Sorry for taking my time getting this chapter out, but I've been in kind of a writing-funk lately…which is also why this chapter is rather short. But don't worry; I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon!
And a thousand thanks to DottiG – she is the reason why this chapter is grammatically correct and makes sense (from now on there'll be no one supporting themselves on crotches…ever!)
For all eyes to see – Chapter 7
Lazily, I open my eyes to the day light seeping in through the blinds and look around the bedroom. It takes a couple of seconds before I realize where I am and that I'm not alone in bed. There's a warm body lying next to me, so close I can feel the heat through the blanket.
I hadn't intended or anticipated falling asleep when I crawled into her bed last night. I've never slept in the same bed as anyone ever before – I don't like the idea of having another person witness my nightly terrors and the effect they have one me.
I stiffen as I suddenly realize something; my heart isn't pounding and my body isn't drenched in sweat. I have no memories of having dreamt anything at all. A dreamless sleep? I haven't had that in years – and even then it only happened on a few occasions in college when I drank myself into oblivion.
I turn on my side to look at the woman still sleeping beside me. Did she somehow chase my nightmares away?
Anastasia is lying on her back, stretched out with her arms above her head. During sleep, she has kicked the cover away and there's only a pair of really short, black cotton shorts covering a couple of inches of her thighs. Her t-shirt has gotten twisted around her waist and slid up a bit, showing just a little strip of that soft-looking skin. She looks even more amazing than she did on stage. More tempting.
I can actually feel my cock growing harder at the mere sight of her. God. I force a deep breath down my throat. She's so close. If I just reach my hand out, I could feel that soft skin against my fingertips. I could run my hand up her thigh, let my fingers slide under her shorts…
I have to close my eyes to take the temptation away. Just for a few seconds so I can regain some sort of control over my thoughts.
When I open them again I'm met with a set of blue eyes watching me and just like last night at the club when I caught her in my arms, it feels like time is standing still and I can't tear my eyes away from hers.
"Hi." She whispers, probably in an attempt to break the tension flowing between us. It doesn't work. If anything, her soft, whispering voice raises it.
"Good morning." I whisper back, surprised at how hoarse my voice sounds.
It feels as if there's a magnetic pull between us and I have to physically strain myself not to move closer and taste those delicious lips. No. I'm stronger than this. I need a contract before I do anything. I need an NDA. I need to inform her about the no-touching rule. I need…
Anastasia's gaze flickers down to my lips and her teeth sink into her full bottom lip. To hell with the paperwork! I launch myself forward and press my lips against hers while reaching my hand above her head, grabbing both of her wrists in my hand, making sure they stay there while I give in to temptation. God, her lips are soft.
It doesn't take long for before Anastasia reacts to my attack on her mouth by parting her lips and granting my tongue access to her mouth. Holy fuck! I don't think I've ever tasted anything sweeter in all my life.
Somewhere in the back of my mind I know I should stop before it's too late, before I'm unable to pull back. But I want a little more. Just a little bit more.
I let the hand that is not occupied holding her arms in place wander to the exposed strip of skin at her waist. Her skin feels so unbelievably soft. I grab her bottom lip between my teeth and the moan that escapes her throat as I nibble on it almost makes my cock explode in my pants.
I've never felt this sort of instant arousal before – this pressing need to feel more of a woman; of her lips, of her skin, of everything. The years with Elena taught me to control myself, to keep my cool. That's what makes me a good, not to say great, Dominant. I never lose control of myself. Not until now.
I pull back just about an inch and take a deep breath before I lean my forehead against hers. Her breathing is shallow, her lips are parted and her cheeks flush. It's damn near impossible not to allow myself another attack on her delicious mouth. Or her neck – I never got to taste that, or her breasts. No. Control. I'm a master at control. I need control. I need rules.
"We have to talk." I manage to get out before I push myself away and lean back against the pillow.
While waiting for Anastasia to get dressed and come out and join me, I look through her kitchen, searching for something to pass off as breakfast. There's not much, but I find some bread and cheese, so I guess that'll have to do for now.
"There's something that's been bugging me." I look up and see Anastasia slowly making her way towards the kitchen, a cute little frown forming a 'v' between her eyebrows.
I smile. How can I not? "And what may that be?" I gesture for her to sit down while I search the cupboards to set the table.
"Glasses are to your left." She points towards a cupboard on my left side as she sits down. I find the glasses and put them and the plates I've found on the table before I sit down as well across from her.
She watches me intently for a couple of seconds before she speaks up again. "Yesterday, you agreed to take me home when I insisted that I was fine on my own…" Fuck, she's gorgeous. I actually have to struggle not to get lost in her eyes and actually listen to the words she speaks. "…but then you made a full 180 and freaked out because I told you my roommate is out of town."
She pauses and again, her teeth find their place on her bottom lip and I'm just about to warn her about the effect that has on me when she continues. "Did you know I had a roommate when you agreed to take me home?"
Fuck. I guess there's no way out of this one, might as well lay all the cards on the table. "Yes."
Her frown deepens. "How?"
"I looked you up." It feels like my heart stops beating as I wait for her reaction. I'm fucking nervous. I don't do nervous.
"Oh," Her eyes dart down to her plate and then back up to meet mine again. "Why?"
I take a deep breath. "Because I wanted to know more about you."
She doesn't say anything for a long time; she just stares down at her fingers, tracing the edge of her plate. What can I say? What can I tell her to make her see that I'm not the kind of creep she probably thinks I am?
Her fingers come to a stop and she looks up at me again. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything." At least she's still talking to me.
"Why did you ask me to dinner?"
Because I desperately want to fuck you. I take a deep breath, swallowing back my initial response. "Because I wanted to see you again."
"Did you…" She hesitates. "Did you know I work at the club?"
I sigh. There's no point in lying. "Yes."
Disappointment flashes across her face. "Oh" No. No, no, no, Anastasia. It's not like that.
"Look Anastasia, I…" I what? I saw you dancing at the club and became obsessed with the thought of Dominating you. I sigh. "My brother dragged me to that club and I was about ready to leave when I saw you there. You took my breath away. I've never seen anything more beautiful or sexy than you, dancing on that stage."
Took my breath away? What am I…a love-sick teenager? I don't do love. I don't believe in love. I believe in lust. Well, I guess lust can take your breath away as well…
"So you, you knew…what I do…when you asked me to dinner the other day?" Her eyes widen as a realization has suddenly dawned on her. "Is that why you asked me to dinner?"
The answer plops out of my mouth before I can stop it. "No" Wasn't it? "I just…" Honesty, I decide. Honesty is the best way to go. "I want you, Anastasia."
She doesn't say anything, she simply looks at me with those gorgeous blue eyes wide-open. I'm screwed.
"It's not what you think, Anastasia." Isn't it? Isn't it exactly what she thinks? I saw her strip-show and now I want to fuck her. "I want you so bad I can't think straight around you." Or anywhere else for that matter.
"So why did you stop?"
The question catches me off-guard. I would have anticipated anger, or disgust, or anything but this soft, curious tone of voice. "What?"
"Earlier," she blushes. "In bed, when we were kissing. Why did you stop?"
I let out a breath of air. "Because I made a mistake." My voice sounds harsh, harsher than I intended – but I really don't like being reminded of the fact that I lost control. "I shouldn't have let myself get carried away like that." I never get carried away.
"Oh." She bites down on her lip again and I feel my cock twitch in response. I can swear her bottom lip has a direct line to my crotch.
"Don't do that, Anastasia." I growl, trying to forget the feel of her flesh between my teeth.
"Do what?" The innocent look on her face makes my cock pulse and ache with want even more. Is she doing that on purpose?
"Bite your lip like that. It does things to me." And it makes me want to do things to you.
She smiles and then sinks her teeth into that delicious lip of hers again. There's a playful twinkle in her eyes and I hear, rather than feel, a sharp intake of breath passing through my lips. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into Anastasia."
"So, enlighten me." There's a challenging tone in her voice and the sudden urge to fuck her into submission almost overshadows every sense and reason.
I take a couple of seconds thinking about icebergs and cold showers before I answer. "I'm a complicated man."
She tilts her head slightly to the side. Adorable – Iadd that to the ever growing list of adjectives describing the wonder that is Anastasia Rose Steele."Complicated how?"
Okay, here goes nothing. "I tell you what, with that ankle I doubt you're working tonight, right?" Or ever again if I have any say in it. And I always have a say.
Her face drops, as if she hadn't thought about how the injury would affect her ability to work. "Right."
I offer her a smile, for no other reason than wanting to replace that sad look on her face with one of her glorious smiles. "So, come to my place for dinner tonight and I'll show you just how complicated I am and then you can decide whether you want to get yourself into it or not."
"Why can't you just tell me now?" She shrugs her shoulders.
Impatient, are we Anastasia? I can't stop a smug smile from creeping onto my lips. "I think it's better that I show you."
An expression of suspicion flitters over her face, but it disappears just as quickly and she nods. "Okay."
"Good." I stand up from my chair. "I'll have Taylor come pick you up, say at seven?"
She nods again. "Are you leaving?" Oh, fuck! I could kiss her senseless right here and now for not hiding the disappointment in her voice.
I smile as I walk over to her side of the table and crouch down so we're at eye-level. "I have to Anastasia, I'm seconds away from throwing you up on this table and ravishing you and right now, I don't think that'd be a great idea" Not until you've signed a contract and an NDA and are aware of what you're getting yourself into.
Her mouth drops wide open, pulling at my very last reserves of self-control, I stand back up. "Eat your breakfast and I'll see you tonight, Anastasia." I can't even count how many times I've used her name this morning, but I just love the sound of it. Even the sound of her name is enough to get me hard.
I call Taylor to come pick me up as I head down the stairs and shake my head in disbelief as I put the phone away. This is fucking unreal. If this weren't the 21th century, I would have sworn she was a witch with a spell cast over me.
