CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: CHRISTIAN'S P.O.V
Anxiety consumes my body as I watch out the window of my room and see all the people arriving for the Gothika release party. I know I need to go downstairs and mingle with the guest as I'm the publisher, but I hate having to be around people. The way they stare at me and pity me because of my scars overwhelms me with anger. My eyes continue to gaze out the window until I see the last person I thought I would see tonight.
Anastasia.
"SIMON!" I shout for him as loud as I can and waited. He had lots of explaining to do.
He rushed into my room with a pale face. I should fire him for what he has done. "Did you send Anastasia the package?" I ask furious.
"The package?" He asks like he doesn't know what I am talking about.
"Yes, the package... the one I asked you not to send anymore." I yell again. He stays quiet, and I want to scream at him more, but I don't. "You need to get her out of here now."
"How am I going to do that?" He asks confused.
"I don't know, you need to figure that out."
"I guess ill figure something." He tells me, and I can't stop staring at Anastasia. She is staring at the hotel with awe. I know she is thinking about the nickname I used on the website we met. "I'm sorry Christian, I will fix this." Simon tells me and begins to walk towards the door, but I stop him.
"Wait, don't tell her anything." I tell him wanting to see her for one last time. I will be moving to London soon and I will never see her again. "Make sure she gets everything she wants and ill be downstairs in a bit." I add, and he nods his head and walks out. I need to prepare myself to see the woman who has hunted my dreams.
~•~•~
When I arrive at the party I make sure to stand at the corner of the room behind one of the red booths, so no one can see me until I'm ready. My eyes wonder in search for Anastasia until they find her. I can't take my eyes off her. She'd become some kind of twisted obsession for me. I had fought it but found myself unable to resist her powerful lure. I was not fighting it any longer. The fact that she was here, and of age meant something to me. I sipped on my glass of scotch and watched as she giggles with her friend- who I had never met before.
I watched as Anastasia's gaze swept the room, her brow furrowed in concentration as if she searched for someone. A server stopped and offered her a flute of champagne, and she took one of the elegant, long-stemmed glasses but she didn't put it to her mouth. I was glad. I want her completely clear for when I approach her.
The burgundy red dress Simon had sent her drew attention to her long smooth legs, and I damn sure didn't want anyone else looking. Oh boy where man looking. She had drawn the attention of others. They stared—like I was. Like a hungry lion waiting for its next pray. She is wearing a cute diamond heart shape chain and diamond studs adorned her ears. Seeing her here is one more step in the inevitable direction of her being mine. She didn't know it yet, but I had waited long enough. I endured enough time feeling like the worst criminal for lusting after her. When she'd turned eighteen, it had marked a huge difference in the way I viewed her, but I am twenty-three and I know I'm still five years too old for her.
I drain my drink and place it on the tray of a by passing waiter and retrieve a new fresh drink. I need alcohol courage if I'm going to make it tonight.
~•~•~
Anastasia's P.O.V:
I stand outside the Ace hotel and attempt to decide my next move. I can text Paisley and leave right now and never see Christian again or I can go back inside and find him. My heart is telling me to do so, but my brain is saying no. He is too damaged for me. Irritated I pace back and forth trying to decide.
Screw it... I rush into the hotel with my heart beating fast. If I don't take the chance I might regret it.
When I arrive back at the party a server offers me a flute of champagne and I gladly take it. Yet, before I can drink it Paisley catches up to me.
"Where did you go?" She asks.
"I went outside for some fresh air." I tell her not wanting to get into the whole Christian situation right now.
"I have been waiting for you, so we can meet Elizabeth Johnson." She tells me pointing towards the table that is set up with her books and poster. Elizabeth is standing near it laughing with a couple of people and I smile totally ready to meet her and ask her all the questions I have about her book.
I bring my flute to my mouth and drink it to the last drop. I turn and look at Paisley and she smiles back at me. "Ready?" I ask her.
"Hell yes!" She giggles, and we make our way to Elizabeth.
I take a long deep breath as we approach her. I'm feeling nervous and I need to get ready to ask her all my questions. A few seconds later my feet come to a halt and my gaze raises; which makes my smile disappear immediately.
Christian
I turn to my left and see a surprised Paisley which confirms that I'm not imagining things and it is Christian who is standing in front of me.
"Anastasia?" Christian says, and my eyes never leave him. He is wearing a black suit which takes my breath away. He is as handsome as they come.
"Christian." I whisper his name. Christian's gaze skims over me and it is so hot that I almost expect my clothes to start catching fire. But no, this doesn't feel right this is the man who said he didn't even want to be friends with me.
Christian takes his gaze away from me for a second, "You'll have to excuse me for a second." He tells the people he was just talking to and grabs my arm leading me a few feet away from them.
"What are you doing here Anastasia?" He asks and I'm not sure I should tell him Simon had invited me.
I avoid his question and ask my own, "I heard your moving to London." I try to keep the sadness in as I say it. "I will miss you." I'm not sure if I say it to fill the silence of me ignoring his other question or because I mean it.
"Don't." He lifts his eyes to meet mine and shakes his head. "You shouldn't think about me at all... You shouldn't be here."
I back away and fold my arms to cover my chest, "That's the last thing you want to say to me?" I know he can see the anger in my eyes.
"What do you want me to say?" Taking a step forward he reaches for me but drops his hand before making contact.
I can see so much in his eyes-- heartache, affection, attraction.
"I want you to be honest with yourself and tell me that you will miss me too."
He stays quiet and I have had enough. I ascend towards the doors that will lead me to the lobby. When I reach the door, I focus on putting one foot in front of the other and moving in the direction of the main entrance. I'm ready to leave this place.
"Wait." the sound of Christian's voice is like a strong string around my heart, tugging me backward.
I turn and see pain in his face. I walk back the few steps back and I'm face to face with him again. He slides his hand up my arm. It's not the first time he has touched me, but it sure feels different. It feels gentler and caring.
He is still for a moment, his warm fingers unmoving while my heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it over the music playing around us. He takes me by the hand and leads me to the stairwell of the hotel. When the doors to the stairwell close he pushes me against the wall. His eyes drop to my mouth, and his lips part. I'm afraid to breathe. Afraid to blink and miss something. I don't want to ruin this moment or ever forget it.
"You want me to be honest?"
I nod my head feeling overwhelmed by him.
"Of course I want you... I want you so badly I'm going crazy. You are like a drug that I need to stay away from, but that I can't stop thinking about and craving."
His broad chest rises on a long inhale, and his eyes stay glued to my lips. With every second that passes, the pulling around my heart draws tighter.
"I want to take your sexy dress off and admire every inch of you." he whispers into my ear like if the words are to personal for anyone else to hear. "You look so beautiful."
Mustering all of my courage, I lift my chin and tilt my face ever so slightly towards his. He squeezes his eyes shut, and I think he lowers his head, but the movement is so slight that I can't be sure. When he exhales, his breath brushes across my lips. It's the sweetest thing I've ever felt. The moment I'm convinced he's going to kiss me is the moment he backs away. "I won't kiss you here, not like this."
I want to lift my hand to my mouth, to run my fingertips across my lips and sooth the pain of his rejection. I keep my chin up, refusing to let him see what he just did to me. How he is making me feel.
"Come with me." He holds his hand out for me and I look at it for a minute. Scared, I take the devil's hand and follow him out the stairwell.
"I can't leave, I came here with my friend." I tell him as we lead us out of the stairwell and to the lobby.
"I will make sure she gets home safe." he tells me, but I feel bad. I need to see her and tell her what's going on. Plus, I came to meet Elizabeth Johnson. Yet, this might be the last time I see Christian and I really want to go with him.
"Can I tell her I'm leaving with You?" I ask.
"Of course. I have some stuff I need to take care of before we leave so how about you meet me outside when you are ready." he kisses my hand so gently.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I ask really wanting to know. He is so bipolar. He is nice then mean and then nice again.
"It's called manners," he answers, and we are back to rude.
Can he stop jumping back and forth either he wants me, or he doesn't.
"Fine. I will be out in a minute." I tell him and make my way to find Paisley.
I walk around until I see her standing by the bar. She is flirting with the bartender and I'm not surprised.
"Paisley."
"Anastasia... the birthday girl." she hugs me, and I can tell she is tipsy. I can't leave her here like this.
"Come on, I'm taking you home." I take her hand, but she lets go off my hand.
"No, I'm not ready to go yet." she turns back around and begins to once again flirt with the guy.
I roll my eyes annoyed. I can't leave her like this and Christian is waiting for me. I grab her by the arm and pull her close to me. "Christian is waiting for me... Simon, Christian's assistant is going to take you home when you are ready please behave."
She smiles at me, "Ok, I need details, but I will wait until tomorrow. I'm fine I promise. Have fun."
Giving her a hug, I make my way out of the house. I know Paisley is going to have a good time she seems to always find a guy everywhere we go.
Getting that out of my mind I look around wondering where Christian is until I see him come out of a range rover. He comes around and opens the passenger door for me.
I swallow hard and climb into the car. He closes the door behind me, and I buckle my seatbelt as he comes around the front to his side. He cuts a glance at me from the corner of his eyes, as he slides his key into the ignition. The truck comes to life with a rattling growl, and I wonder what the night will bring.
Soon he pulls out onto the road and is heading out of the parking lot without either one of us uttering another word. His silence only adds to my irritation. If he doesn't even have anything to say to me on a short drive, then why are we even in the car together?
I turn my gaze to the window on my side and look out as Christian turns the music on and Malibu by Miley Cyrus comes on and my heart melts. I love this song. However soon I am angry again. Why the hell did he ask me to come with him if he wasn't even going to say anything. I don't even know where we are going. I decide not to overreact and wait and see where the night takes us.
~•~•~
As we pull up to the house, I'm so preoccupied with my anger that I barely register the enormity of the unique black home, he pulls the key from the ignition and takes a deep breath before facing me. "So, you are mad about what happened at the cottage?"
I blink at him, "Are you serious?"
"I meant it when I said you are a brat." His gaze stays on me, but it is brief, nothing like earlier. "I said it and now things are weirder around us."
"Of course, things are weird, but not just because you said that."
He frowns.
"Because you want more than I can offer you." he admits.
I gaped at him. Surely, he can't get ruder now. "I told you that I don't want your pity friendship, and this was what I was talking about. I don't want to be included out of some sense of duty because you feel bad about what happened between us."
"Just because I can't give you what you want doesn't mean I don't feel something for you."
I turn away, it is a beautiful night, and the moon is full and beautiful.
"What is it that you really want?" Christian asks me.
"I want for you to stop holding back and show me your true feelings."
Christian looks at me and arches a brow. "You really want that?"
I nod my head.
"Fine, then come with me." Christian kills the engine and comes around. He opens the door for me and holds out his hand for me to take. "Stop looking like your about to follow the devil."
I take a deep breath and place my hand on his and hope for the best.
A/n: please comment
