A/N: Hello all and thank you again for sticking with me on this :) I wanted to let everyone know that I am going on vacation today and will not be back in the land of computers for a week. This means this will be the last update for at least a week, maybe two but know that I am not giving up on this story and will definitely update soon upon my arrival back home. I know exactly where I want to go and have the next several chapters planned out. I wanted to get this out before I left :) I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you thought!

The food arrived while Anastasia was in the shower. Christian was going through some work emails and trying to keep his mind off the unnerving thought that the girl in his bedroom could just as easily been the girl on television, discovered dead in her bed after a night of dancing and drinking.

He'd wanted to take Anastasia over his knee right then and there, both to show her the error of her ways and to reassure himself that she was really there; that she was safe. She'd looked so contrite, and so pretty when she apologized, demure and submissive, she truly was perfect. He couldn't leave her alone, he was incapable of it.

In the time since he had accepted Alice Porter's request, he had futher hammered out the details of the event with her, and he was just sending off one final email confirmation of the scene's details, safeguards, and controls when an email from Elena Lincoln pinged in his server inbox. He quirked an eyebrow. What could she possibly want at this hour of the morning? He opened it.

Christian,

I'm so sorry to hear things didn't work out with Alice. I really thought she would be perfect for you, my boy. Not to worry though, I have another girl lined up for you whenever you're ready.

Her name is Katerina Benedetto. Katie for short. She may be a bit young for your usual tastes but she's got a high pain tolerance and a fiery style. She could give you a run for your money, my dear.

I've attached her file for your perusal. Let me know when you are ready for an introduction,

Kisses,

Elena

Christian sighed, his cursor hanging over the attachment. Clearly word had gotten back to Elena that he was not renewing Alice's contract. He re-read Elena's email to him and bristled at her use of the term "my boy." He hadn't been her "boy" in several years now, a fact she frequently seemed to forget, no matter how much distance he put between them. He didn't open the attachment, instead he typed out a staccato reply to Elena.

Elena,

Thank you for your concern, but I will not be requiring a new submissive at this time. Hope all is well with the salons.

Christian.

He did not want to deal with Elena and her cloying demands right now. He already had a girl he was interested in and Katie Benedetto was not that girl. Elena was not usually one to take no for an answer. He was sure that when they next had lunch she would be all over cajoling him into giving this new girl a chance. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the bedroom door creak open.

Anastasia reappeared, looking much better, freshly showered with still damp hair, wearing the new jeans Taylor had purchased for her and a much better-fitting baby-blue blouse. She was barefoot but did wear socks as she padded back into the room, dipping her head and blushing slightly. He was taken aback by her natural beauty. Recovering his senses, he remembered why she was there.

"You need to eat." Christian repeated his earlier command, gesturing to the food that had arrived while she was cleaning up. "I didn't know what you would like so I ordered one of everything off the room-service breakfast menu."

If Anastasia thought he was being extravagant, she didn't say anything. Instead looking over the meals and choosing a small stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, and a side plate of bacon. Christian stood from where he'd been sitting at the desk and joined her at the small breakfast table, choosing an omelet for himself.

Christian watched the girl as she ate, noting the way she kept her gaze averted, fidgeting uncomfortably. She was adorable. She was quiet. It was getting annoying.

"Is something the matter?" He asked. She looked up at him, blue eyes wide, startled.

"N –no! Just…" She blushed and averted her gaze again…God Christian could feel himself hardening just from that. He willed himself to calm down.

"Just…" He prompted.

"I'm so embarrassed." She almost whispered. At his quirked brow she continued "I mean…I…was not in control of myself last night…and I… am just feeling very foolish." She admitted, chancing a look up at him. He stared back at her impassively. She was right. She had not been in control. He wondered again at what it would be like if he were in control of her. He wanted it so badly he could taste it. He wanted to bend her to his will and make her his. She was expecting a reply.

"You made a mistake," He acquiesced. "We all do, sometimes. But you called me. And that was good." She looked up at him, unsure, and he gave her a small smile in return.

"It was?" She asked, hesitant. He nodded again.

"Yes, Anastasia." He affirmed, "You can always call me when you are in trouble." He was shocked by the sincerity of his words. He wanted her to be able to rely on him. She grinned at that.

"And you'll come rescue me?" She laughed lightly, and the sound was melodic and entrancing.

"Yes." He answered simply, with a shrug. And he meant it.

"Well you're a regular knight in shining armor, I think." She grinned coyly and Christian was pretty sure she was flirting with him. Two could play that game.

"A dark knight, maybe." He gave her one of his most smoldering looks and a small gasp was his reward. Oh yes. She wanted him. He stood, having finished his breakfast, and reached his hand out to her.

"Come," He commanded softly, and she warily took his hand and stood. "I'll take you home." He offered by way of explanation, and Anastasia for her part looked terribly flustered, like she hadn't thought herself about getting home.

"Oh! Right! Of course! "She flushed again and Christian bid his growing erection away "Thank you."

Christian did not release Anastasia's hand as he led her to the elevator. He quite enjoyed the feeling of her hand in his and he wasn't ready to release her, yet. When they rode the elevator down to the car park below the hotel, he had to keep his gaze focused on the shiny doors in front of them for fear that he might lose control and take her right there in the elevator if he looked at her, or witnessed her biting her lip just once more.

The drive to Anastasia's apartment was spent in relative silence. He allowed her the company of her own mind as he drove them. His hand still felt warm from holding hers on the way to the car and he found himself lamenting that' he'd had to let go in order to drive.

Back at Anastasia's apartment, they'd walked in on his brother and her roommate going at it on the couch, and Christian once again felt his anger bubbling up. The ditzy blonde was too busy getting laid by his frat boy of a brother to properly worry about her roommate and supposed best friend's safety. He did not care for Katherine Kavanagh. His brother bid the ladies adieu and headed outside. Katherine at least had enough decency to give him some privacy with Anastasia.

She fidgeted uncomfortably before him, playing with her hands again, a nervous habit, he noted.

"Thank you for taking me home." She murmured, "And um…for helping me last night. And um, for the new clothes. I'll pay you back of course. "

"Don't be ridiculous. They are a gift." He cut her off and she flushed deeper. He got the sense that she was trying to say goodbye.

"I'd like to see you again." He announced, before she had a chance to do so.

She looked up at him, startled, the surprise evident on her face. He continued.

"Tomorrow, after graduation. Do you have any plans? Obligations? I'd…like to show you something." He was jumping the gun…he knew he was jumping the gun….Hell, Alice Porter was going to be at his place expecting a fairly detailed role-play that very Friday. But he couldn't help it. He needed to assess Anastasia's willingness to be his. Not having her was not an option. She was bewitching, and beautiful, and he couldnt really explain it entirely, but her presence soothed him, calmed his inner demons and made him feel...he wasn't sure exactly how he felt, he only knew that he'd slept better with the girl in his bed than he'd slept in years. He could not let her slip through his fingers. Anastasia opened her mouth as if to say something and then closed it again, opting instead to nod slowly.

"No..um..yes…um…I mean…" She paused and he quirked an eyebrow at her, amused. He made her nervous. He liked that. "Tomorrow – sure – I'd love to. " She blurted, then flushed again, "I mean…yes, tomorrow. Erm…" The poor girl was floundering and he decided to throw her a life preserver.

"Tomorrow." He grinned lazily at her.

"Tomorrow." She smiled back, and his heart was hers.