He stepped up to the small room and opened the door, and was shocked to see her standing there. She looked so amazing…his mind automatically began to fantasize what he should have done, what his heart (among other various organs) was screaming for him to do. To take her into his arms and show her how gorgeous she looked. Then he remembered why she was here, in that beautiful white wedding dress. She was being prepared to give herself to his brother. Head hung slightly in unspoken shame for what he had been thinking he turned to leave.
"Antonio." Then she called out his name in that sweet, seductive voice of hers telling him not to go. Hesitantly, he turned back around and walked inside, avoiding her eyes as he set the small box he had been carrying down.
"I didn't know you were…you were still here." He said feebly offering an excuse for his intrusion.
"Well-" She began to say as he spoke
at the same time
"I-"
"You didn't know…" She said, looking down. Anywhere but at him.
"I would have knocked but…I just had to bring these in." He gestured at the package he had set on the table. He nervously licked his lips as his eyes involuntarily ran down her body, drinking in the sight like a dehydrated man drank water. She knew what he was doing, but it didn't bother her…except that it made the tension between them almost unbearable.
"Antonio-" She began, then stopped uncertainly and stepped closer to him.
"I-" He said, then started again, his mouth moving light-years before his brain to say a statement he would be sure to regret. Later. "I marry people in this church every week…I've seen hundreds of brides. But I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you."
"Thank you." She said softly, still finding herself unable to meet his eyes. "I don't know what to say." She said beginning to move away from him, from the danger of not knowing what would happen between them next, but the too long train of her dress tripped her as she started to move. A soft gasp escaped her as she fell, then miraculously found herself in his arms.
He reacted and caught her instantly. Before he even had a chance to even think about it she was in his arms, locked tightly in his embrace. But she didn't seem to be complaining as their eyes locked and her mouth tilted up towards his. A small half smile fluttered over her face as her small pink tongue wet her lips. His heart was racing 90 to nothing, and he could feel her trembling against him. He hadn't felt like this; this excited, this turned on since the cave in. Since the last time he had held her this close with the full intent of pressing those warm, soft lips against his and savoring the sweetness of her kiss. Her hand drifted upwards to caress the nape of his neck as he allowed his fingers sought out bare skin on her shoulders, slipping under the fabric of her dress to feel the tempting flesh.
She looked up at him once more to make sure, and found him doing the same. Gazing at her to be positive that this was what she wanted. It was. With all her heart and soul she wanted him to possess her right here and right now. A soft moan, barely audible, was heard (though neither was sure who from) as he pressed his mouth onto hers. She savored the sensations as he kissed her sweetly and tenderly. Passion was there right under the surface, but he was trying to hold off and just revel in this love that they were sharing before they were swept away with the lust that was eating away at both of them. "Antonio…" She sighed against his lips as she tightened her arms around his neck. His hands were roaming over her body wildly, seeking out naked skin but to no avail. The silky white material of her wedding dress clothed all of the sacred places he was searching for.
"Gabi!" A sugary sweet voice called out a few seconds before Joan Cummings made her re-entrance into room. Luckily, the few seconds were enough for Antonio and Gabi to tear themselves away, but the remnants of their passion remained in her tousled hair and his halfway unbuttoned shirt, not to mention the lipstick smeared on both of their mouths. Joan's eyes grew wide as she realized what she had almost walked in on and they quickly fumbled for an excuse.
"Joan, please…" Gabi began, but the older woman shook her head.
"No, no, Gabi it's none of my business. I'm just going to go on. Call me when…if…you want me to finish those alterations on your dress." Joan said, and hastily left the room. Gabi turned to Antonio once she had left.
"Gabi?" He asked hesitantly. Did she regret this? Would this kiss only make things worse between them? Or would it make them…better?
"Oh, Antonio…" She said, sighing. "I can't marry him now." She said matter-of-factly. "I might have been able to before, but now I know I can't."
He heard her words and misinterpreted them, thinking that she meant she didn't deserve to marry Ricardo now. "Gabi, I'm sorry." He said sadly, and turned to walk out the door. She grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"No! Antonio, I'm not sorry! I meant that I couldn't marry him now because it's going to be impossible to bury these feelings between us now. I…" She looked shyly at him, then finished her sentence. "I love you."
"Oh…Gabi…I don't know…what to say…" Antonio said as he pulled her into his arms. "I do know what to say. I love you, too, Gabi."
He held her close as she smiled into his chest. He loved her…she loved him. Not exactly a fairytale romance, but it was enough to keep them happy. Forever, she hoped. They both realized that if they were going to be together, the road to happiness was not going to be smooth for quite a while. They still had quite a few obstacles in their way. Ricardo, Carmen, the priesthood, Maria even…all the betrayal and lies would have to come out in order for them to be as close as they needed, but Antonio knew that they could do it. The love they shared was strong enough to keep them together.