Gabi looked over at Antonio, who was carefully avoiding looking her in the eye. Ricardo had insisted on him coming in for a few minutes after Antonio had dropped them off at the loft, but she could see that Antonio was about to tell Ricardo that he had to go. She knew he was angry at her for kissing Ricardo, and she desperately wanted to explain what had happened to him.
"Well, Ricardo, I need to get going." He finally glanced Gabi's way, and she was stung by teh betrayel thier. "You and Gabi have a nice night."
He stepped outside before either of them
could say a word to him. He couldn't believe that Gabi had done this to
him. He had really, truly thought...no, he had know, that she loved him
more than she loved his brother, but the minute she was alone with Ricardo,
she was in his arms. His heart ached thinking of how it felt to be on the
recieving end of her passion, and how today, that it had been Ricardo there
instead of him. At that moment, he almost hated her for doing this to him.
He desperately wanted her to come running out of the door with some reason
to explain why she had been kissing his brother.
Gabi watched him leave, knowing that she had to do something, and fast. She glanced up at Ricardo, an idea forming.
"Hey, Ricardo, I'm going to stay tonight at Surf Central. I think I'll go see if Antonio has enough time to drop me off by there on his way to the mi-" She stopped, remembering that he wansn't living at the mission anymore. He was no longer a priest. "On his way home."
Ricardo had been expecting this. He wasn't fond of the idea of putting his wife and her lover together, but he wanted them to talk. Or, rather, to fight. And they couldn't do that if they were apart, or in front on him. The only alternative was to let them be alone.
"Sure, Gabs. Whatever you want. I love
you." He forced her into another long, hot kiss before she took off to
catch Antonio. He watched her go, then grinned to himself. This was going
to be a piece of cake. No couple that starts out the way Antonio and Gabi
did could ever actually last.
"Antonio!" She was happily surprised to see him still standing by his car. She had been hoping that she wasn't too late, that he hadn't already left.
"What do you want, Gabi?" He asked in a wary voice. He didn't want her to tell him that she had changedh er mind. He didn't want her to apoligize, or say that she was staying with her husband.
"An...Antonio, I'm so sorry. I don't know what.....I can't....I'm sorry." She wiped away a tear that had fallen from her eye, and tried to force the words out. They weren't coming easily. The sight of the man she loved hurt by her was a saddening one.
"You don't have to explain, Gabi. I know that you love him. Just go back inside, and be his wife. You aren't mine, and you never will be." There words were breaking Gabi's heart. She ran closer to him, grabbing his arm and making him look her in the eye.
"No! Antonio, you are wrong. I love you, more than Ricardo, more than anything in this world! I am yours, I belong to you, with all my heart and soul. I love you so much, Antonio, you have to believe me." He finally found the anger that had been missing when she said that.
"Come on, Gabi, you really expect me to believe that? You were kissing my brother, for God's sake!" He spoke loudly now. "Just go back inside the lost and be with your husband."
"No, Antonio, I won't! I'm going to make you believe me, because I'm tell ing the truth! I told Ricardo that you were taking me home, and that's what you're going to do. I'm not leaving your side until you say you love me again." She was determined to not let this ruin her prtfect relationship with Antonio.
"Goddammit, Gabi! Can't you-" He realized then just how loud he had gotten and lowered his voice."Get in the car."
She complied, happy with the leeway she had gotten, no matter how small it was. At least he would have to listen to her now. He had no choice now.
"Antonio, please just hear me out. Give me a chance to tell you the entire story. Please?" She begged him when he climbed in beside her. He remained silent to her request as he started the car, but when they pulled out onto the road, he finally replied.
"Go ahead, Gabi." His voice was no longer as hurt, or as angry as it had been minutes ago. Now it was just a cold, emotionless tone. She wasn't sure which was scared her more.
"Antonio....I didn't want to go with him in the first place, you know that. I know you do. And then the car broke down at that gas station, I was stuck there with him. There wasn;t much to do after I called you, so I fell asleep. I was having the most amazig dream, with you and me, back in the cave in....and Ricardo put his arm around me. I thought it was you, Antonio. Please, please believe me, when he kissed me, the only reason I resoponded to him was because I was still half asleep and I thought that you were there with me, holding me. I would not have done it otherwise. And I regretted it so much when I saw you watching is and I realized that it wasn't you, that it was Ricardo. I love you, you have to have realized that by now. You are the only man I love, the only man that I am in love with. You can't stay mad at me, Antonio. I couldn't bear having you hate me." She was crying again by then, and her tears had always been something that he hadn't been able to stand. Seeing her cry made him want to break down and sob with her.
He pulled the car over to the side of the road. For a second he watched her, head down, tears quietly falling onto the seat. Her shoulders shuddered as she weeped, and he reached over to hold her, unable to stop himself. Happy that he seemed to have forgiven her, for the moment at least, she buried her face in his shoulder and let him comfort her. When her tears had dried, she looked up at him questioningly.
"Am I forgiven?" She asked hesitantingly. He studied her for a moment, taking in the hope in her red rimmed eyes, her tear stained face, and he reached over to wipe a lingering tear drop away.
"Not completely....but I love you too
much to stay mad at you for very long. I just pray that you are telling
me the truth, because I truthfully don't think I could stand losing you,
Gabi." Her heart jumped to hear him say those words ot her. She reached
up to hug him tightly.
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above
you
Fill my heart with gladness Take away all
my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
"I love you, Antonio. I'm going to spend
the rest of my life proving that to you, over and over. I don't ever want
you to ever, ever doubt me, or our love." Her voice was full of emotion
as she whispered into his ear. He smiled back at her, feeling the same
things that she was.
"I hope I never have to again, Gabi." He leaned over and kissed the top of her head softly. "So, my love, where exactly are we going to spend the night? It's getting late, and this car is comfortable, but not that comfortable." He grinned at her, and she returned the grin, glad to see that his good humor had been restored.
"Well, I don't know this car is pretty comfy....but if you really want to, I guess we could get a hotel room for the night. The mission and the loft are definitly out, and I don't feel like dealing with nosy roommates, so Surf Central is out, too. A room is the only alternative, unless you can think of something." He nodded in agreement to her suggestion and started the car again. Then he reached over with one hand to lace his fingers with hers. The action, no matter how small it was, brought a smile to Gabi's face. She sqeezed his hand with joy.
"A room it is." He pulled back onto the road and took off.
"We'd better get one a little ways out of town. I don't want to have anotherrun in like we did this morning with Vanessa on the beach." She said, remembering the awful feeling that the words of her ex-friend had brought about.
"Good idea. I don't want anyone upsetting
you again." He replied, and she was once again amazed that he wanted to
protect her so much. She loved being loved by him. It was the
most amazing feeling in the world, she thought,
as she had so many times before.
For the morning sun and all its glory
Meets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter Somehow you
make it better
Ease my troubles thats what you do
They drove for almost 20 minutes in silence, holding hands and reveling in the power of the emotions they were having. Every so often, he would glance at her, or she would turn toward him, as if making sure that everything was real and they were really together.
After finding a hotel on the outskirts of Sunset Beach, they registered for a room under "Mr. and Mrs. Torres" Gabi truly enjoyed seeing thier names together like that in print. And, techically, it wasn't a lie. She was Mrs. Torres. As if sensing her thought, Antonio said to her," It's going to be like that for real, someday soon, Gabi."
He took her hand again, which he had released momentarily. She smiled up at him, and they walked into thier room, the queen-sized bed looking very inviting after the emotionally draining day they had had.
"Antonio," Gabi realized something. "Neither of us has anything to sleep in tonight."
"Will we need anything?" He had that
wickedly alluring look in his eye, and Gabi giggled at what he was implying.
"Well, now that you mention it....I
guess not..." She wrapped her arms around his neck, standing on the tip
of her toes to reach his mouth. He wound his arms around her waist, and
kissed her fully on the lips, probing her with his tongue and tasting her
sweet, and by now wonderfully familiar, taste.
As thier passion mounted, he wanted her
more and more. Her lips were on his neck, moving downward, and he couldn't
wait to feel her body pressed against him once more. He scooped her up
off of her feet and carried her over to the bed, where he gently threw
her down. Thier clothes were rather quickly disposed of, and soon he got
what he had been wanting. She moaned as he lowered his lips to her awaiting
breasts and playfully nibbled until she was begging him to kiss her again,
to fulfill her needs, and her desires. Leaning his strong, muscular body
over her tiny, petite one, he kissed her swollen, soft lips, and moved
himself over her, doing just as he had vowed he would earlier, and showing
her exactly how much he loved her.
There's a love thats defined
And its yours and its mine like the sun.....
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray to the one,
to the one.......
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above
you
Fill my heart with gladness Take away all
my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Gabi lay in Antonio's arms afterwards,
snuggled up against him warm chest and feeling very grateful for the amazing
man that had been thrown into her life. She was so glad that they had made
it through everything that had been thrown in thier way. Their love had
overcome every obstacle that fate had given them, and they were together.
But, somehow, she knew that they weren't finished being tested. She was
certain, though, that they could, and would, survive whatever was coming
for them. They would have to, because there was no way on earth she was
giving Antonio up now.
"I love you, Gabi, and I never want to let you out of my arms." He whispered, copying almost the exact words that she had been thinking. He held her tighter, and pulled the covers up around them. She reached up to gently caress his cheek, then she kissed him softly on the mouth.
"I love you, too, and I never want to be out of your arms, not ever. You are my life, Antonio Torres, and I want to be yours. Forever and beyond." She placed her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady, strong beat of his heart.
"You are, and you always will be." He ran his fingers through her soft, silky hair as he spoke. "Now, get some sleep. We both need it."
"Whatever you say." She had already begun to drift off, and she allowed the continuos lull of his heartbeat to put her to sleep.
Long after she had fell asleep, Antonio stayed up, more to make sure that she was really there, and safely tucked away in his arms. He held her securely, stroking her hair, her soft, warm body pressed against him. He felt truly blessed that he had her in his life. She made him whole, and he never wanted to go to sleep without her in his arms again.
There's a love thats defined
And its yours and its mine like the sun.....
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray to the one,
to the one.......
And have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above
you
You fill my heart with gladness Take away
all my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
"Mmmm. Don't stop..." Gabi moaned softly, and buried her head in the warm covers. Antonio was sitting on the side of the bed, running his hands over her body in an attempt to wake her up. He grinned at her reaction to his wandering fingers.
"Come on, Gab. Time to wake up! Rise and shine, sleepyhead." He leaned over her, lowering his mouth onto hers, and within a few minutes, she was fully awake. He reluctantly broke the kiss when she seemed roused enough.
"G'mornin." She mumbled, strechting out on the bed. His eyes couldn't help but follow her lithe form as she stretched. Realizing that she wore no clothing, and had just been revealing herself completely to him, Gabi blushed and pulled the covers up around her.
Antonio chuckled at her emberresment. "Hey, it's not like you don't have anything that I haven't seen before." She blushed an even deeper red, knowing that was true, and her modesty was not necessary. He grinned at her naughtily,"But...I wouldn't mind seeing it again, now that you've brought up the subject."
He sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her passiontely. Before long the covers had slipped away and they were pressed against each other again. She reveled in his embrace. They just couldn't get enough of each other. She hoped that they never would....it felt so amazing to make love to the man that she really did love. It gave a new, more truthful meaning to the phrase "make love" because that's what she and Antonio truly did. And she treasured every minute of it.
"Oh...God, you're amazing, Gabi. Absolutely amazing." Antonio lay was propped up against a stack of pillows on the bed with Gabi cradled in his arms. "Did you know that? You are the most amazing woman on earth. And I am so lucky to have you in my life. I can't tell you that enough."
"No, Antonio. It's me who's lucky. It's not every day that a girl like me finds someone who loves her enough to give up his life and his family for her. In fact, I'm probably the only one." She looked up at him.
"What do you mean, 'a woman like me'? You make it sound as if you think you're inferior or something, which you are most definitely not."He kissed her forehead when he was finished speaking.
"Well....I guess that is what I meant. I'm sorry..." She didn't want to tell him what she had really meant when she had said that. She was too ashamed to.
"Don't apoligize." He softly chastised. "Now, tell me what you really meant. I can tell that you're keeping something from me."
She smiled at his intuitiveness. Of course he would know when she wasn't being truthful. It was impossible for her to keep anything from him. And she supposed that was a good thing. She would never have to hide things from him.
"I guess I meant....well...." She mumbled something under her breath. He looked at her curiously, and she repeated what she had said a little louder. "My father."
"What?" He hadn't even realized that she still had issues about what her fahter had done to her....but then again, how could she not? The bastard had raped her. Antonio felt a rush of anger just thinking about anyone hurting Gabi. "Gabi...what he did to you doesn't make you any less special...any less perfect. No one would think that, either. Except you, and I'm not going to let you think like that, so you can just stop right now."
She looked up at him agian, so glad that she had someone that knew her so well, and that cared about her so much.
"Thank you, Antonio." She sat up on the bed, no longer worried about her state of undress. "Come on, get up. We need to get back into town soon." He grudgingly agreed. They dressed quickly, although neither of them wanted to, and checked out. Gabi couldn't help but grin when the clerk told them good-bye.
"Have a nice day, Mr. and Mrs. Torres." He had the same reaction as she did, and reached over to take her hand in his. Once they were in the car, Antonio brought up a subject that neither of them were wanting to face.
"Gabi....as much as I hate to say this....we need to talk to Ricardo." She didn't answer for a while, she just sat there thinking about what he had said.
"You're right. We do have to tell him. And Maria and Carmen. Do you want to tell them all at once, or seperately?" Gabi asked Antonio. She was vying for seperately, but that was because she thought that Ricardo and Carmen would be too much for her to handle at one time.
"Seperately. It would be easier." She was tremendously glad that he had chosen that option. He was probably thinking the same way that she had been. One angry Torres' at a time would be easier to deal with.
She looked over at him, her lover, her
soulmate, and the man she had never dreamed she would be able to love openly,
and she silently thanked him for making all of the dreams come true.
Take away all my sadness Fill my life with
gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Take away all my sadness Fill my life with
gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do