Chapter 10: Fifty's First Date

Sunlight comes flooding through the curtains and for once I wake up before my alarm sounds. I spent hours tossing and turning and when I finally fell asleep, I dreamt only of Christian and our kiss. The kiss more than made up for our less than stellar first attempt. That kiss, that man, has awakened something in me that lay dormant for the first twenty-one years of my existence.

I'd always thought of dating as an abstract concept. One day I'd meet the right man and one day I'd fall in love but I never imagined that day would come so soon. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be going on a date with Christian Grey, beautiful billionaire.

I'm not delusional enough to think one dinner is going to lead to happily ever after but I do know that for the first time, I am ready to put myself out there and explore the possibility. Christian may or may not be "the one", but he is my new beginning. He can make me feel more alive with one look than anyone else has ever made me feel before.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Smiling to myself I reach over to turn off the alarm. I have one last interview scheduled with Pacific Publishing, this morning at ten. Although I nailed my interview with SIP, nothing is set in stone and I have student loans to repay. Yawning, I roll out of bed and head towards the kitchen to make some tea.

"Good morning," I grin to Kate and Elliot, who are already dressed and sipping coffee.

"Here you go, babe," Kate says, handing me a cup of hot water and a tea bag.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver," I smile.

"You're awfully smiley today, Ana," Elliot teases and I feel my cheeks heat.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I say trying to stifle yet another grin.

Before he gets a chance to retort, his phone starts to ring, only it's not an actual ring. "Is that… No, tell me it isn't..." I say, struggling not to laugh. "Why do you have The Imperial March from Star Wars as your ringer?"

"It's Christian," Elliot snorts. "It's the only song I could think of cheerful enough to match his disposition. I almost went for the theme song to Jaws but that shark wouldn't stand a chance against Vader. Vader's a badass." Elliot explains before answering, "Yes, oh Dark Lord… Hold on. Anakin would like a word with you, Queen Amidala of Naboo." Elliot bows, handing me the phone.

"Hello," I chuckle.

"Ignore whatever lies my brother is spewing, none of it's true," Christian jokes.

"Someone's in a good mood," I reply taking my tea into the great room. I think I like playful Christian.

"I have a date tonight," he answers matter of factly.

"Oh really, she must be hot."

"You have no idea."

"So… to what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?" I ask, sipping my tea.

"I just wanted to confirm our dinner plans for this evening," he asks nervously.

"I have to double check my schedule, but I think I should be able to squeeze you in."

"I'll make it worth your while," he whispers in husky voice.

"Promises, promises," I reply, surprised at how seductive I sound.

"Challenging as ever, Ms. Steele."

"Would you have me any other way, Mr. Grey?"

He pauses for a moment, "No. No, I suppose I wouldn't."

"Well in that case, until later."

"Until laters, baby," he pauses.

I bite down on my lip, trying to suppress my giggle, "Hang up."

"No, you hang up," and I can hear the amusement in his voice.

"No, you hang up."

"I'll hang up," Elliot says grabbing the phone out of my hand. "Goodbye, Christian," he says into the phone before hanging up on his brother. "What?" I scowl at him. "I have to go to work," he defends, holding up his hands.

After my interview I swing past Victoria's Secret and pick up a few new bra and panty sets. I'm not sure what Christian has in store for us tonight and I am definitely not sure if I'm ready for him to see me in my new undergarments just yet but if last night's kiss was any indication of how tonight will play out, I want to be prepared.

My phone pings, rousing me from my thoughts and I have a new text message from a number I don't recognize. I open the message to find it's from Christian.

*I can't stop thinking about you. I got your number from Elliot, I hope that's ok.* -CTG

*it's more than ok ;) *- xxA

* Good. I will pick you up at 6* - CTG

* a little early for dinner, isn't it? are you trying to catch the early bird special*-xxA

*No, I just want as much time with you as possible.* -CTG

*what should I wear?* -xxA

*whatever you want, I figured we could stay in. I don't want to share you with anyone tonight. ;)"*-CTG

*that sounds like a wonderful idea. * - xxA

*Laters Baby*-CTG

I put my phone away shakily; even via text the man oozes sex. It's a good thing I got new panties.

It's a quarter to six and Kate is putting the finishing touches on my hair and makeup. "You don't think it's too much? We aren't even leaving the building," I point out, looking in the mirror. Kate has somehow managed to tame my unruly brown hair and has it pulled back into a messy bun. It's one of those buns that look effortless and chic at the same time. She kept my make up light, using bronzer and highlighting powder to make my skin look as if it's glowing. She finishes with a light layer of mascara on my top and bottom lashes, then adds a bit of nude gloss.

"No babe, it's perfect. Mr. Moneybags won't know what hit him," she complements, handing me the gloss. "Don't forget to reapply after you eat."

"Yes ma'am," I salute.

"Whatever, smart ass," Kate jokes, rolling her eyes, "get dressed."

"Aye Aye, Captain," I tease, standing to walk into her bedroom. Kate has picked out what she deems the perfect night-in outfit. Light washed denim cut-off shorts, that are way shorter than any pair of shorts I own, and a grey oversized t-shirt, one of those ones that hangs off your shoulder.

Once I'm dressed I have to admit, I look pretty hot. "Damn, Steele, your legs are sick. Christian is not going to know what hit him," Kate comments. Just then there's a knock at the door. "Wait! Here put one of these in your pocket, just in case."

I look down to see what it is that she's handing me and I am mortified, "KATE! What am I supposed to do with this?" I hiss, holding up the foil packet.

"Really, Ana?" Kate arches her brow.

"I know what it's for but why are you giving it to me?"

"Because, Elliot says Christian never dates. I doubt he has them lying around his penthouse and you need to protect yourself," she says heading into the great room to answer the door.

I shove the condom in my pocket and run to catch up, "How do you know we're even going to have sex? It's just dinner!"

"Oh, don't play dumb, Steele, I saw the Victoria's Secret bags and I saw the way he was looking at you last night. If it weren't for me and Elliot, he probably would have fucked you right there on the dining room table."

I roll my eyes and she pulls me in for a hug. "I'm so happy for you Ana," she sobs.

"Geez, Kate, relax! It's one date, we're not getting married."

"I know, but you deserve the best, and let's face it, Christian can give you that. I don't think you understand just how big this is, he doesn't date ANYBODY, and he's dating you. Christian Grey doesn't do impulsive, and you have never so much as looked twice at any other guy before. Even if you are both too stubborn to realize it, this is a big fucking deal," Kate says, giving me one more quick squeeze. "And don't forget to use your condom," and with that she opens the door and pushes me out.

I arrive at Ana and Kate's apartment just before six. Tapping lightly on the door, I wait for Ana to come out. I haven't been able to think of anything but this moment all day. I even re-read her resume and background checks in preparation for dinner. I've decided that as soon as Kendall comes back from Portland I am going to end her contract. It was never a choice between Anastasia and Kendall, it was a choice between the monster that I am and the man that I should be.

Elena thinks that I won't be happy in a vanilla relationship, but I can't deny this thing between me and Anastasia any longer. She has affected me in a way that no other woman has and although I don't know how I will function in a normal relationships, I am willing to try. Who knows, maybe she will be into some of my kinky shit and I can have the best of both worlds. Either way, I know if I am going to pursue this any further, Kendall can no longer be a part of the equation. I choose Ana. I choose my light

Wondering what is taking so long, I lift my hand to knock again, just then the door swings open and my Ana comes tumbling through. Holding out my arms, I catch her before she hits the ground. "You sure as hell know how to greet a man, Ms. Steele. Your either falling through doors or shaking your little ass," I smirk. "I can't decide which one I prefer."

"Fuck off," she snaps, fixing herself.

"Watch it, Anastasia," I growl.

"Or else?" she replies dryly. Oh so that's how you want to play it.

"Or else," I slowly stalk towards her, backing her against the door I grab her wrists and hold them above her head. She bites down on her bottom lip as I run my nose down the side of her cheek, taking in her intoxicating strawberry scent as I go. With my other hand I hook her leg around my waist and slowly rub small circles on her thigh. Bringing my mouth to hers I gently suck on her bottom lip, extracting it from her teeth. I give it a small bite before planting a feather soft kiss on her lips, then I release her, and head towards the elevator.

"You don't play fair," she says, trying to catch her breath.

"I never said that I would," I quip as the elevator doors open and we silently board the car.

A song I've never heard of is humming softly in the background and Ana is standing next to me lost in her own little world. "Hey," I say tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Don't over think this, let's just let whatever happens tonight happen."

She nods slightly and her eyes glaze over. The electricity between us intensified by our confined quarters. "Stop it Anastasia," I breathe huskily.

"Stop what?" She questions looking up at me with those big innocent blue eyes.

"Stop looking at me like that. Like you want nothing more than for me to throw you up against the wall and fuck you right here."

"Nice, Grey," she snorts, "real romantic."

The elevator pings, signaling our arrival at my penthouse. We step off and suddenly I am nervous for Ana to be here. She doesn't strike me as the type to be impressed by my wealth; in fact, it's almost as if she likes me in spite of it. "You have a very lovely home Christian," She says as we step out of the foyer into the apartment.

"Thank you," I nod, leading her to the kitchen. "Would you like a drink?"

"Sure, whatever you're having."

I open the refrigerator and grab a bottle of white wine and the cheese plate Mrs. Jones prepared for us earlier. I gave her the night off, opting instead to order pizza, in an effort to make Anastasia feel more at ease. "I hope you're ok with pizza," I say uncorking the wine, "I gave my housekeeper the night off and you saw first hand how competent I am in the kitchen last night."

"Pizza it is then," she giggles, reaching for her wine.

"God, I love that sound," I say, more to myself than her. I laid awake all night hearing that giggle, smelling her sweet scent and I jerked off three times, reliving that damn kiss.

"What sound?" Ana's voice brings me back to the here and now.

"Your giggle. Come," I say taking the wine and the cheese plate and walk towards the TV room. I planned for this date to be as normal as possible. I had Taylor stop by a Redbox and pick up a variety of DVD's for us to watch while we eat and get to know one another.

"What would you like to see first, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Taken 2, or Here Comes the Boom?" I ask holding up the movies.

"Would you think less of me if I said Here Comes the Boom?" she answers with a grin.

"No, but I thought for sure a bibliophile such as yourself would say Wallflower."

"I read the book and I thought it was breathtaking. I have no desire to have my opinion marred by a poorly adapted film version. Movies almost never live up to the books, so I'd rather laugh at Kevin James getting his ass handed to him than spend two hours dissecting everything I don't like about Wallflower."

"Fair point, well made, Ms. Steele," I say, putting the movie into the DVD player, before taking my seat next to Ana on the couch. Once I'm seated she snuggles into my side, pulling her legs underneath herself, tucking one hand under her chin and locking the other one with mine. Snuggling on the couch, another first.

The movie starts and Anastasia and I settle in to a comfortable silence. She watches the movie and I watch her; I study every single movement she makes, big and small. I study the way her face lights up just before she laughs, the way she flinches when Kevin James takes a punch, the way her bottom lip quivers when they discover that all the money is missing. "Why are you staring at me?" she asks, catching me red handed.

"Because you're beautiful," I answer honestly, resting my forehead against hers; with Ana nothing else matters, not Kendall nor the 15 women before her, not Elena's opinion, not even my own. She's all I want. "These are really short," I comment playing with the hem of her shorts. "If we were going anywhere else tonight, I would have had to make you change," I say, kissing her nose.

"Make me, huh," she replies huskily, angling her mouth up to meet mine, he lips inches from my own.

"Yes, make you," I whisper before pulling her in for a kiss. The kiss starts slowly, methodically as I gently massage her tongue with my own.

Tugging on my hair, she lets out a soft moan, and our slow sweet kiss transforms into something more sensual, more erotic. Before I know it, I have Ana flipped on her back, hands pinned above her head and I am grinding my erection into her core.

I explore her body with my free hand squeezing her perky breasts, before continuing further down. "Christian," she moans.

"Hmm," I mumble against her neck.

"I-I wait."

"What's wrong, baby?" I say unbuttoning the top button of her shorts.

"I have to tell you something."

"Anything," I breathe.

"I'm… I'm a virgin," I'm stunned. I can't form a coherent thought. A virgin? "Say something Christian. Please, don't just say nothing."

"What?!" I ask incredulously. A fucking virgin?

"I still want to… I mean I'm not saying no I just thought…"

"A FUCKING VIRGIN?" I yell, standing up, pacing back and forth.

"I.. umm.. is this a problem? I thought guys liked virgins?" she asks, sitting up.

"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?" She wants me to be her first. She doesn't know what kind of monster I am.

"Why the fuck is it such a big deal? And when exactly should I have told you? During my job interview?" She says buttoning her shorts. "Or maybe when I was throwing up all night. Oh I know, how about last night at dinner with Kate and your fucking brother? I'm telling you now."

"I can't be with a fucking virgin, Anastasia," I say, running my fingers through my hair. I can't. I'd ruin her. She's too good. She deserves better.

"Wait a goddamn minute," She says, walking right up to me, forcing me to look at her, "You're going to walk away from this, from me because I don't screw around?"

I remain quite, lost in my thoughts. Am I? Can I even be gentle? Can I even be the man she needs?

"Fuck you, Christian. I don't even know why I bothered."

"Me either, I'm not the hearts and flowers type, this was just supposed to be a fuck," I lie coolly, desperately trying to hold onto my resolve. I want nothing more than to take her to my bed and rob her of her virginity, use her for my pleasure but what happens when I inevitably get bored? What happens when I break her heart? I throw her away like the rest. It's what I've always done. It's who I am but for the first time in my life, I care more about her feelings than I do my own. "Maybe you should just leave." Please don't go.

She freezes, shocked. "I can't believe this. I'm such an idiot," she says as she turns to leave; it takes all my self control not to chase her. From my spot in the TV room I hear the elevator ping and the sound drops me to my knees. There goes my light. There goes my more. There goes my Ana.