Chapter 1:
"Damn him, Damn him" Sheridan muttered under her breath. "I came here to rid myself of Luis Lopez-
Fitzgerald, and here he is, in Paris" Sheridan continued to pace back and forth in her hotel room. "That bastard, he's doing this to me on purpose, trying to really drive me over the edge, well, that isn't happening" Just then, Luis emerged from the bathroom "Sheridan, who are you talking to" Sheridan whipped around, embarrased she had just been caught in a dialogue with herself. "No one, are you still here, I thought you left" Luis grinned and said " Ah , yeah, I told you I was going to the bathroom, did you think I meant back in Harmony." Sheridan was not amused. "Whatever Luis, I'm safe, the French police are sending over someone to guard me, your JOB here is done, you can GO."
Luis looked at Sheridan and she could see that she had hurt his feelings, but she wasn't gonna stop, she loved pushing his buttons. Sheridan thought to herself, "If he won't admit what he did to me, then I am gonna make him just as miserable as he has made me" Luis began heading for the door, when he stopped, shook his head in disgust, and turned around to face Sheridan with his eyes blazing. "Sheridan, this is ridiculous, I can't stand this back and forth anymore, would you PLEASE just tell me why you turned on me all of the sudden."
Sheridan looked at Luis thoughtfully and replied with tears in her eyes "On the pier, I heard you, I heard you say...oh, nevermind, it's not worth it" Luis grabbed Sheridan forcefully by her arm and said "it is worth it, and YOU know it, TELL me, because if I leave, you will regret it, today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life." Sheridan looked into Luis's eyes and knew his was right, this was the moment, if she let it slip, she would be alone and miserable the rest of her life just like the fortune teller said.
Sheridan took a deep breath and decided it was time to tell the truth. "Luis, on the pier, after you kissed me, I went back." Luis looked at Sheridan confused, "After, I never saw you, I went right back to the station to file my report.." Sheridan looked Luis directly in his beautiful, brown eyes, and realized he was telling the truth. "But Luis, I heard you, I KNOW I did, you said you were using me, that you were gonna take me for all I had and that you were going to get even with my family." Luis laughed which made Sheridan angrier.
"Don't laugh at me, I heard you and saw with my own eyes, you are right up there with Jean-Luc, the original bastard" Luis grew serious, "Sheridan, I NEVER said anything like that, EVER, that's not me, that's not who I am, and deep down inside you know it." "I don't know who or what you saw, but it wasn't me." Sheridan was torn what would she listen to, did she listen to her head, or her heart. It took all of a minute for her to decide, she took 2 strides, and when she was merely inches from Luis, she started to speak.......
To Be Continued...
Chapter 2:
"Luis, bend down so that I can look in your eyes when I tell you" Luis did as he was told, relieved that this was FINALLY going to be resolved. Sheridan leaned in and whispered in his ear "Your right, I will regret today, I regret meeting you, I regret trusting you, and most of all, I regret ever caring about you." Luis jolted upright completely dumbstuck by what he just heard. "Sheridan, are you serious" Sheridan replied with venom in her tone. "I'm completely serious, have a safe trip back to Harmony..Oh, and tell the stewardess I said HI!" Luis shook his head completely stunned by this whole interaction. "Fine, if that's the way you feel, I GIVE UP" Luis started pacing, "As soon as the Gendarme shows up to guard you, I'm out of here." Sheridan started pacing just to keep eye contact, "Don't wait for him on my account, I'm perfectly safe waiting here alone"
Luis was livid, and was finding it harder to carry on a conversation pacing back and forth. He grabbed Sheridan just to stop this insanity. "Luis, take your hands off me, who do you think you are, we're not in Harmony officier, and you are out of your jurisdiction." Luis grabbed her chin and looked her square in the eye so that there would be no more ambiguity. "Sheridan, I care about what happens to you, I didn't fly all the way to Paris, and pay not once, but twice I might add, to let you be killed by some French druglords because you were to stubborn and pigheaded to accept my help." Sheridan and Luis looked at eachother for what seemed and eternity to both of them.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and they jumped apart both realizing what was about to happen. Sheridan opened the door, "Yes, can I help you." A man was at the door flashing what appeared to be a badge. "Are you Sheridan Crane, I am here to guard you." Sheridan sighed and thought to herself, "Thank God the Gendarme arrived when he did, because if he hadn't, just looking into Luis eyes, my resolve would have melted away and I would have fallen into his arms and he would have won" Sheridan shook her head to chase away the thought and said "Come in, thank you for coming." The Gendarme walked through the door and was greeted by a very angry looking man.
"So, your the one that is supposed to keep Sheridan safe, you look like you couldn't guard a litter of kittens" The Gendarme glared at Luis, and turned to Sheridan and said, " I assure you madamesoille, I am the best France has to offer, and YOU will be safe." Sheridan looked at Luis smugly and said "See, I told you, nothing to worry about, this handsome..oops, did I say handsome, I mean this highly trained body guard is here to guard my body, now don't you have a plane to catch."
Luis growled, "yes I do, and did I mention that the reservation was for two." Sheridan looked confused, "Two???, Who do you know in Paris, that would be flying back to Harmony with you?" Luis grinned, "Funny, I only know one person here and she's definately flying back to Harmony with me." Sheridan laughed, "Really, and who might that be?" Luis hoisted Sheridan up over his shoulder and said bluntly, YOU of course!!!"
To Be Continued...
Chapter 3:
"He didn't just do what I think he did, did he?" Sheridan thought to herself. Luis was waiting, because he knew as soon as the shock wore off she was going to go ballistic. Luis began counting 5, 4, 3, 2 ......."LUIS, YOU BASTARD, PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!" Sheridan screamed. "One" Luis said to himself. "She couldn't even make it to one" he was shaking his head laughing as he headed for the door. Sheridan was wiggling and screaming trying to break free of his vice like grip which made Luis hold her even tighter. "Sheridan, you might as well give it up, because you are never getting away from me again" Sheridan knew he was right, he was too strong, she needed to try another tactic. "The gendarme" she thought. "What the hell was he doing during this whole thing" She spied him creeping up behind Luis as he was heading for the door. She decided to just go limp, and make Luis think he won, so he wouldn't see the gendarme about to jump him from behind. "Sheridan, I'm glad you are finally seeing things my way. When we get back to Harmony, you'll thank me for this." Luis said triumphantly. Meanwhile, the gendarme was at the door........HOLDING IT OPEN for Luis. Sheridan was stunned" What the hell are you doing, your supposed to be protecting me. Your just gonna stand there and let him take me out of here." "Oui, madameosille, clearly you and the monsieur are in AMOUR, and who am I to stand in the way of that" Sheridan was practically purple with rage "Who are you, you are a police officer, you are SUPPOSSED to be helping me" "I am helping you" replied the gendarme "Have a safe trip back to the states" with that, he saluted Luis, and walked out the door.
Luis cocked his head to the side and looked up at Sheridan, sure that she was going to start going nuts again. But all he saw was something that he couldn't quite figure out, was it anger, sadness, resignation? Sheridan hadn't moved since the gendarme walked out. "Sheridan, are you o.k." Luis asked concerned. Luis turned around, and headed towards the couch where he placed her gingerly. "Sheridan" Luis said again. He could deal with her when she was mad, but he didn't know what to do when she was like this. He sat down beside her and started rubbing her back. "I'm really sorry about this whole thing. I just didn't know what else to do to get you back to Harmony. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let anything happen to you." Sheridan forced herself to meet his gaze. The look in his eyes reflected empathy, maybe even love? Sheridan couldn't hold back a second longer, her mouth was on his before Luis even knew what was happening. Desire ribboned through him as she kissed him, her tongue dancing with his. Luis had never felt anything so right as this in his entire life. They needed each other and his body ached with the need to find peace in her arms. Their hands roamed freely as their kisses deepened. Sheridan took off Luis' shirt and traced her nail down his well-defined chest. Luis sucked in his breath and thought that he might die right there and then, he was so happy. Luis opened his mouth to speak and Sheridan silenced him with another kiss. Sheridan continued helping Luis lose his clothes, her mouth never leaving his the whole time. Luis thought that he would explode if he didn't make love to this woman right now. Luis decided it was Sheridan's turn for some help with her clothes. As he began to unbutton her blouse, Sheridan began to speak "Ok, Luis you win, I'll go back to Harmony with you. Luis, are you listening to me. Hello, earth to Luis" Luis shook his head to bring himself back to reality. "Huh, what?" Sheridan looked at Luis confused. "Luis where'd you go, you put me on the couch and then spaced out for a minute, are you ok, your awfully flushed" Luis couldn't believe it, he just had THAT kind of daydream about Sheridan Crane. Sheridan was still trying to elicit a response from him, "did you hear me, I said I would go back to Harmony with you" Luis composed himself and said "good, great, get your things our flight leaves in an hour......."
To Be Continued…
Chapter 4:
The plane ride back to Harmony was unbearable. Sheridan ignored Luis by staring out the window the entire time. Luis kept trying to strike up a conversation throughout the flight, but Sheridan just kept staring. "How 'bout those Red Sox, that Pedro is AWESOME!" Sheridan just ignored him. He might as well not have been there. "Fine" Luis thought to himself, "at least she's on her way back to Harmony where she will be safe." Unfortunately for Luis, that's not all he was thinking about. "Why can't I stop thinking about that daydream I had? It WASN'T real. Her lips, her body, her... ugh. I can't keep thinking about this, damn it!" Luis looked at Sheridan hoping she would look back, but she just continued staring out the window. "Damn," Luis thought to himself, "what the hell is she thinking?"
The drive back to Harmony wasn't any better. Sheridan just stared out the passenger side window during the ride back. Luis was beginning to think that their arguing back in Paris was better than this continued silence. The car came to an abrupt halt at the cottage and Luis leaned over to open the door for Sheridan who just glared at him "I am perfectly capable of opening a car door for myself" "Finally" Luis said, "she speaks!" Sheridan opened the door, grabbed her bags, and made her way to the cottage, without a comment or even a look back. Luis sat behind the wheel for a minute thinking, "Do I just leave, or do I try to walk her to the door?" He decided to walk her to the door, or rather to run to keep up with Sheridan who was practically already inside. "Sheridan, wait!" Luis yelled. "Let me carry your bags..." But it was too late. She was already inside and clearly wasn't going to let him in also.
Sheridan entered the cottage and began pacing. "That bastard! Who does he think he is? I can't believe I agreed to come back here with him. He thinks he won, but damn him if he did, I won... I always win!"
Luis continued sitting in the car thinking about Sheridan and what had happened in Paris. Moreover, he couldn't get that daydream out of his mind. "I wanted to make love to her more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life. Where the HELL did that come from? Sure, she was beautiful and sexy and had a body that wouldn't quit but... OK, OK, Luis, get a grip she's a CRANE for Christ’s sake. You can't be having those thoughts about her." But he was, and he couldn't stop, and she was merely inches away...
"Ahhhh", Sheridan moaned as she slipped into her bath, "this is Heaven." The past few days seemed to melt away as the hot water enveloped her like an embrace. Sheridan had to admit, she liked being back in Harmony, and she liked the fact that Luis came after her and forced her back, but she would NEVER admit that to him.
The steam from the hot bath quieted her brain and put her in a tranquil state. Sheridan had just started to doze, when she heard a noise coming from the foyer. She wanted to get up, and check it out, but she was in a tub, and well, she was naked. She looked around for something to arm herself with and picked up a toilet brush hoping the intruder would mistake it for a bat. As she hunched down in the tub, Sheridan saw a dark figure in the doorway and knew immediately who it was. It was no intruder. It was that BASTARD Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald!
"Sheridan, I couldn't leave it they way we did. I had to talk to you, to tell you." Sheridan looked at Luis completely stunned, she was trapped, she had to listen to what he said. There was no escape. Luis walked toward Sheridan and started speaking "Sheridan, being around you and trying to pretend that there is nothing but a professional relationship between us has been more than uncomfortable. It's been dishonest. I can't deny my feelings for you." "You have feelings for me, Luis?" There was an eagerness in her voice and a face that shone with hopefulness. He stood over her in the bathtub, and caressed her cheek and ran his fingers down her neck and across her shoulders aware of the quiver of her skin beneath his touch. He could feel the excitement leaping inside him and hear the growing huskiness of his voice. "Yes, Sheridan, I want you to be mine. Let me stay with you tonight." His hands ran down the sides of her arms to her waist. He gently drew her body out of the bathtub and drew her wet body up against his.
Luis picked Sheridan up and carried her to her bedroom, his lips raining hungry, burning kisses across her face and down her throat. He laid her gently on the satin bed and locked her eyes with his as his hands strayed to her hair, down her arms and over her breasts with intimate, loving sweeps that sent exciting shivers up and down her spine and legs. She dropped her head back with a delicious sigh and gave herself up to the incredible sensations of his touch. She could feel the cool satin at her back and his hot hands on her naked skin. He slowly bent down to kiss her...
Sheridan awoke to the annoying ring of the phone. "Huh, what? Ugh, she was dreaming." Sheridan shivered from the cold of the water in the bathtub, or at least that's why she told herself she was shivering. Sheridan got out of the tub and stumbled towards the phone. "Damn that Luis, even in my dreams I can't be rid of him!"
To Be Continued...
Chapter 5:
"What do you want?" Sheridan growled into the phone. She was dripping on the floor and still incredibly shaken from the dream she just had. "Hello, who's there?" Silence. She repeated hello a few more times and hung up the phone annoyed at the silence on the other end AND that it had disturbed her dream. Must have been a wrong number. DAMN IT! Why was she dreaming about LUIS? “I hate him," she thought to herself. “That BASTARD used me and made me doubt myself yet again!” Although she tried to convince herself that she hated him, her body reacted to the thought of him. Sheridan screamed at no one in particular, "AHHHHH! I hate this!"
Luis entered his house and sighed deeply. With Sheridan back in Harmony, he needn't worry anymore about her. "Right, Luis, right,” he told himself. He climbed the stairs to his room, being especially quiet as to not wake Pilar. He just wasn't in the mood to answer questions about his trip. He stripped off the clothes he had been wearing for far too long and decided to take a hot shower. "A hot shower should help me relax," he thought to himself. But as soon as the water hit him all he could do was think about Sheridan and how much he wanted her. It was sheer torture. What the Hell was he going to do?
Sheridan awoke to a beautiful day in Harmony. Sure, it wasn't Paris, but there were no slimy, French guys trying to kill her. THAT was a plus! Sheridan laughed at the thought. She really was glad to be home and couldn't wait to see Ethan and tell him she was back. And as for Luis, well, HELL, she just wasn't going to think about him.
Luis awoke to a beautiful day in Harmony as well. Unlike Sheridan he only slept about an hour. He couldn't stop thinking about her and the daydream he had while they were in Paris. “What's wrong with me?” Luis asked himself, shaking his head. “She's just a citizen I went to Paris to protect. I would have done that for anyone. Sure I would have. Yup, definitely." Luis tried to convince himself but it was futile. He couldn't want Sheridan Crane, he WOULDN'T. Damn it!
Sheridan called Ethan to tell him she was back. He was thrilled and insisted that they meet at the Book Cafe immediately to catch up and so that Julian wouldn't know she had returned just yet. Sheridan walked into the Book Cafe hoping she wouldn't run into Luis, although she was secretly hoping that she would. She had a lot of time to think, and wanted to ream him about how he treated her while they were in Paris! "That BASTARD,” she thought to herself. "He is so going to be sorry he ever messed with SHERIDAN CRANE!"
Sheridan was so deep in thought as to how she was going to get even with Luis that she didn't even see the man in front of her as she plowed into him. They both ended up on the floor and Sheridan was deeply embarrassed by her carelessness. How could she let thoughts of Luis make her this preoccupied? She stood up, completely intending to fall over herself apologizing to the poor guy on the floor. The flustered guy stood up with Sheridan's help and met her eyes. “Sheridan!” he called out with disbelief. "Hank?" Sheridan uttered in surprise. “Are you ok?" Hank's arms where around her before she could continue. "Sheridan, you came back for me! Oh, I missed you so much!" Hank said practically weeping. "Ahhh, hi Hank,“ Sheridan didn’t know what to say. “I, um, well, I missed you too."
Sheridan could barely breathe; his grip was so tight. "Hank, I was going to call you. I just got back last night, and I'm meeting Ethan for coffee." Hank wasn't even listening. "I knew it. I knew you would come back!" Sheridan wiggled free from his smothering embrace. Hank was so happy to see her. He was practically jumping up and down. The attention was nice, so she decided to throw him a bone. "Hank, I came back to Harmony because I missed everyone: Ethan, Gwen, Pilar, Ivy, AND you." That was all Hank needed to hear. His mouth was on hers before she could take a breath between sentences. His kiss was wet and sloppy, and completely unwanted, but then she noticed out of the corner of her eye that someone was watching this entire interaction. His eyes were fixed on them with such intensity and anguish. It was LUIS! Luis was watching them, and he looked REALLY pissed and perhaps....jealous? She loved that, and kissed Hank back with a fire that she only really felt for one man...
To Be Continued...
Chapter 6:
Sheridan pulled away from Hank shocked and somewhat disgusted with herself and her behavior. Hank, on the other hand, stared at her with such a triumphant look that she knew immediately that she had made a huge mistake. "Sheridan that kiss was amazing!” Hank nestled in closer and whispered in her ear, “Why don't we get out of here and go somewhere where we can continue this in private?" Sheridan's stomach turned just thinking about the prospect. She instinctively took a step away from him and tried to explain it to him, but he was in his own world. "Listen Hank, I didn’t mean it like that. It was just a friendly good-to-see-you-again kiss. That’s all." But Sheridan knew in her heart that it was more than that; It was a let's-make-Luis-jealous kiss… and judging from the look she was getting across the Book Cafe, it worked all too well!
Luis could barely contain his rage at seeing his best friend kiss his... kiss his what?? "I have no claim to her, she means nothing to me and clearly she feels the same way. So then why do I want to get up from this table and pummel Hank bloody?" In his heart, he knew the answer, but pushed it back into that place where he kept all his feelings about her… the place that knew the truth.
Luis stood up from the table, looked in their direction, and forced himself to give them an approving smile. It almost killed him where he stood, but he wasn't going to let Sheridan know how much watching the two of them hurt him. He walked over to where they were standing and slapped Hank on the back a little harder then he had intended too. "My, don’t you two look cozy?” He could feel Sheridan’s eyes on him but he kept his eyes focused on Hank. “I see that you and Sheridan have gotten reacquainted.” His eyes then shifted to Sheridan’s, “I hope I'm invited to the wedding." Hank could barely contain his glee. "You bet buddy! You're gonna be my Best Man! Start planning the bachelor party now, 'cause it won't be long."
"So Sheridan,” Luis said in a biting tone, “when's the big day?" Sheridan’s face reddened as the frustration from the situation boiled to the surface. "Luis, I'm not ready to get involved, let alone get married, to ANY man at this point in my life, not that it's any of YOUR concern.”
During the entire interaction, Hank’s arm was around Sheridan and she was sure that she might become physically ill if it remained there one second longer. Sheridan turned to face Hank, in essence dismissing Luis. "Hank, it was really good to see you again, but my nephew should be here any minute and I really should get us a table." Hank didn’t understand why Sheridan was being so abrupt but decided it was best not to push her. "Ok, Sheridan,” he said as he gingerly caressed her face, “but I will be calling you later with hopes of picking up where we left off." Confidant that there was more to come, he turned and headed out the door.
Sheridan sighed, thankful that Hank was gone and hoped that drinking some coffee would wash the taste of him away. She turned back to look for a table and was surprised when her eyes locked with Luis'. "I thought you left." Sheridan said indifferently. "I was going to, but I thought I should wait for Beth. I haven't seen her for awhile and her shift starts soon." The mention of Beth's name made Sheridan cheeks grow hot again. She did not like that woman one bit and did not like the idea of Luis going out of his way to see her. She certainly could not be a witness to it. "Well, I'm starting to think that Ethan has stood me up, so I'm heading back to the cottage. If you see him, tell him to call me later, OK?" Luis nodded wordlessly as Sheridan headed for the door. He was frustrated that he was unable to come up with some quick-witted comment. He couldn't live like this anymore. It was getting harder and harder to be near her and not show her how much he really cared about her. He was going to have to do something.
Later that night, Sheridan hung up the phone with Ethan after giving him rations of grief for not calling to tell her that he got caught up in wedding plans with Theresa. She loved her nephew and decided after 15 minutes of razing, to tell him all was forgiven and that they could meet tomorrow morning for coffee.
It was getting late and Sheridan decided it was time for bed, but bed meant sleep, and sleep meant more dreams about that BASTARD Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. She decided to bring a boring, exotic travel book to bed with her that would put her quickly to sleep and make her dream of far away places that had absolutely nothing to do with him. But that night, Sheridan did dream about far away places, but every place she found herself, she was always with him… and they were always naked.
Sheridan woke up slowly the following morning with a satisfied smile on her face, tangled in sheets. The dream lingered vividly in her mind, like the memory of a real event. She shifted, muscles straining with a telltale ache she hadn't felt in a long time. It was the physical weariness that came from a night of vigorous lovemaking. Sheridan shook her head gently. Her dreams were becoming impossibly real and unbelievably satisfying. But still there was a want deep within her that she could not bear to name, but denying it was becoming impossible. She was going to have to do something.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 7:
"That's it," Sheridan decided while getting dressed. She couldn't handle the dreams and the desires any longer and had to do something about it. "It's just a physical and chemical attraction. What female with a normal libido wouldn't feel the same way? He's gorgeous, sexy, and to be sure, a wonderful lover. I know how to get him out of my system. I'll sleep with him, and then go on with my life." Sheridan looked in the mirror and gave herself a seductive smile, "I did call him my Boy Toy once… now let's see if he can live up to the name...”
Across town, Luis was also having a dialogue with himself. "That's it,” Luis decided while sipping his morning coffee. “I'll tell her the truth. The truth…... that somewhere in the middle of all of this, I've fallen in love with her." Luis smiled to himself. "Oh sure Luis, she'll take one look at you and see into your heart. She’ll fall into your arms and the two of you will live happily ever after. NOT A CHANCE!” He paced around his office. “I can't even try to talk to that woman. When I do, it's always the same… She'll call me a Macho Pig, and various other endearing names, and I'll call her stubborn and opinionated, and it will end like all the rest of our interactions… with each of us alone.” Luis thought seriously about this for a moment but then chuckled, "Well, she IS stubborn and opinionated… but damn it if I'm not in love with her anyway."
Sheridan went to the main house to meet Ethan for that coffee he promised her. Upon entering the foyer, she was greeted by her brother Julian who was sitting in the study alone and had already had one too many brandy's. "Julian, your sauced, and it isn't even 9:00 am yet! You never cease to amaze me.” "Sheridan dear,” replied Julian with a slight slur, “when did you get back from Paris? I've missed you ever so much." Normally Sheridan could barely contain her disdain for her brother, but today, under the influence of the alcohol, he was more likeable and somewhat pathetic. Even though she knew better, she gave Julian the details of her adventure. He could be such an attentive and receptive audience. She told him all about the attempts on her life, what happened in Paris, and, in perhaps too much detail, Luis. It was so good to be able to talk about it. And throughout her ramblings, Julian looked at her sincerely as he continued to drink his brandy. She even confessed how she hadn’t been able to get Luis out of her mind since her return.
And then, as if in a blink of an eye, Julian’s face changed. The sincerity suddenly replaced with condescension and disgust. "Chalupa boy?” Julian spat, “I thought you left to get away from him." Julian could barely contain himself. "He followed you to Paris, to what, beg your forgiveness, tell you it wasn't him on the wharf? Ha! Sheridan you are so naive! Your floundering romantic attempts are so entertaining. You wouldn’t know a good catch if he walked into you!"
Sheridan decided it just wasn't worth the effort to try to make him understand. And now she was angrier with herself than her brother. If only she realized earlier that Julian was such a BASTARD! He would never understand her feelings about Luis… or about anything. "Whatever Julian, I came to see Ethan, not waste my time with you. Why don't you just have another one! At least the booze will keep you company." As Sheridan walked toward the terrace, she was thankful for getting in the last word… but then she heard Julian cackling. It just reinforced the fact that she despised him'
Coffee with Ethan was wonderful, and they talked for hours about Paris and Gwen and just everything. She loved being with Ethan and he made her thankful that at least part of her family was genuine and kind. On her way back to the cottage she kept thinking about her earlier inner conversation, and now wondered how exactly she was going to get that Boy Toy into her bed. "He hates me, thinks I'm stuck up and spoiled. He wouldn't give me the time of day, let alone make love to me… Wait a minute!” Sheridan exclaimed aloud, “Ha! I will seduce him with all my charms and he will be powerless to deny me. This should be easy. . After all, I am Sheridan Crane! Who wouldn't want me?”
Luis was heading towards Sheridan's cottage, ready to declare his feeling for her, damn the consequences. He was practicing the conversation in his head when he smacked into someone walking in the other direction. He lifted his head to apologize, and was embarrassed to find he had just ran into Sheridan. "Sheridan, are you OK? You’re not hurt, are you?" Sheridan rolled her eyes at him "No, I think I'll live." Luis looked at the ground. "I'm really sorry, I was just headed to your cottage. There's something I want to talk to you about. Something I really need to say." Sheridan was intrigued but had her own agenda to attend to. "Really, that's good, because there's something I want to talk to you about too." Luis became hopeful… maybe she was feeling the same way, anything was possible... maybe... well, just maybe...
Luis followed Sheridan into the cottage and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot waiting for the right moment to make his declaration. Sheridan turned around and smiled at him, and in the next moment she was beside him, kissing him with a fervor that fired his blood. God, she smelled and tasted so good. "Sheridan,” Luis said breathlessly. “What I came here to tell you is that I...” but Sheridan silenced him with another kiss. Her whole body seemed to sigh in pleasure as she melted into the strength of his arms and the heat of his lips. Luis couldn't believe this was happening. He kept trying to speak but Sheridan wouldn't allow it. He decided to just go with it. This just felt so right. They could talk later.
His hands caressed her back in long, lingering sweeps. Sheridan was amazed. This felt better than she ever imagined. Once this was over, she could go back to her old life and...wow, it was getting harder to think. He seemed to know exactly where and how to touch her. She closed her eyes to stop her brain from thinking. She'd think about her old life and her new life, free of her want for Luis, later. Right now, all she wanted was Luis. And she was going to do everything in her power to make sure that all her desires for Luis were quenched tonight. As if reading her mind, he held her tighter, almost possessively. They were becoming completely lost in each other. Deliciously he whispered in her ear, the heat of his breath sending new waves of excitement down her spine. "Sheridan, I love you!" Shocked, Sheridan pulled away for a moment and locked eyes with Luis. She opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by the passion of Luis' kiss.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 8:
Sheridan's mind was racing. "He just said he loved me!" He didn't, he couldn't know what he was saying. He is just caught up in the moment. So Sheridan decided to ignore what Luis was saying and just concentrate on satisfying her NEED. Luis's hand began travelling down her side and she groaned when he reached her thigh. "Luis, make love to me NOW!" He didn't need to be asked twice.
Luis picked Sheridan up gently, raining hungry kisses over her neck and mouth while carrying her to the bedroom. When they entered the room, Luis placed her on the bed and stared at her with such intent, she almost climaxed then and there. She pulled Luis on to her, while helping him shed his clothes. Their movements were frantic, almost wild, as they ripped at each other’s clothes, kissing and touching like it was the end of the world.
The lovemaking was indescribable. Sheridan had NEVER felt anything like what had just transpired between her and Luis. Luis rolled off her on to his side, breathing heavy. "Sheridan, that was incredible! I never knew in my whole life, that it could be like that. You're amazing." Sheridan was at a complete loss. She too was breathing heavy, amazed at what had just happened. Sheridan wanted to say so much, but all she could do was mumble "Luis, you were great too. I gotta go." Sheridan got up and tried to retrieve her clothes, but everything she picked up was ripped or not hers. "Uhhh, Luis, I need to borrow a shirt." Luis was dumbfounded. She was leaving??? After what they just shared...she couldn't be serious. But she was, she was leaving, heading for the door. "But it's her cottage." Luis thought to himself. Luis bolted out of bed to head her off at the door. "Sheridan, where are you going. You can't leave. Not now, not after what just happened."
Sheridan looked at Luis thoughtfully and replied "You're right Luis... GET OUT!!" Sheridan began collecting his clothes and pushing him towards the door. Luis was shocked "Sheridan, what are you doing? I think we need to talk about this. Clearly something is wrong. What happened?" Sheridan looked at Luis, naked, clutching his clothes and laughed. "This is absurd. I can't just throw him out like this." Sheridan turned and headed back to the bedroom, leaving Luis standing in the doorway totally confused.
Sheridan emerged minutes later with an envelope that she handed to Luis. "Here STUDLY, for your trouble." Luis took the envelope, dropping most of his clothes in the process. "Sheridan, what is this?" Sheridan smiled and pushed him the rest of the way out of the cottage, closing the door behind him. Luis was stunned, here he was, he just made love to the woman of his dreams, naked, clutching an envelope of...What the hell was in there? Luis put down his clothes to investigate, and upon opening the envelope, he was greeted with more $100 BILLS then he would see in a lifetime...
To Be Continued…
Chapter 9:
"WHAT HAVE I DONE" Sheridan wailed, closing the door and slamming
her
back up against it. Sheridan slowly crumpled to the floor with a thud.
"I
wasn't suppose to feel like this, I'm supposed to be happy, satisfied
and
finished with him! Completely and totally done with that BASTARD Luis
Lopez-Fitzgerald." However, just saying his name to herself made her
body
react involuntarily. "DAMN IT Sheridan, what's wrong with you, you've
slept
with countless men, paid them off, and never heard from them again.
This
should be child's play for you. SNAP OUT OF IT!" But Sheridan couldn't
seem
to move, she was frozen to the spot almost as if she was being willed
to stay
there. If she could see the other side of the door, someone else was in
the
same spot on the other side, equally confused.
Luis sat propped up against Sheridan's door completely empty.
"She gave
me money? She gave me money?" Luis continued mumbling to himself. Luis
began
mentally going through the chain of events that led up to this moment.
When
they first met, the Tango's, their dates, and that amazing kiss on the
wharf.
Then Luis cringed, the SLAP, Sheridan leaving for Paris and everything
that
followed. He opened his heart to her and she took it willingly. "Making
love
to her was the single most incredible experience in my entire life."
Luis
thought to himself. "This can't be happening, she wouldn't, she
couldn't do
this to me, to us. This has to be some kind of horrible mistake, or a
dream,
or a nightmare! Why can't I wake up?" Luis screamed his voice echoing
into
the night.
Sheridan was startled by a scream she knew immediately to be
coming
from Luis. He was still outside? She was sure he was long gone,
celebrating
his success in finally attaining his goal to use her. That thought
brought
Sheridan back to her senses. "HA, he thinks he used me, well baby, I
used him
and used him good!" Sheridan stood shaking her head to clear the
cloudiness.
"Father would be so proud of me. Today I WAS a Crane! I saw what I
wanted, I
took it, I used it and threw it away when I was finished." Even as
Sheridan
was saying those words and her head swam with thoughts of empowerment
and
family, her heart was breaking into a million pieces.
Sheridan woke the next morning completely drained and feeling
physically worse then she had ever felt in her life. She was haunted
all
night with dreams of HIM and upon waking this morning had to admit to
herself
that the dreams couldn't even compare to the real thing. "Sheridan" she
said
to herself, you took care of all of this last night. It's finished,
over! Now
it's time to move on with your life. These dreams will fade in time and
last
night will be a distant memory."
Sheridan got up, showered, dressed and put on the coffee before
going
out to retrieve the morning paper. "Ah the paper she thought to
herself, I
can read about other peoples problems for a change" As she opened the
door
she was greeted with her paper, and a man attached to it.
"Good Morning, Sheridan, sleep well?" DAMN, It was Luis!! What
the Hell
was he doing here! "Luis, Sheridan said trying to close the door. What
are
you doing here, go away." Luis stopped the door easily with his hand
and
slipped inside the cottage in one step. "Get out, Get out this instant!
I did
not invite you in!" "Oh yes you did Sheridan, last night, or have you
forgotten?" Sheridan was purple with rage and Luis saw her face soften
for an
instant when she realized that he was still in his clothes from last
night or
at least what remained of them. "Luis, you slept here last night?"
Sheridan
said incredulously. "As a matter of fact I did, I think we have some
things
to talk about, don't you?" Luis said moving closer to her. Sheridan's
head
was spinning, just being this close to him was making her remember his
touch
and how she felt being under him. She was not ready to have this
conversation
here and now.
Luis took a deep breath and began "Sheridan I love you" there he
said
it again, this was going to be easier than he thought. Sheridan was
taking a
step backward and he thought she might make a run for it, but she
didn't move
again. "Luis you don't know what you're saying" Sheridan spit out. "It
was
sex, pure and simple. That's what you wanted, that's what I wanted,
which by
the way I paid you very well for." Luis eyes burned with anger. "Oh
this"
Luis said holding up the envelope and tipping it upside down so all the
torn
pieces would flutter to the floor. Sheridan was flabbergasted "Do you
have
any idea how much money was in that envelope?" Luis smiled "Yup, I know
exactly how much was in that envelope, I counted it. I wanted to know
just
how much my LAY was worth!" Sheridan took another step back and Luis
took
another forward so they were just as close as before. "Well, that was
your
money, you could do with it what you wanted, so if you have nothing
else to
say, let me show you out." Luis wasn't letting her off that easily.
"Sheridan
we are going to talk about this NOW! So you might as well just resign
yourself to that fact and quit the lying."
Sheridan took a step forward so that she was eye to eye with
Luis.
"What I wanted was sex Luis, and I got it. Is that honest enough for
you?"
Luis laughed "That's what you keep saying. You want to know what I
think, I
think you are still lying. What happened between us wasn't just about
sex or
sport." Sheridan looked down afraid her eyes might give her away. Luis
continued "You can't even look at me. Sheridan, look at me DAMN IT! You
think
you know me, well, I know you. I looked into your eyes and I saw it."
Sheridan locked eyes with Luis and said "I went to bed with you to get
laid
period." Luis smiled at her frankness, but continued. "That's not what
happened, you were making love to me Sheridan, you were making love."
Sheridan shook her head. "That's what you wanted to see." Luis decided
to
throw her a curve.
"Oh, so you think I want some spoiled, little rich
girl to
fall in love with me? Sheridan knew what he was trying to do and dodged
it.
"Just because I was passionate in bed with you doesn't mean I'm in love
with
you Luis." Luis' body shook from rage. "Oh really Sheridan, then what
the
HELL was happening in that bed?" "I say again Luis, it was sex, down
and
dirty sex!" Luis was getting frustrated. "You're the liar Sheridan, you
can
deny what happened all you want, but you're lying to me and to
yourself. Luis
grabbed Sheridan hard by the shoulders and stared at her so intently,
he
reached her soul. "I've been to bed with women I didn't love, sometimes
it's
even been wild and passionate. I know the body language, the way heads
turn,
necks arch--but when it's just sex, you never connect with the eyes,
but with
you and me Sheridan, we never took our eyes off each other. I saw a
woman who
loves me! Now maybe I wanted to see that, no question, BUT I SAW IT!"
Sheridan twisted out of his grasp and ran towards the door,
breathing
hard. She reached for the door, but instead turned to face Luis, her
eyes
blazing.......
To Be Continued...
Chapter 10:
"You BASTARD!” Sheridan spit out, walking towards him. "You think by coming here and professing your love for me that I will, what...swoon and fall into your arms? Well, think again, Burrito Boy!"
Luis shook his head in disgust. "Sheridan, if calling me names makes you feel better, so be it. But you and I both know that you are merely lashing out to mask your true feelings."
Sheridan chuckled, "My true feelings? Ha! I've been trying to tell you my true feeling for the past 15 minutes and you refuse to listen. You are a fool! Can't YOU see the truth? I used you just like you used me. The only difference is that I’m the one being honest here. I'm not spouting words of love and commitment to make you or me feel better about what happened."
Exhausted by his lack of sleep and his continued resistance from Sheridan, Luis sat on the couch and tried to speak evenly. "Sheridan, I didn't tell you I love you to make you feel better. I told you that because it’s true. I love you. It's as simple as that."
Sheridan turned her back to Luis so that he wouldn’t see how the sincerity of his words was starting to break her. She could not give in. She would not give in. "I feel sorry for you, Luis. You love me? Even if you believe that, and I sincerely doubt you do, then you are wasting your time. I don't want to be loved. I don't NEED to be loved. And even if I did, it certainly wouldn’t want to be by likes of YOU. So, now that we understand each other, please leave!"
Luis stood up and headed for the door. He knew that he wasn't going to get through to her now, not like this. She was too hurt and confused to think straight, and no matter what he said, she wasn't ready to accept it. "Fine Sheridan, I'll go, but we are not through here. I love you DAMN IT, and I know you feel the same way. You're just too stubborn to admit it." Luis shot her a final look that made her knees weak. "I've been inside you in more ways than one, and I know how you feel about me. It’s just a matter of time until you face the facts. You love me too."
As the door clicked shut, Sheridan exhaled the breath she had been holding the entire time Luis was talking. That man really knew how to get to her, or almost get to her. Damn him. What was he doing? Why did he want to continue playing with her like this? ‘Why can't he just leave me alone, she thought to herself. ‘This is one game that Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald will not be winning. He is so out of his league and he can't even see it,’ Sheridan smiled to herself. ‘But hell if he wasn't absolutely fantastic in bed.’
Luis decided to go straight to the station to shower and change. He needed to think more about what had happened between him and Sheridan the night before and how he could get her to realize that they were meant to be together. But first he needed to freshen up and eat breakfast. He hadn't had dinner the night before and had worked up quite an appetite being with her.
Even now, his body physically reacted just thinking about their lovemaking. After being with Sheridan, he was ruined for any other woman. ‘I need to think about something else. I will not be able to function if I keep thinking about her. Dead pets, yup, that will keep my mind off Sheridan."
But strangely, even that didn't help. As Luis walked into the station, he realized that he was again thinking about the feel of her body pressed against his and the intensity in her eyes as they made love. He wondered just how long he would need to run the water in the shower to make it cold enough!
After giving a cursory hello to everyone, Luis stepped into the locker room to freshen up. He began to strip off his clothes, and his mind began to wander back to the previous night. Sheridan was making love to him, he was sure of it. As sure as he had ever been about anything real in his life. The question now was what could he do to convince her...
To Be Continued...
Chapter 11:
Almost a week had gone by, and Sheridan had been spending most of her
time thinking about Luis. She thought of him even tonight, as she fixed her
hair just so, while getting ready for the tedious benefit the Hospital Board
was throwing at the Seascape. I haven't seen or heard from Luis in over a
week, except for when Hank showed up and said that he would be with me 24/7
because Luis had to go away. Ugh, Hank! He has to go with me tonight and no
matter how many times I tell him he's not, he thinks that I'm his date. As
if on cue, there was a knock at the door. "Sheridan, are you almost ready?
WE don't want to be late." The fact that Hank stressed "WE" was not lost on
her. This was going to be a long night!
Hank and Sheridan arrived at the Seascape greeted by wafting music and
happy voices. It was then that Sheridan decided to make the best of the
night and if all else failed, she would drink herself into oblivion. But
first, she needed to set some boundaries with Hank. "Hank, you are here as
my bodyguard only. I would appreciate it if you would try to remain as
professionally distanced from me as possible." Hank looked at her knowingly
and spoke. "Sure Sheridan, I know you don't want all the publicity of our
dating out in public yet, so I will do my part." Hank trotted off, leaving
Sheridan shaking her head in disbelief. "He will NEVER get it. I definitely
need a drink!"
Sheridan spent the night pressing the flesh of all of Harmony's biggest
and brightest, and yet all the champagne in the world couldn't drone out
their boring small talk and stop that BASTARD from invading her thoughts.
"So Sheridan, how did it feel when Luis brought you to your peak for the 5th
time? Was it like the others?" Huh, What?!? "Miss Crane, Miss Crane, are
you listening to me?" Govenor King looked crestfallen. "Miss Crane, I was
asking you how you feel about the hospital naming a children's hospital wing
after your late mother." Sheridan was horrified. "I'm sorry, Governor King.
Yes I was listening. I was just a bit distracted by your mention of my
mother. She would have been so honored." Good save, Sheridan, she
thought to herself.
This night was not turning out remotely the way Sheridan had expected.
The one saving grace was that Hank had made himself scarce. When she headed
toward the bar for yet another glass of champagne, she saw Hank chatting with
the bartender. It turned out Hank knew him from high school and they were
trading football stories. Hank made brief eye contact with Sheridan and
promptly returned to his stories of glory. Thank God for small favors.
Sheridan thought about slipping out to leave Hank and his football pal
hanging, but remembered what happened last time. Forget it, I'll just take
a couple of glasses of champagne out to the terrace, suck this up for one
more hour, and then I can leave."
The champagne was starting to hit her and the music was infectious.
Sheridan was swaying to the music, wishing someone would ask her to dance,
but she didn't want to go inside just yet. She thought to herself
sarcastically A couple more glasses of champagne and then I'll go inside and
look for Hail Mary Pass Hank and he'll dance with me or then again, maybe
it'll take three."
As Sheridan finished the last gulp of her champagne, she felt a hand on
her shoulder. Sheridan turned knowingly, "Hank, I was just coming to find
you." But the face that greeted her, although familiar, was not Hank's.
"LUIS!"
Sheridan felt her face flush as she looked into the eyes of the man she
had been thinking about for days. He was in a tuxedo that fit him like a
second skin and he was easily the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes
on. "Luis, what the Hell are you doing here?" Sheridan said with as much
venom as she could muster. Luis cocked an eyebrow and replied. "I'm here for
the children. You know how much I love kids and this is a good cause."
Sheridan looked at him with disbelief but decided it was best to let it go
and not pursue it. She had to get away from him. She was barely able to stop
herself from ripping his clothes off and having her way with him right there
on the Seascape terrace. She turned to make her escape, when Luis grabbed
her forcibly and pulled her into his arms and began dancing.
He held her possessively as they danced on the secluded terrace. Sheridan
could feel his warm breath on her neck. It's just lust, Sheridan. Keep
reminding yourself of that!" she told herself. But she decided that this was
torture and that she would rather dance with Hank than be pressed this close
to Luis and not be able to do what she had been dreaming about for days.
Luis was grinning, out of Sheridan's sight. This week away from her was
exactly what he needed. He had been thinking of nothing else but her and how
he would get her to admit her true feelings for him, and judging from the way
she was caressing his back while they danced, this was going to be like
taking candy from a baby.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 12:
The way that Sheridan was touching him, stroking him made alarms go off in his head.
Hell, it was heating him up EVERYWHERE, but he had to keep his head on straight. He was here for a purpose, one purpose, and that was to get Sheridan to admit the truth.
They didn't speak for a long time. They just held eachother close while they danced breathing in eachothers scent afraid words would ruin the moment. Not wanting to, Luis broke the silence with a sigh. "Sheridan, you look absolutely beautiful tonight.
"Thank you Luis, you don't look so bad yourself." "So", Sheridan continued, "What the hell happened to you this week. You just disappeared without a word and left me with Hank who I swear has already started planning our wedding."
Luis chuckled, "Yup, that's my buddy. He wastes no time, so when's the big day" Luis grew serious. "Look Sheridan, I couldn't be with you and I knew he'd keep you safe." Sheridan finally let out the breathe she'd been holding. "Couldn't be with me, what the hell does that mean? Explain yourself Lopez-Fitzgerald!"
"Sheridan, I needed time to think about all that has happened and I thought it would be best that we not be around eachother for a while. This just sexthing might work for you but it doesn't work for me. So I came here tonight to tell you I've asked the FBI to assign another bodyguard and I'm leaving Harmony."
Sheridan listened patiently while Luis explained himself and when he finished she nodded knowingly. She turned as if to head back into the party but instead turned and reached around his neck, dug her fingers into his hair and pulled his head down to kiss her. She leaned closer, molding her body to his.
"Sheridan, No, I don't want this." Luis half-heartedly protested between kisses.
"Oh really Luis, Sheridan said motioning to his crotch, I think you do"
She had no idea for how long they tasted eachother, sensually exploring with tounge and lips and roving hands. She only knew she wanted him to hold her, kiss her like this forever.
She grew hotter, needier; her senses spun, she was losing control but he was the one who pulled back his eyebrow raised "You picked a helluva time and place to change your mind."
"I...I...didn't." Heat rose to her face as she turned away. He'd turned her mind to mush, her body a tingling mass of raw nerves. What was it about his kisses that made straight thinking impossible.
"Luis, I think you misunderstand me, I want you, yes, but in my bed. You will never get into my heart, into my soul...NEVER." "But this, what we have, it's undeniable and I can tell by your kisses and by that bulge in your pants, you feel it too."
Luis turned his head so Sheridan couldn't see his face, or his utter look of defeat. He was frustrated that his body could betray him and that Sheridan was so stubborn she couldn't see what was right in front ot her.
Sheridan grinned, clearly pleased with herself. He'd agree to be with her this way, her way and she would just keep pushing those damn emotions into that place, the one place that knew the truth.
To Be Continued…