*Disclaimer: Although I own the rights to this fanfiction, I do not own the characters (even though I truly wished I owned Christian Grey lol) and I do not own the books, etc.

*Synopsis: (AU) – Anastasia Steele (24) is swamped in student loans and college costs and is at the verge of being dropped out of her classes, nearly graduating. Her long time friend, Jose Rodriguez (27) suggests his aunt Elena's exotic BDSM themed night club and helps Ana to get the job as a bartender. When one of the main show girls, Leila Williams (25) gets fired, Christian Grey (26), is left without a partner. Elena is then forced to approach Ana to take the slot. Will Ana take Elena's offer? Or will she run for the hills? OOC/HEA.

I wanna start out by saying that I'm sorry it took me so long to update. Secondly, its been so long since I've written that I'm rusty as hell lol, hence why its so short this time around and why it probably didn't make much sense in certain parts. I'm going to add a few more chapters to this story and see where it takes me. So, uh...yeah. Hehehe. And third, I didn't have time to go over the chapter for mistakes, so I'm sorry about that ahead of time. Thanks so much guys! Xoxo!

(Second A/N At Bottom)

-Chapter 18—Starting Fresh-

Ana POV

"Sorry it took me so long. Bad nerves." I say in a rush to Jack as I grab my bags, preparing to walk towards the terminal that will lead us to our flight.

Now don't go all angry on me, telling me how big of a bad idea this is. Trust me, I fully agree with you. But while Christian and I were trying to figure out an escape plan, his phone began ringing. Then he smiled that sexy, devious grin that told me that he was completely up to no good. And all of this was followed with him telling me to actually go with Jack.

You can imagine the look of shock and disbelief on my face.

I mean, seriously.

What. The. Fucking. Hell?!

That shock shifted into confusion, then to anger within seconds. I was beyond pissed that the man whom I've fallen so hard for; the same man that had come here to protect me. The man who told me that he loved me, was seriously sending me back into the clutches of the devils apprentice.

All I could manage to do in that moment of anger and confusion was narrow my eyes at Christian. "Are you high?" I whisper-yelled. I would have screamed at him—preferrably, actually—if Jack wasn't so close by. But I wasn't that lucky.

"Ana." he warned in a low growl. But when he looked back into my eyes, I could see that this situation wasn't easy for him either. In fact, if he had his way, Jack would be lying unconscious in the middle of the bar. Meanwhile, Christian would be on his way to the booking station for assault.

Finally, his eyes softened as he cupped my face into his warm, large palms, pressing his forehead against mine on a deep inhale. "Just go and trust that I will come for you." He pulled back enough to gaze into my eyes again. I wanted to protest, but I allowed him to finish. "There isn't time for us to discuss this. You have to trust me. They already called your flight. Now go before Jack comes looking for you and everything is shot to shit."

"Fine." I snap. I turn to make my way back to where my belongings and Jack was, when I'm tugged back into a strong, heated embrace.

With Christian's mouth glued to mine.

Sigh.

I swear, this man is going to be the death of me yet. But to add to my newly produced butterflies, he pulls back with a smile and says the most beautiful words he could ever wrap around that delectable tongue. "I love you."

I'm coming home Elizabeth!

And with that, he doesn't wait for my response, pulls his hood upon his head before taking off out of the bar.

So, here I am... standing with the enemy, acting like I'd suffered a wave of nerves over flying when in reality, that's just not at all the case.

But now that Christian's kiss has worn off, I'm feeling nervous and scared all over again. How could I not? I feel light headed and a little nauseous now, too. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all. My body is vibrating with fear and I can feel light perspiration beginning to bead on my forehead.

Dammit, why couldn't Christian just beat the crap out of him and take me with him?

I'm acting like a baby right now, and I hate feeling this way.

Jack looks at me and smiles like a damn shark on fucking shark week. It's now that I realize that there is absolutely no way I can do this. I'm about to run out of the bar without another thought when...

"First time flying?" Jack's voice makes me jump.

I swallow hard. "No. I've flown before. It's just I'm terrified of heights and I feel a little queasy every time I have to travel by plane." I shrug. "No biggy." That's a lie, Jack. In fact, all I want to do is knee you in the balls and run for the fucking hills!

He nods and we make our way towards airport security to have our bags processed through a scanner.

And that's when it all begins.

I walk into Taylor as if I had walked into a concrete wall, dropping my purse, spilling most of the contents of it out onto the floor. I notice he's wearing an airport security badge which is hooked to the left chest pocket of his white button up.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, miss." Taylor says calmly, kneeling to pick up my stuff. He's acting as if he's never met me before. In that moment, I know that something is about to happen. I immediately calm myself knowing that I'm about to get away from Jack.

I choose to not talk to him because im not too sure if my voice wouldnt be a dead giveaway of what's about to occur. I simply swoop down onto my knees, quickly helping him pick up the scattered mess to put back into my purse, when Taylor's hand grasps mine. It's very quick. Very brief. And I know it's a gesture letting me know that I'm safe. That everything will be fine. "Sorry, miss." he mutters.

I look up at him to catch the left corner of his mouth turned up before he winks—winks!—at me. I'm too busy grabbing my stuff and searching for Christian to notice the plastic bag he shoves into my purse. He hands the purse back to me. "Have a good day, miss." he nods in departure before walking away. Punching a few buttons into a key-pad next to a solid steel door off to the right of where Jack and I stand, he steps inside and disappears.

Two men in light blue button ups, black ties and dress pants take our bags and place them up on the machine that will take them through the scanner. Their security badges are sewn to their shirts on the left chest pocket. Walkie-talkies clipped into their belts with a long black cord attached to a mouth piece which is clipped to the collar of their shirts.

My eyes wonder around the airport again, hoping that I'll catch a glimpse of Christian somewhere close by. I'm immediately disappointed when I catch no resemblance of my lover anywhere. And I can't help but wonder where he is. My foot taps; another nervous habit I've had since I were a little girl, and my body bounces while waiting for my bags to go through.

An alarm screams out like a banshee, echoing throughout the airport.

The tallest of the two security guards gives me a look that only a mother could love, and wiggles his index in a 'come here' motion. I look over at Jack. His eyes are wide, but he shrugs. I turn my attention back towards Macho-Guard, the taller of the two. I sigh. I wish the ground would just swallow me whole, because I'm dying of embarrassment right now... and it's a slow, painful death. I'm sure my face is the color of a red neon sign at this point.

Then it hits me. This is most definitely Christian's rescue plan. How else can you explain it? Taylor knew I was coming around the corner when I ran into him, dropping my purse in the process. Taylor knew that my purse zipper was broken, which means he knew that my purse contents would fly out. And the rest is history.

I sigh with relief.

"Ma'am, we need you to come with us to the interrogation room." the other man speaks.

"What's this about?" Jack looks completely terrified and I know I look just as shocked as he does.

Got to play the part, right?

Macho-Guard speaks first. "We believe that you're attempting to traffic drugs—"

And there it is, ladies and gentlemen. I snort, stifling a laugh. Now they probably do think I do drugs, which at this point, I would gladly agree to just to get away from Hyde.

"Now you just wait a damn minute! Drugs?!—" Jack snaps, shocked.

I snort again. It's becoming harder and harder to hold these bitches back. Tears burn my eyes by how desperately I want to laugh.

You should really see the look on Jack's face right now. A face, in which, I'm about to burst into rolling-on-the-floor laughter looking at. So I turn my attention back to the guards.

"Yes." Macho-Guard says. The shorter one keeps looking at me like I've grown four heads. "We found a plastic bag of tobacco-like substanc—"

Jack interrupts him. "This is absurd! You must be mistaken. This is harrassm—"

Snort...

"Mr. Hyde, please don't make this anymore difficult, else we'll have to arrest you, too."

Boom!

I can't hold it in any longer. It starts out as a snort, then a giggle, and later my body is shaking from the fits of laughter pouring right out of me.

I think Jack is starting to believe that I really do drugs, if his facial expression is any indication. I laugh even harder.

Dammit to Hell!

"Now, if you'll please follow me." the shorter of the two guards says, and finally, my laughter dies down until I can breathe again.

Swallowing hard, I nod, following the men—whom now have my purse and bag—through the door I'd seen Taylor enter earlier.

And that's when I spot him. Christian. He's sitting in a gray solid steel chair in front of a broad black and steel table in the middle of the room. He's staring at me with the biggest grin I've ever seen on his beautiful face.

I take a glance back over towards the guards at the same time that they hand the plastic baggy over to Taylor. He shakes the bag as way of explaining it's substance as he speaks. His voice is oozing humor. "Oregano."

I can't help it. I smile.

Narrowing my eyes at Christian, my smile fades as I prop my hands on my hips. The first of many questions is spilling out of my mouth before I can even think. "How could you, Christian? Drugs? Really?" I emphasize my question with raised brows, trying my best to mask my face with a smidgen of anger.

He smiles without a word and it's then—the moment he stands up, walking towards me—that my body relaxes and my face softens with a relieved sigh. Words can't even describe how grateful I am that he rescued me from Derek's clutches.

I wonder what they did with Jack through all of this?

He takes my hand in one of his, interlocking our fingers together as he hands my bags to Taylor. His eyes have yet to stray away from mine. And his voice is soft when he finally speaks to me. "Hi."

A smile slowly spreads across my face. "Hi."

"Hungry?"

I shake my head, glancing down at the floor before darting my head back up. My stomach growls and I roll my eyes at the fact my organ totally just called me out on a lie. "Well, maybe just a little bit. But mainly, I'm exhausted and confused and I—Christian, you have some serious explaining to do. You realize that, right?"

"Yes." He smiles, leaning in for a quick peck on the tip of my nose before rubbing his own against it lovingly. "I promise we'll talk about the events from today—"

"Good—"

"—after we grab a bite to eat."

I sigh. "Can I at least go home and change first? I mean, look at me. I look like a college dork after being mauled by a wild animal." I wave a hand up and down my body to clarify my meaning; pointing out my WSU hoodie and ripped jeans.

He shakes his head with an eyeroll, still looking at me like I'm literally the only woman living on the planet. Like I'm the only woman that matters on the planet. I nearly die from swooning so hard from the look he's giving me right now. "You're beautiful no matter what you're wearing, Anastasia. In fact, you'd still be the sexiest woman alive even if you were wearing a black trash bag."

"I may do that one day while I'm high on my drugs. Oregano, was it?"

He laughs. Like, really fucking laughs and its then that I realize that we're very much alone right now. "Oh, shut up. I did what I had to in order to protect you. Although, having my mugshot taken would be so worth it in the end, if you would have let me."

"But what about how that would make you look to society? I'm not worth you losing business, or your empire. And neither is Jack Hyde, nor Derek Steele worth the trouble of it all crumbling down. I can't let you sacrifice yourself for me. I won't."

"Baby, I already sold my soul to the devil for you."

I try to look away. It's just too much. But he grasps my chin between his thumb and fingers, lifting my head back up so that I have no choice but to look directly at him.

"No. Listen to me. There is absolutely nothing—nothing—in this world I wouldn't do for you; that I wouldn't sacrifice as long as I knew that you were still breathing. So what if it makes me look bad. And I'm sorry it took me so long to come to grips with all of that."

"Christian." I'm swooning like a damn teenager right now.

And all I can think is, Oh, my poor heart strings!

He smiles, showing his pearly whites...

And then...

Oh, sweet Mother of Mary... He kisses me.

Softly.

Short.

Sweet.

Fucking. Perfect!

The cherry to top a very fine sundae.

Pulling away from my lips, he gives me one last peck on my forehead before grabbing my hand, leading us out of the interrogation room, and out of the airport without any sign of Jack Hyde.

This calls for a celebration.

Meanwhile...

Ring...Ring!

"What?"

"I've just witnessed our Anastasia take off with that cock sucking prick, Christian Grey and his watch dogs." Jack blurted furiously while trying to keep up with the pace of the supposed happy couple several feet in front of him. He knew that this was not going to end well the moment the guards pulled her aside. In fact, he knew that something was quite off.

"You're joking, Jack. Right? Please tell me you're joking!"

Jack flinches with the anger pouring out of his partner's voice. "I don't know how it happened. Well, actually, I have an idea of how it happened. Dammit, Derek. The man somehow knew. I know for a fact that Grey had everything to do with this. I just don't know how he knows."

"Well, I'm not paying you to sit there and wonder, Jack. How on Earth did you let her get away?"

Jack scoffed. He was getting tired of playing Derek's games. "She was forced out of my hands. Security took her to the examination room under the suspicion of trafficking drugs." Jack listened for a response but all he heard was shuffling in the background.

"Well if it's the billionaire extraordinaire that's holding us back from getting to her, then there's only one other way to get to her."

Jack sighed. "And what is that, Derek?" he murmured his name venomously, full of disgust.

"We create a plan B."

Click!

Christian POV

"I'll have a pizza burger with sweet potato fries and a beer." I told the waitress at a nearby diner down the road from the Airport. I don't recall the name because ever since Anastasia and I got into the SUV, my eyes have stayed glued to her beautiful face. On the way here, I filled her in with my findings on Jack and my theory on why he may have been involved with Derek.

I told her everything from the moment I woke up alone to the part where I left her in the bar at the airport. I wasn't about to withhold anything from her. Which also meant telling her how devastated I was to see her gone.

"I would have still come for you even if Jack wasn't up to no good, Ana." I told her, stroking my thumb along her tiny knuckles while Taylor continued to drive quietly. "I'm in too deep now to let you go."

She sighed, leaning her head onto my shoulder. The rest of the ride to the diner, she hardly said two words. Honestly, I don't know what caused the change in mood. Maybe she needed the time to absorb everything I'd told her. But then again...

Did I say something wrong? Were my confessions a little too much? Too soon to admit such things? Did she not feel the same way anymore?

I sure hope she puts me out of my misery by answering those questions.

And soon.

She's brooding over something that I wish she would just come out and talk to me about. If we're going to do this relationship together; become more, then she needs to voice her issues so I can make them go away.

"Uhm... I'll just have a small order of your bacon cheeseburger bombs with water to drink, please." she nearly whispered.

What the fuck is wrong with her?

"Are you okay?" I ask, sitting up in my seat across from her. We took a booth table near the window in the front of the tiny diner. A diner, in which, could probably seat only thirty people, tops.

The place looked comfortable, with a blast-to-the-past look about it from the late sixties-early seventies. Pale yellow walls with wooden booth tables and red leather upholstered bench seats. Chrome bar stools with more red leather upholstry as the seat. A wooden bar to eat at. And pink and yellow neon lit frames cased black and white pictures of women on roller skates with their high-waist poodle skirts and white button-up tops. Men in their black leather jackets with slacks and white T-shirts; their hair slicked back.

The waitress was long gone, so I have no idea why Ana was holding back. I groaned when she sunk her teeth into that plump, cherry glossed lip of hers. She knows what that does to me. I'm hard as a fucking solid steel rod. I know that she only does that when she's nervous, aroused, or embarrassed. So, I cup her face, pulling her lip away and ask, "What is it?"

With a deep sigh, she finally responds. "Well, I'm officially jobless." She shakes her head like she can't believe today's events. "And now, I feel helpless. Jose and I split rent and utilities. Now he's stuck doing it all, with or without me living there. And I know he may be okay with that, at least for a little while. But I wouldn't. So not only will I have to go in search of a new job, but I'll have to look for a cheap place until I get back onto my feet."

You know, she's really adorable when she rambles. Hence, the grin plastered on my face. I can't help it. "You could move in with me. Or I could give you a job at my company."

"No, Christian. I can't take any more hand outs. That includes jobs when I haven't earned the title other than being the boss' love interest."

I narrow my eyes as my hard on literally dies. "Hey. Watch it. You're more than a damn fling, Anastasia."

"Am I?"

I scoff. What the fuck? "How could you say that? Or even think it?"

She sighs heavily. "I'm sorry. I'm just—Ugh!—I don't mean to take my aggressions out on you, Christian. I just feel like my life had just started over, then it fell completely apart without warning. And now I feel worthless and I don't know what to do anymore."

The waitress chooses this time to make an appearance with our drinks. "The food will be done shortly. Can I get you anything else?"

"No. Thank you." I snap.

She walks off again.

"Christian, I know that things have went really fast between us, so suddenly."

I can sense it. There's a but hidden in that statement. And I find myself feeling nervous for what she's about to say to me. I'm not even sure I will be able to handle it, if it's what I'm thinking. Because even though this relationship thing is all rather new to me... I like it.

I really, truly like it.

"But?" I ask, dying from the anticipation of what's to come.

"I think it would be best if we slow things down a little until we figure out what this," she gestures her hand back and forth between us when she says this, "really is between us."

"We've already fucked. Slowly. Gently. Fast and hard. Many times, Ana. Many positions. And on many surfaces. We've been as intimate as a newlywed couple on their fucking honeymoon, and you're telling me that we should just, what, stop altogether?"

"Ahem..." And now our waitress is beginning to annoy me with her unexpected appearances. Ana blushes, lowering her head and the waitress' face is just as red as Ana's, if not worse. I take it that she heard everything I said, as well as Anastasia.

"Christian!" It's a whisper, but with enough force to let me know that she's scolding me. "Oh my God! I can't believe yo—I am so sorry. It seems my friend here has no shame, whatsoever. Neither does he carry a filter around for his dirty mouth."

"I'll show you a dirty mouth, alright, Anastasia Steele." I mumble under my breath so that only Ana hears me as the waitress—Mindy, I think her name is—sits our food down onto the table. My eyes are on Ana the whole time I'm speaking. She reacts the way that I'd hoped she would. Her jaw drops nearly onto the table in disbelief.

Luckily for me, the waitress left without asking again if we needed anything else. Honestly, I don't think she could get away fast enough.

Thank Jesus!

"I can't believe you right now." Ana huffs.

"What?"

"You know what."

I rub my palms down my face as Ana pops one of her bites into her mouth. She's right. "I'm sorry."

She doesn't respond. Instead, she pulls her phone out and begins typing out a message on her phone.

"What are you doing?" I ask, taking a bite of my burger. My eyes close with how awesome it tastes and a quiet groan escapes me. "Mmm, that's good. Want some?"

Again, Ana ignores me.

"Oh, for Christ sake! Why are you ignoring me? Are you seriously mad about what Mindy heard earlier?"

"Her name is Mandy."

"Whatever. Is that why you're giving me the quiet treatment?"

She sighs, putting her phone away. She raises her eyes to meet mine. "What are we doing, Christian?"

"Sharing a meal together while arguing about Mindy over hearing the many ways I've fucked your brains out because I have no shame nor a filter for my dirty mouth. A dirty, filthy mouth that has, FYI, made you scream some pretty unfilterized things, I may add."

"Smartass!" She finally laughs, popping another bite into her mouth. Once she swallows, she takes a sip of her water before speaking again. "What I mean is, what are we? What is this between us now? And where are we heading with it?"

I had to take a moment to think about that. I honestly didn't know how to put a label on it other than the obvious one... "Well, you're my girlfriend."

"And what does that mean to you?"

What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Is this a trick question?

When I don't respond, she continues. "Look, I'm no expert. I've never really been in a relationship before. At least not a serious one. And from how you're acting, you haven't neither—"

"I dated Leila." I regret it the moment I say those words.

"Does that even count as serious when all you ever did was have sex?" she asks, bitterly.

"It's all I've known." I whisper, pushing my plate away. I'm not feeling too hungry anymore. And that's saying a lot, coming from me.

I sip my beer, not once taking my eyes off of her. "So what are you saying, then? You're really confusing, Ana. One minute you want to slow things down, then the next you're asking me questions as if I were filling out a damn questionnaire for a dating service."

"I want you, Christian. And I love you, so much that it almost hurts. But what happened to having fun with someone without the sex? Why can't we be normal and just, I don't know, go to a movie or out with a group of friends?"

I smile. "Hearts and flowers."

"Yes."

For a moment I say nothing but look at her. Studying her features as I've always caught myself doing. "And you want those things." It's not a question. More like an observation.

"With you, yes. I do."

Drinking my beer, I sigh. "And you want to do these things without sex. Right?"

"Well, for a while at least. I think it would be good for us to figure out if this is worth trying between us. That way we can see how we are together outside of a bedroom. If this isn't something you want—"

"I want it—"

"—then tell me now and I'll leave and you'll neve—"

She's rambling again. And I smile because I love it when she gets like this. "Ana."

"What?"

I chuckle, lowering my head while shaking my head. Then I raise my head with a serious expression on my face. "I. Want. This." She looks at me like I'm crazy, completely speechless. I reach out and place my hand on hers, then lift it up, pushing our palms together and interlocking our fingers. Lifting my now softened gaze to her confused one, I say, "I've wanted nothing so much in my life. I want this. Us. And I want us to work out."

She sighs, relieved. "Me too."

"Then it's settled."

She smiles.

And in that moment, I knew that everything was going to be okay.

At least, for a little, it would be.

Ana POV

My in-beween lunch and dinner meal with Christian ended on promises of us going out to a movie tonight. I agreed because I needed to do something other than replay the nightmare known as Jack Hyde and how he screwed me over in head. I'm a little scared as to what movie we're going to watch exactly. Mainly because I have no clue as to what interests Christian as far as movies go. Which is also another reason why I'm glad I had the no-sex talk with him.

I'm both terrified and excited to do the full fledged relationship thing with him. We already know that we're compatible intimately, and we have really great chemistry. But sadly, it's not enough. Are we as compatible outside of having sex? Well, this is the first step into figuring that all out.

Floggers happened to be really crowded when I showed up hours after Christian dropped me off by my apartment. After a really breathtaking kiss, of course. Which, in current news, I'm still semi-drunk off his lips consuming mine in said kiss, by the way.

I showered and put on some light make-up before dressing into my Love Milly cream colored sleeveless lace dress that comes down to above my knees. I paired it with a tan belt that goes around my waist, a blue denim jacket and my favorite tan Justin Fancy stitched cowgirl boots with the snip toe. I left my hair loose, scrunching it until it submitted into being slightly wavy, yet simple.

Jose had sent me a text earlier and asked if I made my flight okay. I didn't really want to text him everything that happened, so, I sent a text back and told him that I would talk to him later about it. I just didn't tell him that I would be face-to-face with him.

So imagine the shock written all over his face when he'd seen me sitting across from him at the bar. "Holy Shit-Bubbles! Anabelle, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Well, my dear friend, it's simple. I called a cab. So here I sit." I smile.

He narrows his eyes. "Funny. I meant why are you still in Seattle?"

I sigh. This is going to require a drink. "Can I get a gin and tonic?"

"Sure."

I'm grateful for the silence between us as he makes my drink. I take the time to think about all the things Christian had said to me in the car. It's gonna be hard to tell Jose that I'm out of a job until... well, until I can manage to get a new one. And I honestly don't want to work at Floggers again.

Jose brings me back when he sits my drink down onto the bar top. "Okay. Talk."

I take a big drink, allowing the alcohol to give me some courage before I speak. "Well," I clear my throat. "It turns out that Jack had been in cahoots with Derek for a while."

"Shit!"

"Yeah." I take another drink. And here's the hard part. "There's no job in New York, Jose. It was all a scam."

"Wait... For real?" his voice is laced with anger.

I nod. "The guy had been fired for months from NYIP. Months, Jose! And I was stupid enough to believe him and go along with it."

"You're not stupid, Anabelle. You were happy and excited like any normal person would've been. I mean, it's NYIP we're talking about. Not many people get an easy position there."

"But, I should have known better."Sip. "I could sense something wasn't right while I had been around Jack at the airport, but I stayed until the very end when Christian swooped in to save the day. As usual, it seems."

Jose leans on the bar to wrap his arms around me for a hug. "Oh, Ana. I'm so sorry. I'm sure you'll get something else soon."

When he leans back and starts wiping down the bar, I stare at him for a moment. "Yeah, well... I guess I'll start packing tonight so I can get—"

His hands slam down onto the bar, making me jump. "You are not going anywhere, Anastasia Rose Steele." Okay, so I'm a little scared now. Jose never uses my full name. Pointing a finger at me, he adds, "Do you here me?"

"Jose, I don't want to be a burden on you."

He shakes his head. "And you never will be. You're the yin to my yang. My sista' from anotha' motha'."

I nearly spit my drink out on that one. "Okay, that's just creepy considering the situation of our past."

He laughs. "Yeah, okay. That really was a bad way of putting it. What I mean is, you're like family to me now and I don't mind taking the full load a while until you're back onto you're feet. It's fine. I swear."

I sigh, tipping my glass, only to find it's empty. So I sit it back down. "I feel so helpless." I whine, dropping my forehead onto the bar with a thud.

"Hey, Ana!" Kate says, and I lift my head in time to see her skipping up to the bar.

"Oh, hey, Kate." I smile. Soon, Ethan and Elliot saddle up to the bar on the other side of me all greeting me excitedly.

Kate props herself up onto the bar on my left, crossing her legs. Her brows slightly furrowed. "What happened to New York?"

Before I can respond, Christian comes up behind me, planting a kiss on the exposed side of my neck, whispering into my ear. "Hey, you." He shoots a glare in Kate's direction and her eyes widen. "Leave her alone, Kate."

"Wait, so you two are like, a thing now? I thought it was all just a show on stage." Kate says, forgetting about New York completely now.

I laugh, wrapping my arms around Christian's waist. It's now that I actually get a good look at him. I regret it the moment my eyes land on his masculine body.

Damn...

He looks mighty fine tonight, and he smells good, too. So good, that I debate whether I'd been right to ban sex between us temporarily.

He's wearing the same jacket from earlier—which looks so damn sexy on him—only, he switched out his black V-neck with a regular gray T-shirt. His black jeans hang on his hips deliciously, as always with a black leather belt. And to add to the rough bad boy look Christian has going on right now, he's wearing black boots.

And his just-fucked hair...

Oh, Dear Lord!

I'm going to fail keeping my hands to myself with him looking this damn good. And here I thought that he would be the one to break the rules before me. Guess I was wrong.

Tsk, Tsk...

Remind me why I said no sex again...

Christian's voice breaks the spell I'm currently under. "She's more than just a thing, Kate." He looks down at me kissing the tip of my nose, gently. "So much more."

Swoon!

"Oh, brother. Get a fucking room for Christ's sake! We don't want to see that googly-goo-goo gah-gah shit around here. Especially me. Jesus!" That would be Elliot, smarting off as usual. But the best part is when he does it all with a huge smile on his face.

Christian flips him the bird and I laugh at their banter.

"Ready, babe?" he asks whilst the lovely crew, I call my friends, continue laughing and talking with each other in the background, no longer paying attention to us.

"Whenever you are." I smile up at him. He growls as his eyes travel down my body then back up. "You're so fucking sexy right now." his voice is soft. Yet, at the same time, seducing like a siren.

I nearly allow myself to break the rules by just his words, but think better of it. Narrowing my eyes, I scoff. "Don't even think about it, Christian Grey."

He laughs, tugging my hand as he walks towards the door. "I have no idea what you're talking about." he feigns innocence. But I can see right through him.

"Yeah, and my name is Sally Sawhorse, too." I giggle.

Opening the passenger door to the SUV—remind me to ask where his car is later—he holds out a hand to me, palm facing up. I smile, lying my own palm against his, and he slowly curls his long sexy fingers around my wrist before placing a soft kiss against my knuckles. "You really do look lovely tonight, Anastasia."

I take a sarcastic bow. "Why, thank you, Dear Sir."

"Madam." he too bows, extending his other arm out to the opening of the vehicle. "Your chariot awaits, M'lady."

I can't help it. I laugh. Hard. He changed his accent to more of a British one on that last statement he made. It was cute. Really adorable. And I must say, his playful side is the best one I've seen since knowing him. Of course, I love him no matter what side comes out to play.

I just hope I get to see more.

Tilting my head back, he cups my cheeks before tracing the seam of my lips with his tongue. My body relaxes, and I throw my arms around his neck to kiss him deeper. This doesn't count as sex. We're allowed to kiss... Right? And I can overlook the fact that he's now cupping my ass in his strong masculine hands... Right?

What if I want to fist my hands into his hair? For just a moment, of course. Would that be against the rules?

And if I just so happen to moan into his mouth as we make love to each other using our tongues, is it truly a bad thing if he grinds himself against me until we're leaning against the vehicle for support?

Well... we're about to find out.

A/N: Okay! Wow! Heyyyy, yal! Lol... Got lots going on, and in the process, I lost interest in writing anything at all for a while. So for that, I apologize. You all are so awesome. Thank you all so much for continuing to read my story and for your reviews! I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! :)

I hope that this chapter turned out okay. I think it was pretty good for not having my writer's mojo for quite a while. Again, I apologize for that and hope that you all don't kill me lol. If you do, please email my husband so that he may set up the funeral arrangements via my facebook haha! The pins are up (what I could find for the chapter, anyways.)

Extra News—New story coming SOON! Muahaha! If you want more details about my upcoming works, please check out my Group Page on FaceBook, "TiffanyNida69 Fanfiction Group".

ATTN: Also, I'm going to reach out and ask if you all will help me out with a petition my friends have come up with involving the TV Series CW Beauty and the Beast (2012).

To make a long story short, this amazing show has been canceled from the CW due to low ratings. But we can't sit back and do nothing about it. The goal of the petition (link is located below) is to help by ANY MEANS POSSIBLE, whether that's helping the show get more seasons, or to help the cast/crew with their future careers.

Thank you all for your time/support.

Fighting Against All Odds For Love of BATB …... SEASON 5 Petition Link: http (hyphen) → : (slash) → / (slash) → / chn dot ge (slash) → / 1N0GOqM