Courtney Matthews slid onto the stool and called to the bartender, Jake, whom the bar was named after.

“Hey, Jake,” Courtney called. “Have you seen the squirt?”

Jake, a pretty woman who always thought that Courtney and her younger half sister Elizabeth Webber didn’t belong in her bar, nodded. “She’s in the back, hustling some of my regulars at pool.”

Courtney grinned. “Give me a bottle of Killians.” Jake set the bottle in front of her.

“You should take her to go hang out at Club 101 more,” Jake told her. “You know if anything happened to her here, Sonny would have my head.”

“Sonny doesn’t even know we come here,” Courtney confided in the other woman with a smirk. She grabbed the bottle and walked away.

Elizabeth was surrounded by men as she played the game. Though she was the youngest person by far in the bar at only nineteen, Jake let her in anyway and would only serve her club soda.

Elizabeth and Courtney didn’t look alike in the slightest due to their different mothers. Courtney took after her blonde mother Janine while Elizabeth resembled her dark-haired mother Adela. Adela had put Elizabeth up for adoption shortly after her birth, fearing her abusive husband and Elizabeth hadn’t found her brother or sister until about a year ago.

She’d settled into Port Charles just fine and she was now a regular at the dive near the docks, despite Jake’s irritation at the idea.

“You’re late,” Elizabeth murmured, leaning over the table. The second she leaned over in her short leather skirt, every guy’s gaze either dropped to her ass or to the cleavage she was showing in the tight low cut tank top.

“Traffic,” Courtney replied. “Stealing their money again?”

“I’m winning fair and square,” Elizabeth complained, making her last shot and sinking it. She straightened and smiled brightly at the men around her. “I believe that’s the game gentlemen. Pay up.”

Later after Elizabeth had collected her generous winning, the sisters congregated at a table in the back. “So guess who came home just as I left,” Courtney told her sister.

“Who?” Elizabeth asked, her blue eyes scanning the bar for another sucker to take money from.

“Jason Morgan.”

Elizabeth tilted her head to the site. “Jason Morgan. As in Michael’s right hand man?”

“That’s right,” Courtney replied. “He left town about a year before you showed up so you’ve never met. Well, he’s only the sexiest man I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Tell me more,” Elizabeth replied, immediately interested.

“He’s tall–would probably tower over you,” Courtney began, “and he always wears jeans and t-shirts with this awesome leather jacket. Totally the stereotypical bad boy.”

“And let me guess, you’ve slept with him.”

Courtney pouted. “Not yet, but it’s not for lack of trying.” She grinned. “But this is the first time he’s been home in over two years. I think it’s time I finally landed him.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Not before I do.”

“Oh? What makes you think he’d go for you?” Courtney asked. “You’re just as much Sonny’s sister as I am.”

“Well, yeah, but Jason has known you as Sonny’s sister. He’s never met me.” Elizabeth grinned. “You know most guys can’t resist me.”

“You mean my leftovers,” Courtney remarked scornfully. “Jason’s not one of the losers you meet here. He’s a real man and he needs a real woman.”

“And he’s already turned you down more than once,” Elizabeth reminded her. “What makes you think this time is going to be different?”

“Fine, if you think you can get him before I can, then let’s make it interesting. I bet you five hundred bucks that I sleep with him first.”

“You’re on,” Elizabeth accepted.

“Be prepared to lose, Lizzie, dear,” Courtney smirked.

“Haven’t you learned yet…I never lose,” Elizabeth replied saucily.

—

“So, she’s your half-sister?”

Sonny Corinthos nodded and poured his friend a drink. “Here. Yeah, she showed up about a year. She’d just turned eighteen and was released from the foster system so she dug around a little, found out that Adela was her mother and from there, she found me.”

Jason Morgan tipped back the drink. “How do she and Courtney get along?”

“Better than you might think. They’re always getting into some type of trouble. I swear, neither one of them has any taste in men.”

“So, what’s the reason you called me home?” Jason asked, getting down to the heart of the matter.

“It’s Elizabeth,” Sonny told him. “She accidentally met up with Sorel’s son, Joey, Jr. a few weeks ago and she broke up with him almost immediately. He’s been calling her and following her around. The little shit isn’t taking no for an answer.”

“And you can’t knock him off because of the deal you made with Sorel last year,” Jason said.

“Yeah. And Joey ain’t listening to any of the regular men so I figured you could just keep an eye on her. Your reputation is a bit more extreme then her usual guards, so…” he sighed. “I know it’s not one of your regular things and I really didn’t want to ask you but–”

“It’s no big deal, Sonny,” Jason replied. “She’s your sister. Some jerk is bothering her–of course you’re gonna pull out all the stops to keep her safe.”

“Well…Elizabeth doesn’t know some of the stuff he’s been doing either,” Sonny admitted. “I didn’t want her to get scared but Joey’s stepped it up. He’s calling more, hanging around the building, send her letters and flowers. I just don’t want to take any chances.”

“I understand,” Jason relied. “So, where does she usually hang out?”

“Usually, she’s at Jake’s even though she thinks I don’t know about it.

“Jake’s?” Jason repeated, surprised. “Isn’t she only nineteen?”

“Jake lets her in–she keeps an eye on her. Only serves club soda. Sometimes Courtney drops in, but that’s not really her scene. She’s more interested in Club 101.”

“So you don’t want her to know I’m keeping tabs on her right?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, I don’t want her to get alarmed about the kid.”

The door opened then and Jason turned to look. He recognized the tall blonde that entered–it’d been two years since he’d seen Courtney but she still looked the same. The petite brunette next to her must be the new addition to the family.

“Elizabeth…” Sonny frowned. “Courtney, I didn’t realize you were coming over tonight.”

“Well, I knew Jason was in town, so I just had to come and see him.” She kissed him on the cheek. “You should come home more often,” she purred.

“Yeah,” Jason remarked, discreetly stepping away from her.

“I’m Elizabeth Webber,” the brunette told him. She smiled and extended her hand. “You’re Courtney’s new favorite subject.”

He shook her hand. “Jason Morgan and tonight is the first time I’ve heard about you.”

Courtney scowled and folded her arms. “So, how long are you home for? Is it permanent?” she cooed.

“Well, that depends,” Jason replied. He met Sonny’s eyes before glancing at Elizabeth. “On a lot of things.”

—

Elizabeth sighed and hung up her leather jacket. “Michael, do you we have to have this discussion again?”

Sonny scowled from his position in her doorway. “You shouldn’t go out dressed like that,” he told her.

“What, you don’t think I look good?” Elizabeth asked, glancing at her outfit.

“You know you’re beautiful but you should wear more clothing.”

“Michael, you’re overreacting. Besides, I can take care of myself.” Elizabeth’s cell phone rang and she fished it out of her leather jacket. “Hello?”

“Hey, beautiful. You haven’t returned my calls,” Joseph Sorel, Jr’s smooth voice slowed over the line.

“Joey, don’t you have someone else to harass?” Elizabeth asked, irritated. She motioned for a glowering Sonny to leave.

“Harass? Baby, I like to think of what we do as something else.”

She sighed impatiently. “Joey, we don’t do anything. It’s over, remember?” She crossed to her door and closed it, forcing Sonny into the hallway.

“Just because your brother is Sonny–“

“This has nothing to do with Michael,” Elizabeth snapped. “It was over the second you hit me.”

“Aww….baby, I apologized for that–“

“Go away, Joey,” Elizabeth sighed. She hung up the phone and sat down on the bed with a heavy sigh.

—-

Sonny jogged down the steps and immediately headed for the mini bar. “Did Courtney go home?”

“Yeah, she said she had a shift early tomorrow.” Jason studied Sonny closely. “What’s wrong?”

“He called her again while I was upstairs,” Sonny muttered. “She shoved me out of her room and I overheard her say that he hit her.”

“What?” Jason demanded.

“I swear, if I thought I could do it without some sort of war starting with Sorel…I’d make that kid disappear,” Sonny said quietly.

“Look, he’s not going to touch her,” Jason promised him. “I’m not going to let him. And I’m sure even Sorel would understand if it eventually came to more drastic action.”

“I just wish she’d use some common sense. She knows he hangs out at Jake’s and yet she goes there anyway dressed in skimpy outfits.” Sonny shook his head. “She looks so much like my mother, you know? Why do you think she acts the way she does?”

“Who knows why anyone does what they do?” Jason asked. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Listen, I’ll get a room at Jake’s. I’ll be able to keep an eye on her better.”

“Thanks, Jason. I really appreciate this.”

Elizabeth rubbed the chalk against the top of the pool cue and smirked at the men gathered around her. “You boys sure haven’t learned your lesson yet.”

“Maybe we just like seeing you in action,” a blonde college student remarked. “I don’t mind paying twenty bucks for a show.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “As long as you lose fairly, I don’t give a damn.” She set her pool cue on the table and removed her leather jacket to reveal a tight lacy black tank top underneath. “Let’s do this.”

Across the room, Jason ordered a beer and peered over at the table. “She always got a crowd like this?” he asked Jake.

The woman nodded. “Yeah. Let me tell you, I sure am glad Sonny finally sent over some protection for her.”

“Don’t tell her,” Jason replied, sipping the beer Jake handed him. “He doesn’t want her to know.” Looking back at the pool table, he watched the petite brunette line up a shot and sink three balls in perfect succession. “Joey Jr. come around here often?”

“About once a night. She’s usually got enough men around her to take care of him. That’s why Sonny called you home? Cuz a little pest was bothering his kid sister?”

Jason’s jaw clenched as he watched Elizabeth smile victoriously at one of the men she’d just beaten. Had the little shit left a bruise when he hit her? “Sonny just likes his family safe.”

“He’s never brought you home for Courtney,” Jake observed. “And she’s had her fair share of idiot choices.”

“I think Sonny feels more responsible because Elizabeth grew up in the foster system,” Jason told her. “He feels guilty even though he didn’t know she existed.”

“He feels guilty when an earthquake hits Turkey,” Jake remarked. “He’s got an addiction to guilt.”

“Has Junior been in yet?” Jason asked.

“Nope.” As soon as the words left him mouth, Joseph Sorel, Jr. entered the bar. He looked every bit the weasel his father was–from his greasy slicked back hair to his beady little eyes. His gaze focused on Elizabeth and he started his trek across the room.

“Excuse me for a second,” Jason murmured. He slid off the stool and got across the bar to the pool table before Joey Jr. reached the pool table. He was quick to keep out of sight of Sonny’s sister.

“Hey, baby.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as she slipped a roll of bills into the back pocket of her tight black jeans. “Go away, Joey.”

“Aw, come on, don’t be like that.” Joey Jr. moved closer to her and trailed a finger down her bare shoulder.

“I said go away,” Elizabeth snapped.

“The lady said to leave,” her blonde admirer barked attempting to step in between them. Joey Jr. shoved him back and the side of his jacket slid away, revealing a small pistol.

Immediately, most of the crowd kind of shied away and without making a fuss, left the two alone.

“What are you doing with that?” Elizabeth asked, still unruffled. She reached for her jacket but he stopped her, wrapping his hand around her wrist and tightening it. She winced. “Joey, go away.”

“Come on, honey. You shouldn’t tease me like this.” He jerked her towards him, eliciting a squeal from her.

Jason stepped forward then, right behind Joey. “I think it would be in your best interest to let her go. Now.” His voice was quiet and low in Joey’s ear but the younger man immediately recognized the voice of Sonny’s top enforcer.

He released Elizabeth’s wrist and the brunette stepped back quickly, rubbing her hand lightly. “Sorry,” Joey Jr. muttered.

He moved past Jason and was out of the door quickly. Elizabeth smoothed her brown hair, trying to hide her shaking hands. “I suppose Michael told you about Joey,” she said softly.

“He might have mentioned something about it,” Jason admitted, leaning against the pool table. “He was a little worried about you.” He tilted his head to the side and his blue eyes filled with amusement. “You call him Michael?”

“Yes. Sonny is a ridiculous name and well…it’s what our mother named him,” Elizabeth remarked. She slid her jacket on. “So did he send you here or are you here in your own?”

“I always rent a room when I’m in town,” Jason told her.

“So, tell me the truth,” Elizabeth said, moving in front him and sliding her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “Am I always just going to be Sonny’s sister to you?”

He shrugged. “You are his sister.”

“Yeah, but I’m only his half-sister,” Elizabeth reminded him. “And there was a whole eighteen years where I wasn’t even that.”

“What does it matter?” he asked.

“Well, I’ve only lived here for a year and so far, thanks to Michael, I haven’t made a lot of friends.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Jason remarked. Without intending to, his eyes swept up and down her lithe form.

“I’m not interested in those types of friendships,” Elizabeth said, coolly. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glared at him. “I may be close to Courtney but none of her traits have rubbed off on me.”

“I sure hope not. She’s a nice girl but I know Sonny worries about her,” Jason replied. “She’s a little….”

“She’s a slut,” Elizabeth filled in easily. “And that’s by her own description.” She smiled slowly. “In fact, Courtney claims that’s she bedded every eligible man in town. Except for one.”

“I have no interest in making that list,” he told her. “She’s more Sonny’s sister than you are.”

“Well, that’s definitely good to hear,” she replied. “So…what’s it gonna be? Sonny’s sister or just plain old Elizabeth?”

He smiled slowly, sending tiny little shivers up and down her spine. “I don’t think anyone could call you plain.”

“Well, that’s certainly the answer I was hoping for,” she laughed.

—-

“Come on, Sonny,” Courtney whined. She set his coffee down in front of him. “Just tell me if Jason’s staying at Jake’s again.”

Sonny sighed. “Look, I know what you’ve been trying to do every time he’s in town and I’d appreciate if you’d lay off of him. Hasn’t he turned you down enough?”

She glared at him. “That’s hardly the way you should talk to your sister.”

“Well if my sister had any self-respect–”

“I’m sorry that I’m not your perfect sister Elizabeth but damn it, Sonny, I’ve done exactly what you’ve asked. I’ve been nice to her, I’ve treated like she was my own sister but if you’re going to compare me to her again, so help me God, I’ll smack you.” She slapped the counter. “Now I’m sick of being treated as inferior.”

Sonny sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to do it.”

“It doesn’t seem to stop you any,” she said nastily. “If you’ll excuse me, Penny will ring you up.”

She moved away to serve a new customer.

—-

“He put another hand on her?” Sonny demanded. “That son of bitch, I’m going to kill him!”

“Sonny, it’s okay,” Jason told her. He closed the door to Sonny’s office. “I took care of it and she’s fine. I’m gonna pay Joey Jr. a visit tonight and make sure he knows that if he touches or goes near her again…” he trailed off. “It’s going to be over soon.”

“Courtney’s pressing me on details for where you’re staying,” Sonny told him, changing the subject. “I haven’t told her because quite frankly, I’m trying to keep you from making that list.”

“Even if she knew I was at Jake’s, nothing would happen,” Jason promised him. “She’s your sister.”

Sonny waved him away. “That has nothing to do with it. You’re a good man–and if I thought she really cared about you and that you cared about her–it wouldn’t matter to me. Either one of my sisters would be lucky to be involved with you.”

“Well, thanks…” Jason paused. “I think.”

“But she’s just going to add another name,” Sonny told him. “You’re somewhat of a challenge now, I guess.” He sighed and sat down. “I wish she was more like Elizabeth. I mean, she’s made bad mistakes, but she hasn’t slept with half the town either. Elizabeth’s a good girl–she’d make anyone happy.”

“I think the incident with Joey Jr. is going to help her straighten out,” Jason told her. “But if you want, I’ll keep an eye on her anyway.”

“Nah. I’m not going to shove that on you. As soon as you’re sure he’s not a threat anymore, don’t worry about it. I’ll assign her a guard.”

Jason put his hands on his hips. “It’s not…I…Well, I asked her out.”

Sonny frowned. “What’s that?”

“Elizabeth. I asked her out.”

The corners of his boss’s mouth started to twitch. “You mean to tell me that you’re going on anactual date?”

“Why is that so funny?” Jason demanded defensively. “We were at Jake’s and she was arguing with me about Eli’s ribs being better than Kelly’s so…” he shrugged. “I thought it wouldn’t bother you.”

“Well, before it was an abstract idea.” Sonny folded his arms across his chest. “You know Courtney’s not going to be happy about this.”

“Why should I give a damn about what she thinks? I’ve never led her on for a moment,” Jason replied.

“I know. But I’m worried about Courtney’s relationship with Elizabeth. They’re close. A lot of people don’t realize it, but they’re extremely close. They call each other sisters even though they’re not blood related.”

“I’ll talk to Elizabeth about it but it’s not like it’s anything serious. We’re just going out to settle a bet,” Jason told him. “If it turns out to be a thing, we’ll handle it.”

“A thing?” Sonny questioned. “Like if one date turns into two or three?”

“Yeah. If it goes that way, then I guess I’ll think about the impact. But I don’t think it’s going to be a problem, Sonny. I really don’t.”

—

“Could you…do you want to tell me that again?”

Elizabeth slid open her closet door and started sifting through her clothes. “Jason’s taking me out tonight. So…I think that’s Webber: One and Matthews: Zero, eh?”

Courtney glared at her sister’s back. “How is that possible? You’ve known him two days! How’d you get further in two days than I’ve gotten in four years?”

“I think it has something to do with the fact that you were only seventeen when you tried to seduce him the first time,” Elizabeth murmured. She pulled out a black leather skirt. She shook her head and hung it back up. “I think I’m gonna go with this cute dress I got at Wyndhams last week.”

“You haven’t won this yet, Elizabeth,” Courtney warned her. “You have to do the deed.”

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Elizabeth mused. “I mean…he’s a man. They usually only want one thing.”

“If he were interested in just one thing, I would have gotten him ages ago,” Courtney told her. “He’s not. He’s different.”

“Courtney–”

“I’m serious, honey. He’s different. You’re not going to get him in bed on the first date,” Courtney said.

“Maybe not,” Elizabeth allowed, “but I’m certainly going to have fun trying.”

Courtney flopped down on the penthouse couch, glaring at her sister as Elizabeth pulled her leather jacket on over her black leather pants and white lacy tank top. “I still don’t understand how you managed to get to a point in one night that I couldn’t do in four years.”

Elizabeth fluffed her hair a little and smiled winningly at her sister. “I’m just good that way I guess,” she preened. She checked the clock on her brother’s desk. “Are you gonna just sit there while he picks me up?”

“Yes, because I want to make sure you’re not making this up,” the blonde remarked scathingly. As if on cue, they heard a knock on the door. Elizabeth pulled the door open and grinned.

“Hey, Jason.”

“Hey, you ready?” he asked.

Courtney stood quickly. “Jason,” she said before the two could leave. “I wanted to thank you for taking care of the Joey Jr. thing.”

“No problem” Jason replied. He glanced back at the brunette. “Ready?”

“Let’s go. See ya, Court.”

After the door was closed, Courtney narrowed her eyes and grabbed her own jacket. She had some serious rethinking to do with this plan. The only thing she could be sure of was that even if Jason did want to do more with Elizabeth tonight, the brunette would almost certainly hold off. Courtney knew her sister very well–she wasn’t the first date type either.

She still had time.

—

As the waitress placed the plate piled with ribs in the middle of the table, Elizabeth spread a napkin over her lap and grinned at him. “Prepare to be blown away.”

He shook his head. “No way they’re better than Kelly’s.”

She picked up one of them and bit into it, smearing some of the sauce around her mouth. Jason stared at her for a moment, a little surprised. Most of the women he’d been out with would not have done that–and even if they had, they would have hurried to wipe it off.

Elizabeth frowned when he didn’t bite into his own. She set her rib down and reached for another napkin while licking some of the sauce from her thumb. “Problem?”

“No. Nothing,” Jason said before biting into his food. He chewed slowly and swallowed. “They’re not bad.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. They’re so much better than Kelly’s. Just admit it.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

Elizabeth laughed. “You’re nuts, I swear. These are way better.” She picked up her soda and gulped it. “God, some men just don’t want to be wrong.”

“It’s a matter of opinion,” Jason argued good-naturedly. “You like Eli’s, I like Kelly’s.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re still wrong though.”

—

After they’d polished off the plate of ribs, they left the restaurant and headed around the corner where Jason had parked his bike.

“So, final analysis?” Elizabeth asked, swinging in front of him and blocking his path to the bike.

He grinned. “They’re passable.”

She groaned. “After an hour and half of eating those things, you can’t come up with anything? Courtney was right–you are a man of few words.”

“I prefer actions to words,” Jason replied. He hesitated. “The other night at Jake’s…”

Elizabeth sighed. “Yeah, what about it?”

“I was there because Sonny wanted me to keep an eye on you,” Jason admitted. “I just thought you should know that.”

“So when I asked you if my brother sent you and you said you always rent a room there…that was a lie?” she asked, a little irritated. “And what’s tonight? A follow-up assignment?”

“I do rent a room at Jake’s,” Jason corrected. “And tonight has nothing to do with your brother.”

Elizabeth shrugged and looked away. “What’d he tell you? That he’d been following me around? Leaving messages on my voicemail?”

“He was also hanging around the building and sending flowers,” Jason informed her. “Sonny didn’t tell you that.”

She pursed her lips. “Well, Michael will certainly be hearing about that from me. It’s my life and if I wanted a guard, I’d have one. But I can take care of myself. I don’t need anyone.”

“Sonny doesn’t think you can’t take care of yourself,” Jason protested. “He just wants you safe from jerks like Joey Sorel.”

“He’d also like me to dress like I was twelve and stop going to Jake’s,” Elizabeth remarked, “but that’s not going to happen either.”

“You deserve better,” Jason argued.

“How the hell would you know?” she demanded. “You’ve known me for all of two days.”

“Because any woman deserves better than some asshole who thinks it’s okay to hit them,” Jason retorted.

Elizabeth pale and moved back, brushing up against the bike. “H-how did you know about that?”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “Sonny overheard you on the phone with him.”

She swore under her breath. “I am going to kill him,” she muttered. “He had no right to eavesdrop–”

“And Joey Jr. was lucky I didn’t break his hand off,” Jason cut in hotly. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you go out with him in the first place?”

“It’s none of your damn business,” Elizabeth retorted. “He hit me, I kicked him and it was over. I didn’t go back to him–I’m not some little helpless female who stays in an abusive relationship because I think he’ll change. I went out with him twice and when I wouldn’t sleep with him, he backhanded me across the face.”

Jason narrowed his eyes and his face was flushed. “He did it because you wouldn’t sleep with him?” he repeated.

“You know what? This is none of your business,” Elizabeth replied, scathingly. Damn this. Damn the bet and damn Courtney. “Take me home.”

“Elizabeth–”

“Never mind,” she snapped, “I’ll walk.” She turned to the side and stalked towards the corner. He followed her and grabbed her by the elbow, spinning her to face him.

“Wait just a damn minute,” he muttered. He grabbed her wrists to keep her from hitting him and swore as they struggled. “Why are you being so defensive?”

“Why are you being so nosy?” she demanded.

“Because…” Jason hesitated. Why was he digging into this? Joey had gotten the message–he wasn’t going to go near Elizabeth again. Sonny had dropped the whole subject. It was over as far as his boss was concerned.

“Because I don’t understand why you’d go out with someone like him in the first place,” he responded finally. “You deserve so much better.”

“And I’ll ask you again…how would you know what I deserve?” she asked softly. She peered up at him, a little confused by his demeanor.

He kept his grip on her wrists but switched them to one hand while using the other to touch her cheek. “Because I know how I’d treat you.”

She licked her lips nervously–she could deal with a guy being attracted to her–wanting to touch her and all that, but this was different. Jason wasn’t like the losers from the bar.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” Elizabeth breathed, her eyes searching his.

“Do you want me to?”

She nodded tremulously. “Yeah.” He let her wrists go and cradled her face with his hands before pressing his firm lips against her soft ones. She parted her lips immediately, thrusting her tongue into his mouth. Her fingers dug into his short blonde hair as she pressed herself against him.

Unprepared for sudden sharp lust that pierced through him, Jason broke the kiss abruptly, leaving them both breathless and a little dazed.

“Yeah…I think this is going to be a thing,” he managed to say.

Elizabeth blinked and licked her lips again, tasting him on them. Yeah…so this bet with Courtney had taken on a life of itself, she mused. She wanted him–more than she wanted to win some stupid bet.

Maybe it was time to have a talk with her sister.

“I should take you home,” Jason said after a moment of strained silence. After only a brief hesitation, he asked, “When can I see you again?”

“Tomorrow,” Elizabeth responded instantly. She had a feeling they both knew if she’d said something different–something along the lines of “right now” they could have been back in his room at Jake’s in ten minutes flat. But Jason wasn’t looking for an easy lay and she was no longer looking to win a bet.

The stakes had definitely been raised.

—

Around the corner, Courtney glared in the direction of her sister and her date as they got onto Jason’s bike and drove off. “Son of a bitch,” she muttered, expecting to see Jason take the turn towards Jake’s. But at the red light, he turned towards the Towers and Courtney grinned.

—

The next morning, Elizabeth woke up early and grabbed the first pair of pants of shirt she saw. After shoving her feet into a pair of sneakers, she was out of the penthouse, darting past a surprised Sonny.

She knocked briskly on her sister’s apartment door a few times. It was nearly ten now and Courtney was almost always up by now.

She heard a shuffling sound and turned to see Courtney emerging from around the corner, near the elevators. Her shirt was rumpled and her hair was messy. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “What happened to you?”

“An eventful night,” Courtney smirked, pulling her keys out of her purse and unlocking her door. Elizabeth followed her inside.

“I want to call off the bet,” Elizabeth said, closing the door. Courtney paused and looked at her oddly.

“What?”

“I want to call off the bet,” Elizabeth repeated. She ran a hand through her hair. “Something’s different with Jason, Court. He’s different, I mean. Last night–” She broke off and smiled. “I like him. And I don’t want to win a bet anymore.”

Courtney sighed and gripped the kitchen counter. “Oh…Lizzie.”

“Yeah, I know…it’s not like me and–” Elizabeth broke off abruptly, paling. “Where were you last night?”

“I went to Jake’s,” Courtney admitted. “Jason came in, we played some pool…and…”

“And what?” Elizabeth demanded, sharply. “You slept with him?”

“Look, if I’d known your feelings were different,” Courtney fumbled, “I mean, if I knew you were coming here today, I wouldn’t have–”

“Jason slept with you?” she asked painfully. Last night flashed in front of her–the way he’d touched her cheek and how he’d looked the instant before he kissed her. Had he been acting? Had he just wanted someone to sleep with? “Why last night and why not four years ago?”

“I don’t know what was different, honey. But I thought we were just playing a bet,” Courtney said, her voice pleading. “I didn’t realize–”

“No…it’s not…it’s not your fault,” Elizabeth whispered. Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s mine. I…I have to go.”

Elizabeth fled the apartment before her sister could stop her and when the door was shut, Courtney slumped onto the couch. She’d had no idea Elizabeth had developed actual feelings for Jason.

If she’d known…she never would have lied.

“Come in!” Sonny called before turning his attention back to the phone. “Yeah, just keep me updated on Junior. I’m glad his father saw fit to send him out of town but you never know with slime like him.” He saw Jason enter and held up a hand. “Thanks, Johnny. Let me know.”

He hung up the phone and frowned. “Were we supposed to meet tonight?”

Jason shook his head. “No. I, actually, I’m here to pick up Elizabeth.”

Sonny’s frown deepened. “She left half an hour ago. Dressed to go to Jake’s.” He hesitated. Now that he thought about it, his sister hadn’t looked quite right in the eyes when she’d left the penthouse. A little sad–her eyes had been slightly bloodshot. He peered at his friend. “Did something happening last night?”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “Not that I’m aware of. We went to Eli’s, decided to do something to night and then I dropped her off. Maybe…maybe we got our wires crossed and she thought we were meeting at Jake’s.”

“Didn’t you see her there though?” Sonny asked. He tilted his head to the side. “You’ve got the room there again right?”

“Yeah but I came straight from the warehouse.” He jerked a thumb towards the door. “I’m just gonna see if I can find her there. See you later, Sonny.”

“Yeah, see ya,” Sonny said. He leaned against his desk after his friend left and shook his head a little. Something was off here–he could just feel it.

—

Elizabeth shrugged her leather jacket off and tossed it over the back of a chair before taking the shot of whiskey from Zander Smith and tossing it back. “Good to see you’re back in town, Z,” she said, reaching the chalk and a pool cue.

“Good to see your fashion habits haven’t changed,” Zander quipped, taking in the tight low-cut blood red tank top paired with the almost illegal short black leather skirt and fuck-me spiked heels. “You do know that you’d look hot in actual clothes though right?”

Elizabeth snorted. “God, I swear you’re turning into Michael the longer you work for him.” She leaned over the table to rack the balls, giving many interested men a generous view of her cleavage. Zander tossed a glare in their direction and blocked their view. “So how was San Francisco?”

“Good. You wanna break?”

She did just that, sinking three balls in the first go. She moved around the table, eying her options.

“So, is there a reason you’re dressed a little more…slutty than usual?” Zander inquired.

She glared at him. “Excuse me?”

“Well, I know you, Liz. I’m one of the few friends you have in this fair city and I know your habits. You wore this exact same outfit the night after Junior smacked you around.” He narrowed his eyes. “Did he come near you?”

“No. Sonny brought Jason Morgan home to take care of it,” Elizabeth said coolly. “Jason did his job and then some.”

“Jason, huh?” Zander nodded. “He’s a good guy. The kind of guy you should date.” He frowned when Elizabeth threw her head back and started to laugh. He didn’t like the bitter sound and he touched her arm. “Liz?”

“You know, I thought so, too.” She smirked. “I even decided to become a one-man woman. He certainly seemed interested, but hey, I’m still as naïve as the day I came here, huh?”

Zander shook his head. “I don’t understand. If Jason sounded interested, he was. He doesn’t play around with women.”

“Look, I don’t really want to talk about Jason Morgan,” Elizabeth said in a clipped tone. “I don’t want to see him or even think about him so can we just move on?”

“Well, we’ll see how that goes since the man in question just walked in,” Zander said, gesturing towards the entrance where Jason was staring at them with obvious confusion.

Elizabeth whirled around and met Jason’s clear blue eyes. For a moment, she let the anger and hurt the show in her own eyes before she grabbed a stunned Zander by the shirt collar and kissed him.

Seconds later, she felt a strong elbow grasp her elbow and yank her away. Jason spun her face him. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.

Zander inserted himself between the two and shoved Jason away. “Don’t you ever lay a hand on her again,” he seethed.

Jason took a deep breath. “Okay. I shouldn’t have–” he looked past Zander to the furious brunette behind him. “What in the hell is going on, Elizabeth? I thought we were supposed to meet tonight.”

“Oh like you don’t know,” Elizabeth tossed back. “You can’t have it both ways, jackass. If you’d wanted a body in your bed last night, all you had to do was ask.”

Zander frowned and looked at her. “Elizabeth, what the–”

“You’re pissed because I didn’t bring you back here last night?” Jason asked incredulously.

“Oh don’t be so damn full of yourself. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She yanked her jacket off the chair and stalked away. Jason stared after her in bewilderment.

“Do you want to explain what the hell just happened here?” Zander asked him.

“If I knew, I’d tell you.” Jason shrugged. “We went out last night–I thought it went well and I was supposed to see her again but…” He shook his head. “I’m going after her.”

“Yeah, that would be a good idea.”

—

She was fumbling with her car keys, trying to hold the tears back until she was in the car. She heard his boots clicking over the gravel and she whirled around to confront him. “Haven’t you humiliated me enough?” she cried.

Jason shook his head. “Elizabeth, I don’t know what’s going on but–”

“You slept with my sister!” Elizabeth hissed. She glared at him. “And you have the nerve to stand there and pretend–”

“I didn’t sleep with Courtney,” Jason replied, mystified. “Where did you get that idea?”

“Don’t lie to me! She already told me!” Elizabeth turned back around and started fumbling with her keys again. “I’m surprised she didn’t laugh at her silly little sister when I asked her to call off the bet because I freaking liked you.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m so stupid–”

He grabbed her elbow and turned her around. “What bet?” Jason asked in a low voice.

Her lip trembled. “We made a bet to see who would sleep with you first. I-I m-made it before I ever met you but I liked you–I didn’t want to sleep with you because of a bet. She…she was just coming home when I went to t-tell her.”

He gripped her shoulders tightly. “I didn’t sleep with her, Elizabeth. I don’t kiss one woman and then sleep with another.”

“No, no, you had to…” Elizabeth shook her head. “Courtney wouldn’t lie to me. Not…she wouldn’t do it.”

“I don’t know about that but I never touched her–I never even saw her last night.” He took a deep breath. “Elizabeth–”

“I have to go,” she whispered. She pulled away and took a deep breath. “Please let me go.”

“Do you believe me?” he asked her intently.

“I don’t know what to believe.” She closed her eyes. “Just let me go.”

He released her shoulders and stepped back. “I didn’t sleep with her. I’ve never felt that way about Courtney. I understand–she’s your sister and you know her. You certainly have more reason to trust her than me. But I’m not lying to you, Elizabeth.”

She turned around and slipped her key into the lock. She got in the car and pealed out of the parking lot shortly after that.

—

Courtney had just put on her suede jacket to head to Club 101 for the night when Elizabeth blew inside, her eyes blazing.

“Did you lie to me?” she demanded.

Courtney stared at her. “What?”

“Did you lie to me?” Elizabeth repeated. She slammed the door shut. “I swear to God, if you lied to me, we are through.”

“Lizzie, what are you talking about?” Courtney asked carefully. She flipped her hair over the collar. “What’s wrong?”

“You told me you slept with Jason last night,” Elizabeth began. “And I believed you because though we’re not related by blood, you are my sister and I trust you. I blew off my date with him tonight but he came to Jake’s anyway.”

Courtney swallowed hard. “Lizzie, you know I love you. What happened at Jake’s?”

“He told me it didn’t happen,” Elizabeth said. Her eyes darkened. “He seemed pretty adamant about it. But he said he understood if I still believed you. He didn’t even seem mad when I told him about the bet. So I’m asking you if you lied to me.”

“Lizzie, of course I didn’t lie to you,” Courtney sighed. “Look, I don’t know why he’s denying it–”

Elizabeth stared at her. “You are lying to me aren’t you? You never touched him. He says he never even saw you last night.”

“You’re going to believe him over your own sister?” Courtney demanded.

Elizabeth’s lower lip trembled. “I can’t…I can’t believe you’d do this to me. You were supposed to love me. Supposed to be my sister. You were supposed to be my friend. Why would you lie to me?”

“Lizzie–”

“All of my life…” Elizabeth faltered, her voice broke. “I just I wanted a family that would love me. That’s all I wanted. I dreamed about having a sister. We’d be a like and she’d be older than me. Teach me about makeup and clothes and hair and boys. I wanted that my whole life and I thought…I thought I had it. How could you lie to me?”

“Lizzie, I’m so sorry,” Courtney apologized. She stepped towards her. “You know I love you. You’re my sister. I just…I didn’t realize that you cared about him. I just wanted to win a bet. I didn’t–”

“You lied to me. You broke my trust in you for a lousy bet?” Elizabeth said painfully. She shook her head. “I told you that I liked him and then you lied to me–”

“I thought you were just trying to win the bet. I didn’t realize–God, Lizzie, I’m sorry. Look, I’ll explain it to him a-and I’ll make this better–”

Elizabeth shook her head and reached behind her for the doorknob. “You can tell the truth now but it doesn’t change what you did. I don’t…I don’t know that I can ever forgive you.” She pulled the door open.

“Lizzie–”

“I have to go.”

The door slammed shut just as Courtney reached it. “Lizzie, I’m sorry!” she called anyway. She raised her voice. “Lizzie!”

She went straight to Jake’s after her confrontation with Courtney but she didn’t see Jason anywhere downstairs.

“Jake!” she called to the bartender.

The older woman sighed. “Aw, come on, Liz. Twice in one night?” She got a good look at the brunette’s bloodshot eyes and she sat up straight. “Something happen?”

Elizabeth licked her lips nervously. “Do you happen to know where Jason Morgan went?”

“Sure, honey, he’s renting room three from me upstairs–” Jake stopped talking as Elizabeth pushed away from the bar and headed for the flight of stairs to take her to the second floor.

—

He definitely hadn’t been expecting to see her again so soon but there Elizabeth
was–standing outside his room, her eyes bloodshot and her hands trembling.

“She lied to me,” Elizabeth said in a tiny voice. Recognizing the misery in her voice, he took her by the hand and drew her inside the room.

“I’m sorry,” he told her.

“I spent most of my life bouncing from place to place,” Elizabeth began in a trembling voice that strengthened as she continued. “I never had a real friend because as soon as you’d get settled in somewhere, you’d have to move and after a while, it all started to blur together.” She took a deep breath. “But when I was eighteen and I got to see my records for the first time…I found out that I had a mother. That I had a father a-and that I even had a brother.” Her eyes were glossy with tears but she kept them back. “I came here to find Michael and for the first time, I had a family. I–I had a brother and I had a sister. And this past year has been the best of my life so you have to understand that I believed Courtney because she’s my sister–”

“Elizabeth…” He took her hands in his and was a little startled to find them cold as ice. “I already told you–you had every reason to believe her and not me.”

“I just…” she sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Sisters aren’t supposed to lie to each other. They…they’re supposed to support one another and it’s not fair that I found it and lost it.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, softly. He touched her hair and then slid his fingers through it. “I know what it’s like to be disappointed in people you expected better from. And it sucks.”

“I wanted you to know that I really do like you,” Elizabeth said, changing the subject. “It wouldn’t have upset me so much otherwise.”

“Well, I like you, too,” Jason replied with a crooked grin.

“The reason I came clean with Courtney when I did is because I wanted…” She hesitated and licked her lips. Telling a guy she was sexually attracted to him was no new thing for her but it was more than this time. She was not only attracted to him physically, but mentally as well. She liked spending time with him–liked the way he smiled, and his no bullshit way of speaking.

“I planned on sleeping with you tonight and I didn’t want it feel like I was winning a bet,” Elizabeth told him bluntly.

He smirked. “Oh, you were, were you?”

She flushed. “Well…I was going to try.” She shrugged and looked away. “Would you have turned me down?”

“Well, that depends,” Jason remarked. He moved away from her and sat in one of the armchairs. “How were you planning to convince me?”

A saucy smile spread across her face and she nodded, taking the challenge. Elizabeth tugged off her leather jacket and tossed it to the side, revealing the outfit she’d been in earlier–with the almost indecent low cut tank top and barely there mini skirt.

She sashayed across the room and climbed into his lap, straddling his waist. Her breasts were almost level with his eyes but he lifted them to meet hers. “How am I doing so far?”

“Not bad,” Jason allowed. “Is that it?” he asked with amusement in his clear blue eyes.

She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Would you have turned me down?” she asked.

“Well, I don’t know. Seems to me we’re starting something here,” Jason told her. “Would sleeping together so soon be smart?”

“Why not?” Elizabeth shrugged. “Sex doesn’t to ruin anything. I like you, you like me.” She arched an eyebrow and moved her hips just…a little. “Feels like you really like me.”

“Lust is easy–comes naturally to everyone,” he told her. He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, letting his fingertips trail down her jaw line. “Sometimes it’s just about waiting for the right time.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Fair enough. But how do you know when it is?”

Jason frowned, “Elizabeth…I…you’re not a virgin are you?”

She laughed. “No. I’ve slept with some…three guys to be exact. But they were one-night stands. And I think…” she hesitated. “I think you’re looking for something more.”

“I am,” Jason confirmed. “So you’re telling me you’ve never been in a relationship before?”

“No,” Elizabeth admitted. She moved her hands from his chest and scooted back a little so she wasn’t exactly sitting on his arousal.

“That’s not something to be ashamed of,” he told her. “You’re only nineteen. I’m just not sure we should rush this.”

“No big deal.” Elizabeth tried not to feel rejected and started slide off his lap but he caught the look in her eyes and gripped her hips to make her stay still.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. He fanned his hands on her back, sliding some of his fingers underneath the stretchy fabric of her tank.

“You said we shouldn’t rush this so I was going to go…” Elizabeth hesitated. “Do you not want me to go?”

“No, I don’t.” Jason slid one of his hands down to the hem of her mini skirt, resting it just underneath. “I said we shouldn’t rush, I never said we shouldn’t do anything at all.”

That brought the sexy smile he loved back to her face and her hands returned to his chest or more exactly, his shirt. She clenched her fingers in the soft material and pulled his head to hers.

“So…what exactly are you up for?” she whispered against his lips.

Instead of answering her, he slid his hand further up the soft skin of her inner thigh, his finger tips brushing against her panties. Her breath hitched and she closed her eyes. “That’s…that’s good.”

He traced the elastic edge for a moment and watched her eyes closed, never moving her lips from against his. He could feel her shallow and fast breathing against his skin. Jason slid his fingers underneath the edge of the fabric and slid it up and down the wet slit of her core.

“Oh, God, please,” she breathed. She wiggled her hips around hoping to force him to touch her more.

“What do you want?” he asked. Elizabeth opened her eyes and glared at him.

“You’re kidding right?” she managed to say. She arched an eyebrow and moved her head away from him, breaking the contact of their lips and his fingers sliding from her center.

To his surprise, she climbed off his lap and moved backwards until she could sit on the bed. “Elizabeth?” he asked, confusion in his voice.

She crossed her legs and leaned back on her hands. “I got a few questions before we go any further.”

He grinned and slid forward. “Uh huh.”

“I figure they’re really just a formality but I tend to stick to routines. Got any diseases?”

He frowned. “No.”

“Girlfriend I should know about? Wife? Kids?”

“No, no, and no.” He stood and crossed the few between them, towering over her until he got on his knees. “How many questions are there?”

“Sometimes I make them up as I go along,” Elizabeth told him cheerfully. “Do you use protection as a rule or only when specifically asked for?”

“I use protection at all times,” he told her. “Unless specifically asked otherwise.”

“Good because I’m on the pill and I think it feels better with nothing between us.” She straightened and grinned down at him. “You should think twice about teasing me.”

“Uh huh. You done?”

“For now.”

“Good. Got any diseases?” he asked.

She glared at him. “Excuse me?”

“Hey, you get to ask, I get to ask,” he told her. “Got any diseases?”

“No.”

“Husband? Boyfriends? Kids?”

She shuddered. “God, no.”

“You don’t want kids?” he asked, a little disappointed.

“Well, sure, when I’m like twenty-five not when I’m nineteen.” She smirked. “I like my freedom and I’m just getting used to it.”

“How many kids were you thinking of?” he asked.

A wider smile curved on her lips. “At least two. So they’re not lonely.” She settled her hands around his neck and looked down at him. “Why?”

“Just curious.”

“Any more questions?”

He shook his hands and slid his hands up her smooth legs until he reached the straps of her panties. “You mind if I take these off?”

“Nope. Feel free.” She leaned back on her hands again and lifted her hips to help him. He tossed the red silk over his shoulder and spread her legs, resting one over each shoulder. “What’re you doing?”

He grinned up at her. “It’s not obvious?” he asked before he leaned his head forward and his tongue darted out to taste her.

“Um…sure,” she panted. He spread her open with his fingers and licked at her greedily before taking her clit in his mouth and sucking.

“Oh, son of a bitch!” Her body convulsed and she panted, spearing her fingers in his hair. “I can’t…you have…” Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to force some rational thought into her cloudy mind but then she felt one of his thick calloused fingers enter her wet hot channel as he nipped at her clit again. She nearly blacked out and by the time she could focus on anything, she was on the bed and he was looming over top of her, nibbling on the soft skin on her neck.

“You okay?” he murmured.

“Jason, I–” She struggled to control her breathing. “That was incredible.” She reached for the hem of his shirt but he caught her hands in his and shook his head.

“Not tonight.”

She sighed. “That no rushing thing again huh?”

Jason nodded and rolled off her. She turned on her side and propped herself up on her elbow. “So, no nookie, huh?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I just want to take things a little slow, okay?” He touched her jaw. “Besides, I want you to work things out with your sister.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to withhold sex until I talk to her, we’re going to be here a while.”

“Look, I don’t want to come between you and your sister,” he told her.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she assured him. “Courtney is the one who lied and eventually I’ll forgive her but not until I’m finished with the violent thoughts okay?”

“Okay, fair enough.” He sat up. “You wanna stay the night? I got a shirt you could probably sleep in.”

“You’re still sticking with the taking it slow?” she sighed. “Jason, come on, that doesn’t seem fair. You didn’t–”

“No, but there’s time.” Jason slid off the bed and crossed to his dresser to pull out a green t-shirt. He tossed it at her. “I like you, Elizabeth. I want this to go somewhere.”

She tugged off her tank and pulled the shirt on before shimmying out of her skirt. “Well, how am I supposed to argue with that?”

“You’re not,” he replied. He leaned one knee on the bed and kissed her hard.

“Okay, you’re really not playing fair now.”