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Ang
CHAPTER 8
Having slept for a few hours, they cuddled together, Troy stroking the hair at the side of her face with his thumb and forefinger, eyeing Gabi nervously and he sat up in bed, Gabi shifting to face him
"What's up bunny?" she asked with concern in her voice
"I…there's this charity ball thing, it's on Christmas eve….I…I'd like you to come as my date" he asked, fidgeting with his hands and Gabi was surprised he was so nervous seeing as what they had been through.
She took his face and kissed him gently "I would be honoured" she said softly and he put his forehead to hers, and then pulled back, looking nervous still
"It would be quite a big deal…in the media" he explained "It might mean more pressure for you…more stories…" he hedged
"Troy, as far as I am concerned my boyfriend just asked me to be his date to a ball. Nothing else is important" she assured him
He nodded, hugging her then and she felt so badly about how she had left him, making him think she could take flight at any moment if the paparazzi became too much.
"I'll call Greg and we'll see about getting you a dress" he said and Gabi was shocked
"Really?" she said, eyes wide
"Sure, I've had designers offering to dress my dates before" he shrugged
"Oh, all those glamorous girls that came before me…" she pouted mockingly
He cuddled her, nuzzling her neck "I bet you look great in a dress" he murmured, kissing the skin at the crease of her neck, placing kisses down her shoulder "and you definitely look great out of one…"
"Okay, Bolton, time to move before you get too carried away…" she said as she shifted from the bed, leaving him sulking in bed, blue eyes appealing to her as she put her robe on.
"It's not going to work" she said with a smile "Karen is going to be up soon" she said
"So? She won't mind will she, that I am here?" he asked
"I don't know…she might think you're dodgy" she grinned as he rolled out of bed to tickle her and she dashed into the safety of the corridor, waiting for Troy to put on his trousers and vest before he came over to her, taking her hand as she led him downstairs to the sofa and parked him there as she went to make breakfast
"What have you got planned today?" he asked from the living room
"I thought we could go for a drive" she said
"Oh?"
"You got to work today?" she asked
"No, I'm good." He answered, picking up a magazine and flicking through it, seeing an interview of him and wondering if Gabi had bought the magazine.
"Hey mitts of my J17" Karen said as she came in and found Troy on the sofa, disheveled.
"Oh Karen!" Gabi panicked, coming through from the kitchen "I'm sorry, I should have asked if I could have a guest, we're going out after breakfast" she explained quickly and Karen smiled warmly at her, going over to hug her.
"Honey, do you think I mind? He is one fine piece of ass" she whispered to Gabi as they hugged and Gabi's mouth went wide with shock, her eyes alight as she giggled and Karen moved back over to the sofa.
"So, we never officially met" she said to Troy as he looked at the girls quizzically, wondering what Karen had said to Gabi. "I'm Karen" she stuck her hand out and he took it.
"Hi, I'm Troy" he smiled a mega-watt smile
"Jesus honey, put that away until I at least had coffee" she said of his smile and he pulled a confused face "You just have no idea do you, sweetie?" she asked
Troy wasn't sure whether to agree or not, so he shook his head "Uhh, I guess not" he agreed
"I was wondering when I'd get to meet you. I can't believe Gabi got to dance for you at the club...you know I still work there if you ever decide to visit again" she offered
Troy blushed "Oh, thank you, but I really don't think…" he trailed off, awkwardly
"I know. Gabi is one special girl. I hope you treat her right" she added with a look
"Kaz" Gabi smiled warmly at her friend as she caught her giving Troy the over-protective parent speech, then came over to ruffle Troy's hair affectionately as she stood at the side of the sofa and Troy wrapped his arm around her knees.
"I was just filling in for your mom" she said gently and Gabi nodded, Troy looking to her, knowing she hadn't told him about her mom, wondering if she ever would.
"Well, thank you." She smiled "Breakfast is served" she said, ushering them over to the table where she had placed scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon and some pastries.
"I made you a milkshake" she said to Troy. "It's banana is that okay?" she asked gently as he made goo-goo eyes at her and Karen had to smile, a warm feeling going through to her toes as Gabi met his gaze and smiled at him.
"It's perfect, thank you" he said, eyes dropping to her lips, dying to kiss her but holding back in front of Karen.
"I've got to go and get ready, I'm going out today" Karen smiled at the couple and Troy looked up to her
"You need a lift anywhere, we're heading out soon too?" he offered
"I'm okay thanks" she smiled "Have fun, kids" she said as she disappeared into her room and Troy turned to Gabi, nuzzling her ear, kissing her when she turned to him.
"Hey, what was that for?" she asked, surprised at his affection
"Just being you" he smiled
They finished breakfast and Gabi asked to drive Troy's car which he relented after she assured him she was insured and had a license, she just didn't have a car.
"If you must" he sulked as she took the keys
"Well I can't surprise you if you're driving" she mused, grateful there weren't any photographers around.
"Okay" he agreed and they got into the car, Gabi driving them to the coast which was nearby and pulling him into the arcades, heading straight to the coin machine to get change for the games.
"I love arcades!" he said excitedly as he followed her, hugging her hips as she got change
"You do?" she checked
"Yeah…how did you know?"
"I didn't. I just wanted to whoop your ass on Speed Rally" she said
"Oh- okay you really think you're gonna whoop the champion of all champions of Speed Rally? "
"Mm-mm" she nodded
"You sure you don't wanna change your mind before it's too late and walk right back out of here?" he checked with lifted eyebrows, eyes alight
"Uh-uh" she shook her head, hanging onto his jeans pockets with her hands as she faced him.
"It could get ugly" he warned as she leaned up to kiss him
"You ain't seen nothin' yet" she smiled before he could meet her lips and she turned and scampered away, Troy following closely behind and she giggled as he caught her and tickled her.
"I'm so gonna beat you" he said into her ear as they found the game and squared up with dual controls.
Troy could see Gabi was somewhat of a pro at Speed Rally and began to get a little nervous that she might actually beat him. He elbowed her to try and put her off but she just giggled and shunted him back.
Emerging the victorious winner, Gabi held her hands in the air, her black vest riding up to expose her belly, Troy's eyes dipping to the waistband of her black jeans.
She was wearing flat boots with the jeans tucked in and she looked beautiful to him.
"I let you win, you know" he said, with fake bravado, his eyes avoiding hers as he blushed
"Of course you did, bunny" she mused, "Don't sulk now, it doesn't suit you" she chided with a grin as he looked down to his feet, hands in pockets, rocking back on his heels.
"I'm not sulking" he said nonchalantly, chewing his lip.
"Oh, bunny" she cooed, stroking his hair, kissing his cheek as he had his head dipped so she couldn't reach his mouth "We can play again? I might even let you win if you ask nicely" she said with a giggle and he grinned, catching her around the waist, growling in her ear "You really know how to make a guy feel better, you know that?"
"It's a talent" she shrugged lightly as he let her go, eyeing her rear end as she walked toward a glass case full of soft toys, eyeing them like a child, with huge brown eyes.
"Looook" she whined "A buuunnny" she smiled as he cocked his head
"You are kidding me right?" he asked
"No, look, it's so cuuute. Just like you, bunny" she smiled, pursing her lips to stop a giggle as he looked un-impressed
"I don't believe this…" he sighed, knowing full well he was going to have to win the toy for her or she'd never shut up.
"I can take it to bed every night and pretend its you" she said in a girly voice
He laughed out loud at that, his eyes creasing as he beamed.
"You could take me to bed every night" he said in her ear, hugging her from the side
"No, I want the toy" she said determinedly
"You'd rather the toy than me?" he checked
She nodded
"You're sure now? No going back…" he warned
"I'm sure" she nodded again, her eyes flicking to his and the hidden smile showing there
"Okay then, here goes…" he said, feeding money into the machine and having countless tries with the grabber to get the toy.
"Oh yesss, come to papa…" he was talking to the machine as the toy was picked up and deposited in the bucket at the front
He pulled it out by the leg, dangling it unceremoniously in front of him and Gabi stepped up to take it
"Hey, that's not nice!" she said, going to take the toy but he lifted it out of her reach above his head
"Oh, are you still sulking that I chose the bunny over you?" she said in a baby voice and laughed, Troy's own face threatening a grin but he fought it.
"Sulking? Who's sulking? You wanted the rabbit over me, I'm man enough to handle it" he said huffily
She jumped up for it, failing in her mission to rescue the toy, but she did rub against his chest and his eyes lit up at the contact. "You're only gonna get the toy if you say you want me" he said nonchalantly
"It's only a toy. I'm sorry, of course I'd prefer you over the toy" she said flatly, really wanting the bunny and willing to say anything to get it.
"Ah-ah-ah…you gotta say the words." He shook his head, smiling at another hit of Gabi's delicious body against his.
"Iwantyou" she muttered
"What? I couldn't hear" he smiled innocently, his eyes daring her
"I want you" she said flatly, folding her arms
"I'm just not feeling it" he complained, pressing his lips together as his brows rose
She stepped up to him, curled one hand around his hair, the other around his backside, pressing into him suggestively and leaned up to his ear "I want you" she murmured sexily, squeezing his ass and his brows rose further, his body reacting quickly to her words, but it had all been for show, because she grabbed the toy and ran off with a giggle, leaving him hard and aching for more, eyes flicking to the ceiling in a silent prayer.
"How did I get so lucky?" he wondered aloud.
---
Gabi headed out of the arcade, led by Troy but she moved away from him, looking out to the sea and climbing down the steps, removing her boots to turn up her jeans and wander into the waves, off in her own little world as Troy followed behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle from behind, his groin cradling her backside as she placed her hands on his arms gently and leaned back into him. His lips touched her neck softly.
"You ok babe?"
"Mmmm. Yeah, I just always think of my mom when I'm near the sea. She loved being near the waves and she used to bring me to the beach all the time" she explained
"What was her name?" he asked, holding her tighter
"Fiona"
"Do you think she would have liked me?" he wondered
Gabi turned, with a smile, stroking his cheek "She would have loved you" she assured him
"I don't know…Karen was pretty skeptical" he remembered
"Karen is just looking out for me. My mom was such a free spirit. She would have had you putting a face mask on or something silly to embarrass me" she smiled as she remembered her doing this to her boyfriend at fourteen.
Troy chuckled "I like the sound of that"
"I miss her…" she sighed
"I bet you do. I'm sorry she was taken away from you" he said
Gabi felt tears at her eyes and Troy pulled her into a gentle hug "Shhh, oh I'm sorry babe; I didn't mean to upset you"
"It's okay" she said between sobs "I just had to forget about it all when I went abroad, it was like I had to put Michael out of my mind and my mom too or he would haunt me forever" she brushed her tears away
"If I ever got my hands on that unimaginable bastard…" he warned, tensing his biceps and Gabi felt a little tingle of desire
"He's not worth it." She said quietly
"Wanna come back with me for a bit? I'll drop you home later?" he offered
She nodded "If that's okay?" she checked
"More than okay" he said, stroking her face and then led her back up the beach, the pair brushing the sand away before Troy began driving back toward town.