ANAS POV.
"Christian, this is amazing! I still can't believe you can fly this thing"
"Well I am a man of many talents, Anastasia" He grins at me and then turns his attention back to the controls in front of him.
We are flying to Portland in his helicopter for Jose's art show. I didn't think we would make up in time to come here this evening because we had the biggest fight of our relationship yesterday.
When I turned up at SIP yesterday morning I was told by a very furious Jack Hyde that none of us had to come in on Friday because SIP had been sold and the new owner was sending in a security team to over haul the building and go through all employee files. All Employees who are deemed to be lacking in their jobs will be up for review. I was assured by Claire that she overheard Jerry Roach say that there would be no job loses unless someone was severely under performing or found to be doing something unethical.
I didn't really take any notice of the news because it was only my third day and so far I have been doing great and everybody seems happy with my performance. I got on with my work but when I went on my lunch break I went to the deli down the street and on my return I saw Ryan, one of Christians security guys, heading in the direction of the security rooms.
My brain quickly put 2 and 2 together and it didn't take a genius to figure out who had bought it.
I called him and when he, reluctantly I might add, confirmed my fears, I hung up on him. I ignored his calls and texts for the rest of the day but when I got home he was waiting in the side walk In front of my building with a massive bunch of red roses and a balloon that said "Sorry I was an Arse".
I was still fuming with him but I let him in anyway. He quickly told me that it was only for my safety and he assured me that he would not interfere with my job. I made him swear on everything he held dear that he would not use our connection to either hinder or boost my career and he swore that he would not.
I forgave him and then we had make up sex. I almost want to argue with him again because make up sex is hot!
Because I don't have to work tomorrow, Christian has booked us a suite at the Heathman hotel where we will spend the weekend.
Kate isn't back until next Friday so spending three days locked away in a hotel room with Christian sounds like heaven.
When we get to Portland, Taylor is waiting for us in the SUV. We make our way to the exhibit and when we get there, Christian tells Taylor he will call him later because we are going to walk to a near by restaurant after the show so we won't need him.
We walk into the exhibit hand in hand and almost instantly bump into Jose.
"Ana! You came!" He pulls me into a hug which I am unable to give back because Christian won't let my hand go. When Jose pulls back he frowns when he finally sees that I am with Christian.
"Mr Grey, thank you for coming" he holds out his hand and Christian takes it reluctantly.
"Not a problem. Anastasia wanted to come and what my girlfriend wants my girlfriend gets" He stresses the my girlfriend bit and then to really drive the point home he kisses me gently on the lips.
"Oh...I didn't realize you two were dating. You never mentioned that, Ana" Jose seems pissed and I don't like the look he is shooting at Christian.
I tuck myself closer under Christians arm and look Jose straight in the eye.
"I've not had a lot of free time lately to be honest. I have a new job and I spend all of my free time with Christian" I shrug "We're going to go have a look around and we will catch up with you later" I tell him and then I pull Christian away because I can see he is close to snapping.
"That boy wants in your panties, Anastasia" He all but growls at me.
"For once, I think you're right but do you know what the problem with him wanting in my panties is?"
"What?"
I turn into him and link my fingers behind his neck before standing in my tip toes so I can talk into his ear.
"Because the panties, and everything they are covering belong to you and only you and they will continue to belong to you for however long we want" I whisper.
I can feel him go hard against my belly and he gulps before his face breaks out into the biggest smile I have ever seen.
"If that's the case then I'll want those things, and the rest of you, forever"
We both stand there smiling shyly at each other because this is the first time that either one of us has mentioned a future beyond the next weekend.
"Let's start with tonight. Let's get around this thing as quickly as possible and then head for some dinner and then..." I pull his tie playfully and he pulls me closer to him.
"Finish what you were saying. We finish looking around, go to dinner and then...?"
"And then it's your choice"
"My choice? Anything I want?"
"Anything" I tell him but then have second thoughts and blurt out in a rush.
"Nothing to do with my...ummm...I don't want to...do...you know? Butt stuff"
He throws back his head and laughs really hard and loud which causes everyone in the surrounding area to look.
"Christian!" I try to shush him but his laugh is infectious and I'm soon joining in with him before I pull him over to a dark corner. Once we have both finished laughing he wraps his arms around me and kisses me gently.
"I promise I won't do any "Butt stuff" to you, well, I might spank you. Is that OK?"
"Did you bring the silver balls?"
"I did"
"Then that's OK. Let's look around"
We walk around for 5 minutes before a photographer approaches us and asks for a picture. Christian pulls me close and then when the photographer asks my name, Christian tells him.
We walk around for another 5 minutes before we come face to face with 7 massive black and white pictures of me. Before I can say anything, Christian walks to the desk and produces a credit card. After gesturing to the girl who is just drooling at him for five minutes he walks back to me.
"Which one did you buy?"
"All of them. I don't want you hanging in some perverts basement so he can Jack off while thinking about you!"
"You would prefer it was you?" I grin.
"Frankly yes. But if I ever have you hanging in my basement it will be with red silk ropes and I'll make damn sure you're enjoying yourself" He tells me nonchalantly and then continues on with his inspection of his new artwork.
After we finish walking around and I say goodbye to a very sour looking Jose, we make our way down the street hand in hand to a little Italian bistro.
We eat and talk over the next two hours and pretty soon we are making our way back to the Heathman. When we walk into our suite I realize it's the same one we stayed in when I drunk dialed him.
"Did you intentionally book this suite, Christian?"
"Yes. This is really where we started so I thought it would be nice to come back. I thought you would find it romantic" He tells me shyly.
"Remember when you told me that you don't do hearts, flowers and romance? You know that was utter bullshit right? You're possibly the most romantic man I've ever met" I kiss him gently.
"Well this romantic man wants to put some kinky sex balls in you and then spank your ass, interested?"
"Yes, Sir"
A few hours later I am awoken by Christians phone ringing. He untangles himself from me and then I listen to his one sided conversation.
"Grey...really?...thank fuck for that...you've already contacted John Flynn?...I want someone to stay on her, even when she's taken back east...I'll pay for all her medical bills...OK...Good work,Welch" He hangs up the phone and then let's out a big sigh.
"Everything OK?" I ask softly but it makes him jump a little. He turns around and then gets back under the covers and pulls me close.
"That was my head of security, Welch. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you but remember I had to leave you early in Georgia? Well the reason for that is because an ex sub of mine, Leila, she managed to get into Escala and she hurt herself in front of Gail. She bolted from the hospital and we have been trying to track her down ever since. She needs professional help and John Flynn said he would help her when we found her. Sawyer saw her lurking around Escala about an hour ago and he managed to convince her to come with him. He called John and now he is taking care of her at a local facility until he can move her back East. We believe she had her break because she left her husband for another man but then he died in a motor accident"
"Wow. That poor girl. I understand why you kept it from me, I know you didn't want me to worry but these are the types of things that I think I should know. I saw a strange looking girl a few days ago, it could have been her and if she had some sort of vendetta against me then I would have been blind to it."
"I understand what you're saying and going forward I will try to keep you in the loop."
"Thank you" I kiss his cheek and then snuggle back down in the bed. Christian wraps me in his arms and then kisses my head.
He smells really good. We had a shower together earlier and his body wash is invading my senses. I wriggle a little bit and I can feel the semi he has going on in his boxers. I reach behind me and touch him gently.
"Christian?"
I don't have to say anything else. He looms over me and before I have chance to even think we are once again making love.
ANA'S POV- 1 WEEK LATER
When people used to tell me that they were walking on air, I never really understood what they meant but after spending these last few weeks with Christian as his girlfriend? I understand now.
We have spent every night together either at Escala or my place. We have gotten into a routine which I love.
We wake up, make love and then both head to work. If our work days allow it we have lunch together and then at the end of the day we head to one of the apartments. We have dinner together and then desert is normally a few rounds between the sheets. We have been in the playroom a few times and each time has been spectacular.
I am falling more and more in love with Christian as each day goes by. I have not said it to him yet because I just don't have the guts to say it out loud but I think I am going to have to pretty soon as he said it to me two nights ago. Granted he thought I was asleep but hearing him say those words made me feel happier than I have ever felt.
I would have rolled over and told him I loved him to but he was sat on the end of my bed with his back to me. He told me he loved me and then he softly told me he would never hurt me and how for years he thought he was a sadist but since meeting me he knows he is not because the thought of hurting me is sickening to him.
He started whispering bits about his birth mom and what he went through and I wanted to cry. I understand why he got everything off his chest while he thought I was sleeping. It was his way of telling me all about his fifty shades without me running from him. I admit, when he mentioned beating girls because they looked like his birth mom, I was a little freaked out but then he said he loved me and all the apprehension I had just vanished.
Thinking about Christian brings a massive smile to my face but it's soon wiped off my face when Jack Hyde walks towards my desk.
He is one of the most creepy men I have ever met. At first he would sit really close to me and touch my back and things but after a week of that I snapped and told him not to touch me and to stay out of my personal space. Before I met Christian I would not have dreamed about confronting my boss about his behavior after only a week of work but Christian has made me more confident.
Since I told Jack to back off and that I had a boyfriend he has calmed down a bit but I still make sure I am not in his office with the door closed and a few days ago when I had to stay late because he had a trip to New York, I texted Sawyer and he remained near my desk for the entire night.
Sawyer has become a permanent fixture to my side since the Coping together ball. When Christian and I walked the red carpet and then shared a kiss, the cameras went wild. Ever since then I have been hounded by photographers where ever I go because according to them, Christian and I are the "IT" couple of the year.
I turn off my computer just as Jack stands next to my desk. He has been AWOL all day and now he saunters in at the end of the work day? Jackass!
I can see Sawyer out of the corner of my eye and he is glaring at Jack. He hates him and he has told Christian that Jack is a creep. Christian said that as soon as the news is out that SIP has been bought by GEH, Jack Hyde will be fired.
"Ana, I need you to stay late tonight because I need all the chapters reviewed for the manuscript I gave you yesterday"
"I have finished that manuscript and its on your desk along with the one that Courtney gave me this morning that you should have done but because you were not here I did it" I tell him coldly.
"There is no way you have reviewed both in this amount of time!"
"Well I have!" I say while standing and grabbing my bag because I was supposed to meet Christian downstairs five minutes ago.
"I have this thing, Jack. It's called a work ethic. Perhaps you should try it sometime"
"I have had enough of you, you little bitch. You're fired!" He screams at me which makes Sawyer run towards us and he gets in Jacks face.
"Who the fuck do you think you are screaming at her like that?" Sawyer asks him with a growl.
"I'm her fucking boss and I have had enough of her attitude! Strutting around here like she owns the place! Just because she's sucking Grey's dick does not mean"
Before he can finish his sentence, a whirl of grey and copper barges past us and before we can blink, Christian punches Jack straight in the mouth, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"You fucking prick, Grey! You'll pay for that!"
"Get up you worthless piece of shit, get your stuff and get the fuck out, YOU'RE FIRED!" Christian screams at him.
Jack gets to his feet and then wipes the blood from his mouth.
"You can't fire me, Grey. Jerry Roach owns SIP and only he can fire me"
"I've owned SIP for weeks, you piece of filth!" Christian snarls and Jack pales a little.
"You were going to be fired anyway because your work ethic is deplorable but after speaking to my girlfriend like that you are fired effective immediately on the ground of gross moral turpitude. Sawyer, get this piece of shit out of my building" Christian turns and takes my hand and leads me a away but I can hear Jack screaming that Christian will pay for this.
When we get out side I see Christians R8 parked out front. He helps me into the passenger side and then gets in himself.
"Are you OK, Baby?" He asks me gently while cupping my face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. He scared me a little when he screamed but Sawyer was there before I could blink. He told me I was fired because I called him out on his work ethic"
"You have done more work in two weeks than that asshole has done in the last two years. He won't ever set foot in that building again and by morning I will have him black balled from every publishing house on the west coast." He slips into CEO mode at the end and its...hot.
"You know you're kinda hot when you get into big boss man mode"
"Big boss man mode?"
"Yep. My big boss man" I lean forward and kiss him on the lips. He smiles his shy smile and then gently places my hand on his chest.
We have been working on his touch issues for the last week and he is doing really well. I haven't touched his bare chest yet but he seems to be OK when its over his clothes. Baby steps is the way to go with him.
We start driving and he tells me about his day. He flew down to Portland with Ros today and then on the way back he showed her Mount St Helens. We get almost to Escala when he pulls over to the side of the road and then turns in his seat to face me.
"Why did you pull over?"
He looks really nervous and its scares me a little. He takes a big breath and then holds my hand gently.
"Ana...I have something to ask you"
"OK...What is it?"
"I have never been the type of man that needed people. I have always been a loner and that's the way I liked it. When I met you...my full world changed. I've never smiled as much as I have with you. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you. I have never craved a persons touch until you came into my world. I love you, Anastasia. I love you so damn much and I want to spend all my time with you. You asked me yesterday what I wanted for my birthday, well, I want you. Twenty four seven. I'm asking you to move in with me"
"You love me?" He said it! He actually said it!
"Of course I love you. I've just been to chicken to say it. I love you more than any man has ever loved a woman. So what do you say, Miss Steele? Fancy sharing my ivory tower with me?"
"Yes and FYI, I love you too, Christian. More than any woman ever loved a man" I smile and he leans over and pulls me into his arms.
"So we're doing this? You're going to move in with me?"
"I'm moving in with you. It's official" I smile and kiss him but he pales a little. He puts me back in my own.
"Ana...Before you move in I need to tell you something so that you have all the facts"
He looks really scared and I know that he must be about to tell me about him thinking he was a sadist. I don't want to cause him unnecessary anguish so I gently place my finger on his lips.
"Christian, the other night when you were on the end of the bed and you thought I was asleep? I was pretending. I heard everything you said and I've had a few days to think about it. Nothing you said changes the way I feel about you. I know you have a past and at times it was dark but I think we have a very bright future ahead of us"
"You heard me?"
"Yep. Every word from your birth mother to the reason you only had subs with brown hair. You're not that man anymore. You're so much better than that"
"You really are amazing, you know that?"
"I know, you're a lucky guy" I tell him as I bat my eye lashes.
"That I am. Let me get you home Miss Steele and I'll show you how we're both going to get lucky"