Brenda wanted to kiss his face, his lips, his chest, his hands, every inch of him. She wanted to kiss him until she was breathless. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him forever, letting him feel her joy, her endless, aching love, the honesty of her feelings. But first she had to tell him everything in her heart. He was waiting. And he was doubting. And she couldn't have that.

Her fingers glided over his lips. "I could never say good-bye to you," she began. "Jax, I . . ."

"Wait," he said. "Before you say anything else, please don't just tell me what you think I want to hear, Brenda. "Tell me what you really feel - in here," he requested, his hand lying against her racing heart beneath the wet material of her sparkling dress. "I can take it, whatever you say," he promised her, not sure if he was speaking the truth on that subject. "I just need to know. No matter what you say to me now, no matter if you want to stay with me or leave me -- I'll still love you until the day that I die. I mean that."

Brenda surprised Jax by clamping her hand over his mouth.

"Shhh. Listen to me," she said, and he saw the love in her eyes before she even spoke the words. "I love you, Jax. I love you. If you would just shut up, and let me get a word in edgewise," she said with the carefree laughter of one stupendously happy young lady. She removed her hand and kissed him, the fire burning between them. "Everything I said to Ariel was true. I love you," she said again, and the words sounded wondrous to her. "When I first met you," she said, her voice shaking with emotions and indescribable happiness, "I thought you were so beautiful . . . well, more than handsome, really. And even gorgeous didn't seem to be adequate, so I remember thinking, 'he's just so beautiful.' And the word stuck with me. So I made up this name for you, Agent Adonis," she said with a little laugh. "And I would call you that in my head all the time. And even though you really aggravated me because you seemed incredibly bossy to me back then, I realized you were only doing your job. And you were doing it really well because I was safe, and I was never afraid of anything. But it was so hard to be around you sometimes because every time I would look at you, I would feel this powerful thing just rushing inside of me, like a dam breaking free . . ."

"Burning desire?" he suggested. "I felt it, too, Brenda, " he murmured, blue eyes caressing her while his lips brushed against hers. "Only it was more than that . . ."

"Yes!" she said, feeling that he truly knew what she was talking about, the warmth in her heart at knowing that he loved her the same way she loved him almost too beautiful to bear. "It was more than that. I think I loved you a little even back then. I never loved anybody before. But I think I loved you. And the more I was with you, the more that little bit of love grew into a whole lot of love that just had my whole world spinning and my body in a fit of hormones all the time. I wanted you in every possible way that a woman could want a man -- body, heart, and soul. I started dreaming about you and thinking about you so much … too much. And the more you ignored me, the crazier it made me, and the more determined I was to make you notice me, to make you want me. My heart ached for you, Jax. I knew you loved somebody else, but I just wanted a chance . . ."

"Oh, I noticed you," he said. "And I wanted you constantly. That was the problem for me, actually. It was why I couldn't look at you or touch you. It was why I wanted to strangle you every time you smiled at me and did those funny things to my heart." He cradled her face in his hands, his eyes glittering with his love for her. "Back then, I loved you a little bit, too, and it grew to be the kind of love that overwhelmed my soul, Brenda. Do you know how it feels to want something so much, to know in your heart that it was meant to be, to have it right there in front of you, to adore the very air it breathes, and still not be able to have it?"

"Yes," she said.

There was a moment of absorbing, rather alluring silence between them. A silence that in reality spoke volumes, as they both understood what the other had been going through ever since they'd met. He slid his arms around her in the water, drawing her closer to him in a heartfelt embrace, not sure whose heart was beating more frantically -- his or hers.

Her eyes were illuminated with this strikingly beautiful emotion, as she refused to let him go. "I don't even know when it happened exactly," she said, excited at the freedom with which she could speak about her feelings now. "But there was this point where everything changed, and I just knew. I knew I had crossed some threshold where I was no longer just wildly attracted to you, or just thought of you as the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life. Suddenly it was all about my heart, and the way it swelled with this incredible feeling every time I looked at you," She pulled away from him only slightly so that she could look at him. "At the center of my being I just ached for you, Jax. And I knew that it was about more than desire. There was enchantment; there was anticipation; there was excitement; there was this electric tension all the time. There was this longing I could never put into words. There was passion, equally indescribable. And I was so jealous of your fiancée -- I thought you loved her, and I was so jealous of her having the one thing I wanted more than anything in this world. All of it started to add up for me. It was like a crazy map of feelings that led so clearly to just one destination. No matter which way I turned the map, it would still lead me there to the same place. Right to you, Jax. Right to falling hopelessly in love with you. I was teetering on the brink forever, trying not to fall over, but then when I fell, it was the most unbelievable thing in the world."

He smiled at her, and his eyes held hers captive in a soul-baring gaze of blue. "I don't know exactly when it happened for me either," he confessed. "But it hit me like a building falling on me. It was just so inescapable -- sort of like you," he said, tapping her adorable chin lightly. She laughed and he grinned at her. "And it hit me like heaven opening up for my eyes only, too," he added. "I knew from the very beginning that I was insanely attracted to you. Believe me, I had my own bouts of jealousy, thinking of you with other men. I think I may have even threatened that frat kid to stay away from you."

Brenda laughed. "You did?"

Jax nodded. "Twice, I think," he laughed. "And I was even jealous of how close you were with Scott -- how easy going you were with him. But then there was just this point where it became about so much more than that, and I suddenly knew with this crystal clarity that nothing in the world could ever make me give up on you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. I knew it was love. It scared me at first because it was such an all consuming kind of a feeling inside of me, and I'd never felt anything like that before. It was kind of like being invaded by an alien force," he said, winking at her as she playfully gave his handsome face a soft tap.

"It also forced me to deal with certain truths I didn't want to tackle - like how miserable I was at the prospect of marrying Ariel. And how wrong I was to keep insisting I was going to marry her, even though I knew the main ingredient was missing. I did a disservice to her by pretending, Brenda. And to myself, as well. But then I met you, and you changed everything for me. You made me be honest with myself. You made me crazy; you made me moody; you made me happy." He gazed down at her hand, at the rings on her finger, the diamond heart glittering as if it contained magical life within. "You made me love you. By just existing, I think. And without you, how would I ever have known what love could be?"

She threw her arms around him, the water splashing onto the exquisite marble floor. "Oh, Jax, the things you do to my heart," she murmured against his ear.

"The things you do to mine," he said, kissing the side of her face. "I love you, Brenda," he whispered.

"I love you, too." She thought she could say those words forever, until he grew tired of them and wanted to gag her to keep her quiet.

"You're not going to change your mind about that someday, are you?" he asked her, thinking for an instant that this moment was almost too perfect to be real.

She looked insulted and pulled away from him, dashing her hand in the water to unceremoniously splash him. "Never. My love happens to come with a lifetime guarantee," she informed him. "And, by the way, Agent Adonis, yours had better come with one, too," she added, poking his chest.

He laughed softly and cradled her lovely face, his intimate smile doing wild things to her already racing heart. "My love is forever," he promised her, giving her the scouts' honor sign, as she smiled at him, and suddenly the air was filled with the shivering tingle of desire charging the very air. "Maybe even longer than that," he added as they exchanged a smoldering gaze. "Do you hear that sound?" he asked her.

"What sound?" she asked, surprised at how breathless her voice sounded.

Her pulse leapt wildly as Jax slowly began to hike up her wet dress, up to her thigh, and then slid her bare leg over his knees and began to slide his hand slowly along her burning skin, making breathing very difficult for both of them. "The drum roll," he said, as he slowly kissed her throat where he could see the throbbing of her pulse. "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for," he said with a gaze so deeply seductive she thought she would pass out from it's molten blue intensity. Then she almost really did pass out when his lips claimed hers in a kiss of pure, hot-blooded passion. When Jax pulled his scorching lips away from hers long moments later, she was shivering with desire.

"Are you cold?" he asked unnecessarily, his gaze as seductive as ever, one hand still running slowly up and down her thigh in the water and causing goose bumps to spread like wildfire along her flesh.

She shook her head, at a loss for words, as her heart crashed jubilantly against her ribs, and wild desire ran rampant throughout her like an electrical current gone berserk.

"Good" he said, gently gliding his fingertips over her lips, attractively swollen from the runaway passion of his kisses. "I don't want you shivering from the cold. I would much prefer you be shivering from me."

Well, he was definitely getting his wish! she thought.

They kissed with enough passion to ignite a NASA rocket and set the water they were in to a sensuous boil. Jax lifted her into his arms, the both of them dripping wet and burning with passion's fervent flame.

A passionate love. It was Jax's dream come true. To love someone this much and desire her just as much. It just didn't get any better than this. And to think he may have given it all up by sticking to his guns like a stubborn idiot about his wedding, if it weren't for Scott's constant getting on his case about it. He was truly the best friend a person could ever hope to have. Jax had to admit that he owed a lot to that mutinous priest, too. The man had given him heaven on earth.

As Jax carried Brenda out of the bathroom and on the way to the bedroom, kissing her with a sensuality that should be outlawed the entire way, the unthinkable happened. The phone rang. At nearly 2 in the morning, that could only mean some kind of emergency. He and Brenda looked at each other, thinking the same thing -- he had to answer it.

"You get it in the study," she told him. "And when you're done, I'll be waiting for you . . . in the bedroom," she said as he gently lowered her to the ground, received a quick, fiery kiss from her, and then watched her race happily into the bedroom.

Jax rose an anticipatory blonde eyebrow as he watched her, and then he went down the hall into the study, sitting down by the chess set as he snatched up the phone.

"Whoever you are, do you realize it is 2 o'clock in the bloody morning?" he asked, feeling in too much of a sensational mood to be upset with anyone.

"Yes," Scott's voice said. "And I see you're wide awake and just a little too happy sounding . . .." He grinned a little on the other end. "Why do I suddenly think my timing couldn't have been worse?"

"I don't know why you think that, but you must be psychic."

"Whoops. Well, sorry if I put out any fires," Scott said.

"Impossible. This particular fire never goes out. What's up?"

"Well, before I tell you, do you have anything you want to tell me?"

"Like what?" Jax asked, innocently.

Scott laughed. "Like is love in the air by any chance, Jasper?"

"In every conceivable inch of the air, in fact -- since you asked," Jax responded with a grin.

Scott laughed again. "That's fantastic! So you told her?"

"Yes. And then she told me -- and man, everything is so, so perfect right now. So perfect that I'd dedicate my bloody life to keeping it this way. I highly recommend this feeling. You should try it."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Jax, seriously, I'm really happy for the both of you. You know you're both really important to me. Which is actually why I'm calling you. I need to tell you something that I should have told you right away, but . . ."

"What?" Jax asked, picking up the cordless phone and heading for the bathroom to get a towel.

"The reason that I thought that Bastian Reese might have been at Dimitri's shindig was because I saw someone with ties to him there," Scott confessed.

Jax knew whom he was talking about before he even said her name. He let out a little sigh. "Let me guess. Green eyes, auburn hair, everlasting impression on you?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away. I thought I had it under control. But it seems the combination of control and me and her never really works out too well in my favor."

"So what happened?"

"She got away, that's what happened. But I found out her real name. Jenna. Unless, of course, she's lying about that. Dimitri knows her as Gelina, so that might be her real name. The only thing I know for sure is that her name isn't Madison Kennedy."

"Bastian wasn't with her?"

"No, that much I'm sure of now," Scott said.

"Was she responsible for that fifteen-minute period of darkness? Was she after Brenda?"

"No, she wasn't after Brenda. I would have told you that, no matter what. She never even knew Brenda was there, I'm sure of that. I'm not so sure if she was responsible for the power outage or not though," Scott said. "I thought so at first, but there was this guy there. You'd remember him. He was a dead ringer for The Terminator."

Jax nodded. "Oh, yeah, really big guy -- bald head, kind of creepy, blue eyes."

"Right. Well, she's got some connection to him, although I don't know the nature of it. She knows him though, and for some reason he wanted to bash my head open with a two-by-four, but she got to him first."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she clobbered him with a brass candlestick and knocked him out cold. Then she refused to tell me who he was, kept trying to deny who she was. I finally forced her to admit who she was, but she still wouldn't reveal any connection to him."

"You think this guy is a part of Bastian's crew?"

"Possibly. He disappeared when the lights came back on. Just like she did. I assume they left together. I just can't figure out why she hit him."

"It would seem that has to do with you," Jax said. "What's going on with you and her, Scott? You realize you were basically protecting her, which is why you didn't tell me anything until now."

"I wasn't protecting her," he refuted. "I just thought I could handle it. I was trying to get her to lead us to the big fish."

"She's not going to turn against him," Jax predicted.

"We don't know that," Scott insisted. "Do you think Scorpio would be willing to make a deal with her? To give her immunity if she helps us get Bastian?"

"You see, this is all about protecting her again," Jax pointed out. "Immunity? Why should she get that? Maybe a lesser sentence, but . . ."

"I think immunity because of all she could be handing us," Scott argued, greatly disliking the thought of her being in jail. "Not just Bastian, but names of everyone else in his ring."

"The ring isn't that big," Jax reminded him.

"Well, then the names of the rich and famous who pay ridiculous sums of money to buy their stolen goods in their high-class black market and give them reason to exist. That's a wealth of information, and she should get immunity for that."

"You're assuming wrongly, I think, that she'll give up this information, Scott. I'm telling you she won't go against him."

"You don't know that, Jax. They're just partners. She's young and she's smart, and I think she can be influenced by people other than him."

"Like you, for instance."

"Yeah, like me. Why not?"

"I think the threat of jail would be of more influence to her, Scott.

"No," he said.

Jax was beginning to see how stubborn his best friend was being about this particular point. He didn't want the pretty little thief to spend one second behind bars, that was obvious.

"Okay, what did she do to you?" Jax asked.

In her hotel room Jenna Robertson flipped through TV channels, unable to sleep. Well, not true. She had tried to sleep, but erotic dreams kept rousing her from sleep with her skin heated and her face flushed – dark hair and dark brown eyes fluttering across the lids of her closed eyes. So now she was up and trying to figure out why the FBI had been at the Crystal Ball. She hadn't noticed if Scott's partner -- the blonde -- had been there, but she assumed he had been. Why? Had they somehow been tipped off that she might be there? How was that possible? She wondered if Bastian were okay? She climbed out of the bed and dialed the number of his Cayman Island paradise hideaway.

"Yes?" he picked up the phone right away.

"Bastian -- hi. So what are you doing?"

"What's wrong, Jenna?" he said.

"Why does something have to be wrong?" she said. "Can't I just call you to say hello? I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well . . . I ran into Rolf tonight, and he was being his usual detestable, obnoxious self, spouting off about you and all that. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Where did you see him?" Bastian asked, immediately suspicious of her story.

"Where are you?"

"In Greece," she lied smoothly. "I thought I would spend Christmas with my mother."

Bastian's suspicions grew. "Your mother? Would this be the same woman you said was good for nothing but her name, which you use as an alias in the hopes of getting her arrested someday?"

Jenna rapped her knuckles against her forehead, forgetting she had told Bastian all about her disdain for her beautiful Grecian mother, Gelina, who lived like a bloody queen in Greece with her tycoon husband. Gelina had never wanted children, and yet had been vain enough to name her daughter after her. Jenna had loved the name but hated the woman, so she had insisted that people call her Jenna ever since she was four. She had legally changed her name two years ago, as an 18th birthday gift to herself. Despite having a momentary kick from having a namesake, Gelina had quickly gotten rid of Jenna by sending her off to boarding schools from the age of six on. And her father had been no help; he was obsessed with her mother and nothing else. Jenna had promptly run away from her last boarding school when she was 17 and had been about to hook up with Rolf's crew when Bastian had made a point of making her acquaintance and pulling her over to his side, making her a part of his elite crew. She'd been a part of Bastian's international jewel thief ring for three years now. Her own mother had been a victim of her growing expertise, she recalled with a devious smile, as she fingered the one-of-a-kind, blue-diamond tennis bracelet she had pilfered from her mother's safe, along with several priceless art items.

"Where are you?" Bastian repeated.

"Monte Carlo," she lied again.

"Don't hit anything, Jenna," he warned her. "I want us to keep a low profile for right now."

"Okay," she said. "Hey Bastian, do you want to hang out for the holidays? We could go skiing in Italy."

"No, I can't," he said. "I have to go to Virginia. I can't change my plans for anyone. Not even you."

Jenna froze. Did he say Virginia?

"Oh, yeah?" she asked casually. "Where in Virginia?"

"You've never heard of it, I'm sure. It's a place called Great Falls. And no, you can't come."

Jenna had to clap her hand over her mouth to ensure her own silence. Bastian was coming here? Why? Her curiosity was on fire!

"Business?" she asked, her tone remaining casual.

"Partially," he admitted. "Mostly, pleasure."

Jenna recalled that Bastian had always been away for the holidays, ever since she had met him. "Is this the same place you always go for Christmas?" she asked.

"Yes," he said. "Look Jenna, why don't you come out here? I'll leave the key in the back. You can spend the holidays here where I know you won't get into any trouble," he said.

"Oh, no, don't worry about me, I'll find something to do," she said.

Bastian hated the thought of her being alone. He would have taken her with him, but that was impossible to do now. Jax had not seen her, but Scott had. Scott had seen her face back at the safe house when he'd tackled her and taken her helmet off. He knew what she looked like, and Bastian was sure Scott was not likely to ever forget that face.

"I want you to come here. I mean it," he insisted. "I'll be back in time for us to do something insane to ring in the New Year, if you'd like."

Jenna laughed. "Marie will scratch my eyes out if you dare to spend New Year's Eve with me, Bastian. For some reason, she perceives me as a threat to your relationship."

"I can't imagine why," Bastian murmured.

"Well, thank you very much."

It was his turn to laugh now. "No, what I meant was that she and I don't have a relationship. We just have sex, that's all."

"Well, I'm sure she wants to have sex with you on New Year's Eve too."

"Be quiet, Jenna," he reprimanded her. God, the girl always just said whatever the hell was on her mind. She'd been this way from the moment he'd first sought her out when she was a restless 17-year-old.

"Bastian, what's that agent's last name?" she asked him, switching subjects. "The one you call Scott?"

"I'm not going to tell you that. And why the devil are you asking me about him anyway? Didn't I tell you to forget about him?"

"No, what you told me was that I was the plague."

"Jenna, Scott is off limits to you. I mean that, and I'm not going to repeat myself. Don't ask me why and don't ask me anything else about him."

"Well, how do you know him?" she asked, already defying his order. "Is he married or anything unpleasant like that?"

"Did I not just tell you not to ask me anything else about him? Jesus, you'll drive a man to hang himself, you know, Jenna. I have to go, but I want you to come here for the holidays like I suggested. When I come back, we can ring in the New Year by sampling every flavor daiquiri there is and setting off fireworks, while we throw darts at Rolf's picture."

"I'd rather throw darts at him. He asked me to marry him again, can you believe that?"

"Well, he's fairly dense," Bastian explained.

"Oh, you are just full of compliments tonight."

"Not dense for wanting you, Jenna -- dense for not seeing that you don't want him. Look, I really have to go now. Wherever you really are, you just behave yourself. And I'm leaving the key in the back for you, like I said. Use it, all right?"

"Oh, you like me. You really like me," she said with dramatic flair.

"Only because I don't have any bloody choice," he teased her. "Later." And then he hung up, and Jenna sat down on the bed, her green eyes glinting with unanswered curiosities. Bastian was coming to Great Falls, Virginia? This was the place he came to every year at Christmas? Why? What was here that drew him to this place? She thought she might just have to sit tight and try to unravel this intriguing little mystery . . .

Done with his very interesting conversation with Scott -- whom Jax was starting to worry was developing some serious attachment to a certain green-eyed, young female criminal -- Jax replaced the phone in its cradle in the study and then rose from the chair he'd been sitting in. Scott's protectiveness (which Scott continued to deny) of Jenna/Gelina/Madison -- whomever she was -- was troubling to Jax because it reminded him of his own feelings of protectiveness for Brenda, which had been fairly instantaneous and had led to her being the sole owner of his heart. Was Scott headed for a similar fate? And what should Jax do about it? She was a jewel thief -- completely untrustworthy. Hell, she couldn't even keep her names straight! Would it be a best friend's duty to steer Scott clear of this woman who was nothing but trouble, but obviously already had him halfway bewitched? Or would a best friend try to help Scott get what he wanted -- assuming he wanted her -- which was more than an assumption, it was a high probability. But she was the very person they were after, for crying out loud. She was a thief -- and a damned good one -- and she belonged in jail with her most elusive partner in crime.

All at once Jax banished this matter completely from his head. All of that would have to wait to be dealt with some other time. He only had one thing on his mind at the moment: one very irresistible, inescapable, dark-haired, angelic-looking thing, whom he loved and who loved him, and who was at this very moment probably not-so-patiently waiting for him in the bedroom they would be sharing from now on. She was irresistible, and she was mere moments away from being his.

He quickly left the study, shutting the door behind him, his heart racing with expectation for the delights that this very early morning of Christmas Eve would have in store for them.

He went into the bedroom he'd been using for the past month and got out of his damp clothes. He didn't notice that half the things were missing from his closet. He was going to walk into their bedroom wearing only a pair of black boxers, but he reminded himself that this was going to be the first time Brenda had ever made love to a man. She was bound to be as nervous as she was excited, and she was probably a little bit scared, too. It would help her, build her confidence and bravery and heighten the experience for her, if she could remove his clothes at her leisure, he decided as he reached in his closet and tossed on a black shirt and a pair of black jeans. He was heading for the bedroom when he stopped again.

The mood. He had to set a mood. It was her first time. He had to set a very romantic mood for her. He went down to the formal dining room and grabbed the gold candelabra from the long, oval dining table. He made a pit stop in the kitchen, where he stocked up on matches and grabbed a bottle of chilled champagne and two glasses. Then he glanced around thoughtfully, making sure he had thought of everything. This had to be perfect. Not that he doubted it would be. Everything in him told him it would eclipse even perfection. But the thing was, he had promised her paradise, and he meant to give it to her in every way -- from the materialistic, to the physical, to the spiritual. Tonight she would get a taste of the physical paradise. And he fully intended that she would experience nothing short of rapture.

He jogged up the stairs, a fever for her burning inside of him and turning his blood to liquid flame.

He went to the magnificent master bedroom, which was left ajar, and he pushed against the door, entering with the items he was holding.

"Sorry, I took so long," he apologized. "But you're worth perfection, and I wanted to give that to you, so I . . ." he glanced over at the items scattered on the floor and had to laugh. Brenda had spent her time moving several of his things from the adjoining bedroom into this one. Then when he looked at her lying on the bed, his laughter turned to awe. The bed was turned down and she was lying in the center of it, wearing a dark blue, mesh-knit, tank-style, sleep dress. It was short, reaching just mid-thigh, and he'd never seen anything that quite hugged a woman's curves in this manner, not to mention the mesh fabric alone was enough to drive one into lustful depravity. His gaze flowed over her, and he didn't realize he was holding his breath, until he let it out. Then, as he realized that her eyes were closed and her breathing was soft and even, he wanted to cry! She was asleep?!

Jax put the items he was holding down in a chair and resisted the urge to pull his golden hair out strand by strand. She was asleep!

"This can not be happening," he whispered, thinking he must be on some cruel version of Candid Camera or something.

His body was on fire; his desire for her was fathomless. They had to be together now. He would go stark, raving mad if he couldn't have her tonight, after waiting for her for so long! He crossed his eyes in vexation at not realizing how long he'd been on the phone with Scott. Oh, my God, I'm going to be the first man to spontaneously combust! he thought, as Brenda moved slightly in her sleep, and the bottom of her short nightgown slid further up her legs, while the straps slid gently down her arms. I have to go outside and find the nearest snow bank and throw myself in it! He considered awakening her, as he was all but feverish with his aching need for her. But he knew how tired she must be -- dancing all night; the emotional, beautiful scene they had shared in the bathtub; her trying to move all of his things into their bedroom on her own. His sheer love for her won out over his torrential desire, and he decided to let her sleep. He really would have to go out and hurl himself into that damned snow bank though, he realized. There was no way in hell he could sleep anywhere near her and trust himself.

He dearly wanted to ram his head into the wall right now, and then he heard it -- the soft, mischievous peals of her laughter. He glanced up to see his bride wide awake and holding her sides giggling, obviously getting a kick out of watching him behave like a man who had been sentenced to death.

He wasn't sure which emotion was stronger: his awesome relief that their night of passion would continue as planned, or his absolute delight in the games they played with each other.

"You should see yourself!" she said, falling backwards on the bed and laughing. "Oh, Jax, my poor baby. You look like you want to kill somebody!"

He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes, gazing at the beautiful, laughing, young woman thrashing around in the bed. "That somebody could easily be you," he told her.

She shook her head. "You love me, remember?" She sat up on her knees, smiling at him, flashing those damned dimples at him.

He smiled back at her. "I'm not likely to ever forget that. And I won't forget this little prank of yours either," he warned her.

She just laughed some more, thinking he could not top that if he tried. This was even better than his many dress ruinations.

Then she saw the candles and champagne in the chair. "Aww, honey, is that for me?" she asked, her eyes glowing with her happiness and her fevered anticipation for what this night held in store for them.

"Yes, you're such a passionless girl that I was sure I'd have to get you drunk for you to enjoy this," he said.

Her mouth fell open and then she laughed and sent a pillow flying at his head, but he deftly ducked out of the way of the oncoming object and then set about lighting the candles and pouring the sparkling, golden champagne.

"Passionless?!" she demanded, laughing and grabbing the other pillow which she hurled at him, but it also missed.

"Don't worry. You'll get to prove me wrong in a few minutes," he said, winking at her as he shut off the lights leaving the room lit only by amber candlelight.

"Ha!" I have already proven you wrong, Jax," she said, standing up and marching around on the bed, enjoying the way his eyes followed even her slightest movement. "On several occasions, in fact," she added in a bragging tone. "And the response of your body was all the proof I needed, thank you very much," she finished, giving him a sweet smile offset by the devilish look in her eyes.

He walked over to her. She went to the far corner of the bed and tried to elude him, not sure if he would be seeking revenge for her playacting at sleeping.

His boyish grin disarmed her. "Oh, I'm so insulted, Brenda. You think I would try to retaliate against you now? No, no, no, sweetie. I just want to toast this day," he said, "and this woman," he murmured, gazing at her with unbridled lust, "and this love," he finished, handing her a glass.

She eased herself next to him on the edge of the bed, tossing her lovely, bare legs over his knees. Then laughing, she looped her arm through his. They sipped from one another's glasses and then from their own.

"A toast to love," she echoed, dipping two slender fingers into her glass and wetting his lips with the champagne. Then she leaned into him and slowly used her tongue to taste what she had just done. "And to making love," she purred in his ear, kissing the side of his face.

"You know," he said, setting down his glass of champagne and taking hers from her and putting it aside as well. "You were speaking of thresholds earlier, and how you know when you've crossed one. Remember that?"

She nodded, a little smile on her lips, her eyes gazing at him with naked desire.

"Well, sweetheart, you just crossed one. And you damned well pushed me right over mine," he added, smiling at her cute little laugh. "But I think you're going to like where this crossed threshold takes us," he whispered into her ear and felt a little thrill at the way she shivered with obvious desire as he eased her backwards onto the bed and branded her lips with the fire of his. "At least, I'm going to do my best to make sure that you like it," he added. She moaned as his tongue slid gently into her mouth and began a slow, sensual search for hers. She moaned again into his mouth, as her arms encircled him, her entire body reacting to the intensifying desire, the slow, sweet arousal. She could kiss him like this forever -- deep, sensual kisses that left her breathless and wanting more and more. But there was such a deep yearning within her that she knew the kisses -- meltingly blissful as they were -- would not be enough to put out this crazy, leaping fire inside of her. Or inside of him, she guessed judging by the increasing ardor of his kisses and the powerful pressure she suddenly felt against her thigh.

"Proof," she whispered in a soft, dazed voice, intentionally moving against him to demonstrate what she was talking about.

His soft laugh came out like a shaky sound of sweet agony; his eyes were like an ocean of blue that she would gladly drown in. "For your information, all you have to do is look at me a certain way for that so called proof to present itself," he confided in her. And before she could say anything, like ask him exactly what ‘look’ that was, she was knocked into sensual oblivion by the return of his mouth sliding tantalizingly back and forth over her burning lips as he rained sensual kisses of fire down on her mouth.

Jax slowly pulled his lips away from hers several moments later, causing her to groan in protest at the loss of that ambrosial fire, but he placed one finger over her lips, his smoldering eyes telling her that the best was yet to come.

Jax slid his fingers around the bottom of the alluring sleeping attire she was wearing, which was inappropriately named 'sleeping attire,' since she was not likely to get any sleep if she wore things like that around him. His hands gripped the soft fabric, and he slowly began lifting it upward, peeling it off of her, inch by inch, as her breathing quickened. She rose her hands in the air to assist him as he pulled it off of her completely. His eyes could not move from her body as they swept over it in stunned wonder. She was perfect. Literally perfect. He could not get over the sight of her, naked against the deep, rich blues of the sheets, the candlelight playing against her flawless golden complexion.

A searing heat shot through his loins. He tossed her clothing he had removed from her absently over his shoulder, and it landed somewhere on the floor in the immense room. His eyes continued to be glued to the perfect vision beneath him.

"I always knew you were beautiful beyond words," he whispered, "but you're even beautiful beyond that."

She blushed a little, which he found intensely endearing.

"What's BEYOND beyond?" she asked him, reaching up to brush some stray blonde curls that were falling over on his forehead.

"I have no idea," he confessed. "But whatever it is, it's what you are."

Brenda had never thought it was possible to feel so cherished by anyone. Jax's hands brushed against her face and then lower, running down the soft, warm, shimmering golden skin of her body and causing pleasure shocks to make her shudder with need and once again break out into goose bumps of excitement. He kissed her lips softly and then his hands slid into her hair, his eyes transfixed on her.

A scent of roses in your hair
A silver laugh that plays the air
A wave of heat
And I know you are near me
We fell like stars; we’re falling still
We share one heart, we always will
Who else but you, could lead me to
My heaven

"My turn?" she asked, reaching to touch his black shirt.

He smiled at her and nodded.

Brenda removed his shirt the way he'd removed her clothes -- slowly. She gripped the bottom of the excellent fitting black shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it somewhere behind her. Then she took his hand and made him stand up. As they both stood next to the bed, she loosened the buckle of his belt and then got his jeans unzipped and pushed down to his ankles where he stepped out of them and kicked them behind him. Brenda's eyes widened at the sight of Jax in glorious, beautiful, muscled splendor, wearing only black boxer shorts, and she had to blink as she looked at him.

He tried hard to hide his smile as he saw where the path of her gaze had drawn her. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said quickly, although she was thinking: how in the world is this going to work?! Granted, she'd never done anything like this before and didn't know all the particulars, but it just didn't seem . . . possible? She gave him a nervous, very pretty smile and then took a deep breath and continued her disrobing of him, her fingers gripping the waist of his boxer shorts and moving them down over his powerful thighs, until they'd followed his pants, off into some corner of the room. Jax would not have thought it possible, but her eyes grew even wider.

"Jax," she said, staring unabashedly at him, as if trying to figure out the answer to some difficult calculus equation. "Are you sure this is going to work?" she asked, tapping her fingertips against her chin.

He laughed and pulled her up into his arms for a tumultuous kiss that made her forget her question.

"It's going to work so well," he promised her. "Trust me, Brenda."

She still didn't see how it was possible, but she did trust him. Completely. And she told him that.

"I do trust you," she said, very much enjoying this feel of his bare skin against hers and hers against his. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Oh, he felt wonderful.

"Then trust me that this will work as you put it," he said, lowering her onto the center of the bed and then joining her there.

Her hands slid over his back. "Well, seeing is believing," she said with a smile that made his heart jump through hoops. "So show me."

He laughed. Hmmm, she was going to drive him wild beyond his wildest dreams. He could tell that already. "I will," he promised her. "But first I'd like to show you a few other things, if that's all right with you," he said, rolling his eyes at her cute aggression.

She laughed, the happy, playful joy mixing perfectly with the quaking passion. "Okay, go ahead," she said with a sigh, as if it were some big sacrifice on her part.

His smile made her feel as if she could jump right over the moon. Then he raised suggestive blonde brows at her and kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, her chin, and then her throat. Then he continued his way down, kissing her. His lips were so warm and soft against her body that it felt like being kissed by the sun, if such a thing were possible. She saw where he was headed and her heart began to pound with excitement. When his lips kissed her breasts, she literally jumped with the electrifying pleasure it sent though her. But that was nothing compared to the soft gasp she let out when his lips closed over her and a liquid fire stormed through her like nobody's business. Reflexively, her hands went to the back of his head, keeping him where he was, doing what he was doing, and increasing her pleasure by allowing her fingers to flow sensually through the deep golden waves of his hair. For half an hour Jax kissed her and touched her in ways that made her think she would be passing out at any moment now. She had never felt anything so exquisite, except hearing that he loved her. A white-hot flame of need engulfed her as Jax kissed his way back up her body, his lips once again melting into hers in a blaze of hazy longing.

A scent of roses fills your hair
Your silver laugh, it thrills the air
And, oh, the heat when you and I draw near

"Trust me now," he whispered, brushing his fingers across her lips.

And Brenda knew the moment was at hand. Delirious excitement of what this would be like mingled with fear of the unknown, tingling the air. But she did trust him. More than she trusted any other living soul. And the aching longing inside of her was something she knew only Jax could fill.

And fill it he did.

She was amazed and relieved when the pain that she fully knew to expect, and had braced herself for, was so very brief and began to subside fairly quickly as it was overrun by indescribable pleasure. Her nails raked at the muscles of his back. Her body instinctively rose to his, as behind her closed lids she saw vibrant, multicolored sparks raining down from the heavens. Waves and waves of strange and wonderful pulsing heat flashed and exploded inside of her, and she felt as if she were losing herself. But losing it to something spectacular. She held onto him, the one solid thing in this world of marvelous passion swirling about her. Higher and higher together they climbed, teetering at last on the edge of a shimmering ecstasy. Together then, they soared like beautiful winged creatures taking flight, their heavenly climax taking them into a realm of crystalline bliss far beyond anything known to man.

"I love you," they said at the same time, their voices breathless, their skin slick with perspiration, and a profound happiness was flowing inside of them and wrapping all around them, like some kind of force-field of love. As Brenda drifted off to sleep, lying on top of him and feeling as if she were living a dream, she wondered incredibly how it had worked. She decided she'd have to ask Jax about that. He would think her shameless for asking, she thought with a sleepy grin. But darn it, she wanted to know. It seemed to defy the very laws of physics.

Jax gazed at her through his thick, lowered, blonde lashes, his heart as fulfilled as his body was. And he wondered, with a smile tugging at his lips, why she was falling asleep with that wicked little grin on her beautiful face.

Brenda awoke at 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning to the heavenly aroma of French toast, eggs, bacon, and brewing coffee. She was alone in the bed now, so with a smile, she knew that Jax was downstairs making breakfast. Thank god his mom had taught him how to cook! she thought, her stomach rumbling. Hmmm. Funny how making love made you feel as if you were starving afterwards, she thought, recalling how she'd awakened at about 7 a.m. to the delicious sensation of Jax kissing her neck, his chest pressed to her back as she'd leaned her head back and let the building rapturous feelings take her as he made love to her again, leaving her a limp, breathless, sinfully happy girl in the wake of his passion, just as he had the first time.

She climbed out of the big bed and tossed on Jax's blue shirt over her naked body, as she merrily made her way down the stairs to look for him. Xander was just coming out of the jungle to roam about the mansion, and he saw her and raced over to her, bounding down the stairs after her. She waited for him, then scooped him up for a hug and a ruffle of his soft, white fur, then put him back down and went into the kitchen, knowing the little tiger was following her.

"Honey, guess who's awake and starving," she said to the figure sitting at the breakfast table with the paper in front of him.

"Honey, guess who's not here," Scott said, as he lowered the paper, revealing that it was he and not Jax who was in the kitchen. He had breakfast in front of him and a tall glass of orange juice.

"Oh, hi," Brenda said, laughing and then going over to him to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Who's not here -- Jax?"

"Right. He got a call to come into Headquarters a little while ago, and he didn't want to wake you up, so he asked me to come over here and keep the watch." Scott suddenly grinned knowingly at her. "My, my -- don't we look happy and fulfilled, Mrs. Jacks," he murmured.

She laughed. "Only happy? You mean I don't look ecstatic and like my life is so incredibly perfect that I could scream from the mind-boggling joy of it all?"

"Please refrain from screaming," he requested.

Brenda laughed again and sat down next to him. "Scott, he loves me! Jax loves me," she said.

Scott smiled and merely nodded.

"That was what you were trying to tell me just before the Crystal Ball, wasn't it?"

He nodded again. "I hope you understand, Brenda. It wasn't my place to come right out and say anything to you about it. But I did give you the biggest, bloody hints I knew how."

She gave him a grateful look. "Aww, I love ya," she said, springing up and kissing his cheek again. "You have been such an incredible friend to me. I hope you know that. And I hope you know how much that means to me."

He smiled at her. "I know. And it was, and is, my pleasure to be your friend, my fellow musketeer. Jax made breakfast, by the way. It's in the oven," Scott told her as he bent down and fed Xander some crispy bacon.

Brenda got up to fix herself a plate of food. "Do you know why Jax got called in? Is everything okay?"

"I think so. Director Scorpio wanted to see him in private, but Jax said he sounded in a good mood, so I don't think it's any kind of bad news."

"I hope he's not moving up the mission you guys are supposed to go on," Brenda murmured, dishing out some eggs. "Jax told me that might happen."

Scott shook his head. "Nope, that's not it. If that's all it was there would be no need for Jax to go to HQ. They'd just call us up and tell us that. So, what'd you get me for Christmas?"

"Ha, wouldn't you like to know?" Brenda said putting a slice of French toast into her plate and placing it on the table. "What'd you get me?"

"Nothing," he said, grinning at her.

Brenda smiled as if delighted. "Scott! That's what I always wanted," she said as she picked up a tangerine and bounced it off of his head.

He laughed and tossed a napkin at her. "You are certifiable. I should get you a straightjacket, is what I should get you."

She flashed him her craziest looking smile and then poured herself some hot coffee. "Hey, so who was that girl you were hitting on last night?" she asked him with a conspiratorial smile. "She was really pretty."

"She was hitting on me," he corrected.

"Oh, please. Scott, you were following her all night."

"Well, okay, but the two of the three times I did see you, you were with her," Brenda said.

Scott glanced up at her. "Jax didn't tell you yet, huh?"

"Tell me what?" she asked, taking a forkful of eggs.

"That was Bastian Reese's partner, Brenda. I was with her all night because I was trying to keep an eye on her to see what she was up to. I was also trying to convince her to help us set him up so we could finally capture the guy."

"I don't think he was there, Scott. I was looking all night. Jax asked me to."

Scott nodded. "I don't think he was there either. I think she was alone. Or with this other guy."

"You didn't arrest her?" Brenda asked, confused.

Scott's eyes slid away momentarily. "She got away," he said.

Brenda looked at him astutely. "Only because you let her," she said, shocking him with her candor. "If you would have wanted her caught she would have been, Scott." Then her brown eyes lit up as a realization dawned on her. She gasped. "You like her, don't you!" Brenda said, pouring syrup on her French toast.

"No, really, I didn't let her get away," he insisted. "It happened when the lights went out."

Just then the phone rang. Brenda, who had a mouthful of food, gestured for Scott to please answer it.

When Scott hung up the phone, he turned to Brenda. "That was Jax," he said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Brenda frowned a little bit. "And he didn't want to talk to me?"

"He couldn't. He had to rush into a meeting with the Secretary of Defense," Scott said, that smile still on his face.

"Why? Okay, why are you smiling like that! What's going on?" she demanded, rising to her feet and standing in front of him.

"Brenda, the Director just gave Jax the command of this mission we're going on in a few days."

Brenda bit her lip and smiled uncertainly. "That a good thing right?"

"Good? No, it's a great thing! It's like the equivalent of your neighbor, Ned Ashton, getting himself a Grammy."

"Oh, wow!" Brenda said, as the analogy made it clear just how major this was for Jax.

"You should have heard Jax. He's totally psyched for this. He's the youngest agent in our unit, and he's the youngest agent ever to get a command of a unit like ours," Scott told her. "It's an incredible thing," he added with a grin.

"Wow, wow!" Brenda said again, jumping around as Xander picked up on the excitement in the kitchen and began running around under the table. "Scott, we have to celebrate this! We have to throw a party for Jax. Today!" she said, laughing.

"That's a cool idea," Scott agreed. "This is definitely cause for celebration."

"Well, why are you just standing there?" Brenda demanded, pulling his arm and handing him the telephone. "I need you to call up all the guys on your -- A-Team, is it called? -- Yeah, your A-Team. Call them, and tell them all to get over here later. I want Jax to be surprised when he comes home. How long do you think his meeting with the Secretary of Defense will go?"

"A while," Scott guessed. "A few hours at least. They're probably going over every detail. It’s very technical."

Brenda nodded. "Good! Okay, I have a million things to do now. Go on, Scott -- call," she said, hitting his arm as she raced out of the kitchen, her mind swirling with plans.

As Jax climbed out of his jeep, into the descending evening of this snowy Christmas Eve, he gazed up at his house -- the Christmas lights on outside, the lights coming from inside of the house making it look warm and cozy despite its immense size and grand elegance. He didn't know how life could get much better than it was now. He had Brenda, and together they shared a happiness that people would kill for. He had Scott, the best friend anyone could hope to have. He had a family that could get on his nerves, but were primarily wonderful. He had a job that he loved. He had probably the best chance of flushing Bastian Reese out into the open that any agent ever had. And now he also had his very first command of a mission. A very major mission at that. He didn't see how things could possibly get better than this. Except maybe if he had a son. Or daughter. Or both. Or several. A smile touched his lips at the thought of him and Brenda as parents. Oh, those poor kids . . .

Jax walked up the steps and saw the lights in the living room and the entrance hall go out as he did so. He slid the key into the front door, opened it, and flipped on the light in the entrance hall.

"Brenda?" he called out as he shut the door behind him.

"In here, Jax, " he heard her voice coming from the living room.

"What are you doing there in the dark?" he asked as he headed for the living room. "And where's Scott?" Jax stepped up into the living room and turned on the light switch and immediately heard whoops of cheers, whistles and rowdy applause. The vast living room was filled with balloons and 'Congratulations' banners and streamers. Bottles of chilled champagne and sumptuous hor d'oueves were spread across the black marble top of the bar. All the members of the A-Team were there, and, of course, so was Brenda, who looked like a tantalizing angel in the midst of these loud, rambunctious guys.

Jax shot her a disarming smile, immediately knowing this was all her idea, and then he grinned at his teammates who were egging him on to take a bow and then shouting out, "Speech! Speech!"

"Yeah, come on, fearless leader. Speech!" Scott said with a laugh, as he pulled his drumsticks from his back pocket and began to play a military march beat against the top of the bar.

Jax was about to say something to this squad of Special Forces agents he would be leading next week, when Agent Chris Gennaro dropped to one knee and flung out his arms dramatically, and Jax rolled his eyes and laughed, knowing what was coming now. But Brenda had no idea what was going on and watched with bright, smiling eyes. Scott continued his military drum cadence and Agent Gennaro belted out A cappella:

Jasper walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy but he knew
Someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
That someone must sail

Into darkness, into danger
Into storms that rip the night
We don't give in, don't give up
We just give thanks for the glorious fight

We don't tremble; we don't fear it
We keep our fighting spirit alive, boys
Let the shiver of it sting you
Right into battle, spring to
Your feet, boys
Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Lift your head even higher as into the fire
We go

The other agents joined in on the next verse as they encircled Jax, saluting him and dancing and singing around him. It was a riot and Brenda's pretty laughter could be heard peppering the deep voices serenading Jax.

Are there mountains that surround us?
Are there walls that block the way?
Knock them down; strip them back, boys,
Climb over and into the fray

Someone has to face the valley
Rush in, we have to rally
And win, boys
When the world is saying not to
That's when the A-Team's got to
Go in, boys

Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Hold your head even higher as into the fire
We go

The night was truly one of celebration with high spirits, lots of laughter, eating, drinking, dancing, and singing, and the Special Forces agents reminiscing about past missions. Brenda could tell that Jax was very happy and very pleased by the little impromptu party, and his happiness made her happy. Jax and Brenda exchanged glances the entire night, and when Agent Kenny Sills was mentioning what a phenomenal wife Jax had, Jax and Brenda exchanged a particularly intimate glance.

"So, what are you getting our fearless leader for Christmas, Brenda?" Agent Tommy Blanes asked. "I mean, what exactly do you get the man who has everything?" he asked, giving Brenda a teasing smile.

"Love," Jax responded for her. Then he glanced at his friends who had been there for hours. "Okay, you all have to go now," he said, his eyes drinking in Brenda, who sat across his knees, teasingly playing with his hair. She was dressed very festively in a short, green, silk dress with red and green ribbons flowing through the stylish French braid of her hair, her wispy bangs attractively brushed over to one side and held in place by a glittering emerald-colored hair barrette.

The men laughed riotously, getting Jax's hint loud and clear.

"Look at him, giving us orders already," Kenny Sills said with a lecherous grin.

"Yeah, subtlety, thy name sure as hell is not, Jasper," Tommy Blanes said, wagging his finger at Jax.

"How about one more toast and one more fifty-verse song?" Chris Gennaro suggested, as the others laughed. "Anyone up for 99 bottles of beer on the wall?"

"Get out," Jax said, laughing. "All of you. Get out."

As the laughing men got their coats and a few more good-natured ribs at their mission commander, they thanked Brenda for one hell of a fun evening, wished her and Jax the happiest of holidays, and took their leave into the falling snow.

Scott said he'd see them tomorrow, kissed Brenda, exchanged a brief, laughing, whispered conversation with Jax, and then left.

"Alone at last," Jax said, leaning against the front door.

"Mmm hmmm!" Brenda said, eyeing him curiously. "So what were you and Scott whispering about?" she asked.

"You," he said, shutting out the lights and leading her back into the living room where he shut out those lights, too, leaving them with nothing but the seductive glow of the fire.

"What about me?" she asked as she watched Jax kick off his hiking boots and start to unbutton his charcoal gray shirt.

"Scott told me about how you were all over the house today snooping around to find the hiding places of the Christmas presents that I got for you -- which are well hidden, I might add. Anyway, he warned me to keep an eye on you, but I told him there was no way you'd ever find them."

Brenda folded her arms. "I was not snooping," she insisted, although her lips were twitching with laughter. "Oh, all right, all right, so I was." He grinned and she grabbed a hold of his hand. "I can't help it, Jax. I love presents! And I'm just totally lacking in patience. Sorry."

"You're not lacking in anything," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her softly, his tongue exploring the soft contours of her mouth. "I missed you," he murmured as he enjoyed their physical closeness again. "Thank you for the party. It was great."

She smiled up at him. "You’re welcome. I had fun too! I like your friends a lot, Jax, although they are very loud and wild." Then she hugged Jax tightly. "I'm so happy for you getting this command, Jax. Scott told me how awesome this is. I’m insanely proud of you, but just swear you’ll be careful okay? Please?"

"I'm always careful, sweetheart, that’s why I’m on the team" he assured her, kissing the top of her hair. "Hey," he tipped her chin upwards so that she was looking at him. "I'm willing to relent and give you one -- just one – of your presents, right now. What do you say to that?"

"Really?" her eyes lit up like dark jewels. "Right now?"

"Right now," he said, giving her a kiss. "I'll be right back. Don't move."

Brenda sighed happily and then kicked off her shoes and went over to the vast array of windows, gazing out at the falling snow that looked so enchanting on this Christmas Eve. She looked up at the heavens, impossible to see due to the heavily falling snow.

"Thank you," she said. "Thank you for giving him to me." She closed her eyes for a moment then looked back out at the snow -- the dream-like quality it left on everything it touched outside.

Listen to me: I have beautiful dreams I can spin you
Dreams to linger within you
Close your eyes and we'll ride my carousel
I'll spin you stories of lovers whose love used to fill me
And the lovers who will be
For you see love is one thing I do well
Come let's believe love can be just as sweet as it seems
Let's live in dreams

"Merry Christmas Eve." Jax's voiced behind her, and his kiss against the back of her neck took her out of her warm reverie.

She spun around in his arms to find him holding a beautifully wrapped, small rectangular box with an iridescent silver bow. He handed it to her.

With a soft squeal of excitement, Brenda began to unwrap the gift as Jax watched her in complete fascination. The only other non-relative female he'd ever given gifts to was Ariel. And she had never reacted like this -- the unchecked joy and laughing anticipation, as wrapping paper was discarded hastily on the floor and the bow came flying off. Watching Brenda rip open the gift with barely contained excitement was a delightful and new experience that would now forever be a cherished part of his memories.

She gazed at the black velvet box curiously and then flipped it open and screamed.

There was the vibrant red ruby heart, surrounded by twinkling, white diamonds, the stunning pendant dangling from an elegant gold necklace.

"JAX!" she said, stunned by gift. Never in a million years was she expecting this. "Oh, my god… I don't believe it!" she said in astonishment, and then she laughed and poked his chest. "You saw me! You saw me looking at this in the store, didn't you? You had to. How else could you know?"

Jax smiled at her and nodded. "Yes, I saw you. You were trying very hard to be nonchalant about it, as I recall. But, I think I told you once before that I notice everything, Brenda. I saw the way your eyes lit up with wonder when you saw it. I knew then that I wanted you to have it."

"Oh, Jax, I love you!" she said, tossing her arms around him. "And I love this," she breathed as the firelight hit the jewel, and diamonds of rich red and icy white light sparkled across her eyes. "But this is too much," she said, gazing at the gem she had thought to be the most exquisite thing she'd ever seen in her life. But she remembered perfectly well that it had been in the 'rare jewels' section, and the absurdly astronomical price tag on it had made her eyes bug out at the time.

"No, it isn't too much," he said, taking it from her and sliding it around her neck. "It's perfect for you. In fact, I think every piece of jewelry I'll ever give to you will be in the shape of a heart. That’ll be my very own tradition that I can pass down to my son," he decided, winking at her as he fastened the clasp and saw how the bright ruby and diamonds glittered magnificently in the firelight against her golden skin. "Perfect" he repeated in an entranced whisper. "And you should get used to this, because I fully intend to give you all that you desire for the rest of your life," he warned her.

She leaned into him, her hands gripping his strong arms, and stood on her tiptoes and leisurely tasted his lips with hers. "I desire you," she said, her eyes sparking with dark passion.

"I can definitely give you that," he murmured as he slowly untied the red and green satin ribbons she had woven through the long French braid of her hair, and then he unwound the silky curls until a blanket of dark chestnut fell against her back and shoulders. "Multiple times in fact," he said as he brought her to him and unzipped the back of her dress, sending the soft silk swirling down her body and landing at her feet. "Every day if you want," he continued with a grin, as he lifted her in his arms and carried her over to the fireplace, pausing only to pull down some cushions and the soft, warm throw blanket from the couch onto the floor.

She laughed and fell helplessly into the titillating magic of his slow, deep kisses as he continued to undress her and then himself, positioning the cushions and blanket on the floor before placing her gently in the center. The feel of her smooth, soft body bathed golden in the firelight, beneath his, made his mind go blank with desire.

Brenda felt light-headed as passion took her body its willing hostage.

Snowy night
Where it's warm here by the fire
Here with you
I have all that I desire

Her moans of pleasure drove him wild and gave him fulfillment like he'd never known before. She was so honest about everything she was feeling, so uninhibitedly responsive to his touch, to his kisses, to him. He cautioned himself against hurrying her, even as his need and desire for her seemed to overwhelm everything inside of him. Jax moved over her, groaning over the pleasure he gained. "Do you like that?" he asked, softly.

She opened her eyes and looked at him as if he had to be out of his mind to even need to ask her that. "Oh, yes," she answered. Then she arched her hips up against him. "Do you like that?" she asked.

He might have nodded, he couldn't remember, for he was too consumed with unbelievable pleasure skyrocketing through him to notice.

As the tempo of their love dance increased, Jax claimed her mouth in a hot, sensual kiss and then whispered to her, "I love nothing so well as you."

Between her short breaths and the rush of fire inside of her, Brenda whispered back, "Is that Shakespeare?"

"Yes," he murmured, kissing her ravenously all over.

"From which story?" she asked, breathlessly, her fingers curling tightly into his hair as she felt herself mere seconds now from entering that pleasure palace to which Jax alone held the key of entry.

He began to answer her but the words vanished from his lips, blown away by the fire he felt sweeping through his body, then reaching out to capture his soul.

Brenda couldn't speak either, couldn't think. Jax was pulling her into the sun. The sensation of feeling weightless, like a winged fantasy being, was upon her once more as she took off in incredible flight with him. Her climax was unimaginable, consuming her in symphonic rhapsody. The force of Jax's own climactic moment stunned him as he felt it to the very depths of his soul, like some kind of inner earthquake, which left no damage in its wake, only an unbelievable rapture that lingered far, far into the quiet, snowy night.

Christmas Day, 9 a.m. - St. Christopher's Rectory - Port Charles . . .

Father Shamus O'Malley answered his door, surprised to find a huge delivery waiting for him: a very expensive gift basket full of fruits and sumptuous desserts.

"This was just delivered for you, Shamus. Merry Christmas," Father John said, going on his way down the corridor.

Father O'Malley placed the large basket on his desk and gazed at it curiously. What a lovely gift! But whom had it come from? He reached inside for the note, which said: "Begrudgingly, I confess that I owe you every apology. For you gave to me the greatest gift of all. The love of my life. Thank you & Merry Christmas." It was signed "The insolent pain in the rear"

Father O'Malley burst out laughing and clapped his hands. "Ah, so ye fell in love, did ye, lad! And I got me my apology after all now, didn't I?" He chuckled with glee and with genuine happiness that the blonde lad had found true love in the striking young lass. And then all at once, Father O'Malley clapped his hand to his head. "Oh, me goodness!" he blurted out. "They think they're really and truly legally wed, they do. Oh, me goodness, oh, me goodness! Well, the fault is mine. Lord, forgive me. I've got to make this right!"

He sat down at his little desk, plucked a juicy apple from the gift basket, and dialed the number on the card of the store that had compiled the basket.

"Top of the mornin' to ye, and Merry Christmas," he spoke into the phone. "I'm wonderin' if you can be of some service to me, ma'am. I just now received a lovely gift basket from yer establishment. Oh, yes, it's just lovely, ma'am, lovely. Can you please let me know where the order for this basket originated? Why, from yer very store, ye say? Well, where might ye be located please? Great Falls, Virginny? Sounds like a lovely town. No, I've never been there, but thinkin' of travelin' there mighty soon, I am. Good day to ye now, and thank ye for yer kind assistance ma'am."

Father O'Malley hung up and started packing.

There was a rap on his door as Father Garrick, a newly ordained young priest, entered.

"Good morning, Shamus. You've got service in half-an-hour, and I was just wondering if I might . . ."

"Oh, no, no, Thomas," Father O'Malley said, shaking his head and tossing a bit of clothing into his worn, black valise. "Ye'll have to take over fer me, me friend. I've got to hightail it to Virginny this very day, I tell ye."

Father Thomas Garrick smiled. "Virginia, you mean, Shamus? Whatever for?"

"Got me a weddin' service to perform, I do!" he announced with a grin, his vivid blue eyes twinkling. Then he frowned a bit. "Of course, I can't let the folks I'm plannin' to marry know that, though. I suppose I'll have te trick them somehow -- again. Fergive me, Lord," he murmured, glancing up at the ceiling.

Father Garrick laughed. "Come again?"

"Oh, 'tis a mess, son. 'Tis a fine mess I’ve cooked up. But I'm off to make it right, I am! Don’t ye worry about a thing." He picked up his spectacles, placed them on his face, and then his hat, and placed it on his head. Lastly, he tucked his Bible beneath his arm and then picked up his little valise.

"Shamus, are you sure you don't need any assistance?" Father Garrick asked, still bewildered about what Father Shamus was even up to.

"Oh, no dear boy, never ye mind. Ye just do me proud at me service today, all righty? I'm sure I'll find a helper once I reach me destination. "’Tis Christmas Day -- the time fer miracles, after all," he said confidently as he left the room and the rectory and hailed a cab for the airport to buy himself a ticket. He certainly hoped he was right about being able to find a helper in Virginny. He surely would need one if he ever were going to be able to pull this off smoothly with no one being the wiser.

"Oh, fer the love of the Lord, just look at me self," he murmured with a shake of his snowy white hair as he sat in the cab. "Playin' Cupid on Christmas Day!"