Elizabeth Webber peeked out her bedroom door, searching the hallway to see if he was still there and like always, he was. Jason Morgan was the most reliable man she'd ever known. He rose with the sun and protected her with his life. He was a paradigm of strength with an edge of danger. God, the man was all muscle and hard lines and if Elizabeth had her way she would have been his by now. She would have felt those muscles under her fingers as they made love over and over. Closing her eyes, Elizabeth moved away from the door and sank down on her bed.

Assigned to her by her 'businessman' father, Jason had protected her for a long time and sadly he still saw her as the seventeen year old girl she'd been the day she met him.

How long had she been in love with him anyway? Elizabeth Webber didn't care for the details any longer. All she knew was that her heart belonged with the one man in the world she couldn't have, Jason Morgan. Bodyguard. She scoffed at the very notion. Oh he had the body part down, but how did he guard her? What was it seven times this month she had lost him in a crowd?

Her father had hired him because he was supposed to be the best and for a while he was. Liz had tried everything to get his attention, bending down at all the right times to give him a good look at her barely eighteen year old butt, walking around in shorts and baby tee's during all seasons, accidentally-on- purpose forgetting to shut her door while she changed and he stood outside protecting her. None of it had worked. The man had willpower of steel and just once she wished she could turn it molten. Now with her pending graduation from art school, she was planning on giving it one last shot and then she was going to give up.

-

Jason Morgan was dying a slow painful death. Elizabeth Webber was a woman he could never have. Wanting something he knew he shouldn't have, made him want it all the more. And he wanted Elizabeth. Since she became an adult nearly three years ago, he knew she was playing games with him. He resisted, but there was barely anything left of his restraint now. He feared the next time they were in a room alone together he would pick her up, throw her down and make the most passionate love to her either of them would ever experience. He used to be good at his job. He used to be detached. It was never personal, until he fell in love with her.

Over the years he'd watched her bloom into a beautiful young woman and all that time he'd been so tempted. He called himself sick, a pervert, anything that would stop him from touching her. She was soft in all the right places and what he wouldn't give to feel her pressed against his chest, against his whole body for that matter and preferably while they made love.

Shaking the image out of his head and shifting the bulge that was beginning to form in his pants, Jason spotted Elizabeth. "Miss Webber," Jason said flatly, watching as she left her room and skirted down the hallway. He followed as always.

"Really Jason, I think I can do this on my own. It's just graduation." She rolled her eyes.

"It's a big day for you Miss Webber. Your father would be proud," he said softly in that low sexy voice of his.

Elizabeth sent him a deadly stare, and then softened when she saw the quiet concern behind his thick lashes. "My father doesn't give two shit's about me and we both know it."

Jason frowned. It was true her father was barely around; always had business to take care of. The man was hardly a father and it was Jason who remembered her birthdays and Christmas and always sent presents on his behalf. "That's not true."

"Sure. Whatever." She walked to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of orange juice and straightening out her gown. She was nervous, he could tell. "Here, help me with the zipper." The smile she flashed him was wicked.

"I'm sure Johnny could help you."

"I'm sure he could, but I don't see him standing around right here beside me, do you? Stop acting like I asked you to throw me down on the kitchen counter and ravish me. Now, zip me up. Unless you want me to ask you to ravish me," she teased, turning to give him access to the gown.

With a frustrated sigh, Jason's hand went to the silver pull that seemed so small in his large fingers. He made the mistake of letting a clumsy finger touch the creamy skin of her back. It was torture. Sweet, sinful torture. Pulling on the zipper, he quickly did it up and then took a few much needed steps back. "All done," he announced.

"Now really, was that so hard," she said as she faced him. Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall and he followed the movement. "I guess we should get going."

"You'll do fine," he said quietly, not daring to look her in the eye.

"Thanks Morgan." Putting her dish in the sink, she took the umbrella he offered her. Stopping by the mirror to make sure her make-up was okay, she spotted a vase of flowers. "Who are the flowers for?"

He looked over his shoulder and shrugged. "Who do you think?"

Elizabeth walked over and took out the card. "Love, Dad." She laughed. "Jason, next time at least try to disguise your handwriting."

"I-I don't kn-"

"You're slipping Morgan. It's an amateur mistake." Still looking down at the card that was filled out by Jason's masculine handwriting her stomach clenched. Only Jason would be caring enough to do anything like this for her. And even though she knew flowers were not his style, she knew he'd done the best he could to make her happy, knowing she loved fresh orchids. "Thanks," she whispered, stepping closer to him. "You're always here when I need you." She looked into his eyes, brought her hand to his cheek and smoothed it down his face to his chest.

"You're welcome," he responded shyly. He breathed in the intoxicating smell of her and was drowning. He could stay like this, with her, forever and not care if it was against his duties and that he was getting too close. But as she leaned in even further and tilted her head ever so slightly at just the right angle for him to kiss her, he backed away a step. "We should go."

Fear made him pull away and lead her to the car. The last thing he needed was to make her miss her graduation by throwing her down right in the foyer and making hot sweaty love to her.

----

The rain came down hard above them, coating the tent in fresh beads of water. Jason watched, so proud as Elizabeth accepted her diploma. She turned to him and smiled and it was the best feeling in the world.

He didn't care, he couldn't take this torture any longer. Tonight he would take her to dinner, not as her bodyguard, not as a friend but as something more; something he couldn't put into words.

Jason stood back, watched Elizabeth as she and her friends congratulated one another.

By the time they crossed paths after all the hoopla, the sky had become coated with dark clouds pregnant with rain. The thunder clapped in the distance as a steady drizzle splashed against the already damp ground.

"How do you feel?" Jason asked as he approached Elizabeth all the while keeping an eye on the people around them. He was still on duty; still the one to protect her. Just two more hours and he would be free of this job. Free to date Elizabeth Webber. Free to do more than he had in the past four years.

"The same," she sighed. "I thought I might actually feel different, but I don't. How do I look? Do you see any differences?" She spun around, twirling the gown and tassels on her cap.

"Not really," he said softly. "But you're all grown up, aren't you Miss Webber."

"Are you ever going to call me Elizabeth, Jason?"

"I might," he laughed, and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards the limo. The motion send a spark of awareness through them both.

"Thanks for coming Jason. Even if I don't say it, I like having you around." She turned and gave him a quick hug, burrowing into his jacket and feeling his muscular frame wield to her.

"I know. I like being around." It was his turn to sigh. "Miss Webber, this is the last night I'll be your bodyguard," he said finally after she'd gotten into the limo and straightened out her dress.

"What?" She asked panicked. "Why? What did I do?" She had to look up at him from her place on the seat.

"Nothing," Jason told her as he followed her into the backseat and was finally at eye level.

"I promise I won't run away anymore and I'll listen to you, I will." The tears collected in her eyes and before she could stop herself, she flung herself into Jason's arms. "Don't leave me." Her face was buried deep in his chest and she could smell his spicy cologne. "You're the only one who really cares about me."

He stroked his fingers through her hair and tipped her chin so she was forced to look at him. "I'm not leaving you."

"But you said..." He quieted her when his fingers brushed down her face to rest on her soft lips.

Jason's lips stretched into a soft smile. "We'll talk about it over dinner."

"Dinner?"

"It isn't everyday you graduate, now is it?" He smiled, cupped her cheek, dropped his hand when he realized his intimate gesture and then forced himself to look away. He still had two more hours on the clock before he was no longer Elizabeth Webber's bodyguard and he intended to stay professional to the end.

----

Elizabeth came down the stairs dressed in a simple black dress, the kind all women should own because it went with everything. Jason watched, swallowed hard and then smiled at the petite brunette. "Ready?" Jason held out his hand for her and she took it eagerly. He was dressed plain in a pair of dark pants, t-shirt and leather jacket.

"As I'll ever be. Why are you doing this Jason?" Liz looked at him curiously. He seemed different somehow; she couldn't quite place it. Then she realized he wasn't wearing the bulky shoulder holster or the knife strapped around his ankle. His eyes weren't cold or evasive and he had a twinkle in his eye she'd never seen before. He looked... relaxed. "What's going on?"

His smile was devious and it reached his eyes making them sparkle. "For years we've been playing this game Miss Webber and I'm finally in a position to do something about it. This is a date."

Elizabeth was left speechless. How often had she dreamed of this moment? Of course Jason was unconventional and hadn't even asked her if this is what she wanted, even though they both knew she wanted nothing more. "And what makes you think I'll go on this date with you?" She questioned. Her voice was deep, husky as she purred against the shell of his ear. Her lips brushed his lobe and he closed his eyes.

For years he'd wanted to feel her lips on him, anywhere and everywhere and he was pretty sure she felt the same way and now he wasn't sure they'd make it through dinner if she kept it up. Hell, the way she pushed against his groin he doubted they'd even make it out the door if he didn't back away at that instant. Taking a full two steps backward, he laughed a soft nervous laugh. "You forget one thing Miss Webber."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"I know everything about you," He whispered as he held her coat out for her. She stepped into it and he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Everything?" She challenged, bucking her hips against him.

"After tonight..."

"Car's out front boss," Johnny interrupted and Jason immediately let go of Liz.

"Johnny, I'm not your boss anymore."

"Right. Well, I guess old habits die hard." Johnny smiled, heading back outside towards the limo.

Jason held out his arm for Elizabeth and she took it, stepping with him out the door.

Looking at the woman in front of him Jason was taken back by the overwhelming feeling of love that gripped his heart. Taking a step closer, Jason touched her cheek with his rough hand. She was soft and pliant under his touch and the tiny gasp she let out in surprise was the sexiest sound he'd ever heard. "Elizabeth I..." He stopped, turned, strained as if listening to something only he could hear. "Get down!" He yelled and dove on top of her as bullets streamed through the air. The glass window at the front of the restaurant shattered, crashing the shards to the sidewalk. His body was heavy over hers and she could barely breath. It would be a lie to think she wasn't scared. The truth was she was petrified, not just for herself, but for Jason. He had no reason to protect her any longer, yet his first instinct was to cover her body with his own.

The roar of bullets tapered off and Elizabeth tentatively opened her eyes. She could still feel the heavy weight of her ex-bodyguard on top of her. Gently she nudged him. "Jason!?"

There was no response and immediately her heart began to pound fast and hard against her chest. "Help!" She yelled as she tried to get out from under Jason. Then Johnny was there, shifting Jason onto his back and checking for injuries. Elizabeth looked down at herself and immediately knew her fear was justified. There was blood everywhere. On her dress. Her hands. The ground. On him. "Oh God," she whimpered, crawling over to Jason where Johnny kneeled down putting pressure on the wound. "Is he? Oh God," she cried again. "Johnny please, do something."

"Stay there Miss Webber, you don't want to see this," he said, holding his forearm out so she couldn't come any closer.

"Don't!" She yelled harshly. "He needs me," she said overcome with emotion.

Moving to the side, Johnny nodded and let her by. She immediately took his hand and kissed it. "Jason, come on, open your eyes. Do it for me Morgan," she whispered close to his ear as she dragged her lips over his temple.

There was no response on his part. She could feel the coldness sinking through her veins. She had a horrible feeling that was increasing by the seconds.

Smoothing her hand down his face, she closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her face. Why was this happening? Why now?

She kissed his lips so softly she barely touched him at all. Years she had waited for this moment but she never pictured it like this. Her fantasies never had her holding his bloody hand while more of the crimson liquid oozed out of his chest. "Ja-ason," she cried shakily. His fingers were so cold and it made her physically hurt for him. "Don't you dare think you can leave me now, not when we've waited so long to be together!" She sobbed, caressing his pale face. The colour red would now only be remembered as the colour of blood. Rich, dark crimson stained her dress, her hands, her heart. He was gone. Dead. There was nothing she could do. "I need you! No!" She wiped her eyes fiercely, smudging some of his blood on her cheek without realizing it. "I won't let you leave me. You owe me Morgan!"