Chapter 17
Sheridan shielded her eyes from the sun as she gazed up at Luis's handiwork. And, er.some of his other fine attributes. "Enjoying the view?" Luis smirked. Well.she couldn't actually see him smirking. But she could IMAGINE it. "Yes," she said with much enthusiasm. Barely keeping a straight face. "You are just so talented, Luigi. The next Michelangelo." Luis turned to her with a grin. "Yeah.those blue eyes of yours have been admiring my paint job for the last hour." She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms around her waist. "If you want to see me naked, Sherry," he teased as he descended the ladder. "All you have to do is just ask," he said in a low voice. Invading her personal space and making her hold her breath as he grazed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "Really?" she said in a voice more breathy than she would have liked. "Just ask nicely," he told her. Hooking his arms around her waist and drawing her against him. Sheridan's eyes fluttered closed as all her nerve endings came alive at the full-body contact. When Luis kissed her, she didn't THINK. She just FELT. Luis would have kissed her into oblivion gladly had they not been rudely interrupted. He didn't bother to disguise the groan of extreme disappointment that left his lips at the sound of a throat being cleared. Followed by a high-pitched giggle. "Who are you?" he asked. His dark eyes landing on.a midget!
"My name's Kailey Ann," the midget giggled. Luis laughed under his breath when he realized his earlier assessment was wrong. So she wasn't a midget. She was a little kid no more than 8, 9 years old. Same difference if you asked him. He had the strangest feeling of familiarity strike him as knelt down eye level with her and stared into her twinkling brown eyes. The dazed, confused look finally left Sheridan's blue eyes soon after he yanked her down beside him, and it dawned on him slowly as he listened to Kailey Ann's excited chatter.the reason she seemed so familiar was the fact that she reminded him of his kid sister back home. "Hi, Kailey Ann," Sheridan greeted sweetly. "What brings you by?" Kailey Ann shoved a piece of blue and white stationary at her. "Mama said to give this to you. You're invited to a party at our house. It's down that way," the midget-as Luis couldn't help but think of her-pointed. "I'm so-" he started to decline her offer. He didn't want to go to a party with lots of other people their last evening at the beachhouse. He wanted Sheridan all to himself. But he just couldn't stick to his rather selfish guns when he saw the sparkle in her blue eyes. "We'd love to come," she gushed. "Do we need to bring anything?" Luis asked. There was no way around it now. She had her heart set on it. "Nope," Kailey Ann said. Bouncing on the balls of her feet. "See you tonight," she waved as she jogged down the beachside. "A party. Luis.I can't wait," Sheridan smiled up at him. "Oh no! What will I wear?" Luis rolled his eyes as she bounded up the steps and inside the house.
The hours before the party were spent finishing up the last of the chores on Joe's list. Luis was pleasantly surprised to find it was hardly difficult. He actually had time to spare. And it took him all of 5 minutes to get dressed. Sheridan, on the other hand. "Sherry," he groaned. Knocking on the bedroom door. "If you don't hurry, we're going to be late." "Just a minute." "Just a minute, my ass," Luis muttered under his breath. Coming from the lips of a female.he'd believe it when he saw it. "Wait for me downstairs, Luis," she called. Why the hell did she sound nervous, he wondered. But he shrugged it off as he went downstairs. Why the hell didn't she sound MORE nervous, he wondered in astonishment as his eyes traveled up a pair of long, tanned legs. Past the fitted skirt of a dress reminiscent of the one she'd worn a lifetime ago. The night he first realized she wasn't so bad, after all. Damn if she didn't OWN the color red. "Luis?" she asked with just a twinge of anxiety evident in her voice. "Aren't you going to say anything?" He gulped. TOO MUCH skin! He wasn't letting her outside showing so much skin. "Earth to Luis," she waved a hand in front of his face. "Where'd you find.THAT?" "THAT? Luis.you don't like it?" she asked. Her face falling. "Like it! Like it? Of course, I like it. You look.AMAZING," he breathed. And incredibly sexy, he thought silently. "Thank you," she murmured. Blue eyes sparkling alluringly at him. "Looks like Joe has a girlfriend," she giggled. Pecking him on the lips sweetly. "Come on, Luis. We're going be late." "And whose fault is that?" he grumbled good-naturedly as she pulled him out the front door.
Kailey Ann greeted them at the front door, and Sheridan was SO RELIEVED to see a familiar face. Even if she'd only seen it for the first time that afternoon. "MAMA! THEY'RE HERE!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Sheridan winced. Yeah, Luis thought to himself. That clinches it. Kailey Ann was Theresa's twin. Now he really believed everyone had a double out there. An older, much more annoying version of Kailey Ann appeared before them quite suddenly. Hanging all over him instantly and virtually ignoring Sheridan. "You better watch out," Kailey Ann told Sheridan with a roll of her dark eyes. "The divorce papers came yesterday, and she's on the prowl again." Sheridan's brows shot up. But her blue eyes narrowed as Catwoman pulled Luis out onto the makeshift dance floor. Proceeding to engage him in an absolutely obscene dance that had jealousy flaring within her, and fire blazing in her blue eyes. "Don't get so fired up about it," Kailey Ann advised her. "It's so obvious he'd rather be dancing with you. Leelee's wasted." "Leelee?" Sheridan asked in confusion. "My mom," Kailey Ann said matter-of-factly. "She's been drinking all day. She never waits for the party," she heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Cut in," she said after a few more minutes of watching Leelee TRY to dance. "What?" Sheridan asked distractedly. "I said cut in. Or else she's fixin' to plant a big one on him. You better hurry," Kailey Ann warned. Laughing gleefully as Sheridan stalked across the patio. Steam practically pouring from her ears. Leelee didn't stand a chance. She grinned at her mother when sulked to her side. "Kailey Ann," she drawled. "Get me another." "I know, I know," she groaned. She wanted to watch the sparks fly! No fair!
As if she didn't feel majorly out of league before, Sheridan almost DIED when the first dramatic strains of tango music reached her ears. "Where do you think you're going?" Luis smirked. Tightening his hold on her. "Luis," Sheridan whined. "I." "Don't even try to tell me you don't know how. You forget. Mama knows you VERY well," he grinned. Threading his fingers through hers. "But Luis." "No buts," he told her. Raising a finger to her protesting lips. "Dance with me, Sheridan," he said softly. Just the hint of a plea in his voice. She groaned. "When you ask so sweetly." She smiled at him. And he knew he had her. "Let's give them something to talk about," he teased. Making her laugh wildly as he dipped her unexpectedly. But the laughter died in her throat as they moved together. Before she knew it, the dance was over. Everyone around them was cheering them on, and the look in Luis's dark eyes made her shiver from head to toe. "Sherry," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded her head. "Bye, Kailey Ann," she barely managed to say before Luis tugged her down the patio stairs and onto the beach below.
They didn't say anything during the walk back to the beach house, and when Luis's hand sought out hers, Sheridan almost jumped out of her skin. She wondered if he could feel how badly her palms were sweating. How hard her heart was pounding. The beach house was totally dark save the moonlight that danced here and there. Luis turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. He didn't bother to turn on any lights. Just reclaimed her hand and led her up the stairs. Her heels clicked against the wood loudly, and she laughed nervously. Luis's teeth gleamed white in the shadows as he smiled at her. The bedroom door creaked open slowly. A sliver of silver light illuminated the room, and she trembled as he reached for her. "C'mere, Princess." His big hands framed her face as he brushed feather- light kisses against her lips. So sweet and gentle she wanted to cry. She finally knew. "I'm sorry," he breathed. "I didn't mean to make you cry. Really good for the ole ego," he tried to joke. "I'm moving too fast again, aren't I?" he asked worriedly. She smiled tearfully at him. Slipping her arms around his neck. "No," she murmured. Just before she kissed him. "You really mean it?" he asked. Hope in his brown eyes. "Shut up and kiss me, Luigi," she teased. And he had no choice but to grant her request.
The breeze ruffled the lace curtains. Made goosebumps pebble her skin. Though she wasn't sure if it was the cool ocean air or the way Luis looked at her, touched her, whispered in her ear. Luis's fingers played with the thin spaghetti straps at her shoulders as his lips traveled down her jaw line. To her mouth once more, and she melted into him. The straps fell from her shoulders, and she sighed as his mouth lingered along her collarbone. The red dress was falling. She was falling. Fast. And Luis lay her back against the pillows. Covering her body with his. His shirt, his slacks gone. Her hands buried in his black hair as he kissed the hollow of her throat. Slid a hand up her ribcage to cup the fullness of her breast. He worshipped her. Making her whimper for release. Gasp for breath. Writhe beneath him restlessly. "Luis," she pleaded. He captured her hands in his. Losing himself in her depthless blue eyes. "Sheridan," he whispered. Nuzzling her nose and kissing each corner of her pouting mouth. "Are you sure? Are you certain this is what you want, Princess?" He groaned as he felt her long legs wrap around his waist. "100%," she smiled brilliantly at him. "Love me, Luis," she whispered. Arching into him. Love, he wondered as he pushed into her with aching slowness. Was it love that made his heart clench at the tiny gasp of pain that escaped her lips? Was it love that he felt as he gently kissed her tears away? Murmuring apologies against her lips, her brow, her temple as he moved within her. Was it love he felt as she cried his name softly? Was it love that made his heart swell as she snuggled peacefully in his arms as the moon painted the room in shades of silver and midnight shadows? Was it love, he wondered as he closed his eyes with a sigh. Fatigue finally overtaking him. Was it love?
Sheridan shielded her eyes from the sun as she gazed up at Luis's handiwork. And, er.some of his other fine attributes. "Enjoying the view?" Luis smirked. Well.she couldn't actually see him smirking. But she could IMAGINE it. "Yes," she said with much enthusiasm. Barely keeping a straight face. "You are just so talented, Luigi. The next Michelangelo." Luis turned to her with a grin. "Yeah.those blue eyes of yours have been admiring my paint job for the last hour." She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms around her waist. "If you want to see me naked, Sherry," he teased as he descended the ladder. "All you have to do is just ask," he said in a low voice. Invading her personal space and making her hold her breath as he grazed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "Really?" she said in a voice more breathy than she would have liked. "Just ask nicely," he told her. Hooking his arms around her waist and drawing her against him. Sheridan's eyes fluttered closed as all her nerve endings came alive at the full-body contact. When Luis kissed her, she didn't THINK. She just FELT. Luis would have kissed her into oblivion gladly had they not been rudely interrupted. He didn't bother to disguise the groan of extreme disappointment that left his lips at the sound of a throat being cleared. Followed by a high-pitched giggle. "Who are you?" he asked. His dark eyes landing on.a midget!
"My name's Kailey Ann," the midget giggled. Luis laughed under his breath when he realized his earlier assessment was wrong. So she wasn't a midget. She was a little kid no more than 8, 9 years old. Same difference if you asked him. He had the strangest feeling of familiarity strike him as knelt down eye level with her and stared into her twinkling brown eyes. The dazed, confused look finally left Sheridan's blue eyes soon after he yanked her down beside him, and it dawned on him slowly as he listened to Kailey Ann's excited chatter.the reason she seemed so familiar was the fact that she reminded him of his kid sister back home. "Hi, Kailey Ann," Sheridan greeted sweetly. "What brings you by?" Kailey Ann shoved a piece of blue and white stationary at her. "Mama said to give this to you. You're invited to a party at our house. It's down that way," the midget-as Luis couldn't help but think of her-pointed. "I'm so-" he started to decline her offer. He didn't want to go to a party with lots of other people their last evening at the beachhouse. He wanted Sheridan all to himself. But he just couldn't stick to his rather selfish guns when he saw the sparkle in her blue eyes. "We'd love to come," she gushed. "Do we need to bring anything?" Luis asked. There was no way around it now. She had her heart set on it. "Nope," Kailey Ann said. Bouncing on the balls of her feet. "See you tonight," she waved as she jogged down the beachside. "A party. Luis.I can't wait," Sheridan smiled up at him. "Oh no! What will I wear?" Luis rolled his eyes as she bounded up the steps and inside the house.
The hours before the party were spent finishing up the last of the chores on Joe's list. Luis was pleasantly surprised to find it was hardly difficult. He actually had time to spare. And it took him all of 5 minutes to get dressed. Sheridan, on the other hand. "Sherry," he groaned. Knocking on the bedroom door. "If you don't hurry, we're going to be late." "Just a minute." "Just a minute, my ass," Luis muttered under his breath. Coming from the lips of a female.he'd believe it when he saw it. "Wait for me downstairs, Luis," she called. Why the hell did she sound nervous, he wondered. But he shrugged it off as he went downstairs. Why the hell didn't she sound MORE nervous, he wondered in astonishment as his eyes traveled up a pair of long, tanned legs. Past the fitted skirt of a dress reminiscent of the one she'd worn a lifetime ago. The night he first realized she wasn't so bad, after all. Damn if she didn't OWN the color red. "Luis?" she asked with just a twinge of anxiety evident in her voice. "Aren't you going to say anything?" He gulped. TOO MUCH skin! He wasn't letting her outside showing so much skin. "Earth to Luis," she waved a hand in front of his face. "Where'd you find.THAT?" "THAT? Luis.you don't like it?" she asked. Her face falling. "Like it! Like it? Of course, I like it. You look.AMAZING," he breathed. And incredibly sexy, he thought silently. "Thank you," she murmured. Blue eyes sparkling alluringly at him. "Looks like Joe has a girlfriend," she giggled. Pecking him on the lips sweetly. "Come on, Luis. We're going be late." "And whose fault is that?" he grumbled good-naturedly as she pulled him out the front door.
Kailey Ann greeted them at the front door, and Sheridan was SO RELIEVED to see a familiar face. Even if she'd only seen it for the first time that afternoon. "MAMA! THEY'RE HERE!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Sheridan winced. Yeah, Luis thought to himself. That clinches it. Kailey Ann was Theresa's twin. Now he really believed everyone had a double out there. An older, much more annoying version of Kailey Ann appeared before them quite suddenly. Hanging all over him instantly and virtually ignoring Sheridan. "You better watch out," Kailey Ann told Sheridan with a roll of her dark eyes. "The divorce papers came yesterday, and she's on the prowl again." Sheridan's brows shot up. But her blue eyes narrowed as Catwoman pulled Luis out onto the makeshift dance floor. Proceeding to engage him in an absolutely obscene dance that had jealousy flaring within her, and fire blazing in her blue eyes. "Don't get so fired up about it," Kailey Ann advised her. "It's so obvious he'd rather be dancing with you. Leelee's wasted." "Leelee?" Sheridan asked in confusion. "My mom," Kailey Ann said matter-of-factly. "She's been drinking all day. She never waits for the party," she heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Cut in," she said after a few more minutes of watching Leelee TRY to dance. "What?" Sheridan asked distractedly. "I said cut in. Or else she's fixin' to plant a big one on him. You better hurry," Kailey Ann warned. Laughing gleefully as Sheridan stalked across the patio. Steam practically pouring from her ears. Leelee didn't stand a chance. She grinned at her mother when sulked to her side. "Kailey Ann," she drawled. "Get me another." "I know, I know," she groaned. She wanted to watch the sparks fly! No fair!
As if she didn't feel majorly out of league before, Sheridan almost DIED when the first dramatic strains of tango music reached her ears. "Where do you think you're going?" Luis smirked. Tightening his hold on her. "Luis," Sheridan whined. "I." "Don't even try to tell me you don't know how. You forget. Mama knows you VERY well," he grinned. Threading his fingers through hers. "But Luis." "No buts," he told her. Raising a finger to her protesting lips. "Dance with me, Sheridan," he said softly. Just the hint of a plea in his voice. She groaned. "When you ask so sweetly." She smiled at him. And he knew he had her. "Let's give them something to talk about," he teased. Making her laugh wildly as he dipped her unexpectedly. But the laughter died in her throat as they moved together. Before she knew it, the dance was over. Everyone around them was cheering them on, and the look in Luis's dark eyes made her shiver from head to toe. "Sherry," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded her head. "Bye, Kailey Ann," she barely managed to say before Luis tugged her down the patio stairs and onto the beach below.
They didn't say anything during the walk back to the beach house, and when Luis's hand sought out hers, Sheridan almost jumped out of her skin. She wondered if he could feel how badly her palms were sweating. How hard her heart was pounding. The beach house was totally dark save the moonlight that danced here and there. Luis turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. He didn't bother to turn on any lights. Just reclaimed her hand and led her up the stairs. Her heels clicked against the wood loudly, and she laughed nervously. Luis's teeth gleamed white in the shadows as he smiled at her. The bedroom door creaked open slowly. A sliver of silver light illuminated the room, and she trembled as he reached for her. "C'mere, Princess." His big hands framed her face as he brushed feather- light kisses against her lips. So sweet and gentle she wanted to cry. She finally knew. "I'm sorry," he breathed. "I didn't mean to make you cry. Really good for the ole ego," he tried to joke. "I'm moving too fast again, aren't I?" he asked worriedly. She smiled tearfully at him. Slipping her arms around his neck. "No," she murmured. Just before she kissed him. "You really mean it?" he asked. Hope in his brown eyes. "Shut up and kiss me, Luigi," she teased. And he had no choice but to grant her request.
The breeze ruffled the lace curtains. Made goosebumps pebble her skin. Though she wasn't sure if it was the cool ocean air or the way Luis looked at her, touched her, whispered in her ear. Luis's fingers played with the thin spaghetti straps at her shoulders as his lips traveled down her jaw line. To her mouth once more, and she melted into him. The straps fell from her shoulders, and she sighed as his mouth lingered along her collarbone. The red dress was falling. She was falling. Fast. And Luis lay her back against the pillows. Covering her body with his. His shirt, his slacks gone. Her hands buried in his black hair as he kissed the hollow of her throat. Slid a hand up her ribcage to cup the fullness of her breast. He worshipped her. Making her whimper for release. Gasp for breath. Writhe beneath him restlessly. "Luis," she pleaded. He captured her hands in his. Losing himself in her depthless blue eyes. "Sheridan," he whispered. Nuzzling her nose and kissing each corner of her pouting mouth. "Are you sure? Are you certain this is what you want, Princess?" He groaned as he felt her long legs wrap around his waist. "100%," she smiled brilliantly at him. "Love me, Luis," she whispered. Arching into him. Love, he wondered as he pushed into her with aching slowness. Was it love that made his heart clench at the tiny gasp of pain that escaped her lips? Was it love that he felt as he gently kissed her tears away? Murmuring apologies against her lips, her brow, her temple as he moved within her. Was it love he felt as she cried his name softly? Was it love that made his heart swell as she snuggled peacefully in his arms as the moon painted the room in shades of silver and midnight shadows? Was it love, he wondered as he closed his eyes with a sigh. Fatigue finally overtaking him. Was it love?