“Look at me,” he whispered and Teresa opened her eyes to stare into his. Her own desire was reflected back at her and matched by what was shining in his gaze.
He set a rhythm that she eagerly met and as they looked into each other’s eyes, they raced toward completion together. Teresa shouted his name as pleasure, raw and wild, crashed over her and as her arms locked around him, she heard him groan, felt him stiffen as his own release claimed him.
And locked together, they tumbled over the edge and willingly fell into oblivion.
* * *
A half hour later, Teresa was feeling wonderful. Sprawled across a bed, her lover—her husband—lay beside her. Every inch of her body felt well used. Her heart was full and in that moment, her mind raced with possibilities.
Maybe this month wouldn’t be the end after all, she thought, refusing for now to remember Rico’s words, This month and no longer. Maybe it could still be different. Maybe this time with him would be a beginning. A fresh start. A time for them to meet as equals and realize that what they had found together was too precious to throw away. Maybe there could still be a happily ever after.
But not, she knew, until the past had finally been put to rest.
“Rico,” she said, voice soft in the quiet room, “I want you to know that when I left five years ago—”
“Stop.” He cut her off with one sharp word. Turning his head to meet her eyes, he said, “I’m not interested in remembering old lies—or hearing new ones.”
His cold tone was like a verbal slap. “I wasn’t going to—”
“Teresa,” he said on a sigh, “this changes nothing between us, so don’t look at me with stars in your eyes.”
God, she had been. And she should have known better. But how was she supposed to protect her heart against hope?
“I need a shower.” Rico pushed off the bed, gave her a quick look and said, “That was good, thanks.”
“Thanks?” Stunned, she looked up at him. “That’s it? Just thanks?”
He shrugged. “Were you expecting outpourings of love and devotion?” He smiled briefly and shook his head. “All we share now is sex and this hotel, Teresa. And that only for the next month.”
Hurt crowded around her heart and squeezed painfully. Just a short while ago, he had been a part of her, sharing something amazing, and now he’d draped that icy demeanor over himself like a damn cloak. There was distance in his voice and a careless attitude that tore at the last remaining shreds of five-year-old dreams.
“That wasn’t just sex, Rico.” There was more between them than that. Wasn’t there?
He met her gaze thoughtfully for a long second or two. Then he said simply, “Yes, it was.”
Turning his back on her, he stalked toward the spa-like bathroom and tossed over his shoulder, “You should get cleaned up. We’re expected for dinner at Sean and Melinda’s.”
Then he closed the bathroom door behind him and left her, suddenly cold and very much alone, in the middle of the bed.
* * *
Dinner was an eternity.
Pretending as if nothing was wrong only built the tension inside Rico until he felt as though he would snap. He’d finally escaped to the patio of Sean’s home, where he stood alone in the starry darkness. Solar lights made circles of gold on the neatly tended lawn. Mature trees surrounded the house and yard and a stone walkway led down to the ocean.