by Judy
Reunion Part 9: "A Morning of Truth & Days of Fun"
The sun was trying hard to shine through the closed plantation shutters; they were straining just as hard to keep it at bay. Jax was lying on his side in bed, propped up on his arm watching Brenda sleep. For once, he was impatient with her for taking so long to wake up. She had her back to him and he inched his way to her body getting as close as he dared. Guiltily, he longingly ran his fingers up her arm, the only part of her along with her head, which had so far escaped the covers. The gentle journey took him from the tips of her fingers to the hollow at the top of her arm, and on to the spot where her shoulder gently curved, hiding her breasts from his view. Then his long fingers reversed the direction of the trail they had made. He was finding it hard to resist burying his face in her neck and having it for his breakfast. So absorbed was he in his thoughts that he didn't notice her breathing had changed signaling her arousal. Only the little shivers on her skin beneath his fingertips and the slight shudder of her body let him know that his plan had worked.
"You're here," Brenda murmured quietly.
"Never anywhere else," he replied, now making good on his vision of a perfect morning repast.
Her body tingled at his touch and she rolled over and snuggled her face into the warmth of his chest. He relaxed to his back, cradling her in his arms. Her head now resting on his shoulder, she drew up her knees and straddled his body with one leg. The smell of his skin was intoxicating and she breathed in deeply. "I'm glad," she replied. "I love you."
He reveled in her words and pulled her closer to him.
Her arm slithered across his chest and she said, "I've got to go . . . "
"Like hell you do," he warned pulling her more tightly into him. Then speaking crisply, but in a more gentle tone, "I'm no way letting you move one inch from this spot." He punctuated his words by poking his fingers into her arm the way he always did when he wanted to make a point he was sure she wouldn't hear.
"Breakfast . . . in . . . the . . . pooooool," she whispered provocatively into his ear.
With this, he smiled and released her - a little.
"Come on, Jax," Brenda coaxed. "I'm starving and I'll bet Anna has a wonderful
breakfast waiting for us on the terrace. I'll carry you down and feed you
if you like." The teasing tone in her voice had returned and Jax wondered
if last night had been but a dream. She kissed him hard and long and he was
reassured that it had been real.
So he threw back the cover and she squealed in surprise. "Okay, rise and shine, darling! I'm ready and waiting!" he announced.
"Oh, Jax . . ." she moaned. But she was smiling broadly.
Jax tossed a thick white robe at her and directed, "Put this on. It's light out there now, you know. I'm not sharing you with anyone."
"That's exactly what I'm counting on," she responded.
He quickly threw on a matching wrap and they raced down the stairs like puppies heading for their morning bowl of kibble. Their exuberance was uncontainable.
As Brenda suspected, Anna had set the patio table - but by now it was time for brunch. Brenda rushed into her food with abandon. Jax sat back in his chair sipping his coffee and watched her enjoy her newly found appetite. "What's going on, Brenda?" he queried.
"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion.
"The food. You're inhaling it. You promised to feed me - remember? Gee, and I thought you cared." His phony attempt to make her feel guilty was obvious.
"Oh, poor baby," she crooned. "Here, let me help you." She jumped up and ran to his side of the table. Taking a croissant in her hand, she dramatically tore it apart and provocatively held it in front of his ready mouth. Then, she pulled it away. He snatched her by the arm and pulled her toward him. Brenda managed to place her other hand, still full of the soft pastry, into his mouth with full force before she fell on top of him. Expecting a kiss, not a mouthful of food, Jax nearly choked on the morsel of bread.
They both fell to the terrace floor, rolling on the warmth radiating from the cement, laughing until tears ran down their faces. Then, true to her word, but surprised none-the-less, Brenda facilitated breakfast in the reflecting pool! As they started to rise from the hard concrete, Jax held out his hand to assist her to her feet. Trusting him at this moment was probably the only bad decision she ever made in this regard. He pulled her playfully, grabbed her entire body in his arms, threw her over his shoulder and plunged into the icy water!
"I'll teach you to mess with me," he said with a twinkle in his eyes that soon turned to lust. And with that, she willingly surrendered.
********
They emerged from the pool, still half in their robes, which were heavy with
water. The chilling pool, yet to be warmed by the rays of the sun, couldn't
dampen their spirits, however. Jax gathered an armful of towels that were
waiting for them on the bench. He wrapped Brenda snuggly in multiple layers
of the soft terry cloth. But he was so wet, and she so close to him that
the towels were soaked in a moment. Though they huddled together in an attempt
to get warm, it was in vein and they shivered in the cool morning air.
"So much for food," he chided her. Then he raced for the house with her close on his heels.
Upstairs once again, they dressed in jeans and sweatshirts, Brenda drowning in the one that she took from him.
"I liked the dress," he said quietly, a serious yet loving tone pervading his words.
"I'm glad," she said, understanding the true meaning of his message. "I love making you happy. I love being here with you."
So few words; so many truths. They spent the day basking in glorious warmth, very little of which came from the sun.
********
The next day was spent having fun and . . . shopping! They returned to Rodeo
Drive and the Beverly Center to fill in the gaps of Brenda's limited wardrobe.
She pleaded with him to let Robin send some things out to her, but he would
have none of it. He wanted her to have a new wardrobe in honor of their new
life together. She gave in without a lot of pleading on his part. She'd not
gotten much for herself of late; all of her money had been spent on Jax.
After the shopping, Jax insisted that she relax at a local spa. This gave him time to make the final arrangements for his surprise. It had been quite a project, but he was undaunted by its enormity. V had helped from Port Charles.
When he picked Brenda up from the spa, she looked refreshed and relaxed.
"So, you ready for a night on the town?" Jax asked with enthusiasm.
"Ready to share me now, are you? Boy, that didn't take long. What did you have in mind?" Brenda inquired.
"It's Anna's night off, and with your new found appetite hardly matching your culinary skill - unless they've magically improved without my knowing it . . "
He paused long enough for her to punch him in the arm. It was useless - his strength made her punch seem like a love tap.
"As I was saying, unless we want to starve to death, I thought we might go to Geoffrey's. I was afraid the storms may have closed them down, but they're okay. Geoffrey is a friend of mine. It's a great place right on the water near Malibu. Are you game?"
"Sure," she said. "Sounds like fun."
They drove from Beverly Hills back to the house to begin the preparations.
"Brenda? Would you wear the dress?" He asked cautiously as if he were afraid she would refuse him.
"If you like," she smiled. "Of course."
The trip to Geoffrey's was relatively short. Jax had hired a limousine so they could enjoy the view as they drove along Pacific Coast Highway. The city lights twinkle along the shoreline. When they arrived, there were no cars in sight, yet a full cadre of valets were visible in the parking lot.
"Jax, are you sure they're open? They knew we were coming?" Brenda found the emptiness of such a popular place incredulous.
"It's fine," Jax assured her. "Let's go."
Once inside, Brenda confirmed that the place was vacant. "Jax, she whispered,
are you sure they didn't flunk their health inspection?" Her eyes were wide
as she surveyed the beautiful décor and the incredible view of the
ocean beyond.
"Shhh," Jax cautioned. "Hi, Geoffrey," he said to the distinguished man who greeted them. "How've you been?" he asked as they warmly shook hands.
"Everything is as you requested," Geoffrey replied. "I hope it will be to your liking."
"I am sure it will be perfect," Jax winked out of Brenda's view.
They were escorted to a table by the window that offered them an expansive view of the thundering sea crashing onto the jagged rocks that lined the beach. Brenda couldn't contain her disbelief at the emptiness of the room.
"Jax, I don't understand . . ."
"I told you that I didn't want to share you with anyone, yet. So Geoffrey did me a little favor. If you can buy out a casino, I can certainly arrange for a private dinner."
"Wow, I'm impressed," Brenda said with quiet awe. "I mean, I know that you could do this, but that you would is . . . wonderful." She shivered a little.
"Cold?" Jax asked.
"No, h u n g r y!" she drew out the word in a deep, tone that came from deep inside her.
Just then, the waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne and a tray of gourmet appetizers.
When he'd left them alone, Brenda taunted, "What, no oysters?"
"Not tonight. We don't need them."
They finished the scrumptious dinner to the strains of music serenading them
from an adjoining room. It seemed odd to Brenda that the band would be playing
with no one there. But Jax's surprise had yet to be revealed.