CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

Sonny felt Alexis's body relax against him as he'd talked, and was so in sync with her in the moment that he felt the very moment when she actually drifted off into sleep. His body tightened as he felt hers slowly melt against his. As her breathing softened, Alexis' warmth seemed to spread out and surround him, wrapping him in a blanket of sweetness that caused Sonny to smile up into the semi-darkness of the room, feeling oddly at peace with himself. The half-ache of desire that had sprung up when they had lain down together had ebbed away, to be replaced with a surprising sense of completeness instead.

Even though he knew she could no longer hear him - and Sonny smiled to himself because maybe it was exactly for that very same reason - Sonny continued to speak. His voice was soft, not wanting to wake her, telling the story now as much as for himself as he was for her.

"You know, we wasted so much time dancing around each other, but it was all worth it because it all led to today, Alexis. Today - this week – really, was the first dance of the beginning of the rest of our lives. And that's a promise, Alexis. I don't care how long it takes. This time, the dance is going to last forever." Sonny paused, an odd feeling coming over him. It was a moment before he recognized it for what it was. He was afraid. Him - Sonny Corinthos – afraid. Well, the old him had been afraid; he knew that now. Afraid of the strength of the feelings between them. But he wasn't afraid anymore. This Sonny, with this woman in his arms had found something he had thought was lost forever. There wasn't any reason to be afraid of what he had thought he had felt then, and what he knew he felt now. Keeping his voice low, Sonny spoke into the dark of the room, tasting the words on his lips, believing Alexis wasn't ready to hear them, but needing to say them anyway.

"I love you, Alexis. I didn't know it, even when I was falling for you, because I had never fallen like that before. It wasn't the hot rush of passion that I was used to feeling, and it wasn't a thunderbolt out of the blue. It just kinda slipped up on me when I wasn't looking and scared the hell out of me. To cover that I lied to you, to myself and everyone else when I let you walk away the last time. And every time I saw you after that, I let that lie live itself out."

He shook his head slightly. "If I had only known how much pain that lie ended up costing us both. I know it now, though. Enough to know a second chance when it's staring us in the face. And this time around – no more lies, Alexis. I'm gonna step up, just like you want. I'm gonna love you and keep on loving you as long as you let me."

Sonny shifted just enough to brush his lips along the top of her head again, afraid to do more in fear of waking her. The feel of the heavy silk of her hair against his lips was enough for now. "And I'm hoping that will be for the rest of our lives." He whispered.

With that promise in his heart, Sonny closed his eyes and followed her into his dreams.

**

I know that both Alexis and Sonny have the best of intentions. I can't argue with their logic. Take to dance slow this time, don't push things. Be careful and be sure.

But whoever said I was logical?

There are times when logical is overrated. And this might be one of them.

Logical would be that technically at least, Alexis was still a married woman. And even if it was Ric that was involved, that might leave Sonny with some qualms about taking things further with Alexis. Not that I expect him to admit it, whether to Alexis or himself, but Sonny has a huge possessive streak in him and while it might be a tad warped, he does have a sense of honor.

By all the gods, did I just refer to Sonny's code?

Heavens forbid. Especially when there were much better things about Sonny to have on the brain. Especially right now, with him being so close and the rest of the world being so far away…

Drawn to the warmth like a moth to a flame, she let her body shift itself until she was face to face with him. It was a pleasure to be able to look at him, to drink in the sheer handsomeness, the maleness of him, without his being aware.

I could see the vulnerability in him now. It was there, along with the peace that I knew eluded him so often. The cares and the stresses of the life he lived back in Port Charles were momentarily erased from his face. Combined, it was a powerful aphrodisiac, and one I wasn't sure I could resist.

Or that I wanted to.

I should probably close my eyes and let us get some much needed rest. It had, after all, been a day full of surprises and revelations. But then again, doing what we were 'supposed' to do was what had caused too many problems in the past. Ric being chief and foremost on the list.

My eyes traveled over the man before me. Ric who?

The sight of him oh so close was wreaking havoc with our memories, blurring the distinction between Alexis' and my own. But what was very clear was the level of desire. Crystal, in fact.

Without thinking, she watched as her hand came up slowly to brush softly against a lock of ebon hair that had fallen across his brow. From there, her fingers traced a line down the side of his face. Each touch drew her to another one, so that before she knew it, her palm was curving to fit itself to the firm curve of his jaw.

And with every moment that passed with this deceptively simple touch, I could feel the desire beginning to blossom in me. In this moment, this space of time, Alexis' memories were my own. Every memory that she had had of the night they had made love, every treacherous fantasy that had followed, all of it had combined to force the truth to the surface. I let my hand slip down to cover his heart. And it all became clear.

That she – we – loved Sonny Corinthos. That she, Alexis, had never stopped loving him. And that maybe – just maybe – I finally understood why.