"Say it again" he growls into her ear as he locks eyes with her and slides inside of her.

She whimpers and moans out "I love you"

"Fuck, baby. You don't know what it does to me hearing you say that" he nips and sucks along her neck and shoulder.

"I love you. I love you. I love you" she chants like a prayer. "Fuck don't stop"

"Never, God I love you, Ana" he says as he spills into her.

After confessing his love for her, it seemed that he couldn't say it enough or hear it enough. They all but sprinted back to his dorm from the library and were barely in the door before their clothes were flying. He collapses on top of her as they both try and catch their breath.

"I thought you were going to break up with me" she says quietly.

"What? Why?" he moves off of her and props himself up on his elbow to stare intently at her.

"I thought I scared you off… by saying I love you" she blushes and avoids eye contact.

He grabs her face pulling her to look at him before kissing her forehead. He's silent for a minute unsure of what to say before pulling her to his chest. "Ana, I'm not going anywhere"

"Good" she smiles into his chest and places a kiss over his heart. They're cuddled into each other when she speaks up. "So we are performing at the homecoming game next weekend… you'll be there right?"

"Of course… I thought you weren't cheerleaders though?" he smirks.

She laughs and rolls her eyes "We aren't, we are just dancing at halftime. Games are kind of like practices for us" she laughs. "We start competing at the end of October"

"Oh wow, I didn't realize you compete"

"Mmmmhmm" she says closing her eyes

"Can I come to those?"

"You want to?" She could remember Nate whining about having to go to another competition in high school. They're all the same, Ana. He would say.

"Of course I do. I'll be in the front row"

She smiles into his chest and hugs him tighter "I would love if you came. We travel for a lot of them though"

"So you'll be gone a lot?" He tenses and she strokes his arm to calm him.

"Not a lot, I would say maybe once a month. There are a few around here as well. The furthest we'll go is New York or Florida for now, if we get to the end we'll fly to California for Nationals and then Australia for Worlds."

"I hope you make it to Worlds, I've never been down under"

"You would come?" she laughs.

"I would follow you anywhere"

Her breath hitches and the tears are streaming down her face. She sniffles drawing his attention to her and lifts her chin to look at her. He wipes her eyes with his thumb and runs his knuckles down her cheeks. "I love you" she whispers.

"I love you too" he whispers back.

The rest of the weekend went on without a hitch. Christian ended up inviting Elliott and Kate to dinner, so the four of them went and then watched a movie in their room afterwards. Ana opens her eyes the next morning to Christian moving out of her bed.

"I have to go" he whispers.

"What time is it?"

"7. I have to be at the boathouse by 8. I'll see you after the meet?"

She nods "I'll be there"

"In my shirt?" he asks

God even at 7 am this guy is adorable. "Yes baby, in your shirt" He smiles that panty dropping smile and kisses her lightly. "Good luck"

"Thanks" he winks at her and then he's out the door. She looks over to the other side of the room to see Kate sleeping on Elliott's chest. Maybe there is something there.

Being so close to the water made the air chilly. Ana is pulling her hair up into a pony tail when Vanessa waves her, Elliott and Kate over.

"Ana!" she hugs her and whispers in her ear "you okay?"

"Never better" she smiles.

She nods and smiles back "Good"

"I don't know if you met them officially, but this is my roommate Kate and Christian's older brother Elliott" she introduces. "Guys this is Vanessa. She's the captain's girlfriend"

"Hi! Nice to meet you guys" They all sit down before the meet starts. She immediately spots Christian walking out with 8 other guys.

"Pretty big deal for a freshman to start. Pretty big deal for a freshman to make Varsity at that" Vanessa says

"I'm pretty proud of him" she smiles and turns her attention back to them as they get seated in the boat.

"Hope you didn't keep him up all night" she giggles. "Charlie doesn't even let me sleep over anymore the night before the meet. Something about us both lacking self-control" she laughs.

"Well we had some people in the room or else we would have" she said nodding her head towards Kate and Elliott who are in their own world sharing nachos. She rolls her eyes Oh Kate.

"It's about to start!"

The meet went by a lot faster than she imagined. Harvard crushed Cornell beating them 4 out of 5 times. When they came out of the boathouse she ran into his arms wrapping her arms around him. "You were so good! That was so cool" she gushed.

He laughs at her excitement and kisses her lightly "Thanks baby, sorry I'm so sweaty"

"I don't care" she kisses him running her tongue across his lips. "You taste like sweat" she whispers biting her lip and giving him a sexy look.

"Fuck" he growls. "I was going to shower here but now I just want to fuck you in the shower when we get back to the dorm" Her eyes widen and she goes to say something when Elliott and Kate come over.

"Bro! You were awesome. You kicked ass out there" Elliott comes over and pats him on the back.

"Thanks El, thanks for coming"

"Wouldn't miss it, Vanessa was telling us about Harvard's longstanding rivalry with Yale and how you guys have this huge race in the summer, I'll def come back for that"

"Oh yeah the Regatta? It's super crazy. It's like this" looking around them "times 10… like Super bowl status" he laughs.

"I will definitely be here."

"Awesome, yeah I can't wait."

After Elliott left the rest of the week flew by and it was Friday again before they knew it.

"Stop it, you're distracting me!" Ana whines as Christian is sitting next to her in a private room at the library running his lips over her neck. "I can't study with you doing that"

"Then stop studying" he whispers sexily

"Christiannnnn"

"Anaaaaa" he whines back.

"You should go" she giggles. "I am not getting any work done and you aren't either"

"Eh, I'm all caught up on everything; I'm reading ahead at this point"

"Well aren't you special" she says sarcastically.

"My girlfriend surely thinks so" he teases.

After a few minutes he closes his book and stretches out to look at her.

"Yes dear?" she says not looking up from her book.

"Will you be mad if I went out?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"I don't know… we don't usually go out separately"

"This isn't really separate babe" she laughs. "I'm not going out all weekend, this paper will not write itself, and it's due Tuesday. Go! Have fun"

"The guys are just doing something at the house and I wouldn't go but if you're studying…"

"Go" she laughs.

"Okay, well are you ready to go now? You know how I feel about you walking back at night by yourself"

"Ummm 10 minutes? Let me just get to the end of this chapter"

"Perfect" he says moving her hair out of his way so he can go back to kissing her neck.

"On second thought" she giggles and leans in to kiss him on the mouth. "Are you coming home tonight?"

"Of course"

They walked back to the dorm and he goes to shower as she heads into her room to go back to studying.

"Not going out?" Kate asks

"No, I have a huge paper due Tuesday and practice on Monday"

"Bummer, I'm going to go down the hall and have a wine and Sex and the City marathon with the girls. Head down if you want a study break later. Is Christian coming over?"

"Nope, he's going out"

"Do you guys do that?" she raises an eyebrow at her

"Do what?"

"Not go out together"

"Oh goodness, you act like we spend every waking moment together"

"Practically"

"Well its fine, he should go out. If he stays in he'll just paw at me all night"

"Oh your life is so hard. My hot boyfriend that adores me wants to jump my bones 24 hours a day" she rolls her eyes.

"I know it is so hard" she says putting a hand over her head pretending to faint.

Kate leaves and about an hour later she hears a knock.

"Hey you" she smiles. "God you look hot" she giggles.

"Mmm so do you. You're trying to kill me aren't you" he says looking at her in his t-shirt and no pants.

"You leaving now?"

"Yeah, the cab will be here soon. Kate go out?"

"No she's down the hall"

"Well hopefully when I get back she won't be back yet so you can take advantage of me" he smirks at her

She laughs and rolls her eyes "Get out of here goofball. Oh if you need a ride later I can take Kate's car to come get you"

"Okay, I'll let you know" he kisses her soundly and then he's gone.

Around midnight she starts getting tired and finds it somewhat odd that she hasn't heard from him. Hmmm maybe we don't really go out without each other. She decides to shoot him a text to see how the night is going.

So sick of this Social Media paper. Like let me just quote my Twitter and be done with it!

After about 20 minutes she still hasn't heard back and feels herself getting irritated. Oh stop it Ana, he doesn't have to text you every minute of every day. She shoots him a text around 1 am

Someone must be having fun haha! I'm going to bed, text me when you need to get in, love you

She stirs in her sleep around 4 am and immediately shoots up in bed when she doesn't feel a body next to her. She turns on her side lamp and sees Kate asleep in bed across the room. She looks at her phone hoping to see a missed text from Christian. Nothing. Not even a call. She hops out of bed and immediately goes across the hall. She feels bad potentially waking up Sean but now she was nervous. Did something happen to him? What if he's not okay? Or what if he is okay with… someone else? Shit. Calm down, Ana. Christian would never. She sighs and knocks lightly on the door and then a little harder. She hears shuffling and then Sean opens the door rubbing his eyes.

He yawns "What's up… you do know what time it is?"

"I am so sorry, Sean. Please don't be mad, but is Christian here?"

"I don't remember him coming in" he flips on the light and then back off when he sees he isn't there. "Nope"

"That's weird… I haven't heard from him all night. And I thought he would've been back by now. Okay… thanks"

"Hey, Ana"

"Yeah?" she spins around and he catches the look on her face.

"I know what you're thinking… but he loves you"

"I know" she laughs nervously. She doesn't want him to think she doubts him or for him to tell Christian. "I'm just worried, you know?"

"Did you call him?"

"No" she shakes her head "Maybe I will."

She grabs her phone and walks into the sitting area on her floor as to not wake up Kate. It rings and rings and then goes to voicemail. She sighs and hangs up before putting her head in her hands.

"Vanessa" she whispers. She goes back and forth with the idea of calling or texting… Maybe I'm going overboard. Like… I'm not his mom and I am so not that girl. And Vanessa is definitely sleeping or studying. Her thoughts are interrupted with her phone whirling to life.

"Oh my god are you okay?!" Click.

She looks at her phone and sees that the call was disconnected. "What?" Something is so not right. She tries calling back and the phone goes straight to voicemail. Her eyes fill up with tears but she swallows them down. He is fine. He is totally fine. She paces back and forth deciding whether or not she should drive over there. She decides against it as the last thing she wanted to be was the overbearing clingy girlfriend or to embarrass him. She climbs back into bed and is wide awake as she stares at the ceiling. She sends him a final text.

You could have very least told me you weren't coming back. Now I'm worried and upset. So thanks. Night.

She had never been that short with him before and erased it and rewrote it 10 times before sending. She put her phone under her pillow and clutched it hard hoping it would vibrate at any moment. She wakes up around 8 and immediately looks at her phone and feels overwhelmingly sick. Nothing. She calls him again and it still goes automatically to voicemail.

Where are you? Are you okay? Call me please

"Shit." She sighs and Kate opens her eyes to look at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh shit, sorry Kate. I didn't think I was that loud"

"I was half awake anyway, what's up?" She explains the story to her and Kate feels more angry than worried. "What an asshole"

"He's not an asshole, Kate"

"It's just so inconsiderate. Elliott has called me every night he's gone out when he gets home and is so good about texting me throughout the night"

"You guys are still talking?" she smiles

She nods excitedly and smiles. "I like him a lot. Sucks he so far, but it's so exciting and fun right now. We talk and Skype all the time"

"Well I don't know what to say at this point… his phone is dead, I just have to wait it out I guess"

It's 10:30 am and she is livid. Beyond livid. She has literally made it to Kate's car and turned around. No do not be that girlChristian you are making me this girl. Like all I'm asking for is I'm sorry, I'm alive and nope didn't get you confused with some other girl and went home with her. Kate went to breakfast with Sean and some of the other girls. She knew she wouldn't be able to eat anything until she talked to him so she stayed behind. Her phone starts ringing and she sprints to it only to see Vanessa's name.

"Hey"

"Oh my god, Ana!? Why didn't you call me, I know you're freaking out"

"Not as much as I am now, what happened" fearing the worst.

"I just got to the Row House and had to rip Charlie a new one. I would've warned you I forgot they were… I don't like to say hazing I'm the editor of the newspaper for God's sake and he promised they were toning it down this year."

She sighs "is he okay?"

"Despite his throwing up, he's most worried about you. I threw his ass in a cab one he will probably throw up in and sent him your way. Just… don't be too hard on him. Him and the other freshman had no idea it was coming."

"Why couldn't he call me?"

"They take their phones at the start of the night"

"Oh"

"I know it's stupid and shitty, and I am so sorry I meant to warn you that it was coming. It's always after the first meet. I never know exactly when, and it just completely slipped my mind. I am so sorry Ana. The old president hazed the shit out of Charlie last year when he passed the crown so to speak and I freaked out. I made myself sick with worry and then drove to the Row House. I'm surprised you didn't."

"I was close"

"Well he should be home soon." She hears something outside of her door.

"I'll call you back"

"Don't kill him, Ana."

They hang up and she opens her door to see Christian sitting up against the wall next to the door with his head on his arms resting on his knees. He looks up at her and mouths "I'm sorry"

She sighs and shakes her head giving him her hand to lift her up. She hugs him "I'm just glad you're okay"

"I am not okay Ana, this hangover is real" he chuckles.

She backs up and scrunches her face "You're right. You need a shower" He follows her into her room and he goes to lie down on her bed.

"Don't you even think about it, Mister."

"Fine, kill me in my hour of need" he says lying on the floor.

"Don't be so dramatic. You got hazed"

"How do you know?"

"Vanessa just called me, told me she saw you this morning… knowing I would be upset"

"Fuck, Ana. I woke up this morning so disoriented and then freaked out that I wasn't in bed with you and then they gave me back my phone I saw it was off so I turned it back on and saw all these texts and that you had called me. I had no idea—"

"It's okay" she said quietly.

"It's not okay. I hate that you were worried. They told me last night that they were going to have Vanessa call you. They swore. Ana I swear I tried— You should have seen Vanessa when she came in this morning. I thought it was bad last night, Charlie is going to have it 10 times worse than me" he laughs and then groans. "God everything hurts"

"I'm not mad. I'm just glad you're okay… how much did they make you guys drink?"

"Oh I can't even talk about it" he groans. "So much hot beer and" he gags. "Fuck I threw up so much"

"Did they… hurt you?"

"I'm a big boy, Ana"

She sighs and nods "We don't have to talk about it"

"I really can't… I probably have already said too much, but I trust you"

"Ummm I don't know much about hazing except from movies… were there like other girls there?"

"No, baby. Swear"

She breathes a sigh of relief to herself and nods again.

"Tell me you weren't worried about that"

She can't make eye contact with him "Only a little. I just… you've never not answered my texts or calls. And then you didn't come home. My first thought was that something was wrong, my second thought was something like this but the third thought…"

"Baby" he whispers out "Come here"

She sits on the floor next to him and he puts his head in her lap. He closes his eyes and turns his head to kiss her stomach through her t-shirt. "You don't have to worry about that."

She smiles "Okay"

"Want to shower with me?"

"You mean hold you up while you shower?"

He laughs. "Basically"

CPOV a few hours prior

He hears a woman screaming and it wakes him up. He groans Why does everything hurt? Oh god my head is pounding. I am definitely going to throw up. Shit I am going to puke. Ana will kill me if I throw up on her. He opens his eyes and groans when he sees a bright light shining in.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WITH THIS RIGHT NOW CHARLES DENNISON!? YOU PROMISED. YOU FUCKING PROMISED. I CAN'T JUST SIT HERE AND IGNORE THIS"

God that sounds like Vanessa, why is she yelling in Ana's bedroom? And then it all comes back to him and his eyes fly completely open. "FUCK" he jumps up and feels every muscle ache and knows there's a bruise forming on his back already. He is in sweatpants in a hoodie and can't find his phone anywhere. Ana fuck. I know I didn't talk to her. She's probably about ready to kill me.

"Here, freshmen" he hears Vanessa's voice and looks up to see her tossing his phone at him. "Call your girl, I know she's worried."

"Did you talk to her? I remember they said that they were going to have you call her last night"

"They tell you that to make you not worry. I'll call her when you get in the cab to let her know you're coming." She sighs. "Had I known this was last night I would have given her a heads up, but I had no idea. Charlie isn't exactly going to give the editor of the newspaper he's hazing his freshmen. And normally I wouldn't even be this angry, but I adore your girlfriend like she's my little sister. And I've been here. Now let's go, I called you a cab"

"Thanks Vanessa"

"This is the only time. Next year you'll do this to someone else" she laughs. They walk upstairs from the basement to find Charlie cleaning up.

"You did alright kid, I'll see you tonight at practice" Christian's eyes widen and Charlie laughs.

"Kidding. No practice till Monday. Go get some sleep, and fuck your girl into tomorrow" he laughs. "Tell her I'm sorry"

He nods and coughs fighting down the vomit "Will do"

"Here" he tosses him a bottle of water.

"Your ass is mine, when I get back here Dennison"

Charlie gulps and Christian mouths "Good luck." He turns his phone on when he gets in the cab and sees her texts and the call. Fuck. Please don't be mad at me baby. I'm sorry.

He brushes his teeth twice before climbing into the woman's bathroom shower with Ana in tow. He would never subject her to the men's bathroom as they are just plain… manly. To say the least. She washes his chest and down his legs when she tells him to turn around.

"Don't freak out"

"Why?"

He turns around and she gasps "Holy shit Christian! What did they do?" she rubs his back lightly and kisses one of the very purple bruises forming.

"I'm not entirely sure"

"Fuck. I'm telling Vanessa. This is bullshit. How could they hurt you like this?"

"No. Don't. Seriously, it's okay. I'm okay." He turns around and cups her cheeks before kissing her nose. "I love that you're worried and want to take care of me" he pushes her up against the wall boxing her in placing a hand on either side of her head. "I am so sorry" he whispers kissing her shoulder.

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault"

"Please don't hate Charlie or the guys either. They told me to tell you that they were sorry"

She rolls her eyes "They'll have to earn my forgiveness" she says. "Hurting my man like this"

He smiles and kisses her forehead. "Your man, huh? Will you nurse me back to health?" he pouts giving her his best puppy dog eyes.

She laughs feeling her heart melt "Of course. Let me finish washing you, I know it's probably killing you to stand"

"It helps that you're in here with me… naked… and wet"

They sneak back out of the showers avoiding anyone seeing them and he goes in his room to change as he goes in hers.

"Oh my gosh, you were just in the shower?" referring to her hair and robe

"Gee what was your first clue?" she jokes.

"Oh my god, did you hear it then?"

"Hear what?"

"There was a guy in the girl's bathroom…with a girl. Angela from down the hall told me. The RA heard too, she is pissed."

"Oh… do they know who?"

"Nope. I guess the RA went in and didn't hear any male talking. So she figured she missed it"

"Oh."

"So have you heard from—" At that moment Christian walks in changed and smelling delicious with his hair still wet from the shower. "Well well well look who is here"

"Kate…" she warns"

"What? He had you so worried"

"It was team stuff" she said

"So you got hazed… sucks. But glad you're okay" She looks back and forth between them taking in their wet appearances when it clicks. "Why Ana Steele, about a month in and you're already breaking the rules" She smiles as she grabs her stuff. "I'm heading to the library. See ya later"

"What was she talking about?"

"Apparently our shower time attracted an audience. It got to my RA and she came to listen, evidently she didn't hear you thank god"

"Shit, we could have gotten in so much trouble"

"Yeah, a man in the girls bathroom or vice versa is a write up… I've never been in trouble before!"

"Ever?" he looks at her with wide eyes.

She shakes her head and climbs back into bed.

"You're a freak"

"Shut up or you can go to your room" she giggles

They climb into bed together and they are both out within minutes. She comes to when she feels a weight on top of her and something nudging her legs open. Her eyes fly open to find Christian entering her.

"Hi" he whispers

"What a wakeup call" she giggles.

"I'm sorry… so sorry" he peppers her face with kisses as he moves in and out of her.

"Stop apologizing, Christian, seriously. You're bugging me" she laughs and then moans when he hits the spot that makes her lose control. He chuckles and begins moving faster. Kissing every area that there is skin. His lips find hers and kisses her like his life depends on it. It's demanding and overwhelming and passionate. She can't recall ever being kissed this way. She locks eyes with his as she runs her hands along his shoulders and throws her arms around his neck. At one point he stops moving and just stares at her. "What?"

He pushes her hair from her face and kisses her forehead "I love you so much" he whispers causing goose bumps to pop up everywhere

"I love you too" she whispers as she feels an explosion that starts in her toes and rips through her. "Fuckkkk Christian" she moans out. He follows soon behind her moaning out her name as he comes. They fall back to sleep and a few hours later he wakes up again.

He brushes his lips over her shoulder and places kisses behind her ear and neck "Mmmm" she moans

"Wake up beautiful"

"No, too sleepy" she tucks her face under his chin

"Okay, you stay but I'm starving I have to get some food"

She pulls out from under him and opens one eye "I'll go with"

"No you stay, and sleep. I'll be right back. I'm just running to the dining hall"

"Will you get me something?"

"Anything"

"Can you get me a turkey sandwich?"

"Of course"

"I like it—"

"I know how you like it baby" he smiles and winks at her and with that he's gone.

A/N SURPRISE! So A & C had a little hiccup! When I was in college I went through this situation all. the. time. My boyfriend was in a frat and went to school 4 hours away from me. Damn high school sweethearts haha. But I definitely lost a lot of sleep in my younger years! Haha I am already working on the next chapter. So it should be up tomorrow! Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th o' July festivities!