AN: I do not own these characters. All rights go to E.L. James

"Members Only"

Chapter 29

After driving back to the apartment building, Christian steeled himself, then headed up to her apartment. He heard her moving around, then unlatching and unlocking the various locks. When she opened the door, she didn't look angry, at least. Her brunette hair was in a ponytail, and she was wearing makeup that made her eyes look sultry. "Yes?"

Uh-oh. "Can we talk?"

She sighed. She looked good. No…she looked great. She was wearing a dress, something cute and sort of innocent looking, with a pink cardigan sweater. She looked beautiful, and his heart clenched.

"I don't have time to…Oh, my GOD," she interrupted herself. "What happened to your face?"

He touched his swollen face warily, then winced. "You should see the other guy."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He looks like a goddamned tank," Christian expanded. "Can I come in, please?"

She glanced at her watch. "Just for a second. I'll make you an ice pack."

He walked in. Her apartment smelled like heaven – coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, with the slightest hint of whatever she smelled like, some sexy flower thing. His body responded reflexively, before he could even stop it.

She was putting ice in a plastic bag, and he walked up behind her, stroking her waist, pressing a kiss on her neck even though the side of his lip hurt.

She leaned against him, just for a second. Then she sighed again, turning and handing him the enormous ice bag.

"Put this on," she said. "You should probably go see a doctor."

"I miss you," he said. He hadn't meant to just blurt that out, but it was too late now.

"Christian, nothing's changed," she said, but her voice was more wistful than mad. "Maybe I overreacted, but honestly, I'm tired of being second place to a man's interests. I wanted an adventure…I got one, and then some. Learned I was more exciting than I thought I was, and I thank you for that. But I'm not going to play second fiddle to The Members Only Club."

"But you wouldn't be."

She paused, looking confused. Looking, he realized, hopeful. "You…you gave it up? You walked away?"

"Um…" He cleared this throat. "I'm not a member anymore."

She titled her head. He hadn't lied, but he hadn't exactly volunteered the full truth, either. She homed in on that fact like a laser.

"What happened?"

"It's not important," he said, even though he wanted to tell her. He wanted nothing more than to talk to her, ask her opinion, and just feel like someone was listening. When he was happy, or when he was unhappy, she was the only person in the world he wanted to talk to. She was sexy as hell, more gutsy and exciting than any ten women he'd met put together. More than that, she was comfort, and understanding, and…love.

You love her, you idiot.

He blinked, and suddenly the punch in the gut was nothing compared to the tight, wind-knocked-out sensation he was now experiencing.

"I'm sorry," he said, and meant it. "I'm really sorry. For what I said. For how I acted."

Her eyes got glassy with tears, and she crossed her arms. "You should be. But that doesn't tell me what happened to you and not being a member anymore."

He took a deep breath. "There was this newspaper article," he said. "Somebody made it look like I'd talked about the club."

She stared at him for a long minute. "But you didn't," she said, and there was no doubt in her voice. It was, perhaps, the most gratifying thing he'd ever heard.

"No, I didn't," he said, then gathered her in his arms, holding her tight. "Thank you for believing me."

She nudged him away, gently but firmly. He felt bereft.

"I know it, not just because I believe you, but because I know you wanted to be a member more than you wanted anything," she said, and there was a touch of bitterness. "You never would've jeopardized that just to brag."

He grimaced. "I probably deserve that. But…"

"They kicked you out," she said. "They think you betrayed them. That's how you got punched."

"Basically, yes."

She looked at him, silent, then said, "So you're not here to apologize. You're here because you can't be a member anymore, so you're collecting your consolation gift."

"Damn it, that's not it at all."

"I don't have time for this," she said, wiping carefully at her eyes with her fingertips. "I have to go. I have a date."

"We need to talk," he said.

"NO, we don't." She moved past him, opening the front door. "The worst part is, if I hadn't been so gung ho about this club, so intent on helping you and getting me in, none of this might've happened. You were stupid, but I let you hurt me."

She gestured to the hallway. "I'm not letting you hurt me again."

"I'm sorry," he said helplessly.

"So am I," she said. "But I'm also late. Good night, Christian."