2396 July It was three years ago she had been aboard the Whale trying to get away from the man who lay beside her now. Brian had been right to tell her to make the marriage work, although those had not been his exact words. The first three months she had been what she thought was the perfect wife should be, including the sex she had mostly denied him before. She got through it all by pretending to herself that he was Colin Vincent.
Arimonte' had been suspicious the whole time but, after eight months he began to relax and be himself with her. After all she had been in touch with Brian some, mostly by phone. Row had not made him feel threatened by Brian's presents the way she usually did. Six months ago Ari had come to her while she was sketching the fountain in one of the gardens. She sat crosslegged and Ari lay down on his back next to her saying nothing. Rowena continued to sketch for awhile then set aside the pad,turning and looking down at him. DeLuciano, what is it she asked? His voice was soft and gentle when he spoke. I want you to stop pretending with me. He halted. She replied with a hand gesture, setting his hand on her thigh. I want just once for you to be with me and only me while were, while I am making love to you Rowena, is that possible ? There was no acuation in his voice and she did not get defensive. She would have 6 months ago. Instead as answer she turned towards him, his hand sliding to her inner thigh as she ran her palm up over his shirt to the open neck she gently kissed. Her fingers undid each button as she slik them down the front, to his trousers. Ari did not move at all he couldn't she has taken him by surprise. His shirt was free of his pants now, as he slowly freed his hand from between her legs. He could feel the moistness of her. She raised her face to his and they kissed. Rowena had never been like this with him. Never open and gently giving of herself for him.
Rowena thought, could this be the same man? Ofcourse not, she had always put another face to him . That was foolish, ofcourse he was the same, she was different. The let him into her mind and while they made love she thought of no one but him, nothing but pleasing him, DaLuciano.
Rowena had told Brian that she loved Ari. Only now did she realize it was true.. Brian had been talking of the other DaLuciano when he had once accused her of loving him. Row had always mixed the two in her mind, Brian's and the real one, Ari.