Chapter Ten
The Versailles Room of the Port Charles Hotel looked festive enough to make Cupid himself proud. Centerpieces of wildflowers in hues of reds, pinks, and purples adorned each table, and as the guests waited for the show to begin, the band, thanks to Jax and Brenda’s careful selections, played everything from "My Heart Will Go On" to the Doors’ "Hello, I Love You" in celebration of the Valentine’s Day holiday. The icing on the cake, however, was decorating the foyer outside the room. After a few phone calls to the Jacks homestead in Alaska, Lois and Brenda had convinced Jax and Jerry’s mother to send them a picture of each of the boys in a diaper, and after a little computer wizardry, baby Jasper and baby Jerrold were transformed into little Cupids who greeted guests as they entered the room.

Brenda and Lois had spent most of afternoon at the hotel, finalizing all of the plans, and had dashed up to waiting hotel suites to get dressed for the occasion. At exactly 6:45pm, Jax knocked on Brenda’s hotel suite, his heart racing. She opened the door, and unconsciously licked her lips at the sight of Jax in a tuxedo. That action alone would have sent Jax reeling out of his mind, had he noticed it. Instead, his blue eyes burned a white-hot trail up from her strappy black heels, blazing a deliciously slow path up her legs and torso, taking in every inch of Brenda’s pink Cynthia Rowley matte satin tube dress, as it hugged her every accentuated curve. He had no idea how the dress stayed on her magnificent body, and although he was more eager to rip it off of her, Jax finally managed to verbalize the compliments that were running through his head. "You, Brenda, are a goddess. I’ll have to keep my eye on you tonight, so that Cupid doesn’t return to Mt. Olympus with you." He raised a blond eyebrow as his mention of Cupid sent her giggling, which rained down on his ears like a pleasant spring shower. As he helped her with her black wrap, Jax couldn’t help but inhale the musky smell of her hair, which was tonight, an alluring cascade of dark tendrils.

Brenda didn’t take her eyes off of Jax as they took the elevator down, and approached the ballroom. She heard his soft laughter, and knew that he had seen the pictures, so she dared to look into his eyes. He met her gaze and they stood frozen in a moment out of time. "I’m guessing this was your idea?" She nodded, and Jax found the laughter evident in her eyes even more intoxicating than it was in it’s audible form. "A woman after my own heart." He offered her his arm, as they proceeded to their table, front and center, to sit with Lois, Ned, Alexis, Scott, Jerry, Bobbie Spencer, and Stefan and Nikolas Cassadine.

By now, Lois and Alexis knew that Jax was Brenda’s roommate and that there was a definite attraction; Jerry knew the same, and that Brenda was PrncessBB. The only one who seemed at all surprised to see Jax and Brenda arm in arm was Katherine Bell, who began choking on her champagne when they entered the room, but before she could inquire of anyone regarding the roommies, her nemesis, Lucy Coe, appeared on stage. "Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the 1_st Annual Hearts of Port Charles Valentine’s Day Benefit for General Hospital." After Lucy thanked Jax and Jerry for sponsoring the event, and Lois and Brenda for planning it, the acts began.

First, in a scene right out of the "Little Rascals," Lucas Jones serenaded Serena Baldwin with "You are so Beautiful to Me." Next, the General Hospital interns, Joe Scanlon, Karen Wexler, Chris Ramsey, and Eve Lambert, did a hysterical rendition of "Love Potion #9," and Lucky Spencer, Elizabeth Webber, Nikolas Cassadine, and Emily Quartermaine did a great swing dance routine to "In the Mood." Dara Jensen’s performance of "Makin’ Whoopee," was followed by Alan, Edward, Emily, and AJ Quartermaine, who brought the house down with their own version of the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You." After his family’s act, Ned/Eddie, though officially boycotting any L&B performances, due to the new management, sang with the Idle Rich, "Love Will Have the Last Word." But the piece-de-resistance came when the curtain raised to reveal Brenda, Lois, Alexis, and Lucy, outfitted in black tank or tube tops, and black pants or capris. They started their song and dance number amidst whistles and claps from the audience. Ned and Scott exchanged wide-eyed looks, while Jax had to try to restrain himself as desire surged through his veins.

ALL: You give me
You give me fever

LUCY: Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
BRENDA: When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that’s so hard to bear
ALEXIS: Listen to me baby,
Hear every word I say
LOIS: No one can love you the way I do
Cause they don’t know how to love you my way

ALL: You give me fever,
LUCY: when you kiss me
ALL: Fever
BRENDA: when you hold me tight
ALL: Fever
ALEXIS: in the morning
ALL: Fever
LOIS: all through the night

LUCY: Sun lights up the daytime
Moon lights up the night
BRENDA: My eyes light up when you call my name
Cause I know you’re gonna treat me right
ALEXIS: Bless my soul I love you, take this heart away
LOIS: Take these arms I’ll never use
And just believe what my lips have to say

ALL: You give me fever,
LUCY: when you kiss me
ALL: Fever
BRENDA: when you hold me tight
ALL: Fever
ALEXIS: in the morning
ALL: Fever
LOIS: all through the night

Everybody’s got the fever
ALEXIS: That is something you should know
BRENDA: Fever isn’t such a new scene
LUCY: Fever started long ago

ALL: You give me fever, fever
You give me, you give me fever

ALL: You give me fever,
LUCY: when you kiss me
ALL: Fever
BRENDA: when you hold me tight
ALL: Fever
ALEXIS: in the morning
ALL: Fever
LOIS: all through the night

LOIS: Romeo loved Juliet
Juliet, she felt the same
When he put his arms around her
He said Julie baby, you’re my flame
He gave her fever

ALEXIS: Sun lights up the daytime
Moon lights up the night
My eyes light up when you call my name
Cause I know you’re gonna treat me right

ALL: You give me fever,
LUCY: when you kiss me
ALL: Fever
BRENDA: when you hold me tight
ALL: Fever
ALEXIS: in the morning
ALL: Fever
LOIS: all through the night

BRENDA: Fever, with his kisses
Fever when he holds me tight
Everybody’s got the fever
That is something you should know
Fever isn’t such a new scene
Fever started long ago

LUCY: Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Had a very mad affair
When her daddy tried to kill him
She said, daddy oh don’t you dare
He gives me fever
With his kisses
Fever when he holds me tight
Fever, I’m his Misses
Daddy, won’t you treat him right

LOIS: Fever, when you kiss them
ALEXIS: Fever, if you live and learn
BRENDA: Fever, til you sizzle
LUCY: What a lovely way to burn
ALL: What a lovely way to burn

The audience leapt to it’s feet, and in a swift movement, lost in the chaos of applause, Jax downed the last of his champagne. It was hot in the ballroom; very, very hot, and he had to get some air. Very, very cold air. As the curtain closed, and guests slowly made their exits, Brenda, Lois, and Alexis talked in feverished whispers about the reaction to their act. "So what do you think?" Brenda’s eyes nervously darted between her two best friends.

"Are you kiddin’ me girlfriend? The man looked like he was going to explode. You got to him, Bren. You got to him BIG time." Alexis nodded in agreement.

"Jax looked like he wanted to either kill you or kiss you. The only remaining question is, Brenda: which would you prefer?" Brenda’s mouth dropped open in shock, but her speechlessness and the slight blush that crept up her cheeks betrayed her, as it was clear she’d definitely prefer the latter.

**

Jerry placed a hand on Jax’s shoulder, as they looked out at the city of Port Charles spread out beneath them, from the balcony of the Versailles Room. "Pretty hot."

Jax’s midnight blue eyes scanned the horizon. "Yes it was. I had to get some air. Somebody should tell Ashton to keep the thermostat below eighty bloody degrees." Jerry grinned, and laughed mischievously.

"I meant the act. The girl, Jax. Or were you too preoccupied with the heating and cooling system in the PC Hotel, that you failed to notice how she strutted across the stage, how her hips swayed, how her dark hair rested ever so gently across the tops of her br-"

"That’s enough! I noticed, Jerry. Did I ever notice." Jerry’s celebratory grin was cut short by a voice from behind them.

"You noticed what exactly?" Brenda. The mere sound of her voice trigged a passion in him that Jax had never known before. And he truly drank in the sight of her, and as she continued talking, he stood their oblivious to everything except her body language, and the way she communicated. He heard the words, the delicious cadences of her voice, and the sounds themselves were so beautiful that he paid no attention to her words. Jax watched in amazement as she smiled, laughed, as her eyes danced, slowly, sensually, just as she had earlier, every time she looked at him. When he was finally brought back to reality, Jerry was gone, and Jax was embarrassed at the thought of how long he had been standing on the balcony speechless and motionless.

But Brenda had barely noticed. Although she had been quite a chatterbox with Jerry, as soon as he had left, she had lapsed into a silence of her own, content to watch Jax. He was so handsome, and ruthless, and generous, and manipulative, and thoughtful. Her subconscious battled over Jax’s personality traits until she realized the futility of her efforts. Even if she did WANT Jax, her heart was taken. FlyGuy had it, lock and key. She approached the railing, barely brushing up against Jax, but the slight contact was enough to startle him out of his reverie, but not Brenda.

She stared out at the city and realized how many people were out there, how many people were in the world, and couldn’t help but think that she may never meet FlyGuy. "We might not even get along in person. What if he hates what he sees, or what he hears. Why am I wasting my time and my heart with him," her thoughts interrupted one another. "so I can waste my body with Jax?" She wanted Jax. She freely admitted it; well, not too freely. Not to him. And he wanted her, didn’t he?

"Yes." She jumped at his reply, fearing that on top of his many talents, he was a psychic, too.

"Wh, what?" He turned toward her, leaning back against the railing.

"You said: Isn’t it so beautiful?’ And I said yes.’" Brenda shivered and he slid his tuxedo jacket around her. Her senses were sent reeling as they were suddenly bombarded with Jax: his heat, his smell. She was so confused.

"Isn’t what so beautiful?"

"Well, I suppose you were talking about the view, the city, but I-" Brenda tilted her head up, meeting his gaze, her voiced low and hushed.

"You were what?" His hand trailed up her neck, fingers tangling in her hair, thumb stroking her bottom lip, as he had that first night in the kitchen.

"I was talking about you." With every ounce of self-control spent, Jax’s hungry mouth descended upon Brenda’s swallowing the moans that escaped from deep within her. Both were fully aware of their own, and one another’s desire, and as Jax’s lips burned a path down Brenda’s jawline and neck, she sent his senses spiraling out of control as he felt her breath, hot against his ear.

"Jax." He heard his name escaping her mouth in a husky whisper, and Jax’s entire world shifted. He tore his mouth away from her skin, only to re-unite his lips with hers, until finally breaking the kiss, leaving the air heavy with desire.

"Brenda." He cleared his throat, unable to resist trailing his thumb upon her swollen lips. "Brenda. Marry me."

(Background Photo courtesy of: http://www.compassnet.com/kirk/nthous.gif)

(Song credit: Fever by Madonna, from the album, Erotica)