Chapter 27: Remembrance

Tis in my memory lock’d
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.
- William Shakespeare
 
 

The throbbing beats of the song continued to play as Luis led Sheridan
through the steps of the tango effortlessly. There was a time he remembered
that he wouldn’t be able to go through the steps with her, without being
aroused. But now, he wished more than anything that he didn’t have to dance
with her in front of all these people - in front of Gwen.

But Sheridan was smiling and he had promised her that his gift to her today
was going to be to special and make her the happiest she has ever been. And
he never broke his word - even if it was breaking his heart to keep up a
charade.

Sheridan’s leg came around his waist and he smiled as he dipped her and then
brought her back up to complete the final steps of the dance. As the music
came to an abrupt stop, Luis reeled Sheridan to him, catching her shoulders
in his hands and smiling down into the sparkling blue eyes. For the first
time since he found out that she was sick, he saw her whole face light up
with the vitality and fire that fateful day she had crashed into his car.

Their friends and family clapped loudly as the finished the dance and
Sheridan blushed smiling graciously. After a few catcalls and appreciation,
Chad turned the music back to its normal pace and Sheridan turned to Luis,
smiling brightly. “I remember the first time we danced like that. God, you
were so arrogant.”

He laughed and teased her. “You weren’t exactly very forthcoming, either. As
I recall, you challenged me.”

“You have a very selective memory!”

Before he could retort, Julian was by Sheridan’s side a polite smile on his
face. “Well Luis, you have monopolized my sister’s time long enough now.
Mind if I cut in?”

Still wary of Julian’s intentions, Luis merely smiled with the same polite
indifference the other man was showing him. For Sheridan’s sake he was
willing to be civil towards the man he still hated very much. “Yeah sure.”

“I’ll see you later.” Sheridan kissed his cheek and then was led away by her
brother.
“Hey little bro,” Antonio said as he slapped Luis on the back. “Great
performance. I heard a lot about those tangos the two of you did. I just
didn’t know you did them so well.”

Luis smiled fondly. “Remember when Mama and Papa used to dance for us? God,
they were so perfect together. Flawless.”

Antonio smiled back lost in memory. “Yeah, they were great together. You and
Sheridan are just as graceful. Just as perfect.”

Luis shifted his weight uncomfortably. “We used to be.”

His brother arched an eyebrow and then crossed his arms over his chest. “Do
you love her?”

“I will always love Sheridan,” Luis replied without hesitation as he watched
Sheridan danced across the Estate with her brother. “I just don’t know if
I’m in love with her anymore. Whatever that means.”

Antonio shook his head. “I was talking about Gwen.”

Luis’ eyes flew to his brothers’ and Antonio rose and expectant eyebrow. “I
don’t know.”

“But you’ve definitely come a long way from a no-strings attached
relationship haven’t you? I mean this hesitation and questioning of your
feelings for Sheridan is because of Gwen, right?” his brother prodded.

Luis ran a hand through his hair. “Antonio, I don’t know. Sheridan and I
broke up before I slept with Gwen.”

“Listen bro, you better figure it out soon. To be happy.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Luis stated wryly. Antonio patted him on the back
and then left his side, stating that Theresa wanted to dance with him.

Sighing, Luis turned around and spotted the punch bowl. He hadn’t realized
how thirsty he was until just then. Quickly, he made his was over, grabbed a
plastic cup and reached for the ladle in the big crystal bowl. Instead he
felt someone’s hand and turned his head to apologize. “I’m sorry…oh, hey.”

Gwen looked back him awkwardly, their hands still clasped together on the
ladle. She smiled slowly. “Hey Luis.”

Distracted, he let his gaze linger over her face and then slowly and
appreciatively down her body. When he met her eyes, they were glazed over
and her lips were parted slightly, invitingly. “How’ve you been?”

Her lips stretched a bit. “I’ve been good. All things considering.”

“You look good,” he complimented. “All that’s missing is a halo.”

Color rushed to her cheeks and she smiled wanly. “I’m no angel.”

He let his hand trail up hers until she finally withdrew it with a start.
Stepping closer, intoxicated by being near her again – near enough to lean
forward and kiss her like he had wanted to, dreamed to the last couple of
days. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Her breathing hitched, her blue eyes meeting his and he could tell that she
still wanted him. That she was hurting from not being with him just as much
as he was hurting without her. “Luis, don’t.”

Her words were like cold water washing over him and he immediately came to
his senses. What in the world was he thinking? Kissing Gwen in front of
Sheridan and his family? He wasn’t a lovesick teenager, he should know
better. He straightened himself out and cleared his throat smiling a little
awkwardly. “Yeah, sorry. Not out of my system yet.”

Something clouded over her features but she managed a tight smile. “That’s
okay.”

A few minutes of awkwardness passed, neither of them attempting to fill
their glasses again or walk away. They stood there staring at each other as
if waiting for one to finally break the silence and say something – anything
to make everything seem less tense.

Finally a new song played and the tune caught Luis’ attention.

I can see that you’ve been crying
You can’t hide it with a lie.
What’s the use in you denying
The words you have at homes you?

He held out a hand tentatively and arched his eyebrow. “Would you care to
dance?”

Her eyes flickered over his shoulder and back at his hand. “Sheridan…”

“It’s just a dance Gwen,” he replied tightly, feeling like a fool for being
so pathetic but not being able to stop. “Besides, they’re playing our song.”

Her lips curved as she took his hand and the walked into the middle of the
makeshift dance floor. “Our song is by the Backstreet Boys?”

“Better than something from the sixties,” Luis grinned and pulled her closer
as the song continued to play. “This was playing when we danced in Boston.”

She looked at him, her expression sincere. “I remember.”

And I will love you more than that,
I won’t say the words and take them back.
Don’t give loneliness a chance,
Baby listen to me when I say
I will love you more than that.

The rest of the song, they remained silent, bodies swaying to the music and
touches reawakening senses and recalling memories that had been pushed to
the back of his mind for the last week.

Luis lost himself in the smell of her hair and the feel of her tiny frame in
his arms just like the night they had danced in Boston and later when they
had danced together in her apartment. He remembered the nights they spent in
bed after making love, just talking about her childhood, his family…anything
they wanted to share.

“I was tall and lanky and Hank made fun of my nose all through grammar
school,” Luis explained as she cuddled next to him on the bed, her hair
splaying over his chest. She giggled and he looked down at the top of her
head. “I grew into my nose!”

“Yes, you did,” she replied amused. “Very nicely.”

He grinned cockily. “Nice, huh? That’s all?”

She lifted her head and looked up at him, her blue eyes teasing him. “I’ve
seen better.”

Letting out a whoop of laughter, he flipped them over so that she was under
him and pinned her arms above her head. She laughed as he looked at her
incredulously. “Better huh?”

“I’ve traveled a lot, Luis,” Gwen replied impishly. “I’ve seen exotic men
with beautiful accents. A Yank who just happens to be Hispanic doesn’t do
much for me.”

“Yank?” he grinned. “What are you, British?”

She wriggled under him, her inner thigh swooping against his and causing a
wave of lust roll through him. She raised an eyebrow challengingly. “If
you’re so sure about your abilities. Then show me what you can do.”

“My pleasure.” His smile broadened as he bent his head and nibbled on her
collarbone. Immediately, she arched into him and let out a soft moan. His
let his fingers trail tantalizingly down her arm and then the length of her
body, resting at her hips. She was already breathing raggedly and he grinned
smugly against her skin. “ A nice Yank, you say. I’ll show you.”

She laughed but then he cut off her off, crushing his mouth to her in a
desperate kiss.

He didn’t even realize the song was over until he felt her move away form
him. She looked up at him, as he dropped his hands to the side. The same
desire that he felt was mirrored in her eyes, swirled with a conflicting
emotion of pain and something else that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

He wanted to kiss her. Desperately. Suddenly, a part of him didn’t care that
Sheridan could see them. He wanted to be selfish. He wanted to tell her that
it was hard without her. That it had become more than sex for him.

But he watched her quietly, not saying a word.

“Hey guys!” Sheridan said brightly as she popped up beside them. “What’s
going on?”

“Nothing,” Gwen said quickly, looking guilty. “Luis and I were just dancing.
I think Jacob wanted something. I’m going to go and see. I’ll talk to you
later, Sher.”

Before Luis or Sheridan could say anything, Gwen disappeared. The blonde
turned to him and smiled brightly. “Thanks for dancing with her.”

“What?” Luis asked startled.

“Well, she’s been so lonely at this party,” Sheridan explained a little
sadly. “I don’t think people have forgotten what happened between her and
Ethan and Theresa. But I think seeing you, dancing with her and mending
fences could be a good thing for her.”

God, if you only knew Sheridan, he thought inside but looked at her with a
smile. “It was nothing.”

“No,” Sheridan replied looking distracted. “It was something good. I just
hope that one day Gwen will find a man that can love her the way she
deserves to be loved.”

I already do, Luis thought foolishly as he stared at Gwen across the
distance.

Suddenly, Sheridan’s smile diminished and she paled considerably. He
furrowed his eyebrows in concern and placed a hand on her shoulder. Before
he could open his mouth and form words, her eyes rolled to the back and she
fell backwards, fainting. “Sheridan!”