The night had been long and restless. Luke couldn't remember the last time he was thankful for morning's arrival, or the last time he had seen the day before ten o'clock. He poured himself a large mug of coffee and tripped into the next room, stopping as he caught sight of a crumpled pile of clothes.
Luke bent down, taking the sweatshirt into his hands. He brought it to his face, pressing his nose into the soft material. He took a deep breath and inhaled Alexis' scent. Luke scowled and tossed the shirt over his shoulder. It had been exactly a week since they had been shot and there had been no sign of Helena. He began to think how it had been exactly since he and Alexis had made love, but that wasn't right; they hadn't made love. They fucked each other. It was just sex.
He shuddered with pleasure at the memory and moved to the phone. Luke began to dial her number, quickly slamming the phone back down. He dragged a hand down his face and let out a frustrated groan. They had to talk. They needed to see each other. She never returned his calls, and when he began to approach her on the street or in the hotel lobby, she quickly dodged him. There were things to be done, people to kill and people to find. And he was beginning to think Alexis was taking matters into her own hands.
~*~
Lucky stood at the window, clenching a paper towel in one hand and a bottle of Windex in the other. He sprayed a stream of the bright blue cleanser against the cloudy glass, watching as the liquid began to stream down the window and create clear streaks. He squinted to see outside the slants, watching as the sun slowly exploded in the sky and lit the world with a new morning. The sight of darkness fading as light took over brought a smile to Lucky's lips.
He began rubbing the towel in circles, watching as the white paper became soiled with grime. He wondered when the last time was that Lester's bar was cleaned; was it a recluse like himself, or a waitress looking to score extra money? Meaningless questions and ponderings had become what kept Lucky busy, and as he spent late nights and early mornings inside the smoky pub, he created backgrounds for all the people that passed through.
He sighed as he reached the bottom of the window, the paper towel crumbling as it became weighed down with dirt. Lucky stood to his full height and tossed the towel in the trash can. He sauntered over to the bar and glanced at the clock on the wall; his shift was nearly over.
Scanning the room, he made sure that every table was spotless and there were no peanut shells cluttering the floor. He spun around to face the door when he heard it swing open. "Hey, Lester," Lucky greeted his boss, holding the Windex up as though to prove he had been working.
"Hey, kid," Lester responded groggily, rubbing his eyes. He tossed a newspaper onto the counter and poured the last of his coffee against his tongue before tossing the paper cup on the floor. Lucky bent down to pick it up, hurling it into the trash can. "Thanks," Lester managed to smile, disappearing into the kitchen.
Lucky hopped onto one of the stools. He shook the newspaper, smoothing the crease as he spread it open before him. Turning the page, he saw a picture of Lucy Coe. The caption called her "vivacious" and "generous," words he would use to describe the woman he vaguely remembered. He scanned the rest of the article and realized the Nurse's Ball would be taking place later in the day.
Lester broke through the swinging doors. He leaned over the counter, chomping on a bagel. "That's that ball, huh? The charity event," he commented, pointing to the article Lucky was carefully studying. "Where all those big shots hob nob and pretend to care about folks like us, folks who need money and-"
"They do care," Lucky interrupted him, defensively. He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat as Lester glared at him. "I know all those big shots, or at least I used to. Kind of. And some of them do care."
Lester stood back and ran his eyes over Lucky. "You got some kinda story, don't you, kid? Some kinda big story."
"Maybe," Lucky shrugged, standing up and dropping the paper on the counter. "I need to go. There's somethin' I need to do... later."
~*~
He stood outside of her bedroom, peering in through the tiny space between the edge of the door and it's frame. Jax pushed it open without making a sound and stepped onto the soft carpet. He tiptoed across the floor and hung a long, plastic bag on the closet. He moved to Alexis' bed, easing down on the edge. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled, raising her arms above her head to stretch. "Good morning," she yawned, sitting up.
"Good morning," Jax laughed, watching her face scrunch together as she yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He reached above her, pushing the curtains apart. He kept his eyes on her face, admiring the way the sun made her eyes sparkle and illuminated her chestnut hair. "How are you feeling?"
Alexis narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? Do I really look that hideous?"
He shook his head. "Not at all hideous. It's just that... you've been kind of distant lately."
"I'm sorry, I know I've been really moody and unpredictable. But dinner last night was nice, really. I liked spending time with you."
Jax nodded his head to the closet and said, "Good. Because I thought we could have a kind of... d-date tonight."
Alexis followed his gaze to her closet doors. She sighed contentedly at the sight of a pale blue gown hanging from a hook on the door. "It's beautiful! But... where am I going to wear it?"
"The Nurses' Ball is tonight," he reminded her. "I know you were already planning to go. I talked to Stefan and he's given me his blessing to let you sit at my table. What do you say?"
"I'd love to," she smiled, reaching toward him and grabbing the collar of his shirt. She smoothed the fabric between his fingers. She sniffed the air, noticing a sweet fragrance wafting into her bedroom. "What is that?"
Jax winked and hopped up from the bed. He moved quickly into the hallway and returned wheeling a cart of food. Alexis sat up and gasped at the sight of pancakes, fresh strawberries, orange juice, muffins and other assorted foods. "All of your favorites," he said, taking her hand as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Why are you doing this?" Alexis asked, overwhelmed as she thought of all the lies she was harboring.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind Alexis' ear. "Because I care about you, and I want you to be happy. And lately... well, I miss you."
Alexis looked down as he took hold of her hands. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his body growing closer to her. He pressed his lips against her cheek and then lifted away. When Alexis opened her eyes, he cupped her chin between his fingers and turned her head until their eyes met. Jax leaned forward, his lips parting. Slowly, Alexis began to lean toward him until their mouths came together in a tender, soft kiss.
~*~
The shrill cries of Lucy Coe could be heard even as the curtain closed. The applause slowly died down and everyone either emmersed themselves in conversation or leapt toward the refreshment table. Jax took a sip of his champagne and turned to Alexis. "Wow," he laughed, "that was only the first half. I can't imagine what else could possibly happen tonight."
Alexis nodded, absently twisting the end of the tablcloth around her finger. Her eyes scanned the room and fell on Luke Spencer. He winked, smoothing his hands down the front of his tuxedo. He had just arrived, claiming a spot against the wall. She rolled her eyes and looked back to Jax. "The night is young," she sighed, annoyed.
"Indeed," Jax agreed. He slid to the edge of his seat and extended his hand. "Would you like to dance, Alexis?"
For a moment she forgot about the man watching her from the back of the room. Alexis nodded, taking his hand as she rose from her chair. Her long dress wrapped around her legs as she walked, accentuating every curve. She led Jax to the center of the room and eased into his arms. The orchestra's languid music carried them into a soft, romantic dance. She looked into his eyes, admiring how the light sparkled inside his blue depths. She wanted to lose herself in Jax, but she couldn't shake thoughts of Luke from her mind.
Jax slid his arm further around her waist, holding his hand against the small of her back. The pads of his fingers lightly rubbed the soft material of her dress. She couldn't help but compare the way Jax and Luke made her feel. Alexis wasn't quite sure what was wrong with her; any woman would kill to be in the arms of a man like Jax, engaged in a sensual dance. Yet she was craving the animalistic, erotic dance that Luke was capable of. The roughness of his hands ripping at her clothes, not the slow peeling of layer after layer. She wanted the bruising kisses and hands caught inside her hair.
Alexis shuddered as images and sensations cluttered her thoughts. She looked up at Jax, his lips spread into a content smile. She was ashamed that the lust glazing her eyes wasn't directed toward him. She cleared her throat and stopped swaying in his arms. "Maybe we should get back to our table?" Alexis suggested.
"Okay," he shrugged. "If you want."
~*~
It was hard to laugh at the performances or cry during the emotional speeches. Throughout the evening Alexis could still feel his eyes on her back, burning into her skin. She turned around and saw Luke at the back of the room. He bought a tuxedo and paid a hefty donation to the charity just to watch her, she thought. Just to make sure she wasn't a liar, that she wasn't going to incriminate his son. He was there to make sure that she wasn't going to betray him when things became complicated. Or to simply drive her crazy.
"Are you okay?"
Alexis turned around in her chair, slowly snapping out of her daze. She looked up to see Jax's gentle eyes probing her's. His arm was draped over the back of her chair, his fingers sensually brushing over the exposed skin of her back. She saw his lips moving but was too caught up in her own thoughts to comprehend him. She pressed her palm against his chest and said, "I'll be right back."
He reached out, catching her wrist in his hand as Alexis stood. "Where are you going?" Jax asked, rising from his chair. He leaned closer to her, snaking an arm around her waist. "Do you want to leave?"
She shook her head, plastering a smile across her face. "No, no. I just need to get some air."
"Would you like company?" Jax whispered suggestively into her hair, smoothing his lips over her neck.
Alexis slipped out of his embrace. "No, but thank you for the offer. Just save my seat," she winked. She walked backward to the exit, keeping her eyes on Jax. Once he had settled back into his chair and faced the stage, she stormed past Luke. Her shoulder purposely collided with the side of his body. He casually turned away from the ballroom, stepping into the lobby. Luke followed her with his eyes. He could hear her heels clicking angrily across the floor and onto the pavement when she burst through the doors.
She waited for him to join her. When Alexis heard the door seal shut, she slapped her hand across his chest and shouted, "What the hell are you doing here? We made a deal, remember?" She lowered her voice and said, "You stay away from me! I'm not going to tell a soul that Lucky shot me. You're jeopardizing everything by being here."
"Hey," Luke spat, leaning closer to her. "The Nurse's Ball is a big deal. All of Port Charles' finest make an appearance-"
"Then everyone is really going to wonder why you're here."
Luke ignored her comment. He rolled his eyes and said, "So I have every right to be here. It's expected. It has nothin' to do with you."
Grinding her teeth, Alexis shook her head. "I beg to differ. It has everything to do with me."
"You give yourself a whole lotta credit, Natasha," he laughed.
"You don't trust me. I get that. You think I haven't been returning your calls because I've made my own agenda. But you can't follow me around, you can't spy on me every single minute of the day. Because eventually someone is going to catch on and you may never see your son again." Alexis' voice grew louder with each word. She looked past Luke, into the lobby and into the faces of curious onlookers. She sneered and grabbed his arm. "We can't talk here."
Luke shrugged and said, "Where then?"
"You're car." Alexis twisted his arm, pulling him behind her. She sped across the parking lot, her dress wrapping around her legs. She tapped her foot impatiently against the ground while Luke unlocked the doors. At the same time, they dropped into the car and settled against the leather seats. They both began talking and Alexis shouted to be heard over his voice, "I could ruin your life!"
He clamped his jaw shut, narrowing his gaze. Luke took a deep breath and gripped the steering wheel inside his fist. "Excuse me?"
"Maybe I don't need your help bringing Helena down. Maybe all it would take is naming Lucky as my shooter."
Luke shifted on the seat to face her. The leather crunched beneath his body. He kept the fingers of his left hand wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. His other hand pointed an accusing finger in Alexis' direction. "We had a deal, Tasha. You incriminate my kid and your beloved brother is fish food," Luke warned her.
"We never said that!"
"You know it's what I'd do. So stop and just go along with the plan."
"But you don't trust me!" Alexis reminded him, pounding her fist against the seat. "You're always watching to make sure I keep my promises. Checking up on me. This isn't going to work." Her tone became a defeated whisper, her eyes falling shut. She shook her head and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"It is," he assured her, calming down. "We can do this. We can find evidence against Helena, we can help my son. I need you to do that."
Alexis looked up suddenly, her eyes flashing with anger. "You need me, huh? Just like you needed me that last time we conspired to kill Helena and then my brother ended up on trial for the murder of Katherine Bell! How do I know you're not setting me up again?"
"I'm not."
"That's comforting," she groaned, her shoulders shaking as she laughed coarsely. "If you don't trust me, I'm not going to trust you. Maybe I could do this alone. All it would take is telling the police that Lucky shot me, and they'd be searching for him in a matter of seconds." She gave a final nod and reached for the door's handle. Luke rolled across the seat, throwing one leg over her thighs. He grabbed her wrist and pulled the door shut again, holding Alexis' arms at her sides. She could feel herself trapped beneath his body. His breath was beating down on her face, only inches apart from his. The sound of their breathing seemed magnified inside the small space of the car.
"Maybe Lucky can't be helped. Maybe Helena has him so far gone, he's nothing but a murderer," Alexis bellowed, a crimson blush coloring her cheeks as she felt her temper flare and hated herself for wanting him.
At the sound of her harsh words, Luke brought his hand into the air. He smacked his palm across her cheek. The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed in the car. Luke immediately dropped his head in shame. He remained perfectly still and vulnerable as Alexis repeatedly punched her fists into his chest, struggling to kick her legs beneath him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he cried, framing her face in his hands. He kissed her cheek, gently brushing his lips over the slightly swollen, pink skin.
Alexis pushed him away, continuously beating her hands against his chest. "Bastard," she hissed, her body stiffening beneath him as her anger grew. She grunted and tried to push him away. He was stoic; dead weight on her lap. Alexis' fists slowly stopped pounding agianst his chest, eventually falling down onto her lap. She tilted her head to the side to see his face. The slants of moonlight entering the car made the tears in Luke's eyes glisten. She bent her neck, resting her forehead against his. "I don't really want Lucky to go to prison," she admitted quietly, resting her palms against his chest.
"I know."
"I'm scared, Luke." She could feel his breath against her face, his hands slowly moving to grip her hips. "I'm scared that every time I try to defeat Helena, it's just going to backfire. I'm afraid of more people getting hurt or dying." Alexis drew in a ragged breath, her entire body trembling as she told him, "And I'm scared of the way you make me feel."
**portions have been edited out. if you are over 18, e-mail me and I will send them to you**
"I need to get back," she stuttered, opening her purse. She applied more lipstick and hoped the blush on her cheeks appeared to be make-up. Alexis opened the door. Her weak knees knocked together as she stood up.
Quickly jumping out of the car and moving to the other side, Luke blocked her from leaving. He shaped his body to her's, pressing Alexis against the car. "I trust you," he said, his voice husky.
"I believe you." She swallowed nervously, sealing her lips shut to avoid his kiss.
"Then stay with me."
Alexis shook her head. "I can't." She pushed him and slipped between his warm body and the car. Her heels pounded against the pavement as she crossed the parking lot. She stood outside of the building and watched Luke angrily kick his car and get inside. He sped away, the windows still covered in a thick fog.
She saw herself in the window and knew there was no way she could go back inside. Alexis saw a man she recognized from her table and opened the door, calling out to him. "Hi," she said. "Could you do me a favor?"
"Okay."
"Would you please tell Jasper Jacks that Alexis went home. Tell him I'm okay, that I just wasn't feeling well. Thank you," she said, rushed. Before the man responded she turned and walked briskly to the parking lot. She made her way onto the street and hailed a cab, tears coursing down her cheeks and smearing her make-up.
~*~
Alexis stood under the hot stream of water. She felt it wash away the makeup on her face and the various products that had been holding her hair in place. But it didn't matter how hard she scrubbed the soap against her skin, she couldn't wash away the scent of Luke or the feel of his hands on her body.
She shivered as the water was turned off and the cool air struck her naked body. Alexis stepped onto the rug and gathered her robe in her hands. She wrapped the warm material around her body and tied it loosely around her waist. Her feet left a wet trail on the carpet as she moved down the hall.
Alexis stopped suddenly. She heard something fall, as though one of the picture frames on the mantle had been knocked over. She held her breath and clenched her hands into fists. "Jax?" Alexis called out, her voice trembling. She heard no response and for the first time hoped that Luke had broken into the penthouse.
She closed her eyes as she moved down the stairs, revealing herself to her intruder. Alexis felt the air drain from her lungs as she came face to face with Lucky Spencer.
~*~