Game Day
by Cowgirl

chapter 30 - Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Two hours after their excursion to the Garden, Sonny stood, freshly showered in his black Armani suit with a crimson red silk shirt and black tie, his hair slicked back on his head. He stared out at New York City from their balcony anxiously awaiting Alexis' who was still getting ready in the bedroom. They had returned from the Garden and had fallen asleep together, exhausted from their mock game of basketball and the sheer adrenaline of the entire weekend. He stretched his neck to one side and thought about the evening ahead of them. Alexis said she was taking him somewhere fancy, but she wouldn't tell him where just yet. He smiled contently when he heard the bedroom door open and Alexis softly call out his name. He turned from the balcony and moved back into the room, stopping dead in his tracks when his eyes landed on the vision of Alexis standing in front of him. His breath caught at the sight of her and he let it out slowly. "Wow." It was all he could manage to get out as his eyes drank in the sight of her. She stood before him wearing a black silk dress that flared out slightly just above her knees and was held to her delicate shoulders by two thin straps. Her hair was swept up on her head and held with an elegant black and rhinestone clip, two rhinestone earrings dangling from her lobes with a choker to match. His eyes traveled downward to her incredibly long legs clad in sheer black hose that led down to the most seductive pair of black stiletto heels he had ever seen.

A slight blush crept across Alexis' face at his obvious admiration. "You like?"

Sonny's eyebrows lifted and he gave his head a quick shake. "You look . . . incredible." He slowly moved toward her and captured one of her graceful hands in his, twirling her around so he could see the complete package. Her dress was cut low, almost to the small of her back, her smooth, dark skin peeking out at him. He turned her back toward him and pulled her close, her gardenia perfume filling his senses. "We better leave or we're not going to make it out of here," Sonny whispered in her ear.

She dipped her head. "That good, huh?"

He nodded. "More than good. You're beautiful Alexis," he said softly, capturing her eyes.

She offered him a shy smile. "You look pretty handsome yourself," she said, taking a step back to look at him. "Very handsome."

Sonny smiled and rubbed a hand across his mouth, shaking his head. "I'm serious . . . we need to leave this room."

Alexis flashed him a dimpled grin. "Whatever happened to that self proclaimed self control?"

Sonny chuckled and gestured at her with both hands. "This . . . " he said indicating her. "This is taking temptation to new heights." He moved closer to her and pulled her to him. "I'm sorry . . . " he said awkwardly. "I just gotta . . . " he shook his head once more and claimed her mouth in a slow deepening kiss, his hands moving to the exposed skin of her back.

Alexis felt her knees going weak as she melted into his kiss, the sensation of his fingers roaming her back and the intoxicating scent of his cologne too much to take. She placed her hands on his chest and gently separated herself from him. "We should go," she said with an embarrassed smile.

Sonny, out of breath, nodded his head. "Yeah . . . right now." He took her hand and led her out of the room and into the waiting elevator in the hall. He forced himself to look straight ahead and not stare as they rode down in silence to the lobby where Max stood up from his seat and headed for the limo.

They sat close in the limo, their legs touching from their feet all the way up. Sonny took Alexis' hand and intertwined their fingers together on his thigh. "So, are you going to let me in on where we're going yet?"

Alexis raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "No, you'll just have to be patient until we get there."

Sonny licked his lips subconsciously and grinned. "Believe me when I tell you I'm being patient."

Alexis laughed. "Is that what I've become to you? A sex object?" she said emphatically.

Sonny moved the hand that wasn't holding hers to her face and cupped her cheek. "I think you know what you've become to me, Alexis."

Alexis had been teasing with her statement about being a sex object, but his response and the desperate look in his eyes when he responded, brought a meteor-sized lump to her throat. She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder as she felt her eyes well up. Sonny nuzzled his head against hers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. They rode the rest of the way to their destination in silence.

They drove for several more minutes before Sonny sat up straight, peering out the car's windows. "Hey, we're in Brooklyn," he said turning to Alexis.

"So we are," she said smiling.

They turned another corner and the Brooklyn Bridge came into view. Sonny smiled. "I haven't been here in so long."

He looked at his companion. "Come on, give it up, where are we going?"

Alexis' face was lit up by her smile. "We'll be there in minutes if you'd just hold on."

Sonny squeezed her hand gently. "That's exactly what I plan to do."

They crossed the bridge and turned at the first street, pulling up to a restaurant. Sonny raised an eyebrow. "The River Café?"

"You guessed," Alexis said with mock disappointment.

"I've seen this place a million times, but I've never been there."

"It's quite lovely."

Max opened the door and Sonny escorted Alexis out of the limo and into the restaurant. She approached the maitre de who came out from behind the desk he stood at and took her hands. "Miss Davis, how lovely to have you here with us again," he said smiling.

"Thank you George, it's been a long time. Did you receive my request?"

He nodded emphatically and waved over a young man in a waiter's uniform. "I did indeed." He turned to the young man. "Please escort Miss Davis and her guest to their table in the Terrace Room." He looked back to Alexis. "Charles here will be your server for the evening. He will see that you get whatever you need Miss Davis."

Alexis nodded and thanked the man before they followed the waiter into the Terrace Room, which Alexis had put out a great deal of money to ensure that they had to themselves. Sonny looked around the intimate dining area as the crossed the room. There was a table with a white linen tablecloth covering it that sat in front a large picture window with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and it's lights. Sonny marveled at the spectacular scene. He waited until the server sat them and left to get their drinks before he spoke. "You got the room reserved just for us?"

Alexis nodded. "I did," she sighed, not sure what he would think of that.

Sonny nodded as well. "That must've cost you."

Alexis smiled. "Yes, it did," she answered, folding her arms on the table and leaning on them. "Worth every penny though I think," she said thoughtfully.

Sonny opened his mouth to protest, but knew it would only launch her into a lecture about how he is worthy of her spending money on him. Instead he said. "You didn't have to spend all this money on me to do something nice for me Lex."

Alexis tilted her head and looked at him with a smile. "I know that," she said quietly. "But when was the last time anyone did?"

Sonny started to answer her when the waiter arrived with their drinks. They ordered their meal and engaged in polite conversation as they waited. After their meal Sonny leaned back in his chair and loosened the not on his tie just a bit. "That was delicious."

Alexis nodded in agreement. "I've always loved the food here."

Sonny leaned forward, his arms resting on the table. "You've been here a lot?"

"When I lived in Manhattan, I used to come here every once in a while. It was a great place to take clients."

Sonny reached over and lifted the champagne that they'd been drinking out of the ice bucket, filling both of their glasses. He set the bottle back into the ice and lifted his glass. "A toast?"

Alexis raised an eyebrow and lifted her own glass. "What shall we toast to?"

Sonny thought for a moment. "To the best friendship that I've ever had."

Alexis blushed and smiled. "Here, here," she said quietly and clicked his glass.

Sonny turned his head as the sound of music wafting into the room. "They have a band here?"

"On weekends they have a combo that plays here."

Sonny stood and moved to Alexis, offering her his hand. "Care to dance Miss Davis?"

Alexis clasped her hand in his. "I would love to, Mr. Corinthos."

They moved away from their table and into one another's embrace, moving slowly and rhythmically with the slow jazzy music that came from the other room. Sonny's hand found its way to the bare skin of her back that he had been thinking about all night. He longed to stand behind her and kiss her bronzed skin from top to bottom and smiled at the thought as he twirled Alexis in his arms. He looked into her eyes and she gazed back at him, a smile playing between them as they read one another's thoughts about how the night would probably end. Sonny tightened his hold on Alexis. "This has been the most incredible weekend of my life."

Alexis smiled. "I'm glad you've enjoyed everything."

Sonny nodded his head. "I did, but you know what?"

Alexis shook her head.

"Everything we saw this weekend, the game, the Garden, this restaurant . . . they were great . . . but just being alone with my beautiful best friend and enjoying her . . . I liked that the best."

Alexis lowered her head and looked up at him through her long lashes. "You don't have to say that."

Sonny stopped dancing and held Alexis out at arm's length. "No, I didn't," he said softly as his eyes again wandered over her and how incredible she looked. He moved in closer to her. "What do you say we get out of here?"

Alexis chewed on the corner of her lip. "What do you want to do now?"

Sonny sighed and moved his face next to her ear, his breath tickling her neck. "I want to take you back to the hotel and make love to you."

Alexis felt a warm rush of electricity run through her body as she looked up into his eyes. "I'll get the check," she said, a smile gracing her face.

chapter 31