The Gemini

His eyes fluttered open blinded by the sudden influx of light. Shaking his head, he reached out to cover his eyes. Groaning, he inhaled deeply and was startled. His eyes shot open as a nostalgic smell reached his nose. Reaching for his robe, he rolled out of bed and ran towards the kitchen.

He smiled brightly as the smell of blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs wafted into the air. Is that a hint of honey I smell? Eagerly, he scrambled down the stairs and pushed open the door.

“Gabriel!” he shouted as he rounded the corner.

However, his smile faded away. Standing in his kitchen was woman that he wished he didn’t know. His eyes travelled across her body. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, flowing down her back. Her brown eyes looked back at him mischievously. Her tongue ran over her pink lips and his eyes could not help but follow. Her mocha brown skin radiated softly in the morning light. She wore a yellow sundress that clung to her ample body. He was captivated by her. However, he was wary.

“Samantha, what are you doing in my house?”

She smiled lightly before grabbing the plates and placing them on the table. She sat at the table and crossed her toned legs and gestured from him to sit down. His eyes were drawn to her thighs.

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and took a seat, staring into her eyes. “Why are you here?”, he repeated.

Samantha brushed her hair behind her ear, glanced down and then back into his eyes. He felt his breath hitch and knew that she could tell as a smile spread over her seductive lips. “Javier, I came because you have been avoiding me. Ever since Gabriel left, you have been avoiding work, the family and apparently bathing”, she said as she looked at him. “You need to get it together.”

She took an envelope out of her purse and pushed it towards him. His eyes stung in realization. Tears threatened to leak from his wavering eyes. He shook his head lightly as it drooped.

“You know what this is, yes? This is your alimony check. 20,000 dollars is a lot of money and you can do whatever you want with it.”

Angrily, Javier pushed the plate of food and alimony check off the table and stood up. His breath was ragged, and his eyes were red from grief. His struggled to squeeze out the words, “Please leave and take that garbage with you.”

She tried to reach out and touch his arm, but he jerked away before she could touch him. He bounded up the stairs and back into his room. He heard her sighing as he fled, and inwardly he felt bad. He knew it wasn’t her fault, but he had nowhere else to vent his rage.

Sliding off his robe and boxers, he headed into the shower and stood underneath. The warm water rained down upon him. He couldn’t tell which was water and which were his tears. He knew that he was being pathetic but he couldn’t help but think about her. Everywhere he looked he was reminded of her. This was the home that they’d shared for 5 years, before she decided that this life wasn’t enough for her anymore. And just like that she left.

Suddenly he felt soft hands sliding across his back, working their way forward towards his chest. He reached out to grab those hands and turned to see Samantha with a remorseful look in her eyes. Before he could protest, she placed her finger over his lips to shush him.

He looked down at her and inhaled sharply. She was still wearing her sundress and it clung to her, accentuating her curvaceous body. The water trickled down her face and hair sultrily. She stared back at him and smile weakly.

“I… I can’t stand to see you this way. I know you’re hurting and there is nothing I can do. I just wish I could comfort you somehow. You deserved so much…”. Before she could finish, he leaned down and kissed her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise, before she indulged herself within his embrace.

Pushing her against the wall, he passionately kissed her lips. His tongue gracefully slid into her mouth, caressing hers, flicking lightly. Her gasps and moans only further incited his desire for her.

He knew that he was taking advantage of her. He knew that in his eyes he did not see Samantha. He was in love with her twin, Gabriel. But he was so lonely, and she was right here. Her warmth permeated his body and filled up his soul. He knew she wanted exactly what he was giving her. Pulling away, he looked down at her. She looked up at him, her eyes inquisitive and trembling. He reached out to caress her cheek with his forefinger and she responded by rubbing her face into his palm.

However, while looking at her, his determination started to waver. “I can’t do this. I can’t use her this way.” Thoughts ran through his mind at lightning speeds, making him feel more guilty with each passing one.

As if reading his mind, she placed a finger on his lips. Silencing him before he could ruin the mood, and kissed his chest softly, never breaking eye contact. “I am yours,” she whispered softly.

Hesitating no further, he reached out and tore her dress, then let it fall to the tiled floor. He marveled at her toned body once more, before picking her up and carrying her from the shower to the bedroom. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes locked onto his, her breath ragged with anticipation. He tossed her onto the bed. Before she could bounce more than once, he had wrapped his hands around her thighs and kissed her sweet spot. He felt her body shudder and her legs tremble slightly, under his impromptu attack. She grabbed hold of his hair as he assaulted her pearl. The sucking, licking, nibbling brought her to the apex of ecstasy before dropping her into the abyss of euphoria. Her moans echoed through the silence as she lay still, savoring the sensations of her climax.

Her eyes opened and locked onto him, and a seductive smile spread across her lips. However, he once again hesitated. The thoughts of someone else making Gabriel feel what he was making Samantha feel, filled him with rage and sadness. And with his rage, it quickly turned to guilt. And that guilt mired his blazing pyre to a weak ember.

Shock and dissatisfaction crept onto Samantha’s face. She sadly watched his eyes glazed over and a heavy atmosphere spread throughout the room. She reached out and touched his hand before gently pulling him down and embraced him.

“I want you, Samantha. But right now, I only see you as a replacement for what I lost. I want to make love to you, not to the shadow of Gabriel.” He whispered to her after a long bout of silence.

She didn’t respond to what he said. She just stroked his hair and sighed and they both drifted off to sleep. A few hours later, Javier awoke and slid out of bed as to not wake Samantha. He walked to the kitchen after once again sliding on his robe. He saw that once more on the table, there was a check for $20,000 and he sighed.

“I can’t believe it’s really over.” He sighed depressed. He once again looked at the check, then up at the ceiling in the direction of his room, where he assumed Samantha still lay. A small smile broke out on his face, before he reached for his phone and made a call.

*****

A week later, Javier awoke with a jump and looked around. It was dark. He could hear the waves crashing onto the beach and practically taste the salt in the air. He looked around and noticed that he was in bed alone and there was a light coming from under the door. He rolled out of bed and opened the door to see Samantha asleep on the couch holding a little black notebook. He stood there for a time, not believing that he’d invited her to Cancun. He watched as she slept, and for the first time since he’d met her, he saw her as her own entity, her own person. Not as a set, but as Samantha. He was astounded at how quickly he was able to open his heart to her. But he knew it was because of Gabriel.

He walked over to her, grabbing a blanker along the way, and draped it over her body. Sitting down beside her, he was curious about the contents of her little book but since it had the words Diary on it, he curbed his curiosity. Holding her hand, he also fell asleep.

What he didn’t know was this notebook was not a Diary. It was a guide to conquering his heart that had been written by Gabriel for Samantha. The page that Samantha has fallen asleep reading was a page that she had read many times since Gabriel has delivered this notebook to her. On that page was a letter and it read:

Dear Samantha,

I am leaving Javier. I cannot bear to watch him watch me suffer. Cancer what a joke. He doesn’t deserve to have to watch me wither away into nothing. He deserves to be happy and free. Take care of him for me. I know you love him… I’ve always known. I just wanted him for myself. But he will need you now more than ever. Here is a notebook with all his likes and dislikes. Don’t tell him about me please. I’d rather him hate me forever than to watch me to become haggard and decrepit. Take care of him please.

All My Love to You Both,

Gabriel.