SWEET DREAMS, FRAGILE HEARTS
Chapter 38—Sexual Healing

A/N: The song lyrics used in this chapter are the property of Marvin Gaye. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thanks again to Robin for helping me work out the kinks in this chapter.
This chapter is rated M.

Troy Bolton was bored. It was Tuesday afternoon, Gabriella was at school, and Troy was sitting at home alone. Bored. They'd arrived home from Albuquerque the night before, and their late flight, combined with Troy's pain medication, had enabled him to sleep through most of the morning. He'd had a conference call with Dr. Overman and Pete Massey to discuss his medical leave. After that, he'd tried to read, tried to watch a movie, tried to surf the internet. Nothing held his attention. Never one to sit still for long, he weighed his limited options. He wasn't allowed to drive as long as he was on pain meds. He couldn't shoot hoops because it hurt to raise his arm above his head. He couldn't exercise, except to walk around the neighborhood—which he'd already done twice.

It didn't sit well with him that he was at home doing nothing while his pregnant wife was working. She was exhausted from the stress of the weekend and their late arrival home the night before, but she'd risen that morning and gone to school while he'd stayed in bed. She'd been wonderful, taking care of him in the hospital and after his release, and he wanted to do something nice for her. But apart from cooking dinner, which he wouldn't need to start for several hours yet, he was coming up empty. Deciding to try napping to pass the time, Troy trudged into the bedroom and pulled off his t-shirt, flinging it towards a nearby chair. It landed on top of Gabriella's overnight bag, still packed from the weekend. Troy had already unpacked his, but she'd been in a hurry that morning and hadn't had time to unpack.

It was one small thing he could do for her, he realized. Unpack her bag and wash her clothes. He unzipped it and pulled out the clothes she'd worn over the weekend, tossing them into the nearby laundry hamper. Next he pulled out a spare outfit she'd packed and hung it back in her closet. He replaced her shoes in the closet and put her travel toiletries back in the drawer in the bathroom. When he reached the bottom of the bag, he cocked his head curiously. There was a pink plastic bag that he remembered seeing Taylor give to Gabriella when she and Chad had visited the hospital. He lifted it, and out slid a book with a pregnant woman on the cover. Above the picture, in bold scroll, was the title: The Expectant Couples' Guide to Sizzling Sex During and After Pregnancy. Intrigued, he dropped the empty overnight bag on the floor and sat, flipping the book open to page one. And just like that, Troy Bolton was bored no longer.

…..~«ώ»~…..

When Gabriella got home from school later that afternoon, Troy was sprawled on the sofa watching television. He'd read more than half of Taylor's book, but he'd had to put it away—and take a cold shower—before Gabriella got home. He'd learned a few creative ways to help ease Gabriella's frustration without violating his post-surgery restriction, and he'd formulated a plan to get out of the house and buy some supplies in the next day or two. Even if Troy had hoped to dive right into his plan of seduction that evening, he would've been thwarted by the lines of stress and fatigue etched on Gabriella's face when she came through the door.

Troy pushed himself up to get a better look at her. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Rough day," she confessed, sighing as she dropped her briefcase beside the desk in the living room. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," he insisted, standing to kiss her. He grasped her upper arms and studied her more closely. "Tell me about your day."

"Let me change first. My feet are killing me."

He nodded, and she disappeared into the bedroom. When she emerged a few minutes later, she was wearing shorts and one of Troy's t-shirts. She flopped down next to Troy on the sofa and nearly moaned when he pulled her feet into his lap to massage them.

"That feels wonderful," she sighed. "Did you talk to Pete?"

"Yeah. Matt and Jamie are going to cover practices all week, but we still need to find a doctor for the game on Saturday." He peeked up through his eyelashes. "I was thinking… that maybe… by then I would be feeling well enough to do it…"

She glared at him. "Troy, you know what Dr. Guthrie said. You're not supposed to work for a week—a full week—after your release from the hospital. You always make me follow doctors' orders to the letter, but now you think you can change the rules to suit your own purposes!"

He put up his hands in surrender. "Sweetheart, I'm not trying to change the rules. I'm trying to honor my commitment to the UCS Athletic Department."

Her eyes narrowed. "They can't force you to go against your surgeon's orders. It's against the law! The Family Medical Leave Act clearly states…"

"I know what the law says, and I know they won't make me do anything," he interrupted. "And I'm not talking about going back to work full-force. But I can be at the game, and provide medical assistance if needed, without violating my restrictions. Mark can drive me to Sacramento on Saturday morning, I'll work the game, and then we'll come back Saturday night. If it'll make you feel better, I'll get checked out by one of our surgeons before I go."

Gabriella considered his proposition for a few moments. "The surgeon who checks you out has to be someone other than Mark. Or Dr. Overman." Her lips twisted thoughtfully. "Dr. Gould. She has to be the one who clears you. And I'll drive you so I can keep an eye on you and make sure you're not overdoing it." He grinned, and she put up a finger to halt him. "Only if Dr. Gould says it's okay. Otherwise, you'll have to find someone else to cover the game."

"Okay, that's fair. Thanks, babe." He leaned forward to kiss her, and winked as he pulled away. "Just think, if Dr. Gould clears me early, we might not have to wait two weeks for other restricted activities." She shivered, and his grin widened. There was unmistakable heat in her gaze for a moment before she reined it back in. He resumed his gentle kneading of her feet. "Now, tell me about your day."

"Well, for starters, one of my Intro students had a hissy fit about his grade on a paper. I returned the papers at the end of class, and next thing I know, this guy is storming into my office in a rage, demanding that I change his grade."

Troy's hands stopped, and he sat up straighter. "Whoa! He has no right to do that!"

"Well, he did it anyway," she continued. "I tried to explain why he got that grade, but he wouldn't listen. He accused me of discriminating against him! Isn't that ridiculous? I had to ask him to leave four or five times before he finally listened."

Troy's anger was building. "Did he touch you? Threaten you?"

"He didn't touch me, and the only threat he made was to have his parents contact the dean of the college. Apparently his folks are rich, and have made some sizeable donations to the school."

"That doesn't give him the right to push you around! You should've called me! I would've come down there and kicked his butt back to wherever he came from!"

Gabriella shook her head. "That would've made the situation worse, not better. Besides, Nick came in and finally got the kid to leave."

Troy's possessiveness surged. He knew he should be grateful that Nick had stepped in to help, but a part of him hated that another man had been there for Gabriella while Troy had been sitting at home. "You need to report him. Set up a meeting with the dean. You can't let students get away with that kind of behavior."

Her hands wrung together in her lap, revealing that the situation had bothered her more than she would admit. "I talked to his faculty advisor this afternoon. And Dr. Heller already called me to set up a meeting for tomorrow." Her voice trembled slightly. "Troy, I'm already worried enough about keeping my job with the evaluations at the end of the semester and my maternity leave next spring. I don't need this kind of attention focused on me." Suddenly, she looked up, stricken. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't be telling you this. You're supposed to be worrying about healing, not all this silly stuff with my job."

He lowered her feet to the floor so he could gather her in his arms. "It's not 'silly stuff,' honey. Listening is one of the few things I'm not restricted on this week, and I'm always here for you. You know that." He smoothed his hand through her hair. "Do you want me to go with you tomorrow for your meeting?"

She gave him a grateful smile. "That's sweet, but no. This is something I need to take care of on my own." She turned her head towards the kitchen. "Something smells really good."

Troy grinned. "I made dinner. It'll be ready in…" He paused to check his watch. "…about 15 minutes."

"Perfect." Gabriella lifted her feet back into Troy's lap and wiggled her toes. He chuckled and resumed his massage.

...~«ώ»~...

Gabriella jolted awake, disoriented in the darkness of the bedroom. Her mind struggled to reconcile the vividness of the dream she'd just had—and her body's reaction to it—with the reality that Troy was snoring softly beside her. In her dream, he'd been in her office at school, bending her over her desk as he pounded into her from behind. She'd just reached the point of orgasm in her dream when she'd awakened to find her panties wet and her core trembling.

"Gabriella?"

She jumped at the sound of Troy's husky voice. Concerned, he propped his head on his hand to look at her.

"Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

She shook her head, still reeling from the sensations she was experiencing. Had she really just had an orgasm as a result of a dream? Nothing like that had ever happened to her before.

"Baby, are you sure you're all right? You're trembling."

Gabriella turned her head to look at him, realizing that she hadn't even noticed his hand on her arm. More than anything, she wanted to sling her leg over his hips and have her way with him, but he wasn't allowed to have sex. It was, she thought, one of the most unfair situations she'd ever experienced. Troy shifted next to her, reminding her that she still hadn't answered his question.

"I'm okay, Troy. Go back to sleep."

"Not until you tell me what's going on."

She sighed. "I had a dream, that's all. It wasn't a nightmare, it was a… um… it was… about… you and me."

He frowned in the darkness. "What about us? Did something happen?"

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. Yes, something had definitely happened with them in her dream!

"Troy, promise you won't laugh."

"I promise," he vowed.

"It was… um… we were… in my office… and, um… nobody else was around… and so, um…"

Realization dawned on Troy, and despite his promise, he chuckled. "You had a sex dream!"

"You promised not to laugh!" She turned her head away in embarrassment, but he palmed her cheek and turned her around to face him.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie. Surely it's not the first one you've ever had."

"It's not," she confirmed. "But it's the first that I've… um… reacted… so strongly."

Troy's mind flashed to a section of Taylor's book that talked about nocturnal orgasms, and he sighed. "I really wish we could do exactly what you're dreaming about, but we can't."

She rolled onto her side to face him, touching his face. "It's okay, Troy. I understand. But I'm putting you on notice that as soon as your restriction is lifted, we're going to spend some serious time in this bed."

"Deal!" he replied enthusiastically. She giggled and snuggled into his chest. He held her as he felt her muscles relax back into sleep, his mind formulating a plan. He may have to wait two weeks, but there was no reason that Gabriella should have to.

...~«ώ»~...

Wednesday afternoon, Gabriella sat in her office, reading through lab reports. She was having a terrible time concentrating as she imagined what she and Troy had done here in her dream. Her phone buzzed beside her hand, and she smiled when she saw that it was Troy calling.

"Hi," she greeted. "I was just thinking about you. How are you feeling?"

"Lonely," Troy answered. "What are you doing?"

"I'm in my office, grading lab reports. What have you been up to today?"

"Nothing much. How did the meeting with the dean go?"

"Better than I expected. This is apparently not the first encounter she's had with this kid's parents. She said she'd take care of it."

"Good. Did you tell her about the baby?"

She hesitated. "No, not yet."

"Honey, you're not going to be able to hide it much longer." He paused and then strategically changed the subject. "Your classes are done for the day, right?"

"Yes, but I want to make a dent in these reports before I come home. I shouldn't be more than an hour or so."

"No problem. You know, I've been doing a lot of thinking about your dream last night…"

Her cheeks flamed. "Troy, you promised…" There was a knock on her office door. "Someone's at my door. I have to go. I'll see you soon."

"Sooner than you think…" Troy replied cryptically as she ended the call.

Gabriella stood from her desk and went to open the door. When she pulled it open, her knees nearly buckled.

"Surprise," Troy grinned from the doorway.

She was too stunned to move. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be driving!"

"I took the bus. Aren't you going to invite me in?"

She shook her head to gather her wits and stepped aside to allow him entrance. She pushed the door shut behind him, and to her surprise, he turned to flip the lock.

"Troy, what are you…?"

Her question was effectively cut off when Troy snatched her up into his arms and covered her mouth with his. It took only a moment for her body to melt against his, and he spun her and backed her up against the door. His tongue parted her lips and dove deeper, and she whimpered into his mouth. Smiling wickedly, he laced his fingers with hers and pinned them to the door while his lips moved around to suck the tender spot behind her ear.

"Troy… We c-can't…" she stuttered, barely able to form words. "Your restriction…"

He pulled back to look at her. "I'm on restriction, but you're not. You're a beautiful, sexy pregnant woman who has needs, and I'm just the guy to take care of them for you."

"That's not fair," she protested. "You wouldn't let me… take care of you… after my surgery!"

"Your surgery was more invasive than mine, and you had a more difficult recovery," he reasoned. "Now stop thinking."

He pressed her against the door again and punctuated his order with another searing kiss. When his lips moved towards her ear again, he whispered a question.

"Tell me, baby. Is this how it was in your dream? Did I push you up against the door and make love to you here?"

"N-no," she answered hoarsely. "It was…" she gestured with her head, "…by my desk."

As soon as the words left her lips, Troy spun her, pressing her backside against the desk. He glanced at the wide window that looked out over the campus, and she understood his concern.

"It's mirrored glass," she told him. "We can see out, but no one can see in. This whole side of the building is like that."

"Excellent," he smiled. "Now, where were we?"

Her cheeks flushed as she reached for him, and a moment later, their lips were fused and their bodies were pressed together deliciously. Troy's hand slipped down her leg to the hem of her skirt and dipped under it to stroke her thigh. She broke the kiss, breathing hard.

"You're not getting modest on me, are you?" he prodded before leaning closer. "Are your panties wet, baby?"

She smiled mischievously. "Who says I'm wearing panties?"

"I watched you get dressed this morning," he confessed huskily.

She huffed and swatted his chest. "I thought you were asleep!"

"Nope. I saw the black lace panties you put on, the way you wriggled your sweet little ass." She gasped, aroused by his crass language, and his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "You knew I was watching you. You wore those dirty little panties for me, didn't you?"

"Maybe," she agreed breathlessly. "Or maybe I just like to wear lacy panties because of the way they rub me when I move."

She turned in his arms and pretended to busy herself looking for something on her desk. She pressed her backside into his groin and circled her hips seductively, seeing how far she could push him. In a flash, his arms enveloped her again and he bent her forward so her hands rested on her desk. His body trapped hers, and his hot breath found her ear.

"You've been a naughty professor, playing games with me, tempting me," he whispered as his fingers lifted the hem of her skirt. "I'm going to take your panties home with me so everyone knows that you're mine."

"Troy, please," she breathed. His palm cupped her through her panties, and he felt the moisture of her arousal. He nipped the shell of her ear, and her head sunk to the side. His hand slipped under the lace of her panties and touched her where she wanted him most. Her thighs clenched together as if to hold him in place.

"Tell me what you want," he ordered in her ear. She didn't answer right away, and he slowed his rhythmic strokes. She moaned in frustration, trying to wiggle against his hand, but he held her still. "Say it. Tell me how to make you feel good."

"T-touch me," she squeaked.

"Like this?" he teased, caressing wide circles around her clit.

"More," she begged. "I need m-more…"

His fingers circled closer and closer to her clit, and she moaned when his ring finger dipped inside her. Her barely-functioning brain rejoiced that she'd put his wedding ring back on his finger the night before as she felt the cool glide of the metal against her hot folds. He added his middle finger and dove deeper, stroking her inside and outside at the same time. It was exquisite.

"I wish I could be inside you right now," he growled into her neck. "You're so hot and wet, I could slide all the way in and fill you up with one hard thrust."

"Troy," she whimpered. She lifted her hands from the desk to reach behind her, but to her horror, his movement stopped.

"Put your hands back on the desk," Troy ordered. "You have to do as I say, do you understand?"

She nodded mutely and obeyed his directive.

"Do you want to come?" he asked unnecessarily.

"Y-yes. Please."

"You have to be very quiet. You don't want your students or your colleagues to know what a bad girl you are, do you?"

Gabriella shook her head frantically.

"Look out the window. See all those students down there? Imagine what they would think if they could see you right now, standing here with my hand in your panties. Would they stop and watch to see the way your eyes get big when you come?" He pressed his erection against her backside. "I know how you look when you come. It's so damn sexy that everyone should see it, not just me."

"Troy!" Her voice was so filled with frustration that he thought she might cry.

"Promise me you'll be quiet when you come," he insisted as he quickened the pace of his strokes.

She nodded, unable to speak. His right hand lifted from her hip to pluck at her breasts, and his lips latched onto the spot behind her ear. His fingers thrust inside her, and his thumb pressed her clit, and she went off like a rocket. Her body stiffened, her breath came in short, shallow pants, and her orgasm vibrated around his fingers. True to her word, though, she kept quiet, uttering only an occasional whimper as her body trembled. Her head lolled back onto his shoulder, and he continued to stroke her until her tense muscles relaxed and she became like putty in his arms. Only then did he loosen his grasp and turn her to face him. He grinned when he saw the look of satisfaction on her face.

"Wow," she sighed dreamily.

Troy leaned in to rest his forehead against hers and just stared into her heavy-lidded eyes as her breathing calmed. His lips curved into a lopsided grin.

"This may have started out as your fantasy, but I can tell you that I'll be replaying it over and over in my mind. That was so hot, baby."

She glanced down at the painful strain of his erection against his zipper, and then looked back up regretfully. "I wish I could help you."

"I'll be okay," he promised. "As long as you don't mind if I stay in here for a little while until things, uh, get back to normal."

She giggled. "How about if I read a few more reports while we're waiting, and then I'll take you home."

He winked mischievously. "Are you propositioning me, Professor Bolton?"

"Maybe I am." She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Troy."

...~«ώ»~...

On Thursday afternoon, Troy slipped quietly into a seat at the back of the lecture hall at Hastings and nodded a silent greeting to neighboring students when they looked up from their note-taking. The student who had created a scene after class on Tuesday was back in class today, and despite Gabriella's assurances that she wasn't concerned, Troy wanted to make sure that the situation was under control. He'd also paid a visit to a nearby specialty shop to purchase a few items he'd read about in Taylor's book. A smile tugged at his lips as he wondered what Gabriella's reaction would be. According to Taylor's book, many expectant couples took advantage of the woman's heightened libido, particularly during the second trimester, to experiment and expand their sexual repertoire. Troy tended to be more sexually adventurous than she was, but he hoped that she would be able to let her guard down and be willing to try new things.

Troy settled back into the chair and forced his mind away from the erotic thoughts that threatened to cause a physical reaction. That was more easily said than done with the subject of his fantasies standing at the front of the lecture hall talking about ethical principles relating to medical malpractice. But Gabriella was a very intelligent and compelling speaker, and Troy soon became as engrossed in her lecture as the young students around him. She barely glanced at the notes in front of her as she spoke, but when she pointed the remote control towards her laptop to advance the image on the screen behind her, she frowned. She clicked the remote several more times, but the picture did not change. Troy was about to jog down the steps to help her when a young man leapt up from the front row, touched her arm reassuringly, and moved in to tap the computer keys. Within moments the presentation advanced, and Gabriella moved on in her lecture. Troy's attention, though, remained focused on the man who still hovered over the keyboard.

He was around 24, Troy guessed, with dark, wavy hair and dark eyes. His build was similar to Troy's, though his complexion was darker. He was dressed more formally than the other students, and Troy realized that this must be Nick, Gabriella's graduate assistant. Apparently satisfied that the technical glitch was fixed, Nick squeezed past Gabriella as she spoke, laying a hand on her back to let her know that he was behind her. Troy's eyes narrowed. Gabriella didn't miss a beat, stepping to the side to allow him more room to pass as she continued with her lecture. She seemed completely unaffected by the physical contact, but it bothered Troy nonetheless.

When the lecture was over, Gabriella explained the next assignment and then dismissed the class. Troy waited in the back as the room emptied, watching as Gabriella spoke to a couple of students. Several girls hovered around Nick, but his attention shifted as Troy descended the stairs towards the front of the room. The girls followed Nick's gaze, and, seeming to sense the tension, said their goodbyes and headed for the door. Troy reached the bottom of the steps and started towards Gabriella, but Nick took a protective step towards Gabriella, blocking Troy's path.

"Can I help you, sir?" he asked warily.

The question caused Gabriella to look up, and her face instantly brightened. "Troy! What a nice surprise!"

Nick immediately backed down when he realized who he'd confronted, and he raised his hands in surrender and stepped aside. Troy brushed past him and went to Gabriella.

"Hey, baby," he greeted. Her smile faded when he framed her face with both hands and kissed her hard. After a few moments, she broke the kiss and pushed against his chest. He stepped back and saw a flash of anger in her eyes before she schooled her expression and turned to Nick.

"Nick, this is my husband, Troy," she introduced. "Troy, this is Nick Castilla, my graduate assistant."

Nick stepped forward and offered his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Bolton. I'm sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I didn't know who you were, and after what happened on Tuesday…"

Troy raised a hand to stop him. "It's fine," he answered, his voice edged with irritation. "I appreciate your concern for my wife's safety, but I can assure you that she is perfectly safe in my care." He slid a possessive arm around Gabriella's shoulders to emphasize his point.

"Thank you for your help with the computer, Nick," Gabriella told him. "Maybe I'm developing a technology curse like one of my old professors at Stanford. The minute he walked into the lecture hall, his computer shut down. Every time!"

"Dr. Crosby!" Nick exclaimed.

Gabriella laughed. "Oh my goodness, he's still there?"

"He is," Nick affirmed. "And he's still a menace to all forms of technology!"

They shared a laugh, but Troy's tight expression told Nick it was time to go.

"Well, I've got a lot of studying to do, so I'd better get going." He quickly gathered his materials and started for the door, turning back to wave at his mentor as he left.

"Don't forget about our department meeting in the morning," Gabriella reminded him.

"I'll be there," he called.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind the young man, Gabriella stepped away from Troy and crossed her arms.

"What on earth was that all about?" she demanded. "You were so rude to him! And what were you thinking, kissing me like that in front of my students? What's gotten into you?"

"I wasn't aware that Nick had appointed himself as your personal guardian," Troy returned. "Is he always like that around you?"

Her eyes narrowed as she realized what he was implying. "Nick is my student, Troy! A graduate student, but a student nonetheless. Please tell me you're not jealous that I'm working with him."

"I saw him touch you! Twice!"

She glared back at him. "Like I saw Jamie touch you at UCS? What about all those things you told me about trust? There's nothing going on, Troy!"

"Maybe not for you," he shot back. "But I'm not so sure about him."

"So you had to march up here and mark your territory, huh?"

"I bet he'll leave you alone now," Troy argued.

"If he comes back at all," she retorted.

"Fine with me if he doesn't," Troy muttered.

"Not fine with me!" She jammed her finger into his chest. "You saw how big my class was, and my other Intro class is even bigger. I need help, and Nick is a smart, hard-working assistant. He takes care of a lot of paperwork for me, and the students are comfortable enough to seek help from him, sometimes even before they approach me. That's a huge help to me!"

Troy sighed and approached her with his palms up in surrender. "I'm sorry, sweetie, you're right. I just… I don't like seeing another man touching you like that. I want you all to myself."

"You have me," she insisted.

"I know. I overreacted, and I'm sorry." Testing the waters, he skimmed his hand down her arm and took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. Despite her ire, he saw her pupils dilate with desire. That was definitely a good sign. "Let me make it up to you." He took another step closer, until his abdomen touched the soft swell of her belly.

"Troy," she started to argue, irritated with herself that even now, she wanted him.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Trust me, baby. Yesterday in your office? That was just a prelude to what I have planned for you."

She shivered and stepped away to gather her notes. Troy's face fell, thinking she was rejecting his offer. But when she shoved her papers into her briefcase and turned to face him, he saw the crimson stain on her cheeks.

"Troy," she said breathily. "Let's go."

...~«ώ»~...

Gabriella squirmed her way through dinner, anxious to find out what Troy had in store for her. He seemed to be taking forever to eat his meal, though, and as she waited impatiently for him to finish, her day began to catch up with her. Troy looked up and smiled when she tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.

"Sweetie, why don't you go lie down while I clean up," he suggested.

"You promised me a good time, mister," she reminded him. "You're not trying to back out of it, are you?"

"No way. But you'll enjoy it a lot more after you've had some time to rest. I'll come wake you up in a little while."

"I'm counting on it." She pushed back her chair back and stood. She started to take her plate to the kitchen, but Troy shooed her away. Turning towards the bedroom, she purposely swung her hips as she walked away and grinned when she heard his breath hitch.

In the bedroom, she opened her lingerie drawer to consider her options. She ruled out the pieces that no longer fit because of the pregnancy, as well as those that would not be comfortable to sleep in. Inspiration struck, and she pulled out a blue satin camisole top and slid it over her head. It didn't quite cover her belly, but she decided that would add to the appeal. Then she pulled open one of Troy's drawers and dug around to find a pair of blue boxers. She raised them triumphantly in the air, and then bent to pull them on. Even with her expanded waistline, they were loose, but they would work. Pulling back the covers, she lowered herself onto the bed. She planned to stay awake to wait for Troy, but her eyelids grew heavy, and soon she was fast asleep.

...~«ώ»~...

Troy hovered over her, his hands skimming along her bare skin. She shifted and realized that her wrists were bound together and tied to the railing of the headboard. She pulled at the binding, but the knots were strong…

Gabriella's eyes flew open, her body trembling from the intensity of her dream. She turned to see Troy next to her, gently stroking her belly. He smiled and she reached for him… only she didn't get far, because she couldn't seem to move her hands. They were above her head, and she craned her neck to see what was impeding them. She was shocked to realize that she had not been dreaming… her hands really were bound to the headboard with a red silk sash.

"It's not too tight, is it?" Troy asked from beside her.

She tested the binding and then shook her head. "Wh-what's going on?"

"This is part of that surprise I mentioned earlier." He propped his head on his hand and looked at her seriously. "But honey, if this is uncomfortable for you, if it's too much, I want you to tell me and I'll take it off immediately. This game will only go as far as you want it to. I want to make sure you know that."

She nodded slowly, understanding and appreciating his concern. Even now, nearly two years after her violent attack, Troy was always careful to make sure she felt safe and comfortable during their sexual encounters.

"I trust you, Troy."

"In that case, let the games begin."

He smiled wickedly and shifted to hover over her, and only then did she notice that he was wearing nothing but his boxers.

"Wait, but you're not supposed to…" Her protest was silenced as his mouth sealed over hers and their tongues tangled. She wanted to reach for him, to pull his body down onto hers, but had to settle for the warm thrum of her skin as he supported himself on his elbows and knees above her. She lifted her hips, searching for contact, and released a groan of frustration.

"Patience, lover," he teased against her mouth. For a few brief, glorious seconds, he lowered his hips onto hers and grinded his erection against her tingling core. She gasped and raised her hips to align him where she most wanted him to be, but he shifted back onto his knees, breaking the connection.

"Troy," she whimpered in response.

His lips shifted to her ear. "I love the way you say my name in bed, baby, but you're going to have to wait a little while. We're going to take things nice and slow."

"What if I don't want slow?" she challenged.

He chuckled, glancing up at the binding around her wrists. "I don't think you have much of a choice."

Then, to her absolute horror, he moved off of her completely and sat up on the side of the bed to pull open the bedside table.

"What are you doing?"

"You ask too many questions," he countered, leaning over to kiss her again. "Just relax."

He opened the bottle he'd retrieved and tipped a dollop of liquid into his hand. The heady scent of black cherries and vanilla reached Gabriella's nostrils.

"That smells good. What is it? Massage oil?"

Troy grinned naughtily and held up the bottle. "Close. Edible massage oil."

Gabriella closed her eyes to breath in the rich fragrance, and when she opened them, Troy was on his knees beside her. He rubbed his palms together and then slid them up her arm from her shoulder to her wrist. The oil warmed on her skin, feeling heavenly. Then Troy leaned closer and nipped the inside of her wrist. She shivered and felt him smile against her skin.

"Do you like that, baby?"

She could only nod as his lips and tongue began their assault, working their way down her arm to her shoulder. He paused to kiss her lips, letting her taste the erotic blend of cherry, vanilla, and masculine arousal. He shifted again, pouring more oil into his hands and massaging her other arm before kissing and licking his way back down. When he made it down to her other shoulder, he reached for the bottle again and poured a small pool of oil in the hollow of her throat. This time he used his tongue to spread it up the column of her neck, nipping at her jaw and paying proper homage to the tender spot behind her ear.

"Delicious," he announced.

Ready to combust, Gabriella wriggled her body, trying to satisfy the building ache and tugging at the sash around her wrists. Troy shifted again, settling next to her waist and slowly lifting her cami to expose her breasts. He filled his hands with oil and cupped her breasts, kneading them and plucking at her nipples. She arched into his touch, and he straddled her before bending down to close his mouth over one of her breasts. His hand kneaded one while his teeth and tongue laved the other, and then, just when she didn't think she could take it anymore, he switched sides and resumed his sweet torture.

"I love how your breasts have filled out with your pregnancy," he murmured against her skin. "So beautiful."

Troy shifted again, scooting farther down her body, and retrieved more oil. His fingers splayed wide as he pushed down the waistband of her—his—boxers and gently massaged her belly. When he lowered his mouth to kiss her there, he made eye contact with her, and she smiled.

"It's amazing to see your body change, stretching and growing to make room for our baby."

He took his time kissing and licking her rounded abdomen, and she noticed and loved the extra gentleness he used there. Then, maddeningly, he skipped over her core and shifted all the way down to her feet.

"Troy!" she cried in frustration.

He simply looked up and smiled before rubbing oil on first one foot and then the other. Her whole body seemed to relax, releasing the tension of her work day. That is, until Troy sucked one of her toes into his mouth. She nearly rocketed off the bed, barely able to hold still as he licked oil from each of her feet in turn. Next he took care of her shins and calves, first one, then the other, and after that, her thighs. By then she was trembling with need, and when he shifted to lie beside her, he slid his finger under the waistband of her boxers.

"You look so damn sexy in my boxers, I really don't want to take them off. But there's no way for me to do what I want to do with them in the way."

Finally, at long last, he slid the boxers down her legs and then slithered back up, pushing her legs apart with his shoulders as he kissed the inside of her thighs. She writhed and jerked, and he looked up sternly.

"Are you going to hold still, or am I going to have to tie up your legs too?"

Gabriella's eyes widened, not sure whether he meant the threat or not. His arms circled her thighs to hold her in place, and his mouth settled over her cleft. His lips tasted and teased her, and she bent her knees to dig her heels into the bed, barely able to stand the pressure that was building inside her.

"Troy…" she panted. "I… I need more…"

Her breathing became shallow, her legs began to shake, and then… Troy stopped. Not just stopped, but sat up on his knees.

"NO!" she shrieked, feeling tears of frustration burn her eyes.

Troy studied her uncertainly. "Gabriella, do you trust me?"

If her hands hadn't been tied up, she would have punched him. "Yes, Troy. Please!"

He reached over to the nightstand again and held up… no way! She gasped in shock.

"A dildo? What on earth would make you think I would want you to use that… that…"

Troy smiled self-consciously. "I thought you said you trusted me."

"But Troy, I don't… what about…?"

"It's completely safe for the baby, and as much as I wish I could be inside you, this will have to do for now."

She bit her bottom lip, unsure, staring at the penis-shaped device in his hand. He took her hesitation to mean tentative consent.

"Just… let me try it… if you don't like it, I'll stop. I promise."

Finally, she nodded slowly, and, wanting to make sure she was ready, he lowered himself between her legs again. He licked and sucked her until he felt her relax again, and then shifted his mouth to tease her clit as he slid the head of the toy along her slick folds. Her head was tipped back, revealing her pleasure, and he slowly slid the penis inside her. Midway, he had to stop and close his eyes, fighting for control. His own penis was so painfully hard that he was sure there wasn't enough cold water in San Francisco to help him. Finally, he opened his eyes and watched, mesmerized, as her body took in the penis inch by inch. Once it was all the way in, he shifted his gaze to Gabriella's face.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered breathlessly. "Oh, my… it feels so… it's good!"

Troy fought down a pang of jealousy, wishing with every cell in his body that he was the one being gripped inside Gabriella's body. He'd started this, after all, so he had no right to complain. With a flick of his thumb, Troy upped the stakes. Her whole body jerked as the head of the penis started rotating inside her.

"Troy!"

"That's right, baby," he growled, stretching out beside her. "Think about me. Imagine my cock inside you, so big and hard that you feel yourself stretching, making room for me to go in deeper."

Her whole body was trembling now, the power of her impending orgasm building like a tidal wave. Her head thrashed back and forth of the pillow, and her arms jerked, trying to escape their captivity.

"Come for me, Gabriella," he commanded.

The wave crested, and she plunged into the sweet abyss. Her body jerked and shook and cried out with release. Troy held her, thrilled to see her pleasure, but tortured by his own unfulfilled desires. His penis throbbed painfully, and as soon as Gabriella started to relax, he pulled out the dildo, released her hands, and collapsed onto his back. He slung his arm over his eyes to block out the sight of his beautiful, nearly-naked, post-orgasmic wife. He barely noticed when she shifted beside him, but her feather-light touch on his bare stomach sounded alarm bells in his head.

"Sweetheart, you're going to have to give me some time," he groaned.

Her whispered words shimmered directly into his ear. "Honey, I'm going to give you a whole lot more than that."

He forced his eyes open, biting back an angry retort. "Gabriella, please. I'm glad you liked… it… but please, just leave me alone."

Her fingers traced maddening patterns around his navel, and she kissed his cheek. "Troy, I did like it, more than I expected." He closed his eyes again, trying to block out both her words and her touch. "But it's no substitute for you."

She shifted, and he felt her hair glide across his chest. She lowered the waistband of his boxers and carefully wrapped her fist around his penis. The admonition on his tongue died as all remaining blood left his brain and moved south. She leaned over him, silently weighing her options. She knew she couldn't suck, pull, or stretch him in any way, but judging by the pulsing hardness of his erection, he was so close to the edge that it wouldn't take much to tip him over. An idea struck her, and she reached for the red sash that had restrained her hands and carefully wrapped it around his shaft. Then she pulled it slowly, smiling when Troy sucked in a breath through his teeth. His penis bobbed as the sash pulled free, straining towards her. She wrapped it again and slowly pulled, this time making sure the fabric rasped across the head of his penis. With her other hand, she gently cupped his sac, and with a shout, he exploded. She cradled his shaft in her hands, watching the hot spurts pool on his belly.

Finally, when his body was drained, she used the sash to wipe him clean and then lay down beside him. He gathered her in his arms, grinning like a fool.

"That was incredible," he sighed, feeling like he'd melted into the mattress.

"Yeah, it was," she agreed.

They lay in silence for a few minutes, letting their racing hearts and ragged breaths slow. Troy chuckled.

Gabriella's drowsy eyes slid open to look at him. "What?"

"You make a damn good naughty nurse!"

She giggled. "Well, I'd have to say, Dr. Bolton, that your bedside manner is… inspiring."

"How does that song go?" he wondered aloud. After a moment, he sang a line… "Sexual healing, oh baby, makes me feel so fine!"

She leaned in to kiss him. "Me too, Troy. Me too."