Fucking hell! I scream, looking at my diary.
My quarter grades are just great. Not a single C. Either because of the promise and the meeting with Gray, or because of something else. I pulled myself together and started studying all the subjects under Kate's watchful guidance. Her dictatorial approach to my studying and checking my knowledge is terribly annoying, but it pays off. For the first time, my grades make both me and my friends with the Steels happy. I sigh, realizing that Ray and Carla are currently sitting at the London airport because of a fucking snowstorm, and my soul becomes a little sad. The first Christmas without them. Well, at least we 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 coming, and she's acting like Mother Teresa. Jones, don't ruin the party, - Hyde mutters, hugging her.
- Hyde, alcohol kills nerve cells, - Mia shouts. Fighting him off.
- That's good! Only the calm ones stay! - I nod, walking towards an inconspicuous bar with a sign in the form of a four-leaf clover.
Inside the bar, there is a medieval atmosphere, candles and a fireplace are burning, goblins and animal heads are hanging 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 this place. Perky music is playing, and I see a cute black man with a piercing in his eyebrow coming towards me.
- Such a beauty and alone? - he smiles at me.
Nice guy, about two years older than me.
- She's not alone, she's with us, - who the fuck is asking to get in, Kate.
- Kavanagh, she 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 them. 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 ass.
- Waist is higher, - I hiss.
- Come on, baby, it's Christmas, calm down, - the guy reaches out to kiss me, and I slap him in the face with all my might.
The black man jumps away from me and hisses.
- I like cats with claws, - he raises his hand to slap. But Christian intercepts it.
- Moved away from her, - Gray hisses, and for the first time I see 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, coming up to me.
- I would have handled it myself, - I say.
- You didn t have to interfere.
- I don t like it when some narrow-minded guy tries to brazenly encroach on a girl s honor like that, - Christian hugs me by the shoulders and I again feel calm and safe, like that Halloween.
- Yes, you are just a noble knight, Christian. Sirius Black or Remus Lupin, - I press myself against him and inhale the scent of his perfume.
Gray is silent and strokes my hair. It's amazing, he's close, 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 right above us. I smile and understand what's about to happen. Gray carefully leans towards me and touches my lips with his. It's 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, a spark or whatever it's called? I don't care.
POV Christian
She kisses me for the second time. You're getting old, Grey, you're getting old... If any of your subs or lovers allowed themselves to do something like that, 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 lose 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 able to give them to her, I know this for sure. However, why not play this game by her 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 have already started to pull the right strings, and soon, very soon, Ana will be moaning in pain in my playroom. But before that, I'll give her some warmth and tenderness, after all, she deserves it.
"Wow," Steele smiles and presses himself against me, "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"
"Never mind, Anastasia. Have your friends already saved us a table?" I nod at Mia and Kate waving their hands at us.
There's some Latino and a pretty blond rich kid with them. Probably Hyde and Rodriguez, two fuckers who support Anastasia. She has a tense relationship with Mia and Kate. But only because of the latter's prudishness. Girls need to be simpler.
"Mr. Grey, 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. Not as great as Gran Torio, but it'll do.
"They serve mulled wine here," Jack says.
I won't, I drank the local mulled wine. It's disgusting. Like bourbon with a kilo of sugar in it, mutters Jose.
Yeah, I agree with him. The best mulled wine in New York is only at Clint's. But it's too early for Anastasia to go there. However, I know how to make it. And I think I know what to do with Anastasia tomorrow.
The evening is warm and cozy. The guys joke, the girls throw off their halos and tell jokes to match. Anastasia smiles, makes jokes, and I can't help but admire her. She has so much zest and life...
Closer to the night, we leave the bar, and I see Anastasia's smile fade. Jose and Jack took their girlfriends in an unknown direction, and I stayed with Still.
Christmas alone, fucking awesome, mutters Ana and walks to her house. I catch up with her and stop her.
Where are your parents? We wander together through the snowy city, and I feel like I can t leave her like this. No matter how much of a scumbag I am, I am responsible for my slaves, my servants, and this girl.
Stuck in London because of the fucking snowfall, Steele says.
Maybe we ll meet him together? You and me. I ll teach you how to make mulled wine, I smile at her and brush the snow out of her loose hair.
In men s language, that means let s go fuck? the girl raises an eyebrow.
No, I say and kiss her on the corner of her mouth.
It means no sadness on Christmas Eve, Ana. No sadness