I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy characters – those belong to E.L. James. Additional
characters are fictional.

A/N: Not sure if I will be able to get the next chapters up as quickly as I have been, but this one is shorter than earlier chapters. Sorry again for any grammatical errors.

Chapter 7

When I get into the apartment, Ethan is home and he has a friend over that I've never met. They are both typing away on their laptops with papers all over the coffee table and it looks like they had pizza and high energy drinks for dinner.

"Hey Ana, are you just getting home now?"

"Yes, I had to work late. Are you studying?" I didn't want to tell him that I just had dinner with Christian.

"Oh yeah. Ana, this is my study partner, Raj Patel. Raj, my roommate Ana Steele".

"Hi" and he waves but doesn't make eye contact with me. Ethan just shrugs at his greeting towards me. I just shrug back at Ethan and still say hello.

"Well, I'm off to bed, good night Ethan".

"Good night Ana. Oh, we may be up late but we will try not to disturb you".

"Ok".

I do my bedtime routine by brushing my teeth and washing my face and slip on pajama pants and a t-shirt. If you were with Christian, he would have you in satin or silk, my subconscious reminds me. He would buy me the world, if I wanted it. I think of what he has bought for me when I was with him and what he buys for his submissives, like brand new cars. Shit! I left my car at SIP as Christian picked me and brought me home. Damn, this means I have to contact him to let him know.

I look for my old cell phone because I don't have his number in my current phone and I don't have his number memorized. I find it and call him.

"Grey", in his clipped tone because he probably doesn't know it's me calling.

"Hi Christian, it's Ana".

"Ana, is everything ok?"

"Yes, I just realized that my car is at work and", and before I can finish my sentence, he replies back.

"I'll have Sawyer pick you up after he drops Taylor and I off at Sea-Tac. What time do you need to be at work?"

Sawyer? Who's Sawyer?

"I usually get in around nine am".

"Ok, he will pick you up at eight forty-five".

"Thank you Christian".

"As always, my pleasure Anastasia. And thank you for calling as I have your new number now".

"Oh, I suppose you do now. Good night and have a safe trip to Taiwan".

"Good night Ana". And we both hang on the line and as either one of us doesn't want to hang up.

"Hang up Ana", he is stern but his voice is still soft.

"OK", and I finally hang up.

What a day makes! I can't believe what happened today with Christian being at SIP and then insisting that I have dinner with him. Of course he would insist, he is so used to getting what he wants. It's not I would decline or not go with him. All the feelings I have for Christian have come rushing back like a massive tidal wave, drowning me with a variety of emotions. If we had this conversation a few weeks ago, I would have taken him back the moment he said that he would try more with me. But now that I have Jay in my life, I really have to consider what my next move will be. May be this is good that both men aren't available this week, to give me some time to think about what I really want and who I want to be with.

Oh Jay, I really like him, I do. He's shown me how much fun life can really be and I enjoy being around him. I enjoy being around his laid back attitude and how he adapts his attitude no matter the place or crowd. Plus, he is so handsome, kind, funny, smart, and athletic.

However Christian is all those too, but just so much more intense. I can't believe how honest he was with me tonight about having a submissive and ending it because he only wants to be with me. Was it a confession of love from him? He says that he isn't capable of love, but I know that he is. I really wonder if he could give up his lifestyle for me? What caused him to have an epiphany that he doesn't need the BDSM lifestyle now? I'm just so afraid if I give myself to Christian, that I won't be enough for him one day and I don't think I could handle another heart-break from him.

Jeez, I would have never imaged in my twenty-one, twenty-two years of life would have I ever have a boy dilemma especially between two guys like Jay and Christian. It's like I have won the Power Ball, twice. But I know I need to listen what my heart tells. I wonder if I should call Mom? I mean, she is married to her fourth husband, so she must have some insight about how I should handle this predicament I'm in.


I'm lying in bed and my wrists are tied above my head on either bed posts and my legs are also tied up. I'm completely bound and I cannot move. The room is very dim, almost dark but I can see a silhouette of a man walking around the bed. He is tall with broad shoulders and he is naked and I'm naked.

"Anastasia", the man calls my name. It's Christian's voice.

"It seems that you have defied me by fucking Jay and I think you deserve a punishment".

What? What is he going to do to me?

"I'm going to use this riding crop" and he lifts the riding crop so I can see it, but barely. "I'm going to hit you twenty times and you will count for me".

I feel the tip of the crop on my sternum and it is gentle against my skin. He drags it down between my breasts and moves it over to my right breast and circles my nipples with the crop. And then whack! Against my nipple. It stings but still my nipple is hard.

"Count!", he shouts at me.

"One", and I'm all breathy from being so nervous, frighten, and aroused all at once.

He moves the tip of the crop to my left breast, and mirrors what he did to my right. After the crop comes down on my nipple, I choke out "Two".

He continues his assault on my breasts, alternating between them, and then moves it down to my belly and I continue to count for him with each flick of the crop on my skin. The tip of the crop makes it way down between my legs and he starts with little flicks against my clitoris. With each flick, I'm getting wetter and more aroused by the feeling. He stops flicking the crop and I can feel it between my folds, caressing me as I start to build up to an orgasm. But then it no longer feels like the crop, but a tongue and then I feel two fingers inside of me and it feels incredible. I'm almost there with my orgasm and I just want to scream.

"Hmm, baby girl, you taste so good. I just love going down on you".

What? Jay? I lift my head so I can see between my legs and I see Jay's face and he has a wicked grin on his face so I can see his dimples.

"I know what you mean Jay, Anastasia does taste the best", and Christian is standing beside me also wearing a wicked grin.

FUCK!

I bolt up in my bed and it's completely dark in the room and I'm not tied up. I'm sweating and my t-shirt is sticking to my body and I'm panting like I just ran for my life. Shit, I just had a wet dream with both Christian and Jay! What the fuck? How am I suppose to clear my head if I'm having dreams like this?

I get out of bed and make my way to the kitchen. Ethan and his friend are gone and I notice it's two thirty in the morning. I get myself a glass of orange juice as I'm thirsty now from being out breathe because of that damn dream. This is going to be a long week if I keep having dreams like that.


The next day, and as promised, and one of Christian's security men picked me up for work at promptly eight forty-five. Just like Taylor, Sawyer was also dressed in the standard black suit with white shirt and short haircut. When I get in, I have an email from Jay.


From: Jay Wagner

Subject: Missing You

Date: September 13, 2011 6:15 PST

To: Anastasia Steele

Good Morning Beautiful,

I just wanted to tell you that I miss you and that it seems like we are on track to release this project by Friday. I was in the office until 1:30 this morning and I just got in as I have a conference call with a vendor that is on the east coast.

I'm hoping that I don't have to work until tomorrow morning again and if I can get out of here at a decent hour, do you want to meet tonight? Let me know if you can. Have a wonderful day and I'll be thinking of you.

Jay Wagner


Poor Jay. He really is putting in a lot time into getting this project done. I know his reputation and bonus is riding on this one project and I know that it will all be worth it for him when it's done.

I reply back to him because I would like to see him if he can get out of work. Maybe I can cook him dinner as I'm sure he is surviving on take out food while he is working all hours of the day.


From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Missing you Too

Date: September 13, 2011 9:15 PST

To: Jay Wagner

Jay,

I'm so glad to have received an email from you this morning, though it must seem like half the day is over for you since you were at work very early this morning. I do hope that you are getting plenty of rest.

I miss you too and I have thought about you as well. If you can get out of the office this evening, why don't you come over and I'll cook you dinner? I'm sure you could use a home cooked meal. Just call me or text me when you think you may be able to come over.

Yours,

Anastasia Steele

Editor (Acting)

Seattle Independent Publishing


My day at work goes by slowly as there weren't any impromptu company meetings with our new CEO and I just went through my day reviewing manuscripts. I haven't heard from Jay after I replied back to his email and he hasn't sent any messages when I finally leave work.

I get back to my apartment after I've picked up some ingredients at the grocery store to make a shrimp stir-fry for dinner and a bottle of wine and I still haven't heard from Jay. I open the bottle of wine and pour myself a glass. As I go to sit on the couch, Kate comes through the door and she doesn't look happy.

"Hey Ana" and her voice a mix of exasperation and annoyance.

"Hi Kate. Is everything ok?"

"No! Elliot is driving me fucking nuts! Oh good, you have a bottle of wine open", and she in the kitchen pouring herself a big glass of wine. It looks like there won't be any left for Jay and I to have with our meal. She makes her way over the couch and plunks herself down, kicks off her shoes, and takes a big gulp from her wine glass.

"Kate, what happened?" I hope it's not anything serious.

"Well, Elliot finally agreed with me about having the wedding on the last Saturday in May, so my mother and I put a deposit down at the Rainier Club for the reception because they just happened to have that date open. I mean, the wedding is only seven months away and we are lucky the site I want is available!"

"So, why is Elliot driving you fucking nuts?"

"He got mad because I put a deposit down at the Rainier Club and he thinks we should have the wedding at his parent's house in Bellevue since they have that large back yard. Ana, I don't want a backyard wedding!"

"Kate, I'm sure the Greys would do a wonderful job of hosting your wedding at their home but this is something that you both need to discuss and make a decision, soon". I love Kate, but she is used to getting her way and it seems that Elliot isn't going to let Kate plan this wedding without him.

"Oh, Jay is coming over for dinner tonight", I tell her to get her mind off the wedding.

"I thought he was working late this week".

"He is, but is leaving at a decent time tonight, so I invited him over for dinner. Though I'm not sure what time", and this is because he still hasn't contacted me.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No, you can stay. You live here too. Which, by they way, when are you moving in with Elliot?"

"Trying to get rid of me Steele? Probably not till the wedding. I seriously need my space from Elliot on occasion".

"Does that mean you will have your own bedroom when you do move in with him?"

She laughs. "That's not a bad idea. Those Grey men", and she shakes her head.

"Speaking of Grey men, I spoke to Christian yesterday". I'm going to tell her about seeing him, but it will be the edited version. I'm going to try to get some advice from her without her full inquisition about the situation.

"You did? What did he say? What happened?"

"He had a meeting at SIP and was introduced as our new CEO. So we talked afterwards and then had dinner".

"What? You had dinner with him? Jeez Steele, I hope that you aren't cheating on Jay".

"No, of course not! We just talked, but he wants me to give him another chance".

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that I had a boyfriend."

"So you are not breaking up with Jay".

"Um, I don't think so. It's just all very confusing for me right now. With Jay working late and Christian is traveling this week, so at least I have some time to myself".

"Boy Steele, for someone who never dated in college, we move to the big city and you got all kinds of boy problems. I think that deserves another glass of wine".

Just after eight, Kate heads to her room with more wine and a frozen pizza to do some more wedding planning stuff with her bridal magazines when the buzzer for the door goes off. It must be Jay.

When I open the door, he standing there in grey dress pants and light blue button down shirt. He also has a bouquet of mixed flowers.

"Jay, I thought you were going to call?"

"I'm sorry baby girl, but I wanted to surprise you" and he steps in and gives me a long, soft kiss on the lips. Oh, I missed his lips!

"Here, these are for you" and he pushes the flowers into my hands.

"Oh, thank you. You didn't have to buy me flowers, but I appreciate it. You must be hungry".

"That I am" and we make our way to the kitchen.

"Good, I hope you like shrimp stir-fry".

"Sounds delicious".

I start making the stir-fry and Jay helps me in the kitchen by chopping up the vegetables and it gives us a chance to talk about what's been going on. He tells me about working all the crazy hours and about his team. I let him do most of the talking as I don't want to tell him about Christian showing up at my office and then taking me to dinner yesterday.

We keep dinner casual by sitting on the couch eating our stir-fry and drinking wine. I got my iPod plugged in with some Michael Buble crooning in the background.

"I think your phone is ringing", Jay tells me as he digging into his dinner.

I stop eating so I can hear the ringing over the music. It sounds like my phone, which is in my bedroom. I get up and run into my room. When I finally grab the phone, it stops ringing and I have a missed call from Christian.

Damn it! Of course he would call while Jay is here. I turn the ringer off so if he does call again, I don't have Jay questioning me as to why I'm getting late night phone calls. I'll have to email Christian tomorrow.

"Who was that?", Jay asks when I come into the room.

"Um, no one". I know that wasn't a good answer, but I don't want to tell him that Christian called.

"No one? Ok", and he gives me a confused look.

I need to change the subject. "So, looks like the Mariners might make the playoffs". And just like that we are talking baseball.