DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

"Watch this…the look on your face," Troy pointed at the TV that was replaying the cell phone video that someone had taken. It was when we were at the elevator, when Troy had made his 'oh sure now' joke, and he was laughing softly. "That look is priceless. You know you wanted to laugh." I was curled up next to him on the couch with his arm resting behind me comfortably, his fingers twirling through my hair.

"But they also saw pieces of the argument before we ever went into the club," I reminded him.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," he said, lightly kissing the top of my head. "See, that proves we knew each other, and you weren't…"

"Some cheap skank you picked up in a bar," I cut him off, and he nudged me.

"Stop talking like that," he chided me.

"Many things have been said about the dress…and not just on TV."

"That dress is hot." His tone made me warm in all the right places. "Especially all folded up sitting beside that bathtub."

"Perv," I teased, laughing when he reached over and poked my side.

"You don't mind staying in?" he asked, and I shot him an incredulous look.

"After last night? You're kidding, right?"

"Just checking," he said with a smile.

"And what about you? You don't mind?" I looked up at him, falling even harder as he placed a soft kiss on my lips.

"This is what I came here for," he replied. "So…other things got in the way." He shrugged, that half-smirk on his face that he was so famous for. "I came out here to see you, spend time with you…like this."

"Minus five tons of salt on the popcorn," I joked, then accepted the few kernels he placed in my mouth, licking his fingers in the process. From my position I heard his heart slightly speed up.

"And the beer on the couch," he added. "Then again…nah, I'm already in trouble for the last hotel room we shared."

"When did…oh." I blushed, remembering tables we had overturned as we had christened nearly every part of that room. His eyebrows were raised at me, as if he was offended that it had slipped my mind. "Well, that room fared better than my headboard did." He laughed then, and for some unfathomable reason my body was reacting just by the slight movement.

"I'd say sorry," he began, as he tangled his fingers in my hair, "but I'm not."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked, remembering how he'd said we shouldn't have slept together that first night.

"Technically," he said, as if he was reading my mind, "I'm not sorry about either time. I'm only sorry about the…complications? And I'm not even sure if that's the word I'm looking for."

"Complications," I repeated, studying his face.

"This whole miscommunication thing," he clarified. "You know, the one I'm out here to fix, fine job I did in the beginning as I failed miserably." I couldn't stop the tear that fell down my cheek; he did this, rearranged his schedule, went through hell and back to make it to Las Vegas, to "fix" this.

He wouldn't do that for just a fling, would he?

"If it was working, you wouldn't be crying," he said, his voice as gentle as his touch when he reached over with his free hand and caught the tear with his fingertip. "I don't want you to be sad, Christine."

"Right now, right at this moment…I'm about the furthest from sad I could be." I know my words contradicted the tears, but he understood my meaning and welcomed me into his arms as I turned, straddling him to freely kiss him the way I'd been wanting to all day.

His arms closed around me, his hands wide, protective as he held me to him, our kisses full of feeling…emotion, rather than simply passion. He pulled back slightly, burying his face in the crook of my neck and just…held me. He held me as if I was precious, cherished, treasured, and my heart soared. I was still straddling him, stroking his hair as he breathed me in. When he finally sat back, his eyes were shining, a light bluish gray as he studied my face.

"I've kept telling myself I was going to behave," he said, his hands still slightly caressing my back. "Not that I trusted myself to…but I have the best of intentions."

I tilted my head slightly as I held his gaze, feeling exactly how…hard it was for him to control himself from my position. "Mind if I ask why?"

"This…isn't why I came here… Christine, don't move like that please…" His eyes slid shut as I adjusted my position, partially more comfortable, definitely more arousing, for the both of us. He opened his eyes partially, the sheer heat of his gaze making my pulse quicken. His voice was hoarse, raspy, when he asked, "What have you done to me?"

I caressed the side of his face with my fingertips, tracing along the edge of his jaw where just a hint of stubble was beginning to grow. Our eyes never lost contact as I answered him in the most honest way I could.

"All I've done is love you."

His hands stilled and his breath quickened ever so slightly at my words. His lips parted slightly as if he was going to say something to me, but we both remained silent, breathing in unison, my words hanging in the air between us. It wasn't as if I hadn't told him before, but that had occurred in the midst of a heated argument. Right then, with his arms around me, our bodies touching so intimately, the words took on a completely different meaning.

This time, I wasn't walking away.

I watched the different emotions flood through Troy's eyes, his silence unnerving but understood. He'd never said it before, not to me; he had admitted to being 'confused' about me. But what would he say, what would he do now with this being laid so prominently on the table?

My questions were answered as he sat up straighter, pulling me to him, his lips teasing mine with soft, sweet kisses. There was no rush in his actions as he took his time exploring me, his hands cupping my face as his kisses grew longer. My heart was pounding against my ribcage, my body humming with a newfound energy. One of his hands trailed down, grasping my hip as his other hand moved around, his fingers tangling in my hair, holding me even closer as he deepened our kiss.

My breath was coming in short gasps as he held me to him, exploring me with his lips and tongue, lightly nipping at my neck as he pulled my head back gently by my hair. I couldn't hold back the soft whimpers and moans and he ate it all up, knowing just where to touch to get me closer to the edge. I tried pulling back, tried gaining access to those sensitive spots on his neck, but he wouldn't let go.

He leaned back into the cushions, pulling me with him, his hand on my hip guiding me as our bodies began to move, clothing and all. I wanted closer contact, skin to skin, but I was a slave to Troy's every whim as he held me to him, shrugging off my advances to take things further. I swear it was as if he was trying to torture me on purpose, making me burn for him, giving me just a taste of what I know could come if he would just let it happen.

He dropped his hand from my hair, letting it trail down to cup my breast in his hand…did he just laugh as I whimpered? It was getting to be too much, I didn't know if I could take it any more as his hips surged forward just a little harder…

"Please," I whispered against his lips, and he responded by doing it again. "God, Troy, please," I breathed as he latched onto my neck, lightly biting as he moved against me. I tried reaching in between us to remove the barriers between his skin and mine, but he caught my wrist and pinned it behind me, his lips finding mine once more. I was helpless to his sensual assault as he turned us together, gently laying me back on the couch.

He was lying half on top of me, his hand free to roam as it wished, but with his body pressed so closely to mine I couldn't get to that part of him I wanted to touch so badly. "Please…" I tried begging once more as his hand reached between my legs, moving against me even with my pants in the way. "Troy…don't make me wait…please…"

He was kissing the outer edges of my ear as his hand slowly made its way down the front of my pants, slipping beneath the silk panties, stopping just shy of where I wanted his fingers to be. I could feel him pressed up against me…he wanted this every bit as much as I did…

I grasped his wrist, trying every thing I could, every way I could possibly move, but he held his hand in place as he left another wet trail of kisses down my neck. I moaned in frustration, feeling him smile against my skin as he finally acquiesced my pleas, his fingers moving expertly against me.

My body seemed to go into a complete state of shock at the sensation, wanting it so badly, having it feel so good that I never wanted him to stop. "Breathe, Christine," I heard him whisper in my ear, and I took a deep breath in, a small moan escaping me as his fingers were building me up to a fever pitch.

"Troy, please…please…" I wanted him right then, no more waiting…I wanted him with every fiber of my being, skin to skin, inside of me…

"It's okay," he said, his voice low. He placed light kisses by my ear, and I whimpered, pleading with him again. "Just let go, Christine…let go…" I shook my head slightly, my breathing becoming more and more labored, his fingers drawing a moan from me that Troy captured with a kiss. I grabbed onto his hand, holding him closer as he brought me to that brink that I didn't want to cross without him. He kissed a trail back to my neck, his lips on my skin as he said, "Let me see you fly…it's okay, Christine…I'm here to catch you…"

I cried out, arching my back as wave after wave of ecstasy overtook me, my body tense and trembling while Troy laid beside me drinking it all in. He placed soft kisses on my face, my lips, my neck as his fingers continued playing me until I was finally still, panting and sighing in his arms. When I finally opened my eyes, he was hovering over me, eyeing me like a predator does his prey. "Beautiful," was the only word he said before he kissed me, deep and slow, pulling me up against him.

I don't know how he managed to do it; I don't know if there was some book he had studied or if this was simply a natural talent for him… I was completely at his mercy. Even as we lay there, completely clothed, he had me whimpering, shivering, begging him to make love to me, he was in complete control. It wasn't as if it didn't cost him, I could tell by the sheen of sweat on his forehead, the moisture on his skin when I finally pried his shirt off of him a good hour later. He let out a low growl when I kissed his neck, the taste of his skin driving my desire even more.

"I didn't bring you…here to do this…" Two hours into our friendly platonic night, we were finally skin to skin lying in the middle of his queen-sized bed, pillows tossed about. He pushed my damp curls off my forehead, placing sweet, soft kisses where they had been. I moved my hips against him, wanting him inside of me, whimpering when he shook his head 'no'. His breathing was heavy, labored as in spite of his words he continued kissing me, pressing up against me without entering.

"If this…isn't what…you intended," I managed to say, "then why…"

"Because I want to," he moaned, pulling me closer…so close that one slight movement of his hips and he'd be entering me… I took advantage of his admission, rolling us over as one, gasping as he filled me completely. He arched his neck and back, grabbing onto my hips as I began to move. "Gabriella…Christine…"

"Do you want me to stop?" I breathed into his ear, sure I wouldn't have been able to if he'd said yes. He rolled me over onto my back, pushing further and further into me in response, and I clung to him as I was lost again.

"I…missed you…God, I missed you," he moaned, kissing me, that one sweet declaration sending me soaring once more. This time, he was with me, his hands grasping me so tight I knew there would be bruises.

As we slowly became aware of our surroundings, our breathing returning to normal, he propped himself up on one elbow and smiled down at me. I'll never forget that smile…it wasn't cocky, it wasn't triumphant. It was full of emotion, one that he hadn't stated, one I couldn't be completely sure of. As he gently pushed my curls back again, his fingers lingering on my skin, I thought to myself he has to care about me. There's no way I could be just a fling…not when he touched me as if I were the most precious gift in this world.

I returned his smile, kissing his fingertips as they passed by my lips, praying whatever Jessica had to say wouldn't change his mind.