Saturday May 14th 2011

I'm standing outside Ana's door with a bouquet of lilies. She told me once they were her favorite. This is making me feel like a teenager on their first date.

Technically, this is my first date.

I'm totally out of my league here. I feel like I know her inside and out; even though I still have a lot to learn. However, I know how her body responds to my touch.

Now I have to pretend I know nothing.

Taking a deep breath, I knock on the door, and Kate opens it.

"Mr. Grey." She greets me. "Ana should be right out. Come in." She opens the door wider and steps aside to let me in.

I walk in and look around the apartment. I have some fond memories of this place and hopefully I'll get to relive some of them.

"Thank you again for doing the interview, Mr. Grey. I apologize for not being able to make it."

"It's quite alright, Ms. Kavanagh. How is the article coming?"

"It's coming along great. Since you're here I wanted to ask if there would be any way to get some original photos of you for the article?" She inquiries.

"Yes, I think that will be fine. I'm staying at the Heathman. Would 9:30 work?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you…" Kate says, almost taken aback by my offer.

"I'll make sure the front desk knows where you can meet me."

I hear one of the bedroom doors open. Looking over in that direction, I notice Ana walk out of the room, in that plum dress, that really shows of her every curve.

She walks over to me with a shy smile on her face.

"Hi."

"Hi." I hand her the lilies. She looks at them with a grateful smile.

"Thank you. How did you know these were my favorite? You can't tell me that was on my background check" She smiles at me. I don't think I'll ever get enough of her smart mouth.

"No. Lucky guess."

"They're beautiful. I'm going to put these in some water, and we can go?"

She gets out a vase, filling it with water, before placing the flowers in it.

Ana walks over to Kavanagh, and Kate whispers something in her ear. I notice Ana roll her eyes, before saying her goodbyes.

When she walks over to me I offer my elbow and she laces her arm through mine.

Look Grey, you can be a gentleman.

"Where are we going?" She asks after we get into the car. Taylor is close by, but I wanted to be alone with Ana tonight.

"Do you like Italian?" I ask her.

"I do." She smiles over at me.

"There's a little Italian restaurant that someone told me about. So, I figured we could give it a shot."

"That sounds wonderful."

She's so much more relaxed with me now, than she ever was before.

I can only hope when I tell her my secrets that it won't change. But, tonight I just plan to get to know her all over again.

We pull up to Ramones and I help Ana out of the car.

"Kate and I have been trying to go here for months. There's like a six month wait list."

"It's one of the perks of being me." I smile down at her.

"A little cocky, aren't you?"

I can't help but shrug as we walk into the restaurant.

The hostess shows us to our table. I made sure I requested the most secluded table they had.

I pull out her chair and after she sits, I tuck it in for her. I round the table and take my seat in front of her.

The waiter comes and I order their best red wine.

"Thank you for joining me tonight."

She glances up from her menu and smiles. "Thank you for asking." She blushes almost on cue.

"Has anyone ever told you, you look lovely when you blush?"

She shakes her head and hides her face in the menu.

She's so cute.

"You don't have to shy away from me, Anastasia." I put my finger on her menu, pushing it down so I can see her again.

"I wasn't. Just trying to figure out what to eat."

"You seem nervous." I observe.

"I find you intimidating." She fidgets with her fingers, biting her lip.

Would it be totally improper if I tossed her on the table and had my way with her?

Considering she's a virgin again, I would say yes.

And what do you know my own born again virgin?

I can't help the smirk on my face. "Most people do. But, I hope after today that's not the case." I give her my best mega-watt smile.

"Can I ask you something?" She starts.

"Anything, Anastasia."

She shakes her head at me. I know it drives her a little nuts when I use her full name.

"Why me?"

I frown, confused by her question.

"Why you?" I shake my head.

"Yeah, I mean we only met for a little bit. Then you stalk me at my work place to ask me out. I mean look at you, you could have any woman you want. Then look at me…" She trails off.

How could I forget about some of her poor self-esteem issues?

"I am looking at you… Ana, you captivated me that day. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you." I take her hand in mine. "You're beautiful, absolutely alluring. I would really like to get to know you Ana."

She smiles sweetly at me, and bows her head.

"I would like to get to know you too. I mean from what Kate tells me, you're a bit of an enigma."

"Well, I just like to keep my private life private. The media has a way to spin everything around." I shrug.

"I can understand that."

The waiter comes by and we both end up ordering Linguine Carbonara With Cauliflower and Pancetta

"So, tell me about you?" I start. "About your family, school…"

"Don't you already know?" She smirks at me.

"Minor details… I would like to hear it from you."

"Well, my mother lives in Georgia with her new husband, Bob. My step dad Ray lives in Montesano. My father died when I was a baby."

"Are you close with your stepdad?"

I always remember the way her face lights up when she talks about him.

"Yeah, he practically raised me. He's a carpenter, a keen fisherman, and really into European Soccer." She tells me proudly. "I preferred to live with him after my mom married husband number three."

One day I hope she'll tell me the reason.

"What about your parents?" she asks. I grin knowing that was coming.

"Well, my dad is a lawyer and my mother is a pediatrician at Seattle Gen. They both live in Seattle."

You'll meet them soon…. Again.

"And your siblings?"

"My brother is in construction and my little sister Mia is over in Paris."

"Paris sounds lovely." She says dreamily.

And one day I promise to take you there.

"It is. Have you ever been?"

"No. I've never left the mainland USA before." She pouts.

"Would you like to go?"

"To Paris, of course. But where I really want to visit is England."

"Is it because it's home to Shakespeare, Austen, and Thomas Hardy?" I say for her, remembering her reasons.

She looks at me, surprised. "Yeah. I would like to see the places that inspired those people to write such wonderful books."

"I guess being an English Lit major; you would have to have a love for such books. What is it you hope to do after you graduate? "

"I've applied to some publishing houses in Seattle; one day work my way to editor. Find the next great American novel." She shrugs.

"I'm sure you will." I grin as the waiter comes back with our meal and tops up our wine.

We sit and eat our meal in a very comfortable silence.

It's like no words really have to be spoken, when we look at each other it's like our eyes are doing all the talking.

It's so nice to see her so carefree and relaxed. I didn't get to see much of that during the couple weeks we were together. It's a true delight to see. I want to make her feel that way forever.

"How's your meal?" I ask as she sticks a fork full of food into her mouth.

I've never seen her eat like this. Was I really the reason why she didn't eat much around me? Did I stress her out that much?

I think back and I probably did. The contract, wanting her to be a Submissive, when I know for a fact she doesn't have a Submissive bone in her body.

I make a note to back off on her eating habits. I think seeing her tonight proves well she knows how to eat. Maybe I could share to her why I have such a problem with not eating. Although, my graduation speech, explained some of it.

Although, I've never been a big sharer, there's just something about Ana that makes me want to lay everything out there. If only I felt this way, the first time.

I guess I do have a lot to overcome.

After she chews and swallows she answers. "It's wonderful. I can't wait to brag to Kate that I got to eat here." She smiles.

"I'm glad you like it." I take her hand again and rub my thumb over her knuckles. "I like seeing you smile."

"You sure have a way with words, Mr. Grey. Does it work for all the ladies?"

I shake my head. "To be honest, this is my first date. I've never done anything like this before."

She looks at me questionably. "Never?"

"Never."

"Is that why people think you're gay? I find it hard to believe you've never had a girlfriend…"

"I was never into the girlfriend thing. Then you fell into my office and for the first-time I want...more."

Yes, I want a lot more with you, Anastasia. A future, forever.

"But, is it safe to assume that you have been with..." Her question drifts off.

"Simply put, yes. I really want to tell you everything, to be an open book. But, I really want to enjoy this night with you, without getting into the heavy stuff."

She looks at me for a moment, contemplating my response, and for a second I feel like I might lose her before I have her again.

"I can respect that." She simply says.

God, I love her.

The waiter comes by and clears our plates.

I order the tiramisu for us to share. I scoop some onto my spoon and lift it her mouth.

She takes my offered bite; my dick stirs at the sight of her mouth wrapped around my spoon.

My brain floods at the memory of her no gag reflex.

Now isn't the time to think of that, Grey.

We finish with our meal and we walk together outside. I really don't want this night to end.

"It's a nice night out, would you like to take a walk?" I offer.

"I would love too."

I take her hand in mine, and the jolt that runs through my body is still there. I look over at her and I know she felt it too.

"Do you feel it?"

She looks over at me, with that damn lip between her teeth, and nods at me, her face heating up in response.

As we walk we make small talk, I tell her a little more about my business and she shares about some of her ambitions.

As were walking we pass a go-kart track. She looks at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Wanna race?" Ana asks me.

I have to say I don't think I've ever done go-kart racing. I watch a group of people going around the track.

People having fun.

"You're on, Miss. Steele."

I pay for a couple of races. We pick our karts and I notice Ana take off her heels. I smile, amused at her; I guess it wouldn't be that easy

"You're going down, Mr. Grey."

The light turns green and we're off. Ana zooms past me, waving as she drives by.

Well, this won't do.

I slam my foot down on the gas, but I think my kart is busted. A little kid blazes past me. I can hear Ana giggle ahead of me, it's still every bit as addictive to hear as it was before.

We finish the race and I'm only happy I didn't come in last. However, Ana came in first.

Wonder if she's a professional? Did she do this a lot growing up? And how come I didn't know?

Because you never asked numb nuts.

"I want a rematch." I tell when she meets up with me. "I don't think my kart worked."

"Don't be a sore loser."

"I'm not." I tell her petulantly.

"Just no crying when I kick your ass again." She laughs.

We get back in line and I pick a different kart this time around. This race I come in 3rd, still behind Ana.

"Well, you improved."

"Considering I've never done this before, I say I did pretty good."

"You've never been go-karting?" She frowns.

"At least not that I remember. You on the other hand…"

"Ray. He would take me all the time when I was younger. Then when I was in high school there wasn't much to do around town so we would find ourselves hanging out at the track. Or it was mini golf." She shrugs her shoulders.

"They sound like good memories…"

"Yeah, don't you have any memories like that? I mean I'm sure you did things in high school, before you got into business and working all the time."

I take her hand and we walk out of the go-kart place. I'm unsure on how to answer her. Before, Elena I was too busy drinking and getting into fights. Then when I was Elena, I pretty much wasn't allowed to do anything else.

Holy fuck I did miss out on stuff.

I had a chance to make friends with a group of people, and Elena took that away.

Bitch. How did I not see it before?

I stop in the middle of the sidewalk and turn to look at her.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't have any memories like that. You see, I have issues with people touching me. Mainly on my chest and back. So, when I was younger I spent more time fighting and drinking than figuring out a way to have fun. Then…" I trail off.

"You don't have to tell me now." She places her hand on my cheek. I relish in her touch. "When you're ready though, I'll listen."

Soon we find ourselves back to the car. I know in this moment the night is almost over.

Before I open the door for her I take her in my arms. My thumb caresses her cheek and she's looking at me the same way she did when that cyclist almost hit her. Her eyes begging for me to kiss her.

This time I'm doing it right.

I lean down and press my lips to hers. Her lips part allowing me access for my tongue. She tastes as sweet as I remember. She rests her hands on my biceps, I guess remembering what I said about my touch issues.

How much time has really passed since I last kissed her?

I pull away and rest my head on her forehead. "I would really like to do this again." I tell her.

"Me too." She tells me breathlessly.

"I told your roommate that I would do the photoshoot. Will you be there? Maybe we can go out afterwards."

She looks up at me, biting that damn lip of hers. I can't help but take my thumb and release her lip from her teeth.

"Sorry, but that does things to me." I whisper to her. She grins wildly at me; her face is as bright as a red tomato.

"I think we can work something out about tomorrow."

"I can't wait."

I take her back to her apartment and walk her to the door. She digs her keys out of her purse and goes to open the door.

She opens the door slightly and turns to look at me. "I had a wonderful time, Christian."

"Me too. One of the best times I've had in a long time."

And it's the truth.

I lean down and kiss her again. "Goodnight, Anastasia."

"Goodnight, Christian."

And on that final note she walks into her apartment.

Who would've ever thought this dating thing would be so easy? I really did miss out on a lot of things.

Hearts and flowers Grey. Didn't know I had it in me.

Now the question lies when do I tell her of my past?

A/N: My goal is to update once a week. I can't promise anything, but it's what I'm striving for. Some days it can take me an hour just to write a paragraph:)

Thanks to my beta miss Stargazer93.