Okay, okay, I feel absolutely horrible for not updating for awhile. But hopefully this chapter makes up for it!

I can't help but admire Christian's body as I unashamedly run my eyes over his front as he lays there. By looking at him, I'm guessing that he can go again, but he's just as exhausted as I am. He leans over to the side of the bed and reaches for his pants, pulling them to the bed and taking his phone from the pocket. I continue to lie there, still breathless, watching him with weary eyes as he holds the phone to his ear.

"Taylor, order takeout from The Club and then bring it up." I lift my head up and knit my brows together. "And a bottle of red wine."

"Christian, what are you doing?" I whisper as he pauses to listen to the other end.

"Good." he hangs up. "I'm getting us food."

"What for?" I laugh.

"Well, I don't know about you but I'm fucking starving after that." Christian grins, throwing his phone to the side. I've been so caught up with everything that I forgot that I haven't eaten since lunch time, and the sounds that my stomach is making seems to suggest that my body is in need of food.

"You're just my kind of man." I smirk, picking up Christian's shirt from the floor and sliding it over my head. Christian smacks my ass playfully as we walk out into the living room.

Christian and I sit on the couch eating takeout; myself in Christian's t-shirt, and himself in just his briefs. Everything about it is so human; a surreal contrast to the activities that we were engaged in just a short while ago.

"So..." I begin. Christian looks up at me instantly, smirking as he studies my face.

"You sound curious." I grin, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

"Would you call yourself a sadist?" He puts his food down and becomes serious, staring at me.

"Have I hurt you so far?"

"No, no." I shake my head rapidly. "Nothing that I would say was painful." Christian thinks quietly for a moment before answering.

"If we're going to talk about this, I would say I'm a dominant with mildly sadistic tendencies. But nothing too extreme."

"So you'd like to tie me up and whip me?" He kinks an eyebrow in response to my boldness.

"Tie you up and whip you until you came, more like." My insides tighten as his carnal confession; he certainly didn't beat around the bush. Christian's willingly letting me into his mind, encouraging me to explore, and I admire how open he is to me.

"How did you get into this stuff?" Christian looks away and is deep in thought, piecing together for what he's about to say next.

"When I was 15," he begins. "I worked for my mother's good friend Elena as I did yard work for her. Well, one day she became furious with me and slapped and kissed me. One thing led to another and she brought me into the world of BDSM, myself starting out being her submissive. " Christian explains and my eyes widen. Wow.

"But-"

"I know, she was my mother's age. But I didn't care. At 15, I was a raging, horny teenager and would go for anything. Plus, she helped me learn to control my anger and issues." He cuts me off, finishing his story. I stare at Christian, wanting to know more about him. "Years after being her submissive, I became a dominant and secretly getting more into the scene."

"Wait, so there's been other girls besides me?" I question, kinda feeling hurt and wishing I was the only one.

"I've done it with more than willing volunteers,who sign a contract, but I always have to end it because they want more." I nod, trying to process the whole situation.

"Why haven't I signed a contract." I voice, crossing my arms.

"Because you're different." Christian whispers and I bite my lip.

"So you trust me, then?" I ask shyly. He grins.

"I'm learning to."

"You're not worried that I'll go blabbing to the media?" Christian chuckles, shaking his head.

"No, because I know you're enjoying this just as much as I am." I return his amusing expression. "I also know that you're not that type of person." he finishes.

"So what about the women who are photographed with you?" I ask, playing with my food.

"It's all for publicity. There was a rumor awhile ago that I was gay, so to shut them up, I just took random women on dates." Christian finishes and I nod.

"I see." He proceeds eating his food again and looks at me.

"Enough about me. What about yourself?" I shift uncomfortably in my seat, hating talking about myself.

"Well, I've had one serious boyfriend." I begin. "His name was Matt and we were together for all of college." Christian raises his brow and becomes tense. "We then broke up after graduation because he took a job in New York and he didn't want to do the long distance thing." I explain, as the memories come flooding back in my head. Some days I miss him. All the times we had together and how he was my first love.

"There's a part of you that still loves him." Christian voices, sounding a bit upset. I shrug my shoulders and laugh.

"He was my first love. Don't you remember yours?" I tease, smiling. He remains quiet and becoming distance.

"I've never been in love." he reveals and my lips change from a smile to a frown.

"How?" I ask, desperately wanting to know more.

"I don't believe in love, it sets yourself up for heartbreak and lost." Christian explains and I stare at him, confused by his confession. I want to know so badly how he became like this, someone who doesn't believe in the wonders of love.

"You're wrong." I mutter and he raises his brows.

"What?"

"Yes, love is painful, confusing, and terrifying. But it's also beautiful and extraordinary." He stares at me, with his intense gray eyes.

"But you got yourself hurt in the process of loving him. He broke up with you for a job."

"I was hurt, sure. But I survived. I had no other choice than moving on with my life without him. But that doesn't mean I have given up on love." It becomes instantly quiet and our eyes are locked in an intense stare. Until, he breaks the silence.

"You look tired." Christian grins, clearing the awkward tension.

"I am tired," I laugh. "I feel like I've had a two hour cardio session at the gym."

"You probably burnt off more here." He looks amused.

"And then put it all back on again!" I point to the almost empty takeout food on the table. Christian shifts closer to my body and pulls me down against him, so that my back is to his front and his arms are locked around my waist. I follow his lead, enjoying the affection.

"Cats sleep the majority of their lifetime, you know." Christian smirks against the nape of my neck.

"I feel like I never sleep at all." As I sigh, I relax back into Christian's body, savoring the warmth and comfort from his bare skin.

"Sleep then." he whispers, fitting himself around my exhausted body. Christian's knees curl around my backside as we lay quietly on the couch.

I can feel myself beginning to drift off. My half-closed eyes flicker to the clock on the wall, telling me that it just became midnight. Christian's fingers play with mine, silently telling me that he's still awake.

"Are you staying?" I mumble dozily. He grazes his nose along my skin and sighs.

"I have to be up early."

A pang of disappointment sits right in the pit of my stomach at the prospect of sleeping alone after experiencing something so emotionally overwhelming. After willingly submitting myself to him for such a period of time, I'm still in that state of mind. Meanwhile, also revealing all the stuff from our pasts and learning new things about each other. His arms pull me closer as his lips press to my shoulder.

"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."

I wake up in my bed, alone. Last night, I didn't feel Christian carrying me to my bedroom. I roll over, throwing my leg over the covers and hugging it against my body, hot and restless from the sun penetrating the thin blinds. Tossing and turning, I throw the covers off of me and sit upwards.

8:03 am. The problem with working full-time means that my body is never allowed to sleep in. I wake up the same time every day without fail, weekend or not. As I reach for the remote control on my bed-side table, ready to flick mindlessly through the Saturday morning shows, I notice a small piece of paper folded next to it. I take the paper in my hands and pull it apart at the folds.

'I hope you feel slightly more awake when you read this. I'm sorry I couldn't stay the night. I'll call you on later. Enjoy your day. -Christian.'

In my head, I wonder what he's doing for his weekend. He may have said yesterday that were together, but I'm still frazzled over the whole thing. I hear pots and pans bang together outside in the kitchen and that's my sign for some tea.

I change into some sweats and wander out of my bedroom. Kate, my best friend and roommate, is standing near the stove struggling trying to make pancakes. Her strawberry blonde hair is placed on the top of her head in a messy bun, meanwhile, she's wearing booty shorts and an old college sweatshirt.

"Ow, fuck!" she curses, sucking on her burnt hand. I laugh and begin to make myself some tea.

"Why do you even bother trying to make food, when it always ends the same way? Meaning, it's either burnt or undercooked." I say and she turns to look at me, giving me daggers.

"Well, because right now I have a half naked man in my bed and I want to impress him." Kate explains and I roll my eyes. I'm trying to picture her latest conquest in my head, but it's not working out.

"Where did you meet this one?" She smiles happily and piles the pancakes on a plate.

"At this new club and he asked me to dance, then you know what happened next." Kate winks and I laugh. Of course, I know what happened, it's always the same. She meets a guy, they dance, hook up, and then it's goodbye and wait for the next one.

"I always do." I mutter, taking a sip of my hot tea. Kate places the food and drinks on a breakfast board, walking eagerly back to her room. Now, that I was alone and trying to think what the hell I was going to do this weekend.

I decided spend my Saturday how I spend pretty much every Saturday: Lounging in leggings and my old college sweatshirt, drinking countless cups of tea while watching back to back episodes of Friends. Meanwhile, Kate decided to spend the whole day with her new 'boo' that she met just last night. So I thought about calling my childhood best friend, Penelope.

"What are you doing?" I ask, just as she answers the phone.

"Just leaving the gym right now, why?" I sigh and play with the blanket that I'm cuddling with.

"I'm bored, entertain me." I plea and I hear her giggle.

"And you called the wrong person." Pen teases and I roll my eyes. "But I am coming over, because we need to talk, missy." she says, seriously.

"Fine, see you soon." I mumble into the phone, hanging up.

Twenty minutes later, Penelope is at my door with her big black sunglasses covering her bright green eyes. She takes them off and places her belongings on the couch. I can instantly tell that working out is really paying off for her body. Her light brown hair is tossed up into a ponytail and her face free of any makeup.

"So talk." she begins, falling back onto my couch. I look at her, raising my one eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" I ask, sitting across from her in the lazy-boy recliner. Penelope rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

"I'm not stupid, I do read the newspaper." I bite my lip and now know exactly what she's trying to figure out. "You and Christian Grey?" I instantly smile, hearing his name.

"Maybe..." I murmur and Pen sighs.

"Anastasia Rose Steele, tell me everything and tell me now." she demands and I laugh.

"We might be together, I'm not one hundred percent sure at the moment. He's definitely different from other men." I explain and Pen raises her brow.

"How so?"

"He's never been in a relationship." I reveal and her eyes widen.

"Wait, with the way he looks, he's never had a girlfriend?!" Pen asks, her voice raising an octave.

"It's complicated." I whisper and she looks at me, laughing.

"Wow. That's...something." I nod, biting my lip.

"I know."

"So how is he?" she questions and I tilt my head.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to him today." I answer and Pen shakes her head, chuckling.

"No, Ana, I mean how is he in bed?" My eyes widen and try to think about what I'm going to say.

"Christian's, he's very experienced, but it's mind-blowing." I mutter and she smiles. Just thinking about Christian and I together sends shivers down my body.

"That's interesting." Penelope begins. "But I'm really happy for you. It took you awhile, ever since the whole Matt situation." I shrug, leaning back into the recliner.

"Thank you." It becomes quiet, but my phone breaks the silence. I run into the kitchen, where I last put it. The name on the screen instantly gives me goosebumps.

"Hi." I smile, moving somewhere more privately.

"Hey, baby." Christian's voice sounds even sexier on the phone. My heart practically jumps from my mouth as he calls me 'baby'. "How are you?"

"I'm good, tired."

"Me too."

"Busy day?" I ask.

"Yeah, I've been up since six thirty. Long day in at the office," he sighs in exhaustion. "And the reason why I'm calling is I have to fly to New York City tonight for business till Wednesday." My smile drops as I realize I won't be seeing him for five days.

"Oh." I murmur.

"But I want you to come with me." Christian pauses, waiting for my response.

"My job." I whisper, my mind not yet processing full sentences.

"I'll deal with it." he says, I bite my lip.

"Christian-"

"No, you're coming. I won't take no for answer." Christian orders and I laugh.

"Fine, you win." I murmur and he chuckles.

"Good. Be ready by five thirty, we'll drive to the airport together. See you soon." He hangs up and I try to catch my breath. I look at the time and it's exactly twelve. My brain is struggling to process that I only have five hours to pack. Penelope enters into the kitchen, catching me in my frozen act.

"Who called?" I put down my phone and look at her.

"Christian." I mumble and she shakes her head.

"And what did the lover boy want?" Pen asks and I walk towards her.

"He asked me to go to New York with him." Her mouth drops open and I laugh.

"What?! What, what did you say?" I bite my lip and smile.

"I said yes."

"When do you leave?"

"Tonight, at five thirty." Penelope shrieks with excitement.

"Oh my god, you have to start packing." We head to my bedroom and immediately begin packing outfits for the trip.

Five hours came by quickly and I wait for Christian's arrival. Penelope made me promise her that I take pictures and document the whole thing for her. Meanwhile, Kate has no idea but Pen said she would tell her everything.

Finally, I receive Christian's call saying that he's outside, I grab my luggage from the bedroom and make my way downstairs to the front entrance. I throw on black skinny jeans and a white sweater with a brown leather jacket and my black military boots.

Christian stands in front of the SUV with a jaw-dropping smile that make my insides melt. Instantly, Taylor appears behind him and retrieves my luggage from me. I walk towards Christian and he tugs me into his embrace.

"I missed you." he whispers and I smile.

"I missed you too." His lips are on mine kissing me with such passion that I go weak in the knees. His hand comes around the back of my neck, holding me there, pulling me in. It was on a different level to any other I've ever had before and it sent my stomach flipping a hundred times over.

"Ready?"

"Ready." I nod.

Review... P.S. A little spoiler, Ana runs into someone in NYC, who do you think it is?