Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Nothing at all.

Chapter One

Gabriella lowered her head to not get hit from the rain and continued to run down the dirty street while the cold rain whipped in her face. Her wet clothes were stuck to her body. Water ran down her legs into her rubber boots. And her disheveled hair stuck to her neck.

After she ran through the darkness for quite a while she slowed her steps until she finally stood still. Under normal circumstances she would have taken her car to get home. But she couldn't think straight after what she'd just seen through Marcus' living room curtains. That's why she ran. She could still see the picture in her head: Marcus having a passionate hug with his lover.

On her flight through the darkness she must have passed her car without even noticing it. An unpleasant scrapping in her throat made her breath heavily. She had to be home before the agitated emotions overwhelmed her.

She finally understood him. One time he was too busy to meet her and the next time he cared lovingly for her. All those affections for her were played. He just needed her to cover up his affair with a young wife of a horse breeder.

Gabriella was pale. She was so naive and had believed that Marcus didn't want to push her because of her painful loss. He had said she should be entirely sure before they got into a real relationship.

And the innocent Gabriella had been sure. She had wanted to show him that she was a desirable woman, mature and, of course, ready for a serious relationship. She had tried to find out what he may desired for in his lover with help of many women magazines. She had pushed all her insecurities away and had even bought a new dress.

You couldn't hear her bitter laughter through the heavy wind and rain. He had never wanted her. She had been too unexperienced an blinded to realize that he just used her. Gabriella suddenly felt sick. She leaned forward to notice that there was a dim light on her boots. For one second she forgot the image of Marcus and his affair that still played in her head – where came the light from?

"Do you need any help?" She heard a dark voice say through the darkness around her.

Confused, she stood up and blinked into the bright light of car headlights, which were right in front of her. Then she saw the silhouette of a tall and slim but muscular man. His broad shoulders were impressive, and Gabriella felt the desire to throw herself at him and to just cry for the time being.

Fortunately, her mind won the upper hand again. She had no idea who this man was. Moreover, she just had to learn how little she could rely on her people skills. Marcus was everything she wanted in a man, a lover, a perfect boyfriend – until now.

The silhouette approached her and only now she got aware of the height and appearance of the stranger.

"You obviously don't feel that well. How can I help you?" You could hear a light accent from his voice.

"Who are you?" She inquired hesitantly and quietly so that she could hardly hear herself.

It was silent for one moment. All you could hear was the wind and the rain.

"I'm a guest at Tallawanta Stud. I live in the main house right now."

Now she even recognized the big SUV, whose headlights blinded her. Only the best for the guests in the main house! And this week it was a messenger of the king from Shajehar, who had to inspect the stud.

That explained the accent. The stranger spoke a clearly studied English. But the soft emphasis on the consonants gave his pronunciation something very exotic.

"Or should we both just stay out here until we're completely soaked?"

His words didn't sound impatient, but he didn't let her negate him. She noticed that the man didn't wear a coat.

"I'm sorry" She said fast. "I'm not even..."
"Did you have an accident?" He interrupted her gently, but strongly.

"No. No accident. I...Could you maybe give me a lift?" She wasn't scared to ask for his help. After all he was a guest of honor she had already heard of. And they were on a private road of the stud and there wouldn't be anyone else who could help her considering the weather.

"Certainly." He led her to the SUV. His steps were so smooth, as if he was walking on a red carpet and not on a dirty street. Gabriella stumbled after him.

He opened the car door and grabbed Gabriella's arm to help her on the seat. She couldn't have done it without his help.

"Thanks!" She sat back exhausted and released her high heels and her purse from her hand. They fell to the ground. She didn't even notice that she had still held her purse and high heels.

The warmth in the car was so much better then the coldness outside and Gabriella closed her eyes. Silence drew threw her.

"Here" said the man to her. "Take this."

She slowly turned towards the voice and opened her eyes. She was suddenly very tired. Then she looked into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. The stranger looked at Gabriella and drew in every detail of her. His hair was light brown and his skin had a tan.

Gabriella eyes widened as she snapped for breath audibly. Never had she seen such a handsome man, not to talk about how near she was to him. He had something like a magnetic effect on her.

"Here", he said again and gave her the blanket . Then he drew his eyebrows together. "And you're sure you're not hurt?"

She shook her head and pulled the blanket up to her chin. She was so uncomfortable that her hands shoke but she didn't know if it was because of his searching looks or because of her confusion. ´

`I'm just shocked´, she thought. `That explains my overhasty escape and this surreal emotions inside of me. I'm sure I'm just shocked!´

Every woman would have been shocked if she'd found out what Gabriella gound out today.

"Stop it!" He took her chin into his hands and forced her to look at him. His fingers felt warm on her cold skin.

"With what?" she chocked out and looked into his eyes hypnotized.

"You're breathing way to fast. Calm down." He said.

"I'm sorry, I...I'm a little confused right now." She struggled to get out some sensible words. "I'm going to be okay soon."

"You were to long out there in the storm." He murmured and wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. With that she was pulled towards him. He made her sit up again. "Where do you come from? How long have you been out there?"

She smiled slightly while she inhaled his scent. She loved his accent - it sounded secretive and seductive. She tore her eyes open frightened.

"Did anyone hurt you?" His tone got remarkably harsh.

"No, no, I'm fine. It's just..." She blinked confused. "I have to get back, please."

He nodded and fastened her seatbelt. Him being near to her warmed her more than the blanket.

"Where to?"

He sat back into his seat and Gabriella was suddenly cold again. He started the engine. Something told her that she could trust this stranger even though she didn't even know his name.

"About 4 miles down this road and then to the right. From there it's still a little while to my house."

The car started moving as the rain fell hard against the windows. Gabriella looked at her feet.

"I'm really sorry, my shoes are really dirty." She whispered.

"This is a SUV." He calmed her. "I'm sure he saw a lot more dirt already."

`That comes form a man who never had to wash a car.´She thought immediately. After all she knew that this SUV was only reserved for the best guests and they were used to the best.

"What's your name?" One moment she thought he hadn't heard her question.

"Troy. And you?"

"Gabriella." She pulled the blanket closer to her body. "Gabriella Montez."

"Nice to meet you, Gabriella." His tone was formel. She wondered if he'd used this voice if he didn't visit an American horse stud or picked up lost women from the street.

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Troy concentrated on the road, which he could almost not see in the rain. He was seriously worried about the woman sitting beside him in his car. About 4 miles and then still a little bit? He couldn't wait that long to get her into a warm house. He would drive with her to Tallawanta and take care of her there until she was better again.

To him, she didn't make much sense. He didn't notice a car near her and she didn't wear working clothes under her coat. The long legs he had seen under her coat had catchen his attention immediatley. Futhermore, she had held high heels in her hand, who were made to dance and seduce a man.

What had happened? Did some man hurt her?

Despide he height she had something very fragile about her. Her pale face made her eyes seem enormous.

She hadn't been at the official ceremony in honor of the heir of the throne of Shajehar, he would have noticed that.

He kept looking at her interested, while she sat in the car seat with closed eyes. He wanted to know what she had made outside in this weather. And he hadn't been curious in a long time.

Finally, he had managed to get out without his security squad following him around. Therefore, he was free to satisfy his curisosity to follow his instinct. Jusr because his security chief had realized that he had to give him some freedom.

Troy had visited royal possessions in Europe, Australia and America 6 weeks long. But he didn't share his halfbrothers love of shine and luxury. As the heir of his sick brother, Troy had been recently been followed by a huge security guard. The immense size was rather an outcome of his brothers love for the extraordinary than a real threat.

But Troy didn't really understand all the social obligations he had to attend. His time would be better used if he'd spend it on his latest project to build new fresh water lines to the parts of Shajehar that laid in the mountians. At least that would bring his people a significiant improvement of the basic live there.

Troy realized he was almost at the stud. Relief floded through him. He was minutes away of calling a doctor for the shaking girl next to him. Finally, he reached the stud and gently shook Gabriella. "We're here. Gabriella wake up!"

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Again this voice and this time it sounded really strongly.

"Gabriella!"

She fought the hand that interrupted her sweet dreams. Then she felt a strong warm hand on her neck and suddenly she felt like flying. She could hear a strong heartbeat right next to her ear and she felt as safe as she'd never felt before.

But then she realized what happened. She opened her eyes fast and looked into Troys eyes. "You can let me go now." She said.

He set her on the ground jsut as he opened the door to his suite.

"Why are we here? I wanted you to take me home." She said looking at him.

"You have to get out of this clothes fast." She looked at him shocked.

"What?"

"They are wet. You're going to catch a cold of you don't get out of them fast." He pulled his wet shirt over his head to reveal his strongly build chest. She felt an uncomfortable heat. Of course he didn't want to see her naked . After all she wasn't really attractive.

"Thanks but I can take care of myself." She said.

Something about her made him really curious.

Troy had always believed in two things: Instinct and responsibitly. Years ago, when he had been mourning his wife Shahina, it was responibitily that had kept him alive. The duty he had promised towards his people had given him the strength to keep living his life. Ever since then he was always let by his instinct and his responsibility.

And from something else. Gabriella had touchen him in a way that no one had in a very long time. It amazed him and scared him at the same time.

"Was I supposed to let you stay out there?"

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm very thankful that you rescued me." She looked around the bathroom that Troy had let her into. "But it would have been easier if you'd just brought me to my house."

"At least let me help you out of your coat." He spoke while taking of her coat. "Now the dress. And I'm pretty sure you can take care of the rest. Here's a bathrobe."

He was just about to leave the bathroom when all the emotions finally rushed over Gabriella. She leaned forward as if she was having a stomach ache.

"Gabriella!" He sounded really concerend. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I just want to be alone. Please." She said looking at him with pleading eyes.

He nodded and left the room. She had won her pride back. After all she was used to taking care of herself. With that she took off the rest of her clothes and stepped into a hot shower.

Soooo. This is the first chapter. I hope anyone reads it and actually reviews.
I'm really sorry for all the grammar mistakes I know I made somewhere and the words probably aren't the best either but cope with me people. I'm still German and that is still my first language. I'm still learning English at school.

Anyways. Hope you all like the first chapter. I don't know when I'll be able to post the next chapter because I'm very busy throughout the whole holiday (a shame, I know), but I'll try to update before I go on vacation.

Please tell me what you think.
Greetings from lovely Hollage. :P
Zoe_