Chapter 16

APOV

Ugh, the meeting with Louis Granger takes over four hours and I can tell Mary was very frustrated. I think she was about to tell him to find another editor. Because I came in so early, I got to leave early. I'm finishing up some laundry in the laundry room of the building when my phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Anastasia, how was your day?"

"Well, since the meeting this morning is over, it's much better. How about yours?"

"I'm still at work, actually. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"OK. What time?"

"How about I pick you up in an hour?"

"Sounds great. I will see you then."

About an hour later there is a knock at my door. When I open it, Christian is standing there looking absolutely gorgeous. I can't help but smile. "Hi."

"Hello, Anastasia. Are you ready?"

"Let me quick grab my purse and we can be on our way." I grab my small purse and we make our way outside. There is a large Audi SUV waiting for us. Christian opens the rear passenger side door to let me in. I notice there is a driver. I think I have seen him a couple of times. As Christian is walking to the other side of the car, I greet the driver. "Hello."

"Good evening, Miss Steele." At first, I am thrown off guard since I didn't realize he knew my name but obviously Christian must have told him.

"Please, call me Ana." Christian gets in the back next to me. And immediately grabs my hand. I feel that jolt of electricity once again.

"Taylor, please drop Miss Steele and I off at List Restaurant on 1st Avenue. We'll walk back from there."

"Yes, Sir." Taylor pulls out into traffic and before I know it we are at the restaurant. Once in the restaurant, we are immediately seated. The waiter comes to take our drink order; I order water with lemon and Christian does the same.

Christian looks at me with his gray eyes smoldering, "Do you know what you want?" I know he is asking about food but it feels like he's asking about something entirely different which makes me inhale sharply.

"Um… I think I am going to get the burger and fries." My voice is barely a whisper and suddenly I feel very flustered.

He gives me a sly smile. "That sounds like a good idea." Christian orders the burger and fries for both of us. During dinner, he tells me about his day and recent business ventures. I didn't know this but he is working with the university to help with sustainable living and crop development. I realize as we are talking I have contradictory feelings; in one sense I feel completely comfortable with him and at the same time I feel nervous and excited.

After dinner, Christian and I walk back to my apartment. "Would you like to come in for a drink?" I ask him. I don't know what you're supposed to do here but they always do this in the movies.

"If you would like me to, Anastasia." There are many things I think I would like him to do.

CPOV

I follow Ana up to her apartment and can feel the blood coursing through my veins. There is no doubt; I want her. We get into her apartment. I stand aside as she locks the door behind us. "I have some wine but I'm not sure if you'll like it." Ana is bent over looking in her fridge. She pulls out a bottle of Moscato Allegro Wine. It's a cheap wine but actually, has a great taste to it. "Is this OK?"

"It's great, thank you, Ana." She pours us each a glass of wine and we head to her living room. On a bookshelf in the room, she turns on an iPod dock and The Lumineers quietly fill the room.

"Thank you for dinner, Christian." She says to me as she curls her legs under her on the sofa.

"Thank you for coming with me. I wanted to make sure I got to see you because I have to go to New York for a couple of days for work." I don't know why I am confessing this to her, we've only been on a couple of dates.

"So you're going to conquer the east coast too?" Ana giggles a little bit which makes me smile.

"You say that as if I haven't already conquered both coasts." Ana laughs and it's like music to my ears. I lean forward and give her a soft, sweet kiss. Quickly, the kiss becomes more passionate. As I am kissing her I hold her hands next to her head so she doesn't try to touch me. I want her to touch me but I am not ready for that yet. This is all too new to me.

We're kissing each other like our lives depend on it. I let go of her hands and start to unbutton her shirt. Once her hands are free, she reaches them both up into my hair. I like this. Her shirt is unbuttoned and displaying her beautiful body that was underneath. When we were in L.A. and I saw her in her bikini I never imagined we'd be making out like a couple of teenagers on her couch.

I feel her bra and realize the clasp is in the front making it much easier for me. With one hand I unclasp her bra and it opens exposing her breasts and her hard nipples. I massage one in my hand and she moans into my mouth. After I tease her breasts and nipples with my hand for a little while she starts grinding her hips into mine making my erection even harder. If it gets any harder, I'm going to tear through my pants.

I scatter little nips and kisses down her neck then across her collar bones until I get to her supple chest. I take my time with each breast, licking, sucking, and nipping at each until she cries out. Then I slide my hand down her stomach to her jeans and unbutton them. I pull down the zipper and slide my hand into her silk panties so I am cupping her sex. She begins to thrust just a tad more. With my thumb, I circle and tease her clitoris while I slip my index finger into her. She unconsciously pushes her hips into my hand faster and harder. I slip in another finger and she cries out once more. I continue my ministrations until I feel all of her muscles clench and I know she is close to having an orgasm.

"Let go, baby. Come, Ana." I whisper in her ear just before I bite her earlobe finally sending her over the edge. She yells out my name as she climaxes. I continue to pleasure her until her orgasm is done, then I stop and kiss her. Her cheeks are flushed and she is still trying to catch her breath. "Baby, if you are like this now, I can only imagine what kind of orgasm you'll have during sex."

She looks down and blushes - her telltale clue that she's embarrassed. "Ana, what is it? You can tell me."

Her voice gets smaller and she sounds unsure, "it's just that was my first orgasm."

"That was your first orgasm… ever? You never came before tonight?" I am in disbelief. I knew she was a virgin but I assumed she messed around either by masturbating or with previous boyfriends.

She looks up at me with her sparkling blue eyes, "Yup. That was my first orgasm ever."

Suddenly I feel very proud at the fact I am responsible for her first orgasm. "So, then, what's the verdict? How was it?"

She gives me a mischievous smile, "I liked it a lot." I can't help but laugh and I kiss her. After we kiss, I help her put her clothes back on.

"Ana, it's getting late and you have work tomorrow. I better get going. Can I call you while I am in New York?" I try to disguise it but my voice is full of hope.

"You don't have to go, Christian. You could stay the night." Her cheeks flush as she says it.

"While I would love to, I have to get going. Besides, I think you've had enough excitement for one night. I need to leave something to impress you the next time." I wink at her and give her another quick kiss goodbye. She shuts her apartment door behind me and I have never felt happier. I feel like a teenager in junior high school. I just made out with a girl. I have never done that before. I guess tonight was a first for me as well. My walk back to Escala is short because I am lost in my happy thoughts. So, this is what it feels like to have a normal relationship without contracts and canes. I think I can handle that.