Author's Note: This is the sequel to "A Soldier's Gypsy". This is a love story though it does contain sex. If you're into instant gratification, this may not be for you.I hope you enjoy the story, and please vote!! Feel free to comment or send me feedback :)
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She rolls onto her back and stretches in bed. Thinking about the dream she had the night before, she realizes that it still seems so vivid in her mind. She turns over and curls up, ready to lounge in bed just a little longer. A surprised little squeal escapes her when she sees Gabe lying completely still in front of her. His eyes are open and focused on her, but his body is stealthily still. Her brows furrow as her brain attempts to process the situation.
Her dream hadn't been a dream at all. It had been as real as she had wanted it to be. She had wanted him since the moment she met him Guam. She had been on vacation there, and he had been stationed there for a year on his military base. The sexy soldier hadn't noticed her at first; instead he had noticed her friend Morgan.
[One year ago]
It made her miserable to watch Morgan, who always got what she wanted, get the guy that she had wanted. However, she wasn't surprised. Her friend had gorgeous red hair and blue eyes to match the color of the tropical waters where they were staying. She also flirted like the dickens and had a body to match her beautiful face. Raine was beautiful, but she just didn't have that confident personality like her friend. So she had watched in silence, keeping everything to herself. It killed her to watch Gabe fall for Morgan, but she couldn't stay away.
Gabe was friendly toward her, but he never showed her any romantic favor. He was sweet and funny, but he was also so rugged and masculine. He had a voice that rubbed her nerves like velvet. She felt like she knew him so well already. He was amazing. His big hands managed to be gentle and his smile was always genuine, but it was mostly for Morgan. Everything changed about four days into their week-long vacation.
It was on Wednesday morning, during breakfast. Raine just knew that Gabe and Morgan had sex the night before; she knew her friend too well. Not only that, she had heard it from the other bedroom. It had been torture. Morgan, as pretty as she was, sounded like a hyena in bed. Those obnoxious squeals did tell her one thing though: Gabe must be amazing in bed. She had been tempted to cry herself to sleep.
She was eating her crepes in silence at the hotel when her friend came storming in to meet her. Morgan looked furious and her fiery red hair had a life of its own. Raine said nothing, she knew she'd hear the story soon enough.
"That damn man! Who the Hell does he think he is?" Morgan flailed her arms in frustration, then sat at opposite side of the table. She looked stunning in her vibrant red dress. The sequins were almost blinding and would have looked gaudy on anyone else. It made Raine pale in comparison; she was wearing a simple one-shoulder white beach dress.
"He told me I'm too high maintenance. He said he could tell I was the type that would want a long-term relationship, and that he didn't want that. He said it had been fun, but that's all. He wants to concentrate on his career!" Morgan was seething. She was not used to being turned down at all. It was an entertaining experience to Raine. It was nice not to see Morgan get EVERY guy she wanted. Yet, it was also disheartening. If Gabe didn't want Morgan or a relationship, he definitely wouldn't want her.
"Rae," her friend continued, "I don't know what to do. No guy ever turns me down. What should I do, Rae?"
Wow, this put her between a rock and a hard place. She would feel horrible if she didn't try to help, but if she did help, she might have to suffer even further. Well, it wasn't like she had a chance with Gabe anyway. She might as well just give her friend some honest advice.
"Morgan, just talk to him. Don't go after him if you're just doing it for the challenge. Go after him only if you really like him. He's not going to live here forever, so maybe if you really want to be together, you can be when he's back in the States. If you really want him, you have to convince him that he needs you, that you can be what he wants."
There, she'd done her duty as a friend. She sighed and then rose from the table.
"I'm going to go back to the room for a little while. I'll see you later."
"Okay. Thanks so much Rae. You're my best friend. I'm going to go find him right now!"
Oh joy, she thought, time to head back to the room and drown in some Rocky Road. As she trudged back to their room, she wondered if it would work. She didn't know whether she wanted it to or not. If she was honest with herself, she would admit that she didn't want it to work. She wanted Gabe for herself. There was just no way he felt the same.
How could she be falling for someone she barely knew? Someone her friend was dating? She was so foolish. Gabe was amazing, and she was falling in love with him, even though she would probably never see him again.
Back in her room, she slipped into some comfortable pajamas. Rain began to fall outside. Even paradise wasn't always sunny. The grey sky seemed to match her mood, and she began to cry.
A knock on the door startled her, and she looked up to see a rain-soaked Gabriel standing at the sliding doors. She debated whether she should get up and let him in. He was probably just looking for Morgan. In the end, her manners won out and she got up to answer the door. She avoided looking him in the eye because there were still hot tears on her cheeks.
"Sorry Gabe, Morgan isn't here. She probably went to your apartment to find you."
She still didn't meet his eyes, but damnit, he was too observant. A strong finger lifted her chin so he could see her face. She closed her eyes, but that didn't hide the wet tracks on her face.
"Rae, what's wrong?" he asked. She struggled and tried to turn away, but he wouldn't let her. He pulled her close and rubbed her back. His kindness broke the dam, and the tears started again. Here he was, his arms around her, but she couldn't have him. He probably had no idea that he was the reason she was so upset. She hiccupped and wrapped her arms around his waist. Those big hands stroked her hair and she was a goner. She loved him. It wasn't possible, but it was happening.
Without warning he swept her up into his strong arms and walked over to the bed. He sat down and kept her curled in his lap, her head on his shoulder. Finally the tears dried up, and she was still in his lap. She didn't want to move, but she knew she would have to. His fingertips slid up and down her back in a comforting gesture; it felt so good. He could say whatever he wanted, but he was too sweet to be living alone.
"Rae, tell me what's wrong."
"I can't. It wouldn't help anything and it isn't important anyway."
"Anything that makes you cry is important enough to talk about," he said. She looked into his blue eyes. How could he not see it written all over her face? "Please Rae, just tell me."
"I'm okay now, Gabe. Morgan obviously isn't here, so you can go find her now."
"Who said I was looking for Morgan? Maybe I was looking for you."
"You have no reason to look for me Gabe."
"I disagree. I wasn't looking for Morgan. I wanted to say goodbye to you because I might not be around anymore. I don't want to be with Morgan. It was fun to spend time with her, but I don't want a relationship with her. I think it might be awkward to spend time with the two of you now, but I didn't want to disappear." He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "You never have to see me again, what could it hurt to tell me?"
What the Hell? She decided. He was right; she never would have to see him again.
"Fine, Gabe. You want to know what's wrong? I want you. I hated seeing you with Morgan, but who would give me a second look when I'm standing next to her? Not you. Nope, you're just like the rest of them. I heard you two last night, and you have no idea how much I hated it."
She jumped up from the bed, her Irish temper peeking out. He had never seen this side of her. He reached out, trying to pull her close again.
"No! Don't touch me Gabe, just go away."
"No, I don't want to go away. Calm down Rae."
The look she gave him was so hot it could melt glass. She turned on her heel and ran. He tried to follow her, but she was gone before he knew it.
How did he miss it? Probably because he WAS just like the rest of them. He was captivated by those bright blue eyes and that wide smile. When he had seen them at the beach for the first time, he had thought they were both gorgeous, but Morgan had been the social one. She had the confidence that drew people to her, while Raine had been quiet and sweet like her namesake. She did have a fierce side though, as he had just witnessed. Thinking about it now, she was probably more his type than Morgan. She was the type of girl that you took home to your family, the kind of girl that made a happily ever after. Now she was gone. How had he let her get away?
He didn't see her until the day before she was supposed to leave. He stopped her on her way back to her room. He slid from the shadow of a palm and said her name softly. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn.
"Raine" he repeated.
She turned now. Her face gave away nothing. He didn't know what to say; he just knew he didn't want to say goodbye this way. Gabe strode to her and took her into his arms. He began whispering softly in her ear.
"I did give you a second look, but you were so quiet. I didn't think you'd be interested, and Morgan did hit on me, so naturally something happened between her and I. You are beautiful Rae. You're gorgeous."
He couldn't stand that icy look on her face any longer. Gabe leaned in to kiss her, determined to melt her frigid exterior. It took only seconds and she turned to putty in his hands. She started kissing back and he was lost. Her tongue teased at his lips and he opened his mouth to allow her tongue in. Her tongue fought with his at first, thrusting and spearing, but then the kiss turned softer. Their tongues met in smooth, wet strokes. She tasted like sugar cane, and he was ready for his sugar high. His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her as close as he could. Her curves met a rock hard wall of muscle as well as a little hardness somewhere else.
