She was never the type of woman who would end up cheating. Truth be told she was always adamant that it was the only deal breaker she could imagine in marriage. If her husband ever cheated on her that is.

He was against the desk in the hotel room as she kissed him. As he kissed her. She stood between his legs and kissed him, inhaling as she did. His smile, his aura, the breathe flowing from his nose. Her hands pulling his shirt out of his pants so she could touch him. Feel the warm skin of his back under her fingertips, fully extending her hands feeling that jolt she always feels whenever she is skin to skin with him.

His kissed her completely and sighed as he stopped, both hands on either side of her face. His forehead on hers.

"It's been too long." he whispered. Hoarse from their kiss.

Her hands came out of his shirt, up his neck, rubbing lightly over his hair. "I know."

And the silence hummed with all the wishes and wants.

"Where did you park?" she asked.

"In the garage."

"You want to head out or stay in?"

"I made reservations for dinner but we can cancel if you'd like."

"No...I love having dinner with you."

And she did.

In her room she turned on the television and closed and locked the door. Picked up her cell phone and called home. The phone rang twice.

"Hello."

"Hi, I made it to the hotel."

"Is it nice?"

"Yes. Reminds me of the one in Austin we stayed in when we went for James' wedding."

"Good. Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Nothing for the conference. Probably have dinner and that's it. I need to be downstairs by 8:00 in the morning. Did the kids have fun?"

"Yes. They are watching that new DVD you bought for them now."

"Good. Tell them I love them and to call me if they miss me."

"Okay. Call me when you get back to your room."

"I will."

Click.

She was facing the mirror as she spoke to her husband and realized that she always looked different whenever he was around.

Still looking at herself she reached up and touched her cheek. Wiping away a tear that wasn't there.

Then...she grabbed her bag and her scarf and walked out of her room.

***

They'd done this enough times to know the drill. She walked to the front of the hotel to the bellman's stand and asked where the nearest CVS was. He pointed and she walked out in that direction. Went inside the CVS and bought a 6-pack of water and a tin of mints. When she walked out of the store, he was there in the car and she got in.

And there is always music.

And he always rents a stick shift.

And she always rests her hand on his thigh.

And he always holds her hand when his hand is not needed to shift into gear.

And there is always music.

***

Her life used to be so filled with sounds of music. A love that she'd cultivated from having a musician father and a dancer as a mother. A scientist with an appreciation for all things beautiful. A sensuousness that can be seen in the way she smiled slowly with her eyes. In the way she threw her head back when she felt the music.

And she'd ride the wave of sound like liquid through her body.

With him...there is always music in her head.

With him...she always FELT it.

The drive was beautiful and too soon they'd arrived at the restaurant. He pulled up to valet and got out so he would be the one to offer his hand to help her out of the car. A beautiful couple they made. She looked gorgeous, happy and alive. He sexy, strong, tall and clearly in love with the woman he was with. A striking couple who obviously "matched."

Save for her wedding jewelry being platinum...

...and his being gold.

Tonight was the night they promised they would talk about the real.

Tonight would be the shift everyone had felt coming for a while now.

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