"You do Frankie justice Ms. Jensen."
Frankie? Frankie who? She was still overcome with the sensation of his fingertips touching her. And then the ringing, the shrilling ringing noise.
The ringing noise?
Dara snapped her eyes open, to the sound of a ringing noise. The phone! She darted quickly across the room and snatched up the cordless phone.
"Hello?" she asked, slightly breathless.
"Hi, it's me," Marcus answered, his voice full of curiosity but he paused for a moment before continuing, "you didn't call last night like you said you would. I called instead and you didn't answer, I was a bit worried."
Dara shut her eyes, right, Marcus was at Luke's, he left on a call before they could celebrate her well recieved performance, she promised she'd call. "I'm sorry, I was really tired, I turned off the ringer and just went right to bed," she apologized, trying to keep her voice calm and sincere. Oh lord, she was already lying, she grimaced crossly.
"Oh good, I'm sorry, I don't want to pry, you've never done that before and I got, you know," Marcus's voice trailed off. He was relieved nothing had happened to her, but he didn't want to sound or appear to be hounding her every move.
"I know, I appreciate your concern," Dara smiled, desperate to change the subject, "umm, are we still on for lunch today?" she asked brightly.
"You bet, noon at the Grille right?" Marcus responded happily as he leaned back in his chair and glanced at the clock, "if I get held up, I'll call you okay?"
Dara smiled as she flicked on the air conditioner full blast and opened a few of her blinds a crack to let the morning sun stream into her cozy apartment. "No problem and thanks for checking up on me Marcus," she said, her voice soft. She was glad for his friendship, after all, it was hard for Dara to make friends. She had a shyness about her and only the most willing ever hung around long enough to find what was behind it. The rewards were great though, Dara was the most truthworthy and loyal of people, a permanent bond was formed when Dara considered someone her friend, it would last a lifetime.
Dara quickly hung up the phone and entered her bathroom for a quick shower. Afterwards, she exited the bathroom, dried and got dressed. She grabbed the half full bottle of white wine from her fridge and a flute before settling into the plush pillows of her sofa and with the click of the remote, her stereo whirred the CDs around before Frank Sinatra's gorgeous crooning filled the room. Dara leaned back into the comfortable sofa and closed her eyes as she sipped the fine wine, enjoying the moment, feeling proud that for at least the time being, Sonny Corinthos was the furthest thing from her mind.
Strangers in the night
Exchanging glances
Wandering in the night
What were the chances
We'd be sharing love?
Before the night was through
Something in your eyes
Was so inviting
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart
Told me I must have you
*Flashback*
"It's a beautiful song isn't it?"
Dara's eyes jolted upwards to where Sonny Corinthos was standing in front of her. Her eyes darted the unusually dark club and decided it was safe to be polite.
"Yes, but it's Sinatra," Dara said, trying to keep her voice cool and detatched.
Sonny gave her a grin before pulling out the chair in front of her and took the seat, "you mind?" he asked, his dark chocolate colored eyes teasing hers. Dara waved her hand with disinterest, there was nothing wrong with humoring him, he was no longer 'officially' with the mob, no real harm could be done, could it?
A few silent moments passed before Sonny leaned forward, "you know, Sammy Davis once said it was impossible to imitate him, nobody could do Frankie, there was just something about him you couldn't touch." Dara looked him over quickly. He looked sincere and full of admiration as his eyes stared off over her right shoulder, drinking in the music and the voice singing to it.
"So why did you say I did him justice?" she asked, somewhat challenging him, somewhat interested in where the conversation was going.
His eyes roved back to hers and he smiled, his dimples flashing brieftly. "You have a beautiful voice, but so do a lot of others. Thing is, when the others sing Frank's stuff, they sing it like he did. You don't, you do it your way, that's how you do him justice. You sing just like he did, you sing honestly."
Dara stared for a moment, taken aback by his compliment. His gaze didn't break as he stared back at her. A chill ran through Dara, nobody had ever described her singing like that before. She gazed thoughtfully at his gentle face, before finding her voice again, "thank you, nobody's ever said anything like that to me before,"she stuttered, feeling herself blush as she tripped over the words. The way he was looking at her, she couldn't recall the last time anybody had looked at her the way he was either.
"I can't imagine why," Sonny's voice drawled softly as his hand reached across the table to touch hers. Dara sucked in her breath as his thumb ran lightly over the back of her hand, but she didn't pull away. In the back of her mind, something screamed for her to wake up, to realize who she was with and what she was doing, but for some reason, she carefully chose to ignore the pleas.
"Care to dance?" Sonny was already out of his seat, gently tugging Dara to her feet. She rose slowly, willingly and walked from the table, her grip tightening on his hand, feeling suddenly self concious, out of place. It was wrong, it was all wrong, this shouldn't be happening, not with him and certainly not with her. Sonny pulled her close, but kept a polite distance and the two slowly moved to the music.
It felt strange, feeling his strong arms around her, guiding her in their dance and there she was enjoying herself, feeling herself close the distance between them, forgetting everything around them.
But only for a moment.
Dara suddenly stiffened and pulled from Sonny slightly. What on *earth* was she doing? You are dancing with *Sonny Corinthos* a man a few short months ago, you were hell bent on throwing into prison she admonished herself crossly. She turned her face to look at his. His face was curious, almost mystified that she interrupted the movement. He tilted his head to the side, as if trying to read her. Dara pulled from him, violently this time, "I have to leave," she mumbled, overcome with deep shame, angry will herself, and she rushed from the dance floor to her table, grabbed her purse and walked briskly out the club door leaving Sonny behind.
"Dara wait!" his voice rang out. It was urgent, almost apologetic and although she shouldn't have stopped just outside the club doorway, she did.
*~*
Dara's eyes opened with a sigh, forgetting about her encounter with Sonny Corinthos was going to be harder than expected.
******
Sonny leaned back thoughtfully in his seat, examining the reports for last month's shipping schedules for the docks, grimacing at the dramatic drop in profits since Taggert's near weekly raids of their warehouses due to 'anonymous' tip offs.
Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away
*Flashback*
Sonny turned his head gently, listening to the lyrics carefully. He never thought someone like Dara Jensen would turn his head. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt in that, but it wasn't until he heard her sultry voice croon those exact words, that he really sat up and noticed her.
*~*
"Come on in, Johnny doesn't bite," Sonny chided Dara as she entered the Penthouse cautiously. She couldn't remember ever having been to his place, and Marcus had only ever described it as having lots of open space, but it took Dara's breath away, somebody had done justice to the magnificent home. She took a few steps forward, feeling a little nervous as Johnny silently shut the front door behind them.
"Care for a drink?" he asked, glancing at her quickly before he fixed his own drink. Dara shook her head politely, "I'm just here to see the autograph Mr. Corinthos," she said pleasantly.
Sonny nodded and set the drink down on the dining room table, "right, right, I'll be back," he said, heading off down the hallway to his study. Dara walked a few more steps near the chesterfield and sat against the back.
Sonny quickly came back into the room, picture in hand and handed it to Dara, "I got it about ten years ago in Vegas, he was performing and I got to go backstage. Man, I was like a little kid, gushing to him about how I was a big fan."
Dara took the black and white framed photo from Sonny and examined it carefully, "Michael, glad you enjoyed the show, see you in New York," she read aloud before running her finger gently along the scrawled signature, "Frank Sinatra." She looked up, awed at Sonny's treasure, "wow, but why did he write Michael?"
Sonny gave her a sheepish grin, "I didn't want him to think I was some punk kid, so I told him my real name. Jimmy, the guy I was with, his eyes practically popped out of his head, he never heard me say my real name and we'd been working together about 4 years at that point, he was so surprised," Sonny shook his head, a smile on his face at the memory.
Dara mirrored the smile as she looked at the picture again, "so did you see him in New York?"
"Naw, I was out of town. You know, I never saw him perform in New York, only in Vegas," Sonny commented and Dara smiled at him. She'd only ever seen him perform once, years ago in San Fransisco, "he was so great live," she remarked.
"Oh yeah, he was the best," Sonny affirmed, his voice trailing off as he took in Dara's relaxed, almost happy demeanor. He couldn't get over how bright her eyes were or the warmth that radiated from her as she examined the framed photo one last time before handing it back to him.
"Thanks for showing it to me," Dara said graciously, but it wasn't long before the awkward nervousness came over her once again and although it wasn't cold, she suddenly shivered.
Sonny placed the picture down and approached her, "you're cold," he observed, instinctively putting his hands on her slim arms and rubbed them gently before Dara could move. Dara couldn't contain the excited thrill that ran through her body and a sigh escaped her before she shook her head gently. "Sonny, I just came to see the picture," she spoke softly, trying to give herself some clarity, but his touch was just so spellbinding.
"I know," he responded, his voice, just as soft as hers, but he knew the feelings were growing stronger, the longer his skin touched hers.
"I should go," she whispered, feeling herself take a step towards him.
"So go," he murmured gently, moving his hands up her arms and along her shoulders, illiciting another sigh from Dara as the two continued to gaze at each other, ignoring their surroundings completely.
Sonny waited patiently for her to turn her eyes away and step back, but she didn't. His hands cupped her face gently and he pulled her towards him slowly, paintfully slowly, waiting for her to break it off.
But she didn't.
His lips barely touched hers at first, grazing his top lip with her bottom, before pulling back, as if asking permission to continue. Her hands seem to come to life as she gently settled them on the waistband of his pants and she leaned her head forward, seeking him out. Finally, their lips connected for the second time in a long, lingering kiss, first being curious and and slow before giving into the craving of more that both desired.
*~*
Sonny gently touched his fingers to his lips, he could still feel her, the softness of her full lips on his mouth. Sonny had at times, wondered what it would be like to kiss the woman who worked so tirelessly in the past to put him behind bars and in one surprising night, he found out. He sighed, remembering how wonderful it had been to feel her in his arms.
Sonny rose and grabbed his coat and hurried to put it on. "Johnny, bring the car around!" he shouted to the front door. Sonny quickly checked himself over before opening the front door. As he and Johnny entered the elevator and the doors slid shut, one thing was on Sonny's mind.
He needed to see her.
He needed to see her now.