A/n - Readers! Im so very sorry this took so long to finish/post. I have been super busy and well the holoidays didnt help. I got a new tablet for my birthday/xmas so I now can write whenever and wherever which is why im able to post this now! I hope you all had a great holiday and that you will still enjoy my update even though its been too long! (I made it extra long for you all!)
Christian's POV
The car comes to a halt in front of a seemingly ordinary, tall building.
Like a lost soul searching for its talisman I inhale Anastasia's sweet scent before taking her hand. I bring it to my lips and softly plant a kiss. "Ready?" She only nods and I slide out of the car, guiding her behind me.
"Hm." She has a funny, questioning look on her face, making me laugh a bit.
"It's not what you think. Or maybe it is? What are you thinking?" I lead her through the quiet lobby, nodding at the lone security officer behind his desk.
"You are taking me to some top secret cult meeting for millionaires?" She bites down on her lip again. Does she really think like this? It's so adorable. "Christian, I assure you I would make a horrible sacrifice!"
The elevator dings and I quickly pull her in after me so I catch her against my body once again. Her warmth slowly seeps through her clothes and it feels like it's attempting to melt my cold soul.
"Two things, Miss Steele. The first is I'm a Billionaire, not Millionaire." I pause, taking in her shocked face as she gnaws at her swollen lip. I lean down so my mouth is just out of reach of hers. She sucks in a breath, releasing her lip and looks right into my eyes. "Second, I don't want to sacrifice you, for anything in the world." I smile, softly kissing her again. I cannot keep my mouth off of her. I wonder what the rest of her tastes like. Releasing her, I take her hand again, awaiting the elevator to reach its destination on the top floor. I take a few deep breaths. Slow Grey, slow. She deserves this.
As we step out I nod again to the elderly man beside the door. "Is she ready to go?"
"Yes sir, though I'm afraid the impending rain may be back sooner than predicted."
"Then we better hurry." He nods my way and I look to Ana.
"This," I open the door revealing one of my most prized possessions, "is Charlie Tango."
She gasps. "You have a helicopter?" Her eyes are so wide, taking in my stunning white Eurocopter with Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc. displayed along the side.
"I do. This is one of the things I eluded too in your interview when you asked what I liked to do to 'chill out'. I love to fly," I confess.
"Wait, you're going to fly? Not Taylor, or..?" She looks nervous. Does she not trust me? She still doesn't know you.
"No, it's just you and me sweetheart. Are you afraid? I can assure you I'm certified and more than able to keep you safe." I squeeze her hand hoping to relay my confidence.
She turns slightly so she can look up at me, staring into my eyes for a moment. I'm instantly captured by her glorious gaze, answering any and all unspoken questions she is seeking from within me. There are no hesitations, no secrets, nothing held back. "I trust you," she whispers.
She says it like she knows everything, all the darkness. She isn't afraid of the unknown and trusts the man I am in front of her. Is this really me? I don't feel like I'm deceiving her but there is a lot of my past I haven't revealed. Do I have to?
"Good." Leading her over to the helicopter, she tries to get into the back. "Cute Ana, but you're riding up front with me." I kiss her hand and help her into the seat, getting a glimpse of her perfect ass bent in front of me before she slips into the seat.
"Allow me." I start strapping her into the seat. It feels incredible to have her body at my will beneath the restraints. She is so small and delicate. When I'm satisfied she is secure I take a moment, running my fingers down her check and over her lips, relishing in the electrical pulse it sends through my body. I hear her softly groan as I pull away. "I will be back," I grin. "I must confess since getting to hold your hand in my office I crave the feeling." She blushes and stares down, leaving me wondering if she feels it too. Her deep crimson gives me a pretty good clue.
I finally sit back in my chair and wonder how long I was holding Ana. I look out at the reality before me and see it's now a complete downpour. Crap, even if tower was still allowing flights I don't think I'm willing to chance Ana's safety in this weather.
I throw on my headset, "Sea-Tac Tower this is Charlie Tango, looking for weather clearance lift off from Seattle building Golf Eco-Eco." I get an immediate response. "Charlie Tango this is Seattle Sea-Tac Tower, all small commercial planes and helicopters are grounded for the time being. Please submit for a new flight plan. One will be granted when and if the grounding is released." Fuck.
I look over at Anastasia nervously glancing out the window. I take my head set off, feeling like a jerk. What a date gone wrong; I don't even have a back-up plan. "Ana, Sea-Tac has grounded our flight in light of this lovely storm." I swallow. "I'm sorry, it looks like our first date is going to be cut short."
Instead of the let down look I was expecting to see, her face changes from nervous to mischievous.
"Why does it have to be cut short? Is Taylor still around?" I nod, what the hell does she want Taylor for?
"Can you dial his number for me? I just want to ask him a question." She smirks, obviously knowing this is bothering me.
I hand Ana my phone. "Number 2, speed dial."
"Hey Taylor, this is Ana. Do you still have that bottle of Champagne handy? I'm guessing you're lurking somewhere close. Yes we are grounded." She giggles a bit making me smile and roll my eyes. "Sure that works, thanks Taylor see you in a minute." Her voice is so light and happy it's hard not to feel the same way.
"So, Miss Steele, what's this brilliant plan of yours?"
She starts to unfasten her harness then looks up at me fluttering her eyelashes in an over-dramatic fashion.
"Want to jump in the back of your Helicopter and make out, Mr. Grey?" Before she is even able to finish the sentence a laugh bubbles out of her and I follow suit.
"That is a sentence I have never heard before, but enjoyed hearing it thoroughly."
"Never?" She tilts her head to the side inquiring. "I figured being Mr. Moneybags like you are, you would be fighting the ladies off your 'helicopter' with a stick." Her unreserved honesty is so abhorrent to me, but with her it doesn't seem to bother me.
"No Ana, besides none of my….'relationship' partners were aware of Charlie Tango. You, Miss, are the first to see her.
"Seems we are discovering all different types of firsts we can do together." Sinking her teeth in her lips with this comment is my undoing. I finish removing her restraints and lift her into my lap so I can feel her again.
I run my nose along the side of her soft jaw. She tilts her head, granting access to her long silky neck. I inhale more of her beautiful, alluring scent. As I start to place soft kisses on it there is a knock at the side door. "Taylor," I grumble.
"Oh good," Ana goes to get up, squirming to get out of my lap, which leaves its own impression. She opens the door and accepts something from Taylor. "Thank you so much, sorry you got wet." And with a curt nod to me he shuts the door.
"I think we will be more comfortable back here, care to join me?" Raising an eyebrow, Ana holds up the Champagne and a platter of cheese and fruit. Perfect.
We get comfortable facing each other on the back seat. I pour us each a glass and then we sit back, staring at each other.
How did we get here, sitting like two normal people making the best of an evening gone different than planned? She is so easily pleased, no big expense, no sparkles, just us. It's refreshing. Does she have any idea how disarmed I feel round her? My prized control hanging on by a thread?
"So," Ana breaks my thoughts. "Feel like picking up from where we left off before I had to leave for work?" She blushes, obviously thinking about where the question game lead to.
"Which part?" I give her a seductive look, hopefully indicating where I want to start.
"Um, the question part? I would really like to get to know Christian a little more."
Taking her hand in mine, I rub my thumb back and forth. "Sure Ana, what do you want to know? You go first."
"This is guessing you're like most men, favorite sport?"
"I'm definitely not like most men," I say looking down. Why do I feel so ashamed of my lifestyle all of a sudden? Maybe she is just too pure to hear it. "But I do love to watch baseball. The Mariners are my favorite team. Though, boxing would be a close second."
"You know what's awesome?" With a huge smile on her face, she says, "I actually didn't blush when I asked that question!" We both laugh. God it feels so good to laugh like this.
I lean forward and place a soft, chase kiss on her lips. "For not blushing." I smile at her lit-up eyes.
"My turn, did you play any sports as a child?" I take a sip of champagne.
"I tried, but failed horribly. I always wanted to be able to play on a team but I guess it was just not meant to be for me and my uncoordinated-ness." She shrugs. "You?"
"I did kick-boxing growing up and still do a bit with my trainer. Mom required we all learned a foreign language, musical instrument and a martial art. From that I also speak fluent French and play the piano."
"Oh I would love to hear you sometime, I love hearing music from a great pianist and I have no doubt you are great in all things you do."
"I strive to be." I grin knowing my hidden talents. "Oh, I also used to row. I haven't done anything competitively since leaving Harvard."
"Why did you leave Harvard?"
I shrug. "It was time. I didn't feel like I had anything left to learn that I couldn't do on my own through experience. I was over being told how I could do business versus just going out and doing it." For the first time in a long time I'm so at ease with idle talk. It's not forced or prodding, just two people learning about each other.
"My turn, what are you going to do after graduation?"
"Kate's parents bought her a place in Seattle. We are moving this Saturday, after graduation actually. Then hopefully I will get some interviews fast for a position."
Seattle. She will be so much closer!
"That's great, I live in Seattle close to Pike Place. Where are you applying to? Did you think about GEH?"
"I'm pretty sure our place is right around the corner from Pike Place actually. I don't think I will be applying to GEH," she smiles nervously.
"Oh, why is that? What's so wrong with my company?" I ask teasingly.
"Oh nothing," she gnaws on her lip for a second, gathering what she wants to say.
"Hey." I tilt her chin up. "I was just teasing you. What is it?"
"I just...if something was maybe possibly going to happen here," she points from me to her, "I just didn't think it was morally right to work for my...well, yeah."
"Your what?" I ask confused.
"Well to be honest, I don't even think either of us knows what this is yet, so how about we leave it untitled for now." She pauses a second, looking at me. "Anyway, I'm going to be applying to some publishing houses. I did major in English after all."
What do I want from Anastasia? Do I want her as a Sub? Not really, aside from the fact I'm certain it's not for her. I am actually enjoying this different thing we have going. But what else is there for a man like me?
"Well I think anyone who doesn't hire a bright young woman like you is an idiot, so I don't think it will be too hard for you to get something fast." I go back to rhythmically rubbing her hand.
She takes a grape and pops it into her mouth, much like she did at lunch. "How about we dig a bit deeper with these questions? If you could change one thing about your body, what would it be?"
"That's easy, my scars." My dark confession has broken through its guarded cage and out of my mouth before I even realize it.
She cocks her head to the side, obviously reading the panic on my face that I'm trying so hard to cover up. "What scars? If you don't want to explain, you don't have to, I just didn't expect that answer."
I take a few deep breaths, closing my eyes. I told her I would be honest. Is she going to think I'm a monster? No, I don't think she will. I suddenly want to tell her, I want her to know, it's a way to show my limits to her. I swallow.
"Bear with me here. Outside my family and doctor, this will be the first time showing or explaining this." I take my frustratingly shaky fingers and loosen my tie, undo a few buttons on my shirt and open it, revealing the prominent scars scattered on my chest. I feel my heart start to race.
I can't describe this moment; intimate, maybe. Ana leans forward. Not to touch but to look, and I feel so naked, bared to her. Yet I sit still, allowing her this moment to take it all in.
"Burn marks," she whispers and I nod.
"From your birth parents?" she whispers and I nod once again. I'm trying to find the words to explain to her.
I clear my throat and let go of my shirt so it hangs open. "My birth mother was a crack whore and her pimp used to stub out his cigarettes on my chest…and back." It feels good to tell her and, even better when I look into her eyes expecting to see pity but instead it's something else. She speaks before I can grasp it.
"I truly am sorry your mother didn't protect you Christian, she lost out on what an incredible man you have become. But," she pauses, finding her bearings. "Our scars, both mentally and physically make us the people we are. Good or bad, they are a part of us and you should never want to change that. Use them as fuel, not as chains to your past."
God was this woman made just for me?
She moves closer to me and suddenly the air changes; the sparks are all around us, encasing us in our bubble once more. With the pounding rain on the helicopter and the illuminated sky around us, it's a world of our own. I part my mouth to get more air, realizing I'm about to ask her to do something that has only ever been panic for me. Right now, though, I'm not afraid.
I bring her hand up and turn the palm towards me. I look right into her eyes and know instantly she will do only as I ask. "Do something for me?" She nods. I move her hand forward and hover it over my chest. "Just don't move." I barely croak out.
I close my eyes. "You're nothing but a worthless waste of space, you pathetic son of a bitch. You will never amount to anything, so get used to this shit life cause you dont deserve anything but it."
"I promise, and you can trust me on that." Anastasia startles me from my unpleasant memory. Her eyes wide open, granting me all access to herself. I do trust her. I have no idea why and that frustrates mebut I know she is here with me in the moment.
I take a deep breath and place her soft, tiny hand on my chest between my scars.
I expect to flich, to tense up or lash out. I expect to want her away from me and resent even considering this absurd idea. I didn't expect this feeling. This foreign feeling, like her touch was taking away the pain, healing me. On top of everything else, having her skin on my bare chest was an extreme turn-on.
Anastasia's POV
I have no idea how we got right here, but I feel incredibly close to this man I barely know. He looks nothing like the CEO I met in his office, nor the relaxed man I have caught glimpses of over the last day. He looks lost and vulnerable, confused even. His eyes are closed, but the pain etched in the lines of his perfect face tells me this is extremely difficult for him. All I want to do right now is take away his pain and make his past go away.
He opens his wary but almost intrigued grey eyes, glancing down at my hand. His heart that has been beating so hard against my hand is starting to slow. He slowly removes my hand and kisses the palm with his soft lips, instantly making me want his mouth on mine once more.
Obviously reading my thoughts again he leans forward, moves his hands to either side of my face and delicately kisses me. His lips are so warm and inviting. His kiss is soft, slowly molding our two mouths into one. I let my mind wander to what his kiss would feel like all over my body. This man makes me feel as if I'm out of my own skin, a different me. But yet im so comfortable, here, with him. I dont want to be anywhere else but in his grasp.
He breaks our union but stays so close I can feel his warm breath tickling my lips. We both stay still, motionless but for the rise and fall of our chests, almost to the same beat as the falling rain against the windows. I finally open my eyes and raise my gaze to Christian's soft stare. Our eyes dart back and forth to one another. Unspoken questions are left unanswered, but it doesnt matter. What matters is what we are experiencing right here, in this moment. I have always read and dreamt about my perfect romantic moment. Right now I'm unexpectedly living in the middle of it.
Then, his almost-silent plea. "Please spend the night with me Anastasia."
