- Fucking on the head! - I shout, looking at the diary.
Quarter marks are amazing. Not a single three. Either from the promise and meeting with Gray, or from something else. I came to my senses and began to study all subjects under the strict guidance of Kate. Her dictatorial approach to my training and testing my knowledge is terribly infuriating, but it bears fruit. For the first time, my grades make both me and my friends with Stills happy. I sigh, realizing that Ray and Carla are now sitting at the London airport because of a fucking snowstorm, and my heart becomes a little sad. First Christmas without them. Okay, but you can have a party at home. But first, our five decided to go to a recently opened Irish bar, not far from Kate s house.
- I won t drink! - Mia is indignant, barely keeping up with us.
- What a fool! Christmas is just around the corner and she's pretending to be Mother Teresa. Jones, don t spoil the company, Hyde mutters, hugging her.
Hyde, alcohol kills nerve cells, Mia shouts. Fighting him off.
- That s good! Only the calm ones remain! I nod, walking towards an inconspicuous bar with a sign in the shape of a four-leaf clover.
Inside the bar there is a medieval atmosphere, candles and a fireplace are burning, goblins and animal heads hang on the walls. There is a cozy atmosphere and I relax. Two waitresses come up to us and put Santa hats on the guys, and elf ears on us girls. They are quite uncomfortable, but they add charm to the place. Perky music sounds, and I see a handsome black man with an eyebrow piercing coming towards me.
- Such a beauty and alone? - he smiles at me.
Nice guy, two years older than me.
She s not alone, but with us, who the fuck is asking to climb, Kate.
Kavanagh, I went to Jose. I ll figure it out myself, I m ready to go dance with him, when suddenly I feel someone s gaze on me.
I turn my head and look for someone, but I don t find it. I shrug and extend my hand to the guy. We go to the dance floor and start dancing. And suddenly I feel his hand on my butt.
The waist is higher, I hiss.
Come on, baby, it s Christmas, calm down, the guy reaches out to kiss me, and I hit him in the face with all my might.
The black man jumps away from me and hisses.
I love cats with claws, he raises his hand to slap her in the face. But Christian intercepts her.
Get away from her, Gray hisses, and this is the first time I ve seen him like this.
Proud posture, cold royal gaze, straight back. I get scared and I back away. Who are you, Mr. Gray? The black man is no less scared than me and obediently moves away from us. Christian turns to me and his eyes, the color of melted chocolate, are warm again.
- Are you okay? - he asks tenderly, approaching me.
I could handle it myself, I say.
You didn t have to climb.
I don t like it when some narrow-minded guy tries to brazenly encroach on a girl s honor like this, Christian hugs me by the shoulders and I again feel calm and reliable, like I did on Halloween.
- Yes, you are just a noble knight, Christian. Sirius Black or Remus Lupin, I snuggle up to him and inhale the aroma of his perfume.
Gray is silent and strokes my hair. It s amazing, he s nearby, and I want to live and soar above the earth. The ugly duckling under the protection of a knight...
Freeze, Christian suddenly says, and I stop. Mistletoe hangs directly above us. I smile and understand what will happen now. Gray carefully leans towards me and touches my lips with his. Completely different from our passion at school. So carefully and reverently... I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him towards me, deepening the kiss. This is not love, no, it's just sympathy, is it a spark or what is it called correctly? Spit.
POV Christian
She kisses me for the second time. You're getting old, Gray, you're getting old... If one of your subs or lovers allowed themselves to do this, they would immediately be sent to the kitchen. I hate tenderness, I don t recognize kisses and hugs. For me there is only BDSM or ritual sex, but not tenderness. But with Ana I'm losing my head. Her words about the pimp and her inferiority touched something in my icy heart and cruel soul. The girl reminds me of a kitten, a wild kitten, who in her soul wants affection and warmth. But I am not capable of giving them to her, I know that for sure. However, why not play this game according to its rules. I put all my tenderness into the kiss and see that she is reaching out to me, that she needs me. Well, so much the better. I've already started pulling the right strings, and soon, very soon, Ana will be moaning in pain in my playroom. But before that, I will give her some warmth and tenderness, after all, she deserves it.
Wow, Steele smiles and cuddles up to me, where did you learn to kiss like that?
- It doesn t matter, Anastasia. But your friends have already taken our table? I nod at Mia and Kate waving their hands at us.
With them is some Latino and a cute blonde major. Apparently, Hyde and Rodriguez, two bastards who support Anastacia. She has a tense relationship with Mia and Kate. But only because of the purity of the latter. Girls need to be simpler.
Mr. Gray, don t corrupt our Ana, Kate takes a sip of beer and hands me a pot-bellied mug.
I take a sip. Hmm... not bad. It s not as great as Gran Torio, but it ll do.
They serve mulled wine here, Jack declares.
- I won t, I drank local mulled wine. Nasty. Like bourbon with a kilo of sugar poured into it, Jose mutters.
Yes, I agree with him. The best mulled wine in New York, only at Clint's. But it s too early for Anastasia to go there. However, I know how to cook it. And I think I know what to do with Anastasia tomorrow.
The evening is warm and cozy. Guys joke, girls drop their halos and make jokes to match. Anastasia smiles and jokes, and I involuntarily admire her. She has so much enthusiasm and life...
As night approaches, we leave the bar, and I see Anastasia s smile fade. Jose and Jack took their friends in an unknown direction, and I stayed with Still.
Christmas alone is fucking awesome, Ana mutters and walks towards her house. I catch up with her and stop her.
-Where are your parents? We wander together through the snowy city, and I feel that I cannot leave her in this state. No matter how scum I am, I am responsible for my slaves, servants and this girl.
Stuck in London because of the fucking snow, Steele says.
- Maybe we can meet him together? You and me. I ll teach you how to make mulled wine, I smile at her and remove the snow from her loose hair.
- In the language of men, does this mean let's go fuck? the girl raises an eyebrow.
No, I say and kiss the corner of her mouth.
- This means no sadness on Christmas Eve, Ana. No sadness...