Chapter 7

I sit quietly for a few more minutes but shivering from the cold. I will just head back inside and go the bathroom, fix myself up and ask Kate to take me home. I take a few deep calming breaths looking down at my lap and the embarrassment seizes me again and I just allow myself to weep silently into my hands. Suddenly I feel a warm jacket cover my shoulders and my head lifts up slowly.

Christian Grey sits down next to me and covers me with his jacket.

"Please don't cry, Miss Steele" he says softly and he hands me a handkerchief.

"Thank you" I stutter.

It's clear he knows that I felt out of place and feels bad for me. I lift up my head and smile at him trying to act casual but I'm out of breath from crying and he just gives me a sad smile and wraps him arm tightly around me.

"I thought your gifts were the most thoughtful Anastasia; don't hide like you're ashamed. Any wealthy person can go into a jewelry store and buy some expensive piece but if there's no meaning behind it then it may as well be worthless" He says sincerely and he is still holding me. That's exactly how I feel. A gift should mean something. I know it meant something to Kate I just felt stupid that everyone else didn't understand. I know she tried to explain but I still felt like an ass.

"Do you really think so? That's how I feel. I know it was kind of silly but it's what she wanted" I reply still stuttering trying to halt my tears. Yeah why should I feel stupid for putting love and thought into a gift?

"Yes, your gifts were obviously from the heart, I was just upset you didn't get me anything" he teases and I giggle and sniffle. He smiles warmly at me and grips his arm tighter around me.

"It's very cold out here Anastasia, come back inside with me, I'll protect you" he says sardonically and I immediately smile and feel at ease.

"I need to fix myself up. I don't want anybody to see me like this and I left my phone on the dining room chair" I mutter

"Come sit in my car and fix yourself, I'll go inside and get your phone" he walks me over to his expensive looking sports car and turns on the ignition and adjusts the heat. He leans in and kisses my cheek and says

"I'll be back in a few, don't drive off now" and he winks. I let out a deep breath again, gosh he is such a gentlemen, I can't fathom why Kate doesn't like him. I glance in the mirror and I am horrified when I see my reflection. I quickly search through my bag for some concealer and apply it generously over my swollen eyes. I look through his glove box and find some tissues and blow my nose, ooh he has eye drops. I put a quick drop in each eye and put it back in the glove box. I check myself a few times over and I am semi presentable again. My red eyes are clearing up and my breathing has calmed. I know Kate is going to be questioning me about where I've been, don't know how I'll explain that but I am going to have to.

Christian opens the car door carrying a coffee mug. He hands it to me and it's a cup of hot tea. "Here this should warm you up a bit more, careful it's hot"

"Thank you so much "I smile as I take a few sips and my insides start to warm up. He takes the cup from me and places it in a cup holder

"Do I look okay; do you think anyone will notice that I was crying?" I asked worried

He looks at me and says "You look beautiful Anastasia, you are very beautiful" and my heart rate accelerate at nuclear speed as he leans in and kisses me again on my lips softly.

"Why do you keep doing that? I thought it was just for the mistletoe." I say biting my lip and wondering why I had to question that and everything else.

He pulls my lip free and leans in tracing my ear gently with his finger as my eyes close for a moment. He leans into my neck and inhales an says

"I don't do anything I don't want to do Miss Steele" and I feel his sweet breath on my neck and he grabs my face and kisses me hard, tugging my bottom lip with his teeth and I moan load. He plants kisses up and down my neck and behind my ear. I lift my arm and trace his soft face with my fingertips and he groans. I reach up and grab his hair and weave my fingers through it. His kiss becomes greedier and he caresses my tongue with his over and over. My eyes close and roll back as I am filled with a needy ache for him. I want him.

"Umm" I whimper and he slows down and bites on my lip once more.

"You taste so sweet Miss Steele" and I sink back into the seat breathless for a moment.

"Let's go back inside Anastasia, we don't want anyone to think we ran off and got married now do we?" and I giggle.

We head back inside as he takes my hand and I feel strange but excited and I don't want to let him go. He walks me to the restroom and I check myself proper in the light and pee. I bite my nails for a moment and pace back and forth. He like me oh my goodness, he is a really good kisser. I like him so much, I hope he want to see me again, oh please let him ask me out I beg internally.

As I head out of the bathroom I'm prepared for the Katherine Kavanagh interrogation. She is talking with Elliot, Christian and Mr. Carrick Grey. I walk over and she asks where I have been for the past 30 minutes. Just as I am about to answer Christian says

"Anastasia and I went for a walk" and she looks at me curiously and I smile. She knows I felt silly about the gifts and I tell her I'm tired. Elliot offers to drive me but Christian steps in and says

"I'd be more than happy to drive you home Miss Steele if you wish" and I nod and Kate's eyes pop out of her head. Yes I shocked the un-shockable Kate Kavanagh super reporter for I believe the third time this evening. I say my polite goodnights to everybody and they each give me a warm embrace and a big hug from Mia, who says we should hang out sometime and I smile big. I wish Kate and Elliot a safe trip and tell her to text me and send me a postcard from each city.