Ah thanks for the comments so far :D

CHAPTER 2

Gabi grabbed the headboard posts behind her and arched with a faked cry of ecstasy, her face showing her real feeling of pain as her client went a little harder and faster than she liked.

Her teeth bared and her body tensed for one second before she closed her eyes and took herself to her favourite place-inside her mind and away from her frightening reality. Her imaginary heaven was curled up on a huge sofa, somewhere, reading a book, sipping hot chocolate and wrapped in a duvet- or maybe a strong, caring man, she smiled.

He would hug her and tell her he loved her and when they made love, it would be magical, not like this disgusting pig who was grunting with the force of his punishing thrusts.

"Say my name, bitch," he commanded and she closed her eyes as her soul died a little more. She hated being called that. She was many things, but she was not a bitch.

"Carlos…" She panted as breathily as she could manage, annoyed at having her little bubble burst. In her daydream, her imaginary perfect lover had a familiar face and the image irked her.

"Again," he grasped her hips and delved deeper if that were possible, Gabi now praying for his quick release as she spoke his name again.

"I'm fucking my bitch," he cast out, making her stomach lurch at his disgusting remark, threatening her to lose her well-earned pay for the night. She took a breath and blew it out, thinking of only one thing. Troy.

"What?" Carlos was like a torpedo on acid as he rocked faster and faster toward his end.

"Carlos," she said, biting her lip as she realised she had said Troy's name out loud. The Reverend, the man who had rescued her bruised body from any further danger and who had offered her a haven; he was there in her thoughts.

It had been three weeks since she left the hostel. She went to church every week, but she hadn't seen him. She'd tried not to in case he was disgusted at her decision to go back to her sordid life.

A loud, animalistic noise broke out and Gabi sighed in relief as Carlos finally emptied his seed into the condom he was wearing, leaving her crushed until he moved.

She waited for him to roll over, closed her eyes as she felt the sore pain between her thighs on rising from the bed and then she padded toward the door, swiping her money from the side as she put on her costume, piece by piece.

"Goodbye, pig." She arched her bow, closing the door behind her.

/

He couldn't understand it. He couldn't understand why, three weeks after meeting Gabriella, he was still thinking about her. Where was she now? Was she safe? Was she being cared for? The alternative didn't bear thinking about but as he gently unpotted his newly purchased garden herbs and dug out a hole in the Chapel garden to plant them, he couldn't help but worry.

His girls were doing well. Rachel had got a job and found an apartment a week ago and was busy making the most of moving in. Yvette was taking work experience and building up her self-esteem. Eve was finding it harder, she spent some nights talking to him about her struggles and demons and he listened carefully, giving his time freely for her.

But there was always a piece missing. Always a head of curly hair he couldn't rid from his mind.

"You're getting burnt," Rachel told him, picking up his sun lotion and spreading it onto his neck and shoulders as she crouched behind him, the gaps in his vest leaving his skin open to the sun.

"Mm, a massage, is that against the rules?" He wondered amusedly.

"Hey, no-one wants you to pass out from sunstroke," Rachel argued. "What use would you be then?"

He nodded ruefully. "Good point."

"Do you worry about it a lot? Doing the wrong thing?" She asked as he stood and she rubbed her hands down her jeans shorts as she stood, too.

"I guess," he licked his lips.

"You're doing great, father." She smiled softly. "You're the best Reverend I ever had!"

"Only because I'm a total softie," he grumbled.

"Because you're amazing, Troy." The use of his name had him lifting his blue eyes.

"You're leaving." He guessed with a nod.

"Wow, are you psychic?" She gasped.

"Nope. But I've done this a few times." He smiled.

Rachel smiled back and smirked lopsidedly. "Give me a hug then, you idiot." She insulted, grabbing him around the middle.

He looked shocked, his brows rising sharply as his hands went out and then he smiled affectionately, hugging her back. "I'll miss having you around."

"I'll be back. I'll come say hi," she promised, moving out of his arms. "Hey, you'll find her, Troy." She added knowingly.

"Mm?" He questioned, feigning innocence.

"The cute Latino? She'll come back. No-one can resist you for long," she grinned and he blushed.

"Funny, Rach," he smirked.

"See ya, gorgeous," she waved as she left his garden and he suddenly realised how obvious he was being about his concern for Gabi. He made a mental note to pay more attention to the girls in his care and less attention to ones who weren't, kneeling to finish his gardening.

"Please, boss, just look after her for me will ya? I don't ask for much but promise me that…"

/

She was wet through. She pressed her lips together and took a deep breath, looking again at the imposing oak door, ornate and heavy before her, signalling the entrance to the Chapel. The entrance to Troy's home.

Should she? She hitched a sob as the previous night's memories haunted her and all she could see behind her closed eyes were the images of Carlos stealing her body and soul, leaving her ashamed and empty inside.

"Gabi?" The voice came from behind her and she whipped around, afraid her boss, Juan had found her, but she saw the familiar friendly face of Troy and she sobbed even harder in relief.

He was carrying food sacks, which she watched him juggle as he quickly unlocked the wooden door and deposited them carefully inside, before tracking back and looking her over, finally going behind her to guide her in, only she stood frozen to the spot, her intense emotions overcoming her as she struggled for breaths.

"Gabi?" He questioned again, waiting for her golden eyes to meet his. "Come inside," he instructed and she nodded, walking forward shakily, her body shivering with cold.

Troy found towels, wrapped her in them and sat her in front of the electric powered log fire that dominated his living room. He went about making her cocoa, bringing it in with a concerned frown as he sat beside her on the three-seater sofa.

"Hey, drink this," he said softly, placing the cup into her cold hands.

"He hurt me." She said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Who? Who did?" He demanded, shifting forward to look into her face, touching her upper arm gently, to which she cowered and he felt the air leave his lungs.

"The man I had sex with," she shuddered, trying to shake the dirty feeling from her skin.

"I'm sorry," He whispered, not knowing what else to say as he sat and silently worried for her.

"I hate myself," she snarled, her desolate eyes meeting his.

"You shouldn't," he assured, just wanting to hold her trembling body.

"I can't stop thinking about it! He's there! When I close my eyes, when I breathe, all I feel is him, controlling me…" She broke into tears again, hiding her face in her hands.

"It will get better," he promised, hoping he was right because he couldn't bear watching her cry like this.

"I can't do it anymore…" She gasped, realising her life would never be the same. "I can't do that again."

"You don't have to," he assured, watching as she veered into his chest for comfort and he couldn't help his arms wrapping around her, his eyes closing as he felt her pain. He'd seen it before, so many times and he always said the same, but this time, it was different. This time his belly tightened and he had to remind himself quickly of his promise to God. The one that meant he shouldn't even be doing this, that he shouldn't even be letting her close this way.

"I'm so afraid," she hiccupped quietly as she calmed.

"You're safe here." He assured.

Troy let her lay on his sofa as he stood and fetched her blankets, his eyes travelling over her semi-clad form with concern. Her small body was clothed in red fishnet tights, red boots and an all in one red hot pant suit that dipped dangerously at the cleavage, revealing her enhanced breasts.

He wanted to cover her up, remove her sexy costume and wrap her in the blankets in his hands, but he knew he had no right to even think about undressing her let alone all the natural thoughts that followed. For the first time in a long time, he found himself calling on his inner strength, covering her with the blankets and stepping back as he licked his lips.

"Good night, Gabi." He husked.

"Good night, Troy," she mumbled, grasping her covers for comfort.

/

"What the..?" Troy sat up sharply in bed, his door having opened to spill light inside his pitch-black room, a halo behind the petite female outlined in his doorway.

"I'm sorry," her voice was small and frightened and he could see her trembling body even from here.

He quickly rolled out of bed, padding over and quickly realising she was only dressed in her underwear which is why she was shivering with cold.

"Gabi, where are your clothes?" He asked.

"I couldn't bear to have them against my skin. I had to get clean." She answered in a monotone and he saw her hair was damp then, too.

"Jeez," he sighed, quickly grabbing his large dressing gown and wrapping her into it, watching as she poked her arms into the massive sleeves, the blue terry towelling gown swamping her. He rubbed her arms and licked his lips, leading her over to his bed.

"I'm sorry." She said as she sat down dejectedly.

"No, its okay." He assured. "But I can't stay with you."

"Please?" She asked. "Just talk to me?"

He swallowed, sitting beside her and looking sideways to her. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Anything." She lay back on to the mattress. "I just like hearing your voice."

"Wow, that's a first!" He joked. "My sermons have people asleep…"

"You're lying," she challenged knowingly as he shifted and sat with his back to the head-board, his arms scooping around his knees to hold his long legs in.

"I'm not."

"You so are. I can't imagine anyone being bored by you."

"It's true."

"So tell me one of your speeches," she asked.

"What?"

"Your sermons- read one to me now." She requested.

"No way!" He blushed hotly and she sat up, looking to him.

"Why not?"

"Do you want to fall asleep? If you do then fine…"

"Just tell me one." She begged.

He pressed his lips together and looked right into her intriguing eyes, wondering why he felt so embarrassed about revealing the extent of his faith to her. She went to church didn't she? She prayed and followed the bible, just like he did.

"Okay, fine." He agreed with a short nod, placing his feet carefully on the other side of her adjacent body to stretch his legs, closing his eyes to recall his latest speech.

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…Who do you love? Close your eyes and tell me who you see, for the Lord does not tell you who and who not love. He does not judge you or cast you down for loving. All he asks is that you are true to yourself.

Now tell me- are you? Are you loving who you really love? Or are you ignoring an innermost feeling for fear of disapproval or hate?

Then come to me and tell me, because I can help you. I can comfort you when you feel weak in your belief.

Love endures all. Your friends, family and partners are your comfort, too. Turn to someone you know, let them into your heart and show them when you need them. At times like these- in the world we live in, we need our friends and family more than ever. Show them you care.

And the Lord will show you. When you pray, when you open your soul to God, you will receive.

Stay true to yourselves. That's all I ask."

He looked over to her and felt a tight panic constrict his heart as for one moment he feared she had indeed fallen asleep. And then he caught the flash of light across the trickle of her tears and he realized she was crying again.

"That's beautiful," she whispered with shaky lips.

"You should come tomorrow. It's a party on Sundays." He derided.

"If you speak like that, I'm there in a heartbeat." She promised, rolling onto her side, her thighs pressing into his calves and reminding him he should leave.

"Well, I try and keep it interesting…"

"Troy, you're telling people to love with their heart and not their head! That's like…the most amazing thing ever." She described.

"So you'll be there?" He arched his brow.

"Front pew." She agreed.

"Good. I'll give you a wink." He joked.

"You'll start trouble if you do…"

"My congregation is pretty progressive," he smiled bemusedly.

"I mean with your sexy smile, not with your flirting," She rolled onto her back and smiled at him and she found him blushing again, a trait she was soon finding adorable.

"I should let you sleep…" He swung his feet onto the floor.

"Troy," Gabi called as he stood.

"Mm?"

"I loved your speech. If anyone falls asleep they must be crazy."

He smiled and left her to sleep in his bed.