to me. Don't make me choose. Don't make me promises you can't keep. Don't lie to me."
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"Probably."
And the joke of earlier became a knife to his heart but there was no way to prove he hadn't lied.
"You've manipulated me."
"You've enjoyed it." He said it with a little more bitterness than he intended.
She was happy for that. That he was just a little angry, hurt, less likely to tell her what she wanted to hear. "What are you going to do?"
They'd discussed her plans at one time. He'd demanded to know what she planned to do. How she'd protect her daughter. How far she was willing to go. Murder was an option for her, apparently the rules were different for him.
"Maybe it's better if you don't know."
"Are you going to break the law?"
He clenched his jaw. "Are you going to completely tie my hands here, Alexis? This is YOUR child we're talking about. Do you want to keep her or not?"
"Of course."
"Then stop being so fucking naive!" He crossed his arms because he didn't know what else to do. He wanted to grab her and shake her.
She laughed.
Lorenzo turned to her, "I'm glad you think this is funny."
"I only asked so..so I could start planning now."
"On leaving me?"
"On your defense, how high the bail might be set, if you'd be considered a flight risk, which, of course, you would be, how I could argue against that..I'm still your attorney, you know."
Lorenzo smiled, "You are, aren't you?"
"And anything short of killing him, I'll get you off. I promise."
"Now who's making promises they can't keep?"
"I'm not just good Lorenzo, I'm the best. There was a time Sonny knew that, I think he's forgotten and I can use that. No, I will use that. I'll use everything, everything short of using you to kill him."
"I'm not an animal, Alexis."
"I know that. I wouldn't be with you if I thought that, only.."
"Only what?" he asked.
She looked down at the floor.
Why wouldn't she answer him? "Only what?"
She smiled and took a step closer to him. "I'm still not sleepy."
"Neither am I, so tell me."
"Make love to me again."
It wasn't what she was about to tell him, he knew that. She changed the subject. Changed it to sex. Sex would be less intimate than what she was about to say and that hurt him again. He'd been pushed and pulled all night. She dealt him blow after blow and then followed up with revelations, closeness but something was there, something she hadn't put into words. Something important she'd held back.
She dropped the sheet.
He'd ask her in the morning.
She'd never tell.
It was the only thing worse to her than even murdering Kristina's father.
Don't make me regret trusting you.
But life so seldom goes as planned.
Anyway.
Chapter 17
AJ saw two possible outcomes to Juliette's movement. She was in a crawling position and in an instant he could imagine her crawling across the bathroom floor and curling up in his lap like a kitten.
He liked that idea for a variety of reasons. The obvious and the not so obvious.
But the two reasons that came to mind first were it would mean she trusted him and that he could touch her hair.
He knew it would feel like silk, just like he knew there was no way she trusted him.
So the other outcome was she was crawling across the floor like a cat so she could scratch his eyes out.
And even though he was about 99% sure it was the second one, the 1% chance that it could be the first, kept him sitting perfectly still waiting for his hands to slip into silk. To wrap his arm around her back, kiss her neck, whisper to her that it would all be okay.
She fooled him completely. She was only trying to stand, it was just an awkward process in her current condition.
She climbed up out of the floor, bent over the sink and washed her face.
He stood up as well and passed her a hand towel, which to his shock, she accepted.
"I want a bath."
He wasn't sure if she was addressing him or just her own reflection in the mirror.
"Will you take me home?" she asked.
He stopped in the doorway. "You have the room for the night."
"I don't have anything to wear to bed."
Ah, the opening line men dream of, but the way she was examining the vomit on her blouse let AJ know, in no uncertain terms, that now was not the time to flirt.
Was there ever such a time with Juliette?
Yes, there was. He could joke, tease, flirt and battle with her all he wanted.
So long as they weren't alone in a hotel room and he hadn't just gotten her drunk and watched her throw up.
"Take a bath, I'll get you something to wear in the gift shop down stairs."
She didn't answer, just closed the bathroom door. He stood in the hotel bedroom and a second later he heard the bath water running.
He supposed that was his cue to run down to the gift shop like a good little errand boy.
~*~*~*~*~*~
She heard water running and opened one eye to check out her surroundings. Yep, she was in the bedroom and unlike most mornings, she wasn't the least bit groggy, she was wide awake.
And in her jammies. Ha! Someone, and it had better not be Wong, had even tucked her in.
Tsk, tsk. This person had SO much to learn. He'd counted her out for the evening, he knew nothing of Alexis Davis.
She was merely taking a small break, resting up for bigger things.
Alcohol occasionally had the ability to slow her down, but it never fully knocked her out, at least not for long. In fact, it seemed the more she drank, the less sleep she needed over all.
And the braver she became.
Alexis untucked herself and attempted a stealth-like approach toward the open door of the bathroom.
Along the way she stubbed her toe, nearly knocked a glass of water off the bedside table and stopped to admire herself in the bedroom mirror when she realized he'd changed her into his pajamas.
Either she looked very sexy or she was very drunk. Since she never thought of herself as sexy, she figured it was the latter.
She looked at the alarm clock, it was only 9:00, she'd been out maybe two hours. It was probably all the sleep she would require and if she had her way, he wouldn't get any at all. She was not in the mood to spend the night alone. If he was staying with her, he was going to make himself useful. Very, very useful.
Alexis untangled the drawstring of the pajama bottoms and they instantly fell to the floor. She tripped stepping out of them and had to steady herself by hanging on to the door frame.
"Alexis?" Lorenzo asked.
Well he better not be expecting anyone else!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm sorry sir, we're closing." The clerk looked up from her register when AJ entered the gift shop. "Oh, Mr. Quartermaine, I'm sorry, I didn't realize.."
"It's okay, I'll just be a minute." AJ looked around wondering what Juliette would need.
He approached a small and discreet pharmacy like section. Aspirin, toothbrush, toothpaste. The basics. He laid them on the counter. But wait, she needed something to sleep in.
AJ left the counter and headed over to the clothing section, taking his time, being the owner's grandson should have some privileges. If he had to put up with the bartender babysitting him then the shop keeper could stick around and let him shop.
She shouldn't have been trying to close out the register before 9:00 anyway.
Half of the Port Charles Hotel gift shop was taken up by clothing, most of it tourist wear. Cheesy t-shirts, khaki shorts, baseball hats that had stupid logos like I heart PC.
But there was a small alcove for more delicate items and despite his best intentions he found himself wandering towards that section.
He'd passed it in the display window on his way in. Blush pink, the finest silk, spaghetti straps that crossed in the back.
What there was of a back.
The briefest chemise. The right size wouldn't even cover two inches of a womans thigh. Blush pink silk panties to match with a teeny, tiny, bow.
If he brought that back for her to wear, she'd shoot him. She didn't even have a gun but he knew she'd make a point of finding one just so she could shoot him.
Still, it didn't stop him from entertaining the idea. And going a little further with the idea so it became a full scene..a long scene.
"Sir, can I help you with anything?"
"I'll take one of those I heart PC T-shirts in a large," AJ sighed, never taking his eyes off the chemise. The T-shirt would swallow her whole, probably be past her knees.
"Will that be all, sir?"
AJ reached for his wallet but stopped at another display on his way back to the counter. A sterling silver hairbrush, comb and mirror set. She'd have to brush her hair. Sure, she didn't need a silver set but why waste money on some cheap plastic brush?
"I'll take one of these as well." AJ pointed out the set to the clerk and then looked around again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lorenzo opened the shower door and raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were asleep."
"I guess you thought wrong." Alexis crossed her arms and tried to look smug leaning against the door jam, but a lot of her confidence evaporated when she realized how bright the lights were in the bathroom.
"Are you just going to stand there?" he asked.
"I'm admiring the view." She smiled.
He didn't flinch, didn't move, didn't even blush. Men! Alexis stood there in the too big pajama top and panties and her smile started to fade as his eyes grew darker.
"Alexis?"
"I-I'm just going to get a glass of water."
Lorenzo stepped out of the shower and crossed the bathroom in two easy strides.
Alexis started to back out into the bedroom but his arm snaked around her waist and she was pulled up against his soaking wet body.
"There's plenty of water in the shower." And he pulled her in with him, pajama top and all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Moisturizer, she'd need that, right? Women always needed moisturizer, only he didn't know which kind, for oily or dry skin so he bought both and the facial cleansers to match.
There was shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom. But her hair was very long and he wasn't sure if there would be enough so he bought both.
A bottle of shower gel that smelled like lily. It was the least he could do, the bar of soap provided by the hotel was too small.
And the lily smelled so nice.
So he bought the matching perfume. And bubble bath.
And bath oil.
A manicure set. Just a little travel set. Nothing fancy.
Two bottles of polish.
Something called a top coat.
She didn't wear make up but he bought her some lip gloss, her lips might be chapped.
Chocolate, girls always liked chocolate.
And when he started asking about a pair of antique sterling earrings, he finally stopped himself.
He wasn't even sure if her ears were pierced. Normally he would assume so, but he couldn't even remember her wearing jewelry.
Just a hair barrette. A few, actually, and they were kind of in the style of the earrings. Old looking, intricate, sort of Victorian.
Reminded him a little of his grandmother. Something she would like.
He started to make his way back to the elevator with four shopping bags. He slowed as he passed the silk gown in the display window.
She'd kill him. Shoot him dead.
AJ turned around and went back into the gift shop. "I need the gown, the one in the window."
"What size?"
"Small and..and I need it wrapped."
"Yes, sir," the clerk nodded.
AJ waited for the chemise to be placed in a box and wrapped. He then proceeded past the elevators to his car where he put the box in the trunk.
What she didn't know wouldn't kill him.
And there was nothing wrong with hope.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Pressed back against the shower wall, Alexis felt some of her confidence return.
Or was it just need?
"You mentioned something earlier about waking the dead." Lorenzo worked buttons through holes and wondered for a moment why it seemed a little awkward. Then he remembered, he'd dressed her in his pajamas.
Pajamas he'd never worn. He couldn't even remember where they came from, but he liked the idea of her wearing them. He liked that idea much better than picturing himself in silk pajamas. Wasn't his style, but they looked perfect on her.
Of course, at the moment, he regretted dressing her in anything.
She eased up on tip toes and kissed him. It was meant to be a light kiss, but went deeper before either one of them meant to.
Alexis forced herself to draw back. "Did Wong take Gia home?"
"No, she's in the guest room." Lorenzo leaned in closer and felt Alexis tighten up all over. "What is it?"
"She's right next door," Alexis hissed and looked past him at the far wall.
Lorenzo, not remotely detoured, eased the soaking wet silk top over her shoulders and let it fall to the shower floor. "Alexis, have you not noticed the way these bedrooms are arranged?"
"Wha-what are you talking about?" Her eyes grew wide when he hooked his thumbs just at her hips and eased her panties down.
"I told you the owner was paranoid about safety and privacy. That's why the windows are so high, the location so remote." His hands slid back up her thighs, over her belly to finally cup her breasts. He squeezed the soft weight and pinched the nipple, causing Alexis to take in a sharp breath.
"Come on you can do better than that," Lorenzo teased.
"What? Do better than what?" she gasped.
"The rooms are stacked down this hallway. One after the other but not only was he a stickler for privacy on the outside, he seemed to want it inside as well. Each bedroom, for all intensive purposes, is sound proof."
"Sound proof?"
"Not only are the walls thick, there is a closet, running the length of the room, like a separate room in between. So unless Gia passed out in the closet, with her ear pressed against the wall, she couldn't possibly hear us."
"Are you sure?"
"Have you heard any outside noises when you're in our room? I mean besides from the baby monitor? Anyone in the hall? Water running? Anything?"
Alexis tried to think but it was hard to do with his hands all over her.
"Would I lie?" he asked as he nibbled on her ear.
"Probably." Alexis didn't even hesitate in her answer.
"You're going to pay for that one." His hand slid in between her thighs and cupped her.
She let out a whimper.
"That's better," he growled.
"Better what?"
"Wake the dead, Alexis. Make as much noise as you want."
"I was joking."
"I'm not." He grasped at her backside suddenly, ran his hand down the back of her thigh and hitched it up to his hip.
He was very serious and Alexis wondered what she'd gotten herself into. This would teach her to get drunk and tease arms dealers. "Lorenzo."
"I like when you say my name, but not like that." He grabbed her hips and pulled her up against him hard. "Whisper it."
Her throat was dry and she nearly choked it out. "Lorenzo."
"Better, but say it sweeter, say it like you'd never say it to anyone but me."
His words and their meaning were becoming confusing. She could feel the length of him pressed up against her and she needed him. Needed him inside her. "Lorenzo, please."
He settled one hand on the back of her neck and eased her head back slowly so she was looking straight up into his eyes. "What do you want?"
"Just you."
"I'm going to give you so much more."
She didn't even consider what the price would be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AJ stared at the results of his shopping binge and wondered what happened to him. He felt foolish, embarrassed, and still excited to see her reaction.
Juliette exited the bedroom nearly drowning in the supposedly one-size-fits-all hotel robe. She looked like a child playing dress up. The sleeves were rolled up several times and the robe itself was nearly dragging the floor.
Her hair was encased in a towel and she shuffled across the floor in too big slippers.
AJ held his breath, prepared to shrug off his extravagance as Juliette grabbed all 4 bags by their handles and took them back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her without so much as a thank you.
He heard the snick of the lock and sat in the silence that followed.
And felt that the money was well spent.
There on the chair next to the couch, Juliette had left a pillow and blanket.
He was locked out of the bedroom, but invited to stay the night in her suite.
So long as he stayed on the couch.
Which was more than he expected and perfectly fine with AJ because while some people might find him pathetic for his obvious interest in a woman who barely seemed to tolerate him...
...AJ had the feeling that for Juliette, this was pushing it. He was already closer to her in a few days than most people were after a life time.
That feeling made the couch seem comfortable.
She unlocked the door and stuck her head out. "Floss?"
"Damn." AJ let out a long breath.
She rolled her eyes, closed the door and locked it again.
He was an idiot. She didn't even like him. She barely tolerated him. Right? Maybe. He just wasn't going to get much sleep.
He might have slept better if he'd known that Juliette, a woman who'd never worn make- up in her life, went to bed wearing lip gloss.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Moans, groans, whispers, sighs and finally more than one scream. She ended up lying on her stomach in bed, her hair still damp, physically exhausted, but unable to sleep.
Lorenzo lay on his side rubbing her neck. "You're still awake."
She smiled and turned her head to face him. "I don't sleep much when I drink."
"I don't think that's it."
"Are you calling me a liar, Lorenzo?"
He grinned. "Say my name again."
"I've said it in a variety of ways and I've said it enough tonight. How much ego stroking do you require?"
"I don't know, how much stroking do you require to get rid of the knots in your neck?"
"I'm fine."
"Then yes, Ms. Davis, you're a liar."
"You should sleep," she sighed.
"You should relax, tomorrow doesn't matter." He felt her tense up even more.
"Tomorrow does matter, unfortunately."
Lorenzo leaned forward and pressed a kiss in between her shoulder blades. "He'll never take her from you, it's all going to be okay."
Alexis rolled over to her side so she could face him. "Don't...don't do that."
He smiled at her. "Do what? Tell you the truth?"
"Try to predict the future. You don't know."
"Alexis, it will be okay."
She sat up suddenly and gathered the sheet around her. She shivered, but it wasn't from the cold.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"The last man who told me that in bed, that it would be okay, is the one planning to steal my daughter."
Lorenzo fell onto his back and stared at the ceiling. She would never know how much that hurt.
"I don't want you to kill him, not for me."
"But if I did it for fun, for kicks, for drugs, for money, for territory..I heard you tonight, with Gia, when you told her it didn't matter because we were always trying to kill each other anyway."
"I was drunk."
"Do you think I'm an animal, Alexis?"
She climbed out of bed, the sheet still wrapped around her. She crossed the room, looked around, there wasn't really any place to go. She turned around to face him and leaned back on the dresser.
"You remember I told you who my step mother was."
"Helena Cassadine."
"And you knew who she was."
"She has a reputation."
"She slit my mother's throat."
He sat up suddenly; the ceiling was not nearly as interesting. "I know," he said softly.
"She slit my mother's throat and my father stayed married to her. I lived in her house, was dependent on her charity. I loved my mother, she was a sweet, kind, wonderful woman, from what I remember, but she was my mother so of course I thought so."
Lorenzo climbed out of bed as well. "Alexis, what is it?"
She was shivering all over now. "I won't let Kristina know the man who murdered her father. No matter what Sonny does, no matter what happens, I won't do that to her. And if she doesn't know you, I don't know you. I won't be with you Lorenzo."
He stood directly in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I have no plans to kill Sonny Corinthos. The only way he dies at my hands, is in self defense, or defense of you or Kristina."
"Not for me." She shook her head.
He squeezed her shoulders. "If it comes to a choice? Your life or his? He dies and you live without me."
Alexis swallowed hard. "What if I don't want to anymore?"
His heart skipped a beat and his hands slid up into her hair, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. "I know as well as you do that your daughter comes first."
She pulled away from him and stepped off to his side. He reached for her but she shook her head. "No." She pushed his hand away. "Not right now."
"Alexis?"
"Nothing intimate. Stop, listen to me. Don't make me choose. Don't make me promises you can't keep. Don't lie to me."
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"Probably."
And the joke of earlier became a knife to his heart but there was no way to prove he hadn't lied.
"You've manipulated me."
"You've enjoyed it." He said it with a little more bitterness than he intended.
She was happy for that. That he was just a little angry, hurt, less likely to tell her what she wanted to hear. "What are you going to do?"
They'd discussed her plans at one time. He'd demanded to know what she planned to do. How she'd protect her daughter. How far she was willing to go. Murder was an option for her, apparently the rules were different for him.
"Maybe it's better if you don't know."
"Are you going to break the law?"
He clenched his jaw. "Are you going to completely tie my hands here, Alexis? This is YOUR child we're talking about. Do you want to keep her or not?"
"Of course."
"Then stop being so fucking naive!" He crossed his arms because he didn't know what else to do. He wanted to grab her and shake her.
She laughed.
Lorenzo turned to her, "I'm glad you think this is funny."
"I only asked so..so I could start planning now."
"On leaving me?"
"On your defense, how high the bail might be set, if you'd be considered a flight risk, which, of course, you would be, how I could argue against that..I'm still your attorney, you know."
Lorenzo smiled, "You are, aren't you?"
"And anything short of killing him, I'll get you off. I promise."
"Now who's making promises they can't keep?"
"I'm not just good Lorenzo, I'm the best. There was a time Sonny knew that, I think he's forgotten and I can use that. No, I will use that. I'll use everything, everything short of using you to kill him."
"I'm not an animal, Alexis."
"I know that. I wouldn't be with you if I thought that, only.."
"Only what?" he asked.
She looked down at the floor.
Why wouldn't she answer him? "Only what?"
She smiled and took a step closer to him. "I'm still not sleepy."
"Neither am I, so tell me."
"Make love to me again."
It wasn't what she was about to tell him, he knew that. She changed the subject. Changed it to sex. Sex would be less intimate than what she was about to say and that hurt him again. He'd been pushed and pulled all night. She dealt him blow after blow and then followed up with revelations, closeness but something was there, something she hadn't put into words. Something important she'd held back.
She dropped the sheet.
He'd ask her in the morning.
She'd never tell.
It was the only thing worse to her than even murdering Kristina's father.
Don't make me regret trusting you.
L
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