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The hotel room was dark, their bodies moist and sticky, twisted in the sheets as they ravished each other. Gabi dug her fingers into his rugged back muscles as they tensed from his movement. His strong hands gently stroked every inch of her slender frame sending a tremble to her soul.
Gabi rolled her head back as his lips caressed her neck. She ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair as he moved slowly inside her. They made love deeply, passionately as if they were the only two people in the world. He moved faster until she cried out his name in ecstasy. He gave himself to her wholly and undeniably, without any regrets. Gabi lay back against the pillow with her eyes closed tightly as she pondered the recent turn of events. He stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around his waist. He moved slowly to the bed and lay down silently beside her, his chest glistening with beads of water. "I have to marry him," Gabi said softly. "I know," Antonio replied flatly. "It’s the only way, Antonio." Gabi turned her head to find Antonio staring blankly at the ceiling. "Antonio?" "I know, Gabi. I know." He pushed the wet hair from his forehead. "I just thought we would have more time before…" his voice trailed off. "I thought so, too," Gabi said sadly as she rolled over and faced him. "He was going to give me space…I never expected something like this to happen." Antonio rolled towards Gabi taking her face into his hands. Gabi smiled at him as he pressed his lips softly against hers. "How am I going to marry you to him?" Antonio kissed her deeply. "He needs me." Gabi sighed as she rested her head against Antonio’s chest. "We owe him that much, Antonio." Gabi’s fingers danced over his lithe muscles. "I really have to get back to the hospital." Antonio pulled her roughly against him. "Not yet," he whispered as he kissed her one more time. "I don’t want you to go." Gabi searched his eyes and saw his desire aching for her. "I won’t have you again and I’m not ready to let you go." She put her arms around his neck as their mouths found each other again. This time, their passion was desperate and urgent. She pulled his towel open and took him in her hand. Antonio moaned deeply as Gabi tasted his neck with her tongue. Antonio’s hands roamed tenderly over her chest as she moaned softly in response. He rolled her onto her back and pushed himself on top of her as they made love for the last time. THE HOSPITAL Ricardo blinked furiously in a desperate attempt to stop the ceremony. "Ricardo, what’s wrong?" Gabi leaned over him with concern at his agitation. Antonio stood close behind her…too close. Ricardo was frustrated and exhausted from the struggle he was losing against his debilitating condition. The last thing he wanted to do was marry Gabi knowing she had been having an affair with Antonio. They stood before him now feigning love and compassion for him…he wanted to kill them both. In the recesses of his mind he could hear them confessing their love to one another and laughing at how they had fooled him for so long. He closed his eyes tightly and grunted deeply. "Antonio," Gabi turned and touched his arm. Ricardo felt his blood boil at the sight. "What’s wrong with him?" Antonio put his hand against Gabi’s shoulder and Ricardo thought he was going to go insane. "I don’t know, Gabi." Antonio stepped in front of her and leaned over his brother. "What is it Ricardo? Are you in pain?" Antonio was so close Ricardo could have grabbed him by the throat, if only he could. Ricardo’s eyes began to fill with tears as the sinful images of Antonio and Gabi flashed through his mind. He was tired - tired of not being able to speak and tired of watching Gabi repeatedly turn to Antonio for comfort. Ricardo felt his resolve crumble as Gabi reached her hand out and touched his arm. Her touch still made his skin tingle…damn him if he didn’t still love her. "Ricardo?" her soft voice caressed his heart. In an instant of emotional weakness, he truly wanted her to be his wife…until he saw his brother’s reaction to the way she touched him. Antonio flinched and turned his eyes away as Gabi stroked Ricardo’s arm. The dam broke and everything flooded back to Ricardo…his pulse rose as his anger returned. They had played him for a fool and he wasn’t going to take it anymore. They would get what they deserved…both of them. Ricardo swore to make them pay. "I now pronounce you husband and wife," Antonio forced the words from his lips as his heart twisted in his chest. The ceremony had been mechanical for him…his priestly duty, he reminded himself. Gabi smiled at Ricardo and leaned over to kiss him. Antonio turned away as Maria and Carmen stepped closer to the bed to congratulate the newlyweds. Gabi kissed Ricardo on the cheek as his eyes followed his brother. He felt an evil smile cross his lips as he saw his plan beginning to take shape. Gabi touched his cheek tenderly and turned to accept Maria’s hug. Ricardo’s eyes rose to Gabi as she glanced over Maria’s shoulder to Antonio standing in the corner of the room with his back to them. The smile faded from her lips as she bit her lip sadly. Ricardo’s heart skipped as he realized that maybe this was going to be easier than he expected. Carmen hugged Ricardo cautiously as she felt a bad wave of karma for the recent nuptials. She had been willing to accept Gabi as Ricardo’s wife after hearing her profess her commitment to his care to Tyus. But there was a feeling in the room; feelings coming from all of her children that she couldn’t put her finger on…not yet. Her eyes found Maria with her hand on Antonio’s shoulder in a comforting manner. Her son had confessed he still loved Gabi and Carmen’s heart went out to him. But Gabi had committed herself to Ricardo; her heart was with him now. Wasn’t it? Antonio swung around to find Gabi standing directly behind him. His entire being longed to take her in his arms and run from the room with her. "Congratulations," he spoke quietly, his eyes not meeting hers. "Thank you," she said in almost a whisper. Their eyes met for an instant before Antonio looked quickly away. It was too painful to see her right now…Mrs. Ricardo Torres, his brother’s wife. "Excuse me," he offered politely as he turned and left the room. Gabi stood motionless as she watched him depart, her heart leaving the room with him. Ricardo took in the entire exchange with a wicked feeling of satisfaction.
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