Velvet Kisses

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with NBC, Passions, or JER.

Chapter 1:

Sheridan's cottage-

"Sheridan I still think you should talk to Luis." Ethan came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of snacks. Sheridan rolled her eyes, "Ethan we've been over this, I'm not going to tell Luis what I heard him say on the wharf, I don't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt me." She placed the book she was reading on her lap and rubbed her forehead with her fingers. Ethan set the tray on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. "Are you saying that you don't want to an explanation from him?" "I'm just so confused," Sheridan crossed her legs and rested her head back against the armchair, "...something just doesn't feel right about this whole thing." "What do you mean?" "I don't know...I mean I know Luis used me, I saw and heard him with my own eyes and ears, saying those awful things about me...but its like my heart refuses to accept it...I can't explain it." "Maybe you should trust your heart then." "WHAT?! and what about what I heard."

"Sheridan I'm not doubting what you heard Luis say, but it just doesn't make any sense that he would go all the way to Paris because he had a gut instinct that you were in danger. Obviously he cares about you, I mean the guy saved your life, more than once." Ethan saw the look on Sheridan's face turn into anger. "That doesn't change the fact that he USED me, who's side are you on anyway, Ethan why are you defending him?!" "I'm not, I...I just think there's more to this, if you would just talk to Luis then maybe you can finally put this behind you." "Whatever happened between Luis and I in the past doesn't matter now...Luis made it very clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"But-" "Look I don't want to talk about this anymore, I don't care if I ever see Luis Lopez-Fitzerald again!" Ethan shook his head and leaned back against the couch, he knew all to well how stubborn his aunt could be, he wasn't going to win this arguement. He turned the TV on and remained silent for a few minutes as Sheridan went back to her reading. Ethan finally turned to her again and said, " Sheridan do you love him?" She looked up from her book and let out a sigh but didn't answer. "It's a simple question Sheridan."

She finally opened her mouth to say something but her attention was suddenly drawn to the T.V. Ethan followed her gaze to the screen. Sheridan grabbed the remote and turned the volume up as the news reporter's voice sounded from the set. "And once again we are here live at Harmony National Bank, where two men held up the bank earlier this afternoon. A shoot-out between the the Bank robbers and the Harmony P.D soon followed, leaving many injured and two dead. We are told that several officers were injured during this incident and some are in critical condition. We know that one of the two deceased is a bank robber, the other person that lost his life is possibly an officer, police are yet to release his name." Sheridan couldn't breath, she felt sick inside. Without giving it another moments thought she grabbed her keys and ran toward the door.

"Sheridan where are you going?" "I have to find out if he's okay." Before Ethan had a chance to say another word she walked out door slamming it behind her. As she sped down the road, Sheridan couldn't shake the awful feeling that something was wrong. It was killing her not knowing if he was alright. "Please God let him be okay, "she kept repeating to herself, "Please let Luis be okay, God. " She stopped at a red light, grasping the steering wheel tightly as tears escaped the corners of her eyes. Even though the drive to the bank was 20 minutes, it might has well have taken forever. Sheridan grew more impatient with every passing minute and the "What if's" raced through her mind like an endless song.

"Oh God what if I never see him again, what if I never have a chance to tell him how much I really love him." The light finally turned green, the awful feeling only worsened as she neared the bank. She parked her car across the street and hurried toward the bank but couldn't see anything because of the all the people that had gathered there. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she slowly made her way through the noisy crowd. When she finally reached the police tape that was securing the area, she slipped under it without being noticed. There was broken glass everywhere and the sound of the ambulance and police sirens was deafening. Her eyes frantically wandered over the scene but there was no sight of him anywhere. 'Dammit...calm down Sheridan, don't panic!' she told herself.

ambulance by two paramedics. Tears stung her eyes and her vision became blurred. Twice she thought she saw Luis but both times it turned out to be someone else. Just when she thought she could't take it anymore, Sheridan finally spotted Sam Bennett and dashed towards him. She reached the ambulance he was standing next to and stood in front of him. "Sam where's Luis?" she asked tearfully. Sam starred at her a little surprised. She held her breath waiting for him to answer. His silence caused her heart to ache in way it never had before.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 2:

"Sam where's Luis?" she asked tearfully. Sam starred at her a little surprised. She held her breath waiting for him to answer. His silence caused her heart to ache in way it never had before. Sam broke his gaze and looked over her shoulder to someone walking up behind her. "Sheridan?" someone called from behind. She spun around immediately recognizing the voice. Their eyes only met for a brief moment before she threw her arms around him and burried her face in his neck. "Luis, thank god your okay," she said as tears streamed down her face. Luis was shocked by her presence, but at the same time, relieved to see her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. For awhile they forgot he sorrow and the pain as they clung to eachother like there was no tomorrow.

The sound of Sam clearing his throat finally brought them back to reality, and they hesitantly broke away from each other. Sam gave them an apologetic glance before turning his gaze to Luis. "I'm sorry...Luis I'm going down to the hospital, I need you to stay here and take care of things." "Okay Sam, I'll see you later." Sam walked a few paces away then looked back at Luis and Sheridan who stood there lost in an intimate daze. He smiled to himself as he got into his police car and drove off. Luis finally broke the silence, "Sheridan what are you doing here?"

"I...I saw what happened on the news, so I came down here to see if you were okay," her eyes finally wandered to his bandaged arm, "your hurt." She brought her hand up to his arm and gently touched the bandage, concern clearly expressed on her face. The thought of Sheridan worrying about him warmed his heart but he managed to remain impassive on the outside. "I'm fine...the bullet just grazed my arm." he stated simply. "Well I'm glad your okay." "I didn't know you cared." "I do , which is more than I can say for you," Sheridan's voice suddenly turned cold.

"How can you say that after everything we've been through together, I do care about you...you know I do." "Yeah right," she muttered under her breath. "You know I can't figure you out Sheridan, one minute your so concerned about me and the next minute you turn on me and make me out to be some kind of cold heartless jerk!" he said getting angry. "Maybe because that's exactly what you are Luis...look I didn't come here to argue with you." The lack of anger in her voice surprised him. "Sheridan...I just-" "You know what I don't know why I even bothered to come here, I'm just going to go now."

"Fine" As much as he wanted to know what he did to make her so angry with him, he couldn't. He made a deal with Julian not to speak to Sheridan again and he had to stick to it. But, he also remembered the promise he made to himself earlier that day when he came close to losing his life. He had decided to tell Sheridan how he really felt about her no matter what the risk. But now he wasn't sure if he should. They looked at eachother tentatively, Sheridan was the first to turn away. 'I wish things were different between us Luis.' she thought to herself. Walking away from him was hard but she knew she had to before she changed her mind. As she began to walk away, Ethan's words "Trust your heart" kept resounding in her head.

It broke his heart watching her go. His inner voice begged him to turn around and walk away too, but he couldn't do it. "Sheridan wait...don't go." Sheridan stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, their eyes locked once again. They stood just staring for long time. Words weren't necessary, it was like she had found her soul there, in his eyes. She finally started slowly towards him, her heart racing inside of her. When Sheridan reached him, she placed her hands gently on his shoulders. She reached up and pressed her lips to his, and the feelings surfaced that they had surpressed for so long. It was a short sexy kiss, but so full of emotion, she pulled away and said, "I'm sorry...for everything."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 3:

It was a short sexy kiss, but so full of emotion, she pulled away and said, "I'm sorry...for everything." Her words were spoken with so much love that it left Luis speechless. The most stubborn, unreasonable woman he ever met, and who he had been fighting with non stop for weeks now, was actually apologizing to him! What has gotten into her he thought to himself. Sheridan couldn't believe her actions either, she held a composed look but inside she was trembling. Luis finally found his voice. "That was some apology...and I'm sorry too," he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"Luis do you even know what your apologizing for," she sighed softly against his lips. "No, I don't but whatever I did to hurt you Sheridan I'm sorry." They had so much to talk about but right now it didn't matter. What they felt for eachother was anything but hate. Their only thoughts were of how much they wanted to be with eachother. Luis leaned down and kissed her lips lovingly, but with a passion that made her knees go weak. Sheridan wanted to stay pressed against him forever.

Ethan watched the news reporter, and as the camera shot moved to a different scene, he caught sight of a couple kissing in the background. He jolted forward on the couch realizing couple was Sheridan and Luis. "Well it's about time," he said to himself.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 4:

Sheridan's cottage-

The drive to the cottage had been silent, Luis had insisted on taking Sheridan home because he said it wasn't safe for her to drive back alone. She resisted at first, but to avoid another fight, she finally agreed. During that 20 minute drive, Sheridan had time to think, and all the doubt and hurt Luis had caused her, forced it's way back into her mind. He had caused her to feel pain she's never known before, but still, still she wanted him and she hated herself for that. Her expression suddenly seemed cold, Luis studied her face for a while wondering what she was thinking. 'I guess she's mad becuase I wouldn't let her drive home by herself.' he thought. They had so much to say to eachother but now when the time had come to talk about them, they didn't know where to begin. Sheridan thought that they were finally going to talk and clear the air, but the first words that came out of his mouth were, " Sheridan I want you to get a body gaurd. Tonight."

"What?" "It's not safe for you to be wandering around Harmony unprotected." "I'm capable of taking care of myself Luis." "Here we go again..we've been over and over this-"Luis tried stay calm but Sheridan was making it very difficult, he was on the verge of losing his temper. "Yes we have been over this, and you just can't seem to get it through your THICK head that I decide what's best for me, not YOU or anyone else." "Damnit Sheridan, why do you have to be so damn stubborn."

"Oh I'M stubborn!" she said sarcastically. "Why do you think you can control my life Luis!" Luis moved closer to her until face was only inches from hers, which made Sheridan nervous."I'm only trying to protect you." "Well I don't need you to protect me." "Sheridan stop acting like a spoiled child and listen to what I'm saying!" Sheridan's eyes widened and rage washed over her face, Luis knew exactly where this conversation was headed, into another nasty fight. "I don't have to listen to damn word you have to say, you, you...JERK!" "You are the most IMPOSSIBLE woman I've ever met! And you wonder why your alone."

That was the last button to push and Luis knew it, the look on her face said it all. She swung her hand to slap him but Luis caught her by the wrist before her hand could reach his face. He held it tightly and yanked her forward until there faces almost touched. He pressed his lips to hers, the kiss was short and rough but at the same time, so breathless and fervid. He pulled away, his glare piercing through her, "Don't ever slap me again," He said in a low voice. He finally let go of her wrist, then turned and walked out of the cottage.

Sheridan still stood in stunned silence, unable to move. She felt the tears spring into her eyes, not tears of pain and sadness but tears of rage and frustration. She eyed the vase on the table next to her, she grabbed it and threw it full force against the wall. It shattered into a million pieces, the sound of breaking glass filled the room.

Luis had almost reached home but his temper still hadn't cooled. He was tired of all the arguing and fighting...and the denial. Though he had to admit the heated arguements between them really turned him on. It was hard keeping control of his actions when he was near her, she made him crazy to the point where he couldn't focus, all he wanted to do was kiss her and make love to her. The sound of her voice, the smell of her skin, the taste of her lips. He desired everything about her, and now the thoughts of being with her were driving him insane. He couldn't take it anymore. "Damn her!" Luis slammed on the brakes bringing his car to a screeching stop. Turning the car around, he headed back towards the cottage.

Sheridan put on a black silk slip and a matching see through rob. She was picking out a book to read from the self when the phone rang. "Hello" she said angrily into the phone. "Sheridan? you sound mad, what's wrong?" "Sorry Ethan, nothing is wrong...I just had another fight with Luis, that man is so infuriating." "I'll never understand the relationship you and Luis have" "What relationship! There's nothing between Officer Lopez-Fitzerald and me, and there never will be." "Oh really" "What do you mean 'Oh Really', what's that suppose to mean?"

"I saw you and Luis on TV Sheridan. You two were so into eachother. I think the whole town of harmony watched your little make out session live on the news." Sheridan blushed thinking back to the intense kiss that seemed to go on forever. Her lips started turning into a smile but it quickly faded after remembering the encounter with Luis just a short while ago. "Luis is nothing but a STUBBORN,ARROGANT,JERK" she stated angrily. "Yeah but he's a stubborn, arrogant, jerk your in love with, right?" "right" she said softly then suddenly became silent. She couldn't stop thinking about him. "Sheridan are you there?" "yeah..yeah I'm here, I'll talk to you in the morning Ethan, I'm tired I think I'm gonna go to bed." "Okay, good night Sheridan" "Good night Ethan."

Sheridan lied about being tired, she knew she was too worked up to ever fall asleep, she just didn't want to talk about Luis anymore. She walked to the shattered vase on the floor and began cleaning up the mess. 'God, he makes me so damn mad!' There was a sudden knock on the door that made her jump to her feet. The knock wasn't loud but somehow sounded urgent. She walked to the door and opened it. Her eyes immediately locked with Luis's, he didn't look angry but he didn't look happy either. Sheridan starred into his eyes, they were filled with lust and desire. She swallowed hard, she knew exactly what was going to happen next.

Luis knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Sheridan didn't want to feel this way about a man that was only using her, that didn't love her, but she wasn't going to fight it anymore. He approached her. Cupping the back of her neck with one hand he pulled her into a deep passionate kiss. She surrendered into his arms. He embraced her body, lifting it off the ground. Sheridan wrapped her legs around him as he carried her down the steps and into the living room. She found herself moaning his name as his lips moved down to her neck and continued moving lower and lower. They never made it into the bedroom, he wanted her then and there. They fell onto the couch and made love like it was the end of the world and they would never see eachother again.

Now only silence filled the room as she lay pressed against him on the couch with her back turned to him. Luis touched her leg, his hand wandered under her slip and up to her hip. He gently caressed her skin. She bit her bottom lip to stop the moan that almost escaped her lips. Sheridan closed her eyes, his touching and his warm breath on her bare neck were setting her desires ablaze again. She hated the way he affected her, how easily she lost control with him. "Luis...I heard what you said on the wharf that night" she said in a soft whisper. "What? What did you hear me say?" "You know what I'm talking about" she broke away from him and got off the couch. Luis stood up and zipped his pants.

" I don't know what your talking about Sheridan, you keep saying I did something to hurt you but you have yet to tell me what I did" He wasn't yelling like he had been earlier during their last conversation. His voice was calm but determined to get answers. "You know I'm starting to think you have multiple personalities," realizing her bad choice of words and not wanting to start another fight she forced herself to calm down. "Just be honest with me Luis." "I'm am being honest, I've always been honest with you."

"Luis that night when we kissed on the wharf, and after I went home I decided to go back and surprise you...and when I got there you were talking on the cell phone. I heard you, you said that you were only using me for your own ends, to get back at my family." She couldn't hold back the tears, she let them escape her eyes. Sheridan wanted him to feel her sadness, she wasn't going to hide it anymore. Luis still held a confused look which only upset her more. "Sheridan that's ridiculous, I never said any of those things!" "Yes you did, I saw you, I heard every word you said." "So that's why you left for Paris." he said in a low voice then got angry again,"Why Sheridan, why did it take you so long to tell me this!?"

"Because I didn't want you to get the satisfaction of knowing how much you hurt me, more than that I was angry at myself for letting myself get hurt again." "How could you even think I would use you Sheridan, you know me better than that." "I thought I knew you and I would have never believed it had I not seen it and heard it with my own eyes and ears. How can you still deny it Luis?" It was like there was no end to the tears that had been flowing endlessly from her eyes. It hurt him seeing her like that but what hurt him more was that she didn't believe him.

"Because I didn't say those things, you have to believe me!" She tried to avoid eye contact but he wouldn't let her. He held her chin with his hand and made her look at him. "Look at me...I don't know how to explain what you heard, but I will find a way to prove to you that it wasn't me you heard. I would never use you, I know in your heart you know that." Sheridan broke away from him and looked away," I don't know what to believe anymore," she began walking away but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. He looked into her sad tearful eyes. "Then why did you let me make love to you knowing that I used you?"

She didn't say anything. "Answer me Sheridan." he demanded. "Because I love you" Luis was speechless, and completely stunned, he hadn't expected her to say that. "Sheridan-" "I don't know how you feel about me Luis, but I know exactly what I feel for you-" He held her face gently in his hands, "Sheridan I love you too, I've always loved you...Ever since we met I've never felt the same inside, I knew I could never feel the same inside."

He kissed her lips softly and slowly. He stopped and looked into her eyes, then met her lips again, it wasn't like the other kisses they had shared before, this kiss was magical, so full of love and affection. The kiss finally ended, and so did any doubts she still had about him. They stood just holding each other for a few minutes. "It's been torture seeing you and not being able make love to you." he whispered in her ear. "I know what you mean," she brushed her lips against his, "Make love to me again." "There's nothing I want more."

THE END