So, this is it. The final chapter. Again, I apologize that this story has ended more quickly than you all anticipated. Judging from the huge drop in reviews for the last chapter, including some negative, I can see my readers didn't appreciate it. What can I say? I didn't plan on life getting in the way, but it has and I'm sorry if you all felt mislead or that the whole story was a "lie" as one review stated.

I truly did not want to become one of those authors who can only update once every 3 or 4 months. While I personally forward to the updates to those stories, I couldn't do that for my own story. The ending is still the same as it always was going to be, you're just getting there faster.

Chapter 23

I didn't mention it last chapter, but this day is occurring about 6 weeks post-trial.

Troy pulled into the parking lot, quickly glancing at Gabriella to try and read her expression. She pestered him when they first got into the car as to the secret of their destination. She tried wearing him down by pressing soft kisses into his neck and even went so far as attempting to bribe him with a masterfully performed blow job if he would divulge. Troy had thrown back his head against the car headrest and sighed. Gabriella was good but he was not giving up his surprise under any circumstance.

Her head cocked sideways as her eyes skimmed over the faded, weather worn wording on the sign 'Grove Harbour Marina.' "This is interesting, Mr. Bolton. Have you got a boat ride planned for us?" Gabriella queried.

"Not exactly," he replied flatly but with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Gabriella frowned at his response. "Ok, keeping being all mysterious then," she pouted mournfully.

Troy pulled into a space and quickly hopped out of the car. His nerves were starting to get the better of him. He really had no idea how Gabriella would react. He jogged over to the passenger's side to open her door and held out his hand for her to pull herself out of the car. Her eyes locked on his as she rose to her feet and she could see the hint of anxiety in his ocean blue orbs.

He didn't let go of her hand as he led her towards the wooden docks where the boats were moored. He was pulling her along at a pace slightly faster than regular walking speed. Gabriella rolled her eyes but kept quiet, suppressing a chuckle. She could tell Troy was nervous and she didn't want to spoil his charming boyish excitement by saying something silly or sarcastic. "God, he's so adorable, she thought."

They passed many boats on their short journey; a few luxurious yachts, some large cabin cruisers, a few powerboats. The majority were sailboats. Troy finally came to stop in front of one beautifully finished white ketch with golden wood decks and seats. The railings and cleats were perfectly polished and glinted in the bright sunlight.

Troy rocked back and forth on his heels with a smug look on his face and looking rather proud of himself. Gabriella was completely confused as to why they were there. He had said they weren't going on a boat ride today so why were they standing in front of a boat?

"Well....what do you think?" Troy asked, with minor hesitation.

Gabriella responded carefully. "What do I think? Of the sailboat?" She looked over at him and he nodded. "What do you expect me to say, Troy? She's stunning, of course. I adore sailboats and this one is absolutely beautiful."

A huge grin took over his face. He suddenly turned to Gabriella, wrapped his arms securely around her tiny waist and whirled her around. "I'm so glad," he exclaimed, pressing a firm kiss on her cheek.

"Troy, what is this all about?" Gabriella laughed, enjoying Troy's elation but still unsure of what to make of everything.

"She's mine, babe," he whispered. "All mine."

Gabriella gasped, "Yours? When did this happen?"

"She's been mine for awhile, actually; long before we met. My dad gave her to me before he passed away. I moved her down here right away but she's been dry docked. She needed fixing up badly and I just never had the will. My dad told me that someday, I'd find a reason to," Troy spilled out breathlessly.

Gabriella's stomach was filled with butterflies. "I take it you found a reason?" she asked, her voice rising with hopefulness.

"Do you really need to ask? Come here, you," Troy replied, taking her hand again and leading her further on the dock. He pointed to the bow of the boat.

There, Gabriella saw her name in beautiful ebony script painted onto the freshly painted stark white hull. Her hand went to her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh my god; you named her after me?"

"It seemed pretty perfect to me, baby. I'm praying that it's ok," Troy said expectantly.

"I love it, Troy. I love her...God, I love you!" she blubbered. Then she became embarrassed at her loss for more eloquent words. "I'm sorry," she laughed. "This is just unexpected and I'm a little overwhelmed."

Troy reached over and gently wiped away her tears and then took her in a warm and comforting embrace. "Your reaction is just perfect. I wouldn't want it any other way," he quietly spoke into her dark tresses and kissed the top of her head. "This isn't it for my surprise though," he continued. "I've got something to ask you."

He heard Gabriella suck in a short breath and it dawned on him what must have occurred to her. He pulled back from her and cupped her face with his warm soothing hands. "It's not what you might be thinking," he smiled.

She let out a huge breath of air. "I'm sorry, Troy. Don't take my reaction to your statement the wrong way," she consoled him.

Troy chuckled. "Stop apologizing you beautiful creature and listen to me without jumping to conclusions, ok?" He paused for a moment, softening his tone. "Although, I can see how you naturally might have gone there given the way I lead into it," he said, while running his thumb along her jaw line.

Gabriella's breathing started to slow back to normal and she leaned into his caresses. "Ok, carry on. I'm ready," she stated.

Now it was Troy's turn to draw in a deep breath. "I want us to get away for awhile, Gabriella. Not for a few days or even a few weeks but for a few months. I was thinking around 6 months but no real definite time frame."

"Get away?" she said, her voice hitching with anticipation. She liked how this was sounding already and he had barely revealed anything.

"Come here," he said while stepping onto the boat and holding out his hand to help her on. They walked up to the bow and sat on the edge with their legs dangling over the side, fingers interlaced. Gabriella leaned her head onto Troy's shoulder.

"I take it you have a plan?" Gabriella inquired.

"I do. What would you say to a little island hopping around the Caribbean? I've kind of mapped it out and I think it will be amazing," Troy said, Gabriella sensing the excitement and determination in his tone.

"Before I respond, what's brought this on, Troy? This is obviously not something you just cooked up yesterday." Gabriella asked. Inside, she was doing back flips over the idea but she wanted to hear his rationale since he had obviously put a lot of thought into this. It was a huge proposition.

His fingers stroked lovingly up and down her back, on either side of her spine where she liked it the most. "It's so multilayered why I want us to do this and I'm afraid my explanation is going to oversimplify things, but I'll try the best I can."

"Go on," coaxed Gabriella.

Troy continued his gentle grazing of her back as he spoke, "First up, what you've endured and pulled through over the last couple of months has been beyond comprehension sweetheart. I'm so proud of you, you have no idea. But, I see you with that distant look in your eyes sometimes and I know you're having a hard time breaking from your past. I don't blame you at all, but I hate to see you like that. Secondly, since you so wisely insisted that you not move in with me, it gave me lots of time alone. Time to work on this boat and time to think about you and about us. I can't get over my fortune that fate brought us together when it did. We were given just the right amount of time to get to this place in our relationship before what happened with your father blew up. I don't take it for granted that we met when we did. So, for those two reasons, for your sake as an individual and for ours as a couple, I want us to do something that will give us a clean break from everything that's happened. It's not like starting over or anything because we're perfect the way we are. I'm sure we could just try and carry on our lives as before but I feel like getting away from everything that's familiar would be so healthy for us. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah, it does Troy. Now that you say it, it does," Gabriella agreed. "Ever since the trial ended, I had this huge feeling of relief but there's also been this nagging in the pit of my stomach. I think I can identify it now that you are saying all of this. What happened with my dad has caused me to completely re-evaluate my life. Everything in Miami, except for you, is a reminder of the life I was living under my father's umbrella. My surroundings are holding me back from completely healing. I thought I would be able to just pick up with you and go on, but it's just too hard." She looked out at the marina over all the boats.

Troy turned to look at Gabriella and gave her a little nudge. "So, does this mean your answer is...."

"Yes; my answer is yes. The whole thing just sounds incredible. When can we go?" Gabriella asked her anticipation mounting.

Troy was ecstatic. He was pretty sure Gabriella would agree but one can never fully guarantee anything. "I've got a few details to wrap up but I think we can leave within the week."

Gabriella felt serene. "Sounds perfect," she said. Then, an idea pricked her brain and she smirked in spite of herself. "Actually, Troy. I think you've missed a major detail about this entire idea of yours."

Troy felt his heart drop a little. What could he have missed? "Uh, what's that?"

"Has this boat had a christening ceremony? Don't you need to have one of those before you take her out to sea or whatever?" Gabriella asked, remaining totally serious.

Troy looked a little suspicious. "Well, sure. We could have one of those if you think we need to. I can pick up a bottle of champagne and we can do it right," he said, shrugging his shoulders. If she was in for the formality of all that, he wouldn't deny her.

Gabriella stood up from where they were seated and looked down at him. "Nuh, uh. Not that kind of christening," she said sexily and beckoned him with her finger.

Troy licked his lips and pulled himself up. He loved how his girlfriend's mind worked. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close so he could nuzzle into her neck. "You've got a point there, sweetheart. I think we should make sure the bed is seaworthy," he mumbled against her skin. The hotness of his breath and the vibration of his voice against her neck made Gabriella moan.

Troy drank in the scent of Gabriella's hair and skin as he ran the tip of his nose over her flesh. He was already beginning to harden. His tongue slipped out and grazed over her earlobe causing a surge of heat and wetness to rush to Gabriella's core. "God, Troy," she gasped. "We'd better take this below deck now because if you keep me up here much longer, you might just lose your membership at this little yacht club for public indecency."

"I love it when you get indecent with me, baby," he said, his voice rasping and coarse. Troy reluctantly let Gabriella out of his embrace and grasped her wrist tightly, tugging her in the right direction.

Gabriella followed behind and her eyes trailed over his muscular back, incredibly adorable ass and down his legs, her lust for his body increasing by the second.

Once they were under the protective cover of the cabin all inhibitions were lost. Troy's head swooped down and he closed his mouth over Gabriella's luscious lips. His hands slipped up under her tank until he reached the under cleavage of her breasts. He loved how the gentle curve of them would rest perfectly into his palm. He pushed up the fabric and brought his head down so that he could place small kisses all over the mounds of her perfect breasts. At last he couldn't keep himself away and his lips found the pebbled texture of her nipples. His tongue brought them to life, hardening them into peaks which caused Gabriella to arch into him furiously.

Gabriella's fingers were plunging through Troy's hair as his lips and tongue worked over her breasts. "Shit, Troy" she moaned as tingles of pleasure washed through her. Her hands flew to his t-shirt and tugged upwardly at the hem. He managed to pull his mouth away from her supple mounds and allowed her to remove his shirt, assisting her by lifting his arms. Gabriella's body flushed with heat as she was met with his bare, taut and sculpted torso. She shook her head and smirked at the effect he had on her. "You're still overdressed," she voiced huskily. Not breaking eye contact with her, his own fingers reached down and unsnapped the button and pulled down the zipper of his shorts. Those sounds elicited another rush of wetness to Gabriella's core. "Let me," she said. Her nimble fingers pulled off the last articles of clothing that were hiding Troy's perfect nakedness from her. She lustily swept her eyes over his solid form and she became hungry to taste him.

She knelt before him and took his length in her hand. He was smooth and hard like a shaft of marble and Troy let out a strangled moan as she closed her fingers around him. Gabriella experimented with the power of her touch. She stroked the sensitive head with the end of her finger, the pad of her thumb, a lock of her hair and finally with the tip of her tongue. His cry was hoarse and deep. She allowed her tongue to swirl around the tip for a little longer and she tasted the sweetness of the pre cum that had collected. It was intoxicating to her. Troy's breathing was coming in soft, sudden gasps. "Jesus, Gabriella. I'm loving this but I want to be inside you," he rasped.

She withdrew her lips and stood up. Troy lunged forward and finished the work of removing her clothes. Her took her in his arms again and felt the heat of her curves press into him. Feeling Troy's erection against her stomach, she reached behind him in an attempt to pull him more tightly against her. She craved a more intense connection but she wasn't getting it. "Bed...Troy...now," she hissed. She needed to feel the weight of his body on hers. But, he wasn't going to give it to her that quickly.

She let her slim figure fall back onto the mattress and looked up at him longingly. Troy knelt down on the bed and grasped her ankle, shackling it. He lifted her leg in the air and held it up with one hand while the fingers of his other hand lightly ghosted over her calf and up the back of her thigh. He repeated this a few times until he eventually allowed her leg to gently fall back to the mattress. He caged her body with his and dropped his mouth to her stomach trailing kisses all over the velvety flesh, igniting fires in all the right places inside her. Meanwhile, he reached down and drew up her knees with his hands and gently pushed them apart.

His fingers moved to her folds and began to probe. His head moved down and he blew hot breath over her. His tongue began to work on her clit and it swelled as the nerves tingled with pleasure. "Oh god, oh god," Gabriella moaned. She squirmed beneath him and the noises she was making let him know that Troy was on the right track. His hands slid up her ribcage and he gently kneaded her breasts and ran his thumbs over her tightened nipples. Gabriella's sighs became pants, which then became cries and Troy buried his tongue inside her until he felt the quivering turn to clenching spasms. Gabriella dug her fingernails into Troy's shoulders and clamped her knees against him, locking him there while she reached a powerful orgasm that seemed to hold onto her forever. He didn't move until it finally set her free and she collapsed beneath him.

He pulled away from her and kissed his way up her body which was dewy with sweat. Gabriella's chest was heaving. "That was out of this fucking world," she sang between breaths. Troy smiled that he could satisfy her like that and he kissed her passionately.

Gabriella felt the strong outline of him against her thigh and her hand found its way to his hardness. The tip of Troy's cock was dripping with his own moisture and she drew him to her wetness as he shifted his body so that he could settle between her legs. She moved the tip of him over her slick folds and to her opening, teasing him with her warmth. "Uh, fuck baby," he murmured. His arms were braced on either side of her head. She had let go of him and he was continuing to stroke his penis over her flower petals that were pricked with desire. The knot of nerves that made up her clitoris was swelling with tension again as he continued his movements. He was so ready to dive into her depths but he tried to hold back as long as possible. He wanted to bring her to the brink before he plunged in. The sweet sounds coming from deep in her throat told him that she was coming close again and it seared the edges of his soul. He felt so completely connected to her; not just sexually but spiritually. The intimacy they shared was so complete and he got as much pleasure out of watching her shatter beneath him as he got from his own orgasms. Troy was so glad that he had waited for his first love so that it could be her.

Finally he was bereft of control and he pushed himself deep within her in one swift hard stroke. Troy let out a gasp of relief and Gabriella cried out his name. She wrapped her supple strong legs around him to pull him in deeper. She moved her hips up into him as if to signal him to start thrusting. "Give me a second," he whispered. "I'm having a moment here."

"Troy, I love you so much," she quietly called out to him in her beautiful voice, almost pleading with him to make love to her. It was making her crazy to feel his hardness in her but to have him be still. She ached to feel his thickness moving against her walls and for her to know that she could pull his orgasm from him as he shuddered over her. Troy buried his head in her neck and tangled his fingers in her hair and began moving gently inside her. She loved feeling the muscles in his legs and behind contract and relax as he would rock into her. He lifted his hips and stroked deep and long inside her. His eyes were drifting between open and shut as he relished in the pleasurable sensations. Eventually, he began to feel the insatiable need for release building within him and his movements quickened and became harder and faster. He shifted his position a little which cause him to hit Gabriella's magic spot. She threw her head back and chanted out, "Oh god, oh god."

"There you go baby," he whispered hoarsely and breathlessly. "That's what I'm talking about. Cum with me, Gabriella."

Their movements and pace were matched and Gabriella clung to Troy's shoulders. Their passionate murmurs intensified and her pelvis lifted against him so that her clitoris rubbed against his pubic bone while her heels dug into the bed for traction. The storm that was raging in her core was about to take her on another frenzied ride. She felt her orgasm coming on like a freight train and her walls closed around him with a heat so intense and power so strong.

Troy vocalizations let Gabriella know exactly where he was at, "Fuck...oh my god, holy fuck, I'm cumming. God, it's good baby." His climax tore through him and held him in its grip for a long wondrous moment with a pleasure so blinding and spasms so fierce, he literally felt like he might lose his mind, it was that good. He'd never felt anything quite like it.

"Oh my god, Troy!" Gabriella cried in passion as her orgasm completely washed over her. The sound of his name on her lips made his experience even more incredible. They had fallen off the end of the world together. The connection they shared was intense.

As their ragged breathing slowed, their moistened foreheads met as they locked each other in a hypnotizing gaze. "That was..." Troy whispered throatily, "colossal."

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Several days later, they were bringing the last of their supply of groceries and small simple wardrobe of clothes to the boat. Gabriella had tried her hand at meal planning and shopped for pantry staples and a few days worth of fresh fruit and vegetables. They would replenish at their first island stop. There were also a few well chosen novels, journal writing materials, a couple of decks of cards and Troy's charts and maps in a box of supplies. They had totally pared down to what was completely essential. It wasn't that hard for either of them as the main focus was to be with each other and the journey they would be making as a couple. They were so in love but there was much to learn about the other person.

Troy had worked out with a friend who would be staying at his apartment in their absence and dealing with any urgent matters, if there were any. They put both their cars into storage. Troy had finished all his coursework for his MBA and he didn't care if he was around to receive his final grades personally. He had a pretty good idea that he had maintained his A average to the end. It was a perfect time for him to break away like this.

The only question Gabriella had for Troy was if they were going to manage financially for the next 6 months. Troy told her that she didn't need to worry because he had done his calculations and there was "enough" to keep them fed, clothed, sheltered and also money for fuel. She didn't pursue things beyond that.

They rode the taxi in silence all the way to the marina but Gabriella's hand was tightly clasped with Troy's the entire trip. Although the excitement she felt was nearly causing her to burst at the seams, she had never felt such peace.

When they arrived, they unpacked the trunk and made the few trips to bring everything on board. They had been pretty methodical and careful with their planning over the past couple of days, so in very short time, they were ready to untie the ropes and get underway. There was virtually no wind, so they were going to be using the motor for at least 24 hours. In some respects this was an easy way for them to get started rather than dealing with big wind right off the get go.

Gabriella settled back into Troy's chest once he had navigated them out of the harbour. They were headed for the Keys and had a few hours to enjoy the calm weather. He kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other wrapped around her slender waist. He could feel her slow and steady breathing.

"Gabriella?" he purred in her ear. "You awake?"

She chuckled. "Of course I'm awake," she hummed. "I'm just relaxed is all."

"Good, because there's something I want to get off my chest," Troy started and then winced. That wasn't a good start and he regretted his choice of words.

Gabriella stiffened slightly and sat up. "Ok, you've successfully got my attention," she responded hesitantly.

Troy took a couple of deep breaths. "You're going to think this sounds silly, but I need to say it anyhow."

"Go ahead. You've got me trapped on a boat so now's as good a time as any to spill the beans," she said, only slightly cross. "Not really anywhere I can go, is there?" Gabriella wasn't seriously worried because they wouldn't be where they were if everything wasn't right with them but Troy's conversation opener left a little to be desired, in her opinion.

"Thanks for making me more nervous, babe," he gulped.

"I'm sorry, Troy. It's just that your timing is a little nutty for you to be getting something off your chest, don't you think?" she laughed light-heartedly.

"Ok. You're right. I had a lousy lead-in to that," he sighed. "How about if I start over?"

Gabriella smiled and rubbed her hand up and down Troy's thigh. "Good decision."

"So, here it is Gabriella. I'm afraid I set myself up to live up to an expectation. An expectation that I can't meet and probably never will be able to," Troy began.

Gabriella turned and looked at him, her eyebrows furrowed. "What expectation could you possibly be talking about?"

Troy jumped right in to his point. "I'm no Mr. Darcy, Gabriella. I don't have a secret fortune stashed away somewhere that will be waiting for us when we get back. I'm not taking you away to some private Caribbean villa as a surprise. Yeah, I've got enough money tucked away for us to live for the next 6 months. Hell, we could probably even pull off a year like this. But, that's about it." Troy had his eyes set on the ocean in front of him.

Through Troy's entire "confession" Gabriella felt her heart welling with love and she could not suppress the smile that burgeoned across your face. "Why on earth would you think I was expecting you to live up to some fictional character?" she asked. She felt horrible or him that he was actually worried about this. "Is it because Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book?" She paused and thought a little. "You mean that silly conversation we had one time at my penthouse?" She quietly giggled when she remembered it. Then her smile dropped a little. "Or is it because I grew up with immense wealth and you think I can't live any other way?"

"Some of both, I suppose. It's not that I take you for a sugar baby or anything but it's got to be hard to have your life change so drastically. You get used to certain things." he said sincerely. He briefly scanned her face for her reaction. Then she gave it to him.

She punched her fist into his chest. "Troy, you are fucking lucky that I'm too scared to operate this boat on my own and that I can't read navigation maps, or else I'd throw you over the side right now!" Gabriella scolded harshly but with an undertone of teasing. Her eyes flashed with amusement.

Troy could hear it in her voice and relief washed over him. He should have known better than to think otherwise. "So, you're not disappointed?" He looked like he needed a hug.

Her demeanour softened immediately. "Honey, we went over this just a few days ago when I asked you about how we could pull this trip off. Your answer then was sufficient for me. Nothing's changed. Troy, I won the lottery when I met you. I didn't know it at first but I figured it out pretty soon afterwards," Gabriella said gently and comfortingly. She leaned in and kissed him passionately. "I love you so much; you get that don't you?" She placed her hand on his heart. "My fortune is here."

The tension evaporated from Troy. Troy wrapped his arms around her and drank in the scent of her. "You know, I've never been one to have a 'best friend' but that's all changed now. I've got my best friend, my lover and the woman I want to be with forever cooped up on this boat with me for the next 6 months, and I can't imagine any place I'd rather be."

Gabriella nuzzled into Troy's embrace. "Forever sounds about right," she whispered.