Gabriella eyes fluttered open and for a moment she was disoriented by her surroundings. The bed sheets smelled like fresh linen, looking up she took in the frame of the four poster bed that looked hand carved. She had never been in his bedroom before. There was a stream of sun coming in from the curtain and she looked up at the clock on the night stand. It was only half past six, letting out sigh she shifted and felt the weight of his arm around her as it rested on her hip. Her back was against him and she could feel his solid form there and all her insides sprang to live.
Reaching a hand up to her hair she did her best to tame the wild curls that had come away from the braid. Instantly she began feeling her face, wiping any drool that might be there. She'd seen the women that emerged from his bed; they were flawless even in the mist of their walk of shame. She looked nothing like those women; she was bond to look groggy and worn. What about her breath reaching a hand up, she blew into her palm and was greeted by the warm smell of stale pizza and musky copper.
"Well that was brave."
His voice frightens her stiff and she quickly brought the covers up to her chin to hide her lack of clothing. "Hi,"
"Good morning," he said warmly pulling her closer to him.
Gabriella smirked, "For someone who sleeps alone, you're very clingy."
Troy chuckled as he pressed his erection against her backside, "I'll admit, sharing a bed does have its plus side."
Gabriella shifted a little and squirmed against him, "you can't be serious," she said quietly as she moved to pull away from him. Sitting up she still held the blanket to her as she shifted from his grasp and that was when she noticed the mirrors. Looking up and straight ahead she noticed a wall of mirrors on the opposite wall to the bed. At first the idea of a wall of mirrors stuck her as odd for a man to have and then as she looked back at the reflecting image of them both in his bed she felt a rush of heat flooding to her cheeks. The things that mirror must have seen. "Oh my," she whispered bringing a hand up to quickly silence herself.
Troy laugh quietly to himself almost sounding pleased as he sat up to sit beside her. "Do you like the mirrors?" he said in a husky whisper as he leaned in to kiss her shoulder.
"Why do you have them?" she asked with a gasp as the feel of his lips on her bare shoulder made her entire body burn. His reflection was flawless, his bare chest was bronzed, he had the slightest bit of razor stubble that she could feel there, and the simple contact sent a shudder of desire through her. He looked different, he looked more real. Her imagination was fleeting away from her quickly with the ideas of what that mirror was used for. She almost felt foolish to ask the question in the first place.
"Because they're fun," he murmured brushing her hair back over her shoulder and placing another kiss there.
Gabriella swallowed as she looked at their reflection, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were beginning to glaze over like burning coals she'd never seen before. Was that what she looked like when he touched her? "They're so big," she said faintly able to hear herself speak as she was entranced by his closeness and his reflection as he gently reached up to pry the blanket from her finger.
"All the better to see yourself," he whispered pulling the covers away from her. There was a gasp from her lips as he pushed it away revealing themselves to the mirror. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about your body. What can I do to fix that?"
Gabriella closed her mouth as she swallowed hard and looked at his muscles in the mirror, "Perhaps you could stop being so damn sexy?" she said before she realized she said it out loud.
Her comment caught him off guard, and he laughed. "I'm afraid not."
"Then I don't know what to do," she said unable to take her eyes off his reflection. Her glaze lingered on his mouth for a moment too long and he understood exactly where she was coming from. Moving away from her he moved over to the other side of the bed to reach for a condom from the night stand.
"Troy I have morning breath," she said quickly as the brief lost of contact put some common sense back into her and she began moving forward for the blanket again.
"Oh no you don't," he said catching her by the waist her naked body and pulling her into his lap. Grabbing her wrist he pulled her to face him and moved closer to her lips hovering over them. "I don't care if you've eaten an entire tub of liver and onions. Kiss me."
Gabriella squirmed at the demand in his voice he was serious; when she didn't comply he pulled her to him and kissed her for all she was worth. Her insides turned to liquid, and she molded herself to him, desperate to feel every bit of him at the same time. Their kiss turned into frenzy and he hurried to put the condom on. Gabriella was almost breathless as she watched him, she wasn't sure what to do and before she could figure it out he was up on his knees and he grabbed her and turned her around.
Gabriella's eyes opened wide as she looked at the mirror in front of them, at her reflection as she stood there on her hands and knees with him behind her. His lips pulled up with that deliriously mouthwatering smile as he placed his hands on her hips. He mounted her like an animal, she could see it all and image of it was the most erotic thing she'd ever seen, his stiff erection pushing into her, their bodies locked together, his arms holding her hips tightly as he began pumping his hips.
Her body was wet and ready, with just that one kiss, that instant contact, and she arched her back and felt him stretching her, touching places inside her that ached to be touched. Her reflection was wild and passionate as she watched his face contort in the pleasure that she was giving him. His lips were parted and his breathing was heavy and as if he was aware that she was watching him he opened his eyes and the crashing waves of blue meet her brown eyes in their reflection. "Do you see how exotic you look?" he spoke in a harsh tone as he pushed inside her. "Do you see how much you turn me on?"
Gabriella looked at her own reflection, she was charged with a sexual force that crackled through her like lighting striking her core and making her moan in delicious delight. Her hair was wild and almost free from her braid, her breasts were fuller, her skin glistened with a silky glow of lust and pleasure.
She braced her knees against the bed and held on to the covers for support, clenching them between her hands as he grasped her by the waist and shoulder, pounding her harder and harder almost violent in his desire. In the past she hated such aggressive lovemaking, had never been turn on by the violent nature but with him it only felt good. It felt right. She knew he wasn't a violent lover. She knew he was only feeling what she felt, an unstoppable need to ease the aching. He was building fast towards release, and, she too, could feel her body tensing, ready. She watched him in the mirror, savoring the sight of his strong body claiming hers.
Troy, his hands shaking now with the nearness of his orgasm, grasp her breasts and leaned over close to kiss her neck. A moment later he was crying out, grasping against her skin, and the intensity of it gave her the final bit of stimulation to lose herself to her own orgasm.
She bucked against him and uttered a string of curses and gasps of pleasure as wave after wave of sweet tension washed through her. A moment later she felt giddy with accomplishment. She almost giggled out loud from the sheer excitement that rumbled through her.
Later that day, Gabriella stood quietly as she watched the group of men as they hung the lights to the ceiling. The painting had happened yesterday after they left the restaurant. The crew hired to work really went so above and beyond that she felt like she could hardly recognize the place. She was in love with the deep red walls highlighted with the light soft tan color painted on the trimming. There was so much to look at, her eyes could barely keep still. This was happening, her dreams were coming to life. Placing a hand over her mouth she looked down at the hardwood floors, she wished her father was here to see this.
"Did you see the restrooms," Taylor said looking back in the direction she just came, "This place has done such a 180 in the last two weeks I can hardly believe it."
"Me either," Gabriella said turning to face her general manger. When they came in this morning a little after eight Taylor had already been here directing people through the place as they began setting up for the office which was now located upstairs where they use to keep storage. "So," Gabriella said not really sure what say or if she should say anything at all. After an awkward moment or two Gabriella decided to continue, "Are you married?"
"Nope," Taylor said looking down at her clipboard. Gabriella had come to accept that all three times she met Taylor she had a clipboard resting on her hip in one arm and pen in her free hand. "I'm new here, haven't really dipped into the dating scene yet."
Gabriella nodded, "Where are you coming from?"
"North Carolina," she said with a small smile as she looked over at Gabriella.
"What made you come all the way to Albuquerque?"
"Needed a new start," Taylor shrugged her shoulders, "I went to school for Business and when I got here there was a flyer at the coffee shop for a job as General Manger, I waited a lot of tables through college. Worked the register, did some General Manger training."
"Lucky us," Gabriella said crossing her arms, she was wearing an old college t-shirt and wore jeans. The majority of the work being done to the restaurant would come to an end after today. She was already anxious and nervous. This morning over toast Troy asked her again about name for the restaurant and she was paralyzed with fear. She had no idea what to do, she needed to talk to her mother and Isabella as soon as possible. If Isabella was even talking to her, she hadn't had the chance to address their sparing match from yesterday. Twisting her hands she stared off into the distance lost in a list of things she had to get done.
"Relax," Troy said from behind as he placed his hands on her hips.
Gabriella jerked a little from the shock of his solid body standing behind her. He was dressed in a grey shirt and blue jeans, she hardly recognized him when he came down the stairs this morning. They hardly left the house this morning if it hadn't been for the call from Margret to remind Troy of his schedule they would have ended up back upstairs in front of that mirror. Her insides shivered with delight as she remembered the mirror.
"How long have you two been married?" Taylor asked with a warm smile.
"Almost 5 months I think," Gabriella said not really sure because it seemed like so much longer than that. Troy chin rested in the nook of her neck as he dipped low to place a small kiss on her shoulder.
"You guys are too cute," Taylor said a little amused, "I figured two or three years tops."
"Hey, watch it with that turn," Troy gave her a tight squeeze before leaving her side walking over towards the two men who were maneuvering a large box through the kitchen's wide doorway. The double doors had yet to be installed.
Gabriella smiled warmly and then turned to look back at Taylor, "Why do you say that?"
Taylor shrugged, "You're both so relaxed, happy, and just content." Taylor smiled warmly. "It's like you both just know each other so well."
Gabriella couldn't help but smile, well they knew each other in one way. Gabriella watched as Troy directed the men through the door way. She found herself wondering about all the things she didn't know about him. About his favorite foods, favorite movies, did he even watch television? Gabriella seen one in the living room but she couldn't recall ever seeing him watching it. What about books? Did he read? She thought about his reading glasses and a smirk came to her lips. There was so much she wanted to know.
"Well you're a very lucky woman, you guys make an adorable couple."
"Thank you," she said crossing her arms over her chest as she watched the men come down from the ladder to look up at the lights they had just hung up.
"Do you have any idea what the new owner is like?"
Gabriella smirked as she looked over at Taylor, "He's an old friend of my husbands." Her husband she thought to herself with a smug comfort. Turning back where he was standing she watched as he stood there staring at her. If only she knew what her husband was thinking?
Gabriella let out a sigh, as she turned back to the crew working on another light fixture she felt a tightness in her throat and a dull pain settled in her chest and she looked around at the equipment still pack away in boxes that they were moving into the kitchen for assembly. She felt absolutely terrified by all the changes and yet excited at the same time.
"Oh my god," Isabella's voice brought her slamming into the present as she watched Isabella and her mother walking into the restaurant.
The hairs on the back of her neck came to a standing salute as she tried to stop her hands from shaking. She was filled with a panic and cold sweat that sweep through her like ice had been injected straight into her veins.
"The red is very nice," her mother said once they were closer.
Isabella looked around the restaurant quietly taking it all in. She didn't even look Gabriella in the eyes, let alone acknowledge that she was there. Looking back over in Troy direction she raised her eye brows as he looked at her questioningly.
Sensing her urgency and panic Troy took a deep breath and began to head over not sure what he was about to walk into. The Montez women had taken him by surprise, never a boring moment. Knowing what he knew now about them it was easier to brace himself for the unknown.
"Troy," Maria smiled brightly as she reached up and grabbed his cheeks, "How is my handsome boy?"
Troy smirked, "I'm fine Maria," he said placing his hands on hers.
With a smile she turned to Gabriella, "You're glowing, are you pregnant?"
"Mom," Gabriella chirped as she looked over at Taylor who was still standing beside her with the clipboard.
"Still practicing," Troy inserted as he grabbed Gabriella hand and pulled her close into the nook of his side where she fit perfectly.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Isabella said rolling her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Troy stiffened instantly and Gabriella raised a brow in his direction as he watched Isabella with intensity she'd never seen before.
"I'm fine," she said quietly looking around at everyone, her smirk vanished and she brought her arms up to cover her chest as she looked at him with a tight smile.
Troy relaxed beside her and Gabriella felt him squeeze her hand reassuringly. Just as Gabriella was about to ask Maria place a hand over her mouth, "Oh my god is that what I think it is?" Moving past them all she began walking towards the kitchen and coming to a standstill at the double steel doors that rested against the wall. "These are nice,"
Troy raised a brow he looked back between Gabriella and Isabella, "Door really? She impressed by the doors?"
Isabella let out a laugh as she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. Gabriella despite her efforts let a chuckle slip and watched as Isabella walked over to her mother, "Mom that's a door."
Troy moved to follow but Gabriella tugged him back, "What was that about?"
"What was what about?" Troy asked looking down at Gabriella with a puzzled expression. "You and Isabella."
"There is nothing to worry about," he said calmly as he looked over at Taylor who decided to busy herself with her phone as she moved away from them.
"But there's something?" Gabriella said in a low tone.
"There's nothing," Troy said bringing a hand up to rub his neck.
"Don't lie to me," Gabriella pointed a finger up at him and her lips got smaller as she pressed them into a thin line. "I can tell you are."
"Then punish me later, but for now I promised I wouldn't say anything and I want to respect that," he smirked playfully. Before she could respond he was already making his way towards the kitchen. Narrowing her eyes she watched him disappear behind the entryway to the kitchen, no doubt giving them the grand tour of her new kitchen, the one that Troy had made bigger by removing the back room and having the walk in expanded. So much had been done in that week she spent away from the restaurant.
More men came in carrying speaker and wires that would be installed in the corners of the restaurant nestled away for a quality of music that would stream throughout. Moving out of their way she nodded and pointed to the four corners, "Can you run the wires under the trim?"
"Thought I'd find you here,"
Gabriella jerked and turned to see David coming from the front doors, his eyes scanning the restaurant. "What are you doing here?"
"Yesterday didn't really end the way I thought it would?"
"David you can't be here right now," Gabriella stepped forward in an effort to push him towards the front door and back outside.
"Can we go somewhere a little more private?" David said looking up at the workers then at Taylor who was looking between them suspiciously.
"No." Gabriella shifted uncomfortably, "You shouldn't even be here."
"Yeah well," David ran a hand through his hair he nervous eyes looked over to Taylor one more time then back to Gabriella, "I'm here."
"There shouldn't be anyone in the upstairs office anymore?" Taylor offered.
Gabriella would give anything for a cigarette right about now, her insides were begging for release. The sounds of noises in the kitchen made her jerk and she brought her hand up to her lips. "Damn it David," she said in harsh whisper as she turned back to face him. Grabbing his hand she dragged him towards the back alley propping the back door open with a can of left over paint. Standing on it she reached up into the small window above the door for her secret stash and when she found it she shuddered in a mouthwatering delight. "Oh thank god they're still here,"
"Still smoking?" David said shifting awkwardly as he watched her come down and open the pack to pluck out a cigarette.
"Don't judge me," Gabriella said with a raised brow as she placed the stick between her lips and held up the lighter.
"Gabriella I was out of line yesterday, I don't know what came over me and looking back on it I feel foolish."
"Look," Gabriella said pulling the cigarette from her lips. "If you're here to apologize, then I accept. It takes two to tango and I should have known better then to show up in the first place." Letting out long blow of smoke she looked backside to make sure the coast was still clear.
"What's wrong?" he asked trying to read her concern.
"My husband is here, and he doesn't like you very much," she said tucking a hand under her elbow and bringing the cigarette to her lips again. "Not that I blame him, given the situation I'd want your head on a platter myself."
"Gabs," he said taking a step forward, "There is something I need to tell you,"
She could her them in the kitchen talking, looking at the walk in, her mother sounded impressed and in awe. "Look," Gabriella said with a sigh as she release another long pull of smoke, "can this wait? You know until maybe later tonight or something I have a lot to do and if Troy sees you here it'll be an argument I don't want to have."
"Is he hurting you?" David asked as concern shot up inside him.
Gabriella jerked at the accusation, "What?!" Gabriella waved away some of the linger smoke and then took another puff, "No Troy would never hurt me."
"Gabriella I don't want to be the kind person you can't come and talk to when something is bothering you." David said reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. The touch felt more like an irritation all she could feel was the coldness of the impression from his touch. It was like being with Troy made every other man's touch nonexistent.
"I'm married David," Gabriella said with a small hesitation as she continued to stare at his touch. "It's just that we have a history and it's disrespectful to Troy."
"So we can't even be friends?"
Gabriella let out another cloud of smoke as she brought the cigarette to her lips and then inhaled again. She listened to the laughter inside the kitchen behind her, "We can be friends, but there has to be boundaries."
"Gabs-"
"David please, I need you to go," Gabriella said urging him to move, she didn't want to sound so mean and thoughtless but the idea of Troy finding him back here was terrifying. "We can talk later tonight just not right now, please, can it wait?"
David frowned as he hesitated before shrugging his shoulders, "I guess it can."
"Thank you, now scoot," she said in a hushing voice as he began walking down the alley. Her shoulders fell and she brought the cigarette up to her lips for a much needed inhale. For a moment the world was quite and she thought about all the parts and pieces of the last few months of her life.
"You know, I can think of so many things I'd love to see you do with that mouth that do not include this," his fingers plucked the cigarette from her lips and flicked it across the alley so that it landed in a puddle.
Gabriella let out a sigh as she watch her cigarette float in the muddy stenches of the sewer drain. The ambers went out and left a sizzle of smoke wafting through the air in its wake. "I don't always smoke."
"Thank god," Troy said pulling a pack of gum from his pocket and handed it to her. "Why did you even start such a god awful habit in the first place?"
"I don't know, lots of people in college did it, it just sort of became a habit, not proud of it." Gabriella took the gum from him with a smirk, "What about you sir-sex-a lot? Why so much sex?"
"Why not? it's healthy," Troy said as he watched her slowly bring the piece of gum to her lips. "Are you complaining?"
"No," she said before taking the gum between her teeth slowly and beginning to chew. Her body might complain from all the sore and tenderness she felt but she wouldn't dare tell him that. "What's the big secret between you and my sister?"
"Have you given any thought to changing the name?" He asked as he watched her lips move slowly with each chew.
"No."
"I have to go get Chad from the airport soon," Troy said looking at his watch. "Then go back to the office for a meeting."
"Why do you work for your father?"
Troy let out a low sigh as he rolled his eyes, "So curious Gabriella," he teased with a small annoyance.
"You own 15 companies, you're a smart man, why not do something on your own?" She said with a raised brow, "It can't possibly be the money and I've seen you talk about the office. You hate it."
"Because my father wants me to work for him," he said coolly
"I think your father will survive," Gabriella said reaching to brush some lint from his shirt. "I'm more than sure Margret will follow you and you'll have the support of your friends," Gabriella voice dropped on that last word. "Do you have friends?"
Troy raised a brow as he watched her closely, "I have a friend," he said looking at her and then back side, "I've never been one to value friendship."
"Don't you think it's time you start?" Gabriella said with a smile as she leaned against the door frame. "I mean life can be a little boring if you're dead set on facing it alone."
"I'm not alone," Troy said bringing a hand up to touch the tips of her pigtail, "These are cute, I getting an idea of things I'd like to use them for later."
Gabriella felt a flush of heat spread over her face as she looked down at his finger tips, "Troy," she said looking up to see him leaning his one arm above her head on the door frame.
"Yes," he said coming closer to her and using a hand to touch the side of her face gently.
"What's going on between you and my sister?" she said under hooded eyes.
Troy lips pulled into a small smirk as he bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Cutting any chances she'd have of getting any information from him. Her mind was already fading away as he used his powers of persuasion to give her new things to think about.