Chapter 20 –
Troy saw the struggle within her. Gently, he rained kisses over her face then returned to her mouth, teasing her tongue with his.
All of his senses were filled with her. Her scent, her taste, her feel; everything about her had his body screaming for more. He needed to show her what genuine love was like. Her taste was intoxicating and he wanted more. Troy had thought about kissing her like this since he first saw her, but nothing prepared him for the real thing. He let all of his feelings for her cascade into the kiss. For once he was able to let himself go completely. The incredible feeling had him trembling when he pulled back to look at her. A hand on either side of her face he looked into her eyes. There were no doubts or fears there. Just love and desire.
The intense look in his eye told her he was asking if she was sure. Without a word she found his mouth with hers and kissed him, a deep and drugging kiss. She was very sure. He groaned, pulling her closer to him. Effortlessly, he picked her up. He continued to kiss her, light and promising, as he carried her to the stairs. Sharpay wrapped her arms around his neck and lost her self in the sensation his lips gave her.
Half way up the stairs, Troy pulled away. Sharpay gave him a confused look. Had she done something wrong? The look he gave her told her that she hadn't. The blood was roaring through her ears so loudly that she hadn't heard the knock at the door. Carefully, Troy set her down on her feet and went to answer the door, mumbling something about killing who ever it was as he went.
Neo stood at the door, looking quite worried. "Troy, I'm sorry to interrupt, but you have another interview in a few moments." He glanced up and saw Maritza on the stairs and gave her an apologetic look. " Sharpay, my apologies." He looked at a rumpled Troy and back at an equally dishevelled Sharpay and realized what he had done. "Oh, I'm really sorry." He mumbled something else and looked at Troy. "They will be here in about ten minutes." His ears went red.
"Neo, it's ok." Sharpay tried to ease the awkward moment. Troy patted him on the back and Neo left.
Troy joined Sharpay back on the stairs. Sharpay looked at him. "He's such a nice guy huh?"
"Yes, but with terrible timing." He put a hand on her cheek and kissed her in a way that had her knees weakening again. With great difficulty he dragged himself back. "Come we must get dressed before I kiss you again and we embarrass poor Neo in front of the reporters." He
smiled pulling her up the stairs.
"We?" Sharpay looked at him. She ran her hands self-consciously through her tousled hair.
"Of course, they will be very interested in my girlfriend, non?" He put her bag on the bed.
"Come on, I want the world to know."
Sharpay grinned at him and began going through the bag. What did you wear to an interview? She pulled out an iridescent deep blue silk suit, a white blouse to wear underneath, black ankle boots and an accessory bag. She looked up at Troy and shyly headed for the bathroom. Even though just moments before she was ready to completely give herself to him, she wasn't ready to change in front of him yet.
Smiling, Troy shook his head at her modesty. "You are so cute." Sharpay peeked out from behind the door and stuck her tongue out at him. He laughed again and proceeded to get dressed. Several minutes later, she emerged dressed and accessorized to perfection.
Troy walked over to her and held her hands out and looked at her. "Amazing. You look wonderful. They will love you."
"You look great too." He was wearing a pair of black trousers and a dress shirt. Troy made even the simple combination look utterly devastating.
He kissed her hands then reached behind him. "I have something for you." He led her over to the bed and sat her down. "Close your eyes, chère." He smiled when she did without hesitation.
She felt his fingers on her neck as he removed the necklace that she was wearing. It was replaced with something heavier and cooler.
"Ok open your eyes."
Sharpay opened her eyes and gasped. He held a mirror in front of her so she could see.
On her neck was a sparkling sapphire the size of a teaspoon. It was shaped like a teardrop and hung on a chain of diamonds. Sharpay stroked it with her fingers as if to see if it was an illusion. It was very real.
Surprised, Sharpay looked at Troy. "Troy, it's gorgeous!" He leaned down and kissed her neck. "How did you know that I love sapphires?
Troy knelt down beside her looking at their reflections in the mirror. "You told me." Sharpay looked confused. "Remember that night I found you? And we went for coffee? You told me you love the colour blue." He winked. "And sapphires are blue so I figured that you would like them."
Sharpay nodded, "And you told me that you like green." She kissed him on the cheek. "This is the best gift I've ever gotten, Troy. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me." He caressed her cheek. He turned at the sound of the front door opening down stairs. "I think I hear Neo downstairs." He took her hands and helped her
up. "It's time for you to dazzle them."
The interview went by quickly and was straightforward. They asked questions about Troy and he answered clearly and concisely. He spoke openly to them answering all of their questions with a smile. They also asked questions about Sharpay. She answered shyly while she clung to Troy's hand for moral support. Then they asked about the two of them, questions about how they met and where they were headed. Smiling, they answered them all except for the one about where they were headed. Sharpay looked at Troy and he winked. "No comment." The woman interviewing them looked a little disappointed but didn't push the question. Finally they
took a picture of the adoring couple, thanked them copiously and left.
"That was simple." Relieved it was all over Sharpay looked at Troy as he shut the door.
"Yes, it was with you here." He smiled at her. "So what would you like to eat? You never did finish off that cake. You must be starving." He led her to the kitchen.
"I could really go for a steak right now." Sharpay remembered she saw some in the kitchen earlier. She rubbed her stomach as it growled again.
"Ok I will make you one." He reached into the fridge and pulled out a couple of steaks and some vegetables for a salad.
"You know how to cook?" Somehow she couldn't see him cooking.
He nodded, "Of course. My maman made sure that I knew how before I left for university."
"Sounds like my mother. So you want any help?" She reached for the vegetables.
"You can make the salad if you like." He was already at work seasoning the steaks.
Sharpay took off her jacket and started making the salad. Working in such close proximity had a devastating effect on Sharpay 's senses. She was aware of his every movement. She shivered every time he brushed past her. By the time the food was done she didn't know what
she was hungrier for, the food or Troy's kisses.
They sat down at the dining table and silently ate dinner. They looked at each other again and again, the tension almost tangible. Sharpay eventually gave up trying to eat and put down her fork claiming that she was full, Troy did the same. They caught each other's gazes.
Troy watched Sharpay fidget with her napkin and unconsciously lick her lips. He watched and became conscious of the fact that he wanted to trace its path with his own. Troy grasped her arm and guided her over to the couch. He sat down and pulled her down on his lap. For a long time they just sat there like that, no one talking, just holding each other and staring into the fire.
Sharpay couldn't remember the last time she felt so content. It was so easy for her to relax with him. She leaned her head against his chest and he rested his cheek on the top of her head.Gently, he put a finger under her chin and lifted it so that she looked up at him. Slowly he bent down to kiss her.
Unable to contain her fatigue any longer, Sharpay yawned into his mouth. Troy looked at her dismayed look and laughed. "Pauvre, Sharpay. So tired. Come, we sleep now, non?"
Sharpay nodded and yawning again, let him lead her up the stairs.
They stood looking at each other in the bedroom. "I need a bath." Sharpay blurted it out. She suddenly felt tense and knew that a bath would prolong the moment when he would climb into bed with her. She was sure it was what she wanted yet she was incredibly nervous and needed to delay the inevitable. She started to walk to the bathroom door.
He patted the bed. "Come. Lay down and I will run the water for you." Sharpay walked back and lay on the bed and waited like he asked. A few minutes later he returned. "It is done." She went to the bathroom and shut the door. Troy had filled the tub with bubbles and lit scented candles around it. Sharpay smiled at his thoughtfulness. On a chaise next to the tub lay a gorgeous ivory coloured silk negligee and matching robe. She couldn't believe that all this was for her. The tightness in her shoulders began to come back when she saw them.
Carefully she took off the necklace and put it on the vanity in the corner of the room. She took off her clothes and climbed into the tub and lay back, feeling the fatigue drain from her. She closed her eyes and lay back. She lay there thinking of what she was about to do. She willed herself to relax and concentrated on listening to the water swirl around her.
Troy had noticed how tense she was. And he didn't want to rush her into anything that she would regret later on. Troy decided to follow her lead. When she was ready he would be there. He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her to come out. When she didn't come out in twenty minutes, he decided to see if she was ok. He didn't want to walk in, though, out of respect for her modesty. Troy knocked on the door. "Shar, are you alright?"