Chapter One
Christian
I crumble up the piece of paper and throw it in the corner, watching it make it in the been. Fuck, I actually made it. I bring my hand to my lips to feel the small smile that spreads across my lips. Of course that's the fucking shit that makes me smile. Not my damn family.
All they do is push for me to see help, to see Flynn. Can't they understand that I'm fine? The more they push me the more I'm fucking hurting. They just don't know that when they mention every fucking name I see it. I see what Jack did to me. I remember what he told me about Mia. I remember every fucking detail and I just want it to go away.
I don't need some goddamn shrink to go to. Flynn is my friend but I can't tell him this. I'm not crazy I just can't bear to deal with the pain of Jack's words or remembering what the did to me. He's beaten me emotionally. He's even beaten me physically. They all did. He's killed me on the inside. The outside. Alex knows everything that's happened but he's promised not to tell anyone what happened to me.
I know Taylor is standing outside the office so I don't hurt myself. I'm not that stupid. At least I don't think I am. I know they care deeply about me but I wish they would just back off.
I throw everything off my desk. My cellphone suddenly starts ringing out of nowhere. Great, no I bet it's fucking Elliot.
"What?" I snap.
"Is that the way to talk to an old friend you dick?" a voice chuckles.
"Sorry Caleb. It's been awhile." I sigh.
"What's wrong with you man? I heard your ass was left for dead awhile back. I'm glad that wasn't true." he draws out in his thick accent. "My ass was boohooin at that funeral." I can't help but laugh.
Caleb and I met five years ago at this ranch when I was adopting Hope and her three sisters and brothers. His family were very inviting and we sort of became a pack since then. We became friends because I defended one of his brothers. His brother is gay and was being bullied by one of the town assholes and I beat shit out of them. I'm loved by the whole family. I call his parents ma and da. If I don't call them that I get slapped by ma.
"Well, I'm fine Caleb. Don't worry. Now why are you calling?" I ask.
"We are having our usual family get together. Ma and da told me to remind you." he hints. I groan. I don't feel like going to this one.
"Not this one Caleb." I sigh. The lines silent.
"Either you tell ma, or you come. Pick." shit.
"Fuck you Caleb." I growl. He laughs.
"Watch the language Chris." I roll my eyes.
"Whatever. Tell ma I'm bringing someone." he whistles.
"You finally growing up." I can hear the smile in his voice. "See you tonight man."
I hang up and send a quick text to Ana. Shit, what the hell am I going to do. Ma is going to kill me if I just stand there like a bum on a log. She isn't one of those women who backs down. Her ass fucking fights until she gets what she wants.
My phone vibrates with an incoming text from Ana. I chuckle.
Wait, what? Who the hell is Caleb? - Ana
A friend of mine - Christian
Can I wear blue jeans and a t-shirt? -Ana
I smile. She isn't one of those girls who wants to put on dresses twenty four seven. She loves her jeans and t-shirts and it's so damn sexy. This get together is thankfully nothing. The girls just like to dress up and show themselves off. My girl doesn't have to.
You can baby. - Christian
Thanks Christian. I love you. - Ana
I love you too. - Christian
I send a quick text to Taylor and have him come inside, telling him he doesn't have to hide anymore. A few moments later he comes into the office. He looks around the office and must see the disaster cluttering around my desk. I don't care though. I just want to get out of here.
The emails are sent through and finally done so Ros won't be pissed. Taylor is waiting for me to give him directions and I'm waiting for myself to assign him as well. I'm not being mean to Taylor. I've just been trying to ignore him just like I've been ignoring everyone else.
"I'm going to Caleb's family get together tonight as usual." I grumble. "I don't want ma getting pissed at me." I see his body shake with laughter. I glare.
"Sorry." he coughs.
"Anyways, Ana's coming and you are coming as you usually do. I just wanted to let you know before I left." I explain.
"She's just a small woman." he starts, but I stop him.
"No she isn't. That woman's tough Jason. You already remembered what happened when you cursed around her." he shivers. I grin. "That's what I thought."
…
I pull up to the house and see that Ana's car isn't here. Frowning, I walk out back. Where is she?
Jackson comes running up to me in excitement, but then I realize why. I noticed that he has a dead snake in his mouth. Shaking my head I grab it from him and toss it in the burn pile. I'm glad he got to it before the thing could get to our horses. They're hard to calm down when they see them.
I grab a treat from the kitchen and give it to him. He does a couple of spins before running off, causing me to laugh. I run back inside to change into my jeans and t-shirt. The work outside needs to get done before we leave tonight. I wonder how Hope's doing as well. She's only got five weeks left in her pregnancy and she's already becoming antsy.
Walking back outside I grab one of the barrels of hay and carry it over next to the barn. I drag it behind me and take it over to the cows. These ungrateful fuckers need to start loving me soon, because I spoil the shit out of them. I have five cows that I adopted and they absolutely hate everyone one of us.
After tossing the their food, I feed everyone else. I have to toss out shit in the burn pile and start over. I don't know why I tossed that goddamn snake in there without looking. I feel stupid.
Before I can start on the pile I hear someone walk up behind me. My heart quickly starts pounding by memories flooding back. I quickly turn around. When I do I just see Ana, which causes me to relax. I'm fucking stupid, they're in jail you idiot.
"Hey baby." I say. She crosses her arms, which causes me to frown. "What's wrong?"
Her eyes run up and down my body, and her tongue darts across her bottom lip. "Do you know how fucking sexy you are?" she asks. I raise my eyebrows. Shouldn't I be the one asking her this.
She walks over to me, running her fingers along my stomach. I can already feel my cock hardening at her soft touch. Oh what this woman does to me.
"Working, covered in sweat." she whispers. "So damn hot." I can't mask the groan I was trying to hide.
"Fuck Ana."
She moves in front of me and nibbles a path along my jaw. Licking and sucking, pressing her body tightly against mine. I know what's she's doing. She's trying to make me forget. Forget every bad thing that's ever happened to me. Forget about every bad thing that's been brought to my attention. Ana's trying to make it go away without making me have to relive it.
I slam my lips to her, devouring her. I run my tongue across her lips asking for permission and when she gives me access I almost cry with glee. How can she not be mad at me? It's been so long since Ana and I have had each other and it's been my fault.
I hear someone cough awkwardly and when we pull away from each other I see Taylor looking uncomfortable. He is almost as red as a tomato. I would be to. Ana and me are like his kids which is really creepy when you put it in those terms.
I put Ana down and look at him. I'm really pissed right now.
"Yeah Jason?" I ask.
"It's time to go Christian. Hurry your asses up." he turns around and walks off. He's mad.
"Shit." I curse, running my hands over my face. Ana looks at my, confused.
"What?"
"I can't have him catching me with you. He knows we're together, but it's still inappropriate." Ana raises her eyebrows at me.
"Says the guy who spanks me and ties me up." I grin, and pull her to me.
"Shut up." I chuckle. "Let's go get ready beautiful."
We had gotten in my truck and are now on our way to Caleb's family ranch. Taylor is right behind us, and I don't know if he is still mad or not. I really hope that he's not. I hate when he's mad at me. He's like my second dad.
On our way down the drive I keep looking over at Ana. She's wearing her usual blue jeans and a white t-shirt. All I keep picturing is a wet t-shirt contest. I guess Elliot had gotten to me. I'm usually not a pervert. What's getting to me though is her breast.
Caleb's parents have a very bumpy driveway and I'm very thankful that it's long. She's holding onto the window and it's making quiet chuckles fall out of my mouth. But all u can focus on her gorgeous tits. I guess I'm going to ma and das house with a boner. Fucking great.
When we get to the end of the drive, I walk over to Ana's side and open her door. When she hops out she grabs my shirt. I feel my heart beating rapidly in my chest as she runs her finger over my neck.
"You don't think I didn't see you watching my chest?" she asks. I grin.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I small smirk shines across her face. I grab her hand and pull her forward.
I can hear the music already in swing. I can already hear people laughing and talking as I walk closer to the house. We're not supposed to go to the house though, it's the back yard. These people are always loud. That's why I always loved them. They're different and different. Just like my family.
When we walk through the house I see that some people are just talking on and off about some things. It's mainly about politics and shit. Stuff I don't care for. We finally make it out back and see a heard of people and music is blasting.
The girls are dressed as barbies as usual and the guys are in their jeans and t-shirts. Country music is playing on the radios of multiple trucks. I see that they're making steaks and ribs for us this year. I can already feel my stomach rumble. I chuckle at the memory of what Ana said to Leila.
The guys are playing horseshoe while drinking beer. Some of the girls and guys are even drinking 'bitch beer' as we like to call it. The beer that has flavor to it. I grin.
Before I can pull Ana with me, I hear Caleb's voice.
"Hey Chris. You made it!" I grin.
"I told you I would." I roll my eyes. He shrugs then looks at Ana.
"Well hello." he wiggle his eyebrows. "Finally a girl who doesn't plaster on make-up at a shindig." he draws out. Ana giggles causing me to shake my head.
"Oh boy." I look up. "Aren't you in a relationship you idiot?"
"Um no. That ship sailed a month ago. So, can't I flirt?" he asks.
"Um, no?" Ana laughs at us. I peck her on the lips. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go talk to ma." she nods.
"I'm going to go eat steak." she licks her lips before darting off. I chuckle.
I look back at Caleb and see him staring at me in shock.
"Shit, where'd you find her?" he asks.
"She works for me." his mouth drops open. He starts clapping.
"Even better." I laugh then push him.
"You're fucking stupid."
"Christian Trevelyan Grey! Caleb Alexander Parker!" I flinch. I look over and see ma tapping her foot. Her arms are crossed and she has a look that could kill. We're so dead.
I look back at Caleb and see that he's looking anywhere but at me. He looks like he's about to make a run for it but Ryan, his older brother, catches him. Ryan is the one I defended against the town asshole. His boyfriend should be here somewhere. They've been together for three years.
Caleb and I with our heads down, as if we been caught with our hands in the cookie jar. Caleb glares at Ryan but Ryan ignores his looks and gives me a sympathetic look. I shrug. I knew better than to use that kind of language around here. I turn my attention back to ma. She has tears in her eyes. I frown.
"Do you know how upset we were going to that funeral?" she's about to wrap her arms around me but I stop her. She looks pissed, and grabs my hands tightly. "I hope those men get what they deserve. It felt like we lost another one of our sons." I watch her tiny body shake. I kiss the top of her head.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." I try to tell her. She pulls away, then smacks the back of my head causing me to groan.
"Good, because I still don't like that language around here." she smacks the back of Caleb's head to. He whimpers. Damn that hurt.
"Da is cooking with the rest of the men. You can go socialize with the family and friends until dinners ready." we nod. "Watch your mouths."
We watch her walk off until we quickly run away from her sight. That woman was almost the death of us. She always had a good arm and I always would ask if she played softball, which would make everyone laugh. I never understood the joke.
Making it over to the horseshoes, I see Caleb's brothers with their friends. A few girls are trying to flirt with them and others are just trying to show off how good they good they can play the game or how much they can drink. The guys simply ignore the girls and go back to talking to one another while the girls give off over exaggerated pouts.
"Hey Chris, isn't that your girl?" Caleb asks with a grin.
I look over and see Ana with a few of the girls who came over all dressed up. They are away from us, where we can barely see them. The make-up they were wearing is now off and all the girls dresses are covered in dirt. The heels the girls wore are gone and they are all barefoot. They all are talking about something as they walk across the field and ignore the yells coming from the other fancy dressed girls.
When they start walking back up, I see that three girls are wet. I look at Caleb and see that he's staring. I nudge him. He looks at me.
"Your girl knows how to make them loosen up." I grin.
"Trust me, I know." he rolls his eyes.
"Why take things the dirty way man?" he asks. I laugh.
"I have Elliot as a brother." he laughs with me.
"Well I'm going to go play with one of the girls your little Ana defluttered." I shake my head. Idiot.
I watch as Ana walks to a back of a truck and slides onto the tailgate. She looks down at the ground and starts swinging her legs. She's so beautiful. How did I deserve someone so amazingly perfect as her. I'm so thankful that Ray didn't get upset about me dating his daughter. Loving his daughter. Hopefully, one day, marrying his daughter. I want her to be my someone.
That beautiful smile. The way she scrunches her nose when she's trying to figure something out. Or when she blushes bright red when she get really nervous about certain things. Usually everything when it comes to me.
I smile, but when I look back up I see her talking to someone. It's some guy that usually comes to these parties. I never liked him because he always sent mixed signals towards Ryan. As in, I will kick your ass if you come near me. Asshole. I watch Ana's hand come up, dismissing him. She smiles shaking her head. I can't stop the big grin that spreads across my face.
I watch the guy stomp away, and Ana hides her smile. I make my way over to her and when she sees me her smile grows. I'm the one who put that there, no one else.
I sit down beside her, causing the truck to lower down some more and Ana to giggle. So cute. She kisses the side of my neck causing a shock to run down to my cock. I keep the growl that's trying to force its way up buried.
I hear her gasp. Looking over I see excitement cross her features. I frown.
"What?" I ask.
"This is my song! I've been listening all night for this!" she smiles. "I want to dance Christian."
Before I can say anything, she grabs my hands and pulls me onto the middle of the dance floor. I can't help but laugh, and pull her towards me. Ana has the biggest smile on her face as we dance to this one song. I don't know what it means to her but if it makes her this happy, then so be it.
I spin her, causing her to let out a small squeal. Then I put my hand on her hip and my other in her hand. She's looking at me as if I'm her last breath. I've never been that special to someone before. The pain in my chest increases as she continues to stare and when she brings her lips to mine it's as if the pain is finally extinguished but only a little.
"I love you so much Christian." she whispers.
"I love you too Ana."