The walk to the elevator was just as silent as the ride back to Christian's penthouse. He pressed the Call button and the doors opened immediately. He held out a hand for her to enter first. As she stepped in, she noticed the red tint of his glossy eyes.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as the doors closed.

He made a soft sound in his throat before answering. "I don't like to drink much. I don't particularly enjoy the loss of control. Yet, in the two days I've known you, I've been drunk twice." Grimacing, he was brought back to the moment of watching another's hands roam her small frame. Christian's knuckles went white as he held the railing behind him. These feelings of desire were not new to him, but he was surprised he'd feel them again so soon and for someone like her. He hated himself for it.

""You know what?" She leaned against the elevator and looked down, the palm of her flats scraping against the tile floor. She brought her gaze up, a smirk forming at the corners of her lips remembering his revenge dance with the busty brunette. Buffy allowed herself the pleasure of getting under his skin. "I think you like it. I bet no one ever tells you 'No.' You have all the control. I think you enjoy relinquishing it once in awhile."

He felt his dick pulse. The color of his eyes seemed to darken as his jaw clenched. He wanted to show her just how wrong she was, just how much he enjoyed control when the elevator doors chimed and opened, stripping away the building moment from both of them.

"You're still drunk and it's late, Mr. Grey. Call me tomorrow and we'll talk about what the VIP section had to offer." Buffy hit the button to close the doors. Her chest pounding. Smart. You're too amped up. Too lonely. And so is he.

The storm raged as she pulled into the parking garage of the hotel. The staff was courteous as usual, nodding as she walked through the lobby. She couldn't stop thinking about the look on his face, begging for a challenge. Buffy did her best to ignore the ache between her thighs. She decided she'd be relieving some of the tension herself as she opened the door with her keycard.

What the hell?! Her room in chaotic disarray. The mattress was against the wall, the drawers were opened and emptied. The contents of her suitcase were spilled everywhere. Instinctively, she reached into the inside of her jacket and pulled a smooth wooden stake from the inner holster. She'd been in town for two days and someone was already suspicious of her. She was relieved to have put her weapons in the trunk of car so in case housekeeping hadn't been honest.

Hopefully they were stupid enough to leave something behind. Buffy tiptoed around the bed, kicking clothes around searching for something the intruder may have dropped. The bathroom door swung open, startling her. She stared wide-eyed at the large, burly man stood in the doorway and immediately took a defensive stance.

"Welcome to Seattle." He lunged at her with speed that she wasn't expecting. They toppled over the exposed bed frame. The brute landed on top of her, she heard her stake hit the floor along with the back of her head. His hands wrapped around her throat.

"You're really bad at this whole welcome committee thing," Her voice gruff under the pressure. He squeezed harder. Buffy kept her focus on her next moves so she didn't panic. She clawed at his forearms, she could feel skin bunch beneath her fingernails. He groaned in pain, his grip loosening. Buffy jabbed her fists on each side of his ribs. The burly man tightened a fist and hit her jaw. Her head turned the side, she winced in pain, but used the moment to grab his arm with both hands and pull his torso against hers. She kicked out her legs using the momentum to roll him to the side, gaining enough leverage to slip from his grasp and claw back to her feet.

"You're a slippery one. But I've got tricks, too." He roared as his face contorted. His forehead protruded, hooding his suddenly bright yellow eyes. It was a look she's seen countless times, yet never ceased to make her nervous.

"Well then, you know who I am and you know you won't be making it out alive." Buffy steeled herself and glanced around the room. There wasn't enough space to run, she'd never get the door open behind her, she had to finish this.

He laughed, showing off the large, sharp teeth and swung a large fist toward her face. She ducked at the last minute and drove a fist into his ribs. He stumbled. Buffy reached for her stake. He stood, looking ready to attack again, but she quickly swiped a shirt from an open dresser drawer and flung it at his face. Surprised by the yellow cloth closing in on his face, he focused on grabbing the shirt and it was just enough time to sway the fight in her favor. She sprung forward and jammed the stake into his chest. He turned to ash at her feet, the yellow shirt falling on top of the pile.

Buffy breathed heavily, the adrenaline still pumping. She wanted to continue searching for clues, but she was sure he wasn't alone. It would only be a matter of time before someone came to check on him. So she rushed out of the room and down the hall. Where can I go?! Should I go to another hotel? A pang of loneliness stabbed her heart. She'd give anything for a comforting embrace, but she left that in California. So she was off the closest thing she had: sexual tension and cold glares.

Buffy slammed the buzzer so many times she thought she broke it.

"4 AM." Christian's voice was scraggly. He did nothing to hide the anger.

"Oh, really? I hadn't noticed. Just let me up." She adjusted the dufflebag strap on her shoulder, the weapons inside clattering as they shifted. There was no response, but the elevator doors opened.

Christian had been pacing, waiting for the elevator to open. He kept combing his hair with his fingers in worry. "Since when is that damn thing take so long?" Soft cotton sweatpants hung at his hips. He'd forgotten to put on a shirt before answering the call. His chest tightened when the elevator rang, he paused in front of it, waiting for what felt like forever for the doors to open.

Christian's eyes widened when she saw her. Buffy's hair was still disheveled, a bruise had formed near her mouth. Her lower lip was swollen. But he could still not move.

Buffy rushed out of the elevator and passed him. Her thoughts whirling. "So I don't know how anyone found out about me, but a vampire was waiting for me in my room." She dropped the weapons bag on the floor. Her shoulders slumped when she noticed his expression. She could see the worry in his eyes, it made her nervous. She tugged at the bottom of her jacket as he stepped toward her. " I didn't know where else to go. I'm sorry I woke y-."

Christian grabbed her face gently with both hands. His thumb brushed against her bruise. She winced. Her heart pounded. "You'll stay here from now on."

She felt like crying, but did her best to hold back tears. The pent up emotions she thought she could bottle up by taking this job, by leaving her home for a little while had piled on top of new ones. This gentle embrace was almost enough to cause an explosion. Buffy nodded. She wanted to folder herself against his chest, listen to his heartbeat until she calmed down, but she just stared into those dark grey eyes.

Christian dropped his hands, his usual scowl was back. "I'll call the hotel for your things and to find out how the fuck they could've let someone into your room like that." He turned away, his bare feet smacking off the fine marble floors. He looked back at her. "Hungry? Thirsty?"

She felt deflated. "Tired."

He lifted her duffle bag. "Of course. The guestroom is all yours."