That afternoon, Christian drives me back to my apartment. He had been very insistent that I stay with him. He even offered to take me shopping, but I refused. If we were going to start a relationship, we had to start it properly. Separately. Even if it was hard for both of us to keep our hands off each other for very long.
And I think, as much as we both wanted each other, it was going to be the best thing to control the primal urges we both had for each other.
As soon as we arrive at my apartment, he corners me against the door and possessively takes my lips without wanting to separate from me. His hands move down my body, pressing me against him as I let out a moan. And then he loosens his grip on my body.
—You don't know how sorry I am for hurting you. —he whispers against my lips, separating them briefly from mine.
—Stop punishing yourself for what happened. —I ask, smiling slightly at him. —It wasn't a moan of pain, it was a moan of pleasure.
He smiles back at me, albeit slightly, and presses his lips against mine again. His hands caress my body, again, but this time it is more of a light caress.
—I want you so much Ana, I don't want to let you go. —he says against my lips as I can't help but laugh.
—This is what normal relationships are supposed to be like. —I answer with a smile.
—There's nothing ordinary about our relationship.
—Of course not. —I answer, pulling our lips apart.
—When will I see you again?
—Tomorrow at the gym. —I answer automatically. But then I remember that I have to go across town to the gym. —Will you continue teaching there?
—It's far from my apartment, but I have a commitment to my students. Besides, since I have signed a contract, I must at least finish the first month before I decide to go somewhere else.
—That reminds me, Wednesday is the interview with Man Fitness. Did you get rid of your phone? —I ask, remembering that it was out of service.
—I changed the number, but I still have yours. —he answers with a slight smile that steals my breath.
If I want to continue with the classes I have to leave straight from work. I think I'll have a new routine. I'm not giving up kick boxing classes. Not for anything in the world.
—I don't think I'll last until tomorrow. Can't I change your mind about staying with me tonight? —he says, interrupting my thoughts.
—No.— then something occurs to me. —But you can start thinking about what to do with me after class. —I tell him seductively.
—Mmmm, I like that better.
He presses his body against mine once more, pressing me against the door. I can feel his powerful erection behind his jeans and it only makes me moan with pleasure.
—I've wanted to do something with you for a while now. —he says as I feel his breath on my neck.
—Tomorrow. —I tell him with rapid breathing.
—I'll plan everything for tomorrow.
I feel the door latch and the door starts to open. Luckily for me Christian holds me up and I don't fall to the floor. Kate looks at the two of us alternately as she frowns blankly. I forgot to tell her whose apartment it was. Actually, I disconnected from the outside world for the entire weekend. So I owe her a lot of explaining.
I pull away from Christian and smile at him as I say goodbye.
—See you tomorrow.
—I look forward to the meeting. —he pulls my hand towards him to steal a kiss before walking down the hallway.
I stand for a moment like an idiot looking where he's gone.
—Someone has a lot of explaining to do.
I snap back to reality. I return my gaze to Kate who is now folding her arms. I enter the apartment and plop down on the couch as she closes the door and keeps me company.
—Speak up. What happened? The last time we spoke you were in a luxurious apartment and today you come back all lovey—dovey with Christian.
—I had to thank the owner of the apartment, I remember I told you. He offered to walk me back.
—No! —she gasps as she plops down next to me.
—Yes, he's the owner of the luxurious apartment, Kate. You don't know how surprised I was when I discovered it.
—Oh my God, Ana! I thought it was over between you two.
—Mmmmm, it's far from over between us, Kate. —I answered thoughtfully, but with an idiotic smile on my face.
It's only just begun. I just hope this time it's the way it should be.
Monday is a nightmare at the office. Elena is in a very bad mood, unlike me who walks in with a huge smile on my face. Even though I haven't slept much. Christian hasn't stopped texting me all night. Seductive and passionate messages. I don't even remember what time I fell asleep. As soon as I sit down behind my my desk, I contact the magazine people to plan the time of the photo shoot and the location. And I spend the morning very busy.
As soon as I have some free time, I look through my contacts and call the psychologist.
—Do you need another session so quickly? —I can't help laughing.
—Actually, I wanted to give you a consultation. I promise to pay you for your time. —I tell him as he laughs out loud.
—What can I help you with?
—Do you do couples therapy?
—I don't usually, but if you need help you can come in for a consultation and we'll see if I can help you or if not, I would recommend a colleague of mine.
—That would be great. When would that be?
—Wait, let me check the schedule. —he pauses. —Wednesday at 6:00 pm works for you?
—Great.
—I'll text you the address. —he pauses again. —You never told me your name?
—Ana Steele.—I answer with a smile.
—Well, nice to meet you, Ana. For professional reasons, I can't give you mine, but you can call me Dr. William.
—Nice to meet you then, Dr. William, and I'll see you Wednesday without fail.
—I'll be waiting. —and hang up.
One less problem to solve. Wednesday will be a busy day. But then the smile is wiped off my face. How will Christian take the fact that the psychologist is the one I left the club with? I have to tell him at some point, I don't want him to be taken by surprise on the day of the consultation. My cell phone starts ringing around noon. I get a text from Christian.
"I miss you, we can have lunch together."
I smile at the screen like an idiot as I reply.
"I already have a lunch engagement. Kate wouldn't forgive me."
His reply comes quickly.
"You won't escape what I'm preparing for tonight. You'll need energy, lots of energy."
He still hasn't told me what he has planned and I know he's not going to, even if I begging. Kate comes for me promptly for lunch. Luckily for me, the interrogation ended last night.
The rest of the afternoon passes like a blur. I don't even notice the time until Kate asks me if I'm going to overtime. I get up and knock on Elena's door. I peek in and see her frowning at her computer screen.
—Do you need me to stay? —I ask her as she looks up for a moment.
—No Ana, you can leave. —she says staring at the computer again.
Hum. Elena is strange, but no more than usual. I shrug as I gather my things and Kate along the path towards the exit.
—Are you going to stay at the gym?
—Of course. I have a very, very good instructor. —I tell her with a smile.
—See you back at the apartment? —she asks as I get in the car and say goodbye to her.
—I don't know. —I answer with a smile.
Everyone stares at the clothes I'm wearing as I enter the gym. I head for the locker room with my bag over my shoulder and change my clothes. I'm sitting on the bench putting on my wraps when I feel his powerful presence. I look up and meet his mesmerizing blue gaze. Christian walks in my direction and I can see all the other students watching us.
Only then do I remember what happened the last time I attended the class. And I don't know what to do. I think I should apologize to the class and to the teacher for what happened.
—Did you decide to go back to class? —he says, stopping in front of me.
—I'm so sorry for what happened last time. —I say apologetically. —I was frustrated and took my anger out on you.
—Anger can be very dangerous, but also powerful if you know how to use it in the right way. I hope that what happened last time will not happen again.
—It won't happen again. I have learned my lesson.
—Well, if everyone is ready, let's start with the warm-up. —he shouts as he walks away from me.
I place myself at the back of the class. I don't want to draw too much attention to myself. But from my perspective I can see how the other women in the class are devouring him with their eyes. I don't like other women looking at him like that. I feel very, very possessive. I know Christian ignores them and only looks in my direction from time to time. But it doesn't reassure me. This is the first time I've ever felt this way.
And that's how the rest of the class goes.
It's the first time I don't pay attention to what I'm doing. I'm more aware of what Gia is doing while training with him. Of the smiles she throws at him and the flirtations he rebuffs with a smile that I know makes them all sigh and melt at his feet.
By the time the class is over, I am less calm. This time I notice much better how the women take a long time to leave, and they look at him out of the corner of their eyes. I don't even bother to pick up my things. I remain seated on the bench as I slowly, very slowly get rid of my wraps.
—See you next class, professor. —Gia says to him and the other girls while he smiles at them.
—Until next class girls. —he answers them with my favorite smile as I watch him walk in my direction now.
We are finally alone when he stops in front of me.
—You shouldn't smile at them like that. —I say looking up at him.
—In what way? —he asks.
I look up and there it is. The damn smile that takes anyone's breath away. The one that made me fall in love with him.
—That way. —I say, pointing to his face. —It makes all the women fall at your feet.
—That's interesting. —he says as he takes one of my hands and pulls me towards him, pressing my body to his. He takes a few steps until he has me pressed against the wall. —Because I'm only interested in one of them falling at my feet.
—I assure you that all the women who are in this class are there because of how hot the professor is and not because they are being trained.
—How hot is he? —he asks as I feel his breath on my neck.
I'm sweaty from the workout, but he doesn't seem to mind at all as he slides his tongue just above my collarbone causing me to let out an involuntary moan.
—Very, very hot. —I answer hesitantly.
His hot tongue begins to move up my neck as his lips bite down and slide into my ear. His teeth tug at my earlobe and I shudder.
—You don't have to be jealous Ana. —he says as he begins to kiss my face softly. —The professor only has eyes for one woman in this class. —he rubs his nose with mine and kisses my other cheek. —And I intend to make them very clear so that there are no doubts.
He looks at me briefly before joining his lips with mine. Very slowly he brushes his lips against mine making me shudder completely from head to toe.
—Christian! —I let out his name in a moan.
—Have you missed me? —he asks as he continues to tempt me with his lips on mine.
—I've spent the whole day thinking about you. —I answer him honestly as I smile against his lips eager for him to deepen the kiss.
I lose myself in his gaze for a second.
—Do you want me to kiss you? —he asks, tempting me once more. —Do you want me to possess you? —his hands slide down my body until they grab my buttocks and squeeze them.
—I want you to make me yours wherever and however you want. —I answer him boldly without being able to help it.
The desire I feel for him is killing me.
—I'm sorry to ruin your fantasies Miss Steele, but I have other plans for tonight. —he says, pulling away from me a little. But without taking his hands off my body.
I stare at him as he continues to smile at me.
—I have a date with a very special woman that I can't miss. And she would kill me if I stood her up.
—Mmm. Is she dangerous?
—You have no idea. She's already shown me what she's capable of when she gets angry. Besides, she exudes danger all over her delicious curves. —he says as he squeezes my buttocks again and now moves his hands up to my waist.
—You'd better be careful with her then.
—I will. —he says before stealing a kiss and leaving me wanting more. —Ready to go to dinner?
—I'm not dressed for dinner Christian.
—Who said anything about going out to dinner? —he pulls away from me as he starts to take off his wraps.
—Christian, do you think you have a moment, I need you to sign the new contract. —The girl from reception arrives where we are.
—I forgot. I'll be right back and we'll leave. —he says to me with a smile as he leaves.
As soon as Christian leaves I feel a phone ringing, it's not mine, so it must be his. The phone rings insistently but I don't dare look for it and see who it is. I don't want to invade his privacy. It stops ringing for a moment, but starts ringing insistently once again. Christian is taking his time. I walk over to his bag and see his cell phone, pull it out and look to see who's calling. As soon as I see the screen, I put his cell phone back in the bag.
Why is Elena calling him?