Fifty Shades of BLACK SILK

BLACK SILK: Part 23

On the way home it was dead silent. I took notice of the silence about halfway into the journey and my palms started to get clammy as a result. I drew my hands in, glancing at the plush leather and immediately making out my sweaty handprint. I shouldn't have looked, when I did heat rose within me especially littering my cheeks. I just know how to make myself even more embarrassed, don't I?

"Something wrong?" Christian tilted his head.

Taylor peeked at me through the rear view mirror, the headlights of oncoming traffic making his crystalline green eyes gleam.

I gulped and smiled politely. "No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I think I'm just..." I inhaled.

"Just what?"

I shook my head and closed my eyes. I was going to blame it on the food but as my mind scrolled through tonight's evening, everything about it was perfect. The food was exquisite, an assortment of sushi; a fragrant yellowtail jalapeño sashimi; a line of beef tataki swimming in a tangy dressing and sprinkled with chopped crunchy onion; creamy and spicy prawns; a sweet short rib surrounded by a handful of corn kernels; sizzling mushroom tobanyaki; and a chocolate bento box with goji berries and a divine matcha ice-cream to die for. I stopped Christian from ordering an almost $400 lobster for our eighth course and opted for a mango and passionfruit mocktail instead since I've been really into mocktails lately.

The ambience was calm and tender, twinkling lights dwindled low. The scent of bamboo and lilies rushed through the vast restaurant. I could hear the faint sound of a waterfall gushing over textures that protruded from the wall. The bustling crowd clinked and clanked their drinks; women were decked out and men were trendy. I couldn't take my eyes off of all the beautiful people (cue Marilyn Manson's rendition of 'Beautiful People').

Nothing was bothersome besides the fact that I just went on a date with Christian Grey. And I was leaving with Christian Grey.

I summoned up enough courage to glance at Christian and smile happily, but most importantly, genuinely. "It's just that I had an amazing time tonight."

Christian tucked in the corner of his mouth, barely cracking a smile, most of which was softening his eyes. "I'm glad."

"I haven't been on a date in a while," I confessed, looking away to avoid his eyes. I'd figured they were filled with judgement but he said nothing, and when I turned my head back he was just comforting me with a smile of his own.

"You're a natural," he finally said.

I chuckled. "Thanks."

A natural at dating. It's been so long and I'd been screwed so many times that dating had become an elusive concept. The thought of me going down the road of indefinable and uncertain turns, through men I only might like, or can stand long enough for a second date, was more frightening to me than the fact that Christian considered this an official date. I mean, sure, I told him to take me on a date if he wanted any sort of chance with me, and sure, it was all date-like with a Sex and the City vibe, if I was Carrie and Big was the owner of a billion dollar conglomerate. But it didn't seem all the way a true date. It was as if going to a familiar place and for the first time seeing things in an unfamiliar way, but you can't quite put your finger on it. It was jamais vu.

"Thank you for walking me up," I said, fiddling with my front door keys. "And for dinner."

"You're welcome," Christian said.

He trotted down the stoop and my breathing became irregular. "No goodbye kiss."

He froze on the last step and turned, a devilish smile on his lips. My heart thudded faster. He sauntered up the stairs like a hunter to its prey. "Of course, how could I forget?"

He leaned in, cupping my head, and pressing his lips onto mine. We moved together like the small waves of a shore ebbing against a rock. Back and forth, barely any tongue; vanilla with a touch of ice. Then, Christian parted.

"Is that all?" I asked, feeling ballsy but at the same time as if I was about to have a heart attack and pass out.

Christian lowered his gaze, placing his fingertips on my stomach and gently pushing me up against the wooden door. He bit his bottom lip at the sight of my parted mouth and a warmth swelled between my legs. He slid his hand underneath my dress, caressing my half-exposed ass as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. His body was close to me, and even though temperatures were low, between us, it was hellish. He grabbed and tugged my ass harder and harder and I moaned as he ran tongue-laced-kisses up and down my neck. His erection drove into me; I'd never wanted him so badly I could've dropped down there and then.

"Ahem," some lady cleared her throat.

Christian kept going but I couldn't ignore the sound and opened my eyes to an old lady covered in fur and pearls with her face festered with lines housing decades worth of judgement.

"Ahem!" she cleared her throat again, this time louder.

Christian pulled his head back and almost rolled his eyes. He bared his teeth before begrudgingly turning his attention around. "Yes?" he hissed, almost spitting at the woman that I almost felt sorry for her.

She lifted her brown tattooed brows and pursed her Chanel red lips. "Stop that immediately before I call the police for indecency." Even her voice was coated with disdain, like listening to salt and vinegar whinging about which one gets to pull the trigger.

"Good," Christian nodded, "and would you tell the chief he still owes me 100K? Save me a call." The woman's mouth gaped and her face dropped long. "Don't you have a home to go to?" Christian continued. The woman nodded robotically. "Go on then," Christian ended.

The woman stammered away, making high-pitched grumbles to whoever listened. If I were a passer-by, I'd consider her institutional.

"The chief owes you money?" I asked, half-buzzed from the warm touch lingering on my skin and half- coming off from spectating the 'Christian takes on rich, old lady' show.

"Yes."

"Why don't you just forgive the loan? Don't you have enough money?"

He tilted his head in disapproval. "I resent the suggestion that I just take people's money. I have no problem with him asking for money, but when someone says they're going to pay me back, I expect them to do so. It's not always all about the money."

"Oh no?"

"No," he shook his head, "sometimes it's about the principle."

I chuckled. "You sound pompous."

His nostrils flared as he sharply breathed in and then out. "I'm not used to the way you talk to me. People don't usually talk to me that way."

"Maybe when I asked for money, you'll see a difference." I winked, turning around.

Christian swiftly aligned his lips to my ear and whispered, "Laters baby."

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