Chapter four-Living

She looks up at me, her face contorted in confusion. "What?" she breathes.

I can only stare at her, not believing she's really standing before me. My eyes roam over every feature of her being, and I vow to hold every single one to memory. She's tall and very lean, but she only reaches to my shoulder, even with her heels on. Her curtain of light brown hair falls around her shoulders in soft curls and I want nothing more to run my fingers through it. I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms and keep her in my embrace forever.

"Mister," she says, her sweet voice pulling me from my thoughts as she waves her hand back in forth in front of my face. "Are you okay?"

I nod, and then remember I can talk. I clear my throat and say, "Yes, I'm fine."

We sit there for a few more moments staring at each other, and then she raises a brow at me. "So are you waiting to get a drink or something?" she asks, looking around me to see the bartender.

I realize in that moment she doesn't recognize me. I mean, I know she only had a brief glance at me, but I guess I had hoped deep down that she was as obsessive of me as I was of her, but clearly that is nowhere near the case.

I look behind me in effort to hide my disappointment. I turn back towards her. "No, but I'll buy your drink. What do you want?"

She looks at me. "You don't have to."

"I want to."

She bites her lip, and my eyes stare at that lucky lip ensnared in that calcified prison. "Vodka and cranberry," she says her voice angelic. It's like a symphony of harps, violins and pianos playing the most beautiful music ever composed.

I relay the order to the bartender, and a few minutes later I'm handing the drink over to her. I need to know her name.

She takes a sip and smiles at me. "Thanks, Mister."

I smile and she smiles back, showing her perfect white teeth. Then she turns around and I begin to panic. "It's Chris-" I choke when she turns back around. Her eyes just make me forget all words and thoughts. I can't function properly when she looks at me.

She smirks and holds out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Chris. I'm Ana."

I place my hand in her tiny one and shake, reveling in the feeling of her smooth, soft skin clasped in mine. I'm tempted to correct her and tell her my name isn't Chris, but honestly this woman could call me Helga and I wouldn't give a damn as long as she kept talking to me. Plus I don't want her to figure out that I'm Christian Grey and be turned off by the inaccurate information the media prints off about me, or rumors she hears from other people. I just want to be able to enjoy her presence for as long as I can without something messing it up.

"Nice to meet you, too, Ana," I reply, still holding her hand in mine. She looks down at our joined hands and I immediately let go.

She chuckles and looks down as she pushes some of her hair behind her ear. Biting her lip once more, she looks up at me shyly and asks, "Do you want to join me at my table? My friends ran off and I'd rather not sit alone looking pathetic."

I laugh, ignoring the fact that that was exactly what I was doing not even five minutes ago. But I was feeling pretty pathetic, too. I smile and nod. "Sure."

She takes my hand and leads me through crowd, up a set of carpeted stairs, and then towards her table. The whole journey there, I can't keep the disbelieving, ecstatic smile off my face. Not only does she willingly want to spend time with me, but she's really, truly here before me.

She slides into a leather booth, and I slide in beside her, not wanting to put much space between us and hoping she doesn't mind my closeness. I glance at her, and she doesn't seem at all affected by me being in her personal space. I don't know whether that's good or bad.

She turns to me. "So, Chris, why do you seem to be here all alone?"

I try to keep the surprise off my face. Is this her why of asking me if I'm single? I answer her honestly. "I actually came her with my brother, but I think he found someone else he'd rather hang around," I mutter, sounding annoyed.

She laughs and I can feel myself falling again. "I know how you feel. I came here with my friends and one of them seems to only have come to hunt for the opposite sex, rather than celebrate with his best friend," she says it kind of bitterly, but I'm more curious about what it is she's celebrating.

"Oh? What are you celebrating, if I may ask?"

She grins and slightly shakes her head. "It's my first week at my dream job."

"Really? Well, congrats. I'm sure you must be proud of yourself," I offer. She grins shyly as she runs her finger around the rim of her glass. "So where is it you work?"

"Se-"

"Ana! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!" A Hispanic man interrupts her and comes walking over to us on unsteady legs.

I glare at him as he gazes at her with dilated pupils, but I can see the affection he holds for her. Shit is this her boyfriend? I look over at her and by the way she isn't moving to approach him I know they aren't an item. This must be one of the friends that abandoned her.

"You're the one who left me here," she mutters.

He ignores her and looks at me. "Who's this?"

She places her hand on my arm. I look down at it and wonder if she's trying to send him a message. "This is my friend, Chris. He's been keeping me company while you and Kate left me here to go have fun with other people when this was supposed to be my celebratory night."

He looks back up at her, sobering up a bit and his eyes cloud with regret. "Jeez, Ana, I'm sorry. I just saw this-"

She rolls her eyes. "Save it, Jose. It's always the same with you two, more so you than Kate." She picks up a clutch that I didn't know she had, and then nudges me to scoot out of the booth. When we're both standing, she takes my hand again and then looks at her friend. "I'll be with Chris, you know if for once you wake up and I'm not there."

She pulls me away, leaving him with his mouth on the floor, and me wondering what she means by she won't be there when he wakes up.

When we get down the steps she turns around and looks at me. Standing on her toes she leans up to say something to me, so I lean down to hear her better. "Do you want to get out of here?" she asks me.

For a minute I'm speechless, surprised she would willingly leave this place with me, but I'm not going to make the mistake of passing up this once in a lifetime offer.

"Sure."

She grins up at me and we walk, hand in hand, to the front entrance. When we're out on the street she looks around and then her face falls like she remembered something.

"We came here in a cab," she explains. "And I don't have the keys to my apartment. Dammit."

I pull her close to me, happy that she's letting me touch her, and brush wind-blown strands of hair out of her face. I see her throat move on a swallow, and she looks up at me with dazed eyes. I guess she can see me better. It was a little hard to see with the neon strobe lights flashing. Now we're standing under a street light and can see each other perfectly.

When that realization dawns, I silently pray she doesn't recognize me. By the way she's staring at me like she's never seen a person with a penis I don't think she recognizes me.

"We can go to my apartment, if you want?" I offer. "I have an extra room you can sleep in until you want to go back home."

"Y-you would let a stranger spend the night at your house?" she asks, her eyes still trained on me.

I shrug. "I don't think you're the type to kill me during my sleep or steal my priceless heirlooms."

She smirks, amusement shining in her eyes. "No, I'm not."

I smile at her, then take my phone out of my pocket and call Taylor. He answers on the first ring. "Mr. Grey?"

"I'm waiting at the entrance," I answer and hang up.

Not even five minutes later, I see the Audi pull around the corner. Taylor pulls up and I open the door for Ana, waiting for her to slide in before I climb in after her.

She runs her hand down the leather and appreciatively gazes around the inside of the SUV. "So you have an Audi and a personal driver?" She looks up me, slight intimidation and curiosity clouding his eyes. "What is it you do?"

I hesitate. I don't want to completely lie to her because I know that'll end up blowing up in my face, but I'm not ready yet to burst our bubble. "Mergers and Acquisitions," I answer.

She raises a brow and her mouth twists. "Sounds boring."

I laugh. "It can be," I agree. But sometimes it can get interesting, like if a potential deal takes you to a different company and you end up finding the most beautiful woman you've ever seen.

When we get to the penthouse I help her out of the car and lead her to the elevator. When the doors open up to the foyer, I watch her expression. Her eyes seem to get bigger and bigger the further I take her into my home.

"Wow," she whispers, turning away from the view of the Seattle skyline to gaze at me. "You seriously live here?" I nod my head. "Maybe I should get into Mergers and Acquisitions," she mutters under her breath. I don't think I was meant to hear the remark, but I did and it made me chuckle. I wonder how she would react if I told her I was the CEO of my own Mergers and Acquisitions company.

She walks over to the grand piano and gently runs her finger across the top. "Do you play?" she asks.

"Yes," I answer.

She looks at me and tilts her head, biting that delicious lip. Every time she does that the urge to taste that mouth gets stronger and stronger. "Would you play a song for me?"

"You really want me to?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

I take off my jacket and hang it over the back of the couch and then sit down at the piano bench, lifting up the cover. I let my fingers lazily dance over the keys as I think of a song to play. One that I heard my grandfather play for my grandmother comes to mind. My fingers began to move over the keys as if they have a mind of their own.

I feel her move closer to me, and then I feel the warmth radiate off of her as she sits next to me. I feel sheer contentment fall upon me when she rests her head on my shoulder, enjoying the smooth tones emanating from my piano.

When I'm finished she keeps her head resting on my shoulders, but lifts her hand to press down on random keys. "That was beautiful," she whispers. "What is it called?"

"Mariage d'amour. My grandfather used to play it for my grandmother all the time. It was her favorite song."

"I understand why, it's a lovely song."

I look down at her. "I agree, it is quite lovely," I whisper, referring to her more than to the song.

She lifts her head and looks up at me, the moonlight illuminating her face. I gaze back at her, her ocean eyes still having the power to make me forget everything except for her. Some hair falls into her face and I move it back behind her ear, then run my finger down her cheek. She bites her lip and leans into my touch. Her breathing is shallow and a flush creeps up her cheeks.

"Ana," I whisper. She opens her eyes, drowning me in her enchanting gaze. "Can I kiss you?"

Her mouth falls opens, and I hear her slight panting breaths. She slowly nods her head, and I watch as her eyes drop to my mouth. I lean closer to her and she leans her head closer to me. Her eyes flutter shut, as do mine, and then I feel her soft, full lips pressed against mine.

It's a feeling like no other, and she smells so enticing. She places her hands on my biceps, and I move my hands up to grip her head. I move my lips over hers in a delicate graze, but I want more. I stick my tongue out tentatively and probe at her lips. She eagerly grants me entrance to her warm, wet mouth, and I feel my erection pressing up against my zipper uncomfortably.

She quietly moans against my mouth when I run my hand down her back and grip the top of her ass. I have to pull away before I rip both of our clothes off and take her rough and hard on the floor.

Our panting breaths intermingle between us, and the feeling isn't helping with my erection. I open my eyes, only to find hers already open and staring at me.

I rub my thumb over her lips while my other hand is still placed on her ass. "You're beautiful," I whisper.

She gazes at me. "So are you," she says just as quietly. She licks her lips. "Kiss me again," she breathes.

"What?"

"Kiss me."

It takes me a moment, but my body finally catches up with my brain and I press my lips back to hers. She moans, her tongue immediately seeking mine, and presses her body closer to mine. I run my hands all over her body while her hands grip my neck, and I feel her bare thighs and a bit of her lace underwear. Her dress has bunched around her hips, her legs spread to straddle the piano bench.

She becomes more aggressive, sitting up on her knees and deepening our kiss. Her hand pulls at my hair and her other one is cradling my neck. I grip her waist and try to push her back. I pull my head back and take a deep breath.

"Wait, wait," I pant. "We have to slow down."

She looks down and sits back on the bench, a rosy blush heating up her cheeks. "You don't want me?" she whispers.

"I do! I do, I just don't want you to think I'm expecting anything from you."

She looks at me from under her lashes. "That's very chivalrous of you, but how do you know I didn't come here expecting something from you?"

"You mean, you came here expecting to have sex with me?" I'm shocked.

"Isn't that how it usually happens when you meet someone at the club?" she asks.

I don't know how to respond to her question. Some people do go to the club only to find a hook up but others go to release energy through dancing and having fun. I don't fit into either of those groups, but Ana does. Is that all she wants from me? Just a fuck? I mean I won't complain, but I don't want her to be just a fuck. She's the type if you fuck her once, you fuck her twice, and then a third time, and then a fourth time until she's wearing a diamond ring and pregnant with your first child.

I gaze at her, seeing the same ocean eyes, but now looking at the girl behind those mesmerizing eyes differently. "Did you come here just to fuck me?"

She frowns. "No. I mean I thought about it, but I wasn't planning on it until you kissed me."

"Is this what you really want? I won't force you to do something you don't want, and like I said I wasn't expecting anything from you."

She nods her head, her lip sneaking between her teeth. "I know. And yes I want this. I know I just met you but I've never been sexually attracted to anyone like I am you. I want you."

I stare at her making sure I don't see any uncertainty in her eyes. I don't see any. I begin to lean in for another kiss, but she stops me.

"I have to tell you something first," she says, her voice nervous.

"Okay," I answer slowly.

"I've never had sex before."

I gaze at her with wide eyes and my jaw on the floor.

My only sudden thought is: Fuck.

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