Chapter Five

Christian's POV

Christian made his way through the unlit, quiet house, his hand still trembling slightly as he reached for the ornate handle and opened the front door. It was already dark as he stepped outside and the moon was full and large in the pitch black sky. He pulled out his cell to check the time: 9.53pm and five missed calls, three from his mother and two from Elliot. Fucking perfect, more trouble was just what he needed and now he faced a long walk home when all he really wanted to do was sleep. Christian clutched the phone tightly in his hand and knocked it against his forehead, his eyes closed in frustration, before he began on his way.

As his feet crunched along the gravel of Elena's drive the security light kicked in and blazed down on him, blinding his tired eyes. He lifted a hand to shield against its brightness and trudged his way past the Mercedes that had brought him here. Catching his distorted reflection in the black paintwork, he had the sudden urge to lift his boot and kick the crap out of it.

How dare she? He had done his fucking utmost to obey her!

Christian's anger and frustration boiled up inside of him, making his muscles physically ache with the strain of tension.

He fisted his hand tightly into his hair and sucked in a breath through clenched teeth as he glared at the inky figure of himself that bounced back at him. Without another thought, he swung back his foot just as a light came on in a window above him, stopping him instantly and sending him toppling backwards onto his ass. Immediately brought back to his senses, he scrambled to his feet and ran, he ran as fast and hard as he could away from the house. No longer tired in that moment, but fuelled by adrenaline and the need to get away as quickly as he could before he did something he was sure he'd later regret, his feet pounded away the distance from the house.

Elena's POV

Elena leaned over the large, freestanding bathtub and shut off the faucets as steam filled the room around her. She swirled her hand through the water, the strong scent of musk rising up to her in a calming cloud. Her hand faltered as she heard the faint click of the front door closing and her heart suddenly felt heavy knowing Christian had now left.

Feeling a sudden stab of regret which she instantly quashed, she turned on the light above her, using the dimmer switch to keep it gentle before stepping into the bath water - as hot as she could stand, and slowly lowered herself down. The bubbles rose around her as she sank down, the water overflowing the sides and cascading over the floor.

She lay there feeling the stress of her muscles slowly ease; only for the tension to return as she closed her eyes and saw desperate grey eyes blazing back at her. She had never been so harsh with him. Denial and the removal of affection was one of the hardest punishments, especially to a boy she knew craved love, even if he didn't know it himself. But the thought of losing him, he was hers. Her beautiful boy, she had discovered him, she could see his potential and she needed him. She needed to see the look in his eyes that claimed her as his whole world and reason. She needed him more than he needed her.

Linc, her husband, barely knew she existed, she simply had to be at his beck and call in all and any way that he wanted including the bedroom, where still her needs didn't matter. She fucking earned this luxury she lived in and sometimes, more and more so, she thought the price was too high. But to give it up…To be back to… She shook her eyes and lifted her eyes to the ceiling.

Christian would have a long walk home. Elena frowned as she remembered her hurt in his eyes He look so… betrayed. She had punished him before, of course she had. But she knew that he needed the punishment, he revelled in it. To be controlled. But tonight she had meant it, tonight she was too attached, too angry… sca-. She instantly submerged herself fully into the water, pushing a wave of bubbles crashing over the side and as she re-emerged, her make up running down her cheeks and the bathtub now half empty she resolved herself to her actions.

He may just be a boy, but she saw the beautiful man he could become and she didn't want him being stolen away by some young, pathetic little girl that wouldn't know how to appreciate him, how to please him and give him what he needed.

She had nearly vomited when he had answered her back to defend the little bitch.

Elena stood from the bath and reached for her gown, wrapping it around her as she paddled out of the bathroom, water all around her bare feet. The house Keeper would be here in the morning, Magda, she would take care of all this before Linc got home between business trips. She closed her eyes as she turned out the light and resigned herself to an entire weekend with Linc, an entire weekend without Christian.

Christian's POV

Christian stumbled, the thin soles of his Converse slipping on the loose rocks and stones along the edge of the unlit road before he finally staggered and slowed to a stop, bent double, his legs nearly buckling as he braced his hands on his knees. Breathless, Elena's house was now long behind him. His lungs and throat felt raw as they sucked in the cool night air in desperate gulps.

Headlights lit the road from behind him; Christian didn't have the energy or the want to pay the car any attention as it drove past him until the brake lights suddenly lit up and the car pulled over sharply, tires skidding against the roadside, throwing up a shower of dirt.

Christian straightened slowly as he looked closer at the car, trying to make out the model through the glow of its lights against the darkness of the night. His laboured breath misting in front of his face as the car door opened and the driver stepped out.

"Christian? Are you ok? What are you doing out here?"

Anastasia….