When we exit the elevator, I feel Christian place his hand on the small of my back and steer us through the door And down the street, his hand moves to rest on my hip and He gives it a light squeeze as My breathing slows, still uneven from our encounter in the elevator, my skin feels on fire. Holy shit

"Where are we going?" I Ask as we walk Down the street from S.I.P and stop outside a quaint little restaurant. Christian steps closer to the window displaying the menu then takes out his phone and types something before placing it back in his pocket and looks up to meet my eyes.

"To have lunch...and talk" his eyes bore into mine when he says 'talk' and He holds open the door for me but I don't move.

"Christian we shouldn't" I backtrack my steps but he grabs my arm

"Anastasia" I open my mouth but he cuts me off

"Please, It's just lunch" the way he says it pulls at something inside me and I find I can't deny him

I nod slowly "ok"

He opens the door once more allowing me to move past him and We're led To a table at the back of the room. We sit in silence while looking over the menu and I glance up to see Christian watching me.

A gentlemen waiter comes to take our order, smiling politely, Christian glares at him as we order our food and He orders two glasses of Barossa valley Shiraz then dismisses him with a wave of his hand and the young man quickly retrieves our menus before disappearing. The silence stretches between us so I turn my head, glancing around the room and hear his sharp intake of breath, then realise with my face at this angle he can see my bruise.

his expression looks pained as he tilts his head, his eyes moving over my slightly bruised cheek.

"I'm sorry you got hurt Ana. He should never have gotten that close" his expression turns dark but before he can speak again the waiter returns with the Barossa and pours a glass. Christian sits straighter when taking a sip from the glass and nods. The waiter fills both our glasses before briskly walking away. Bit early for drinking? Nope

"It's not your fault Christian, it could've happened to anyone" he shakes his head and takes a mouthful of wine

"How is mia?" I ask reaching for my glass and taking a sip. Mmm

"Good, she was a little shaken up when sawyer took her home after the incident Saturday night. She wanted me to say thank you" I nod taking another sip of wine when our food arrives. After a few bites Christian speaks again.

"Do you do things like this often?" He leans back, running his index finger over his bottom lip and I'm momentarily distracted

"Do what?" I frown and his hand drops

"put yourself in danger for someone you barely know?"

"She needed help Christian" I find myself saying "And I would hope that if the roles were reversed she would have done the same for me" I take another sip of wine and his lips set in a hard line

"It's that simple?" His stare hardens

"It is that simple" I nod and he shakes his head. Minutes pass where we just stare at each other then he speaks again.

"What happened at the Heathmen Ana, it's not something I do, I don't just have sex with random woman and I never have unprotected sex.."

"Don't worry Christian" I cut him off "I have an IUD and just so you know, I don't have sex with random people either" my food finished, I take another drink of wine then continue "and despite what you might think Christian I'm not a whore, I'm an English major whose friends convinced her to go out and have some fun on her last night in Portland and I know we don't know each other well but what you said Christian, It hurt."

Wow that felt surprisingly good. my shoulders relax for the first time since i left the heathmen last year and Christians look is comical before he deflates in his seat then groans and pulls out his phone.

"hello" he snaps then lets out a breath "hey mom" he looks sheepish all of a sudden and I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips.

"yes...no...yes I will be there mom I promise...see you tonight" he hangs up and grabs his glass from the table, emptying its contents in one go and Drops the glass back on the table, then squeezes the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger before runnning a hand through his hair pulling sharply on the strands. He looks tired. Come on Ana give the man a break he's not the only one in the wrong here my subconscious snaps and guilt suddenly grips me

"I'm sorry" I say without realizing, then look down at my hands "We didn't really get off on the right foot, did we?" I look up in time to see him shake his head

"I shouldn't have called you a whore" he looks sheepish and it makes me smile

"I'm sorry I was so sassy" I bite my bottom lip trying to lighten the mood and that gets a laugh out of him. it's a lovely sound. He really is quite beautiful

"sir" a deep voice comes from behind me and I jump. Looking over my shoulder I see a large man in a suit, both hands behind his back, his expression neutral.

"Taylor." the smile has vanished from Christians face replaced with annoyance

"I apologize for the interruption sir but there's been an..." he quickly glances at me before looking back to Christian " incident at GEH"

Christians posture immediately changes as his eyes harden he gives the man known as 'Taylor' a swift nod. I guess that's the end of lunch. I'm surprised at the disappointment I feel.

Taylor disappears and despite my protest Christian pays the check and we head out to the curb. Taylor is standing by an Audi SUV, similar to the one I went to the mile-high nightclub, and opens the door when he sees' us

"employee?" I incline my head toward Taylor, who looks like he could snap someone in half without even breaking a sweat

"security" he answers and I nod rocking on my heels

"so..I'll uh..see you around" I blush suddenly feeling shy and look up to see him watching me with amusement

"are you blushing miss Steele?" he asks amused and I look down shaking my head. Damn you grey.

"hey" he whispers and I look up feeling his fingertips brush my cheek as he brushes a tendril of hair off my face, placing it behind my ear, he runs his thumb down my cheek, pulling my lip free.

"have dinner with me?" he asks quietly, his thumb traveling back and forth, caressing my bruised cheek. I look at him biting my lip, Do I want to? He was just supposed to be a one night stand. but look at hiiiiiiim my subconscious whines, and I do, I look into his intense grey eyes

And slowly nod my head.


"Ana?" kate's voice travels through the apartment as the front door shuts.

"In here" I yell from my bedroom and she appears sheepishly in the doorway

"hey" she looks unsure of herself as she stand there holding a bottle of wine and a bag that smells suspiciously like my favorite Thai food. Hmmm

"Are you still pissed at me?" she asks moving closer. I shut my laptop and push it aside

"that depends" I cross my arms and her shoulders drop

"on?"

"what's in the bag" I ask and a smile tugs at her lips. Hopping up beside me she wraps her arms around my shoulders and squeezes tightly

"I'm so sorry you got hurt Ana" she pulls back and juts out her bottom lip "please forgive me?"

I purse my lips then nod smiling "I don't need to forgive you Kate, it's not like that with us, your always just..in.. with me, no matter what" her eyes tear up and I push her over causing her to giggle before she plucks one of my pillows and whacks me over the head until we're both laughing

"so how was your day? How did the interview go? "she asks fixing her hair and my mind flicks through the day. I think of the phone call with my dad this morning, the nerves before my interview, jacks wandering eyes then finally Christian. Christian

I nod, a smile covering my face as I release a slow breath "good" admit it my subconscious quirks an eyebrow and I turn away from Kate as she takes out the food and places it on the bed. ok fine, I like him.

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