Destiny’s Child

Chapter 5

V flushed, knowing she’d been caught, and she wondered if Jax had done that on purpose knowing that Jerry would be out of the shower any time, to leave his mark on her. She followed him out of his apartment and out to the car, asking as she got in and buckled up, "How much did you see when you came in?" She asked meekly, wondering if the fury that darkened Jerry's features was directed at her or his brother.

"Enough to know that Jasper is marking his territory, and that you are now officially off limits if I want anything to do with my brother from here on out." Jerry said with a sigh. He had never had any designs on V before now but when she had appeared at his door she had captivated and excited him like no woman had in a very long time. He had intended to make his interest known when Jasper had apparently noticed his former assistant.

V bristled, not liking this newest twist of fate. "I’m no man’s property or territory, as you both should know, after working with me all this time. If you two think I’m the newest game to keep you occupied, you both had better give it up now, before I get angry."

Jerry glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and started the car. "I know that you’re not a game or a toy to fight over. I have more respect for women in general and especially you, to do that. If baby brother has decided to set his cap for you, he’s not going to get any kind of fight from me. He can win you and lose you all on his own, I don’t need to help him along any." He didn’t say anything more for a moment, but then started up again. "You’ve also made it very clear, which brother you prefer, and it’s not me. A man’s ego can only take so much before it gives up. Most women prefer the blonde one, so I don’t need the headache of losing again.

V felt so horrible about all of this. She really was drawn to both men but she had no idea how to convey that to Jerry without painting herself in a very bad light "Jerry it's so complicated." She said, silenced when his hand went up in a motion that dismissed any further explanation or protest.

"We're here. I don't want to talk about this any more V." Jerry said quietly. He watched her profile; enchanted by the way she worked her lower lip between her teeth as she struggled for words that just wouldn't come. "Can we forget about Jasper?" He asked quietly.

V nodded, happy to have the reprieve. Stepping onto the waiting launch, she caught her heel in the gap between two worn boards. Staggering, coming very close to falling headfirst into the Port Charles harbor, she gasped when strong male arms encircled her waist.

"Let go of me Jerry." She said firmly, ignoring the tingle of her body as it brushed against his.

"If I let you go luv, you'll be going for a swim." Jerry said into her ear, as he tried to work her heel free of the clinging board.

"I don't care." V said furious to be so effected by his firm form against hers. This was too nice and this after the kiss from Jax sent her reeling. "Please Jerry." She said in a softer voice. "Please let me go." Dangerously close to tears, V met his eyes, the plea shimmering and threatening to fall from her brown eyes.

Discomforted both by his desire for her and her emotional condition, Jerry worked harder to free her captive foot. 'There we go Luv." He said as he set her on her feet, ignoring the three inch piece of wood that had pierced his palm.

V immediately leaned down to check the condition of her shoe. "Well at least it isn't broken." She said half to herself as she spied the launch driver watching them impatiently. "Come on Jerry." She said grabbing his hand, pulling back when he nearly yelped in pain. "What's wrong?" V asked turning his bloodied palm over. A jagged piece of wood protruded from deep within the middle of his palm. "Oh Jerry I'm so sorry." She said as she gingerly tried to work the wood out.

"Don't." He ground out. Grasping to wood firmly, he pulled it out. There were quite a few stray splinters but he'd deal with them later. Plunging his hand into the polluted harbor wasn't the best idea but it was cold and washed away some of the splinters.

Turning to V, Jerry gave her an embarrassed smile. "I need you to do something for me luv." He said motioning to his jeans pocket. "I have a clean handkerchief in there but I can't get to it right now. Can you?"

V colored as she glanced into Jerry's pain tautened features. "All right." She said swallowing n nervously, then plunging her hand into his pocket. Why did the man have to wear such tight jeans, she wondered reaching around? Jerry let out a very male sound as V's eyebrows shot up and she pulled the scrap of cotton out, her face in flames.

"Sorry." She said quietly as she stared at the water ahead of them.

"I'm not." Jerry said with a wolfish look on his face. "That was more than I bargained for." He couldn't stop himself from adding as he moistened the cotton with some water and wrapped it around his hand. "Would you like to play what's in Jerry's other pocket or are you ready to go?"

"I'm ready." V said, furious again. What was it about these Jacks men? Were they determined to annoy her at all costs?

"Temper temper." Jerry said as he stepped onto the launch. "You didn't seem to protest when you were rummaging around n there. What did you expect to find, the Eiffel Tower?"

Without so much as a word, V hit his shoulder with her closed fist. He was really taking things too far now. "Enough Jerry" She finally managed to force through her clenched teeth.

"I don't know about you, but it was bloody good for me." Jerry replied with his most innocent smile.