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2
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Gail and Taylor, have both retired to their quarters for the evening. I've caught up on everything important that I missed from today. I've busied myself with everything I can think of, and the girl is still fast asleep in my bed. She's been asleep for nearly eleven hours now, surely she must have slept enough to recharge her batteries?
I head into the dining room and pour myself a scotch, before heading urgently over to my piano. I have the sudden urge to clear my head, and the desperate need to play.
An hour or so later, I'm still playing blindly, lost in the piece that I'm absent-mindedly composing, while thinking about the slumbering beauty, not too far away.
Reflected movement in the glass draws my attention, and the vision in the blackened window holds my eye. My heart spasms as my breathing hitches, and my hands freeze on the keys. I turn on the piano bench and lift my head slowly to face her... And there she is.
She's in my T-shirt and shorts, looking lost an scared, but surprisingly, as sexy as hell. Her wide eyes, clear bewilderment and wild bed hair, only adding to her natural appeal.
She really is kind of beautiful.
"Who are you? Why am I here? And what have you done with my clothes?" she asks rapidly, in a dry nervous voice. Her eyes looking down her body at her strange ensemble.
I stand and take a small step towards her. "My name is Christian Grey. You..." I begin to explain, but her eyes lift and widen in clear recognition, causing me to pause.
I notice her stance harden and the longer I look at her, the more nervous she becomes. It looks like my reputation has proceeded me and I'm surprised by her recognition and reaction, but only for a second, as I remember who was chasing after her earlier today.
"Your friend, Miss Kavanagh, has obviously mentioned me to you" I state, not ask, and the girl nods slowly, nervously.
"Not very favorably, I presume?" I ask with a smile, hoping to put her at ease. The girl, only nods again.
"In my defense" I utter, taking a tentative step towards her. "I did have just cause for verbally abusing your friend and throwing her out of my office" I confess, with what I hope, is a friendly grin. Hoping to ease her and make light of the horror story her friend apparently told her, I keep my face and tone light.
"You did?" she whispers curiously, while biting her bottom lip.
I nod eagerly, my eyes captivated. Her body relaxes as I get closer and as she releases her lip from her teeth, my eyes automatically rise back to hers.
"What did she do?" the girl asks, with a glint in her eye and a very telling tone.
So, it's a regular occurrence for Miss Kavanagh to piss people off is it? Well, I'm not entirely surprised. I can smile now, after the fact, but boy did she infuriate me at the time. Nosy, presumptions, blood woman.
"She asked me a few very personal questions, which, lets just say, were a little too close to the bone" I explain, without going into too much detail, but I have to hide a chuckle, because there really was no pun intended.
"Oh yes, Kate does have a habit of trying to dig deep" the girl mutters knowingly, while rolling her eyes. I smile at her ease.
"What's your name?" I ask quietly, not wanting to discuss her friend any longer and realizing, that the term of 'The Girl' is going to stick.
"Anastasia Steele, Ana" she says, as she steps forward offering me her hand politely.
"Anastasia... Beautiful name" I breathe. She certainly lives up to her name and I smile as I take her hand in mine.
I've only touched her hand briefly before I feel a tingling in my palm. The feeling only intensifies as I gently take her hand in mine fully. I hear her low gasp as she stares at our joined hands. I smile smugly, because she feels it too, I know she does. Her instant blush only enhances her appeal, and I can't take my eyes off of her. Which only seems to embarrass her further.
"Where are my clothes?" she asks suddenly, pulling her hand free from mine and looking a little embarrassed. Her eyes lower. I frown, not wanting the contact between us broken.
"I'm not sure" I reply truthfully, and her eyes shoot to mine widening. I smile, glad to have her back.
"Then who...?" she exclaims, looking very uncomfortable.
I scoff, because why shouldn't she be? She wakes up in a strange apartment, with a strange man, wearing strange clothes. I'm surprised she's not screaming, fleeing rapidly to get out of here. I frown, because I really don't like the thought of that, so I try to put her mind at rest quickly.
"A female Doctor and my housekeeper Gail, attended to you, they helped you change" I stress quickly. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable here with me.
"A Doctor? Why did I see a Doctor?" she asks, looking quizzical, but worry, is evident in her tone.
"You passed out and have been asleep for over twelve hours... I was worried about you" I admit, suddenly feeling very sheepish. She doesn't need to know that I panicked and called the Doctor within the first hour.
"You were?" she breathes, looking surprised. Her blue eyes, now bright and curious.
"Yes," I utter.
"Why?" she asks, with a frown.
I twitch my shoulder in a shrug, because I don't know what to tell her. I don't even know what to tell myself.
This time yesterday, I didn't even know she existed, today, she's all I can think about.
"What is the last thing you remember?" I ask, avoiding her question, wanting the attention brought off myself.
I see the light leave her eyes with my question, and instantly regret it. I see her recall earlier today and her face contorts painfully.
"I was at City Hall... About to... Jose... I couldn't... I..." her eyes fill with tears as her voice breaks painfully. She suddenly crumbles to her knees in front of me, her face falling into her palms as she starts sobbing.
Instinctively, I close the gap between us, pick her up, pull her close and head straight over to the sofa. I place her down, grab a blanket from the footstool and wrap her in it, before pulling her into my lap.
Before I truly register what I've done, and how close she is to me, her head is buried in the crook of my neck and soon damp from her heavy tears. I wrap my arms around her tenderly, one on her lower back the other gently stroking her hair. I feel the heat from her body as she shudders and shakes against me. The feel of her in my arms is really warm and calming, and it surprises me how good this feels.
"Shush, it's okay. You're okay, you're safe here. You asked me for my help, remember?" I soothe, not wanting her upset.
"I remember," she confirms, with a loud sniffle close to my ear. "I ran into your car, you gave me your hand... Thank you," she manages to mumble as she sobs. I rub her back softly, trying to calm her.
"You're welcome" I whisper, into her soft, sweet smelling hair.
The lingering smell, from her decorative flowers fills my nostrils. I inhale deeply as my arms tighten around her involuntarily, but I freeze, as her arms wangle free from the blanket, and wrap around my neck tightly.
After a few alarming seconds, my body can't help but arch against her as the heat radiating from her seeps into me. My T-shirt not giving me any shielding from it, from her. I hold her tightly against me until her sobs subside and it surprises me, how right this feels.
"If you want to talk... I can help you" I utter, softly into her hair after a few minutes. Not really wanting to break this moment we're sharing.
"No... You can't help me, but thank you," she says despondently, and I feel her body sag.
She suddenly pulls away from me, flushing profusely, obviously realizing just how close we are to each other. Even though I want nothing more than to keep holding her, to alleviate any discomfort she may feel, I place her back on the sofa beside me, pull the blanket tightly around her once again, and move away from her, so I'm further down the sofa. She smiles softly up at me in thanks.
"How did I get here?" she asks, as we sit side by side.
"After you accepted my hand, you passed out" I explain quickly.
Her eyes widen as her hands move quickly to rub over her head. I hide my chuckle, as I see the shock hit her face when she feels her wild bed hair. Running her fingers through it, she quickly pulls and twists it into a messy bun. I smile, secretly pleased to be able to see her slender neck and delicate features more clearly.
"I caught you" I explain the bump free skull and to erase her obvious embarrassment.
"I.. Thank you," she says, as she shakes her head and giggles.
"You're welcome" I assure her, as I chuckle along with her.
Silence soon engulfs us, and I think rapidly for something to say. Racking my brain for anything to keep her at ease and conversing here with me.
"Can I get you anything?" I ask. Then recall the Doctor's visit. "Wait, you need to eat. Come, I'll fix you something" I insist firmly, not waiting for her to decline.
I stand tall, offer her my hand and lead her to the kitchen as soon as she accepts it. She jumps up onto a bar stool, her eyes scanning the room, wide and awed, while I ponder nervously, about what to prepare for her.
I open the fridge full of hope, and thank Gail to the heavens above, for the pre-prepared subs and diced fruit salad that she's left for us. I take the plates and place them in front of her and quickly remove the cling wrap covering them.
"What would you like to drink?" I ask, pushing the sub towards her.
She smiles, shrugs the blanket from around her shoulders, freeing her arms, and takes her sandwich in both her hands and begins to eat with relish. I chuckle to myself, feeling eased, because clearly, there's nothing wrong with her appetite.
"I would recommend something warm and sweet" I suggest, thinking her body could use the sugar rush after the stress it's been under today.
"Do you have any tea?" she mutters, while biting into her sub.
"Not sure" I admit, as I begin to rummage in the nearby cupboards. "We have hot chocolate" I offer, finding the box easily.
"Perfect Christian, thank you," she says with a smile.
I turn my back on her heading towards the kettle, thankful, that the chore gives me the chance to hide my face from her. I feel kind of giddy, exhilarated, strange. I like how it sounded, her using my name, and I know my face will be showing this. I prepare our drinks as she continues to eat, pondering the crazy effect this girl seems to be having on me.
"What happened after I passed out?" she asks, in-between bites, oblivious to my over thinking. "How did Kate not reach me?" she muses out loud.
"After you passed out, which scared the hell out of me, I might add, I placed you in my car and Taylor drove us here, before..."
"Here? Where is here?" she interrupts, realizing her vulnerability.
"Escala, my home" I tell her quickly.
She nods, looking reassured, my reply obviously confirming whatever she knows about me through Kavanagh. I place our cups onto the breakfast bar and sit down beside her. She doesn't seem to mind me being close to her, so I pick up my sub and start to eat.
"Who's Taylor?" she asks with a small frown, while turning on her stool to face me.
"My chief of security" I inform her, adding a smile, when I see her brow lift.
"Security?" she exclaims, surprised.
"Yes," I reply, trying hard not to concentrate on her leg, thats just accidentally brushed against mine as she moved.
"So we're not alone here?" she asks, oblivious. I shake my head confirming. Her body eases fully as I hide my smile behind my cup.
"No, if you scream, a team of x-marines will swoop in and be at your service in seconds" I inform her, exaggerating a little, before taking a swig from my cup.
"Mine?" she asks, with wide eyes.
"Yes, if I was hurting you in any way... Taylor and his men wouldn't hesitate to shoot me" I tease, and I can't hide my smile as her eyes widen further in apparent fear.
"I'm teasing, they won't shoot me or anybody else. I abide guns and don't allow them to carry them, but you are safe here, I promise... I only wanted to help you today, I hope you know that? And it seemed like you wanted to get away from..." my voice drifts off as I don't exactly know what she was running away from.
"I did," she mouthes sadly.
Her eyes and demeanor falling as sadness overcomes her. I turn to face her and shift on my stool so that her knees are know in between mine. I take her hands in mine instinctively.
"Why, Ana? What happened?" I whisper, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb gently.
She shakes her head as she shivers, her eyes fixed on our joined hands in her lap.
"Are you cold?" I ask, squeezing her fingers gently.
"A little," she whispers.
I stand, push back my stool, pick up her discarded blanket, and re-wrap her in it. I smile, as I place my palm on her lower back as she steps down and I feel a shiver run through her. That one, was definitely not through feeling cold. I lead her back to the sofa. "Sit here," I order as I leave her and head over to the fireplace.
Once I've lit the fire, I push the sofa closer. Ana giggles as she lifts up her feet and leans back into the cushions enjoying her ride. I sit beside her once we're situated close enough, but I make sure to leave a safe distance for her, and myself, between us both.
"You warm enough?" I ask, absent mindedly finding her hand, taking hold of it and rubbing it between mine.
"Yes," she replies, as she snuggles further back into the sofa beside me.
A comfortable silence fills the room, and we're both lost in our own thoughts just watching the dancing flames from the fire. I fret and internally berate myself, as I don't know what to say to her, but it's a wasted worry, as disappointingly, within ten minutes, Ana is fast asleep.
I sit stone still beside her, just looking down at her, studying her face as she sleeps. She looks peaceful right now, but the dark circles under her eyes and the hint of a frown line across her brow, proves that a peaceful night's sleep, hasn't been a frequent occurrence for her lately.
I sigh heavily, knowing exactly how she must feel. I'm thankful for her slumber, for her because she needs it, and for myself, because I can use the time to just blatantly stare at her. Taking in her soft, relaxed features, it's clear to see just how beautiful she really is. I can't help but feel drawn to her, protective of her, and I want to help her. I just wish she would confide in me.
As if she can feel me staring behind her closed eyes, she begins to fidget beside me. Her frown deepens as her face contorts, and she suddenly becomes very restless. She turns into me, grips my T-shirt in her fist and then leans into me further. I pull my arm free from between us, resting it along the back of the sofa, and she claims the free space instantly.
With her head resting against the side of my chest, I instinctively hold still, but I'm too aware of her obvious distress to worry about where her head is resting.
If she were awake, I'm sure she'd be able to hear and feel, my erratic pounding heart. I'm grateful for her oblivion. She begins to shift, moan and mumble, almost incoherently against me, but I hear and understand the odd word that isn't lost to my T-shirt.
Jose... No... Baby...
I bring my arm down from the back of the sofa and wrap it around her shoulders, wanting to offer her some type of comfort and hopefully rouse her. Her entire body stiffens as I make contact, then she relaxes as I coo softly into her hair that, "Every thing's going to be okay"
I don't know what this girl is running from. I don't know whats happened to her, but I'll do everything in my power to help her. This Jose fucker, whoever he is, is getting nowhere near her. I'll make sure of it, personally.
I can't help myself and shift us both, bringing her fluidly onto my lap. She snuggles into me and sighs contentedly in her sleep. My heart is still trying to beat its way out of my chest and it amazes me how everything seems to have shifted to accommodate this girl in my arms.
Reluctantly, slowly, I stand, taking Ana with me. I inform Taylor, with a quick glance to the camera, because I know that he will be watching and have spoken to Welch, for him to deal with the fire.
As much as I want Ana awake, conversing, looking at me, she needs to rest, and rest comfortably. No matter how much I want to keep her in my arms, she needs to be in a bed. My bed.
I stride towards my bedroom, suddenly very eager, to have Ana safe, warm, content, and tucked up in between my sheets.
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If I can edit every night this week, I will post a chapter daily.
Thank you all so much for reading. x