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Thank you everyone!
Chapter 7
"I'm so excited," she jiggled with a girlish smile, supporting her claim. He had never seen anyone look cuter than Gabi did right now. She was dressed for the rink, her dark curls tamed by his black beanie she had stolen, her arms covered in long gloves and her body wrapped in a black mini-dress that she had teamed with tights and her biker boots, her ample cleavage peeking out and gloating to him.
"It's Ice Hockey." He answered pragmatically, grabbing his wallet and sliding it into the pocket of his indigo jeans, having combined them with a grey knit jumper and his thick duffle coat, the white shirt under his soft jumper restoring some formality.
"It's twenty men beating each other up for a puck!" She smiled, taking his hand when he finished locking up, causing him to look down in surprise.
"You've been before?" He wondered, not commenting on her contact.
"Yeah once or twice…" She offered mysteriously, making him smile.
"A client took you." He guessed.
She shrugged. "I used to be outside, waiting."
"I'm glad I get to take you inside." He smiled.
"This is like our second date." She acknowledged.
"If we were dating…"
"It's the second time I asked you out too," she frowned at this.
"Are you one of those hussy women?" He squinted.
She smiled blandly. "Yes."
"You know what I mean."
"You should ask me out next time. It's the polite thing to do," she suggested, clinging closer to him as a stumbling drunk leered at her legs.
"I'll make a mental note…"
"Good. Because I'm free most nights so it's unlikely I'll say no," she prepped.
"What about tomorrow?"
"I have church service." She explained and his face split into an almighty grin, his dimple flashing and his eyes shining.
"So you do."
"Do you have your speech?"
"Yep."
"So…"
"So you have to wait until tomorrow," he admonished. "Please don't go anywhere beforehand this time." He added.
He didn't get an agreement because she pulled him toward the rink entrance, awed by the experience of attending the game and he got caught up in her excitement. When she bit into her hotdog and closed her eyes in bliss, his own dog tasted that much better. When she jumped up and raised her arms when they scored, his own joy was deeper. And when she turned to him and clapped excitedly, her eyes shining like gold pennies, he forgot what the hell he was ever doing in that rink and found himself frozen in time, watching her.
"This is amazing." She told him thankfully as they found their seats again after the break.
"I'm glad you think so."
"You look good in that jumper, too." She twinkled.
"It's just a jumper…"
"It makes you look rugged," she described.
"Rugged, huh?" He arched a brow.
"It's really sexy," she added, leaning into his arm and smiling into his face.
"You just love teasing me don't you?" He accused, barely looking down at her.
"Who said I was teasing?" She asked with a 'pfft' noise that fluffed her fringe up.
"You look nice tonight." He offered, finally venturing a look down at her.
"Just nice?"
He smiled at her patiently. "You look beautiful, like always."
"We must be the hottest people here," she grinned back.
"Father Bolton?" A voice questioned from the steps running up the side of their seating, one of his congregation having recognised him.
"Hello, Annie," he smiled.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, obviously surprised to see him out of church.
"Watching my favourite game." He answered.
"Oh, me too!" Annie agreed, flicking a look to Gabi quickly and then back to Troy, seeing Gabi was absorbed in the game. "You have a pretty date."
Troy blushed and quickly checked over his shoulder to make sure Gabi was indeed engrossed in the game before he replied. "That I do."
"It's so nice to see you happy." Annie tilted her head approvingly. "I didn't know you could date…" She added somewhat wistfully.
"Ah…it's complicated." He grew nervous, rubbing his hands together. "Gabi and I are friends."
"Well I hope it gets uncomplicated. You really look great together." The young woman smiled before she went on her way.
Troy closed his eyes as her words sank in and he jumped when he felt a weight on his shoulder- that of Gabi's chin digging in. "You're missing it!" She accused.
"I'm sorry; I saw one of my congregation…" He explained distractedly.
"Did she want your hot body?" Gabi squinted as he turned and he gave her a look.
"Not everyone is like you, Gabriella." He chided gently.
"Ah, so you admit you're hot then," she smiled audaciously.
"I admit nothing." He replied back, budging her so lightly with his arm that she barely felt it, but the tingle went right down her at his familiarity.
"Did she freak out because you're with me?" She wondered, more nervously.
"Not exactly." He conceded.
"One day I wish you wouldn't talk in riddles!" She complained.
"She said we look good together," he admitted, then looked away.
"Oh." Gabi frowned.
"Do you want a soda?" He swallowed on a dry throat.
"Huh? Oh…sure," she nodded dazedly, watching him go.
Didn't they look good together, though? She thought as she slid him a look, smiling at the sight of his backside and strong thighs disappearing through the crowd. Just what was he fighting though?
She hadn't asked for anything- hadn't demanded. She just knew she liked being with him and feeling all these things she had never felt before. That she had never had the chance to feel. Friendship, intimacy- she wanted it with Troy and he was holding back.
His vow was part of it, she could garner that much. But she couldn't work out why he wouldn't even kiss her. Maybe the fact they had been pushed together so quickly was troubling him. Maybe he was worried about what his friends and followers might think. Maybe he actually didn't want to be closer to her, despite her hope he might. Or maybe he just plain didn't fancy her which she didn't quite believe.
"Is coke ok?" Troy asked her as he pressed a cold card cup into her hand while she pondered her options.
"Perfect, thank you." She wrapped her hand around his bicep as he stood beside her again and she smiled sweetly as she sucked through her straw.
"You look mischievous." He accused.
"So, what do you normally do on a Saturday night?" She wondered innocently, dodging his lead.
"Read. Talk to one of the girls. Take a walk down town and see who needs my help…" He described. "How about you?"
"Dance. Fight. Whatever comes first." She smirked.
"Fight?" He questioned and Gabi rolled her eyes.
"The girls that put me in the state you found me in." She explained.
"Have you seen them since?" He asked and her gaze faltered.
"At least one of them will be outside tonight, working the strip." She assured.
"Hey, I won't let you get hurt again, okay?" He checked concernedly.
"I know," she smiled softly at his assurance. "I just don't miss it so much. I thought I would."
"What do you miss?" He asked back with interest and she chewed her straw as she flicked her eyes sideways and thought, her pensive face capturing his attention.
"My mom and sister. Having a bubble bath. Opening my tiny window and hearing sirens at night- knowing someone somewhere was worse off than me." She mused. "I miss laughing and having fun-I miss my friends."
Troy blinked at her as she clung to his arm and he smiled slowly. "I can give you the bubble bath and the friendship." He offered.
She blushed and looked down shyly for the first time since he had met her. "It's really ok." She denied.
"I'm serious. I'll run you a bath- a nice one. As soon as we get in." He nodded.
"Will you come in with me?" She enticed with a feline smile that entranced him as his belly tightened and several thoughts ran through his mind. Mostly of the curvy, voluptuous flesh that would no doubt grace her tiny frame.
"As tempting as that sounds, no." His lips pursed out as he said the word.
"Why not?"
"I have my reasons."
"Then tell me." She insisted.
"I'd like to know you better for a start," he explained.
"Okay, we can fix that…"
"I'd like you to trust me." He added.
"I do."
"I mean, really trust me." He challenged knowingly.
"Fine, okay," she conceded, knowing she would throw it all to the wind tomorrow if he gave in and kissed her.
"You're making this easy…" He remarked amusedly.
"No, you're making it hard," she counter acted.
"I have a lot to consider…"
"I know, Troy. No-one's asking you to give up your reputation and your vows. I'd just like to have more…I'd like to do this again." She ventured.
"My reputation is at risk any time I even think about dating. Some members of the church- they disagree. There are certain…views on it and yeah, mostly I fly against the strict opinions and naysayers. But being with someone is the one thing I've never contemplated. I don't know how they'll feel- I don't know how I'd balance everything…"
"Why don't you just say what you really mean, Troy?" She asked, pulling her hand away and squinting at him, her eyes slitting in cold anger.
"I am…"
"You just don't want to date an ex prostitute because you don't want a backlash. You don't want to deal with the hundreds of people who would be up in arms telling you I'm a seductress and you have no business dating me. You want a pure little virgin who can please all your bosses and doesn't create a scandal…" She accused as she stormed off, shoving her drink at him and squashing the cardboard container against his abs, leaking the liquid down his top.
"Nice job, buddy," the guy next to him teased and Troy lifted a brow, and then passed by him also to follow Gabi out.
"Gabi, wait up!" He jogged after her, grasping her arm and bringing her round, her yellow eyes flashing sparks of anger and hurt. "That's not true." He said of her previous speech.
"Sure it is," she rolled her eyes.
"It's not. I swear. I really don't care what my congregation thinks about you and your old job. Unless they try and judge you, in which case I do care. I care enough to show them otherwise…" He got off track, taking a breath to remind him of his point. "But being with me- its never just 'dating' or something frivolous. I can't just climb into your bubble bath and give into every need my body is screaming out for. I have to show constraint. I have to show control. Do you understand?"
"I do." She agreed quietly, knowing exactly what he was telling her. He was telling her he had the choice to throw his caution to the wind, or to deny anything was ever happening between them and he was taking the second option. Only that wasn't what he was trying to say at all. He was trying to tell her he didn't have it in him to hold back.
"You are a beautiful, amazing person." He bolstered.
"Can we go home now?" She begged, wrapping her arms around her middle.
He sighed with regret at her retraction. "Sure."
/
"Hey, fella, I can show you a good time…"
Troy blushed at the offer from the street walker and checked for Gabi behind him as she had refused his offer of his hand to hold and now tagged dejectedly behind him.
"Oh my gosh…" The scantily-clad girl exclaimed on seeing the petite dark-haired girl, rounding Troy to greet her. "Gabriella Montez?"
"What do you want Estelle?" She asked in a monotone.
"Is he with you?" She remarked of Troy, eyeing him up and down, licking her lips as she stared at his pants crotch.
"Yeah, he is." Gabi agreed, reluctantly meeting his gaze and catching up to him, finding Estelle on his other side.
"Nice work…" Estelle nodded. "You always did take all the best clients…"
"He's not a client," Gabi denied, swapping places so she could face Estelle and cut Troy out. "Just leave him be."
"Oh!" Estelle arched her brow. "You found someone!" She laughed at his thought.
"Gabi, lets just go," Troy demanded softly, running his fingertips down the inside of her arm to lace his fingers through hers and gently swinging her arm back as he stepped away and she remained rooted.
"You couldn't even fight me one on one," Gabi accused. "It took you to get all of your friends to take me down."
"Wait are you..?" Troy squinted at the leggy black girl as he realised she was Gabi's attacker.
"I'm Estelle, honey…" The black woman held out her hand. "I'll show you a real good time…"
"You stay away from Gabi okay?" He commanded, putting his arm around Gabi's shoulders to lead her away.
"What did she tell you, gorgeous? That we kicked her fat butt? Well she took everything away from us." Estelle announced, bitter at having lost a sale.
"Gabi, lets go." He repeated more firmly, relieved when she quit staring at her rival and followed him, tightening her grip on his hand.
"I so want to kick her ass right now…" She seethed beside him.
"Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt." he quoted.
"Thanks, Troy," she smiled wanly back.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help…" he defended.
"Is she prettier than me?" She turned to him as they came inside their shared home and her hands were on her hips in challenge.
"Erm, no?" He offered carefully.
She looked up and tested his gaze. "Is she?"
"What's this about?" Troy asked softly as they stood in the arched hallway.
"It doesn't matter," Gabi dismissed, heading for her room. "Goodnight, Troy."
"Hey…" He called after her and she turned, thinking never had anyone looked so damn irresistible in their knitted jumper before. "Where's my goodnight kiss?"
"I thought you didn't agree with those." She arched back, tired and drained from her emotional night.
He squinted a little and walked up to her, the tiny inpoint of his toes just as attractive as every other attribute he owned.
"I think a chaste kiss is allowed," he barely smiled, his lips pressed together as he stood before her and waited for her to raise her face. When she did, he traced her cheekbone with his thumb and bent down to kiss her there, his blue eyes showing her just how much more he wanted as he stood straight again.
"Goodnight, Gabi." He husked as she stared at him.
She didn't speak any words; she just turned and closed herself into her room, leaving him to lick his lips in wonder at whether he had done the right thing. He'd told her no to anything but friendship and then he went and ruined it by giving into his urge to taste her skin.
He rolled into bed with tense awareness of the stunning Latina sleeping just a few yards away, his mind imagining what would be revealed if he lifted that little black dress, and how she would feel to his inexperienced hands.
Would his unknowing touch please her? Or would she be turned off by his lack of expertise?
He sighed as he rolled over and then back again, still unable to sleep. If he wasn't careful he would end up sleeping over for his sermon and that would not go down well. He forced his eyes closed and prayed for relief.
None came.
