Chapter 8: Keeping Secrets

Elliot's POV

June 25, 2011

So, he finally comes clean. Although I think the number 87 may be bullshit, I do know that he was never celibate or gay like he tried to make us all believe. I have never let on that I knew he was hiding his real status with me. I didn't want to embarrass him, or for that matter, pry. So I have played "naïve, annoying Elliot all these years." If I had ever thought he was heading down the wrong path or in trouble I would have jumped in. Why he didn't want to tell me what was going on, I will never know. I am sure I don't know everything, and if he doesn't want me to know, that's fine. I will do anything to keep the communication open between us under Christian's terms. He is my little brother and I love him. Period.

He had it rough as a little kid and I will never forget how broken and messed up he was when he was brought home. He actually scared me at first because he was so quiet and just not a normal little kid. He would just stare and never talked until Mom and Dad brought Mia home. Then when he was around seven or eight he started following me everywhere. He didn't really talk to me or annoy me; he would just follow me from room to room, or sit next to me wherever we went. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and find him curled up sleeping on the floor in my room. He had terrible nightmares and I would get down on the floor and gently wake him up. He would always run into his room embarrassed, but I never said anything to him.

When he was about twelve we would go fishing and hiking a lot and we had a good time. We had a family trip to Paris around that time and Christian was really into the history of the city and I remember thinking how damn smart he was. He hung around with my dad a lot on that trip asking tons of questions and I think that trip was the best I ever saw those two get along. We talked about everything then, and he started asking me questions about girls. I remember when I was sixteen and Christian caught me making out with Sara Turner on our dock. He asked me if you could make out with a girl without touching them. I knew why he wanted to know this and I worried that he would have issues with intimacy some day. Around 14 he started getting into fights and was always pissed off. He started getting into a lot of trouble at school and man everyday it was something. I tried to talk to him during this time, but he was distant and I was gone a lot with sports, chasing girls and hanging out with my buddies. He never really had friends, but it didn't seem to bother him. I know the girls were into him because they always were staring at him but that just made him angrier.

I started getting suspicious when he was 15 and going over to Elena Lincolns house every day. She was my mom's friend and she came on to me when I was that age but I just wasn't attracted to her, and I pretty much could have any girl my own age that I wanted so I ignored her. She was good looking but, just too pushy. I saw how she looked at Christian, and it didn't take me too long to figure out she probably had introduced him to fucking. Looking back, I probably should have said something or stopped it. But I was 18 years old and at that time and I guess I thought it was kind of cool that Christian was getting laid by a hot older lady. I know better now and besides I didn't have proof. My parents were always on his ass about something so I left him alone. I figured it would end sooner or later especially after he went to Harvard. I don't know if he was involved with Elena when her husband beat her up, but I had my suspicions about that too because Christian was unusually upset when that happened.

He came back from Harvard and was laser focused on building his business. And I really didn't see him much the first few years he was building GEH. He was also sort of an asshole for a couple of years and we almost had a few physical fights because he was never around and he completely ignored my parents for almost a year. But not too long after he moved to Escala I came to see him one Saturday and Taylor wasn't at the elevator to greet me so I just walked through the foyer looking for Christian. I figured he was in his office and so I walked in to see him getting a blow job by some chick that had her hands tied behind her back. He was leaning back with his eyes closed enjoying himself and she looked happy so I didn't think anything weird was going on and I left quietly. I mean Kate likes to be tied up too, so big deal. I should have told him I was stopping by and not just barged in. Christian is so private I didn't want to embarrass him, and as I said, I didn't want to have him pissed off at me and shut down our communication.

He never brought any women home to meet my parents and I figured he just didn't care enough about the women he was seeing to bother. I think he was just using them for sex and as busy as he has been I doubt he spent much time with them. That is why I highly doubt the 87 number, but I will play along. And even if it is 87, that isn't that many. If a normal guy doesn't have a girlfriend to fuck, and tries to get laid at least once a month - if not much more- he could easily fuck 12 women a year. Multiply that times 10. Assuming he has been fucking since he was 18; shit Christian should have told me at least 120. I mean I think these are conservative numbers. Sure the number 87 is more impressive than I had originally given him credit for, but come on. Besides, how does he remember it was 87? Is he keeping a god damn journal? He doesn't have me beat and I plan to go over my numbers with him when the ladies aren't around. I didn't keep track either but if I base it on my average lays per year, I have to be ahead of him, I am three years older. Can't have him thinking he has something on me.

I do worry about one thing though. About a month before I met Kate I was at a bar and started dancing with this hot chick named Suzie. She wasn't really my type as I like blonds and she was a brunette who actually reminds me a lot of Ana. She was pretty aggressive and she pulled me into the restroom and begged me to fuck her. I mean she was begging. So I felt obliged to accommodate her. I was wearing a company shirt that said Grey Construction and I had my dick in her and her legs wrapped around me slamming her against the wall and as we are banging she asks me if I am related to Christian Grey. I thought it was a fucking strange time to ask me a question but in the heat of the moment, but I grunted "yes, he is my brother." And she tells me as I am coming, "Christian likes it standing up too." I set her down on the ground and told her she should shut her fucking slutty mouth. She pissed me off. I know Christian would not want her disclosing his private life and I stared her down. I must have scared her because she quickly put herself together and said she was sorry. She begged me not to tell him she said anything. She didn't care that it was a wham bam for me, she was just absolutely freaked out that she had slipped up and told me how she knew Christian and kept begging me not to say anything. I never told Christian about this, but I think he should know because I wouldn't want her to go public, especially now that he is so happy. He doesn't need any more shit.

I leave his office to go see my lady. Kate is really getting to me. I think about her all the time and this is the longest I have ever been monogamous with one person. The sex may be the best I have experienced and I have strong feelings about her. I think my parents would like me to settle down and I can see it happening with Kate. I don't see myself pulling a Christian and rushing into marriage, but Kate could very well be the one.

"Hey baby, did you have fun playing dress up today," I grab her waste and nuzzled her ear. She is so hot.

"Elliot, I bought some surprises to share with you later." Kate whispers in my ear and squeezes my ass. I grin at her and give her a deep kiss. I look up and see Christian at Ana making out against the breakfast bar. Shit, he is practically dry humping her. Where are we, an 8th grade make-out party?

"Mia and Ethan will be joining us soon," Ana finally comes up for air and informs us. That's cool. I think she gets on Kate's nerves a bit, and probably has been driving Ana nuts with the wedding. But, she is our little sister and having her here means Christian and I can keep an eye on that Ethan fucker. Neither of us are too fired up about her being with him. He doesn't seem that into her and we are both worried she will end up fucking him, if she hasn't already, just to keep him interested. Kate said her brother wouldn't do that, but I am a guy and I can tell you that is bullshit. Plus, it bothers me the way he is always looking at Ana. I think he is carrying the torch for her personally, but I am not bringing that up. I know Christian wanted to confront him last weekend when we were playing football, but I talked him out of it. So we will keep an eye on him and I don't care if he is Kate's brother, I won't hesitate to teach him a lesson if he toys with Mia's feelings.

I will approach Christian at some point tonight about this Suzie chick, but meanwhile I will play his little game on the 87 conquest. In fact, I will toy with him and get him back in my own way. I won't betray his trust, but I will fuck with him tonight. Can't let my little brother think he has the upper hand on everything. This should be fun. I will get the last word.

Ana's POV

I am busy cooking in the kitchen making dinner and Mia is helping. This is one thing I do enjoy doing with her. She is a fabulous cook and I really have learned a few things from her. We are playing music and having wine, the guys are playing pool and Kate is setting the table. Why is it we always end up doing the domestic stuff and the guys get to play? Oh well, I don't get to cook as often as I like so I am having fun. We are preparing sautéed pork tenderloin and wrapping it in phyllo dough, and Mia is creating a cherry sauce to pour over the top. We are serving it with roasted potatoes and asparagus. It smells delicious. I ask Christian to select some wines as I have no idea what will go well with this meal. He brings several bottles of Pinot Noir from his cellar and starts kissing my neck. I missed him so much today. I turn around from wrapping the pork in the dough and start kissing him passionately. I want him to know how much I love him. He is really responding to my kiss and I can tell he is getting revved up.

"Do you want to go into the bedroom for a few minutes? I am sure our company won't mind," he whispers in my ear. I am tempted, but that would be rude.

"No I can wait. I just missed you today. I can't wait for the wedding. Today, with trying on dresses and seeing Mia and Kate in their dresses, it made me get really excited for the wedding. I realize I have been stressing about stupid things and I don't want to turn into a bridezilla and not enjoy this time. So, from here on, I am going to have fun with this." I tell Christian running my fingers through his hair. He looks down at me and smiles and kisses my nose and then kisses the corners of my mouth and stares at me with those amazing grey eyes.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me Ana. I don't even have the words to describe how much I love you."

Suddenly I hear Elliot yelling for Christian and bolting into the kitchen.

"Christian, for the 87th time, you're up. I scratched, so it's your shot. I must have called you 87 times dude. Didn't you hear me?"

Christian grins at Elliot and then follows him out of the kitchen punching him in the back of the leg, making Elliot stumble. "You called me 87 times huh Elliot? Watch it." I hear them mumbling something to each other and then they both start laughing. I wonder what that is about.