(Christian POV)

The few days between seeing Anastasia Grey in my office for the first time and now seem to have taken forever to pass. Driving to Portland was no fucking picnic either. And I have no idea if she will even show up. But it was worth the chance.

I park the Audi a few blocks from the water to linger around the neighborhood some. It's not a part of Portland I'm terribly familiar with so I enjoy taking it in as much as I can without looking over my shoulder for her at every turn.

I'm fucking exhausted and I want coffee so bad it's killing me, but I know I should save that for her. Shouldn't I? I mean if we don't grab coffee what the hell else will we do?

What is wrong with you, Grey?!

I tossed and turned all night. Out of bed several times to stand in my closet and pour over what I should wear. I lied about being in Portland on business so I have to at least pretend to be coming from...or going to...a meeting. Or do I? Maybe I brought a change of clothes? Maybe jeans and a button down are ok? Pathetic.

Needless to say that is exactly what I settled on after changing my mind three or four times. So now I am shuffling casually down a Portland block, running my finger along an intricately beautiful fence in my Burberry shoes, favorite jeans and a dark grey button down. I left the black jacket in the car after arguing with myself over it for nearly ten minutes.

I run my fingers through my hair as I cross the street to Waterfront Park. I notice a a Starbucks just diagonally from me and make a mental note of it's existence. I feel myself starting to get hot. Definitely not from the almost too-cool damp morning air. Just from the heat of wanting to see her again so badly I can taste it. Just like I want to taste her. It hasn't gotten better. In fact it's gotten worse.

I scan the park and take in the quiet pairs of people walking, jogging, reading, chasing dogs. I start on one of the larger paths...wanting to stay visible. I don't want there to be a shadow of a doubt if she doesn't show that she might have just not seen me. My eyes squint hard and scan the horizon for a sign of her. There are a few brunettes that I linger on, sure for a moment I've found her, only to be disappointed.

And then I see a beat up mess of a Volkswagen beetle that I only know is hers after a few days worth of...well...investigating.

Stalking, Christian...you're stalking her.

The car is empty. I give it a quick once over and then trail my eyes through the surrounding trees and benches.

I see her.

Breathtaking.

She doesn't notice me, which is a gift, because it allows me to study her from afar without her knowing I'm watching. I want to see who she is when I'm not around her. I'm frozen where I stand. She's standing beside a tree. She's in a dress. A beautiful deep purple one over black tights and black...boots? I can't quite tell. Her dark hair is pulled half back behind her ears and she's fidgeting with it nervously. But what's even more deliciously amusing about her is...how alone she is. She glances as her phone as she pulls it from her pocket. I grab my blackberry and do the same. Five minutes early. I like that.

I continue along the path boring into her with my eyes until she can feel their weight. I want her to notice me so I have the pleasure of watching her cross the park to me. And finally, she catches my glance and I stop moving as she does. She stares at me for a moment and her jaw hangs slack before she bites her lip and I feel every muscle in my body tighten. I'm picturing pulling that dress from her shoulders and taking her breasts in my hands as she bites that lip...only to pry it lose with my own teeth before kissing her so hard she falls against that tree she's taking shelter by.

She tucks her hair as she looks at me and I offer her a brief smile and a nod. She adjusts her purse on her shoulder and walks towards me through the grass. I slowly counter her, moving towards her as if I'm being pulled until we meet in the middle.

We stand there for a moment in beautiful silence. I stare at her wanting to remember everything about how she looks right now, right down to the perfect shade of pink that her lips are. I can hardly take it. What is it about her?

"Mister Grey..." she clears her throat slightly as she whispers my name. I love hearing her say it. My body bristles and stiffens at it's sound from her.

"Anastasia..." I respond, hoping that calling her by her first name will let her know my intentions have nothing to do with GEH or the school newspaper. We stand there again. I glance over her shoulder in an effort to not just stare at her.

No sign of Kate.

"Miss Kavanaugh couldn't make it I assume?" I'm looking back in her eyes and I can tell my question has baffled her a bit.

"No. Did...did you want her to?" Her voice is so meek and sexy it undoes me and I can't help but take a step into her. I inhale her scent deeply.

"No. No, I did not."

She shivers. So hard I can actually see her shake. I have the same effect on her that she does on me. It turns me on. Knowing that.

I catch a hint of a smile on her face but it's almost like she is afraid to let me see her smile.

"You shouldn't do that..." I admonish her.

"Do what?" She asks, innocently amused at the fact she legitimately has no idea what she has done wrong.

"Hide who you are. What you feel."

She stares at me like she is surprised that I noticed, or she's afraid I'm inside her head...either way, I'm not sure. Then she allows a smile to come across her lips slowly. Without thinking I raise my hand to her chin and trace her bottom lip with my thumb. She flutters her eyes closed gently.

"Much better..." I whisper and I can't hide my want from her. Her eyes open at my words. She stays pressed into my hand for a moment before tightening and backing up just enough to free herself.

"I do have bad news...I didn't really have much else I needed to ask you. I mean, I appreciate you meeting me today...really, I do...but I had embarrassed myself through all of Kate's questions. I was finished."

I study her as she speaks and it's almost like it's in slow motion. She's beautiful. And the sound of her voice somehow hides what it is she is even saying. So, she has nothing else to ask me.

"Why did you come today then? Why not call my office and tell them you didn't need to finish the interview."

She's stunned. Good. That was my intention. Her eyes bounce back and forth between mine and she's searching the files in her brain for an answer that won't embarrass her. But the truth is, she's hot when she's flustered. Little does she know my first instinct was to fuck her right there on the floor when she fell into my office...but I contained myself and helped her up instead. But now she's avoiding my inquisition and it's annoying.

"You're doing it again. Don't search for an answer. Tell me why you came today."

Her mouth hangs open as I speak and I know the answer but I want...no, I need...to hear her say it. I take a step into her and she doesn't counter.

"I...I wanted to see you again."

Her words are timid and shy and I know she's embarrassed to say them to me.

"Why does that embarrass you?" I ask her. I'm interviewing her now. If she can point blank ask me about my sexual preferences I can make her uneasy about wanting me. Besides...right now my only sexual preference is her.

"It doesn't embarrass me."

She's frank and sudden in her answer and I try to respect it.

"Good."

I extend my hand to her and she stares at me like I've offered her a million dollars and she's afraid of it. But slowly she places her hand in mine and we turn to walk slowly down the path I had started on. As we take a few steps I feel her hand tighten in mine and I run my thumb over her skin. It's perfect. How is it that just holding her hand is enough to make me hot? We walk in silence, neither of us sure of what should come next.

"What time is your meeting?" She finally gathers the courage to speak.

What the hell, I'll see her honesty and raise her.

"I don't have a meeting," I stop and turn to her, keeping her hand in mine and using it to pull her towards me on the sidewalk, "I needed to see you."