21. the chapter in which rose surrenders.

Rose

Theo stopped the car in the driveway, turning around for the first time since we left the party.

" Take her to her room and try to put her to bed, I'll go find Sky and Liam," he instructed Christian.

But before they could act, I opened the door, stepped out of the car, struggling to stand on my heels, staggering into the hall, drawing the attention of a few people in the common area.

" Rose, come back here! " Christian ran to catch up with me.

" Go to hell, Davis! " I shouted, almost knocking over a small table on the way.

" You're going to get hurt, wait for me! " he yelled at me, clearly annoyed by my attitude.

I was aware of the curious looks on our little clash, but I didn't care one bit about the situation.

" So what? I'm stupid, aren't I? So let me get hurt, it won't make any difference to you!”

I finally reached the stairs, leaning on the banister, hoping that I would make it up without falling and breaking my neck. It's okay, Rose, it's only three flights, you can do it!

" Okay, I'm sorry for calling you stupid, but you were not smart today! " He materialized beside me, slipping his arm around my waist for support.

" What do you know about my intelligence today? You were too busy paying attention to your new girlfriend." I tried to push him away, but he wouldn't allow it.

We began to move slowly up the stairs, climbing one step at a time in the midst of our little argument.

" Is that what you think? I was the first one to realize what was going on!”

" And you're the only one who's fighting with me, as if everything that happened wasn't enough," I returned angrily, managing to get rid of him as I reached the second floor and started walking down the hall.

Christian took a deep breath before running to catch up with me, hugging me from behind, immobilizing my arms before lifting me off the floor, turning around and heading for the stairs.

" Let go of me, what's your problem? " I shouted, attracting the attention of a few girls who opened the bedroom door, staring at us in surprise.

" She's drunk, I'm just trying to get her to her room safely," he explained to the closest girl.

" Do you know this guy? " The girl confirmed with me.

" Yes, he is my friend, but he is calling me stupid for drinking too much and for making out with a guy I don't know who tried to force things, and..."

" See, I just want to get her safely to her room," Christian took a deep breath.

That seemed to have convinced the girl that closed the door again, Christian put me on the floor, looking at the ceiling, letting out a sigh, thinking about what to say next.

" Leave me alone, I've already gone up the stairs," I insisted.

" But your room is on the third floor, Rose. We're on the first floor," he pointed.

I cursed myself for being in this situation. Deep down I knew that he was right, I had been stupid, and that was the worst part. I didn't want him to be right about something like this. I decided to stop fighting and allow him to guide me, walking up the flights of stairs in silence, grateful when I finally turned on the lights in my room. Christian closed the door, also looking relieved that I had made it.

" I'm sorry for what I said, Rose. But you scared me with everything that happened," he went back to running his hand over his face, as if to clean the area that was already stained with dried blood.

" You can use the toilet to clean this up, it looks awful," I pointed to his face.

He nodded, disappearing out the door of the small bathroom, and I finally thought about getting rid of my heels, sitting down on the bed and taking off my sandals before propping my elbows on my thighs, hiding my face with my hands, stifling the urge to cry about everything that had happened.

It wasn't long before Christian's warm fingers wrapped around my wrists, pulling my hands away. He was kneeling in front of me, staring at me with his ice colored eyes, and unlike before, I could see nothing but concern in them.

" Are you all right?”

" No! I was stupid and I'm sorry for that," I returned in a heartfelt tone, "It's my fault you got hurt and you can all get in trouble!”

Of course Anderson provoked the fight, but if he decided to press charges against Christian it would be hard to explain what happened!

" It wasn't your fault, the bastard deserved it," he reassured me, "and as for the face, I can handle a scratch, as long as you didn't get hurt. I know I should have asked this before, but were you hurt?”

I just nodded, getting a half smile in return before he stood up.

" Good, I'm glad," Christian began to walk away, turning his back on me.

Moved by a sudden decision I stood up, approaching him, who continued talking.

" You better change your clothes and try to sleep, I can get Brigitte's key with Sky, or you can get it tomorrow before class, and…”

As soon as he turned to me I brought both hands to his face, joining our lips together and releasing the pent-up desire that had been inside me for days. He didn't hesitate to reciprocate, his hands came to my hips, while his tongue danced with mine in an urgent rhythm. Leaving his face, I ran one hand down his chest while the other made its way to the back of his neck, tangling itself in the soft hair that I loved to pull whenever I forced him to carry me across campus. Christian seemed to want me as much as I wanted him, running his hands down my thighs, he guided me to my desk, stepping aside only to throw a few cans of paints and paintbrushes on the floor before he sat there, fitting himself between my spread legs.

I tilted my head back, giving him access to my throat, feeling his lips travel all the way to my collarbone, sending a wave of arousal through my body as he approached my breasts. Waving my hips toward him for some relief I felt his erection for a second, but that was replaced by emptiness as soon as he pulled away suddenly turning his back to me with gasping breath.

I blinked in a daze, not understanding his reaction, until seconds ago he was responding!

" Chris, what is it?”

" Rose, I can't do this," he turned, watching me with disappointment in his eyes.

" You don't want me? " I frowned.

Did I misunderstand? Because from the first day we met, I felt that he wanted me in some way, no matter how much the two of us always ended up fighting.

" Of course I want you, but not like this!”

Not like this?

I looked at myself, searching for what was wrong with my appearance. I know I shouldn't look this sexy drunk, but was that enough to make him give up?

" Not like this? " I stammered.

" Rose, you're drunk! I can't take advantage of that! What would be different than what that asshole tried to do?”

" It would be different because with you I want to! " I cut him off.

Christian took a deep breath before approaching me, looking into my eyes with a half smile on his face.

" Look, I don't want you to wake up tomorrow and regret something you did that was driven by alcohol, so I'll go to my room and we'll talk later, okay?”

" Okay," I agreed with a hint of a voice.

He leaned over, kissing my cheek before he left, leaving me behind, still sitting at my desk in a dazed state from all that had happened.