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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Chapter Ninety Three
Bouquet.
Cookie stands at the top of the stairs looking at the gathered single women below. She watched as Johnny had practically dragged Emily from the back terrace. Johnny was on one side of the room his arm crossed in front of him and not looking happy. Instead he was trading glares at the back of Emily's head to the terrace doors. Cook glances back to the terrace doors and her eyes narrow as she sees Nikolas Cassadine coming back into the room alone. Emily looks over her shoulder briefly at Nik and smiles waving at him then turns back around. Johnny glares at Nik. Nikolas glares at Johnny. Edward who had been glaring at Johnny follows his gaze and sees Nikolas. He groans in dismay. Cookie smiles and turns around with her back to the railing. "Lord, guide my hand. The old goat needs the distraction." Taking a deep breath she smoothly tosses the bouquet to the throng gathered below. Evidently the Lord also felt that Edward needed the distraction as well... the bouquet falls softly and smoothly into Emily's hands with nary a bloom out of place.
Nikolas grins and applauds, Johnny groans and Edward bellows. "Over my dead body!" Edward marches into the throng of congratulating women and rips the bouquet out of Emily's hands and thrusts it at Amy Vining. "Start working out. I expected better reflexes from you." Edward grabs Emily's hand and looks up at Cookie. He shakes a finger at her. "This is all your fault." Cookie shrugs and winks. Mission accomplished. "That's it, young lady! You're grounded until Amy Vining gets married. And that's my final word."
"You can't ground me, Grandfather!" Emily protests.
"Alan! Talk some sense into your daughter."
"I'm with Father on this one, Emily." Alan nods.
"Oh no way. You two aren't going to get away with this. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm calling Carly; she'll set you both straight." Emily stalks off.
"Harumph. I knew that Carly would be a sorry influence on that girl. Damn it, Alan. I told you boarding school-- in a convent. Until she was old enough to graduate from college but did you listen to me? NO. And now look at the fine mess you've gotten us into."
There is the sound of choking laughter behind them. Edward turns around to see Jerry. "Sorry mates, just wondering which of you was Stan and which was Ollie."
"Yuk it up, Aussie boy." Edward growls. "Carly was already grown by the time you and Bobbie started going out."
"And you think that being "grownup" has slowed down Carly any?" Jerry laughs.
Alan nods. "Okay bad example but does she have to teach Emily EVERYTHING that she knows."
"Gentlemen, count your blessings. She hasn't." Jerry slaps Alan on the back. "And I didn't want to ruin your day, Mate, but I guess it's not to late to tell you. When Carly and AJ got married-- and then Bobbie and I did too about 15 minutes later. Emily caught the bouquet both times then too. I figure the fix is in." With a jaunty whistle Jerry strides off.
Alan swallows hard and then says confidently. "Who believes this nonsense anyway? It's just a superstition. There is nothing to it."
"Right." Edward nods. "I'm doubling security." Edward finds Johnny in the crowd and glares at him for good measure. This was all his blasted mother's fault anyway. Johnny is scanning the crowd with eyes narrowed. Edward starts looking for whatever Johnny is looking for. And realizes it in a heartbeat. He roars again. "Where is he? Where is that eurotrash, Cassadine? REGINALD, BAR THE GATES!! No one gets through."
Johnny gets to the front door before Edward does. Nikolas' jag is still there. Then he hears the familiar throaty roar of a motorcycle. Emily shoots past them with Nik riding passenger. Emily waves as they pass. Nik just tucks himself more closely to Emily wrapping his arms around her as Emily smoothly accelerates up the drive. "Mr Morgan is not going to like this."
"Who cares what Mr Morgan likes. I don't like this. Don't just stand there... go after them. NO STRIKE THAT-- I don't want you any where near my granddaughter, Mr Wandering Eyes. I'm calling the mayor."
"What in the hell do you think the Mayor is going to do-- give her the key to the city?" Johnny snarls getting on his cell phone. "Princess is on the move. Probably on her way to Happy family. Track her at a distance. No accidents."
"Princess? You call her PRINCESS?! Is that some kind of MAFIA reference?" Edward snorts and starts to turn bright red.
"Mr Q, I suggest you loosen your tie now before it strangles you. And if you're thinking of faking a heart attack don't bother-- my CPR card has expired and I've never been known as a good samaritian." Johnny strides back into the house where his mother and JD are getting ready to leave on their honeymoon. Johnny kisses his ma and shakes JD hand. "I have to get out of here."
Cook grabs Johnny's hand and then frames his face with her hand. "Don't do anything to embarass me."
"No problem, Ma. But I make no promises about Emily; she is being stupid. I can't believe you encouraged her to hang out with Ms Benson. She was such a nice girl."
"Cookie, what is going on?" JD says to Cook and to Johnny's back as he races out of the house.
"Johnny just realized what I knew months ago... It was only a matter of time before Nikolas Cassadine started looking at Miss Emily like she was on the menu."
"She's just a kid." JD protests.
"OH please JD, don't be an idiot. She is older than I was when we hooked up. How in the hell did you raise two girls?" Cook rolls her eyes.
"I think we need to get out of here before it all hits the fan."
"Works for me." Cookie and JD sneak out not waiting around for the flung birdseed. JD groans when he sees his decorated car. Rita and Lucas had evidently bonded long enough to be creative.
On the road to the Happy Family house
Nik glances back over his shoulder and makes the tail that Johnny had put on them. He communicates the information to Emily through the intercom in their helmets. She nods an acknowledgement and tells him to hold on. Accelerating swiftly she puts to the test all of the lessons she learned at the driving school. Treating the tail like terrorists she quickly loses them. Nik starts to breathe again as Emily's driving returns to the legal speed limits. "Where to?" Emily asks. "It looks like Carly's is out; they'll be expecting me there."
"Who do you think it was?" Nik asks curiously.
Emily shrugs. "Grandfather's security or Jason's. Probably Jason's."
"How about my place? I'd say Wyndemere but I think that Stefan would keep you after he found out that you had bested Katherine at her own game."
Emily laughs. "Your place it is."
Happy family house.
AJ takes a still steaming Carly upstairs after relieving the babysitter. Carly plays nice long enough to show Rita her room. "Carly, don't worry about me. I know what a pain Viki can be. If you want to just go scream; I'll understand perfectly."
"You are a wise child." Carly claims. "I think I'm going to do just that. Don't be surprised."
"NO offense but nothing you do surprises me." Rita pulls out the latest Grisham paperback and starts wading through it. Sure-- all the other kids were reading Goosebumps and Encyclopedia Brown but she just couldn't get into them. Carly looks at her and shakes her head.
"I'm glad you're here." Carly leaves the room and goes back to the room she shares with AJ. AJ has shed his jacket and tie. Carly walks over to him and grabs him by the shirtfront. "You know, when you said you'd hold my coat, I wasn't expecting you to throw it over my head and hustle me out of there."
"You're exaggerating."
"Okay kiss me senseless so I'm a walking zombie until we get halfway home."
AJ grins. "I did that?"
"Yeah, you did that." Carly pulls AJ to her and kisses him with all she's worth. Returning the favor for the earlier distraction. AJ reaches around her and smoothly unzips the bridesmaid dress.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you looked today? Walking down that aisle, all I could see was you." AJ's runs his fingers through Carly's hair messing it up, pulling pins out until it falls to her shoulders. AJ brushes the straps of the gown from Carly's shoulders and kisses the the exposed collarbone. He brushes back her hair and nibbles on the side of her neck making his way to the spot just below her ear that sends a shudder down her spine.
"It's not fair." Carly moans. "You play me like a fiddle." She fumbles with the buttons on AJ's shirt and finally bunches it the fists of her hand and pulls until the shirt comes free of AJ she slides it down his arms teasing him just a little as the sleeves get hung up at his elbows. "I've got you now." The door bell rings. "OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! GO AWAY!" The door bell rings again.
AJ shrugs back into his shirt not bothering to button it or tuck it in. "It's someone with the code to the front gate." He says apologetically.
Carly quietly screams. "I'm taking a shower-- a cold one!" She stalks to the bathroom pausing at the doorway to allow the dress to puddle to the floor. She stands there momentarily dressed only in a merry widow with stockings attached, letting AJ know exactly what he is missing. The door bell rings again this time impatiently as the person leans on the bell.
"DAMN." AJ goes back down the stairs and then checking the monitor throws open the door. "This had better be good."
"Is Emily here?" Johnny asks impatiently.
"No." AJ grows concerned. "What happened?"
"She left the party with Nik Cassadine on her motorcycle. She lost her tail."
"Do you think she's in danger?" AJ asks quietly.
"Not of getting shot." Johnny says grimly.
"She's not here." Johnny turns away from the door. "Johnny," Johnny pauses not turning around. "Call us if there is a problem."
"Right." Johnny strides away climbing into the waiting car. "Brenda Barrett's old place." He instructs the driver.
A little cottage in the woods.
The silence is broken with the roar of the motorcycle. Emily pulls up to the front door and shuts off the bike. Nik climbs off and Emily sets the kick stand. She pulls off her helmet running her fingers through her hair to get it over being bunched up.
"Come on in." Nik invites.
"Sure." Emily climbs off the bike and walks into Nik's lair. Her leather pants fit her closely following every curve. As she walks into the house she unzips her jacket. Underneath it she wears only a close fitting black ribbed tanktop. Emily hangs her coat on the base of the stairs. The Leathers might save her from road rash someday if she dumped the bike but damn they were hot. Nik takes in Emily's changed appearence from perfect princess dressed in the deepest darkest shade of pink he'd ever seen to a black leather clad motorcycle mama quicker than superman in a phone booth. "Thanks for the rescue tonight."
Nik laughs. "I was just along for the ride. You seemed to have everything under control. Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine maybe."
Emily is momentarily tempted. "Something soft. Since I had that problem with drugs I'm not suppose to have alcohol. Too easy to cross addict."
"Damn. I should have known that." Nik says regretfully.
"It's not big deal. I could have just as easily said I was driving." Emily reassures Nik. She quirks her head at Nik and smiles a small secret smile. Something had changed. This was the first time that Nik had ever offered her wine. Her smile fades as she remembers her time in Italy. Everyone drank over there. Age had nothing to do with it. "Why don't I pick out some music? While you get the drinks."
Nik shrugs, "My house is your house."
Emily goes flipping through the cd's and speaks up so that Nik can hear her in the kitchen. "It always kills me when I hear that. It's just not the Quartermaine way. Alan gave Monica the mansion. And the first thing that AJ did when he was wooing Carly was buy her a house. Even before he kidnapped her and Michael."
"It sounds as if it is exactly the Quartermaine way then. And it sounds as if kidnapping is a Quartermaine tradition as well something our families have in common." Nik says from right behind Emily, startling her with his nearness.
Emily reaches for an offered glass. "Perhaps. But we definitely don't have the roll over and play dead thing down. That's more a Spencer/Cassadine thing."
Nik winces. "That remark alone would have my father rolling over and playing dead. The way you mentioned Spencer Cassadine in one breath. He might have made a semblence of peace with everyone in the family save Luke but it's still a reflexive flinch."
"You've got it too." Emily teases. "Spencer/ Cassadine." She laughs as sure enough Nik flinches. "Spencer..." Nik stops her mouth with his. Emily's eyes close as she gives over to the moment. Her hands slide up Nik's arms and around his neck pressing herself closer to him. Nik's arms circle her waist. One hand moves up the middle of her back confirming what his eyes had told him earlier-- Em wasn't wearing a bra. He groans. Sliding his hands back down, he kneads the supple leather covering her lean flanks. Lifting her up, Emily wraps her legs around him. She greedily runs her fingers through his dark hair planting kisses along his face. Nik carries her over to the nearest flat surface and lays her out for his perusal. (it's a couch sorry but at least it's a DIFFERENT couch) Nik runs the back of his hand over her face. Emily presses up against it, kissing the back of his hand. Running his thumb across her swollen lower lip, Emily takes his thumb in her mouth and laves it gentley with her tongue. Her eyes meet his.
"Do you have any idea what you do to me?"
"Do you have any idea what you have been doing to me for months?" Emily takes a hold of Nik's shoulder and uses it to leverage herself to a half reclining position she pulls Niks head down to her and begins to whisper in his ear all the things that she had dreamed of him doing to her. "I was singing to you today. Couldn't you tell? You're still the one, Nik. The only one I dream of. Still the one." Emily starts unbuttoning his shirt trailing kisses and her hands down his lean and muscular frame. Nik laughs as he swears he hears her starting to purr. He grabs both of her hand in one and holds them over her head. Emily twines her fingers together and arches her back her head falling back over the arm of the couch. Nik runs his hands down her frame and grabbing the edge of her shirt eases his hands under it and pulls it over her head tossing the shirt to the coffee table beside them. He trails kisses over her breasts glorying in her moans. He reaches to the buttons of her leathers and starts unbuttoning them one by one. He groans as his his fingers fell the whisp of satin panties beneath the leather.
"You're trying to kill me aren't you?" Emily raises her hips.
"I love the feel of leather and satin, but I think I'd like to wear you instead." Nik's eyes darken. He slides down further on the couch working on getting Emily out of her leathers. Emily laughs and groans at the same time. "The boots. They have to come off first."
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Right under your nose." Emily reaches up and bites Nik playfully on the jaw. Nik rises and turns around bent on getting Emily out of her boots as soon as possible. This torment had gone on long enough. The sound of the door being forced open by a kick throws water on the couple. Nik stands in front of Em but Johnny takes in at a glance the seduction before him.
"Get dressed, Emily. You're leaving." Johnny says flatly.
Emily reaches for her shirt and slides it on over her head. "You can't do this."
"I just did."
"This is MY choice; Jason won't thank you or reward for this."
"And it'll be MY choice to blow Casanova's balls off if you don't get your ass out to the car." Johnny snarls cocking his pistol.
"You can't talk to me that way." Emily hollars back even as she buttons up her leathers.
"What are you going to do? Tell YOUR mother or MINE? My mother knows where I am; does yours, little girl?" Emily stalks out from behind a shocked Nikolas. Johnny throws Emily's coat at her. "Wait in the car."
"You lay a finger on him..."
"Oh he and I are just going to have a little chat. But don't make threats, little girl, that you can't follow up on. Know this-- if you aren't in the car waiting; I'll be right back in here and they won't be able to find all the pieces. Am I making myself clear?"
"Crystal." Emily's eyes flash in fury and frustration. She looks back at Nik and mouths a soft "Sorry." Then goes out to the car.
Johnny focuses his gaze on Nik. "I knew you were going to be trouble at the wedding. Let me make it perfectly clear. She's a LITTLE GIRL. I catch you sniffing around her again and there won't be any threats or warning."
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
"A guy that should be in jail for nailing jailbait. I don't give a rats rear who you are, Casanova. She's off limits. Play your games with broads old enough to know the score." Johnny uncocks the pistol allowing it to fall to his side. "I'm taking her home to her mama. You can pick up the jag when you return her cycle." Johnny stalks from the cottage and into the back of the waiting car where Emily already sits.
"I HATE YOU! How could you embarass me like that?" Emily punches Johnny with all of her might.
Johnny grabs Emily by the back of the head and pulls her to him. He ravishes her mouth with his leaving her breathless and bewildered. "You play with fire you get burned; you understand, little girl?" Emily pulls away her hand going to her mouth. Her other hand forms a fist. "You gonna try to hit me again, Little Girl?" Johnny looks at Emily with narrowed eyes.
"NO. But I WILL get you for this." Emily settles back into car seat and stares out the window, wondering what the hell was going on with her life.