Hello everyone! It's Chapter 10 time! :) Reviews first:

1) You know Elliot...he likes to tease his brother and maybe his coaxing made Christian think a bit more about Ana as a potential girlfriend and not just roommate and friend. Who knows? ;)

2) Christian will be fine at work...don't worry! :)

3) Close call or moment of weakness? I like that! :) I don't want to spoil anything! You have to wait! ;)

Ok! Let's go to Chapter 10! :)

Disclaimer: All rights belong to E. L. James, I'm just playing with the characters!

Chapter 10

Monday, October 30th, 2017

I was morning shift today. Martha now gives me longer hours to work which means bigger payment. Today is also Christian's meeting with his bosses. He already left to work when I woke up. I hope everything goes good and he succeeds to persuade his bosses that it was not his fault but sloppy team member's. I just left apartment and I'm walking to the bookstore when my phone rings. It's Kate.

"Ana Banana! Are you ready for Halloween?" Kate happily yells.

Oh fuck, I forgot about that. Kate was talking all week about some Halloween party with a theme I would certainly like, but that was all.

"Yeah! But you didn't tell me anything about this party!" I say back.

"Well, prepare yourself Miss Steele! All party attendants have to dress up as famous book characters!" Kate squeals.

"Cool! I like that!" I smile.

"Cool, right? I decided I'm going to be Hermione Granger and Elliot is going to be Harry Potter!" Kate says. She always shipped Harry and Hermione and nobody could persuade her that Ron Weasley was better choice.

"What about you Ana? Please don't tell me you are going to be Elizabeth Bennett because I'm going to smack you with hard copy of Pride and Prejudice!" she laughs.

"Actually, I have another character on my mind but I need your help! Meet me after work in that cute deli near the bookshop!" I say.

"You got yourself a deal girl! See you!" Kate says and hangs up.

"Oh my Gooood! Steele! You dirty little minx!" Kate screams when I show her a picture of character I choose for Halloween party.

I choose Lisbeth Salander. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. With dark hair, dark clothes, piercings and enormous dragon tattoo on her back. Sexy and edgy. Something I couldn't pull in real life. But I can one day in a year.

We go to shopping mall searching for stores that have Halloween costumes, and few stores that have edgy clothes. I want something sexy!

I have found black wig that is long to my chin and has bangs, few fake piercings and other jewelry, tight leather pants, knee high military boots, black tank top with open back and Kate even found some fake tattoos that I can use. I will put leather jacket above all of that.

Kate already has her costume. She bought it weeks ago. Before we part our ways we agree that I will come to her apartment so she could do my make – up. Kate drops me in front of Escala.

Just before I'm ready to leave, Kate says something that got me all nervous.

"Oh Ana I forgot to tell you, Christian is coming too!" she winks at me and leaves in her Mercedes.

Shit!

I hurry back to apartment thinking about what Kate has just said. He is coming! That means only one thing. Leila is coming too! I have slight feeling that Kate knows I like him. As I open the door to the apartment I hear some shuffling. Christian must be at home. And I see him in kitchen, his back to me. Naked from waist up, in grey sweatpants and barefoot. His hair is slightly wet and he is drinking water from bottle. Oh my dear God and all that is holy! He is ripped, and not in that nasty oiled bodybuilder way. His muscles flex as he moves and I can't do anything but stare. Then he turns around. Holy Christ on heaven. Six pack and that V that disappears into his sweatpants. There is also a little bit of hair under his bellybutton. My mouth hangs open and my eyes bulge. I'm must look like silly cartoon character.

"Oh, hi Ana! I didn't hear you come in!" he greets me.

"H..h..hi!" I wave my hand and hurry in my room, my face burning hot, my breath labored and my heart beating like crazy.

I finally get to my room and as I close the doors I glide down them and sit on the floor. Taking few deep breaths I try to calm my beating heart. Now I know what is under that t – shirt.

I jump quickly under lukewarm shower to cool myself down. Putting on some leggings and blue hoodie I emerge from my room hoping that Christian is gone or at least has put some t – shirt on. But it's too late. I already have picture of his naked torso burned into my brain for a lifetime.

I peek from the corner and I see that he is in the living room, watching some Mariners' game. He has put black hoodie on

"You hungry?" I say timidly.

"Mac and cheese?" he asks with a smile.

"Sure!" I replay and busy myself with preparing our dinner.

After half an hour the meal is ready. Christian is now watching some crime TV show and I decide to be bold. I take two bowls of mac and cheese with me and go to living room. I sit next to Christian and pass him a bowl. He smiles at me and takes the bowl. Our fingers brush slightly and I smile back. He puts spoonful in his mouth and groans.

"Mmmmmm! This is heaven!" his groan stirs something in me.

I just smile at his comment. We watch TV in silence enjoying our meal. Then I remember…

"How did meeting with your bosses go?" I ask curiously.

"I was really lucky, they decided on other company that was also under our research. It is going to cost them some more money but it could be worse." he sighs.

"Is there more?" he asks after he finishes eating.

"Mhm!" I stand up, put my half eaten bowl on coffee table and take bowl from him. Again finger brush.

I plate the rest of mac and cheese and bring it back to him. As I pass him bowl, our fingers brush again. I'm on verge of my nerves. I need to leave because I'm going to explode.

After cleaning our dishes I say good night to Christian and hurry in the security of my room.

Tuesday, 31st, 2017

I can't wait for tonight. Day at the bookstore seems to drag slowly. I rearranged two shelves of books out of pure boredom. Everyone is getting ready for Halloween, buying costumes at last minute. Martha decided that tomorrow we are opening bookstore at noon because she is sure that we are all going to some parties and we are going to need our beauty sleep.

It's finally four p.m. and I'm on my way to Kate's apartment carrying my stuff for tonight's party. Kate greets me with long hug and a pizza. I'm starving. We are chat about work and eat. Time flies quickly and I head to my old bedroom to get ready. After shower I dry myself, put contact lenses and I put on my leather pants, socks and boots. Next goes tank top. I look myself in mirror and I see that top is quite revealing, there is no way I could wear a bra. It would look stupid. So I decide in moment of pure rebellion that I'm going without bra. Kate knocks and enters in the room, her hair curly like Hermoine's.

"Wooow! Steele, you look hot!" she whistles, "Let me put that wig on you and then we can do your make up and apply those tattoos.

She secures my hair in loose bun and net and then puts on a wig. She doesn't let me look at mirror until she finishes working on me. Then she starts to apply make - up. Last ones are tattoos. We found black dragon tattoo that she puts on my back with help of water and sponge. It goes from my shoulder to my waistline. She also puts some other tattoos on my arms and my neck. I'm finally in front of mirror. Kate has it covered with blanket so I wouldn't peek. She removes blanket and I stare at this unknown person that is looking at me. She is hot, sexy and confident. I'm speechless. Kate passes me fake piercings and jewelry. I put septum, nose and lip piercing, earrings along my ears, and two leather handcuffs with spikes. Whole look is completed with my black leather jacket.

"Wow Ana, I don't know what to say! You are sure going to turn some heads this evening! Both girls and guys!" she eyes me up and down.

Then we go to her room so she can put her costume and make up. We chat while she is getting ready.

"Mia is coming tonight! She got back from UK! You are finally going to meet her, she is bubbly and energetic, and you'll love her!" she says.

"I'm looking forward meeting her!" I smile.

"Luckily for us all Leila is not coming tonight!" Kate laughs, "Christian dumped her! Took him some time!"

My heart skips a bit. He left Leila! He finally realized what kind of person she is. Or maybe he found someone else. Stop with that Steele! He is finally free! I smile to myself.

I hear buzzer. It must be Elliot, he was getting ready at his parents' house because Mia wanted to do his make - up. Kate runs to open doors for him.

"Hey babe! You ready?" he asks.

"We are ready!" Kate says and turns to me smirking.

Elliot finally notices me and his mouth opens and closes. He looks like a fish opening and closing mouth, no sound.

"Holy fuck! Ana? Is that you?" he finally found his voice.

"One and only!" I say shyly.

He puts his fist in mouth and bites. Kate slaps him playfully and goes to her room to take her cape and hat. I get closer to Elliot to see his costume. He is wearing Hogwarts uniform, his hair is sprayed with black hairspray, he has thunder drawing on his forehead and Harry's round glasses. He also has magic wand and book under his arm that says "History of Hogwarts".

Kate emerges from her room and goes to entrance doors. Elliot and I are still standing in living room.

"Wait till Christian sees you! Lisbeth is his favorite character ever!" he whispers at me and hurries out behind Kate.