Antonio stepped into the chapel of the mission planning on taking the box full of decorations in his hands and pepping up the tall, proudly displayed fir tree that sat in the corner of the room. Unfortunately, when he walked into the room he saw that someone had already beaten him to the job.
The tree was already lit up, sparkling brightly with colored bulbs that strung from one side to the other. He took in the elegant decoration with a grin, wondering who had gone to all of this trouble for the mission. Then…he saw her. She was standing on almost the top rung of a tall ladder, trying unsuccessfully to hang something on one of the hooks that was on the ceiling. A slight grin played across his lips as he watched her stretch her tiny body to no avail. With a frustrated squeal, Gabi stomped her foot and…stumbled. Arms flinging for a non-existent lifeline, the ladder tipped slightly, not enough to fall itself, just enough to sling Gabi off.
Acting purely on instinct, Antonio stepped forward and like a scene out of a movie, she landed perfectly in his embrace. A shocked expression covering her face, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. Her breath caught as she looked up into those deep, soulful brown eyes, so familiar…and so very loving. The tenderness, the caring in those eyes overwhelmed her. So often had she been on the verge of giving up, of leaving it all behind and starting over somewhere where she could have a fresh start when those compassionate eyes had torn into her soul and dragged her back to him. Back to where she belonged.
"I-" Antonio began to say, immediately wanting to take back the motion, the intense stare they were caught in, the things he was sure to do in the moments to come if they did not stop this now. But she was thinking along different lines…much different lines. She shushed him by tenderly placing a finger on his lips…those lips that she dreamed of pressing her own against. Without removing her finger, she began to caress his face, closing her eyes and drinking in the warm sensations that her skin on his brought forth in her.
She was so close…so very close. Her body
feather-light in his arms, he was drowning in her cozy scent, the erotic
feel of her skin
pressed so closely against his, her silky
fingers running over his face. He wanted to kiss her so badly…he didn't
think he could stand this anymore. Temptation was too strong, he was too
weak, she was too alluring. There were a thousand reasons that he should
put her down and leave that very second, and only one fairly unstable reason
that he should stay. Unfortunately, something other than his good sense
was calling the shots and he didn't move an inch except to draw her sweet
honeyed lips closer to his. Taking a deep breath, Gabi closed the space
between their mouths. She gasped softly into his as he kissed her with
all of the passion and the love that they had been harboring for so many
months. Her lips parted softly underneath his probing and he unleashed
all of the sweetness and luscious tastes of her that was completely unique.
He loved it…loved the forbidden excitement that they were experiencing,
loved the warmth of her, the vulnerable and open state she was leaving
herself in with him now, and how she trusted him so completely. Sweeping
her even closer to him, Antonio was in a state of shock. So many times
he had dreamed of holding her like this, of kissing her and feel the hidden
passion arise inside of them, taking them to places rarely visited and
always treasured. Then…as it was always bound to do, reality broke in.
The reality of a priest kissing his sister in law in the church that he
preached in. The reality of ex lovers that were trying to bury their relationship.
The reality that what seemed so right to them would ruin so many people
were it to come out in the open.
With strength he had often doubted he would have when faced with this situation, Antonio managed to tear himself away from the irresistible temptation that Gabi possessed within her.
Trembling slightly, lips full and soft from their kisses, Gabi was a beautiful sight as Antonio held her close. "I'm sorry…" He whispered, a meaningless apology. Gabi knew that what they had done – and what they both no doubt wanted to do – was wrong and it was something that had to be stopped, but it didn't change the fact that if she could go back she would have done not one thing differently.
Slowly, wanting to treasure the feel
of the moment, Gabi moved out of Antonio's embrace. Something told him
not to speak, that no words were needed in that moment. Tears slid down
Gabi's face as she took a deep breath and moved away. When his warm hold
on her had been completely removed, she smiled shakily and whispered two
words before turning and running out of the room. When she was gone, Antonio
smiled a bittersweet smile and replied, "Merry Christmas to you too, Gabi."