Chapter 15

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           Hi.”IfeelunbearablyshywhenIopenthedoor.Christianisstandingontheporchinhisjeansandleatherjacket.“Hi,”hesays,andhisfacelightsupwithhisradiantsmile.Itakeamomenttoadmirethepretty.Ohmy,he’shotinleather.

           “Comein.”

           “IfImay,”hesays,amused.Heholdsupabottleofchampagneashewalksin.“Ithoughtwe’dcelebrateyourgraduation.NothingbeatsagoodBollinger.”

           “Interestingchoiceofwords,”Icommentdryly.

           Hegrins.“Oh,Ilikeyourreadywit,Anastasia.”

           “Weonlyhaveteacups.We’vepackedalltheglasses.”

           “Teacups?Soundsgoodtome.”

           Iheadintothekitchen.Nervous,butterfliesfloodingmystomach,it’slikehavingapantherormountainlionallunpredictableandpredatoryinmylivingroom.

           “Doyouwantsaucersaswell?”

           “Teacupswillbefine,Anastasia,”Christiancallsdistractedlyfromthelivingroom.

           WhenIreturn,he’sstaringatthebrownparcelofbooks.Iplacethecupsonthetable.

           “That’sforyou,”Imurmuranxiously.

           Crap…thisisprobablygoingtobeafight.

           “Hmm,Ifiguredasmuch.Veryaptquote.”Hislongindexfingerabsentlytracesthewriting.“IthoughtIwasd’Urberville,notAngel.Youdecidedonthedebasement.”Hegivesmeabriefwolfishsmile.“Trustyoutofindsomethingthatresonatessoappropriately.”

           “It’salsoaplea,”Iwhisper.WhyamIsonervous?Mymouthisdry.

           “Aplea?Formetogoeasyonyou?”

           Inod.

           “Iboughttheseforyou,”hesaysquietly,hisgazeimpassive.“I’llgoeasieronyouifyouacceptthem.