Sonny rushes into the Grill and stops dead in his tracks when he sees Alexis sitting at the bar. It was not that he didn’t expect to see her there, after all she had called him and asked him to meet her, he just didn’t expect to see her there looking so good. He didn’t expect to see her sitting causally on a barstool with her legs crossed beneath a dress that was very short. Not that he was complaining, after all she had beautiful legs, she just didn’t usually show them off for the world to see. Her whole outfit was sexy, yet sophisticated. His eyes moved up the dress and linger on the top, which is decorated with rows of tiny buttons on the front. “So many buttons, so little time.” He thinks to him self as his mind starts to wonder how long it would take him to undo all the buttons on her top. It is not just the dress that is turning him on beyond reason. Her hair and makeup are different as well, edgier than he has ever seen on her before.

He stands there and stares for a long while, an idiotic grin spreading across his face. This goes unnoticed by Alexis when she finally turns around to face him. She waves him over to the bar and indicates a stool beside her.

“That was quick.” She tells him as she hands her glass to the bartender for a refill.

“You said it was urgent when we spoke on the phone.” He reminds her.

She nods her head in agreement and calls out to the bartender.

“Hold the ice this time. I want to live on the edge”

The bartender gives her a worried look and then glances over at Sonny.

“Do you plan on taking care of her?” The bartender questions.

Sonny nods his head and indicates that he will watch over her.

The bartender refills her glass with a transparent brown liquid that Sonny guesses is rum. Alexis grabs the glass out of his hand and sips the liquid as if she were drinking water. She pats the stool again, inviting Sonny to sit down.

“Have a seat.” She insists.

Sonny hesitates for a moment. He wants to ask her why they are there and why she looks so good. Instead he forces his weak knees to propel him forward until he is seating on the stool beside Alexis.

“Alexis, when you called you told me you needed me right away?” He asks.

“Yes I did say that.” She answers.

“So, are you going to tell me what is so important that I had to leave Michael in the middle of reading the 3 little pigs?”

Alexis rolls her eyes and mocks sincerity.

“Oh, I’ll bet that just thrilled Carly. You drop everything to run to my side.”

A serious look crosses his face.

“I don’t really care what thrills Carly at the moment. I do care about your needs though.”

“That is sweet.” Alexis replies as she hands the bartender her glass for another refill.

“So, anytime you are ready to tell me what is wrong; I’m ready to help. “ He tells her.

The bartender gives Sonny another worried look.

“This is her 8th glass tonight.” He remarks.

“Yep, filler up!” Alexis insists.

She ignores the shocked look that crosses Sonny’s face as he tries to figure out how she can stay on her barstool after having 8 glasses of rum. The bartender returns her glass and Alexis continues to sip her drink. Sonny finds himself wondering what it would feel like to be the straw. He shakes his head and tries to clear his thoughts. Alexis stops for a second and turns to him, propping her elbows on the bar and leaning close to Sonny.

“Sonny?” She begins.

“Alexis?” He answers.

“I suppose you want to know why I asked you here tonight?” She questions.

“I suppose it is to drive you home.” He states in a matter of fact tone.

“Exactly!” She yells as she slaps the top of the bar with her hand.

This makes him nearly jump off of his stool.

“Right after you pick me up!” She continues calmly.

Sonny is sure he must have misunderstood her request. He gives her a puzzled look and repeats her statement as a question.

“As soon as I pick you up?” He asks.

“Yes, as soon as you Pick_ Me_ Up! She speaks slowly and enunciates her words.

“You want me to physically lift you up off the ground?” He asks.

Alexis rolls her eyes in exasperation.

“I know you are not that dense! I also know you have picked up women in bars before.” She states.

“Of course I have.” He answers, feeling that his reputation has been challenged.

“Then what part of the concept of “picking me up” in this bar are you missing?” She scolds.

“Is this a joke?” He looks up at her as he asks.

Alexis gets an exasperated look on her face.

“Not at all. Here is how it goes. You pick me up, take me back to your place or mine and we see where the evening takes us.” She explains.

Sonny losses his balance at the thought of what she is suggesting and nearly falls off of his stool.

Alexis reaches out her hand and grabs him before he hits the floor.

“Is your stool a little slippery?” She teases.

Sonny gives her a serious look.

“Alexis, what brought this on?” He asks with concern in his voice.

“My brother Stefan left town.” She answers.

“You are upset.” It was not a question it was an inference.

“Not at all! I’m glad that Stefan left to follow his bliss.” She informs him.

Sonny gives her a look of doubt.

“Alexis, you don’t have to pretend with me. You can tell me the truth about how you feel.”

“This is the truth. I’m happy for Stefan.” She insists.

Sonny still isn’t sure he believes her, but there is honesty in her eyes.

“You mean to tell me you brother just up and left town and your aren’t affected?” He asks.

“Of course I’m affected. The last words he said to me before he left affected me deeply.”

“Stay away from the parapet?” Sonny teases.

Alexis frowns.

“No, he asked me to make sure I did one new thing everyday.” She replies.

“Sounds like good advice.” Sonny suggests.

“Well, it is harder than I expected. Yesterday I tried to cook that pasta dish you made for dinner.”

Sonny’s eyes widen in honest shock.

“You tried to cook? Is the apartment still standing?” He asks, not really teasing.

“Yes, Mr. smarty pants! The apartment is fine. The meal was inedible. She freely admits.

“Alexis, if you want pasta all you have to do is call me. I would have cooked you pasta!”

“That would not have been doing something different!” She insists.

“So how did this lead you to decide that I should pick you up in a bar tonight?” He asks.

“I was trying to decide what I wanted to do tonight that was new and exciting when it suddenly occurred to me that I had never had a one night stand with a stranger.” She calmly explains.

“Never?” He seems a little surprised. “Not even in college?”

She shakes her head and gives him exasperated look.

“I have never been a tramp, even in college.”

“I never thought so.”

“Good! I would hate to think the man I’m going to sleep with tonight doesn’t respect me!”

Sonny nearly falls off his stool once again.

“What are you drinking?”

He grabs her glass and downs the remaining contents. Partially because he wants to know how intoxicated she is and partially so that she will not be able to drink anymore. He is surprised to find out that what she has been sipping all night like water is very close to that liquid.

“This is ice tea!” He stammers in shock.

“No, I had him hold the ice on the last few. It is just tea.” She corrects.

“It is not even Long Island ice tea. It is tea bags and water. It doesn’t even have sugar.”

“I don’t like sugar in my tea. It makes it too sweet. I don’t like things too sweet.”

Sonny looks at the bartender.

“Is this all she has been drinking tonight?” He asks with disbelieve in his voice.

“For as long as she has been sitting at my bar tonight.” The bartender shrugs.

Alexis puts a hand on his arm to calm him down. He looks at her and realizes that he was wrong, She isn’t drunk and she isn’t crazy. She is serious about wanting him to sleep with her. It wasn’t as if he had never thought about it before. In fact he had thought about it a great deal, he had even fantasized about it on more than one occasion. After all he was a man known for his healthy sex drive and she was a beautiful, desirable woman. The spent a lot of time together and his mind naturally wondered what she was like between the sheets. In fact, when he first saw her in the Grill tonight he had thought about how much he wanted her. However, just because he had those thoughts about her didn’t mean he felt free to act upon them. She was his beast friend and he was afraid he would loose her if he acted on those feelings. His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of her voice.

“If you are not up to the task, I’m sure I could find some guy in here who is willing to take me home.”

She informs him casually as she starts to get up off of her stool. Sonny puts a hand on her arm to stop her. He lifts his head up until their eyes met.

“You are serious about this? You want to have a fling and you want to have it with me.”

“Yes.” She softly replies.

“Why me?” He asks.

“Because you are my best friend, we do everything together.”

“How do we do this without changing our friendship?” He asks with sincerity in his voice.

“Change is not always a bad thing. If we go into this with no expectations it should be fine.”

“Jax is your friend; you were even married to him. Why don’t you ask him to do it?”

Alexis gives him a sly smile.

“Do you really like the thought of me sleeping with Jax?” She asks.

“No.” He replies simply.

He hated that idea; in fact he could have kicked himself for even suggesting the idea. It made him feel numb and it bothered him more than he ever imagined was possible. In fact he hated it almost as much as he hated thinking about all those nights she had spent in Ashton’s arms. How Ned had touched her the way that he wanted to touch her right now. Sonny shakes his head to clear it of such thoughts. If he played it cool, all of his fantasies might come true and she would be his that very night. He was determined not to seem to eager.

“Good, because Jax is completely out of the question. I’m just not attracted to Jax in that way.”

“You are attracted to me in that way though?”

Sonny licks his lips and eagerly waits for her response.

“You must be since you decided to have a one night stand and my name popped into you head”

Alexis gives him a flirty look.

“Of course I’m attracted to you. I thought you knew?” She replies as if it is nothing new.

He had hopped that he had been reading her right the past few months. The way she seemed more excitable that usual when he was around and the way she was always going out of her way to make sure he had everything he needed.

“Exactly how attracted are you to me?” He asks.

He tried to sound casual, even though his insides were truing to mush

“I have the major hots for you. I’ve had it bad for months.”

It astounded Sonny that she was so at ease with the whole topic. What he didn’t know it that she hadn’t always been some comfortable with her feelings. However, she had figured out that they were not something she could his from, so why bother getting flustered. For Sonny these feelings where still new and they still had a tendency to through him off balance.

“I guess it is about time we do something about those feelings that you have been having for months.”

He gives her a sultry look, which she effortlessly returns.

“I’m glad you are finally seeing things my way.” She teases.

He leans close to her.

“The only flaw in your plan is that we’re not strangers.” He reminds her.

“I’m not crazy. I know it would be dangerous to sleep with a total stranger.”

“Then it is not a one-night stand with someone unknown.”

“In that case let’s not be Sonny and Alexis. Let’s be someone else. Not friends and not employee and employer. Let’s pretend that we never laid eyes on each other before tonight”

He gives her a skeptical look.

“It doesn’t matter who we pretend to be. Tomorrow we will still go back to being Sonny and Alexis and we will still know what Doug and Mindy did. It will change things.”

“It doesn’t have to change things! What we do tonight under different names will be separate from who we are tomorrow.”

He wanted her. He had for a while. He just hadn’t been able to figure out how to work it into their relationship without ruining their friendship.

“You make it sound so simple.” He sighs.

“It is simple. It is a fantasy tonight. I want to live in the moment and not think about morning.”

However, I’m not letting you call me Mindy and I am not calling you Doug.”

“Fine, then you choose the names.”

Alexis rubs her hands together in excitement.

“Okay, you will be henceforth known as Dimitri.”

“Henceforth?” Sonny teases.

Alexis raises a finger to his lips to shush him.

“You are a Russian Duke.” She informs him.

“Royalty? I like the sound of that.” He teases “by what name will you henceforth be known?”

Alexis screws her face up in concentration.

“I don’t need to have a name!” She firmly states.

“Yes you do. Unless you want to be known as hey you!” He grins.

Alexis thinks for a moment.

“No I don’t because this is my fantasy and I want to remain anonymous.”

“Mindy is still available.” He teases.

Alexis fingers the brooch Stefan gave her before he left town.

“Okay fine you can call me Katia and I‘m a countess.” She answers.

When she notices the puzzled expression on his face, she feels compelled to explain.

“Before my brother left town he gave me this brooch.” She hands Sonny the pin.

“It looks very old.” He states

“The Cassadine’s do not own anything that is not very old.” She replies dryly.

Sonny studies the pin and studies her face.

“Is there a story that goes with the pin?”

“There is always a story. According to my brother, it belonged to Katia. A very serious woman who lets life pass her by while her sisters enjoy life to the fullest.”

Sonny smiles.

“I can see the parallels.”

Alexis nods her head in agreement.

“Yes, when my brother gave me the brooch he reminded me not to take life so seriously, which is what I‘m doing tonight!” She smiles.

“So what do we do now countess?” Sonny teases.

“I want to hear your best pick up line.” She encourages.

Sonny rubs his hands together in excitement. Than he stands up and walks to the doorway. A puzzled look crosses Alexis’ face. However she realizes what he is doing when he walks back and sits down.

“Thank you.” He tells her, his voice dripping with charm.

“For what?” She asks.

“For saving this seat for me.” He answers.

Alexis rolls her eyes. His lines were going to have to get a whole lot more interesting. Otherwise se was going home with someone else. Sonny picks up her hand and kisses it. Then he looks deeply into her eyes.

“ I know we don’t know each other, but I can smell royal blood from a mile away.”

She snatches her hand away and gives him a disappointed frown. He flashes her a teasing dimpled grin, then goes on.

“I’m a duke and you are a countess, so what do you say we go back to my castle and rock the old stone walls?” He gives her a sultry look.

Alexis breaks into a fit of laughter.

“Is that a no?” A casually asks.

“Not only am I not leaving here with you tonight. I should call Taggert and have you arrested for the worst pick up lines ever!”

Sonny shrugs.

“I have a good lawyer. She’ll get me released.” He explains.

“Not for crimes against the heart. She will let you rot for those lines” She dryly comments.

“This is all kind of new to me.” He shyly admits.

“I thought you said that you had picked women up in bars before!”

“I have, but I have always been the one controlling the situation, but like you said this is your fantasy. And you are in control. It throws me off balance Alexis”

“It is Katia, not Alexis. I wouldn’t do anything like this ever.” She insists.

Sonny just smiles.

“I think it is all Alexis. You have been dying to cut loose for a long time now I’ll bet.” He grins.

“I thought you were not a gambling man?” She reminds him.

“I’m not a gambler. I don’t play unless I know I can win.” He now gives her an intense look.

“Would you like to try that pick up line again?” She teases.

“I think I or rather Dimitri would like a second chance to impress Katia .”

He answers and then leans close to her. So close in fact, that she can feel the heat radiating off of his body.

“Proceed.” She instructs him.

His eyes engage hers in an intense look.

“I know we have never met before. However, the moment I walked into the room I was drawn in by your presence. It was as if you were the only woman in the world and I had to be near you. All my life I have been searching for something. No, make that I have been searching for someone to make me feel whole. Now that I have found you, my journey is over and I am complete. All though we have just met, I feel as if we are connected on a cosmic level. There is a bond between us that transcends time and space. I trust you on a deep and instinctive level and I desperate need to hold your confidence. I fear that if we do not pursue this connection tonight we will loose our chance forever. I already know the desires of your heart and soul because they are a reflection of my own. I want to know the rest of you as intimately. I want to understand how you respond to my touch. I want to know how my kiss makes you sigh and what sends you over the edge into ecstasy.”

No man had ever made such a passionate out pouring to Alexis before in her life. She is speechless for a long while after he has finished.

“You aren’t saying anything. Was it really that bad?” He asks with worry in his voice.

“It was the single most beautiful thing any man has ever said to me in my life.”

Sonny just shrugs.

“Once I got started it came pretty easily.”

“I know you are just playing a role, but do you mind me asking what inspired you?”

She was actually what inspired him. Those were all things he had wanted to say to Alexis for a long time. He was just afraid that she would think he was being pushy or insincere. In reality, he had never spoken truer words in his life. Every sentence had come straight from his heart. He was glad she had given him this role and a safe environment to open his heart. He shrugs and repeats.

“It came easy once I got started. So you want to go back to my place or yours?”

He gives her a huge smile.

“Mine, I think.” She answers with an equally big smile.

“Do you have your car here?” He asks.

“Yes, but I want you to drive.” She replies as she throws him her keys.

Sonny catches them.

“Good I get the feeling that is the last time I’m going to be in control this evening.”

“You never know, I might be generous on some levels tonight.” She teases.

He helps her with her coat and they start to leave. For the first time since he has arrived at the Grill he notices that half the town is having dinner in the room next door. Including Jax, the Quuartermaine’s, Ned and Kristina. He smiles to himself and wonders what they would think if they knew what the rest of the evening held in store for him and Alexis.

The ride back to Harbor View Towers had been uneventful. Alexis kept giving Sonny seductive looks, but she had kept her hands to herself. They were both anxious to get up to her apartment though. As luck would have it, this was the night that the elevator decided to break down.

The maintenance man had called and told them it might be hours before it could be repaired.

“I can’t believe that I’m going to waste my fantasy stuck in this elevator!” Alexis complains.

“Not necessarily. The fact that we are stuck in an elevator could be the fantasy.” He suggests.

“I thought you were claustrophobic?” She questions.

“It comes and it goes.” Sonny replies as he moves closer to her.

“How convenient.” Alexis replies.

She tries to stay in control and not let his closeness affect her. When they truth of the matter is that she wants him right then and there. She looks up at the ceiling.

“Do they place cameras in elevators?” She casually asks.

“I don’t think so, but I’ll ask.” He replies as he lifts the telephone.

Alexis watches with amusement while he asks the maintenance man about cameras. He hangs up the phone.

“No cameras. So what do you say we go for it?” He gleefully asks.

“Why not, it is different.” She replies.

Sonny moves close to Alexis until he has backed her against the wall and is leaning into her. When he speaks, his voice is very low, deep and sexy.

“Katia, you are extremely sexy and beautiful. Why don’t I show you how much you turn me on?”

Sonny wraps his arms around her and pulls her into a very deep, erotic kiss. The kind of kiss that sets her whole body on fire and leaves her gasping for breath and wanting more. They are headed towards the elevator floor when the emergency phone rings. Sonny has gotten so wrapped up in what was happening with Alexis that he had completely forgotten that they were stuck in an elevator. He picks up the phone and listens to the maintenance guy on the other end. He hangs up the phone a few seconds later and the elevator starts moving.

“I guess they got it fixed?” Alexis asks with disappointment in her voice.

“It looks that way.” Sonny replies.

“I guess Dimitri and Katia probably wouldn’t do it in an elevator anyway.“ She sighs.

“Don’t be so sure.” Sonny exclaims.

He pushes the emergency button and the car stops with a dramatic jerk. Alexis raises her brows in a questioning manner. She is about to protest when Sonny hushes her with a smoldering kiss.

“I think they would do it anywhere they had the chance!” He states as he breaks the kiss.

The thought crosses Alexis’ mind that Sonny is really getting into this role.

“Why would you think that? After all they have just met.” She informs him.

“Dimitri has been passionate about her since the moment he first saw her.”

Alexis blushes, which makes him smile. He takes her face tenderly in his hands and kisses her long and deep. He lowers her body gently to the floor and continues to kiss her madly. His warm mouth coasts over her neck and throat until he feels her body shudder from pleasure. His mouth returns to her soft lips and their kiss becomes deeper. She is frantically unbuttoning his shirt, causing several of the buttons to drop to the floor. Meanwhile, Sonny reaches around and starts to unbutton the top of her dress with equal enthusiasm. He stops when he finds that he can only undo the top four buttons on the top of her dress.

“Alexis?” He asks.

“Um, there is no Alexis here.” She protests.

“Sorry, meant to say Katia? Your dress is broken.”

She pulls back and gives him a strange look.

“What are you talking about? How can my dress be broken?” She asks.

She cocks her head to one side .

“I can only get the top 4 buttons undone.” He pouts.

Alexis starts laughing uncontrollably.

“I swear, you would think that you never undressed a woman before!”

“I most certainly have, now stop laughing at me.” He protests.

Alexis takes his hand and moves it to the back of her dress.

“There is a zipper in the back. The buttons are just for show!” She shakes her head.

“Damn! What a way to tease a guy. I was looking forward to undoing all those buttons.”

Her whole body begins to ache for his touch and his mouth on her neck and shoulders promises not to disappoint her in the slightest. He starts to slip her dress off of her body. Then, much to their mutual disappointment, the elevator starts to move again.

“Damn! I thought it would take them longer than that to realize that it was stopped”

Sonny runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

“No one said this was going to be easy.” Alexis reminds him.

Sonny Sighs

“I guess it’s true that you can’t depend on maintenance men to keep on schedule.”

Alexis shrugs.

“Do you think Dimitri would push the emergency button again?” She asks.

Sonny shakes his head in the negative.

“He would probably be afraid that the maintenance men might not fix it this time.”

Alexis can’t help but agree.

“I think that we should finish this up in my apartment.” She suggests.

Sonny stands up and then helps her to stand up as well. She tries to reach the zipper on her dress, but can’t exactly reach.

“I need you to zip up my dress.” Alexis tells him franticly.

“I’m still mad about the buttons.” He replies.

“I’ll try and remember that for next time.” She sarcastically replies

He kisses her back and shoulders.

“What are you doing?” She asks in a panic. “I asked you to zip my dress.”

“What a waste of energy that would be. I’m just going to have to unzip it again.”

He replies in a low seductive tone. Alexis looks up at the numbers and realizes they are almost to the top floor.

“I can’t very well walk to my apartment with my dress unzipped!” She firmly states.

“Okay, fine I’ll zip your dress. He reluctantly replies.

Sonny lifts up her hair and starts to zip the dress, but instead he gets distracted and starts to kiss the her neck and back again. It feels wonderful to her, but he isn’t getting the job done that she asked him to do. The elevator dings as they get to the top floor. Alexis pulls away from him and pushes the button to keep the doors closed.

“Zip the dress or I’m not getting off this elevator!” She demands.

Sonny pulls back enough to look at the zipper and lets out a deep breath of air.

“You are not going to like this.” He states.

“What?” Alexis exclaims.

“I guess I wasn’t being very careful when I unzipped the dress and the zipper is broken.”

Alexis turns to him with a look of wide eyed panic on her face.

“Please tell me you are joking?” She pleads.

“I wish, now we wouldn’t have had this problem with buttons.” He insists.

Alexis looks down at his shirt, which is now missing buttons. She raises an eyebrow.

“Oh really.” She indicates his shirt.

“I seem to be missing a few buttons on my shirt.” His eyes twinkle with glee.

Alexis gives him a sultry look.

“I guess we both got a little carried away.” She tells him.

She had been holding the elevator button and now the alarm sounds

“We’re just going to have to make a run for your apartment half dressed.” He jokes.

A look of horror crosses her face.

“Who do you have on the door?” She asks.

Sonny thinks for a moment.

“It should be Johnny, he won’t say anything though.” Sonny assures her.

“Johnny can’t see us like this, he’ll know what we were doing.” She panics.

“He gets paid not to notice those kind of things.” Sonny assures her.

“I don’t want him to know, okay.” She states.

He admires her determination and her modesty, especially since she had been so fiery a few minutes earlier. He would do anything to protect her body mind and spirit and that was what she was asking. The alarm sounds on the elevator once more. Sonny thinks for a second and then wraps his arms around Alexis, embracing her from the back. Then he takes her hands and removes it from the button that is keeping the door closed.

“What are you doing?” She asks as the doors open.

“Just stay close to me.” He whispers into her hair.

Somehow, by wrapping his arms around her Sonny manages to cover up the portion of his shirt that is missing buttons and keep her dress from falling off her body. They walk off of the elevator and are met by Johnny, who gives them both a strange look.

“Hi Johnny.” Alexis nervously says.

“Ms. Davis.” He replies. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine.” Sonny replies.

Johnny is still staring at Sonny and Alexis as Sonny struggles to open the door to her apartment without letting go of her.

“Allow me!” Alexis insists as she unlocks the door.

Sonny turns to Johnny.

“Everything seems to be quiet tonight. Why don’t you go on home.”

Johnny shrugs.

“You’re the boss.” He replies

He takes on last look at them and gets on the elevator. The instant the elevator door closes Sonny lets go of Alexis.

“Do you think he knew something was up?” Alexis asks.

“How could he not know?” Sonny flashes her a dimpled grin.

He starts to kiss her neck again as the door to her apartment closes.

As soon as Sonny and Alexis are in the door and the door is closed they start to kiss passionately. Alexis quickly undoes the remaining buttons on Sonny’s shirt and slides it off of his shoulders. It lands softly on the floor. He starts to slide her dress off of her body and trail kisses across her shoulders. Their kiss becomes all consuming, but Alexis pulls back.

“Wait a minute, before we go any farther. There is something I need to do.” She states.
“What?” He asks impatiently.
“This is kind of embarrassing.” She blushes.
“We are both adults. I know first hand what happens when two people let passion get out of hand and don’t act responsibly.” He states in a matter of fact tone.
“I wasn’t worried about protection. Your right we are adults, fantasy or not.” She reminds.
“What is the problem?”

He asks as he tries to kiss her again. She holds him off though.

“Slow down tiger!” She teases.

He gives her a baffled look. As she places both her hands on his chest to keep him at arms length. He gives her a bemused look.

“Did you just call me tiger?” He jokes.
“Yes I did tiger. There is something I need to do up stairs before we go any farther.”
“Can I watch? It might be a turn on.” He suggests.

Her eyes drop to his pants.

“You don’t need any help in that department.”

He gives an innocent shrug.

“What can I say? You inspire me!” He gives her a ravenous look.
“Well, you are going to have to put that inspiration on hold for a few minutes.”

He gives her a disappointed look.

“What is so important that you have to do it now. I’m on a roll!”

She gives him an exasperated look.

“I know all about that roll that you are. However, I drank 10 glasses of ice tea tonight.”

He finally understands.

“Can’t you hold it?” He whines.

Alexis rolls her eyes.

“No! You are just going to have to be patient.” She tells him.

She pushes him down on the couch with both hands and heads up the stairs. She turns back and states. “Just think of something else!”

Sonny gives her an exasperated look.

“Easy for you to say!” He sits back on the couch and tries to find a way to regain temporary control of his out of control body. Alexis finishes in the bathroom and goes to her own room. She looks at herself in the full length mirror.

“Maybe I should slip into something more comfortable?” She says to herself.

She starts looking though her lingerie drawer. There isn’t much to choose from. The periwinkle gown and robe that Sonny has already seen and several pairs of silk PJ’s that remind her too much at the moment of Ned.

“Nothing that would befit a countess. I’ll bet Helena would have a thing of two.”

Alexis laughs to herself at that one. She wonders what Helena would think of the countess Katia. For that matter, she wonders what anyone who knows her would think if they knew she was role playing with Sonny Corinthos of all people. She walks across the hall to see if Kristina has anything worthy of a buttoned up attorney turned passion driven countess. Alexis pulls something out of Kristina’s lingerie drawer and her eyes almost fall out of her head.

“Oh my god!” She exclaims.

It is lace and sparse to the point that Alexis can’t even tell which way is up and which way is down.

“My sister is a sex kitten!” She stuffs it back in the drawer and vows never to go through her sisters drawers again. “She is going to give Ned a coronary. He’ll never survive!”

Alexis walks back across the hall to her room and eyes the silk PJ’s and then decides against them.

“He is just going to have to take me the way I am!” She grins.

What Alexis didn’t know was Sonny wanted nothing more than to take her as she was. In fact, that was what he had wanted for some time. At the moment, he was wondering what was taking her so long upstairs. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind and gone out the back door. He wondered why he hadn’t sealed up that other entrance long ago. At best, it was a nuisance to have two entrances. At worst, it was a security risk. He decides he needs a distraction. He walks over to her desk and picks up her glasses and smiles. How many times had she his behind those specs? Pretending to be nothing more than the buttoned up attorney. He always knew that there was a woman beneath those suites who was ready to experience life, if only he could reach her and convince her to let herself go. he takes another glance up the stairs, missing her terribly. He

picks up the phone and dials Zander’s cell phone. The boy picks up on the second ring.

“Hello?” Zander asks out of breath.
“Are you still at Carly’s?” Sonny casually asks, while glancing up the stairs again.
“Yes.” The boy replies. There is something strange in his voice that Sonny can’t place.
“Is everything all right. Did Michael get to sleep okay after I left.
“He is fine, everything is fine.” Zander is being curt, almost like he doesn’t want to talk.

The reason becomes clear to Sonny when he hears Carly’s voice in the background calling to Zander.

“Zander, what is taking so long? The shower is getting lonely without you. My back is not going to scrub itself!”

Then absolute silence on Zander’s end of the phone for what seems like an eternity. Sonny feels the veins in his neck bulge. Finally, he is the one to speak.

“You should go! Carly doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” He states simply.
“Sonny?” Zander’s voice is wracked with guilt.

Sonny isn’t sure that he hears regret though, as he hangs up on the boy. He goes upstairs to find Alexis. He needs her more in that moment then he has ever needed anyone in his life. Alexis drops the phone in shock as she hears him come up the stairs. She prepares for him to be completely destroyed by what he has just learned. She meets him in the hall and has to make a quick decision on how to react.

“I’m sorry!” Is all she says.

From the look on her face he can tell that she knows everything.

“Is it that obvious?” He asks with pain in his voice.

Alexis shrugs.

“Probably only to me.” She answers.
“Is it written on my face “My ex wife is taking a shower with my right hand man?”
“No, besides I know mainly because I picked up the phone to cancel an early meeting I have in the morning. I was just in time to hear the same thing you heard. Carly’s voice calling to Zander”

Sonny sighs.

“I was not trying to spy on you.” She insists.
“This is you home you have every right to pick up the phone.” He states simply.

Alexis gives him a worried look.

“Are you all right?” She asks with concern in her voice.
“I don’t have the slightest idea. I don’t feel like breaking anything.”
“That’s a positive step.” She gives him a hopeful look.

“I knew that Carly would bed someone sooner rather than later.” He states plainly.

His eyes gaze off into the distance and he continues.

“ I mean, this is Carly we are talking about. I’m surprised she lasted this long.” He replies.

Alexis gives him a sad look.

“Do you still love her?” She asks.
“A part of me will always love her I guess.” He shrugs.

Alexis nods her head in understanding.

“I think this has helped me realize that I’m no longer in love with Carly though.”

His answer was heart felt and unlabored Alexis tries to keep her feelings or surprise and joy from showing on her face.

“Are you going to deal with this?” She questions him.
“I suppose I’ll have to deal with it, but in the morning.” He answers.

His eyes drift to the front of her dress. He moves closer to her.

“Weren’t we in the middle of something important when you called for an intermission.”

There is a flirtatious edge to his voice. Alexis gives him a coy look in return.

“We were in the middle of something, but I’m not sure how important it is now.”

Sonny wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her against him

“I think it is very important.” He starts to kiss her neck.

He backs her into her room and towards her bed. Alexis feels the back of her knees touch the bed. She looks down and Sonny can feel her tense up in his arms. He pulls back and see the sad expression in her eyes.

“I can’t!” She exclaims. She looks up at him and expects him to be angry.
“I know. I understand, some places just have too many memories.”

He did understand, she could see it in his eyes.

“I guess that is the end of Dimitri and Katia?”

Sonny tries to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He pulls back from Alexis and runs a hand through his hair

“You aren’t getting out of this that easily, buddy.” She states.

He is surprised by her statement and the passionate look she gives him. However, that does not match the joy that jolts through his body when she grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him in for a kiss that is so intense he forgets to breath. She kneads at his bare shoulders and then moves her hands down his arms and across to his back. She rests her hands in the waist band of his pants and pulls him tightly against her body. She can feel the changes in his body as his desire for her grows. From Sonny’s point of view he hopes she isn’t playing with him, because this has gone way past a game as far as he is concerned. He wants her, he has had fantasies about having her, but they are nothing compared to the way she is making him feel by just kissing him.

“We can go back to my place?” He breathlessly stammers when she finally beaks the kiss.

Alexis gives him a skeptical look.

“About those memories?”
“You’re right.” He moans as she trails kisses across his throat.

He tries to kiss her in the same way, but she holds him off. She is enjoying the affect she is having on his body too much at the moment to give him control over the situation.

“How about the couch?” She asks, as she between kisses.
“I don’t go for couches.” He states.

He finally takes her hands and pins them behind her back as he starts to trail kisses across her face. She moans in response to the sensations he is causing to spread through her body like an all consuming fire.

“I have a huge bathtub in my master bath.” He exclaims with mischievous glee.

Alexis pulls away from him and considers his suggestion.

“I have never done that.” She considers.
“It is a lot of fun.” He tells her as he moves his mouth across her throat.
“It sounds slippery.” She gives him a serious look.
“That is precisely what makes it fun.” He winks.
“Maybe I’ll try it, but that is not what I have in mind tonight.” She thinks for a moment.
“I hate to rush you, but if something doesn’t happen here soon, I’m going to have to go some place and finish what we have started.” He gives her a very serious look.
“Where, like the No Name?” She asks, innocently.
“Yeah, how’d you know about that?” He questions.
“I’ve seen the type of women who go there. I’ll bet they are more than willing to finish the job that other women start. Well, Katia doesn’t need help finishing what she starts.”

Alexis takes him by the hand and leads him out of the bedroom and across the hall.

“Your sisters room?” He gives her a puzzled look.
“Uh huh! I always finish what I start.” She flirts.
“You want to do it in here?” He questions.
“Why not? My sister is probably with Ned right now being nailed at the gatehouse. If I'm going to see action tonight it might as well be in her room.” She ecstatically exclaims.

“If?” Sonny didn’t like the sound of that. He was way past the point of “ifs.”

“The irony of it is this used to be Zander’s room as well!” She grins.
“Katia, you are one wicked woman.” His eyes dance with laughter.
“Think of it as Katia and Dimiri’s revenge. All we need is Kristina’s bed!”
“At this point, I’m ready to take you on the floor!” He exclaims.
“The floor is way too hard!’ She teases.
“You had to use that word?” Sonny teases back as he pulls her on to the bed with him.

Alexis helps him takes his pants off as he is quickly taking her dress off of her body when the phone rings. He stops what he is doing and gives her a desperate look.

“Let it ring!” He demands as he pulls her dress off.

He can tell from the curious look on her face that she isn’t going to let it ring.

“Kristina has her own private line. I wonder who would be calling her?”

Sonny hits his head on the bedpost in frustration as he watches her pick up the phone.

“Hello?” She asks. “Kristina is that you?” A look of guilt crosses her face.

Sonny slips the dress all the way off her body and flings it across the room. Alexis tries to keep from gigging.

“I’m fine.” Alexis assures her sister. “I must have left my phone off the hook.”

Sonny trails kisses down her back until he reaches her lower back, where he blows a puff of air.

“Oh my god!” Alexis exclaims. No man has ever done anything so risque to her in her life. Sonny grins like a little boy, ecstatic that his move has had the desired affect. Alexis is still on the phone with her sister and she tries to regain her composer.

“I’m fine really Kristina! I just felt a blast of cool air. I’m sure it is nothing, I‘ll call someone about it in the morning.” She insists.
“Will you call me in the morning too?” Sonny whispers. “I’ll give you a blast.” He grins.

Alexis holds up her finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet as Kristina rambles on the other end of the phone. Sonny laughs. Alexis gives Sonny a serious look, which just eggs him on more. He reaches around the front of Alexis and caresses her. She almost drops the phone.

“Stay out as long as you want. Don’t worry about me. Have fun with Ned!” She is talking rapidly and is almost out of breath as Sonny lifts up her hair and starts to kiss her neck.

She quickly hangs up the phone.

“I’m sure we’ll be having a lot more fun than them!” Sonny beams.
“Do you think she knows what we are doing.” Alexis worries.
“Do you really care right now?” Sonny asks as he continues to kiss her neck.
“Not one little bit,” Alexis sighs deeply.

Still out of breath and turns to Sonny to give him a scolding look.

“You are a very bad remember of the royal family, Dimitri!” She exclaims.
“You are a very sexy countess! So I couldn‘t help myself” He counters.

He pulls the phone cord out of the wall.

“Now. No more distractions. I want you now!” He proclaims.

He pulls her on top of him and proceeds to kisses her behind one ear and then the other. At first she seems a little surprised, but by the time he moves his lips to the other pulse point behind her other ear her heart rate is racing. He moves his mouth to hers again and finally feels her give in completely. She kisses him back with more vigor and enthusiasm than he has felt in a long time. They pull apart only to breath and then kiss again, even more passionately than before. As seconds turn into minutes, the kiss deepens to the point where she feels giddy. She has to pull away in order to catch her breath. Sonny is still holding her face in his hands and he won’t let her look away. They begin to make love, but when Alexis when she tries to move beneath him he shakes his head.

“No, this is your fantasy.” He simply states.

Alexis looks at him with complete adoration in her eyes. No man has ever given her this kind of control in such an intimate moment. She relishes it as their passion intensifies. At the last possible moment, she stops and pulls back. Sonny gives her a weary look and then understands. She is giving him back control. He gives her a serious look.

“Are you sure?” He whispers into her hair.
“Make love to me!” She breathlessly proclaims.

He doesn’t have to be told twice. He realizes in that moment that as much as he wanted her to have control of the situation, she wanted the same thing for him. It dawns on him that he loves her. He is head over heels in love with this wonderful woman who was currently and enthusiastically fulfilling his every physical and emotional desire. He wants her to know how he really feels. In fact, he wants to shout it out at the top of his voice for the whole world to hear. He doesn’t get the chance though. Before the words get a chance to leave his lips her mouth comes crashing down on his, capturing it in an all consuming kiss. She was willing to give him back control, but she was not willing to let him know how much he was affecting her physically. She did not want to run the risk of shouting out something embarrassing when their passion hit its peak. She wanted to make sure her mouth was well occupied. He pulls back to look at her once more, drinking in her beauty. He could get lost in her eyes but, the hunger feels for is too powerful. She also needs to feel his touch and his kiss. She pulls him to her once more, with more force than he had expected. They proceed to connect in a way that neither of them could have ever dreamed possible. They quickly find that they are body and soul mates, able to fulfill each others every passion and desire on a level that transcends all earthly bounds. They continue to explore that passion for hours.

“So, how does revenge feel?” He seductively asks.

“Right now it feels really good.” She admits.

“It does indeed.” He agrees.

“I feel kind of guilty though. Maybe we should buy Kristina a new bed after the things we did in there tonight.”

Sonny laughs softly.

“It can be our secret. She never has to know.” he whispers into her ear.

“That is a given.” Alexis replies wistfully.

It had to be a secret what had gone on between them. Not because she was embarrassed or regretful. On the contrary, the only thing she regretted was that it had taken them this long to reach this point in their relationship. What had transpired between them was so intimate and so precious that it would be a crime against passion for it not to remain only between them. No one else could possibly comprehend the degree to which the bond between them had been strengthened. Sonny sees the look on her face and knows she is deep in thought. He becomes worried that she is feelings guilt and tries to put her mind at ease.

“I wouldn’t worry about the bed, what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her.”

He kisses her behind one ear. Alexis stifles a moan. The things that man could do to her without even trying never failed to blow her mind. He had been affecting her that way for several months. After all they hade shared in the last few hours those feelings were more intense. Just being close to him sent wonderful sensations coursing through her body. Those feelings were only intensified

when he actually touched her, looked at her or even cast his breath in her general direction. She tried to maintain some level of control. After all, they were discussing what they had done not only in her sisters room, but to it as well.

“What about the things we broke?” She asks.

“You mean the clock and lamp we smashed in the midst of indulging in our unbridled passion?”

His description almost makes her laugh. No one had ever described her as unbridled on any level. However, that was the only accurate description for what had gone on between her and Sonny. It had been wonderfully uninhibited.

“Don’t forget the statue that rolled under the bed and shattered.” She reminds him.

“That was already broken.” He counters. “Besides we’ll just blame it on Graciela!”

He gives her a mischievous look and finds some place to kiss on her body that hasn’t been kissed in the last half hour. Alexis lets out a soft sigh.

“Would you do that?” She questions.

“Maybe not, but Dimitri would. The man might be great in bed, but he has no heart.” He grins.

“Apparently, Katia is completely uninhibited, so she would probably keep this from her sister.”

Sonny gives her a serious look.

“Do you think what we did was wrong?” He asks and then regrets it a second later.

Sonny is not sure he wants to know the answer.

“No single act in my life has ever felt more right.” He words are true because they come form the heart. They exchanges looks that speak volumes and no other explanations are needed. each knows that the other person has experienced the same level of physical and emotional fulfillment.

“There are things that we will have to face, things we will have to decide how to handle.” She states in a matter of fact tone.

He nods his head in agreement.

“We’ll decide in the morning. Tonight none of that exists. just you and me and these bubbles.

He takes a handful and blows them into the air and then wraps his arms around her even tighter.

“You were right about the tub.” She softly proclaims.

“UhUm” He answers as he trail soft kisses along her back and the nape of her neck.

He wanted to linger in the euphoria they had created, He wanted to experience her on every level of his senses.

“I was right too.” She remarks. “It was slippery, but that is what made it fun.”

“I told you so.” He reminds her.

“I’m glad you talked me into it. This has been pretty amazing for a one night stand.”

Sonny stops kissing her for a moment.

“You know baby I’ve been thinking about that amazing part.”

“It is kind of hard to ignore.” She smiles.

“I never imagined How amazing we would be together.” He remarks.

“Me either, or I would have suggested we do this earlier in our relationship.” She answers.

“ Well, now that we know how great we are together. I think it would be a shame for us to end it tonight.”

She turns to face him.

“What are you suggesting?” She asks.

“Since we know we are great together there is no reason for us not to be together again.”

“You mean you want us to be committed lovers? To do this all the time?” She seems shocked.

“Yes, I have never felt the way I felt tonight with any other woman.” He says honestly.

“Is that a line you use on all your one night stands?” She accuses.

“No, it is the truth. I have never felt as open and trusting with anyone besides you. Now that I have experienced these feelings I don’t want to walk away from us.” He insists.

Alexis holds her hand up to stop him.

“There is no us, at least not on the physical level you are suggesting.” She is adamant.

“Why not, because you are my best friend?” He asks.

“I think it was so wonderful tonight because we are best friends. We trust each other.” She reassures.

“Then you admit that it was wonderful?” He presses her for an answer, the only answer he can live with.

“Yes, tonight was the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced.”

She reassures him, stroking his face with one of her hands. He leans into her touch, wanting to savor the feel of her soft hand upon his rough face.

“It can be wonderful again, tomorrow and the day after and forever.” He assures her softly.

“No!” She answers simply.

“No?” He repeats, not sure he heard the words right.

“No, I think you understand the concept. This is not the first time I have used it with you.”

“True, you told me no a number of times after we first met.” He shrugs.

“I remember saying no to your request to be your lawyer.” She reminds him.

“Look how that turned out.” He beams like a Cheshire cat.

“Well this is not like that. You are asking me to be your full time lover and the answer is no!”

Then she stands up, grabs her robe and leaves him alone in the tub. Sonny sits there too stunned to move for several minutes. He is not use to hearing the words “no.” from anyone, much less from the women in his life. Then he gets out of the water and follows her without grabbing a towel or a robe. He follows her to the master bedroom as naked as the day he was born. Her mouth drops open at the sight of him standing in the doorway.

“You are dripping wet. You are going to ruin the carpet.” She scolds.

“I don’t give a DAMN about the carpet Alexis!” He tries to keep his voice even, not angry.

“Well you should care about it because you are going to have to pay for new carpet when that one gets ruined.” She reminds him.

Sonny shrugs and sits down on her bed. He tries to see this from her point of view. He tries to figure out if she is scared of a their relationship or if she just doesn’t care about him the way he cares about her. He dismisses that last thought because he knows that she cares. In that case, he figures that she must be terrified at the thought of someone loving her.

“You want to explain to me how you can possibly walk away form what we shared here tonight and go back to the way we were 24 hours ago?”

There is a level of demand in his voice, but there is a gentleness as well.

“I’ll be happy to answer your question as soon as you put your pants on, because seeing you like that makes it impossible for me to form a compete thought, much less articulate a complete sentence.

He goes to Kristina’s room and pulls on only his black boxer shorts, then goes back to the other room.

“Better?” he asks.

Not really.” She dryly admits. “Now I just want to take those off of you again.”

He smiles triumphantly.

“I guess you know how I’m going to feel every time I see you from now on.“ He shrugs.

“You can’t think of me in that way.” She insists.

“I won’t be able to help myself. No matter if you are wearing the most buttoned up suit you own. I will always see the woman underneath who trusted me completely one magical night.”

“You trusted me too. in ways no other man ever has. ” She shyly reminds him.

“My problem now is I see the true and beautiful you and I want to have you forever Alexis.”

Alexis is moved, but she isn’t ready to give in without a fight.

“I’m the Countess Katia and you are the Duke Dimitri.” She half heartedly reminds him.

He slaps his hand down hard on her vanity, sending objects flying in all directions. He also causes her to jump.

“Damn it! We are Sonny and Alexis and this isn’t some game anymore. This is real! What we experienced tonight was real and I’m not letting go of it that easily!”

“Don’t yell at me Sonny! I’m not a child you can order around! I’m not Carly!”

She sits down on the bed and folds her arms in defiance. He pinches the bridge of his nose and tries to calm down. He can’t figure out why she is fighting this so hard. He sits down beside her and takes her hands in his.

“I know you are not a child Alexis and I shouldn't have yelled, but this is important, you are important and tonight was important. I didn’t expect to have these feelings, but here they are and

they are not going away anytime soon.”

He crosses his arms in defiance to prove that he can be just as stubborn as her.

“Sonny, there are things you don’t know about me.” She insists.

“I think I know you pretty well after tonight. He smiles slightly.

“You don’t even know my favorite color.” She quips.

“Pink.” He responds as he runs a finger down her face.

“How did you know?” She tries to keep the astonishment out of her voice.

“I pay attention. It is the color you look most beautiful in and the color your checks turn when you’re excited” He grins, which makes her blush, proving him right.

“Smarty pants!” She teases.

“I’m not wearing any pants!” He reminds her.

She glances down.

“So I noticed.” She gives him a scorching look and licks her lips.

She looks down to see if she is getting the reaction she expected. She is.

“That isn’t fair!” He softly proclaims while swallowing hard.

“Then you know how I’ll feel from now on whenever I look at you.”

She gives him a wicked look

“Then how can you blame me for wanting you in my life?” He asks.

“I’m in your life!” She reminds him.

“I want you really in my life, in my bed, in my apartment.” He cocks his head to the side.

She looks at him with determined eyes.

“I know you are not used to hearing the word no, but you have understand that I mean it”

Sonny shakes his head.

“You’re right, I’m not used to hearing anyone tell me no, especially not a woman.”

She rolls her eyes.

“At least not after I have introduced her to little Sonny.” He gives her a flirtatious look.

“Oh my god! Do you know how egotistical and chauvinistic that sounds!”

She stammers, while shaking her finger at him. Sonny just shrugs.

“I’m calling it the way I see it. I’m going to be honest with you. My skills between the sheets have come in handy in the past, especially when it came to controlling the women in my life.”

Alexis can’t breath she is so appalled at what she is hearing.

“If you want me in your life, even as a friend, you are going to have to get over yourself.”

She demands.

“I realize the games I have played in the past with women are not going to work with you.”

“You got that right, buddy!” She exclaims.

“I don’t want to play games. You are not like any woman I have ever had in my life before.”

“Glad you noticed!” She sarcastically replies.

“I never stop noticing. So much of what you do is so new to me. I’ve never had a woman that I trusted as deeply as I trust you. Everything between us is so natural and easy.”

She gives him a doubtful look and raises an eyebrow.

“Nothing about you is easy. You make it hard to care sometimes.”

She laughs. Then adds.

“As I’ve told you before, you are a regular pain in the butt!” She crosses her arms again.

“I know, but you don’t give up on me no matter how hard I make it to care.” He smiles.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen Sonny.” She insists softly.

She drops her head down until her eyes on the bed. He reaches for her face and places his thumb under her chin. He tilts her head up until her eyes are on the same level as his eyes.

“What wasn’t supposed to happen?”

He tilts his head to one side and gives her a questioning look.

“These feelings were not supposed to be so intense. I just wanted to try something new. I never meant.....”

She stops herself in mid sentence.

“You didn’t mean to do what, Alexis?” He gently asks.

Her eyes drop back away from his.

“I never meant to care for you so deeply.” She answers simply and glances up at him briefly.

He kisses her gently on the forehead and pulls her against him until her head is on his chest.

“No one ever does, it just kind of happens.” He remarks.

“Bragger!” She teasingly accuses.

“I mean no one ever plans to fall in love Alexis. Being in love is the hardest thing in the world”

“You sound like it is something to be avoided at all costs?” She questions.

“I hate the loss of control that comes from being in love.” He answers honestly

Alexis nods her head in agreement.

“I think I do too.” She responds. “The idea of giving yourself to someone solely is unsettling.

“I’m willing to make an exception for the woman I trust more than then any other living soul.

He gives her a serious look.

“ Do think either of us is ready to give ourselves completely to each other?” She asks.

Sonny laughs.

“After tonight I don’t think there is much either one of us is holding back.” He points out.

“You know what I mean?” “We expected this to be a casual one night stand” She reminds him.

“I think you are wrong. Neither one of us expected this to be casual.”

She gives him a surprised look as he continues.

“ We have been ready for this step for awhile. You may doubt that at the moment.”

His comments leave her wondering if he can read her mind or just her heart. She still intends to be guarded though, it is too much a part of her nature to let go now without a fight.

“I‘m not sure what I believe.” She freely admits.

“Then I’m going to spend every waking hour convincing you other wise.” He promises.

“Well there is a rumor around town that Sonny Corinthos always gets what he wants.” She glances at him shyly.

“So I’ve been told by the people I trust most.” He gives her a soft kiss.

“Trust comes hard for me as well, you know.” She states.

“ I know it does. But, as different as you are from the other women in my life, you have got to admit I’m different from other men you have had in your life.” He insists.

She rolls her eye again.

“There goes that flaming ego again. I’m going to have to throw some cold water on that!”

He grins at her spunk.

“If I spend much more time with you, that is not the only place you are going to have to throw cold water! You know what I mean?” He gives her a hot look. She flashes her dimples.

“Okay, I admit that you are different from my past lovers. She gives him a shy look.

“He shoots and he scores!” Sonny gloats.

“Now, I never said that was a good thing!” She teases.

Sonny pretends to pout.

“What are you comparing me to, Ashton? Because I have to be more interesting than him.”

“Oh yeah! I’ll give you an example.“ She tells him.

“I love examples!” Sonny beams.

“Do you want to hear this or not?” She scolds.

“If we are putting down Ashton, I’m all ears.” He grins.

“Ned gave me a machine once that makes noises.” She waits for his reaction.

“Ned gave you a See and Say talking machine?” He teases.

Alexis gives him a good natured punch on the arm.

“No, it was supposed to help put me to sleep when I had insomnia.” She declares.

“So what was it? A recording of his voice meant to bore you into a coma?” He jokes.

“No, it was the sound of a ocean surf a light rain or a bubbling river.”

She sighs. He picks up her hand and kisses it lightly.

“Alexis, if you want to hear the ocean I’ll take you to the island. If you want to hear a light rain I’ll look at a weather map and find you some place where it is raining. If you want to hear a river, all you have to do is say the word and I’ll take you out West where they have rivers. You don’t need a machine when you have me.” He looks proud of himself, but there is a sincerity in his voice that convinces her he means every word.

“I don’t think the machine was supposed to replace real sounds. It was meant to be relaxing.

“Did it work?” He asks.

Alexis thinks for a moment.

“It was comforting at first. Then it became tedious and boring.” She answers.

Sonny gives her a serious look.

“That is what happens when you experience the same sensations over and over.” He remarks.

“That is what I’m trying to change about my life and why I don’t want us to make this routine.”

“I’ve never been called boring in my life and I don’t think we could fall into a routine.”

“I don’t want you start resenting what we have Sonny.” She insists.

“I don’t think that is possible, but I don’t want you to feel like I’m limiting your experiences.

“ Blue.” She simply states.

“What?” He gives her a puzzled look.

“Your favorite color is blue. It also happens to be a color that makes you look extremely sexy.”

“I’ll have to remember that.” He flashes her a dimpled smile. “It’ll be a way to torture you.”

He gives her a teasing look. “If he only knew how little he had to do to torture me.” She thinks to herself.

“All torture of each other aside. What do we do now?” She asks with a heavy sigh.

“We’ll worry about it in the morning. Tonight I just want to hold you. In the morning if you want it to be over, than it’s over. It is your choice” He gives her a kiss on the forehead.

“What if I don’t want it to be over?” She gives him a shy look.

“Then I won’t promise you an easy life together.”

“That is a given.” She dryly responds.

“I will promise you excitement, passion, trust and love” He whispers against her hair.

“Is that all?” She teases.

He thinks for a moment, then smiles.

“I think after tonight it is pretty clear that great sex is a given.”

“Bragger!” She kisses his chest, just as a reminder of who is in control, his body responds accordingly.

As an after thought he adds

“Oh yeah, I promise you no boring machines that make fake noises.”

He grins and continues.

“Any noises, especially ones coming from the bedroom, will be real” He teases and then laughs

“I think it is best not to touch that one!” She jokes.

“At least not tonight or else we might be obligated to go another round!” He half teases.

“Just to be safe maybe You should go back to your place?” She suggests.

“No!” He simply replies.

Alexis frowns, deep in concentration.

“See, I know how to use that word as well.” He teases.

“This is my fantasy, though. I‘m the one in control” She reminds him.

“It might have started off as you fantasy, but it is ours now.” He is firm.

Then he gives her a dimpled grin and licks his lips seductively.

“At least it will be as soon as I can get you out of that robe and back into my arms.

She gives him an exhausted look.

“Sonny, fantasy or no fantasy I don’t think I could go another round if I tried.” She exclaims.

“ I probably couldn’t either. I’m not as young and energetic as I used to be.” He winks at her.

They both laugh. He pulls her closer to him and starts to work the robe off.

“What I want is to hold you in my arms Alexis. I want to drink in the scent that is uniquely you until I’m drunk on your aroma. I want to taste your sweet kisses and hear your heart beating for my heart until morning comes. That is, if you will allow me the privilege?” He asks.

“I will allow you the privilege.” She softly replies.

She helps him remove her robe and they slide beneath the sheets of her bed. She places her head on his chest and listens to the sound of his breathing.

“You know, this is a very soothing sound.” She remarks.

“What is?” He asks softly.

“The sound of your breath rising and falling in your chest.”

She answers as she runs a finger across his chest.

“I like to feel your heart beating in time with mine.” He responds.

“Do you think love is the sound of two hearts beating together or just the a feelings in those

hearts?” She spontaneously asks.

Sonny had never considered that question, but he was ecstatic over the fact that she was asking it now. He didn’t dare hope that she loved him as deeply as he loved her. But, if she did, her love was a wonderful gift that he promised himself to not take for granted or mercilessly destroy.

“I never thought about it, but I suppose it is both or rather all of it. He replies.

“All of it?” She questions.

True love affects all your senses on all levels. Even some that words can not describe” He replies.

She thinks about it for a moment and decides he is right. True love transcended all means of description. He reaches out for her hand and takes it in his, interlocking their fingers in a way that mimics the interlocking of their bodies, their souls and their hearts. They exchange a speechless look and every unspoken word and feeling between them is revealed. The love is there and it is felt and known. They snuggle deeper into each others embrace and relish the feelings that the knowledge brings. Feelings each ones hopes they will never need to find the words describe.

The End.