Chapter 14 Friends

As it turns out three of his other friends who support his decision to change his life came over that day. There was Marlon, who was a big black Jamaican dude that looks a lot like a gangster, he looks well over six feet, mike- who is a short thick Mexican dude and Justin who was a tall slim American dude with short curly hair and between the three they learned a little more about Gabriel and the fact that they were the first ladies to enter his house since he fired his last helper five years ago.

The next couple of weeks flew by very fast. He met the rest of her family and had to develop incredible patience as he was teased mercilessly by her brothers-in-law because the ladies in her family couldn't stop drooling over him. She and her sisters came to his house a few more times and now his house was free of porn. Alex was still being difficult but seeing as though he loves a challenge, he was determined to wear him down.

Despite being the only white guy in the church he was very comfortable there. He now had a personal relationship with God and his life had changed a lot. With Diane's help, he had begun his detox program to cleanse his body of drugs. He no longer needs sleeping pills at night because he was usually exhausted by the time he got home, the high level of drugs in his system that usually kept him on a constant adrenaline rush was now decreasing, and his headaches had become less which he was really grateful for.

Everything that reminded him of who he was, was now gone. And he even started tithing which surprisingly to him, made him feel closer to God. He and his pastor had also come to an agreement about his offering. He helps wherever he could, like buying things for the church; like a coaster bus, water tanks, and help with a few renovations. It gave him great joy to work for the Lord.

His latest apartment complex was finished and he already sold eight apartments. He wanted to take a break from the building after the complex was finished but he was so sexually frustrated that he went right ahead with the renovations of the plaza and he spends most of his time upgrading his accounts. He also checks his bank accounts regularly to make sure his bus drivers and tenants were depositing his money on time. With him selling his two bedrooms for eight million and his three bedrooms for twelve million and his plan on renting the units in the plaza things were moving fast and he had to keep up.

And on top of all that every night for the last couple of weeks he had been having very strong erotic dreams about Diane. They had grown very close over the last couple of weeks. He had even had a talk with the pastor about courting her but the pastor told him that she had agreed to start courting this other guy so he would have to talk to her about it. 'Yes a challenge, he loves it, but it wasn't a fair fight because he spends a lot more time with her than this man and if he had anything to say about it, she wasn't going to be dating him either. Most of the time it was just the three of them, him Diane and Jasmine. He couldn't deny it any longer he was very attracted to Diane but didn't want to say anything just yet. He had a feeling she felt the same way but he wanted to be sure.

He told his friends how he felt and they told him that he was falling in love with her, him falling in love, yeah right, he was attracted to her, yes, but in love, come on, that was just going a bit too far.

His aunt came and spends two weeks with him and he also told her how he felt about Diane and she too told him the same thing, he was falling in love, crazy people, they didn't have a clue what they were talking about but on the other hand, she was very proud to see how much he had changed. She also attends church with them and between her, Diane, and Diane's sisters; they cooked some very delicious meals for him.

Diane and her sisters had dinner at his house a few times and he had lots of fun watching movies with them. it also wasn't surprising to him that he was getting a lot of marriage proposals from the single ladies at church but he was only interested in one lady right now, which was in no way normal for him, but the change was good. He had brought a red love seat for Diane's apartment and a nice video phone for her but she refused them all saying they were too much, but thanks to the fact that he absolutely loves a challenge he manages to wear her down and she eventually caved, just like he got her to cave on the tons of toys he bought for Jasmine's birthday.

Diane is what you would call an independent woman and he loves her for it. He also noticed that whenever she accompanies him to Price Smart she didn't pick up anything for herself. Breaking through that habit was harder than he expected but after about five different times he had managed to break through that as well. She was hard to break, but she was breakable and he did love the challenge.

She now goes to Price Smart with him every fortnight and he made sure that she and her sisters' apartments were well stacked with food. He loves when she was with him. She was the funniest girl he had ever been with. He couldn't stand being away from her for too long so he had started to take Jasmine to school every morning and then taking her to work so she wouldn't have the hassle with the buses. He missed her when she wasn't with him so he would go back for her in the evening after she was finished working. She told him about a hundred times that it wasn't necessary but he had no intention of stopping.

"A few days ago he had heard her telling one of her sisters that she wanted to braid her hair. Micro braid was what she called it. She said that it cost a lot and when he offered to help her pay for it she said he shouldn't even think about it because she wouldn't let him. Another challenge and he would be lying if he said he didn't love it. Of course in the end he got his way because when she went to the hairdresser to get it done he showed up there and needless to say, he was a major distraction for the ladies, he then told her that he wouldn't leave until she allowed him to pay and since she was beginning to feel uncomfortable because the ladies continue to drool over him she agreed and he paid them and left.

He was very good at getting what he wanted and needless to say it fit her face perfectly. How he would love to wrap them around his fingers in ecstasy. Already he could feel the heat rushing to his groin. Biting his lips he smiled to himself. He was now on his way to the plaza to check on a few things after which he was planning on going to her house to watch movies with her and her sisters all of whose names begin with the same letter. His parents would have been proud of his accomplishments. They always told him that he had a very good head on his shoulders. He misses them a lot but on the other hand, he had gotten to know Diane's family.

There was Dana, Desreen, Doreen and Diana. You would think they were quadruplets but they weren't. He had also gotten to know her nieces and nephews and they were tons of fun. He had also learned that Diane was the last child for her mother. They had lost their mother to cancer and they weren't very close to their father. Pity, they were all wonderful ladies their father should be proud of them but maybe time will fix that problem.

Mike and Marlon had had enough of Alex's attitude so they made a plan to pay him a visit. Alex steps from the Auto shop and was on his way to his car when he saw them walking towards him. 'Oh great, just what I need.' He mumbles under his breath. "We have somting we waa say to you," Marlon said blocking his path. "Whatever could that be?" Alex asks in a sarcastic tone. "That you're a jackass for turning your back on your best friend because he decides to give his life to God," Mike said. "I don't have to listen to this," Alex said trying to pass but Marlon wouldn't let him. "Yes, you do." "Move!" Alex shouts angrily. "Not till we say wa we come ya fi say, so jus shut up and listen," Marlon said angrily. "After all, he has done for you, if it wasn't for Prince you wouldn't have an Auto shop and apartment complex and now when he needs you the most, you turn your back on him? You ungrateful-son-of-a-bitch." Mike sneered.

"Oh just shut up, I was there for him through everything, pain, grief, sorrow, I was there, where was God then? And what, now he decides to show up and replace me, Prince didn't need God, he already had me but I wasn't enough." Alex said but he could see that his anger was wasted on these guys. "You a fool or wat? You actually tink you can compete wid God, when God says move bouy you have fi move, a wa wrong wid you bouy you a idiot?" Marlon asks. "You're acting like this because you think that Prince is going to continue begging you to accept him but know this, he's a good friend to you even now but if you don't grow up and stop acting like an ass, you're going to lose the best friend you will ever have," Mike said and he and Marlon walk away from him.

Gabriel arrived at her house around a little after five with enough food to feed an army, they welcome him as usual and he took off his shoes and shirt and got comfortable on her bed beside the rest of them and they watched movie after movie until he fell asleep. It was eleven pm and her sisters were getting ready to leave. "Where are you going?" Diane asks. "Home, everyone else is gone and now we also need to go," Dana said with a yarn. "Just wait, let me wake him up first, then after he leaves then you two can leave." She said walking over to him. "Don't, that's not a good idea," Diana said.

"Why not? He can't sleep here." "And you can't wake a man up from a deep sleep and put him behind the wheel of a car either. It's Friday night and you don't have to go to work tomorrow so let him sleep." Dana said. "Here? Are you guys crazy, he can't stay here." "Relax, it's going to be okay, it's not like he's going to wake up and jump your bones, just chill and let the man sleep, we'll take Jasmine home with us," Diana said lifting a sleeping Jasmine in her arms. "Do you think he's going to hurt you?" Dana asks seeing the panic on her sister's face. "No, not really," Diane mumbles. "Then what are you afraid of?" "It's just weird that's all," Diane said looking at the sexy gorgeous man laying on her bed. "If it's that weird then sleep on the love seat, now we're going we'll see you in the morning." They said and left.

Leaving her alone with this amazingly sexy man sprawled out on her bed with his hands behind his head as he sleeps peacefully, well at least he didn't snore. She thought with a giggle but still, she couldn't help it, she was drawn to him, she sat next to him and gently move a lock of hair from his face and smiles at how gracefully his lashes caress his cheeks.

Gabriel open his eyes and sat up, grabbing his phone he saw that it was five am, he then turns and saw Diane asleep beside him and he couldn't help running his fingers along her cheeks as he smiles down at her. She opens her eyes, looks up at him then turns away from him, oh she must look a sight, she thought trying to fix her hair but he turns her face back to him and smiles at her. "You're beautiful, just the way you are." He said gently caressing her cheeks and before he could stop himself he lowered his lips to hers and kiss her softly at first then capture her trembling lips with his in a searing hot passionate kiss that made her toes curl, her fingers as if having a mind of their own travels to the nape of his neck then up into his soft hair as she returns his kiss.

Before she knew it she was beneath him as he put her hands above her head, lock his fingers through hers, and deepens his kiss, she felt his muscles moving against her hands, his body moving against hers as he moans softly against her lips and part her legs with his, he continues to move against her and then she felt it, his erection, oh lord that felt good she thought as one of his hands moves to her breast and began kneading and massaging. "Stop, Gabriel, stop please." She pleads trying to push him away and stop he did almost instantly and back away from her. "' I'm sorry. I know I keep saying we are only friends but the truth is I wish to be a lot more than friends with you, what that means, I'm really not sure, this is all new to me." He said getting off the bed and sitting on the love seat.

"I know what you mean, because even though my mind keeps telling me to run like hell, the truth is, I want to be more than friends with you too." She said holding out her hands to him which he got up and take in his. "But we can't have sex, is that okay with you?" She asks. "I don't know, this is the longest I've gone without a woman and to be honest I'm not handling it very well but for you, I'm willing to try." He said lying down and after placing her head on his chest, he circles his arms around her and closes his eyes.

It had been two weeks since their first kiss, he had kissed her a few times after that but not quite so intense, keeping his hands off her was proving to be more of a challenge than he bargains for, she keeps telling him that them having sex would be a sin in the eyes of God but he wasn't sure just how long he could continue like this, something had to give before his extremely strong sexual urges drives him insane. At that moment his phone rings dragging him from his wild thoughts, He looks at the caller's name, it was Diane. "Hi, beautiful." Oh yeah, his nickname for her which in her opinion was a great exaggeration on his part. "Hi, I'm home and I was wondering if we were still on for baking today? Because it looks like it's going to rain."

"Don't worry about the rain, we're still on. I'm on my way to the plaza to check on a few things, I'll come by afterward and we also need to stop at the supermarket before we head home." "Okay see you in a bit then bye." "Okay later beautiful." As he ends the call his thoughts turned to Alex. He hardly saw his best friend anymore and when he does Alex couldn't wait to get away from him. They used to be so close; he still couldn't believe Alex had turned his back on him. Who would have thought that God would be the one to break him and his best friend apart.

When he was finished with his business at the plaza he heads over to Diane's apartment. He parks at her gate and calls her on her phone. "I'm at your gate." "I'll be there in a minute." A few minutes later she came running out the door. "I think it would be best if we pick jasmine up from school before we go to the supermarket." She said fixing her hair. "Okay then, let's do this." After they had made all their stops they head to Gabriel's house. It had started to rain at that point. "We really are going to get it today the sky is so black," Diane said looking out the window. "Well lets get home as quickly as we can then. How many cakes do we need?" "About three, one chocolate, one pineapple, and a carrot. Think we can handle that?" She asks.

"Yeah, I think we can." "Let's hope they don't cancel the bake sale tomorrow because of the rain." She said still looking out the window. "I don't think they will, they have been planning this event for a while," Gabriel said opening the garage door. He drives the vehicle in and shut it off. "You take Jasmine inside while I get the bags." He suggest and she nods and took Jasmine by the hand and led her inside. After taking the bags into the kitchen he turns to Diane. "Aren't you going to change?" He asks. "Um...Yes." "Well lets go girl we have a lot to do." After she had finished changing they all went to the kitchen. Jasmine ate yogurt and played with her dolls while they bake. When the cakes were in the oven they had dinner. By the time the cakes were finish it was 9:00pm and it was still raining.

"Lets go watch a movie and wait for the rain to cool down its still raining cats and dogs out there." He said, lifting Jasmine in his arms he left the kitchen. He was on his way to the theater when his phone rang. "Hello." "Hey prince it's Justin. I'm on a conference call with the other guys." "What's up, guys?" "Hey prince what a gwan?" Gabriel couldn't help smiling at Marlon's accent. "Hi, Marlon. You guys aren't backing out of tomorrow are you?" "No man we deh pun top a dat, even though it a rain no baxside out a door right ya now," Marlon replied. "What's up prince it's Mike. Have you seen or spoke to Alex lately?" Mike asks. "No why?" "Well word on the street is that he has been hanging with some people he thinks are his friends but they really aren't. We tried talking to him but he won't listen." Mike continues "We are concern and we know you would be too. We were just wondering if you had heard from him that all."

"We don't speak much anymore," Gabriel said sadly. "What a shame, im turning im back pon you for no reason. Listen we jus no want the idiot to kill off himself. He going down a bad road maybe you could try talking to him." "Okay I'll, thanks for the heads up guys, see you tomorrow." He ends the call and then turns to Diane. "Maybe you should bathe Jasmine just in case she falls asleep." "Okay." She took Jasmine to the room that she had change in before. While she gave Jasmine a bath Gabriel put the cakes away. She met him in the theater and they watched the movie he had selected. After the movie ended he look at his watch, it was 11.30 pm and it was still raining and Diane was beginning to look sleepy.

"I think you're going to have to stay with me tonight." He said softly and she looks at him in surprise. "I can't sleep in a house with a guy who is not my husband. It's not right." "I know but you can't go home either it's raining too hard." He couldn't help but noticed how worried she seems. "You know you're safe with me don't you?" As safe as Chocolate was sitting in front of a chocoholic, she thought. "I know." She whispers.

"Come on, don't worry it's only for one night, it will be okay." "Alright, it's not like I have a choice. I don't want you driving in this weather." "You look tired- Are you ready for bed?" "Yeah I'm tired I think I'll go to bed now." Jasmine had fallen asleep during the movie so Gabriel lifts her in his arms and with Diane in front he walks her to her room. He laid Jasmine on the bed and turn to Diane. "Can we pray together before we go to bed?" "Sure." He took her hands in his and even though sexual energy was running through every inch of his body he managed to pray for ten minutes, he then kissed her gently on her forehead. "Good night beautiful sleep well," he said and left the room.

Gabriel took a long cold shower then checks his emails then tried to call Alex again and just like before he got no answer. He left a message asking Alex to call him then went to bed. A few hours later his eyes flew open and he sat up drenched in sweat because of another erotic dream about Diane. Looking at his bedside clock he saw that it was 4.00 am. Taking deep breaths he tried to steady his heartbeat. He was drenched in sweat and he felt like he was standing in a steam room.

He could feel the heat radiating from his body. Taking off his t shirt he went in the bathroom, wetting his hands he ran them through his hair and over his face. Sexual energy surge through him like wildfire which caused him to grip the edge of the face basin. This has been happening to him every night for the last couple of weeks and he knew why. He used to be able to satisfy his sexual urges whenever he wanted but since he got baptized and change his life style he couldn't and now these urges were driving him crazy.

He went back into his bedroom got a bottle of water from his cooler and drink it. Well I wont be able to go back to sleep now so I might as well go check on Diane . He thought as he put on a clean t-shirt and walk towards her room. If she was asleep he didn't want to disturb her, so he gently pushed her door open but he saw her sitting up in bed watching television. "Hi." She said as he enters the room. "I thought you were sleeping, I was just checking on you." "I can't sleep." She said her eyes roaming over his body. "Why?" "Maybe for the same reason you can't." She said biting her lips.

"Okay then, so could you come here for a minute?" Getting off the bed she put two pillows in front of Jasmine and follows him as he led her to his bedroom. She enter and he closes his door behind her and place the monitor on his bed side table.. "Gabriel this isn't a good idea." She protest as he took her by the hand and led her to his bed. "Lay down." He said softly. "No I don't think so, I mean this….." "Just lay down." He said again as he pushes her gently onto his bed. She lay down on her back and he kneel down over her and locking his fingers through hers he put her hands above her head and put his lips next to her ear. "I'm going to release some of your tension but I'm not going to have sex with you okay." "I don't understand." "Do you trust me?" He asks in her ear. "I…I …." He lifts his head and looks into her eyes. "Do you trust me?" He asks again. No...No...No...I don't, I know I should've taken someone with me, now what do I do. She screams in her head. "Diane?" "Yes....Yes, I do." She mumbles with trembling lips. Releasing her hands he took a bottle of KY massaging oil from his bedside table and in one swift move, he ease her from the bed and pulls the large T shirt she was wearing over her head

He felt her body tensed and he smiled. "Could you relax for me please?" He asks pouring the oil over her chest then began massaging her breasts. After a few minutes, he could feel her body relaxing beneath his hands. "That's it baby, just relax." He whispers massaging her private and breasts at the same time. He gave her, her release and by the time he was finished her entire body was shaking. "Are you okay babe?" He asks seductively. "I'm…I'm." Diane gasps for breath. "I'm fine." "Feeling better?"

"Words can't describe what I'm feeling right now." She said still trying to catch her breath. He turned to put the oil back on the table but she stopped him. "Don't." "What?" "Give it to me and lay down." She said and he smiled at her. "It's okay you don't have to do it back to me." "I...I want to, now please lay down it's now your turn." "Are you sure?" He asks. "No...I'm not, just lay down." She order and he removes his shirt and lay on his back. She pours the oil over his chest and began massaging him. After a while, she removes his sweat pants as well. Using her hands she massages, strokes, and caresses his entire body. Within minutes she had him arching his back and gripping his sheet. Gabriel had been with a lot of girls but no one has ever jerked him like this before.

He heard himself making sounds he didn't know he was capable of making. His entire body was on fire. "Touch me babe." He moaned. "piacere mio body mio Bellissimo Giamaicano rayazza." He moans in Italian. Gorgeous Italian guy say what now?' She wondered but whatever it was, damn it sounded wonderful. Like a love song. If it was release he was looking for he got it in spades. And if this girl could jerk him this way just by touching him then he couldn't wait to make love to her, the woman had him speaking Italian for Christ's sake, he hadn't done that in years. Pulling her down on top of him he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You do know that you belong to me now don't you?" He whispered in her ear while nibbling on it. "I belong to you?" She asks puzzled. "Yes beautiful, you do." He said kissing her passionately he then held her close and they both fell asleep.