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THE CASITA
Lightning flashed outside the window as Gabi lit the last of the white taper candles in the candelabra. The fire she started in the fireplace was growing in intensity as the logs popped rhythmically. A loud crash of thunder startled her as she dropped the matches to the floor. As she bent to retrieve them, the rain began to pound fiercely on the roof. Gabi walked to the window feeling relieved she had arrived before the storm. Gabi made her way to the fireplace lowering herself onto the oversized pillows gathered by the hearth. She wrapped her arms across her middle as she sank back into the smooth white fabric. The thunder grew louder and the lightning more frequent. Gabi felt safe in the casita despite the dense tress that secluded it from the road. Antonio drove cautiously down the winding road. The rain soaked his windshield and the wipers seemed only to make his visibility worse. He recalled the night Gabi had been in the accident, a night eerily similar to this. Antonio remembered Tyus updating Gabi’s condition…my main concern now is for the baby. The words that changed his life, all their lives and had brought he and Gabi to this place in time. Antonio’s love for Gabi was so overwhelming that at times he felt he could suffocate just thinking of it. All he could imagine now was getting to her, taking her in his arms and never letting her go again. They had been so cruel and hurtful to each other, consumed by their grief over the loss of Michael. The child that had brought them together had ultimately torn them apart. Antonio arrived at the casita turning off his lights as he entered the drive. He could see the candles burning from the window. His heart quickened at the thought of his wife sitting inside. He climbed out of the car as a bolt of lightning illuminated the sky. The rain soaked him almost immediately as he purposefully strode to the door. Gabi was lost in thought when she heard the knock. She startled wondering who would be expecting the casita to be occupied. She rose from the floor and walked slowly to the door. A loud crash of thunder made her jump. She summoned her courage as she turned the knob and pulled the door open just enough to peak outside. Antonio’s clothes were drenched as he stood on the step of the small cottage. The rain dripped down his dark locks and ran down his cheeks. Gabi opened the door fully as she stood motionless in front of him. Their eyes locked as Gabi struggled to breathe. Antonio made no movement while he awaited Gabi’s response. Gabi reached out her arm and latched on to the front of Antonio’s shirt. She pulled him inside throwing the door closed behind her. Gabi leaned her tiny body against him as she pushed her lips roughly into his. Antonio met her kiss hungrily as she backed him up against the wall. Gabi entwined her fingers in the wet hair at the base of his neck sending a charge through his entire body. Antonio placed his strong arms around her waist and lifted her effortlessly off the floor. He pulled her tightly against his wet body as he deepened his kiss into hers. He set her down gingerly and pulled back from her kiss. Gabi ran her hands down his chest feeling his heart pounding fiercely. She raised her eyes to meet his and found him breathing heavily, his eyes dark with passion. Antonio took her face in his hands as he leaned down and pressed his lips tenderly against hers. Gabi quickly intensified the kiss as she put her hands to his shirt and deftly ripped it open. She pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms. Antonio was extremely turned on by the passion of their embrace. He ran his hands up under her blouse as she moaned softly from his touch. Gabi brought her hands to help him unbutton her blouse as they devoured each other with their kiss. Antonio pushed her blouse off her arms and caressed her shoulders with his lips. Gabi searched for his zipper running her hand slowly over him. Antonio’s breath caught as a moan escaped his throat. Gabi released him from his jeans as they fell in a wet heap to the floor. Antonio unzipped the back of Gabi’s skirt and dug his hands into the sides pushing it quickly off her hips. They stood for a moment as their eyes took in one another. Antonio scooped Gabi up in his strong arms and carried her over to the pillows on the floor. He lowered her gently and together they knelt in front of the warm fire. Gabi pushed his wet hair off his face as she gazed lovingly into his eyes. Antonio ran his thumb over her lower lip as she leaned her cheek into his palm. Their lips met softly as they pushed their bodies together. Gabi’s arms wrapped around Antonio’s neck as he gently laid her back into the pillows. Antonio pressed himself into her as she cried out his name. She ran her hands gently over his shoulders and back. Gabi arched her back as Antonio’s mouth caressed her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him deeper inside as he moved his muscular body against her. Gabi felt Antonio’s heart beating against her chest. She closed her eyes tightly as the tears slipped down her cheek. She fought to control the sobs and her body began to tremble. Antonio stopped suddenly raising himself on one arm. "Am I hurting you?" he whispered breathlessly. Gabi shook her head and smiled as he wiped away her tears with his finger. She pulled him back down against her parting his lips with hers. She kissed him deeply as he began to move again. Gabi cried silently as Antonio made love to her slowly and tenderly. She held on to him for dear life as he began to move faster inside her, his moans deepening and becoming louder. Gabi pulled him as far into her soul as she could as he buried his face into her neck and allowed himself to surrender. Antonio lay back against the pillows as Gabi settled herself against his chest pulling the light cotton blanket over them. They held each other tightly as their breathing returned to normal. Antonio kissed her head as he played with her hair. Gabi kissed his chest as she traced his muscles lightly with her hand. Gabi pushed herself up to meet his eyes. "Oh, Antonio...I..." She didn’t know where to begin. Antonio touched his fingertip to her lips. "Shhh...all that matters is I love you," he said quietly. "I love you too, Antonio. I always have." Gabi dipped her head as Antonio lifted her chin with his finger. "I know," he smiled at her as a tear slipped from her eye. "I’m sorry, baby." Antonio’s voice cracked with emotion. "I’m so sorry." Gabi sat up with a start pulling the blanket around her. "No, I’m sorry, Antonio. It was all my fault," her voice was trembling. "I lost our baby…it was my fault." Antonio sat up quickly pulling her into his arms. "No, Gabi. It wasn’t your fault." He kissed her tenderly. "I don’t blame you and I don’t want you to blame yourself." Gabi softened into his embrace. "Oh, Antonio. I don’t deserve you." She let out a sob. "I never have." Antonio couldn’t believe what she was saying. He pushed her away from him gently with his hands on her shoulders. "I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. Ever," he said angrily. "I love you. I always will. Those aren’t your words, Gabi. You know that isn’t true." Antonio knew she was reliving the horrible things her father told her as a child. "Michael didn’t die because you are a bad person or because you weren’t strong enough or because I left the priesthood. Michael died because it wasn’t his time to be with us. I know you don’t want to hear me say this, but God does have a plan for us all, Gabi. God brought us together with Michael and as hard as it is to accept, He had a reason for taking him away from us, too." Gabi looked away from Antonio remembering what Ricardo had told her about his regrets. Antonio could see the sad look in her eyes. "Gabi, talk to me," he took her hand in his. "Please." "I know you regret leaving the priesthood, Antonio," she said sadly. "I know you have been having second thoughts." She didn’t look up to see Antonio’s eyes widen. "What are you talking about, Gabi?" His voice was full of confusion. "I’m not having any regrets...I never have." "That’s not what Ricardo said," she offered boldly. "He told me you regretted some of the choices you’ve made." "Ricardo?" he said incredulously. "What else did he tell you?" "That you made him promise not to tell me," Gabi replied softly. "And he thought that maybe I should give you some space to think." Antonio exhaled loudly. "He told you this the night you went to dinner?" Gabi looked away from him remembering their horrible fight. "Yes." "Gabi, I never told him that. Never!" Antonio felt anger for his brother filling him. "I’m sure that was another part of his master plan." "What master plan?" Gabi asked. "I don’t understand, Antonio." "Ricardo asked me to meet him and Maria at the Deep that night at 7:00. He knew he wasn’t going to show up and that I would call the station looking for him. Spence told me that you and Ricardo left together and that’s when…" his voice trailed off. "He did it on purpose, Gabi, so that I would get jealous. I guess his plan worked pretty well, huh?" Antonio dropped his head and closed his eyes. Gabi touched his cheek lightly as he raised his eyes to meet hers. "Yes, I guess it did." Gabi leaned over and kissed him softly. "That wasn’t the only part of his plan that worked, Gabi," Antonio said quietly. Gabi searched his eyes for an answer. "It was Ricardo’s fault, Gabi," he said sadly. "Ricardo’s fault that what, Antonio?" Antonio paused and looked at Gabi with tears filling his eyes. "That you were alone when Michael died." Gabi’s mouth fell open slightly as she shook her head slowly. "Ricardo didn’t call me from the hospital, Gabi. The only reason I showed up was to meet you for your doctor’s appointment. I ran into him in the emergency room." Antonio tilted his head back blinking away the tears. "I didn’t know, Gabi. I swear I would have been there if I knew." Antonio fought to hold it in, but emotion overtook him and he began to cry. Gabi’s eyes began spilling her own tears as she pulled Antonio into her arms. He buried his head against her chest and his breath was hot against the blanket. "I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there." Gabi was stroking his hair. "I’m so sorry you were alone." "Shhh...shhh," Gabi whispered into his hair. "I know, Antonio. I know." Antonio raised his eyes to meet hers. The raw need she found in his eyes took her by surprise. Antonio pressed his mouth into hers passionately. They kissed for a few moments then Antonio stood and pulled her up to meet him. He took her hand and led her over to the bed his eyes never leaving hers. He threw back the covers and taking her by the waist, directed her onto the bed. Gabi lay back against the pillows as Antonio crawled up her body kissing her along the way. She watched his arms bulging as he supported his weight over her. He lowered himself onto her and her body accepted him immediately. The storm raged outside as they ravished each other’s bodies. Antonio pushed her arms gently over her head and her hands grasped the thick posts of the headboard. Antonio held himself on one arm as he raked his hand gently over her arm and down her side caressing her softy. Gabi writhed with pleasure under his strong frame. Antonio slowed himself down drawing it out. Gabi turned her mouth into his cheek pleading for more. Antonio put his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Do you want me now?" Gabi clutched the posts tighter, "Yes," she moaned softly. "Now?" he prodded playfully. "Yes," she moaned a little more forcefully. "I don’t think you’re ready," he teased as he moved more slowly yet. "Yes," she cried loudly sending a thrill to Antonio’s core. He began moving faster and faster as Gabi cried yes over and over until they were both so hot neither could hold back. Antonio moaned loudly as Gabi dug her fingers deeply into his back and they cried out each other’s names simultaneously. They lay in bed holding each other tightly listening to the rain pounding the windows. The thunder rolled ferociously through the sky as the lightening illuminated the small casita. Gabi held tightly to her husband, the man she loved more than anything in the world, safe and content in his strong arms. Antonio caressed his wife’s back, staring intently at the ceiling promising to make his brother pay for almost ruining his life.
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