They're keeping all the alcohol under lock and key, but tonight at dinner everyone is getting one glass of a white wine that tastes amazing. Christian says that white wines pair nicely with chicken. I've never really paired wine with things, whatever came cheap and in a box is how I've always worked. I never really understood the difference in wines, but this is good and probably expensive. On another plus side the plate that Christian brought me tonight was nothing like at breakfast, it's child sized portions which I am really happy with because I can actually clear my plate that way. Him and Kate both seem happy that I eat everything tonight, I'm not just picking or nibbling at bits. I'm making them happy right now, doing good.
"Do you think you want to go back Monday?" Kate asks.
"I don't want to, but I guess we have to. I mean, it's not normal for you to miss days of lessons. I wish… it's not important. I have to go back," I answer.
"What do you wish?" Elliot asks.
"It's nothing, so when is the flight Monday?" I look up at Christian.
"I'll tell you if you tell me what you wish," He smirks.
"I wish we could stay longer and see Disney World, spend more time in the sun," I look at my hands. "It's not needed though. You guys need to go back to work, Kate and I need to go back to school, there are priorities over stupid wishes."
"But Christian and I own and run our companies, we can take time off whenever we want. And vacation can be a priority and it is sometimes needed," Elliot states.
"Kate, you're on my side about going back to school. Right?"
"I think we won't hurt from missing a week. Regroup, you don't really seem like you want to be there anymore and you have never taken any time off of school or work. I'm actually on Elliot's side," She smiles up at him.
I want to stay here, I need to go back because if I stay away longer I will never want to go back to school. I was already at risk of dropping out before and if I stay away I know I never will. I don't have the push or discipline anymore, she's right because I don't want to be there. It's not my thing, I would do better getting my degree through distance but it's not possible. The housekeeper comes offering dessert, I'm the only one to decline her offer. I excuse myself and go up to my room to shower and get ready for bed. I don't want to get into a discussion or argument about this. Tomorrow we are doing whatever we came here for, and then when we go back to Portland and the boys go to Seattle I am somehow following the contract. We go back to school. They go back to work, all wrapped up and how things are supposed to be.
Bennett is shaking with rage, and I have no idea what I have done this time but he is mad at me. I have done something to piss him off and it's not even seven in the morning. I was being quiet, I swear I doing my best at not making any noise. I just wanted breakfast, I'm hungry. So, so hungry.
"What the fuck are you doing in here?" He snarls.
"I was hungry," I look down at the stained linoleum. "I was trying to be quiet, I'm sorry."
"What does the clock say?"
"Six forty-three."
"What time is breakfast?"
"Eight."
"Right," He's pissed. I want to beg and cry with how sorry I am, but it's useless. "You're just a stupid, fat, useless fucking cunt. Do you get that? You're nothing, good as trash. Go to your fucking room and don't you dare come out until I let you out. Do you get that? I don't want to see your fat whore ass body until I fucking decide you deserve that room."
I try to step past him, go to my room, but his foot comes out knocking me down. My head makes a loud crack while bouncing off the corner of the counter, my arm snapping as I land awkwardly.
"Fuck!" He shouts. "You clumsy idiot. Look what you've done now! Go get fucking dressed and we'll go to the hospital. And remember that it's you're fucking fault. You came down for breakfast and tripped over a school bag in the dark. Say it."
"I tripped in the dark," I mumble, near tears.
Every thing hurts, burns, aches but he doesn't really care. He grabs tight hold of my neck and pulls/drags me up to my room. I change into the stained clothes I have and meet him outside by the car. He looks me up and down.
"No one will love you, give a fucking shit about you. Your fat and ugly body is only going to be good for a fuck, you'll be a good whore one day. Only useful at that. Get in, and don't say a fucking word that will get us in trouble or life will be hell till you die."
Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Just make the pain stop. Make it all stop. I don't want to die. Don't kill me. I won't be bad. I don't want to be that.
"Anastasia," Christian is shaking me awake. Kate and Elliot are in the door. "You've been screaming for twenty minutes. It's okay. You're here. I'm here. Okay?"
I struggle out of the blankets that I've tangled myself in and straddle Christian, wrapping my arms around his chest and my legs around his hips. I hold tight and don't let go. I'm shaking, it all felt so real, I could feel the hits and the pain and could smell the filth. Christian holds me, rubs my back and takes deep breaths that I start to mirror.
I lean back and look over at Kate and Elliot, standing there awkwardly and honestly looking like they were in the middle of sex. The idea makes me giggle, and soon it seems they see what I'm laughing at and laugh too. I look at the clock and it's nearing three in the morning. Everyone is so disheveled and probably tired, I don't think I could sleep now though.
"Do you want to go back to bed?" Christian asks.
"I don't think I'm tired anymore, I'll just watch some TV. You go back and sleep. It's okay," I try and smile.
"How bout I lay with you for a bit, we can both try to get some sleep. Yeah?"
"Sure? But, um, I've never shared my bed with anyone."
"Neither have I."
He holds me, my back to his front, and drifts off. His heart, breathing, and muscles all slowly relax and release him into a beautiful sleep. I awkwardly shuffle and turn around to look at him. City light is leaking into the room, illuminating his face just right. I brush the few stray strands of hair out of his face, granting me a clear view.
Without touching him I trace his face, his features, his chest. He kind of pouts when he sleeps and it's rather adorable, that child like exuberance. He's so at peace, innocent when he sleeps, handsome. I wiggle in closer, up his body, and carefully brush my lips over his. We haven't even kissed yet, when he kisses me its my head, cheek, hand, something that is caring but nothing more. His lips, I've always wanted to feel them against mine and this way I don't feel rejected. I lean back a bit again and trace his lips and now, the side of his face gently with my finger. Touching him now, but he's not reacting. I look down at his chest, tracing the lines and contours of his muscles.
"What are you doing, Anastasia?" His voice is heavy with sleep.
"N…n…no… nothing," I stutter.
His eyes flutter open, immediately locking with mine. A smile, possibly a smirk, tugs at the sides of his mouth. I have definitely been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, or whatever that is. The heat of my blush rushes all over my body, nerves firing off left, right and center. His hand ghosts up my body, settling on cupping my face.
"What were you doing?" He's much more assertive now, but his smile is counteractive. "I thought I told you to sleep."
"I don't want to sleep," Ignore the first question, safety in avoidance.
"I see, well I think I know exactly what you were doing," He barely blinks.
"You do?" I gulp.
"I do. I can show you what I think you were doing."
"What?"
"What?" He teases me.
I close my eyes, trying to think if I noticed a change in breathing or something. Oh my God, did he fucking trick me? I know breathing, sneaking out, all that. He can't have pulled one over on…
What the fuck. I open my eyes to find Christian right there, his lips pressing, moulding, against mine. His other arm wraps around my waist and pulls me flush against him, travels down further to my ass where he squeezes and I gasp. He takes every opportunity that I blindly offer up, probing the inside of my mouth with his tongue. Nothing has ever made me feel so alive. What is wrong with me?
AN: Hey everyone. Thank you again, so much, for all the support and kind words. Any guesses, suggestions, reviews are warmly welcomed through review or private message.
Few quick questions for all you lovely readers who are sticking through this process:
1. Do you want to have chapter or few from Christian, Kate, or Taylor's POV's? Or anyone else?
2. Wavering on the line on whether or not Elena should make some kind of grand (maniacal) entrance into their lives?
3. If anyone has suggestions, ideas on where to take this, let me know. I have a general premise for this but am always open to seeing if I can work more into what I have. While some of you lovely's have offered up so much that I am grateful for, I would love if more of you would too.
4. Lately I have been uploading when I wish ranging from 1-3 chapters a day. Would you prefer a more organized schedule?
I hope everyone is having a great Thursday. Remember that there is always someone who loves you XOX -Mouse