by Kira
SCENE: The Outback.
Victoria and Jax enters. Victoria is wearing a
slinky, highly sophisticated and revealing black dress. Jax is debonair in
his
black evening suit. Felicia walks up to them, smiling.
"Hello, Jax." she laughs a little, "and Congratulations."
Turning to Victoria, she extends a hand, "You must be the new Mrs.
Jacks?"
"Victoria." She smiled in return, taking Felicia's hand, albeit a
little
puzzled.
"Jax told us about your wedding when he called to reserve the table."
Felicia
confided conspiratorially.
"Oh. I see." Victoria gave him a dry look, which he remained imperious
to.
Felicia led them to a table near the dance floor.
As soon as she had retreated, Victoria lowered her menu and gave him a
dark look,
"Are you sure you don't want to take out a billboard in the center of
town?"
Jax raised a brow,
"Now there's a good idea."
She threw down her menu in disgust,
"You're incorrigible."
Leaning forward, he rested a hand on her wrist;
"I prefer encourageable." he stated meaningfully, watching her color
with
satisfaction before leaning back negligently, "If you can't play the
game,
Victoria, I suggest you leave it to the masters."
"Good idea." she shot back, "May I retire now? Where do I turn in my
game
card?"
He laughed heartily,
"All in good time, Mrs. Jacks. All in good time. The game has
barely
begun."
"I'd rather sit on the sidelines, if you don't mind. I don't care for your
little
game much." she was goaded, and the flash of her blue eyes made her
even
more beautiful.
"You know, you make a rather good Jacks." he remarked thoughtfully,
studying her closely.
Victoria recoiled from his attention, raising her menu defensively. She
had
to work on building defenses against this devastatingly
handsome
manipulator. He could charm ice-cubes from an Eskimo. Trouble was, he
was as cold on the inside as one.
They ordered drinks. Victoria was oblivious to the entry of Sonny
Corinthos, but Jax's observant nature missed nothing. Reaching
over
suddenly, he took her hand.
"I think it's time I danced with my bride." he announced with
preamble.
Victoria followed him onto the dance floor with reluctance. He refused
to
allow even the least bit of distance between them, molding her
possessively
against his frame.
"Do you mind?" she finally demanded indignantly.
He looked down at her in mock-innocence,
"Is there a problem?"
"You're.....wrinkling my dress." she finally managed.
Jax laughed, pulling her even closer,
"I'll buy you a new one."
"I like this one." she stated stubbornly, yet knowing the argument was lost.
As they moved sensuously to the music, Victoria caught the intent look
from
a dark man at the bar, and accurately assessing this as the object of
Jax's
display some imp of mischief finally goaded her into playing her own
game. With one hand, she seductively ran her palm along his shirt
front,
moving inside his jacket to stroke his back, pressing her body further
into
his frame. Her lips moved beneath his ear, dropping a soft hint of a
kiss
there. His body stiffened momentarily, caught off guard by her
sensuous
attention. His head reared back,
"What the--" he bit off, before catching himself.
She laughed deep in her throat, blinking innocently,
"Oh, sorry ... wasn't that good?"
Their gazes locked and battled for long minutes before his grip tightened
at
her waist, forcing her hips into his suggestively. His other hand
spread
across the exposed flesh of her back, caressing the skin openly. He was
more
than willing to play this game with her, and he was a far superior
player.
"Just remember what happens when you play with fire, Victoria." his
husky
warning sent a frisson of alarm racing through her blood.
Sonny Corinthos leaned back against the bar, speaking to Felicia over
his
shoulder,
"Who is she?" He asked speculatively, his dark eyes never leaving the
couple on the dance floor.
"That -" Felicia announced with a small flourish, "..is the new Mrs.
Jacks."
Sonny jerked around, facing Felicia in astonishment.
Felicia nodded, "Yup. And get this.... you'll never guess what her
maiden
name is."
"Sadie Masochist?" Sonny quipped without hesitation.
Felicia grinned, but shook her head.
"Quartermaine."
Sonny inhaled deeply, turning back to observe the blonde in Jax's arms
with renewed interest,
"You don't say."
"Jax met her in England. Edwards brother's grand-daughter. Guess it was
what you would call a whirlwind courtship."
Sonny's lip twitched slightly,
"I'd call it Hurricane Jax." He said softly.
On the dance floor, Jax's head dipped to run his lips along the bare
shoulder
of his bride. Victoria vainly suppressed the shiver dancing through her,
and
pulled back hard.
"I've had enough." she decided firmly, refusing to meet his look.
Jax shrugged, turning her from the dance floor obligingly.
Victoria met the dark man's look as they walked away, noting the
deep
interest.
When Jax finally seated himself, she immediately took him to task.
"Who is he?"
"Who?" Jax pretended to study the menu with great interest, much too
her
annoyance.
"You know who." she tossed off, "The man at the bar. The benefactor of
your little 'show' on the dance floor."
Jax gave her a slow smile,
"You don't miss much, Mrs. Jacks."
"I've got the hand prints to remind me." She quipped immediately, "So,
who is he?"
Jax filled his lungs slowly,
"That is one Mr. Sonny Corinthos. Mobster extraordinaire."
"Sonny Corinthos." Victoria repeated, her eyes lighting in recognition.
"You know the name?" Confusion touched his brow.
Victoria sighed,
"You mentioned him in Alaska. Brenda's ex-lover."
Anger, as live as an electric wire, filled him.
"What do you want to order?" he demanded tightly.
Victoria refused to be daunted,
"I'm in the mood for Italian." she replied without hesitation. The
deliberate
provocation brought Jax's immediate scrutiny.
"Be very careful what you ask for, Mrs. Jacks." there was a silent promise
of
retribution she refused to acknowledge. She tossed her head and
deliberately threw Mr. Sonny Corinthos a brilliant smile.
SCENE: The Guest House.
Victoria & Jax return from the Outback.
Although Victoria is deliberately upbeat and breezy, Jax's countenance
is
stormy and dangerous. Kicking off her shoes, Victoria drops onto the
couch.
"Hmmm..... I like the Outback. Great food, great
music...interesting
patrons..." The words had barely escaped her before Jax's hands clamped
on her bare arms, hauling her from the couch to face his thunderous
rage.
"Don't you... ever... try anything like that again." he warned her
viciously.
Victoria swallowed, fighting valiantly to retain a brave front,
"Anything like what?"
"Don't play with me, Victoria. We have a bargain. Don't even
contemplate
breaking it. Or I will show you what I am truly capable of."
Victoria swallowed, unable to find words. His anger was a living,
tangible
entity. And a frightening one.
"I'm sorry." she finally whispered.
"Don't ever flirt with Mr. Corinthos again, Victoria." he instructed, so
icy
the words could have cut through steel.
"I - I --" she stumbled, "I won't."
Releasing her slightly, Jax allowed her feet to touch the ground,
still
retaining his hold.
"We won't have this discussion again." he finished darkly.
"Jax -" As he turned away, her hand unconsciously moved to his
cheek,
halting him.
"What?"
She was at a loss for words. Her blue eyes were big and somehow
pleading
against the pale of her face. By slow degrees, the harsh anger left
him,
changing imperceptibly, until now it became something else.
It was a slow burn, almost a ballet, as he reached one hand
deliberately
behind her unsnapping the single button which held the bodice of her
skimpy dress in place. As the material slipped on her skin, her hands
went
unthinkingly to still it's progress. Her gaze, however, remained locked
with
his. Their breathing harshened, tightened, as the air compressed
between
them. Taking first one hand and then the other away, she reached towards
the buttons of his shirt, allowing the bodice to fall away beneath his
heated
stare. Her fingers unsteadily worked at the buttons, until the skin of
his
muscled chest was exposed. Brushing back the material, she pressed her
mouth against the pulse at the base of his throat briefly, before pulling
back.
His hands caught her elbows in a grip so hard she was immobilized. She
was ensnared, captured waiting while her pulses soared as to whether
he
intended on pushing her away or dragging him towards her.
Then his hands moved to her bare waist, dragging her against him, and
the
universe tilted crazily out of control. They could not move quick enough
to
follow the hammer-pulse of the white hot flame consuming them, nor
could
they drink long enough from the taste of desire - forbidden and tantalizing
-
that refused to be sated by mere mortal senses. This was where no
coherent
thought could enter -- and only pure hunger existed.
Jax was too consumed in the need to have her, now, instantly - to
consider
carrying her the seemingly-endless distance to their second floor bedroom.
They melted onto the floor, tangled by invisible bonds of need so strong
that
it scorched his flesh. She was a cool spring and he a man dying of
thirst.
She was molten heat, and he gladly lost himself to the fire. How he could
be
so enraged, so indifferent, so maddeningly aloof with this woman in
all
aspects of his life yet crave her so sharply as to set his senses keening,
he
did not know. He did not question. He only knew that right here, right now
having her was the only thing he craved beyond all others. Beyond
even
breathing, he wanted Victoria. If he were rational, the very thought
would
be terrifying.
It's just great sex. He reasoned some time later, when the storm
had passed
and he held her in his aching, tired arms so exhausted that his
muscles
trembled with the force of his exertion. That's all. Great
sex.
Neither of them spoke now, almost too afraid to tread upon this new
ground
this precarious and delicate state where none of their
pre-concluded
assumptions made sense. This was the real danger then. For they both knew
that
when morning came, all the intimacy would fade once again, as though it
had never existed. And they would once again be Jax and Victoria...
husband and wife ... captor and prisoner ... playing a deadly serious
game
for his own gain. So when her mouth turned to seek his, he willingly
lost
himself once again. He had no choice, really. For on this playing field,
he
was as helpless a pawn as Victoria.