"Let's get out of here," Elliot said, grabbing Kate's hand and pulling her toward the bar's entrance.

Kate let Elliot guide her toward the exit, and gave the room one last scan for Anna. Elliot caught Kate's head mid-swivel, gently between his large hands. Looking into her eyes he said, "She'll be fine. Don't worry. Christian will take care of her."

Gazing back into his warm, penetrating stare, Kate found herself blushing under the intensity of his look and nodded her assent rather than trusting herself to reply.

That's what I'm afraid of, Kate thought inwardly.

Elliot held the door for her as they stepped out into the cool night air. Kate shivered involuntarily at the sudden change in temperature. Elliot tucked her against his ware frame as they continued into the parking lot. As they made their way to Kate's Mercedes coupe, Kate dug through her wristlet for the single key she'd stowed there earlier. She was glad her credit card and I.D. were also accounted for. Breaking through her private moment of inventorying, Elliot suggested, "I'll drive if you navigate."

"Lucky for you, I'm a very skilled navigator," said Kate, smiling back at him suggestively, and then reddening at her boldness. Having extracted her key, she placed it in his open palm with a flourish.

"Oh, I'm counting on it," said Elliot matching her in tone and meaning while meeting her eyes and grinning widely at her. He placed his left hand at the small of her back, and held the passenger-side door open for her as she folded herself in. Closing the door he jogged to the driver's side and hopped in. "So?"

"So," purred Kate, still lost in their last exchange, her mind already beginning to spin fantasy of the two of them back in her room. When he continued to wait for a response she gathered her runaway thoughts and replied, "Near campus, 3401 Ash Street. Do you know the area?"

"Not very well, but I am familiar with some of the newer development near campus. Doesn't Ash have those townhomes that have been updated on the 3400th block?"

"That's us. I mean, yes. Anna and I live in one. How did you…?"

"I'm in development. Specifically, green development. My company bid on that project." Kate watched as he smoothly entered traffic toward her place.

"Oh?" replied Kate, actually interested. Handsome, charming, and gainfully employed, it was almost too much to hope for. Then again, what had she expected from the brother of thee Christian Grey.

"We didn't get it, but I'm hoping to do more work down here in Portland."

"So you live in Seattle too?"

"Too?

"I mean with Christian," she added hurriedly.

"Yea, well I don't live with Christian if that is what you're thinking" he looked over at her, a little alarm showing in his expression. "Nothing against my brother. Love him to death, but the man would NOT make a good roommate."

"Oh no? Why's that?" Kate asked her interest really peaking now.

"Like I said," Elliot recovered, "I love him to death, but the guy's a complete control freak. I wouldn't want to see his reaction to my leaving a towel on the floor of the bathroom!" He flashed Kate a look of mock alarm that made her smile widen.

"Made it in one piece," he said pulling up to the curb outside her home. Taking both her hands into his he hunkered down conspiratorially toward her, and said huskily, "Now Ms. Cavanaugh, do you think I could come in for a night cap?"

Leaning in so that their noses were almost touching, "Only a night cap?" Kate replied, meeting his eyes and raising her eyebrows before pulling her hands from his embrace and smoothly maneuvering out of the vehicle. She felt him watching her make her way toward the townhouse, and put as much sexy into her swagger as she could. "Coming?" she called behind her as she reached into the outdoor sconce for the spare key they kept hidden there.

All at once he was all around her. She could feel him against her, and then spinning her gently around before pinning her against the doorframe. All at once his mouth was on hers, and his body was pressed against hers in all the right places. She could feel his muscular chest through his shirt, and his groin against hers. Her bodily hungrily met his as she ran her hands up and down his back to his perfectly chiseled butt. His tongue was doing the most amazing things in her mouth: deep and searching, dancing with her tongue. His teeth never even grazed hers as he deftly manipulated her mouth, and then began to move down her neck and the large scoop of her tank top towards the top of her breasts. She could feel every fiber in her responding to his touch. She felt electric.

This is so hot. She thought as her mind grappled with the endorphins racing through her. I want him.