One Day In Venice -8

One Day in Venice (Part 8)

On the last day of their honeymoon, Jax wakes up and looks over at his sleeping wife. Her beauty never ceases to move him. His hand lightly travels down her body. Along her cheek, through the pools of sunlight on her neck, over her breasts and stomach. He slides his hand over her thigh and down the length of her leg.

Jax smiles when Brenda softly moans in her sleep, as her body responds to his touch. He stretches out beside her and kisses her lips. Her eyes slowly open and a smile forms on her lips. Brenda snuggles closer to Jax and kisses his chest before burrying her head under his chin.

"Is this what married life is going to be like," she asks. "I think I could get used to your wake-up calls."

Jax wraps his arms around her, rubbing her back. "You could, could you?"

"Yeah. What girl wouldn't want to wake up to find your gorgeous body lying next to her...kissing her?"

Jax kisses her again. "Now that I've found you, you're the only woman in the world I'll be waking up next to."

Brenda is absently drawing figure-eights on his chest. "This is the last day of our honeymoon, isn't it?"

"It doesn't have to be. I believe we could safely spend the rest of our lives as honeymooners."

Brenda laughs lightly. "Don't tempt me...Jax? Do you think your parents are going to like me?"

"How could they not? You are the most charming, beautiful woman I have ever met. They will adore you. Trust me."

She touches his face and kisses him. "I do trust you. With my life."

Jax indulges in her kisses for a few moments. "We do have something serious to discuss."

Brenda's mind is on other things, and she is busy kissing Jax behind his ear. "This is serious," she purrs.

Jax pulls away from her slightly. "Sweetie, we need to discuss this."

"Okay," Brenda relents. "What's on your mind?"

"We need to decide on a few things. Now that we're going back to --"

"Civilization," Brenda interjects.

Jax smiles at her. "Okay. We need to decide where we are going from here. Primarily, where we plan to live."

Brenda sits up, putting on one of Jax's shirts. "It doesn't matter. Wherever you want to live is fine," she says, walking out onto the deck of the Isabella.

Jax follows her. "You're lying through your teeth," he says, putting his arms around her. "You want to live in Port Charles, don't you, Brenda?"

She pulls his arms around her tighter. "But you don't. You're used to living all over the world in glamorous, exciting places. Port Charles is neither glamorous nor exciting."

Jax turns her around to face him. "As long as I have you, I have glamorous and exciting. Brenda, I wouldn't dream of uprooting you, if it would make you unhappy. And it would. So, we will call Port Charles home."

Her face brightens. "Do you really mean it? I don't want you to be unhappy either."

Jax kisses her and takes her in his arms. "I have you. I could never be unhappy."

Brenda hugs him tightly. She can't believe that Jax is willing to put her first. Sonny would never have done that. It hurt to admit it to herself, but the mob would always be his first love. And she would always come second. Jax was so different. Brenda knew she was at the top of his priorities. And he was at the top of hers.

"I love you, Jax. I love you with all my heart."

Jax lowers his lips to meet hers. They are joined in a passionate kiss as her hands slide around his back. Jax lifts her into his arms and she wraps her legs around his waist. They continue kissing as Jax carries her into the bedroom. After making love, Jax and Brenda take a shower together. Brenda is wearing a towel and pulling a swimsuit out of her drawer when Jax wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head.

"Maybe something a little more formal today, Sweetie."

Brenda turns to face him. "Why?"

Jax wraps his arms around her. "Because we are going to make the last day of our honeymoon memorable."

She smiles mischeviously and starts untying her towel. "Memorable, huh?"

Jax stops her, laughing. "We're actually leaving the yacht today. I have something special planned."

Jax and Brenda head to Venice, where they first met. They step off onto shore. Jax is wearing grey pants and a white silk shirt. Brenda is wearing a long, pale blue, sleeveless dress. She turns to Jax, her face filled with love.

"I can't believe we're back in Venice."

Jax takes her hand and kisses it. "This is where we first met. I think it's where I first fell in love with you. I thought it would be nice to come back here." He kisses her. "Now that we're married, and madly in love."

Brenda wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him. "You are the sweetest, most romantic husband in the whole world."

Hand in hand, they walk through Venice. The first thing they do is board a gondola to take them down the Grand Canal. Brenda rests her head against his shoulder, as Jax puts his arm around her.

"I love you, Mrs Jacks."

Brenda turns her head and kisses him. "I love you, too."

That night, Jax and Brenda have dinner at the cafe where they first laid eyes on each other. Jax leans across the table and kisses her. The love between them is almost palpable to the other patrons.

"This is so surreal. It's like we've gone back two months. But this time, I don't feel like there is something between us. I still feel the same way about you...only more now."

Brenda takes his hand. "And this time you don't have to hold back. There is absolutely nothing between us."

After dinner, they walk back to the fountain where they shared their first kiss. The music from the cafe can still be heard. Brenda sits down on the edge of the fountain and Jax sits down beside her. He reaches out and caresses her cheek. Then he leans over and kisses her.

"Brenda, you don't know how much I wanted you the last time we were here. I would have married you right then and there. But I held back, because I didn't want to scare you off."

She kisses him and rests her head against his chest. "Well, you've got me now, Jax." She starts kissing his neck while she undoes a couple of buttons on his shirt.

The passion meter is rising, when Jax pulls back. "We're in public, Brenda."

"Well, then, everyone will be able to see how in love we are."

He lets Brenda resume kissing him for a while. Tango music begins to play, from the cafe. Jax stands, pulling Brenda to her feet.

"Dance with me, Brenda."

"The tango? Jax, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

He holds Brenda close to him and begins teaching her the dance. She picks it up quickly and soon Jax and Brenda are doing a sensual tango around the fountain. Their bodies are so close together, the light of day couldn't get through. They are gazing into each other's eyes, unable to look away. Jax lowers Brenda in a dip and their desire for one another kicks into overdrive.

Jax lowers his mouth to hers and they are joined in a searing kiss. Brenda wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him wildly as Jax attempts to stand up straight. They are both only concious of the other. Between kisses, Brenda murmurs to Jax, "You don't know how much I wanted to do this that first night."

Jax looks at her, surprised. "You did?"

Brenda nods. "I wanted this so much...but I was scared. I was scared by the intense feelings I was having for a total stranger." She gently caresses his face. "I know you now. I love you now. And I never want to lose your love."

"You never could." He kisses her. "Let's go to the hotel."

As they are leaving the fountain, Brenda stops for a moment, holding onto his hand.

"Have you got a penny?"

Jax reaches into his pocket. "I think so. Why?"

She takes the coin from his hand. "I want to make a wish." Brenda stands in front of the fountain and closes her eyes for a moment before making her wish and tossing the penny into the fountain.

Jax wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on top of her head. "What did you wish for?"

"That we would always be this happy."

Jax takes her hand and they walk to their hotel. As Jax is fumbling with his key, opening the door to their room, Brenda runs her hand down his back. When the door is opened, Jax turns to her and takes her in his arms. His kiss reveals the depth of his passion. Their lips never breaking contact, Jax and Brenda stumble into their hotel suite. Jax kicks the door closed behind him. "Storybook Love," by Willy De Ville (from "The Princess Bride") begins playing in the background.

Come my love, I'll tell you a tale

Of a boy and girl and their love story.

And how he loved her oh so much,

And all the charms she did posess.

Brenda finishes unbuttoning his shirt and slides it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. She kisses his muscular chest as Jax slowly unzips the back of her dress. Brenda slips her arms out of the dress and lets it fall to the floor. Jax lifts Brenda into his arms and carries her to the bedroom. He gently places her on the large, canopied bed.

Now this did happen once upon a time

When things were not so complex

And how he worshipped the ground she walked

And when he looked in her eyes he became obsessed.

Brenda lies there, looking at Jax through a haze of desire as he removes his pants. Jax stands there for a moment, just taking in the beauty of his gorgeous wife.

"You're doing it again...looking right through me. But I like it, Jax."

He stretches out beside her on the bed. Jax softly kisses her forehead, the tip of her nose and finally her lips. Brenda moves her body close to him. Jax continues his journey down her body as he kisses her throat, while his hands explore her breasts.

My love is like, a storybook story

But it's as real as the feelings I feel

My love is like a storybook story

But it's as real as the feelings I feel

Brenda softly moans his name, as Jax kisses her breasts. Then, he trails his tongue back up along her neck until he is kissing behind her ear. Brenda arches her back as Jax moves on top of her. Their lips meet again as Brenda slides her hands down over his muscular back.

He said don't you know I love you oh so much

And lay my heart at the foot of your dress

She said don't you that storybook loves

Always happen at the ending

Then he swooped her up just like in the books

And on his stallion they road away

They are joined in passion and both feel as though a current of electricity is flowing through them. Neither have ever felt more alive than they do at this moment. After their passionate love-making, Brenda lies in her husband's arms. Both their bodies and their souls are completely satisfied.

My love is like, a storybook story

But it's as real as the feelings I feel

My love is like a storybook story

But it's as real as the feelings I feel

Brenda places a lazy kiss on Jax's chest. "I'll never forget Venice. This will always be our city."

This reminds Jax of something and he gets out of bed and goes into the other room.

"Where are you going?"

Moments later, Jax returns with a medium-sized box. He gets back into bed beside Brenda.

"I bought this for you."

Brenda takes it from him. "When did you ever have the time to buy this?"

"Actually, I bought it for you after that first night in Venice."

Brenda is astonished. "But...Jax, you didn't know if you would ever see me again."

Jax kisses her gently. "Yes, I did. I knew there was no way that the universe would send you into my life for only one day. I knew that we'd meet again."

The way he says this, so certain, melts her heart. "Why did you wait until now to give it to me?"

"I was waiting for the perfect moment. I wanted to give it to you here in Venice. Where you first touched my soul."

She smiles and carefully opens the box. Inside is a delicate waterglobe, with a porcelain scene inside that is clearly Venice. Brenda looks up, into Jax's eyes.

"Now you'll always have a part of Venice with you. Wherever we are."

Brenda looks up at Jax, with tears rolling down her face. He reaches out and brushes them away. "I didn't want you to cry. I just...I wanted you to have something to always remind you of how we met."

She places the waterglobe on the nightstand. "I could never forget. Not for a moment."

Brenda moves into his arms, kissing him lovingly. They lay back in the bed, and Jax tenderly makes love to Brenda. They have come full circle, and know that they can face whatever awaits them in Alaska and Port Charles.

..To Be Continued...

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Cristina

cjohnson@ucla.edu