I need to start off by saying this story begins when everyone was in Rome this past summer….there's no Jt in this story…but Theresa still had tricked Ethan into sharing a room with her, and they've been cheating for a few weeks…Gwen is still at home…

"What Lies Beneath"

Ch. 1

Rome-Ethan/Theresa hotel room

"Ethan, how could you do this to me again?" Theresa staggered trying to put her heels on while zipping up her blue strapless dress.

"Theresa, you know I love you, but I can't leave Gwen for you." Ethan got up from the bed, quickly pulling on his boxers and pants.

"Ethan! We just made love!"

"I can't. I made vows Theresa."

"Ethan, your vows didn't stop you from making love to me in this hotel room."

"Which we're only sharing because you tricked me into coming here to Rome with you."

A hard slap crashed upon his cheek as the words left his mouth.

"How dare you?!"

"Theresa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that…….. You know, how hard it is for me to resist you…" he slowly grazed her bare shoulders with his fingertips.

"Ethan what are you doing?"

"Theresa, why does it have to be all or nothing? I could stay with Gwen, and we, we can have our own secr-"

"No Ethan!"

"Theresa."

"Ethan I can't do this with you anymore. It's over!"

"Theresa, you don't mean that," he reached down, trying to kiss her.

"No!" she pushed him off. "No more games. Don't you know what you're doing to me?!"

"Theresa, I need you," he pleaded, reaching for her again.

"No, I don't want it! I don't want it Ethan! Leave me alone!" She pulled away, tears streaming down her face as she ran out the door. She had to get away from him.

"Theresa, wait! Don't leave like this!" Ethan grabbed a shirt and threw on his shoes to run after her. Theresa staggered down to the lobby, tears blurring her vision as she went.

"Theresa, honey what's the matter?!" Whitney called out as Theresa ran past her in the hotel bar. Whitney began to chase after her friend out the main entrance.

Theresa's mind was racing, all the hurt she always felt around Ethan rising in her as she ran to cross the street to get as much distance as possible. Just as she got halfway through the street her heel broke, causing her to trip and fall.

"Theresa!" Whitney yelled out.

Theresa's eyes looked up in horror, seeing headlights coming right for her. Just as she began to see her life flash before her eyes, she felt someone quickly pick her up and carry her to the other side of the street safely. Her heart was pounding. She slowly raised her head, realizing she was still alive, in the arms of a stranger.

"Are you ok?" his voice was deep, raspy. His eyes, piercing blue, stared deep into her own.

"Ummm, I think so.." she replied in shock over the whole situation.

A crowd of hotel patrons stood outside, looking on, including Ethan. His eyes narrowed as he saw a strange man holding Theresa in his arms, so intimately. He didn't like it one bit.

"Thank you, for saving my life," Theresa smiled shyly as she realized she was still in his arms.

"You're welcome," he slowly lowered her down. "I'm just glad I was here…" he stared at her intensely. He was tall, with brown hair… some facial hair…and those eyes…she thought to herself…those intense blue eyes…it's like he was looking right through her…he was so handsome….

"Theresa, thank God you're ok!" Whitney ran up to her friend, hugging her tightly. The group of patrons began to surround Theresa, fussing over her as she tried to look around for her hero.

"Where did he go?" She turned to her friend.

"I don't know. He just disappeared."

"Wait, what's this?" Theresa knelt down, picking up a white card from the ground.

"He must have dropped it. What is it?" Whitney asked interested.

"An invitation," Theresa smiled slightly. Whitney hugged her friend again as Theresa's thoughts were still on the sexy stranger.