Gabrielle woke up with a smile on her face and stretched
lazily, her body feeling pleasantly satisfied. For a few minutes, she let herself enjoy the gentle breeze that smelled like summer, roll over her sated body. Sated? Suddenly, the events
from the night before came crashing to her senses and she sat up
abruptly. *Oh my god, what did I do?* Looking at the robe still
rumpled by the window confirmed it hadn't been a dream. Naked,
she walked over to the window, casually picking up her robe. Her
body still tingled as the robe slid over her body, her skin sensitized
by the memories of passion.
Green eyes searched and saw Xena turn around and look up.
Blue and green eyes were momentarily locked.
How does she know when I'm looking at her? She pondered the coincidence until new thoughts came to mind and she briefly experienced panic and fear.
Would Xena ignore her and treat her like another rich socialite
conquest? Blackmail? The blonde's heart rate picked up as the
gardener flashed her a radiant smile. She had no other choice
but to respond in kind. Gabrielle watched as the gardener nodded slightly and went
back to work, watched the strong hands flexing, moving, feeling her knees
weaken as she remembered what those same hands had done to her, how they had touched her..... She sighed.
*How am I supposed to act now?*
*****************
Gabrielle walked across the lawn, on her way to mingle with the
next group of PC 'musts'. She really hated attending these fund
raisers where the only concern was who had how much money, not the cause. Instead, what she really wanted to do, was stay home and do
nothing but replay her glorious first time with a woman...with Xena. She sighed dreamily. A nasal voice interrupted her thoughts and she focused on the middle aged woman who had on way too much make-up.
"Gabrielle! Daaarling. It's been sooo long."
Gabrielle inwardly cringed. *Not long enough.* "Hi, Matilda."
Once again she forced herself to go through the motions of putting up with everyone's fake friendliness. She knew that no one approved of her, her too casual clothes, her full-of-slang speech, or anything else about her. After all, the money wasn't really hers and
they knew it.
"You look absolutely radiant! I see life has been treating you quite well." Matilda said with an upturned nose, as criticizing eyes roamed up and down.
"Yes, she certainly does." The one Gabrielle often referred to as 'big' Bertha replied disdainfully.
Trying not to sound bored and bothered, she answered. "Well, since John has gone away again, I'm been doing nothing but massive shopping." She added the last with a sing song tone to her voice. She knew she probably looked as good as she felt and it had nothing to do with new clothes.
"Are you sure John is away?" Sneered an ancient looking woman. "You look like you're glowing from the after effects of a good romp in the bedroom."
Gabrielle chuckled lightly. She'd be damned if she was going to let this wrinkled hag get the best of her. "And how would you know, Anna." She turned her head and glanced at each of the other ladies.
"We all know nobody in their right mind would go near you to even give you a 'bad' romp in the bedroom."
Every one laughed while Anna fumed, though you could tell she was trying hard to pretend everything was ok.
"Just don't get caught, little girl. You wouldn't want to throw away all the goodies you just got. You never know if a little birdie might suddenly appear and give John some nasty bit of information." The fury slowly receded her face as she saw the impact of her words.
All the ladies quieted down at the implied threat. Things had turned unpleasant even by their accounts.
Gabrielle coolly stared at the dull brown eyes. "Frankly, Anna, I wouldn't give a shit if a whole flock of birds landed all around him."
Both women stared each other down 'till Anna gave in. "Please forgive me if it sounded like I had implied something." The woman looked elsewhere. "I was merely trying to say that rumors have a way starting up unexpectedly." She smiled wanly.
"No harm done. Now ladies, if you'll excuse me, I have some more mingling to do." The young blonde clipped with a thin smile.
Nodding her head, Gabrielle walked away, raging inside. Now she really wanted to go home. Wanting to change her mood, thoughts returned to the dark haired woman and she got an inexplicable urge to call her. Reaching the loaded snacks table, she chided herself. *And say what?* Tell her that I can't get you out of my mind, that my body is still shivering from your touch! To come rescue me from this hell? The blonde closed her eyes momentarily. *I must be going insane!*
Back at the group Gabrielle had just left. "Anna, you are horrid. I can't believe you spoke to her like that." Bertha whispered.
The hag snorted. "She not our kind. She has no business attending these affairs. She had no class, just a gold digger I'm sure."
"Well, whether she is or not, you know she has John wrapped around her finger and he's not type you want as an enemy."
"Hummfff! We'll see how wrapped he really is."
Silence settled uncomfortably as the women contemplated Anna's words and understood the possible implications. To them, losing their wealth was a fate worse than death.
********************
Gabrielle rode in the back of the limo, head bank and eyes closed. She felt all strung up from the day's stressful events and tried relaxing with the gentle motion of the ride. The rest of the fund raiser had gone well, but she couldn't let go of Anna's accusations. Would John notice a difference too? Sighing deeply, she leaned forward and open the window, needing to breath in something other than air conditioned air.
Store fronts passed by in a blur, the city lights illuminating people from all walks of life. She wondered if she could go back to that. The limo maneuvered it's way quietly, soon they started hitting darker and emptier streets. The houses were bigger and farther in between. The blonde smiled at she saw the gates that represented home. Thank god the day was finally over.
*****************
Gabrielle felt refreshed after the long hot shower. Walking wearily out of the bathroom, she plopped face down on the bed, enjoying the cool sheets on her skin. Sliding hands underneath the pillow, she stretched her body long, and thought about how good a massage would feel right about now. Eyes closed, she smiled to herself. *I wonder if those rugged hands can give good massages.* No sooner had the thoughts crossed her mind, when she felt soft warm hands on her back. A second later, she felt a body settle lightly on her butt, straddling her.
The blonde woman moaned almost at once, her mind and body immediately relishing the contact. The hands were working magic on her stressed out muscles.
"I bet you were thinking about my hands all day." A sultry voice whispered in the smaller woman's ear. "Weren't you." It was not a question.
Gabrielle wondered if mind reading was one of Xena's many talents. The sound rumbled through her, igniting her body, her senses.
She felt Xena's hand travel down her body, massaging, caressing, relaxing her as she went. Gabrielle felt her eyes getting heavy as she entered a very peaceful realm. Those wonderful hands were making sure that every part of her body was being loved, touched, pleasured. She drifted off, imagining she felt warm lips on her cheek and a soft whisper of 'good night, little one' before she felt nothing else.
Morning came, but without the sun. The socialite stirred, breathing in the earthy air that rain always brings. *Aw shit!* She said out loud. If it was raining, that meant Xena wouldn't be working and that meant Xena wouldn't be around at all. She rolled over and looked out the window. *Rain, rain, go away, please bring Xena back today.* Ugh! She rolled back over to face the ceiling, reflecting, thinking. The dark woman's actions couldn't be just about sex or.... blackmail or .....? That just wouldn't explain last night's .... last night's what? Tenderness? Pleasure? Xena had known exactly what she had needed and had freely given it to her, demanding nothing. Sadly, Gabrielle turned her head and looked back out the window. Two nights, and I'm beginning to miss her already. Why? It was all about lust. Right?
She got up slowly, stretching, feeling good, thinking about the dark woman once again. Damn! Is there anything that is 'not' going to make me think about her? Putting on her robe, she strode out of her room and descended the stairs. The gloomy morning made the normally bright breakfast room depressing. As soon as her servants saw her, they quickly brought her her usual cup of coffee and the paper. Calmly she sat to peruse the news, but after rereading the same paragraph several times, she knew it was hopeless. She threw it aside in frustration. What is wrong with me! I'm not even missing John, she realized. *Face it Gab, you love him but it's not a passionate love. You love him because he takes care of you, loves you, and would do anything in the world for you.* Well, at least she loved when he wasn't hanging out with his shady friends cooking up some illegal money-making scheme.
The blonde woman stood up and walked over to her usual spot by the bay window, knowing there'd be nothing there to see except a wet and dreary world. The warm liquid seeped into her body, as if trying to burn away her restlessness. She idly focused on the raindrops as they splattered the glass. *Is it enough? Would I be able to give all of this up for.....* She snorted. For what? For Xena to whisk me away from my boring and sometimes scary life to some hideaway magical garden?
She blew at her bangs in frustration at the thoughts that were haunting her head and turned away from the window. I can't believe I'm missing that woman this much! Disturbed, she walked over to the table, spilling the remains of her coffee as she set it down carelessly. Blankly she looked the light tanned liquid as it spread. In turmoil, she quickly made her way back up the stairs.
The clock began to strike, announcing the end of morning. She heard the final one as she plopped back down on the bed. What am I going to do today? It's only noon!
The Gardener's Surprise (Part 3)
Stories
Lace Priest