A/N: Happy Thursday Ladies! Hope everyone is doing okay and staying safe.

Please Be Advised. WARNING: This story has strong, bloody violence, strong language, contains material that some find disturbing, and contain scenes of sexual nature.

I do not have an editor so there are going to be blips and mistakes. Please be kind when reviewing. This is purely for entertainment and not real life.

As always all mistakes are mine. Enjoy!

CHAPTER TEN

ANASTASIA

I'm startled awake from a nightmare where a dinosaur was chasing me through a meadow. Holy cow, it felt so real. My heart is racing and when I move my body aches. It's dark out still and I wonder how long I got to sleep. A small snore brings my attention to the left side of the bed and right away I tense.

Oh. My. God.

I did it! I really did it last night. I'm sore as all get out down there and that proof of my virginity has left the building.

I swear I think I said only a few words during our love making. Hopefully Christian won't think I'm some weird mute who freaks out while being intimate. It truly was the best night of my life.

My bladder is calling but the death grip he has over my stomach is preventing me from getting up. Carefully, I maneuver out from under his arm and quietly make it to the bathroom. This suite is so nice and fancy. Not only does it have a one toilet but it has three. There's a regular toilet behind a door for privacy but also a urinal on the wall with a small version of a toilet that shoots water out that hits your butt. Christian says it's a bidet, which is something they use overseas to wash their private parts. Go figure.

The tub is amazing, and a handful of people could fit in it. We soaked after to help my muscles relax and it felt wonderful. It also helped because Christian held me so close as if his life depended on it. I'm not sure if all guys do this but I felt pretty special. He has this way of knowing what I need before I even have to ask or think about it.

Just like when I had that severe allergic reaction to the shellfish, Christian was there every step of the way. Jill abandoned me like always, leaving me to fend for myself. I'll be glad when this semester is over, and we aren't roommates anymore. She only cares about herself and what others can do for her. I thought when she asked me to go here for Spring Break that things had changed but the moment we got here she was on the prowl looking for her next catch leaving me high and dry. I still can't believe she left to head back home when I was in the hospital. How was I supposed to get home? We drove here in her car.

I was so lucky when Christian bought our dinner that first night. We hit it off and haven't spent a moment away from each other since. It turns out that he works and lives in San Diego too. It's like our fate is colliding and I don't want this time to come to an end.

As I flush the toilet I turn the water on to wash my hands when a figure in the mirror catches my eyes.

"Ah!" I gasp, startled to see Christian standing there in the doorframe. "You scared me." I clutch my soapy hand to my chest.

"I woke and you weren't there." Is all he says then comes prowling over to me. "You must still be sore." He states as he picks me up bridal style like I weigh the amount of a beach towel.

"I can walk." There's no sternness behind it because I love that he carries me everywhere since we had sex. My head immediately lays on his bare shoulder as he makes his way to the bed.

"Not if I can help it. If you need something, you wake me."

"Even to pee?"

The room is dark, but I can feel the heat in my cheeks. Why can't I keep my mouth shut? Just like when I told him how I liked his bossiness.

I feel him chuckle as he lays back down with me on his chest. He seems to like having me as close as possible. It's a good thing to because my hands and feet are always cold, and his body heats them right up.

"You need rest, we've got a busy schedule ahead of us."

"We do?"

"Yes."

After a few beats I can't stand the silence even though my eyelids are getting heavy again.

"What are we doing?"

Sightseeing or driving up the coast runs through my mind. He turns his body so that we're laying on our sides facing each other. Christian takes my cold feet and puts them between his warm thighs.

"I plan on explore every inch of this delicious, sexy body of yours."

"Hmmm."

I feel his lips kiss my forehead before I fall right back to sleep.

This has been the most amazing week of my life. Christian took me to a special place every day then brought me back to the hotel every night and worshipped my body until the wee hours of the early morning.

"Tell me more about your family." Christian asks as we sat at an Italian restaurant on our way back to San Diego.

I hate talking about my family. It makes me sad and angry all at once. I feel like I've been on my own since I was almost fourteen and hate it.

I can tell Christian isn't going to let up on this subject because he's asked several times over the last few days so I might as well tell him. Most people have no idea what really happened. I do try to keep or skim through most of it because it's not something you talk about.

"My mom died when I was thirteen. She was in a car wreck on her way to pick me up from a friend's house. It'd been raining as usual, she was at a stoplight when a car with a teen driving was texting and ran the red light." I pause and can still remember that and will for the rest of my life. "I was told later that she died at the scene."

He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his large one.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I can't imagine what it was like to have a parent pass away." He gives my hand a squeeze and I feel his sympathy. "At least you had your dad to get you through it, right?"

If he only knew the pandora's box that was.

"No." I almost sneer. "My mom had been in a yearlong divorce battle with the man who raised me. I hadn't seen Frank two years before that whole mess started. Mom didn't think it was a good idea for him to be around me and left him. I was confused at first, but I'd listened in on a meeting she'd had with one of her many lawyers. Frank was into a lot of dirty things. Things that he didn't want to become public, so he kept his distance from me, or mom threatened to expose him."

I finally raise my head to look over at Christian and he doesn't give a look of pity to me but understanding.

"I'm glad your mom protected you. Sounds like he wasn't a good guy."

I shrug one shoulder, "He really wasn't there for me years before. I can't even remember him ever being interested in anything my mom put me in growing up. He never made the school plays or meet the teachers."

The more I think back I can't remember him being that affectionate towards me at all.

"Mom was though. She was with me every step or milestone of my life until the accident happened."

"Who did you stay with then when your mom died?"

"Mom was a very wealthy woman. That's why Frank probably married her. When she left him she'd set up her will to make sure if anything ever happened to her that I'd be taken care of. I was sent to an all-girls school out of town and away from him. At the time I was still confused but later I'd learn something that shook me to the core."

"What happened?" Christian leans in.

I try to think of the best way to tell this and still not say anything that would put me in any danger if it every got out. That night still haunts me to this day.

"I received a call from Frank one afternoon telling me I needed to come home, that he had to give me something. He was planning to leave the next morning and not come back. I wasn't sixteen at the time, so I convinced one of the older girls at school to drive me back that night. Ellen wanted to grab some supplies or something to stash in her dorm room." My hands are starting to sweat but Christian refuses to release my hand to wipe it off. "We arrived later than we were supposed to because I'd tripped at the gas station and knocked over one of their displays. It took me forever to help the poor old woman to pick everything up and clean up the mess I'd made, and I guess I can be thankful of that."

"I feel like wrapping you in bubble wrap every time we walk out the door." He says and chuckles as I do the same. I've been clumsy my entire life and am used to it by now, hopefully Christian won't get annoyed like Jill or others tend to get once they've been around me long. "It's one of the charming attractions that draws me to you." He kisses my palm and I melt like butter. "Keep going, I can tell you need to get this all out."

"Ellen stayed in the car when I went up to Frank's house. It'd been years since I'd been there, so I wasn't sure if my key still worked but it did, and I went in through the back door. All the lights were off except one light in the house. I thought about calling before but didn't. The moment I walked in I knew something was wrong, there was a smell at first, like iron, which I know now was the smell of blood."

"Blood?"

"Something had happened right before I got there, and I found Frank dead in the living room."

"Do you know who did it, what happened?"

This is where I've follow my script. One that I've told too many times to count. The police, social workers, the Sisters at the school all got the same transcript.

"I think it was a burglary or something. The cops were never able to solve it or find anything out what happened to him."

"That's insane, Anastasia. You didn't see anything or anyone?"

I shake my head. Technically I didn't see anyone because I was forced in the pantry and it was dark. I'll go to my grave with what really happened that night and how I walked in on the two guys who had killed Frank.

"Where did you go to live after that?"

"I was considered an orphan because both parents were deceased and neither had any family. One of my teachers, Sister Martha, became my guardian until I was sixteen and was able to get emancipated. My mother had put many plans in place for all scenarios if something were to ever happen to her so money was never a problem. Sister Martha helped me with the legal paperwork and once the judge signed off I was able to change my last name and live the best I could until I graduated. She was great…"

"Wait, you changed your name?"

Oh, I forgot I said that.

"Well, the moment I turned sixteen the lawyer who was over my mother's estate gave me some letters written to me from my mom. It turns out that Frank was never my father."

Christian sits back into his seat which makes our hand connection break. Thankfully this gave me a chance to wipe my sweaty palm on my shorts.

"The guy who raised you wasn't your dad?"

"No."

"Your life could be a movie right now."

"For real."

We eat a few bites in silence and I'm grateful because I could use a break, but I can tell he's got more questions.

"So who's your dad or do you not know?"

"My mom had met a man who was on leave in the military. According to her letters my mom and he had a two-month relationship before he had to be called back. She didn't realize at the time, but she had gotten pregnant with me during that time. They'd wrote letters to each other over the span of three months but the day after she found out she was pregnant with me she received a letter saying that my real dad had died overseas. She was devasted for months and somehow Frank had conned his way into her life at the most vulnerable time. She married Frank right before I was born. He gave me his name and said he'd be the best dad to me and that I'd never have to know I wasn't his."

"Sonofabitch." I hear Christian mumble before he reaches for my hand again, holding it tighter this time as if I might bolt out of my seat. "What's your dad's name, baby?"

"Thomas Steele. I tried looking for him when I found out, Sister Martha helped me, but we couldn't find a single person who had died in the military or anywhere for that matter."

Tears clog my throat and I can't help the sniffle. Christian wastes no time getting up and sliding into the booth with me. He holds me as I let the tears finally fall. I'm a mess. He's going to think I'm a basket case and never want to see me again after this.

"He probably gave her a fake name or had another family hidden away." I cry.

"Any man who does that should be led out to water with cement boots baby."

Why does everyone in my life leave me? I repeat in my head the question I've asked myself over and over all these years.

"I won't. You're going to have to kill me to keep away." Christian admits and I realize I've said it out loud.

"I changed my name because I found out that Frank had done horrible things and I didn't want to be associated to him ever. Steele might not be my dad's real last name, but it was what my mother thought, and I can live with that."

The waitress comes over to leave the bill and it makes me realize where we are.

"Oh my gosh, I'm a complete mess!" I try to wipe under my eyes, hoping I don't sport a raccoon look.

"You're the most beautiful woman alive." Christian grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "I wouldn't have you any other way." He leans in and captures my lips not caring that we're in public.

How does he do it? Just when I feel myself falling over the ledge, he pulls me back to safety.

"Let's get out of here." Christian pulls away then throw some cash on the table that is well more than enough for our meal.

His phone rings as we're waiting for the valet to bring his Maserati around and his shoulder immediately tense up while the hold on my hand tightens.

"Give me just a second, this is business." He tells me and walks off down the sidewalk away from the crowd.

Ten minutes pass and I wait in the car for Christian to return. Valet is getting impatient having the car in the way, but I surely am not going to try to move this very expensive item with the history I have of driving. After another minute Christian makes his way over to valet and palms something into the guy standing there. From the smile on his face I'm sure Christian just handed him a nice tip.

"Sorry about that but sometimes work can't wait." Christian says pulling out onto the street as we make our way toward home.

"It's okay, I understand."

"No it's not. I want you to know that work will not be an issue in our relationship. You are my top priority, all that other shit can come later." He grabs for my hand over the console and brings it with his to the gear shaft as he shifts into a higher gear. "It's time that someone put you first and that's what I'm going to do."

I have to turn my head towards the window to keep him from seeing the tears form in my eyes and the smile that's about to split my face in two. Is it possible to fall for someone you've only met less than a week?

We arrive back on campus late afternoon. Everyone seems to be getting back from the weeklong getaway because the roads are packed as Christian pulls into a parking spot.

"Ready for the last few weeks of college?" Christian asks as I stare out the front windshield towards my dorm.

I hate that our time has come to an end. Once I get out of the car life will go on and what we shared over the past week might be over. All those words he said could be for nothing and he could leave, and I could never hear from him again. The thought makes my heart hurt.

"Hey. What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Christian tugs my hand making me turn towards him.

I hesitate because how do I tell him what I truly feel.

"I guess I had such an amazing week, that I don't want it to end. Reality is setting in I guess."

"It's not ending, baby. We've only begun, don't you see." He leans over the console and slants his lips over mine. "If I had it my way you'd move in with me instead of going up there." He points towards the dorms.

I wish.

"You always know the right thing to say. A true Casanova." I snort.

"I'll be whatever it is you want me to be."

I lean over and take his lips this time. I can't help but touch this man when he is near.

"If you don't stop I'm going to haul you up that tiny dorm room and break your small bed having my way with you." He holds my face in both hands. "I'm pretty sure your roommate wouldn't like being locked out while we christen every square inch of your room."

That sobers me quickly. I'm not sure I'd want Jill to see Christian naked.

"I guess we'll have to wait then." I say and unlock my seatbelt.

We climb out of the car and Christian grabs my bags out of the trunk. Walking across the grassy knoll I start to look around and see how out of place Christian really is. He seems so much more mature than all the guys here are college. I know he's way older but just the way he carries himself is different. People separate when he strolls by and ducks out of the way to not come into contact with him.

We head up to the third floor and I just hope I didn't leave my side of the room a mess before we left for Malibu. Before unlocking the door I know something is off. Jill's dry erase board is gone from the door. She made such a big fuss about having one and made sure to bolt the thing in the door so that no one would knock it off or steal it.

Opening the door I see that my side is perfectly clean and straightened. The Sisters at my private school were always on us girls about having our rooms tidy and always making our beds every morning. But what shocks me is the empty side that Jill claims. All of her things are gone. The smell of paint fills my nose as if it had just recently been painted back the original color instead of the pink she'd colored it when she first moved in. Her bedding is gone along with all her belongings. What in the hell happened here?

Just to make sure I move around Christian and check the dorm number to make sure I'm in the correct room. Once my brain has caught up and registers that this is my room I walk back in as Christian places my bags on the chair by my desk.

"I thought you said you and Jill shared a room?"

I nod rapidly. "We do," I wave my hand over to her side. "Or did?" I question. Is this the Twilight Zone? We saw each other not even a week ago.

"I think she left. Here." Christian holds up a piece of paper then hands it to me.

Taking a glance I notice Jill's handwriting.

Ana,

I've decided to move out and in with Courtney off campus. She's going through something and needs me close. I've had the room cleaned and painted so that you didn't have to worry about my mess. I wish you the best.

Have a good life,

Jill

"What'd it say?"

"She moved in with someone else for the rest of the semester." I murmur. "She doesn't even like her." I'm super confused at this turn of events. Jill has always spoken so horribly about Courtney. She was always saying how poor she was even though Courtney comes from a very wealthy family.

"Will the school assign a new roommate, or do you get the room all to yourself for the rest of the semester?" Christian asks.

"Huh?" I hadn't realized he was talking, lost in my own thoughts. "Oh, I think it's too late to get a new roomy. We only have about six weeks left so I don't think they would."

Christian walks over to where I'm standing on Jill's side of the room and holds my hips.

"You look so sad. I'm sorry she left."

I shake my head, ridding my loathing thoughts.

"It's fine. You should get going before someone dings that expensive car of yours." I try to change my expression to not let him see what is really happening on the inside of me.

"I don't care about the fucking car, baby. I care about the hurt look you have on your face. I don't like seeing you like this. How can I make it better?"

Giving him the best smile I can muster, "I'm fine. I just have a lot to get together before classes start back tomorrow. And, I probably need some rest as a certain someone kept me from sleeping most of the week."

He bends down and encircles me with his arms, pulling me close. He rests his face in the crook of my neck and inhales.

"Do you want me to stay? We can continue our vacation one more night." He murmurs into my neck placing kisses on my most sensitive skin. It makes me smile and almost forget all about Jill.

"I really need to get ready for classes tomorrow. Can I get a raincheck for another night?" I can't even believe I'm saying this. You'd have to not be in your right mind to turn down this man.

"Okay, but I want you to call me before bed."

"I promise." I cross my heart.

He must seem satisfied with the promise because he pulls back and kisses the tip of my nose.

"I'll set up lunches and dinners when I hear from you tonight, okay."

"Okay." I can't help the genuine smile that spreads across my face. I love that he's planning for the future and it makes me relax knowing that he plans on being with me a little longer.

At least you have one person in your life right now, Anastasia.

"Don't forget to call or I'll be knocking on this door at midnight." He playful voice has a hard edge to it. Almost threatening.

"I'll set a reminder." I tease.

He walks out of the room but not before telling me to lock up after he leaves. Of course I comply.

Standing in the room alone has a sobering feel. Before I can stop it tears start to fall as I take in the room. I crumble and I don't know why. I just had the best week of my life. I found an amazing man who has shown me what it means to care about someone else. A man who I gave something so special to that I was glad I waited to give to him and only him. We ate and laughed, and I've never felt so cherished in my life other than with my mom.

I know why I'm crying, and I hate that I am. The reality is that everyone leaves me. Which means it's only a matter of time before Christian decides to leave too. I can honestly say that it will break me when it happens.

The feelings I have for him are like nothing I've ever felt before and I know without a shadow of doubt that I won't survive it.

A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you like my story! Poor Ana, everyone seems to leave her. Back to Christian's POV next. See you ladies next Thursday! Stay Safe.

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