Chapter 9
Ana pov.
I brush my hair trying to bring it under control so it doesn't look frizzy, I'm failing miserably however and I quickly give up. My stomach is full of nervous butterflies because I'm getting ready to go to Christian's apartment, I realised I couldn't avoid him forever so I've agreed to join him for dinner and give him the chance to explain the room upstairs. I hear the sound of a car outside and I go to look out the window to see Taylor outside, gathering my bag and coat I lock the flat up and head downstairs where Taylor opens the back car door for me.
"Thank you Taylor" I say smiling in greeting.
"You're welcome Miss Steele" He says.
I get in the back seat of the car and put my belt on while Taylor gets in the front and starts the engine, I watch the busy Seattle seats as we pass them by on our way to Christian's. The drive is short because the traffic is surprisingly light despite the busy streets, Taylor turns into the parking garage after entering the code and parks in one of Christian's spaces. He comes round and opens the back door for me and I climb out, I follow him into the elevator and he enters the code for the penthouse. My nervous are getting worse and I focus on breathing deeply as the elevator carries us up, the doors ping open and Taylor opens the foyer doors into the living room.
Christian stands from where he is sitting on the couch and walks over to greet me, I put on a friendly smile trying to act normal but in truth my inner goddess is on her knees begging me to still give this a shot no matter what he says about the room upstairs.
"Anastasia I'm glad you came to have dinner and talk with me" He says.
"Hi Christian I hope we can clear things up and finally be on the same page about our intention" I say.
"I hope so too" He says and gestures for me to follow him into the kitchen where we sit at the breakfast bar.
Mrs Jones his housekeeper serves us some white wine and I take a grateful sip hoping it will help my nervous a bit, the smell of beef Wellington makes my mouth water as Mrs Jones puts our plates down in front of us. I give her a grateful smile and she returns it before disappearing into the staff quarters to give us some privacy, I wonder for a moment if she knows about the room and if she does did she tell Luke and Taylor. I dismiss the thought quickly because Luke would have told me about it since he knew I was considering a sexual relationship with him. Christian cuts a slice of meat off and pops it in his mouth, I watch him chew and then swallow before he finally speaks.
"I know it's a scary and intimidating room to find especially when you're not prepared for it, I'm sorry you had to find it the way you did" He says.
"Were you ever going to tell me about it" I ask him.
"Yes of course I waiting for the right time when you trusted me a little more and I would never take you in there unless you wanted to" He explains.
"What exactly are your intentions with me Christian are you really going to help me or are you just another guy who wants to use me as a sex slave" My tone is biting and I glare suspiciously at him.
"No of course not Ana I wasn't even touch you yet" He says with a calm voice not effected by my bite.
"Then what were you going to do" I ask confused.
"If we were to do this we would start slow I would be your friend first I would listen when you talk, rant, yell and even scream. I'll be your shoulder to cry on until there's no tears left to come out, I'll stay by your side no matter what, help you face and conquer your first fears. I'll help your confidence grow so you take care yourself again and see that not everyone will hurt you and you can trust people" He says.
I stare at him with my mouth open as if to speak but I can't think of a thing to say, he stares back at me patiently waiting to see if I'll say something. When I can't think of a reply after a few minutes he continues.
"Only and only after you have regained your confidence, trust and love yourself will I take you bed and I will treat you like a queen pleasuring and loving every inch of you because you deserve all the love in the world I will only take you to my playroom when you're ready and ask me too" He finishes and waits for me to respond.
"Christian" I manage to gasp out.
"Give yourself to wrap your head round all that it was a lot to take in" He says.
I do as he says and take a minute to think about everything he's just said, my heart tries swell at how romantic it was but the heartbreak I've gone through and the scared part of me convinces me that it's all lies and he's just trying to trick me.
"How can I believe you any other girl would swoon but I just can't believe it or trust you" I say tears brimming my eyes.
"Ana baby it's okay please just give me the chance to prove to you that you can trust me, if I fuck up in any way you can kick my ass out your life but please give me a chance and I promise I won't fuck up" He says.
I nod because it's the only thing I can do as the tears flow down my cheeks, he rises from his bar stool and gently lifts me into a cradle and carries me to the living room. He sits down on the couch with my in his arms and holds me close to him as I sob into his neck, he whispers soothing words in my ears but he isn't trying to stop me instead he encourages me to let everything out and not to bottle it up anymore. He sits there with me patiently reassuring me he's right there and he's not going anywhere, eventually after what feels like forever I've cried my eyes dry and I lay quietly trembling in his arms.
He gently strokes my hair still whispering soothing words to me, it helps me calm down and a strange feeling of safety and security washes over me. The trembling slowly subsides and I find myself dosing into sleep, he stands up and carries me through the apartment into a bedroom then into the adjoining bathroom where he sits me down on the toilet seat. I look up and watch him leave the room again only to return again a few seconds later with a shirt.
"Here baby girl you can wear this to bed" He says handing it to me.
"Thank you Christian" I say taking the shirt.
He leaves the room again giving me privacy to change and I start to strip off, I look at myself in the mirror and I wonder why he hasn't ran a mile. I look a mess with blood shot eyes and puffy cheeks from the crying, I slide his shirt on and his scent surrounds me I lift the shirt to my nose and inhale feeling soothed by it. I button the shirt up then leave the room to find him sitting on the bed waiting for me, as soon as he sees me opening the bathroom door he stands and pulls the bed cover back. Then he comes over and scoops me up in a cradle again so suddenly that I squeal, he chuckles and lays me in the bed tucking me in like a baby.
"Sleep beautiful I'll join you in a minute I just need to put my own pyjamas on" He says.
He disappears into the bathroom with a pair of pyjama pants, I close my eyes feeling exhausted and start into sleep. The last thing I remember before sleep takes me is Christian spooning me and turning the out the bedside light.
