Boris Yeltsin- I love ice hockey too, I had to get it in somewhere! My brother follows the Wranglers too :)

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AddyD90- I'm glad :)

Chapter 8

"Oh man…" Troy rubbed his eye with the heel of his palm as he strolled into the kitchen and headed for the kettle.

"I made you breakfast." Gabi offered, making him jump as he turned to see her at the table, too tired to have noticed her before.

"That's perfect, thank you," he smiled, then flicked his eyes over her tiny form, sat there with her feet on the chair seat as she hugged her knees, dressed in soft jersey pyjama shorts and tee shirt. "Everything ok?"

She nodded and he squinted, collecting his coffee before he headed over. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry about last night." She offered and he lifted his brows in surprise.

"You haven't done anything that needs apologising for." He dismissed, blinking as he suddenly realised he had come out of his room in just his pyjama trousers, without tidying himself or putting on a shirt. Gabi's fixed gaze to his chest was somewhat distracting as he tried to make conversation. The way the tip of her tongue wetted her lips said more than even her admiring eyes.

"You're not going to give your sermon like that are you?" She managed quietly, meeting his eyes.

He blushed and smiled lopsidedly. "You think they'd like that?" He teased right back.

"I know I would," she smiled up at him.

"Well thank you, I think." He smiled bemusedly, squinting again before he moved off. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm ok." She assured and he pulled on a tee top, sitting and eating the oatmeal she had made for him as he watched her across the table. She picked up a book she had been reading, that was laid on the oak surface of the table and her eyes flicked across the lines and he frowned as he realised she was reading one of the bibles from his study.

"Are you trying to find what my speech is about?" He asked amusedly.

"I'm just reading." She supplied and he went back to his food, not disturbing her again until he came out, dressed smartly in black slacks and a mauve shirt that he buttoned right up, his tie loose around his neck and his short hair smoothed into place.

"I have to go and get the Church ready. I'll see you down there?" He checked and she looked up with a 'huh?' look, before she clicked.

"Oh, sure. I'll go get ready."

Troy laid out the copy of the service leaflets across each pew, arranging the fresh flowers that had been delivered the day before so that the audience could see them in all their glory, trailing down the display stands.

He set his lectern, gripped it and looked out, imagining his audience and feeling his same bag of nerves spill open in his tummy like he always felt before he spoke.

It never went away. Not even after years and years of doing this. He took a breath and headed down the aisle, unlocking the doors and opening the large, solid shutters to the world, letting in sunlight and air, smiling as early attendees stood waiting with patient chatter.

"Morning Reverend!" Mary Ilkes called with her gang of older ladies who all waved at him cutely, like they saw him as their grandson.

"Morning ladies, in you come," he smiled, stepping out into the yard to appreciate the warmth of the sun as he let his followers file in. Gabi was there, at the back, dressed in some leggings with her knee high boots and an off the shoulder top in peach that lit up her tanned skin. She had her arms wrapped around her middle self consciously and her hair was cascading down her back. He didn't think she'd ever looked sexier.

"Sorry I couldn't find anything else to wear." She apologised, smiling grimly at the obvious looks she was attracting from her stunning appearance.

"You look great, stop apologising." He assured.

"Troy!" A woman wearing a pretty green cotton dress with white daisies printed on it, her hair in a bun and ballet shoes on her feet called out from the gate, causing them both to turn.

"Miranda, hi," Troy let the lady hug him and he dry-kissed her cheek. "Ready for service?"

"I just love your sermons," she beamed, flicking a look to Gabi. "Don't you?"

"My first time," Gabi lifted her brow.

"Oh, well. Be prepared, then. That's a lovely shade of purple on you, Reverend." Miranda added as she smiled happily and went inside, leaving Gabi to stare after her jealously.

"She looks perfect." She frowned.

"What?" Troy puzzled.

"Her dress. Oh my god, I look like I just walked in off the street…" Gabi panicked.

"You look amazing." He said again.

"They're going to stare at me."

"So what?"

"Do I look like a hooker?" She asked honestly.

"You look incredibly beautiful and the men of my congregation should be thankful you're in attendance to brighten up their Sunday morning…" He offered with a warm smile.

"I'll sit in the back so no-one will see me." She decided as she slowly trailed in, looking over her shoulder to him one last time before she went inside. His blue eyes remained on her and his formidable shoulders were outlined by the light, reminding her of every inch of that same torso that she was privy to seeing naked earlier that day. In fact, waking up to Troy every day was getting to be an addictive treat. She sighed and went inside, perching on the edge of the last pew with a little smile to her neighbour.

/

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

"As most of you know, I devote a lot of my time to rebuilding the lives of young women who need our help. The Lord asks that we do and not just hear. Don't just listen to the story of need from your neighbour. Be a shoulder to lean on for your friend, but also be more.

"Offer help. Find solutions. Be active. For those you who have time- give it. I always need help- we as people always need help. At any hour of the day- and some hours of the night. Don't be afraid to give it.

"I believe in karma- what you give, is what you will get back. You will be blessed in God's heaven for your efforts."

Gabi waited awkwardly at the back of the church while Troy grinned and laughed with his friends and she watched him with new eyes at seeing him in his element.

Everyone wanted to shake his hand- everyone was keen for him to turn his smile on them, appreciate them and acknowledge them. The men clasped his shoulder in affection, the women giggled and flirted as much as they would allow themselves in the house of god and some of them gave him feline looks that Gabi knew only too well herself.

He was right; he did have a lot riding on his reputation. He had a bunch of people who respected him; looked up to him and even idolised him and she could imagine that it was a scary prospect for him to get involved with anyone now. Especially without a promise of committment.

"Thank you for coming, it's always lovely to see you," he said in a warm voice, bringing her from her daydream as he picked up her hand to shake it.

"The pleasure is all mine, Reverend." She smiled back, playing him at his own game.

Troy blinked as he felt the sweat bead his upper lip and palms, his body wanting for hers again at the most inappropriate moment.

"Did you enjoy the sermon?" He asked next, oblivious to the people around them, his eyes entirely on her.

"It was your best yet." She assured, knowing full well she hadn't heard enough to be able to tell.

"Do you want to go for lunch, after?" He wondered.

"Don't you have plans with your friends?"

"Marjory Mason has invited me for Sunday roast at her cottage. I asked her if I could bring a friend." He explained and she felt his invite trickle down her spine and plop between her thighs with an unexpected attraction.

"Really, you did that for me?" She awed.

"Sure," he grinned, and then leaned in toward her, taking her breath away with his imposing strength. "Truth be told she bores me tearless and I hoped you might save me…"

Gabi let out a beautiful giggle that not only brought a delighted smile to Troy's mouth, but attention from elsewhere to the couple talking by the back pew.

"How could I possible say no now?" She replied as she smiled up into his face.

"You can't." He observed.

"I'll go find something less hooker-ish to wear…" She frowned, not knowing if she actually owned such a thing.

Troy sat across the table from Marjory, his plate filled with her cooked lunch, Gabi having been placed beside him as the older woman had deemed them 'courting' and therefore requiring they sit side by side.

He flicked occasional looks to Gabi, wishing out of all the things she could have picked to wear for Sunday lunch, that his favourite black t-shirt was not one of them. She still had her leggings on, and her boots over the top but her pretty pink top had made way for his huge tee, which covered most of her torso but still made him ache inside at seeing her wearing it.

With her curled hair messily arranged and her face free of make-up, he could almost imagine they'd just woken up together and were having breakfast, his top the mark of their night before because she wanted to feel close to him. God but what he'd give to feel close to her, he mused internally, chewing with a tense jaw.

He was right about ready to strip that damn top off and taste her flesh in a much more real way than he had so far imagined.

His desirable thoughts no longer shocked him, ever since she had run out on him he'd been thinking of her so the fact his mind was working over time was not a surprise. But he did close his eyes in an attempt to control those images, his body becoming more and more aware of the female temptation beside him the less he tried to fight his overwhelming feelings.

What maybe shocked him the most was that it wasn't her revealing outfits or her amazing body that brought the deep throbbing to his groin. It was the thought of how she would react; it was her moments of vulnerability that really made him want her and even now, as her small fingers curled into his fisted hand, he felt her touch go deep inside where he had never delved before.

"Troy are you alright?" Gabi asked him as their host stepped out of the room to fetch drinks.

"Yep." He opened his blue, blue eyes to her and smiled fakely.

"You're lying." She accused softly. "Isn't that one of the rules?"

"Not where you're concerned," he quipped and she smiled bemusedly.

"Seriously, what's wrong? Marjory was getting worried…"

He twisted in his seat and twisted his lips at the same time, flicking his eyes between hers. "Did you have to wear my shirt?" He asked honestly.

She gaped in surprise. "Are you angry?"

"Not exactly…" he conceded, smiling tightly.

"You're not making sense again…"

"You have no idea how beautiful you look, do you?" He asked then, almost to himself. "You have no idea what it does to a guy to see a girl wearing his clothes like she wants to be in his skin…"

He was stopped from saying anything else as their host wafted back in with a big smile at them both, laying their drinks down.

"Well don't you two make the perfect couple?" She smiled warmly at them.

Gabi was too stunned to speak. She was frozen, staring at Troy's profile as he sat facing forward again, engaging in polite banter with Marjory.

"Gabi?" She was snapped back into reality at the sound of the older woman's voice.

"Huh?" She frowned dazedly.

"Apple pie?" Marjory repeated while Troy looked at her and willed her to act normal after his revelation. One he should not have given- and especially not here of all places.

"Yes, please." Gabi smiled, handing over her plate, then standing quickly and rubbing her hands down the front of her legs. "Erm…let me help you wash up?"

"That's Troy's job," Marjory smiled. "He waits till after dessert."

"Oh ok. In that case, may I use your restroom?"

Marjory directed her and she quickly got inside and locked the door, her breathing fast and erratic as she tried to calm her wildly beating heart. She had never thought Troy could feel that way about her. She had been told in no uncertain terms that they could not be together without a lot of complications and she had maybe just started getting that into her head- albeit reluctantly.

And now he had admitted he felt possessive over her, from the mere fact she was wearing his shirt. How was that?

She took a calming breath and put her palm to her forehead, wiping every image she had of his muscled torso from her mind, forgetting every ripple of that strength under his skin and reminding herself she had no place imagining the very sexy Reverend naked, let alone in her bed and corrupting her in the best way possible.

"Get a grip," she sighed to herself, splashing water on her face and fighting for steady breaths, her hands shaking with awareness of his announced attraction.

She looked down herself, knowing she couldn't change, knowing he was thinking exactly the same things about her as she had him and when she opened the bathroom door and found a pair of blue eyes there, meeting hers, she knew she couldn't stop the inevitable anymore.

He bent to reach her, she rose to collide with his big body and their lips meshed in a sweet, strong kiss that they had both been denying and aching for in equal measure.

Gabi let out a moan and ran her hands into his hair, letting their mouths fuse for long moments, right there in Marjory's hall.

"Ehem," a polite cough sounded from the living room doorway and Troy broke away from Gabi to look up, finding his host there with a sheepish look on her face.

"Dessert is served." Marjory announced, causing him to close his eyes in regret.

"Thank you," he replied, lamely linking his fingers with Gabi as they trailed back in, like kissing teenagers caught by their mom.

"It looks delicious, Mrs Mason," Gabi swallowed against her throat, blocked with desire.

"God bless you for your talent in the kitchen," Troy smiled at the woman, silently praying she wouldn't repeat what she had seen in her hallway.

He didn't even know what made him do it. He'd just had to follow her. He'd just had to kiss her… and what a kiss. His blood throbbed around his body from the aftershock and he doubted he had ever kissed like that before, not even with his college tutor.

He couldn't even think straight. He was shovelling in his dessert with no care as his mind flashed back to the moment she had softened in his arms and moaned out her pleasure, something he was sure would drive him over the edge as he tried to remember which way was up and his purpose of being here.

He'd wanted to be so tender, too. He'd wanted to ghost his lips on hers and show her what control was, but it was too late. He'd swooped on her and pressed against her mouth with the desperation he had felt to do just that. And what surprised him the most was that she had liked it.

She had actually liked kissing him.

"What a lovely meal, Mrs. Mason," Gabi smiled, rising with her bowl, collecting Troy's and Marjory's at the same time. "I'll wash up."

"I'll help." Troy offered instantly, standing to follow her though, watching as she filled the sink with hot water and washing liquid.

"Don't stare at me like that." She lifted her face to him, sinking her hands into the water to wash the plates.

"I can't help it." He admitted. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you looking at me funny?"

"Were you out there when that kiss happened?" He wondered, taking the first clean plate from her and drying it, laying it in the rack.

"Do you think I could have missed it?" She derided.

"Right. I'm just struggling to comprehend what happened…" He mused.

"You pounced me in the hallway." She supplied. "I wish you had told me you have sneaky tactics…"

"I did not…" he argued in hushed tones and then he found her smiling at him.

"I'm joking."

He licked his lips, trying to take away his urge to kiss her again. "I'm sorry I did that, though."

"Sorry you kissed me?" She looked up, hurt.

"Sorry I pounced on you…that's not what I had planned at all…"

"You mean you planned this?" She teased.

"If I was going to kiss you, it wasn't going to be like that." He amended.

"Then how was it going to be?" She turned, irking her brow at him and he felt his breath leave his lungs at her invitation.

"I've already been caught once today," he admonished, leaning toward her as her amber eyes drew him in.

"You forgot the gravy boat," Marjory announced as she rushed in; oblivious to their moment.

"My bad," Troy drawled, making Gabi bite her lip to stop her laugh as she concentrated on dishes. And only dishes- and not on the positively distracting hunk beside her. She didn't know if his faith made him sexier or what was the reason for her desire, but she couldn't stop the throb of her lips or the fact her body loved being pressed to his- feeling those muscles up close and for real.

"You forgot the gravy boat," he told her once Marjory had returned to the living room and left them alone again.

"She is so into you," Gabi accused amusedly.

"She's old enough to be my mother!"

"She keeps interrupting us…" she pointed out. "Maybe she's a cougar…"

"Oh please," he derided. "You make out like every woman in this city wants me."

Her arched brow made him blink patiently. "I'm a man of god."

"That only adds to the attraction." She explained.

"How?"

"Because you're off limits," she smiled felinely.

His eyes flickered over her face. "Is that why you…?"

"No." She assured quickly. "But I have to say, you're the hottest Reverend I ever saw. I can't help thinking other women feel the same."

"Well they shouldn't. They should remember me in my cassock giving out hymns and being a nice guy. Sexual thoughts are strictly prohibited."

"Are you trying to turn me on?" She twisted and smiled tightly.

"How on earth do you propose I managed that?"

"The way you say prohibited…" She shivered a little, shaking herself out.

"It can't be worse than you wearing my top."

"It comes pretty close…"

"Then let's get out of here before my urge to kiss you senseless returns and Marjory catches us again…" He grasped her hand and tugged her through to the living room.

"Your urge to wh-"

"Marjory." He smiled. "Thank you so much for having us, your food was amazing, as always. We have to get going now." He said apologetically.

"Always happy to have you, Father. And your friend." She added warmly.

"See you next week," he parted with a quick hug, dragging Gabi behind him as he strode for home.

"Hey wait up, I can't run in these shoes…" Gabi complained and he turned with a mischievous smile, scooping her into his arms.

"Then I'll carry you…" He claimed, hearing her shocked gasp and she quickly clutched at his neck for balance.

"Why the hurry?" She bemoaned.

"You started this, Gabi." He accused, attracting interest as he carried the curvy Gabriella in his arms through the busy pavements of Vegas.

"I feel like an invalid up here. People are staring…"

"I don't care," he stated, digging out his door key and shouldering through the wooden frame to place her feet down, turning only to shut the door behind him before he touched her face with the delicate fingers she knew so well. "Now I can do what I've been wanting to do since I met you…"

"Wh-" She didn't get to ask because he hovered his lips over hers, her eyes popping open when he didn't connect them at first and she saw his gaze flicker over her face as his fingers trailed lazily down her jaw, setting a path of tingling fire on her skin.

When she gasped in, he brushed the soft flesh of his lips to hers, barely touching, hardly breathing as he did it again, cupping her face in both his hands before he let his mouth own hers, devouring her sweet lips and feeling the resounding desire all the way into his belly.

"Gabi," he whispered, nuzzling their noses before he kissed her again, his tongue venturing against her lower lip testily.

She tiptoed to reach him, her small body pressed to his as her hands ran amok in his hair and she whimpered as his tongue flicked into her mouth, calling hers to duel. She flicked hers back, felt the throbbing want between her thighs as they fought this way, for intimacy, for something deeper.

"What am I doing?" His ragged breaths husked his voice as he ripped his mouth from hers and panted in barely held control, the evidence of his emotion hard against her hip.

She let her hands trail to his shoulders, holding on for dear life as she span back to earth, blasted away by his kiss.

"Is it right that Reverend's kiss that way?" She asked herself out loud, bringing his dark-edged eyes to hers.

"Probably not." He conceded, bracing her waist with his hands while he caught his breath.

"Wow." She decided empathically.

"This should never have happened." He quickly decided, pushing her gently away while she looked at him in confusion.

"Why not?" she whispered, afraid.

"How can I ever control myself around you?" He puffed out, giving her a regretful look as he saw her swollen mouth and shining eyes- leftovers from their passionate moments before.

"I don't want you to." She admitted, causing him to close his eyes.

"And how do you feel knowing I have to?" He glittered.

She grasped his shirt in her fingers gently at his front. "Special." She answered finally, leaving him to stare at her in shock. He didn't speak, he just watched her lean up to kiss his cheek and then walk away.

"Goodnight, Gabi." He whispered when she had gone and he was left alone in his hallway.