Title: Diamonds, Chapter 6.
Rating: PG
Warnings: a little UST, a pinch of angst, tiny bit of language
Characters/Pairings: Sheridan, Ivy, mentions of Alistair, Luis
Summary (for chapter): Luis let her go, knowing it was the right thing to do…

Chapter 6

Sheridan pulled the blue tank top over her head and snapped her silver bracelet around her wrist. A glance at the clock on her nightstand told her it was fast approaching midnight. She strained her ears for any tell-tale sign that anyone was awake (she prayed her father was not). A giggle threatened to escape Sheridan's lips as her blue eyes scanned her room one last time and lingered over the pillow mound where she should be. Crossing her fingers, she hoped the ruse would be enough to convince Father she was sound asleep. She figured she didn't have much to worry about on that account though, because Father never checked on her (the man simply did not care). The door creaked a little too loudly when Sheridan closed it, and she was sure her footsteps boomed in the carpeted hall. She didn't dare breathe for fear that someone would discover her as she tiptoed down the stairs and raced to the nearest door. With her hand closing around the knob, she sighed in relief. She was home free. Just a few more steps, a few more to the stables and Juliet. Her heart nearly stopped beating when a familiar voice called her name in the darkness.

"Sheridan? Whatever are you doing?"

Slowly, Sheridan turned around. "Ivy." Her voice sounded high and panicked to her own ears. "I…I…I couldn't sleep," she stammered nervously. "I thought I might take a walk and clear my head."

It was not altogether a false statement, Ivy realized. But she wasn't fooled. She raised a hand to cup Sheridan's cheek and kindly reassured her, "Don't worry, Darling. Your secret is safe with me." Her young sister-in-law's blue eyes melted in appreciation, and Ivy smiled at her impromptu hug.

"Thank you," Sheridan breathed. "You're the only one that understands."

"Run along now, Dear," Ivy advised. "I'll make sure no one sees you." She watched Sheridan's slim figure disappear into the darkness and murmured softly, "I do understand, Sheridan. You have no idea how much."

"Hi, Juliet," Sheridan beamed. "Are you ready girl? Time to go see Luis. Remember him?" She whirled around when Luis himself answered her.

"Of course she remembers me. I'm not the kind of guy you forget," Luis smirked.

"Luis! Don't do that again." Sheridan brought her hands up to shove at his chest. "You scared me. For a second, I thought you were Father." She trembled with the thought. "He'd send me away, lock me up until my wedding day. Don't think he wouldn't."

Luis scowled. "I wouldn't put anything past that bastard. Look, Sheridan," he lowered his voice in grim apology, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I promise." Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed it unthinkingly.

Sheridan's blue eyes fluttered closed, and a glorious smile lit up her pretty features. Her hand tingled deliciously where Luis's lips had touched it. "I believe you," she whispered, earning a grin from Luis.

"Good. I mean it."

Luis's hand brushed against hers when he ran it down Juliet's saddle and cinched it, and Sheridan smiled when he let his fingers linger against her own for just a moment longer. She knew he felt the same spark of electricity when he jerked his hand away as if burned.

Luis put one foot in the saddle's stirrup and was soon astride Juliet, offering his hand with a smile. "Ready?"

Sheridan's blue eyes glittered in the darkness as she took it trustingly. She snuggled against Luis's natural warmth and rest her chin on his shoulder as he easily navigated Juliet out of the stable. The stars were their guiding light as they traveled the grounds. Sheridan wondered if she'd seen such a beautiful night in her lifetime and decided no; she hadn't.

"You're aren't falling asleep on me?" Luis teased. "We're almost there."

Sheridan slipped her arms more snugly around Luis's waist. "No," she murmured against his shoulder. "I was just thinking. The stars are so beautiful, Luis. The sounds, they comfort me." She could see the smile stretching across Luis's lips and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. "Lo-Fitz! Are you laughing at me?" she accused. Luis winced when she pinched his arm, and Sheridan giggled in satisfaction. "Serves you right."

Juliet neighed, and Luis could hear water rippling up ahead. Dismounting, her held his arms out for Sheridan and couldn't hold back his groan when her soft, lithe body came into contat with his.

"Luis," Sheridan laughed nervously, certain no man had ever looked at her the way Luis was looking at her now. What was that emotion in his beautiful amber eyes? "Luis," she whispered softly, "You can let me go now." She couldn't help but be disappointed when he did as she asked, letting his hands fall from her waist. She didn't dwell on the feeling long, promptly turning from Luis and stripping the tank top from her upper body. "Luis. Aren't you coming in?"

With difficulty, Luis recovered from the shock of all that glorious, golden skin, and grabbed Sheridan up in his arms without warning, plunging into the water and causing her to shriek his name. Turnabout was fair play, though, when the little minx dunked him (just for that…). Resurfacing with a gasp, he waded out to her, a dangerous gleam in his dark eyes. "Sheridan, Sheridan," he taunted. "You can run, but you can't hide."

Sheridan giggled helplessly and slapped her hands in the water, trying to deter Luis from his pursuit. Of course, it didn't work (who said she really wanted it to?).

"I got you!" Luis cried triumphantly when he captured her.

"You got me," Sheridan agreed softly.

"I do, don't?" Luis laughed, losing all sense of time and place when she stared up at him with those hypnotic blue eyes. He brushed her wet golden curls from her face and breathed in sharply at her closeness when the gesture had her sighing and leaning in to his touch. What was happening to him? Why did he want to hold her like this forever? Sheridan's pouty pink lips were just begging to be kissed, and Luis knew, without a doubt, she wouldn't deny him.

"Luis," Sheridan whispered uncertainly as Luis's lips inched closer to hers.

Luis hushed her by sliding confident figners to the nape of her neck and pulled her closer still.

Sheridan sighed when Luis peppered her cheeks with feather-light kisses, let his mouth travel down to her jaw.

"Don't talk," Luis quieted her again with a smile and a finger to her lips. "I'm going to kiss you now, Sheridan. May I kiss you?" Sheridan's blue eyes were luminous in the starlight, and a droplet of water clung enticingly to her upper lip. Her lips parted slightly as if granting him permission.

Sheridan wanted Luis to kiss her, more than anything else in the world. "Yes," she uttered as Luis framed her face with his big hands and nuzzled her nose with his own. His gentleness pulled a soft confession from her lips. "I've never been kissed before, Luis. I won't let Colin kiss me."

Sheridan's words were like cold harsh reality slapping Luis in the face, and his hands dropped to his sides. "Colin."

Confused, Sheridan raised a hand to her tingling lips. "I don't want him to kiss me. I don't want anybody but y…"

Luis cut her off before she could say more, ordering her out of the water. "Get your things, Sheridan. I'm taking you home."

"But Luis," Sheridan felt her throat growing tight. "I thought…" she trailed off when Luis wouldn't look her directly in the eyes. "Are you angry with me?"

"No," Luis sighed. "I'm not angry with you, Sheridan. Leave it alone, okay?" The tears shimmering in those big blue eyes made him feel like the biggest jerk alive, but he couldn't kiss her, not when she belonged to another man.

"Okay," Sheridan softly answered Luis. When she tried to wade past him, he grabbed her arm. She read the regret on his face as her name left his lips.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just…"

Sheridan gently removed Luis's hand from her arm and tried to downplay the hurt feelings his rejection had brought forth. "I know, Luis. Forget about it. It's okay. I'm okay. I'd rather walk home if you don't mind. Do you think you could take care of Juliet?"

"Yes," Luis easily answered her. "But Sheridan…"

"Luis," Sheridan spoke warningly.

Luis let her go, knowing it was the right thing to do, and grabbed hold of Juliet's reins. Why, then, did he feel like he was letting his world walk away?

Now get your minds out of the gutter, lol.

Sher wasn't completely topless, hence the lack of mention about nekkidness in the warning.

:)

Thanks for reading!