A.N
Sorry for the delay guys! Been a super busy weekend for me!Currently working on Chapter 7 so hopefully that will be up by the end of the week!
You guys are so amazing! I can't thank you enough for all the positive feedback that I'm having from you guys! I'm so glad that you're all loving this story! Big shout out to Reds77 for inspiring me for the first part of this chapter!
Much Love
K xx

Christian felt warm. Very warm. Eyes fluttering open, Christian blinked a few times. It was still dark. Looking down to Ana, he was slightly taken back. She was wrapped around him like ivy. Her head resting on his chest while her arm draped over his stomach while her leg entwined with his while his arm was loosely around her waist, his hand resting on her lower back. He didn't even feel her move around him during the night and clearly she wasn't bothered about his arm being around her which made him burst with even more pride and love for her. He knew the whole touching thing was going to be an issue, he had the same issues but holding her right now in his arms he felt like he was fifteen again. The many times they had done camping in the garden and he often woke up with a piece of Ana resting on his chest and it didn't bother him. He hoped that in time both their fears will dissolve and they can just be happy. He knew it would take time with Ana after everything she had been through but he knew he would be there with her every step of the way. He wasn't going to let her go again. Smiling to himself he glanced to the clock. It had just gone four in the morning. Pressing a kiss to the top of Ana's head, Christian closed his eyes once more before reopening them as he felt Ana beginning to stir.

Opening her eyes a little as she felt a kiss to the top of her head, Ana frowned a little seeing she was curled into Christian. She didn't remember cuddling up to him. In fact she couldn't even remember Christian getting into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light. Blinking a few times as she let her eyes adjust to the darkness, Ana stiffened slightly realising that Christian's arm was around her before she just relaxed. She would not be afraid. Not of him. Rubbing her eye a yawn passed Ana lips before she then let her eyes fall to a close as she drifted back off to sleep, draping her arm back around Christian's waist. She didn't want to get up yet. She didn't want to move. This was the first time in so long she had actually slept without having a nightmare. She actually felt rested, but she knew it was in the middle of the night and she didn't want to get out of bed just yet.

Christian watched Ana, not moving in case he startled her. Seeing she had fallen back asleep he smiled to himself before closing his own eyes once more as he drifted back to sleep. Everything felt so perfect right now. Nothing felt better than having Ana back in his arms.

XoxoxoX

Waking up a few hours later, Christian let his eyes open before he then frowned not seeing Ana in bed with him. Sitting up on his elbows, he listened to see if he could hear her in the bathroom but was met with silence. Getting out of the bed he headed out of his bedroom and into the great room, smiling as he saw Ana at the breakfast bar, chatting away to Gail as she flicked through the newspaper with one hand while holding her cup of tea with another.

"Good morning Mr Grey." Gail mused as she spotted him.

"Good morning Gail. Ana." He greeted pressing a kiss to her head before settling next to her. "I see you two have been introduced."

Ana smiled as he kissed her head before she smirked at his comment. "What gave it away?" She mused to him.

Christian smirked to her before he then smiled to Gail. "Anastasia will be with us for the foreseeable future…"

Ana nearly choked on her tea as she looked to him. "What?" She asked looking to him. "You can't keep me here Christian…"

"I know." He commented. "But I want you here at least until your place is ready. Elliot said you were only staying in the Fairmount until your place was ready. Well…I want you to stay here until then…"

Ana looked to him before she then sighed a little and nodded. "Okay. But only until my place is ready." She told him firmly before she went back to reading the paper.

Gail smiled to two before she looked to them. "So…what would you two like for breakfast?"

Christian looked the time before looking to Gail. "We have to be in work in thirty minutes. Breakfast burrito's to go?"

Ana frowned. "We?" She asked looking to him.

"Yes I want you at GEH with me today until your CPO is sorted." He simply told her sipping on his coffee as Gail put it in front of him.

Ana sighed. "Christian…"

"Ana please don't argue with me on this. Right now I have the power and means to keep you safe. I couldn't do that when we were kids but now I can…please…" He pleaded looking to her. "Your CPO should be sorted by lunch time, after that you can then go back to the hotel and collect your stuff while I'm in my meetings this afternoon."

Ana so desperately wanted to argue with him but at the same time it was touching how much he really cared for her. Looking to him she nodded. "Okay…but remember I'm not your prisoner." She told him finishing off her tea.

"I know." He told her. "But you're my girlfriend and I want to protect you." He simply stated at her with a shrug.

Ana raised an eyebrow at his girlfriend statement and smirked. "Girlfriend huh? Says who?" She mused to him.

"Says you. It was you who said you were mine. Always was, always will be." He quoted back to her with a smirk. "That says you're my girlfriend to me."

Ana smirked to him as she leant over to him and rested her head on his arm and looked up to him. "Good thing I love you then isn't it?" She mused with a smile to him.

Christian smiled down to her and pressed a kiss to her nose. "I love you too." He told her with a smile before he then looked up as the elevator pinged open. Seeing Taylor coming in with a bag he smiled down to Ana. "You have some clean clothes to change into."

Ana smiled up to him before she then looked over to Taylor before looking to Christian and raising an eyebrow. "You do realise I have a hotel suite full of clothes?"

"I do…but I wanted to treat you to something nice." He told her with a smile as he pressed a kiss to her head. "Now go get changed. We'll leave as soon as you're ready."

Ana nodded and got to her feet, taking the bag off Taylor she smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you Taylor."

"No problem Miss Steele."

"Ana." She corrected him before she happily made her way back to the bedroom. Popping the bag onto the bed she emptied the contents to which she couldn't help but blush slightly seeing he had even bought her a new underwear set. Though she couldn't help but smile seeing he had even bought her a toothbrush. Smiling to herself she then headed into the bathroom for a quick shower, popping her toothbrush on the sink before she stripped out of Christian's shirt and stepped into the shower, the water flowing over her body before she grabbed some body wash and began to wash herself down. The body wash smelt of Christian but she didn't mind. She found it very comforting. Turning the water off she wrapped one of the fluffy towels around her, brushing her teeth quickly before going back into the bedroom drying herself off before slipping on her new underwear set just in time as Christian walked in, her body stiffening slightly. She wasn't ashamed of her body but she did feel anxious about Christian seeing her body. Elena did end up scarring her on some parts of her body and she wasn't sure how Christian would react. He knew about the scars that mirrored his own but she didn't tell him about the others that were on her body. "I must say Taylor has impeccable taste." She mused sliding on the pair of jeans Taylor had bought, hoping to distract him with conversation so he wouldn't focus on her scars. Some weren't as noticeable but there was one on her back that was quite prominent.

Walking in, Christian had to fight the urge to practically pounce on Ana as he saw her stood there in her underwear. She was gorgeous. He saw her stiffen and frowned slightly before he spotted it. The scar on the lower half of her back. Stepping closer to her, his eyes moved to the scar on her back. "She did this." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. His hand hovering above her scar.

"Don't." She whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Please don't touch it." It was a beg.

"I won't." He promised as he pressed a gently kiss to her shoulder. "What made that scar?" He questioned softly to her.

Ana turned to face him and looked up to him, tears pooling her eyes. "You don't want to know."

"Tell me…" He urged, his eyes locking onto hers.

"A metal cane…" She whispered to him. "She…she heated it up before she hit me with it."

Christian's jaw clenched tightly as he heard her. How could he have not seen what a monster she was? Shaking his head he gently cupped her face as he looked to her. "We will end her." He promised her.

Ana nodded up to him, her hands moving to hold onto his wrists. "We will." She repeated to him with a soft smile. "Now hurry up and get ready for work. We're going to be late." She told him as she pecked him before she grabbed the shirt and slipped it on and done up her buttons.

Christian nodded and pecked her beck before nodding. "I'll be as quick as I can." He promised her before heading into the bathroom.

Ana smiled watching him go into the bathroom. Grabbing her handbag she pulled out the hairbrush and quickly ran it through her hair before applying a light layer of make-up. She was never one for heavy make-up. Finishing up she then grabbed her phone off the side and headed back into the main room, smiling to Gail seeing she had their breakfasts prepared and waiting for them and popped them into her handbag ready.

"Can I get you anything Miss Steele?" Gail asked softly as she looked to her and smiled.

Looking to Gail, Ana shook her head and smiled. "No thank you and please, call me Ana." She smiled to her and happily sat on the couch as she waited for Christian. Grabbing her phone, she went through her emails, replying to ones that were important before she looked up as Christian came out, dressed in a grey suit, a crisp white shirt and a grey tie. He looked…delicious. Her eyes travelled up and down his body. She was tempted to jump him there and then.

"Like something you see Miss Steele?" Christian asked with a smirk to her seeing her eyes travelling up and down his body.

"Yeah. My hot boyfriend." She mused with a smirk to him as she got to her feet. "Ready to go?" She asked looking to him, stepping closer to him as she straightened his tie a little. Not that it wasn't straight. She just wanted to touch him. Be close to him.

Christian smirked down to her before he nodded down to her. "Let's go Miss Steele. My empire awaits."

Ana giggled hearing him and nodded as she moved her hand to his and interlocked their fingers. Slowly she was getting used to his touch and it was welcoming at times. Happily holding onto his hand she walked with him to the elevator, stepping inside she glanced at Taylor as he joined them before she rested her head on his arm.

Christian couldn't help but smile as she held onto his hand. She was getting more confident and relaxed with him. Looking down to her as he they rode down in the elevator he softly stroked a part of her hand he was holding with his thumb. "Did you sleep okay?" He asked curiously down to her, remembering that he had woken up with her wrapped around him.

Ana nodded a little. "Like a log. I don't think I've ever slept so well…I felt so refreshed when I woke up this morning."

"No nightmares?"

Ana smiled up to him. "None."

"Me either." He smiled to her. "Did you wake up at all?"

Ana frowned as she looked to him before sighing. "You obviously know the answer to that so why don't you just get to the point Christian."

"Okay…how did it feel?" He asked to her. "My hand was on your lower back and you didn't even flinch. You were wrapped around me and you looked so peaceful. Content even."

Ana thought about his question. She didn't know how to describe it. She opened her mouth and closed it several times as she tried to think of the words. As they settled into the car she looked to him. "I feel safe when I'm with you." She admitted to him. "I guess my body knows that with you…I'm safe." She sighed. "I know you'd never hurt me, but I've lived so long being afraid of touch and not having someone touch me, it'll take a while to get used to. I don't even let my parents touch me. My dad isn't a very touchy feely person anyway but I know my mother struggles with not being able to hug or comfort me. Especially when I have my nightmares." She looked to him. "I don't want to be scared of you touching me; I think eventually I'll get there…"

Christian listened to her and nodded as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled to her. "You will get there, but there's something I want you to remember."

"What's that?" Ana asked looking to him.

"When I touch….it's a touch of pure love. I'm never going to hurt you. Every stroke, every kiss…it's out of nothing but love."

Ana looked to him before she looked down to their hands. "You keep talking like that and you're going to make me cry."

"Happy tears I hope." He smiled to her. "How about later we practice?"

Ana frowned. "Practice what?"

"Me touching you. We can start off slow. I won't rush you."

Ana gave a little nod. "I think that would be okay." She smiled a little to him.

Christian smiled down to her before he then looked up as they reached GEH underground carpark. Climbing out of the car he moved around to Ana's side, taking her hand as Taylor opened the door for her, keeping her close to him as they headed into the elevator.

Stepping into the elevator, Ana felt a bit on edge. Anyone could use these elevators. Elena Lincoln could use this elevator if she were to turn up here.

Sensing Ana's nervousness, Taylor glanced back slightly. "The code to your floor has been changed sir and both Andrea and Ros have been informed that Elena Lincoln is not to come up alone or unless she has a scheduled appointment with you. Barney and Welch have also been updated and they will be keeping tabs on her." He informed him. "The CPO will be ready by lunchtime. We will come in and do introductions before your afternoon meetings."

"Thank you Taylor." Christian commented before he looked down to Ana feeling her relaxed next to him. As they reached his floor he kept his hand in Ana's as he headed straight to his office. "Andrea my regular and a tea for Miss Steele." He ordered as he opened the door for Ana and gestured for her to go inside.

Heading inside, Ana made her way over to his couch and plonked herself down on it before she watched as Christian headed over to his desk. She had no idea what she could do to pre occupy herself until this CPO was ready.

Christian sat at his desk, firing up his laptop he glanced at his emails before looking to the door as it knocked. "Come in." He called knowing it was Andrea coming in with their drinks.

Ana watched as Andrea came in and popped his coffee on his desk before popping Ana's tea on the coffee table in front of her. "Thank you."

Andrea smiled to Ana before she looked to Christian. "Mr Grey I have had Elena Lincoln on the phone several times this morning insisting on an appointment. Mr Taylor informed me you do not want her here so I've said you have nothing available for the next several weeks but I assume she will try and call again for an earlier date. Your father has also rung and asked for me for an appointment. He said it was urgent so he is booked in this morning at eleven before you break for lunch. Also your usual place for lunch is currently closed for renovations over the next few days. There is a deli nearby and I'll email you their menu to see if there is anything you would like. Of course anything Miss Steele requires we will get it immediately."

Christian nodded as he listened to her before he smiled slightly. "Thank you Andrea I'll look over the menu shortly. When my father arrives will you please send him in? As for Elena? Stall her for as long as you can. I don't want her here and I certainly don't want her here when Miss Steele is with me."

"Understood sir." Andrea gave a nod before exiting the office.

Ana smirked as she looked to Christian. "She's very…efficient."

Christian smiled. "She's the best at her job. I went through so many assistants before I stumbled upon Andrea. You'd like her. She hates Elena as well."

"After I'm finished with her most of Seattle will as well." She grumbled as she opened up her bag and took out their breakfasts. Getting to her feet she moved over to his desk and passed him his before she settled back on the couch and tucked into hers. "What do you think your dad wants?" She asked to him.

"I'm not sure, probably to finalise me liquidating the shares within Elena's salons. She'll be informed by the end of the week probably."

"What if she tries to confront you about it?"

"I'll think of something." He looked at her. He could tell she was starting to worry. "She won't catch on you're here Ana. She has no reason to think you're here. She'll probably think that she pissed me off badgering me about having a sub and I've done it to punish her."

Ana gave a small nod before she finished off her burrito and then looked to Christian before she got out her phone and started to scroll through websites looking for the perfect dress for the charity event. She wanted to wow people and she wanted to wipe that smirk of Elena's face when she realised it was her. She would no longer be afraid of that woman and not only would she destroy her reputation she would make sure she looked amazing so Elena didn't have the satisfaction of feeling like she won. Ana was in such a dark place, she wouldn't go back there. She wouldn't let Elena reduce her to being that girl again. She was strong and she knew as long as she had Christian and her family and friends by her side she would be even stronger. Elena wouldn't win.