Okay, lots of mixed reviews from the last chapter. Hopefully this chapter will appease both sides. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

"Twenty-four?" I squeaked out in disbelief, squeezing him tightly with my arm strewn across his waist. We're both laying on the mattress, him on his back and me curled up to my side under his arm. "You had twenty-four sexual partners?" I repeated to make sure I wasn't hearing it wrong. That's twenty-four more partners than I had in my eighteen years of life.

"Are you surprised?" he questioned impassively, running his fingertips back and forth over my arm, making me shudder in response. Yes, I was surprised. I never took him as the type who'd jump from one relationship to another so quickly.

"Kind of," I answered neutrally. "How old were you when you lost your virginity?"

"Fourteen."

"Fourteen?" Whoa! Another shocking revelation. I gaped, "Wow... Was your first time with a virgin?"

"I've never had sex with a virgin. Women I've been with were usually sexually active." I sighed at the unwelcoming thought of him with all the experienced woman who'd given him most likely great pleasure. How was I supposed to live up to his expectation? Hopefully my virginity could compensate for my lack of experience.

"Well... I guess in that case it would be the first for you as well as for me," I pointed optimistically.

"Are you sure you're up for it Ana?" He muttered with uncertainty.

"I've never been more positive about anything."

"What's another couple months of abstinence? My divorce should be finalized by then," he tried to reason with me. "It'll fly by within a blink of an eye."

"You don't plan to return back to your wife, do you?"

"No."

"Then what difference does it make whether I lose it today or months from today."

"I don't want you doing anything you might regret down the line."

"What is there to regret? I wouldn't even be here if I had any reservation about us doing it. I'm ready and I'm willing," I confirmed adamantly.

"You're just as eager as ever aren't you," he muttered as he squeezed the tip of my nose and wiggled it playfully. I giggled with my cheek stirring over his chest and my index finger twirling around his nipple. It was soft and supple, but eventually firmed up from my touch.

"Why did you love her?" I questioned wistfully as a vague image of his wife crept up in my head. I've never seen her, but I knew she had to be beautiful and my curiosity couldn't help but wondered about their past. Like how they fell in love? What was it about her that enticed him? How did they fall out of love? Basically everything that had been predominantly clouding my mind for the past several weeks.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked reluctantly.

"If you don't mind."

He let out a heavy sigh before he began, "I was in a dark place then, Ana." Reflecting back, he paused. "I was never the type to settle down. I loved my freedom. The only kind of relationship I wanted was physical, sexual. Nothing emotional; no strings attached. She was able to accommodate my needs, and in return I ensured the same for her... Everything went smoothly for about a year." Again, he sighed. "All of a sudden there was a shift in her demeanor. She became easily agitated, uncooperative, and just...distant. Eventually she confessed that she couldn't continue our affair unless I gave her 'more'...gave her recognition. She wanted to claim me as her boyfriend, but I blatantly refused. That wasn't part of our agreement and she knew what the consequences were if she broke our agreement. I wasn't interested in anything more than what we had and I informed her right from the beginning. So in order to prevent any further complications, we ended our affair. She went her way and I continued my life as before.

"Unfortunately, three months later my mother, Grace, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I had promised Grace that I would be there to support her every step of the way. After her surgery she needed radiation therapy and I made time to assist her to every treatment. Coincidentally one day I ran into...her at the cancer center... We spoke. I introduced her to Grace. From then on I started seeing her on a regular basis; she was my form of solace. She understood what I was going through because her mother had died of breast cancer, and her aunt at the moment was also getting treatment. She could relate. My mother was everything to me and the thought of losing her was absolutely devastating. It was her that helped me through the ordeal when my family couldn't. She'd accompany me every time I took Grace in for her treatment. Grace was taken by her gesture. The two eventually became really good friends." He released another sigh, sadness washed over him.

"After Grace recovered from cancer, she'd drop by to visit her every now and then and helped nursed her back to health. I told her it wasn't necessary, but she insisted. She was stubborn, but I knew she had a good heart. I've known so much about her in that short period of time: her likes and dislikes, her favorite color, her favorite food, her favorite band, her pet peeves. Soon after, I opened up to her about my troubled childhood, my upbringing, and she accepted me unconditionally. And I began to trust her. I let my guard down and allowed her in. Soon enough, she somehow convinced me into loving her. I really did love her. Truly loved her. And for the first time ever my mother was also happy for me. She was ecstatic that I'd found someone so selfless, considerate, compatible and just all around perfect for me.

"Is that why you married her?"

He contemplated for a second, melancholy setting in. "At first, marriage never crossed my mind." He sighed deeply. "As much as I loved her I wasn't quite sure if I was ready to commit, but Grace broached the subject. She told me how much she loved her and that if she ever leaved this earth she hoped to at least see me settle down and have a family. It would keep her mind at peace... That was her wish." He chuckled humorlessly, "I laughed at the thought, but as time progressed I soon realized how much I wanted her and I knew I couldn't endure life without her, so I decided to take my mothers advice and proposed to her. Six months later we tied the knot."

"What stopped you from loving her?" I stared up at his face, fully engrossed. He darted his eyes down at me before focusing back up at the ceiling. His fingers traced my knuckles.

"She stopped loving me. She thought I was smothering her; restricting her from normalcy."

"Was it true?"

"I do it out of love. I'm very possessive Ana. I cherish everything that's mine. Alas, she had enough of my affection and left. She couldn't handle me. Everything of me. It's funny now how the tables had turned, and again were back to square one."

"Was that the only reason why?"

"No...that's not all. I also wanted a family, but she wasn't ready for one."

"She doesn't want kids?" I said adversely.

"Not at the moment."

"I love kids. I definitely want kids," I announced elatedly, hoping to lighten up the topic. The image of little Greys running amuck in the great room had me smiling.

He chuckled lightly. "You're still young, Ana," he admonished.

"Not now, later," I retorted, rolling my eyes. He narrowed his and then adjusted to his side to face me.

"Now you know about my past. What do you think? You gonna chicken out now?" he teased smirking.

"Nope," I said with a pop, my fingers playing with his pecs. "That just entices me even more."

"You're hard to convince."

"It's impossible to reject you. You're irresistible in every way." I snaked my leg over his hip and rolled him onto his back, straddling over his belly. My forearms propped on either side of his head and my face hovered an inch from his as we shared a modicum of silence between us. "You must get lots of women throwing themselves at you."

"But I'm not interested in just any women," he said with pure adoration, boring into my eyes and caressing my cheek with his thumb. I believed him, his eyes exuded sincerity.

"Be honest with me," I pleaded in hopes of extracting the truth. "Do you still love her?" The question had been haunting me ever since and I desperately needed an answer. Just a simple answer to subdue any speculation that had been lingering in my head.

"No," was his answer. Short, curt, effective, and exactly what I'd been anticipating. "Ever since I met you my love for her had subsided. You're the only person on my mind. Day in and day out." He slicked a strand of hair, that had fallen loosely, behind my ear. "Do you not see that? You drive me crazy, Ana. I'm like a lost puppy without your presence... I can't find my way home... You'd have to guide me home." His eyes were filled with distress and all I wanted to do was relinquish everything malicious in that mind of his.

"Sure. I'll guide you home," I whispered back empathetically before crushing my lips over his, sharing a deep passionate kiss that longed to become more. Our tongues meshed as his hands deviated underneath my panties and squeezed my ass. I yelped lightly then giggled, vibrating our lips together. Slowly, his fingers rose and traveled up my back before pulling the bra straps off my shoulders. He broke our lips apart and then trailed wet kisses down my chin and neck and throat, licking and sucking simultaneously. I heard a whimper escape my lips.

"I wanna see them," he breathed against my neck, heaving erratically.

With his request, I straightened myself up on him and took a deep breath. His elbows propped his body up as he watched me like a hawk, unraveling before him. My hair draped over my chest as I nervously pulled both straps down my arms. One hand held on to the cups while the other reached back and unclasped my bra. He appraised me up and down before he met my gaze, drawing his lips up into a sexy smirk. My heart was beating out of my chest. Why was he making me so nervous all of a sudden? I should of had him dimmed down the lights prior to this.

"You having doubts now?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

"No. I'm just savoring the moment," I quipped and then added, "I like it when you admire me with your eyes."

"Not just admire you... But also please you, hold you... I plan to cherish you all night long," he vowed solemnly, running his thumb across my inner thigh, and effortlessly the laced garment cascaded without my knowledge.

Extending his arm, he pushed my hair back over my shoulder, exposing every part of my torso. He drank in the view salaciously; his eyes were fueling with desire warming me down below. "Beautiful," he praised. With his right hand he cupped the side of my left breast and ran his thumb over my nipple, back and forth, back and forth, elongating it. I moaned sharply, my head tipped back as he twisted and pulled it with heed. He grasped my arms and pulled me forward, crushing me against his body once again. He plunged his tongue inside my mouth and I devoured it, sucking aggressively. Both his hands played with my breast, squeezing gently as to get acquainted with them. Before I knew it his mouth enclosed my nipple, sucking, nipping, and thrusting his tongue against the sensitive flesh. I mewled.

Fucking tongue. I'm wet.

He rolled me over and pinned me against the mattress, his hands brushed and clung on to both mounds. His tongue attacked my nipples, growling as he leeched on to them hungrily, one after the next and back again.

Fuck.

I arched my back, pushing my breast forward into his hands and reveled in the arousing sensation. Gradually, he trailed down, kissing inch by inch of my stomach, my belly, and ended at my laced panties. His fingers hooked onto the delicate fabric and peeled it down my hips and thighs. He stopped abruptly.

"Ana?" he uttered in shock, and I knew exactly what he was referring to. Oh, please. Let him approve of it, I thought as I stared tensely up at the ceiling. "You're bare." Yes, completely bare, down there.

My fingers fidgeted anxiously over the sheets. "Um...Samantha informed me that most guys prefer woman bare down there," I muttered sheepishly. She was the one that dragged me into the shop. After thirty minutes of pestering I succumbed to her plea and let the Aesthetician work her magic.

"I approve," he uttered, and instantly my limbs loosened up as he slipped my panties down my legs and tossed it aside. He bent my knees up at a 90degree angle, spreading them as far as they could go. My eyes wandered uneasily as he tipped his head down to examine my part. I cringed, how embarrassing. Peeping through my lashes, his eyes remained fixed on that center. What was he doing? God. The wait was excruciating not to mention very uncomfortable. The longer he stared at it the more self-conscious I became. Why couldn't he just get on with it?

"I wish you could see how beautiful you are down here." He grazed my bud, and my walls automatically clenched, forcing juices down my cleft.

"Very responsive. I love that," he uttered with a grin before dipping his head down and granted his tongue a taste. Though it was warm, it didn't stop me from shuddering.

Shit.

"Sweet," he breathed, peering up at me through his lashes, "Exquisitely sweet."

He blew on me before enclosing his warm mouth over my clit. Oh my god. My hip jerked from the sensation, and I moaned. It was riveting; more than what any of my fingers could do. I looked down staring at his grey hooded orbs that were deeply penetrating mine while his tongue worked its magic. In and out, it danced between the crack. His fingers replaced his tongue. First one then two, entering me gently and methodically. My head slammed back, my eyes blurred up at the ceiling, my thighs clamped his head. I was heavenly close to the edge before he stopped and the sensation waned. What happened?

I propped myself up on my elbows, confused as I looked to Christian. Floating my attention down, my eyes bulged out, gawking at his glorious figure kneeling between my thighs. His boxer briefs was hanging below his hips. His smouldering eyes remained entranced, fixating them between the apex of my thighs as his hand stroked his massive cock. Oh,god. I salivated from the view.

I had read online that the average male penis was six-inches in length. By the look from this angle, Christian's penis was anything but. Not to exaggerate, but his cock was way way above average, rivaling any dildo that Samantha had ever shown me.

"Reach into the top drawer," he ordered me nicely with his gruff tone.

I reached back and inadvertently grabbed two plastic packet from the nightstand drawer. Condoms? He had condoms? So much for refraining me from sex.

"Open it." I tore the packet and passed it to him. Gracefully, without breaking eye contact, he rolled it over his shaft. It was hot. The whole process was a turn on. "Last chance," he reminded.

I shook my head "no". There's no backing down now. With that, he grasped onto my thighs and pulled me down towards him. With his index and middle finger, he stretched my folds apart. His head met my center and eagerly, he pushed in.

Fuck, I gasped and winced from the tip alone.

"Ana. Are you okay?" He showed concern, frozen in his position.

I lied giving a frantic nod.

"Tell me if it hurts."

It hurts it hurts. NO! Suck it up, bitch. You asked for it. "I-I'm fine," I stammered lowly, pain etched over my face. "Just...slowly." My chest rose and fell.

He nodded slightly for reassurance. My clit was pampered by his expert thumb as he resumed sinking into me. I could feel him inside me, chafing my walls, ripping me apart. It stung. Halfway in, the pain increased and I found my hand pressed against his belly, thwarting him from continuing.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked genuinely. And I knew he would if he had to.

"No," I huffed out as I redirected my stupid hand and kept it busy clenching onto the sheets.

"We're almost there." And he pushed in deeper. I groaned from discomfort, my eyes lost focus. He guided my hand over my clit.

"Play with yourself." He started for me and I rubbed myself the only way I knew how. Soon he was all the way in, filling me to the brim. Our bodies united in a way I couldn't explain, but I finally knew what it felt like to connect with him. Not just physically but somehow emotionally. "Good girl," he puffed out, breathing short breaths. We heaved victoriously, a ghost of a smile played on our lips. Then slowly he pulled out and thrusts himself back in. Ahh. I winced again. The pain hadn't subsided much, but a trace of pleasure made it bearable. Again out then in. Ahh.

"Hold me, Christian," I whimpered feebly. He hurled forward and held me flushed against his body. His fingers laced into my hair and he kissed me fervently as he drove inside me, fucking me lovingly. We moaned in unison, though his was more feral. The sensation was overwhelming. Eventually pleasure outlasted pain, and I was lost. Lost in his eyes, his body, his touch, his heart, his warmth. Everything about him left me perplexed. His body moved gracefully, conforming to my needs and before I could drown myself in sheer pleasure the familiar convulsion between my thighs cropped up. I held on, not wanting to surrender to my body.

"Let it go," he urged, but I couldn't do it. I refused to. Letting go meant ending our bond and I didn't want it to end. "Ana," he urged again, pumping me harder, deeper, forcing my body to betray me. Unable to withhold any longer, I gave in and came intensely, groaning as my thighs clamped his hips. A couple thrusts later, Christian stilled and grunted my name before he spilled inside of me and collapsed over me. Quietly, we drifted down from our high. It was over. For the first time ever I was fully sated, and at the same time I was afraid. Afraid of needing him more than I thought.

Oh, god.

I know the lemon was lengthy but I wanted to be romantic and as close to reality as possible.