Chapter 21
Christian's POV:
I am forced to park down the street once we arrive. I leap out of the car and quickly head for the house with Elliot close behind.
"A college party? Nice!" Elliot grins as we head up the front stairs. I frantically push my way through the packed house losing Elliot on the way. I decide to check the bathroom first remembering the last time I picked her up here. I knock on the closed door and it instantly flies open revealing a blue eyed blonde.
"Fuck off, Bla…" She stops when she sees me. I look past her and see Anastasia sitting on the counter staring at me with a tear stained face. My body relaxes a little knowing she is safe. I push past the blonde heading towards Ana and stop in front of her.
"Hi," she softly says looking up at me. I reach up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear then place my hand on her cheek and wipe a tear away with my thumb. God, she's beautiful.
"Hi." We gaze at each other silently for a while. I've been dreaming about her big blue eyes for weeks.
"I'm assuming you're Christian," the blonde says eyeing me.
"That's right." I respond keeping my eyes locked on Ana.
"So you're the one I've heard so much about." I smile at the thought of her telling people about me.
"This is Kate, my roommate." Ana says. I turn towards the blonde finally breaking my eye contact with Ana and I see Elliot peek in the bathroom behind her.
"Shit! There you are." He steps in and eyes Ana curiously in front of me then sees Kate and a grin spreads across his face. "And who are these two beautiful ladies?"
Kate extends her hand out to him. "I'm Kate." He takes it moving it up to his mouth.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kate." He places a kiss on the back of her hand making her giggle. "I'm Elliot, Christian's brother."
I roll my eyes. Of course… she's just his type. He looks towards Ana then raises his eyebrows at me, willing me to introduce her.
"Elliot, this is Anastasia." I gaze back to her as she looks toward Elliot.
"Hello, Anastasia."
"Please call me Ana." She smiles sweetly at him and turns back to me.
"Let me get you home." She nods and stands up off the counter. I move my hand to the small of her back and usher her out, Kate and Elliot follow close behind.
…
Just as we make it to the bottom of the front steps someone shouts from behind us.
"Ana!" I narrow my eyes and rage rises up inside me when I see Blake standing in the doorway.
"You best turn your ass around and stay the fuck away from her!" Kate yells at him. For such a petite girl she has got quite a fierce attitude.
He ignores her and makes his way toward us. I reach my arm in front of Ana and move her behind me protectively. Elliot is holding Kate back now as she continues yelling at Blake.
"Is this a fucking joke? You called him!" He stops inches away from my face, both of us glaring at each other. I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I so badly want to beat his face in, but there are far too many people here and I'd rather not make a scene.
"I suggest you take a step back," I warn him, attempting to stay as calm as possible.
"Blake! Stop!" Ana has stepped around me and is standing next to us. I wish she would just stay behind me. I don't want her getting hurt.
"What are you going to do, pretty boy?" He has a grin on his face, egging me on. Ana grabs his arm trying to pull him back and he shoves her away. I snap and punch him hard right in the jaw making him stumble backwards. I don't give a fuck if I make a scene anymore. He swings at me hitting my face and I tackle him to the ground. I punch him a couple more times while he's under me before Elliot pulls me off.
"That's enough!" I'm breathing heavily and my heart is racing from the adrenaline.
"If you ever fucking touch her again I will break every fucking bone in your body." I stare down at Blake as he spits blood to the side and glares up at me. I shrug Elliot off of me. I don't want anyone touching me right now. I turn around to face Kate and Ana looking at me with scared wide eyes. I walk away and head straight to the car. I need to calm down before I say anything I'll regret.
After slamming the car door shut I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I hate losing control of my temper like that. I rub my hand over my mouth with my elbow propped on the door and watch Elliot lead Kate and Ana to the car. Thank god.
Ana's POV:
I'm staring in shock as Christian punches Blake over and over while he's lying on the ground under him. This is all my fault. If he doesn't stop soon he's going to knock Blake unconscious.
"Shit," Elliot mutters then runs over and grabs Christian pulling him off. "That's enough!"
"If you ever fucking touch her again I will break every fucking bone in your body." Blake is glaring up at Christian and spits to the side. Is that blood? Christian pulls away from Elliot and turns toward Kate and I. He's breathing heavily and his eyes are burning with pure rage. I stare at him terrified unable to move under his glare. He turns on his heel and heads down the street. Shit! He's pissed at me.
"He just needs to cool off." Elliot shrugs and walks over to us calmly like this is normal behavior for Christian. "Come on, we'll take you girls home."
Kate smiles brightly at him. "Okay!" She links her arm in his and they head after Christian. I glance at Blake again as he is pushing himself up off the ground and he meets my stare. He has a gash on his cheek and his lip is bleeding. He opens his mouth to say something but I quickly turn to catch up with Kate and Elliot before he can.
Christian is already in the car when we reach it.
"My lady," Elliot grins at me opening the front passenger door and bowing dramatically. I was hoping he would sit in the front with Christian but I guess I'll let him cozy up with Kate in the back
"Thanks," I give him a tight smile before getting in. I peek over at Christian. He won't even look at me keeping his eyes locked straight ahead. Kate climbs in the back giggling followed by Elliot. He pulls her closer to him and they cuddle and whisper to each other oblivious to the tension filling the front of the car. You would never guess that they had just met tonight. I stare out the window attempting to ignore it too as Christian drives us away.
….
Christian and I don't say a word to each other the entire ride. His hands finally loosened their grip on the steering wheel about half way to our apartment. I relaxed knowing he had at least calmed down a little, but kept my eyes pointed out the side window too nervous he'd snap at me if I attempted to make conversation. I wouldn't even know what to say to him anyway.
"Do you want to come up for a night cap?" Kate asks as we pull up in front of our building. I quickly turn my head to Christian and his eyes meet mine. I wonder if he's still mad at me. He's showing no emotion on his face.
"We'd love to," Elliot answers for both of them. Kate lets out an excited squeal and hops out of the car with Elliot. Neither Christian nor I make a move to follow. He probably doesn't even want to come up. Why would he? I'm the reason he got into that fight. I'm the reason he got so mad.
"You don't have to come up."
"You don't want me to?" He eyes me curiously. Of course I do. I look down to my hands in my lap.
"Only if you want to." He stares at me a minute not saying anything, then he gets out of the car and comes around to open my door.
"I could use a drink," he says holding his hand out to me. I smile putting my hand in his and climb out.
….
Kate and Elliot are already locked in her bedroom when we get into the apartment. Great now I'm alone with Christian. I thought we were all going to be hanging out together.
I head into the kitchen and open the fridge. All we have is some red wine that Kate's parents left from their visit last weekend. At least it's not one of the cheap bottles her and I normally buy. I can feel Christian watching me as I grab a couple glasses from the cupboard avoiding eye contact with him. He walks over to stand next to me while I'm uncorking the bottle and my heart starts pounding in my chest. His hand moves to mine stopping me and I look up into his gray eyes. He reaches up and pulls my lip from my teeth with his thumb. I didn't even realize I was biting it.
"Are you okay?" His eyes search mine as I nod in response. I feel the charge building between us and pulling me towards him. I want to forget about the last three weeks and jump into his arms. I want to get lost his kiss and touch. I want him to hold me tight all night long.
"I'm sorry," I whisper softly. "I shouldn't have called you."
My eyes fill up with tears as he brushes his knuckles down my cheek. "I'm glad you did."
"Why did you even answer after everything that's happened?" He runs his fingers through his hair and sighs trying to find the words to say.
"These last couple weeks have been… terrible. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since I left that night. I thought I wouldn't ever see you again. No one has ever made me feel the way you do, Anastasia." The tears are falling down my face now. I can't believe the things he is saying. "When you called me tonight and I heard you crying into the phone… it killed me. I wanted to kill him for hurting you." The anger from earlier flashes in his eyes.
"It was my fault. I chose this. I chose to be with him." He shakes his head and moves his hands up to cradle my face.
"It's not your fault, baby. He's the one that did this. You deserve so much better than him." My eyes fall down to the floor. No I don't. I don't even deserve his forgiveness.
He grabs my chin pushing my head back up and wipes the tears from my cheeks. "Anastasia, you do." He gazes into my eyes with so much adoration. I can't believe I ever made this gorgeous man walk out of my life.
I lean into his hand on my cheek and close my eyes. He presses his lips against mine briefly then pauses with his mouth only inches away from mine. My heart starts pounding in my chest. I look up at him studying my face.
"You're so beautiful." His thumb brushes up and down my cheek. I need him right here, right now. I throw my arms around his neck and pull his mouth back to mine taking him by surprise. He hesitates for a second than wraps his arms around me pulling me closer. I move my hands into his hair and grab a fist full deepening our kiss. He groans into my mouth and presses me tighter against him, his erection pushing into my hip. We stumble backwards and I'm pinned between him and the counter.
His hands move down below my ass and he effortlessly lifts me setting me on the counter. He pulls my legs apart so he can stand between them. His hands slide up my legs to my hips and he pulls me forward pressing his groin into my sex. I moan into his mouth, my body needing him more.
He grabs my face pulling away from my lips and his eyes burn into mine. He closes his eyes and presses his forehead against mine letting out a sigh. What's happening? What is he thinking? I move my hands out of his hair and down to either side of his neck.
"We shouldn't do this," he says softly. Why not? I want to... And I know he wants seeing as I can still feel his erection pressing against me. I wrap my legs around his waist locking my ankles behind him and push him harder into me.
"Ana…" he groans then grabs my ankles and pulls them apart releasing himself from my hold. "I don't want you to do something you'll regret tomorrow. You're vulnerable right now."
"I won't regret it." He looks at me with hesitant gray eyes. "I want you… and I'll still want you tomorrow."
He gazes at me a second longer considering my confession and then his mouth is on mine again kissing me passionately. His hand slowly moves into my hair and I wrap my legs around him pulling him back to me. He grabs a fist full of my hair and pulls my head back. I stare up at him, my eyes wide with desire, breathing heavily. His eyes darken.
He moves my head to the side and his mouth is suddenly on my neck just below my jaw. I close my eyes as he sucks and licks his way slowly down my neck. His hand moves from my hair and he rips my blouse open sending the buttons flying everywhere. The muscles below my waist tighten. He wants me just as bad as I want him.
He slides my shirt off revealing my red lace bra as his mouth continues its journey down my neck. His hands move down to my ass and he picks me up off the counter. I wrap my arms around his neck for balance.
"Bedroom?" He asks between breaths carrying me out of the kitchen toward the hall.
"First door on the left." He pushes through the slightly open door and falls on my bed with me underneath him. His hands are on either side of my head against the bed holding him over me at arm's length. He shifts his weight to lean on one arm and he lightly traces the top edge of my bra with his fingers. My lips part as his touch sends a current straight to my groin.
He leans down and kisses my neck just below my chin, then caresses my skin with his lips down to my chest. He pulls my bra down with his teeth freeing one of my breasts and closes his mouth around my nipple sucking and biting. I arch my back and moan from the sensation. He frees my other breast with his mouth and teases me with his tongue some more.
His hands move to my jeans and he quickly unbuttons them before yanking them off of me. His eyes glide up my body slowly.
He dives forward pressing his lips to mine again and I feel his thumb brush over my sex. He pulls my panties to the side and slides his fingers inside me making moan. I feel him grin against my lips with approval at how ready I am for him. I fist my hands in his hair and pull him to my mouth. My body tenses as he starts moving his fingers in and out of me slowly, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.
He stops just as I'm about to let go and quickly pulls his pants and boxers down. Propping himself up on his forearms, he positions his body over top of me and looks into my eyes.
"This is going to be fast," he breathes. I nod and he slams into me making me cry out.
"Fuck!" He growls closing his eyes. "I forgot how amazing you feel."
I wrap my legs around his waist and lift my hips up as he continues to push deep into me. I can feel my body building higher with each thrust.
"Look at me, baby. I want to see you." I open my eyes to meet his. The look in his eyes almost makes me explode. He starts moving faster as he gets closer to his release.
"Let go, baby." He groans between heavy breaths. I fall apart around him, my walls squeezing him over and over with each wave of my orgasm. His body tenses and he stills releasing himself into me.
He collapses onto me and I snake my arms around his neck. This is where I belong. Nothing has ever felt this right before. Why did it take me so long to realize? Christian and I are meant to be together.