Chapter 38

Christian's POV:

I pull up outside Ana's apartment and run up to the door then pound on it until it opens. Kate is standing there glaring at me. I attempt to walk in but she blocks the way. I step back and take a deep breath.

"I need to talk to Ana," I say as calmly as possible.

"She doesn't want to see you."

"Dammit, Kate. Let me in." I push the door open out of her grip then see Ana sitting on the couch holding her knees to her chest and looking at me with a tear stained face. My heart breaks even more seeing her like this and it's all because of me.

"Baby, please it wasn't what it looked like."

"Christian, I just saw you kissing your half-naked ex in your living room. What do you mean it wasn't what it looked like?" A tear rolls down her cheek.

"I didn't know she was coming. She kissed me." I don't know what else to say. I should have stopped her before she got close enough to touch me. I knew Ana was going to be coming through the door any minute. Ana looks to Kate.

"Just let him in." Thank fuck! Kate rolls her eyes and glares at me one more time then storms off to her bedroom. I step in and close the door behind me. I slowly walk over and sit on the couch next to her.

"Why was she there?" She asks facing me and resting her head on her knees.

"I don't know. I came out of my office when I heard the elevator expecting to see you standing there but it was her."

"You didn't invite her over?" What? Why would I invite her over, especially when Ana was on her way?

"Fuck no!"

"Where were her clothes?"

"She was wearing a coat when she came. When I told her to leave she took it off and that's all she had on underneath." I hope she believes me.

"Then…"

"Then she walked over and kissed me right before you showed up. I shoved her off instantly."

"Don't lie to me, Christian." She lifts her head up glaring at me. Lie? I'm telling the truth completely.

"I'm not fucking lying!"

"It looked more like you pulled her into the kiss."

"What? I didn't…"

"Then why were you holding her wrist?" Fuck! It probably did look like that.

"She touched me first and I grabbed her wrist to stop her." She buries her face in her knees.

"Baby, you have to believe me. I would never do anything to hurt you." She turns her head to face me.

"Do you realize how fucked up that looked?" I sigh.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even let her come near me dressed like that."

"Do you ever wish she was still your submissive?"

"No, baby. You're all I want." I reach up and wipe the tears from her cheek. How could she think that?

"But I don't let you control me like she did. I don't let you punish me like she did."

"That doesn't matter. I don't need any of that when I'm with you."

"For now. What happens when you get bored and I'm not enough for you anymore?" I grab her and pull her onto my lap burying my head into her hair.

"Baby, I love you. You'll always be enough for me. I'm more worried about me not being able to keep you happy." She wraps her arms around my neck cuddling into my chest and I pull her tighter against me. We're silent for what seems like hours. I wish I knew what she was thinking. I don't want her to be insecure about our relationship, but I don't know what else to say.

She finally pulls away climbing off my lap and standing.

"You should go home." My heart drops. Go home? What does this mean?

"You don't want me to stay?" I stare up at her confused, but her eyes don't meet mine.

"Not tonight. I still have some packing to do and I need to get a good night's sleep." I thought we were okay. I thought everything was better. I stand up in front of her and lift her chin up to me.

"You believe me, right?"

"Yes. My flight's early tomorrow I don't want to have to wake you up." Something's not right. She was going to stay at Escala with me tonight before all this shit with Leila happened. Now she's making up all these excuses for why I shouldn't stay here.

"You know I'm always awake at the crack of dawn. Can I at least take you to the airport?"

"Elliot already is." What is going on? I don't understand what her problem is. Why doesn't she want to spend time with me before she leaves? I might just have to come with Elliot tomorrow.

"Are you okay, baby?"

"Yea I'm just tired." She gives me a weak smile. I sigh.

"Okay. Call me tomorrow before you leave?" She nods. I gaze into her eyes searching for some indication of what's bugging her then gently kiss her lips.

"Goodnight, baby. I love you." My heart starts racing when she doesn't say it back right away. Why won't she tell me what's wrong?

"I love you, too, Christian." I give her one more kiss then walk out of her apartment.

Ana's POV:

The next morning I quickly shower and throw on a zip up hoodie over a tank and some jean shorts then plop my fedora on my head over my wavy hair. I pull my bag out into the living room. I need this vacation so badly. Even though Christian says that he loves me and that I'm enough for him, I can't help but think that he's eventually going to get bored with me. I'm nothing like any of the women he's been with. He's used to them doing everything he says without argument and if they don't he hits them. I'm fine with the spanking, but I'm terrified of those canes and belts in his playroom. I'll never let him use any of them on me. I can't wait to just clear my head and have fun this next week away from all this craziness. I just wish I hadn't left things the way I did last night. I should have just let him stay. I miss him already.

"Caboo!" Kate yells excitedly coming down the hall with her bag.

"I can't wait to be drunk for the next 7 days!" I smile and shake my head at her. This week is going to be crazy if Kate has anything to say about it.

"Have you talked to Elliot? We need to leave in like 10 minutes," I say just as our front door opens.

"Taxi's here!" Elliot yells and Kate runs at him jumping into his arms.

"Good morning, baby! Thanks for taking us to the airport." I watch them smiling as she leaves kisses all over his face. They are just adorable. Then I see Christian walk through the door hesitantly. He came, even though I basically told him not to. My smile gets bigger. His lips lift up into a grin as he walks over to me.

"I'm glad you came," I say and he brushes a piece of hair behind my ear then cups my cheek with his hand.

"I wasn't going to let Elliot take you to the airport without me."

"I love you so much." He smiles then gently kisses my lips.

"And I you, Miss Steele."

"Alright lovebirds we need to get going!" Elliot says carrying Kate's suitcase through the door. Kate eyes Christian angrily then follows Elliot. I bend down to get my bag but Christian stops me.

"I got." He grabs it and playfully acts like it weighs a ton. "Jesus, what do you have in here?"

"Shut up! It's not that heavy." He smirks at me then heads out the door.

….

On the car ride Christian and I sit cuddled up together in the backseat. My head is resting on his chest and he has his arm wrapped tightly around me with his mouth pressed against my head. Kate has some loud pump up music blaring over the speakers. I tilt up head up to Christian.

"I wish you were coming."

"Me too, baby. I have a lot of shit I have to get done this week though and I have a meeting in New York on Monday. You'll have fun."

"I know. It would be more fun with you though." He smiles and kisses my forehead.

Christian and Elliot walk us to security. I wrap my arms around Christian burying my face into his chest.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, baby. More than you know." I look up at him and he presses his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck holding him to me for a while longer before he pulls away.

"Be careful."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Come on, Steele!" Kate grabs my arm pulling me from Christian. I look back at him and he smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. I take a deep breath trying to hold back my tears and wave.

….

Our plane lands in Cabo around noon. We pull up at the Riu Palace where we're staying and check in then head up to our room. Kate and I are sharing a double room with two girls from school. Faith, a dark skinned brunette with brown eyes, and Kimberly, a thin blonde with green eyes. Kate and I take our bags into one of the bedrooms.

"This place is amazing!" Kate says opening the curtains to a view of the beach. I can't believe my parents paid for me to come here. It had to be uber expensive. I can have fun here, even without Christian.

"Get your suits on! I just talked to the boys and they are already down on the beach at some party." Kimberly says strolling into our room in her suit and a pair of cut of jean shorts. We quickly change into our bikinis and meet in the small kitchen where Faith is pouring shots. I can already tell this trip is going to be a complete blur. We've been here for an hour and the tequila is already out. Can't say I mind though. I could use a couple drinks.

After taking two rounds of shots we head down to the beach. There are so many people everywhere, dancing, drinking out of beer bongs, running into the ocean. I have no idea how we are supposed to find our other friends. This is absolutely insane. I have never gone anywhere like this for Spring Break. I follow closely behind Kate until I finally see people I know.

"Hey! You're finally here!" A girl in a cowboy hat yells toward us and comes running. Once she's closer I realize she's the girlfriend of one of the guys from Blake's frat. I've only met her a couple times, but she's clearly drunk acting like we're the best of friends. She hands me a cup.

"What is this?" I ask looking in at the pinkish liquid.

"Jungle Juice!" I hesitantly take a sip. It tastes like lemonade.

"That's good!" I smile taking a larger drink.

"Careful! It sneaks up on ya. I've only had two cups." Two cups? She's smashed. I better sip this slowly. I glance around for Kate and pause when I see Blake staring at me. He slowly walks over toward me putting his hands up defensively.

"I come in peace," he jokes. I laugh and shake my head.

"I want to apologize for that night at the club. I was way out of line." I do feel bad that Christian knocked him out. Seemed a little unnecessary.

"Why did you lie to him?" I ask glaring at him.

"I don't know. I was drunk and trying to rile him up I guess."

"That's not really an excuse."

"I know and I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. I want us to try and start over… as friends."

"Friends?" I eye him warily. What is he getting at here? I wish we could just be friends again. But can he do that?

"Yes. I fucked up and I've accepted the fact that we're over and done. But that doesn't mean I don't still care about you. I want us to be able to get along over this next week. We are going to be seeing a lot of each other." He's right. We're going to be seeing each other every day and night. I know Christian wouldn't approve, but he's not here and I can't really avoid it.

"As long as you don't try and make a move on me again." I joke with him trying to make light of the situation.

"Deal." He smiles then turns serious again.

"So how are you and that guy?" I roll my eyes and take a drink. What an awkward question.

"Really, Blake?"

"I'm just asking. I want to make sure he's treating you like you deserve to be treated… Like I should have treated you," he says with eyes full of regret.

"His name is Christian. And we're good. Really good." Maybe not really good considering everything that happened the past 24 hours, but Blake doesn't need to know that.

"He's good to you?" I do not want to be having a conversation about my new boyfriend with my ex-boyfriend. Especially when they hate each other.

"Yes, can we please stop talking about this?"

"Yea sorry." He laughs.

"Steele! Get your ass over here and take a beer bong!" I look over and see Kate holding up a funnel attached to a long tube. Might as well join in so I'm not the only sober one on the beach.

….

The next couple of days are all the same. Partying on the beach all day, napping, and then heading out to the club at night. I've been pretty good about watching how much I drink, so I haven't blacked out or gotten sick… yet. Blake has been keeping his distance and staying in the friend zone. We could probably stay friends after this if Christian didn't hate him so much. I'm starting to really miss Christian. My service sucks here. I've only gotten the chance to talk to him one time but I was cut off. We only have two more days here and I'm so ready to get home to him.

We're all at another beach party that our hotel is having. It has to be the craziest I've seen this place. The beach is packed with people. There's a stage set up with people dancing in front of a DJ playing loud music and canoes filled with beer everywhere. Some weird competitions are happening on another stage involving couples trying to lick whipped cream off of each other in a certain amount of time.

After a couple cups of Jungle Juice and a few beer bongs I'm struggling to see straight. I'm not used to being this drunk when it's still light outside. I have no idea where Kate is. Probably dancing over by the stage somewhere. I stumble that way to find her and someone grabs my hip pulling me against them to dance. I turn around to see a blonde guy that I don't know. His hand slides down to the small of my back and he pulls me closer. We are both in just our swimsuits so my skin is pressed against his.

"No," I mumble but the music is too loud for him to hear me. My hand slips off of him as I attempt to push him away. I'm far too drunk. That Jungle Juice really does sneak up on you. I feel his lips and tongue on my neck and his hand moving down over my ass.

"Stop!" I say louder grabbing his wrist and pulling his hand off me.

"Come on, baby. Loosen up," He says holding me tighter against him groping my body and kissing my neck. I'm struggling to get him off but I can't find the strength. How did I let myself get this drunk? Suddenly someone grabs me and pulls me away from the blonde.

"Get your fucking hands off of her!" The blonde steps back with his hands up.

"Sorry, dude. Just having a little fun."

"Get the fuck out of here!" I look up with one eye closed trying to focus my eyes and see Blake glaring at the guy as he walks away muttering something under his breath.

"Are you okay?" Blake glances down at me with a worried expression. I give him a drunken smile and nod. Thank god he's here.

"You're wasted," he says.

"Nothin gets pas you." He chuckles.

"Let's get you some water then you need to lie down."

"Thans, Blake. You're a gud frien." He puts his arm around my waist leading me up to the hotel. We run into Kate at the bottom of the steps.

"Jesus, Steele! How much have you had to drink?" I smirk with my eyes closed and shrug my shoulders. At least I'm a happy drunk I guess. She looks up at Blake questioningly.

"I just found her dancing with some fucking jerk that had his hands all over her. I was going to take her up to your room so she can sleep it off."

"Isn Blake such a gud frien," I slur slapping him on the chest and smiling up at him. Kate and Blake look at each other than laugh.

"Yes. I'm glad you two are getting along." My mind starts wondering to Christian. He would not like Blake touching me like this, but I'm pretty sure he's the only thing that is holding me up. I miss him so much. My bottom lip starts trembling as tears threaten to fill my eyes.

"What's wrong?" Kate asks noticing me getting upset.

"I miss Christian." Kate rolls her eyes clearly still upset about what I witnessed in his apartment. I told her the real story, but she still doesn't trust him.

"Blake, will you take her upstairs while I get her some food?" She hands our room key to Blake.

"Of course." The last thing I remember before darkness takes over is Blake scooping me up into his arms and carrying me up the steps to the hotel.

...

Some loud noise wakes me up. I wonder how long I've been sleeping. Must not have been that long since I still feel slightly drunk. I feel an arm around me but I'm too nausea to move. There's a loud pounding on the door. That must have been what woke me up.

"I'm coming!" I hear Kate say sleepily.

"Where the hell is she?" I know that voice. Shit he sounds furious.

A/N: Here's a picture of the Riu Palace. Just so you have an idea.

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