Authors note: Can I just say how fun this has been with you guys? I wrote this to get it out of my head and it's turned into something that I'm excited about. I've tried to respond to each reviewer, if I missed you, I'm sorry! Since I can't respond to guests I'll give a blanket 'thank you' to them! I want to give a special shout out to lilithblood who's been spreading the word for me. Check her out, her story, Claiming of Fifty Shades is getting hot. As in H.O.T.
CPOV
"Why the fuck doesn't she just hire people to do this shit? It's such a fucking waste of time." Elliot and I have been hauling out tables, chairs, umbrellas, coolers and a slew of other assorted bull shit. It's hot and I'm annoyed. Ana texted me earlier this morning that Kate's brother was in town and that he'd be coming as well since Elliot invited him. "Have you met Kate's brother, what's his name? Dylan, Kent, Kyle?"
"Ethan. I haven't met him yet but Kate's pretty fond of him so I've got to play nice and kiss his ass I guess. I've never really done the intermixing of the families so I'm not sure how this is supposed to play out." Well that tells me absofuckinglutely nothing of use. I want to know who this guy is since he'll be staying in the girls' apartment for a few days.
"What does he do?" I ask as we grunt and move the stadium seating my parents bought a few years ago for this exact party.
"Fuck this shit is heavy! Why the fuck are we doing this? I don't know exactly, he modeled through high school and college to make some cash but Kate said he's not really into it anymore. He's two years older than her so that makes him 24. I'm 32, Christian. What the fuck am I going to talk about with a 24 year old kid? For the entire day?"
"Kate's 22, asshole. If you can talk to her you can figure out how to talk to the kid. You're like a fucking child sometimes." I'm even more pissed now. So the guy staying at Ana's apartment is her age and a model. Great.
"Guys, mom wants to know if you want some lunch. Gretchen just put some out plus the event company is here now so they'll finish the rest of the set up." Mia is gloating, obviously she knew there would be help arriving but she opted to not mention it, instead letting us sweat our asses off.
I exchange a look with Elliot and he's just as pissed. "Oh little sister, that was a dangerous game you just played." He starts stalking towards her and she squeals and runs but we catch her by her arms and haul her to the pool, her feet kicking underneath her as she screams in protest, begging and promising anything she can think of.
"Mia, how long did it take you to do your hair?" I ask as she's swinging between us now, her body sailing over the water on each upswing. She's still screaming and begging but we count to three and let her fly, the splash she makes as unladylike as possible.
"You fucking assholes! You mother fucking assholes! I hate you both!"
"How long, Mia?" Elliot is doubled over laughing so hard that tears are running down his face.
"An hour you asshole! For nothing!"
"Well, Christian and I have been out here for close to two…for nothing. We owe you an hour." Elliot offers her his hand and helps her out and we continue to tease her until she's laughing. It's times like this that I'm reminded of how much I've missed out on with my siblings during my teen years and early 20's. Only in the last few weeks have I enjoyed spending time with Elliot. My fucked up past has tainted every single aspect of my life, nothing has been left untouched and as I work through my shit, I see my chosen secret for what it was. Isolating and sad.
After lunch I shower and shave in my old room and throw on my black swimming trunks with a white tank top, my aviators and flip flops. Ana should be here soon so I hurry outside and grab a beer, determined to be normal for today at least. I haven't seen her since Thursday when she had her Elena showdown and I'm anxious to spend time with her to make sure that she's alright.
There are a good number of people milling about, mostly doctors and nurses from the hospital my mom works at but I see a few of my dad's associates as well and make small talk with them to be polite. I'm talking to a young endocrinologist when he stops talking and stares, open mouthed at something behind me. I turn and there she is, breathtaking perfection in a red and white striped bikini with a tiny pair of white shorts and a loose white tank over top. Her hair is blowing in the breeze, her skin just touched with the sun and my world shrinks to the size of her frame. All motion stops, all sound disappears, it's only Ana.
"Holy shit, who's the babe? Fuck me I know who I'm taking home tonight!"
My head snaps back at him and I sneer at him rudely. "Not a fucking chance." I want to say more but I'm afraid I'll snap his neck if I do.
He's still looking at her and I move to block his view, "Whoa, man. Is she your girlfriend or something?"
"No." I grit out. This is bull shit, if she were mine, this wouldn't be happening right now. With a sinking feeling I notice at least three other men ogling her and I also notice Kate's brother standing next to her, shaking Elliot's hand. Kids a good looking guy, I'll give him that. He whispers something in her ear and she giggles. I've had enough.
"Just stay the fuck away from her, Dr. Brock." I turn and walk up to her and the moment she sees me her face lights up and she walks towards me and embraces me. I want so badly to turn and flip off the good doctor but I don't, instead I press her against me and feel the softness of her breasts and the slim firmness of her waist. Control, Grey, get control.
"Hi" she breathes and I kiss her cheek before releasing her. I've wanted to smell her for two days now and the minute I do I'm instantly calmed. I'm like an addict looking for a fix. She turns and the Ethan fucker is holding out his hand to me.
"Ethan Kavanagh, it's nice to meet you, Christian." He's got a good shake, good eye contact. Maybe he's not just a pretty face.
"Mr. Kavanagh, welcome. Can I get you a beer?" I'd rather take my girl here upstairs and fuck her brains out but since I can't do that, I'll play the role of nice host.
"Sounds great, thanks. I'll come with, I'd like to introduce myself to your dad." Ballsy too.
"Ana, would you like a drink? We've got some frozen drinks at the bar or there's beer and wine or soda." Her face breaks into a grin and she asks for a pina colada with a cherry. Anything for you baby.
Ethan, Elliot and I make small talk while the girls head inside to offer their help. Mia comes strolling out in a barely modest bikini and I see Ethan's eyes follow her from the door to my side, his hand coming out to introduce himself. I do not like my sister being checked out but it's marginally better than him going after Ana so I don't act like an asshole but instead watch the exchange carefully.
From what I can tell, he's a gentleman. I know the Kavanaghs come from money so he would have been raised with good manners and while he's friendly with Ana, he's not flirty. If he hurts my sister though, I won't hesitate to rip him limb from limb.
"What do you do, Ethan?" Mia's little voice pipes up.
"I recently received my masters in psychology from Yale. I'm taking a few weeks off to enjoy life and then looking for a job somewhere on the East Coast." Perfect, far away from here. Smart with looks like that? Get lost.
Ana comes bouncing, and I do mean bouncing, out of the house with a tray of food and her drink. Once she sets the tray down I grab her bag and put it on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. I want to see her out of the clothes and just in the bikini but she doesn't take the bait. Instead she asks for a tour of the grounds and I happily acquiesce, I can think of nothing I'd like to do more right now than spend time alone with her.
In the boathouse she runs her fingers over my rowing trophies and says more to herself than to me, "You're so competent. Everything you do, you do it well." I've never been one to care for compliments but when they come from Ana my chest swells with pride and I break into a grin.
"Come, I'll show you the rest of the house." It's an excuse to take her hand in mine but she doesn't pull away or pause, she just lets me take the lead and follows me from room to room until we're in my old bedroom.
"So this is where you grew up? It's nice. And your parents haven't changed it at all since you left at 18?" I'm standing next to the bed watching her as she studies the posters of kick boxers and musicians that I idolized ten years ago. Her ass is so perfect in those shorts.
"Who is this woman?" Fuck. I had forgotten about that picture. Ana's scrutinizing it and realization dawns on her. "You look like her." Her voice is just above a whisper but I hear her anyway.
"That's my birth mother. She died when I was four and that's how I came to live with Carrick and Grace." It's the most I've said about her to anyone outside of Flynn, ever.
"I'm so sorry that she died, Christian." She's looking at me now and standing only two feet away. So incredibly beautiful. I shrug and I can tell she's internally debating with herself.
"Just ask, Ana. I know you want to." I'm trusting you. I'm doing something I've never done before, please don't screw me over. I want to tell her everything and the realization terrifies me.
"How did she die?" Do I do this? Deep breath, Grey.
I knew it was coming but I'm not prepared for what happens next. Before I can stop myself the words rush out. "She was a drug addict who whored herself out. She overdosed when I was four and I don't know if she meant to do it or if it was an accident. Either way, no one found me or her for four days." I've never said those words together. Flynn and I have talked about each part of it individually but never as a whole. My voice sounds odd to me, not my own. This is so not how I had planned this day going.
She says nothing but her eyes are glassy and after a few seconds she steps forward and puts her arms tenderly around my waist and leans her head against my chest. Instinct tenses me but the intimacy of this moment with this woman over powers any fear I have about being touched and I slowly relax when the fear begins to ebb away. I lean down and kiss the top of her head and inhale deeply. It's the longest I've embraced anyone and it feels good.
"I'm so sorry your life started out that way, Christian. It makes me even more impressed and awed by the man you are today." My heart is beating out of my chest with the urgent need to wipe away the unspilled tears that have collected in her eyes. Tears for me. It breaks me and builds me.
"Ana, I'm, it's been 24 years. I'm fine now, really." You're not fine, Grey. You still want to whip brown haired women because they remind you of your mother. "Please, please don't cry for me. It was a long time ago."
She shakes her head and offers me a small smile. "Yes, it was a long time ago but she's still your mother and it's still tragic. She was beautiful, you look so much like her."
"Look, I don't want this crap in your head or screwing with our day so let's drop it. If it makes you feel any better, I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life." Now that, is the God's honest truth.
"Christian! Come help me with this stupid sound system, it keeps playing the same damn song over and over!" Ana jumps back, my arms aching to feel her again but she's already walking towards the door and I quickly follow that tiny little ass down the stairs and to the sound system. Ana stays with me and offers me a small smile.
"I'm sorry I ran out of there, I just don't want your dad getting the wrong impression of what was going on in there." So cute. I finish correcting the system and grin, leaning down as if to tell her a secret.
"You know, I'm almost 29, I think he'd be ok with me having a girl in my room." I'm laughing and to my immense pleasure I see that fucker Dr. Derek Brock watching us. "Pool?"
She nods her head yes and we go to the lounge chairs where she immediately takes off her tank top while her back is to me. Turn around, baby. I've thrown my shirt onto the side table and have already stepped out of my shoes by the time she shimmies those micro shorts down her legs. Oh sweet Jesus that ass is going to kill me.
When she turns around I'm struck dumb. Holy. Fucking. Shit. I'm stunned; her body is pure femininity and holy mother of fuck those hips. Flashes of my hands gripping those sweet curves flit past my eyes in rapid speed. I need to get in the pool now before I embarrass myself. She bends down to put her folded shorts and shirt on the table with mine and the sensual swing of her breasts actually makes my balls ache. Holy fucking fuck she's hot.
She's shy as she makes her way to the edge of the pool. I'm already in and I notice so are a bunch of guys that had been previously hanging out. Perverts. They all want what's mine. I look over and Dr. Brock is eye fucking Ana before one of the caterers offers him a scallop. I hope he chokes on it.
She stands on the edge hesitant to jump in but I'm ok with her reticence, it gives me a good view of her bikini bottoms and from what I can tell, she's bare and my dick tingles in response to this revelation. I can't wait to find out. Instead of demurely stepping in like the other girls, she dives in, head first next to me and comes up across the pool. Her eye lashes are darker now and her hair is slicked back. She looks like a kelpie.
A shape swims towards her and she giggles when Ethan surfaces next to her. "Hey Steele, any surf boards around?" she splashes him and I swim over. Fuck off, kid. We get our drinks and hang, literally hang, off the side of the pool talking about everything and nothing. Ethan finally gets the hint and takes off; I see Mia in a lounge chair and watch him sit next to her, I've never been more grateful for my sister.
I cannot take my eyes off of Ana. The way her bikini sticks to her breasts screams of sex and pleasure and hedonism. She looks so young and innocent but underneath that All American Girl look is a smoldering sexuality that will bring me to my knees. Hasn't it already?
Her appeal isn't lost on any of them men in her vicinity, more than a few times I've thrown a cutting look after someone who's gaze lingered a bit too long on her body. I feel like a hunter guarding my prey. I watch as she rises from the pool, water streaming down her smooth curvy body and I groan inwardly. This is sheer torture at this point. I tuck my erection into the waistband of my trunks and hope for the best.
"Hey, who's that guy with the cargo shorts over there talking to Ana?" What?! Kate flashes me a toothy smile and continues. "Ana has to beat them off with a stick lately! Did she tell you that football player called her yesterday and asked her out?" What?!
Ana is still in just her bikini top but she's put the shorts back on much to my delight. I'd love to look at her barely covered ass but so would every other guy at this party so having her covered up makes me feel a bit better. As much as I'd like to pull her away from Derek Brock I need to find out about this phone call and if Ana's not offering the information, I need to get it from Kate.
I play dumb. "Which one?"
She grins, she knows. Kate Kavanagh may not have the reputation my brother does but she's not too far off. I needed three sheets of paper for her background check solely due to her 'relationship' history.
"It was a number she didn't recognize and she answered it only because she thought it might have been Jack and she wanted to report him to you. But it was Matt Ryan, he is so cute by the way. Anyway, they spoke for a few minutes and then he asked if he could take her to Canlis tonight." I know her game and she plays it well. There will be no further information from Kate on the issue. "So, who's that guy? He's not bad looking either."
"He's an asshole, that's all you need to know. His intentions with Ana are less than honorable."
"And yours? What are your intentions, Christian?"
I can't believe the balls on this woman. "Are you implying something, Kate?"
"I don't know you all that well but Ana is the best person I know. She is loyal and sweet and trusting and kind and I will shred anyone who hurts her."
"Then we're in agreement, Ms. Kavanagh, I would destroy any fucker that hurt her so if you'll excuse me, I would like to keep her away from limp dick over there."
Elliot comes over and tosses a chip in his mouth, unaware of the exchange that just took place, "Look, I know you guys aren't dating," he gives me air quotes and points in the direction of Ana and Derek, "but she is definitely most comfortable with you around and in case you haven't noticed, every guy in here, with the exception of me of course, is eye fucking her. That dude though, he's a step away from groping her."
"I know, Elliot, thanks so much for pointing that out." I take a few sips of my beer and purposefully stalk over to her. "Ana." I toss out my best dom voice and she looks up at me and smiles before a flicker of confusion crosses her pretty little face. "Come."
"Oh come on, Grey. Lighten up, the last I heard, women were allowed to make their own choices in this country including who they talked to."
"Anastasia." I don't even look at him, he's nothing to me, no more than a pest that needs squashing. I'm so used to my subs doing exactly what I say that her hesitation is infuriating me. Her soft hand slides into mine and I pull her up and walk her to the house quickly before she can question me in front of him.
"What in the hell was that about, Christian? That was so freaking embarrassing!" She's pissed. I can handle pissed, what I can't handle is her sitting next to someone who wants her and is blatantly making a play for her.
"He's a limp dicked frat boy who wants in your panties, Anastasia. You shouldn't even waste time on a guy like that." Did she just roll her eyes? She did, she just fucking rolled her eyes!
"Christian! He was just being nice and talking! He does not want in my panties! God!" I can't help but laugh when her voice drops to a whisper and her face turns bright red at the mention of her panties.
"Come on, you've got to cheer our team on in the football game anyway. Is Ethan any good or is he too pretty to play, somehow he's been drafted onto my team." The kid better be able to play, I can't stand playing with guys who don't want to win.
"I have no idea, I think he played soccer in high school. Is this tackle or flag?" I flash her an incredulous look, it's tackle of course. Why would anyone play flag?
The game is going well, our team is up by two touchdowns and I've taken my shirt off and handed it to Ana to hold for me. I could get used to this. She's still only in her shorts and bikini top but her hair has dried in soft curls and her cheeks and the top of her shoulders and breasts have a tantalizing pink glow. I know this because I have studied her body all day long.
Our quarterback calls for a running play and at the snap I run towards the sideline with my arms outstretched as a distraction and out of nowhere, limp dick frat boy is on top of me and I'm halfway under the bleachers. What the fuck?
"What the fuck, asshole?" I come up swinging, but he's being pulled away by his teammates so my fist barely connects with his face. Elliot has run over and is determined to get to him as well but the wall of men between them hinders his progress. The hit was blatantly illegal and personal and I reach up when I feel a trickle run down my face and onto my chest, a steady splatter of red in it's wake. Mother fucker!
I'm boiling with anger right now, someone has put their hands on me but my anger is quickly replaced by paralyzing fear when I realize the women who had been watching the game are now circled around me and are touching me, trying to help and wiping the blood off of my chest. I can't move, the reaction to their physical proximity causing me to lose all sense of motion. My eyes lock onto to Ana's and she immediately understands.
She's in front of me and I focus on her but the excruciating pain is radiating off my skin, and it feels like I'm on fire. I want to scream, this is as bad as my nightmares, but I can't, nothing will come out.
"Get off! Move out of the way! Take your hands off him!" Ana and Mia are pushing away the hands that are burning me and then I'm on my feet being led away like a small child towards the house.
"I'll go get mom."
"No! Mia I'm fine, let me get cleaned up, if it's bad we'll get mom. Don't interrupt her right now."
"But Christian you're bleeding!"
"Mia, I'll clean the cut up and see if how bad it is. If we need Grace, I'll send for her right away, ok?"
We make our way inside and she leads me up to my old bedroom where she directs me to the bathroom and proceeds to wash my hair in the sink, carefully avoiding the gash that is not letting up. Once my hair is clean she applies a washcloth to the cut and silently guides me to the desk chair where she hands me another wet cloth and lets me clean the blood off of my chest. I want her to do it, I want her to touch me but I don't ask and instead I wipe it all off and toss the cloth onto the bathroom floor.
We've got to wait until the blood slows down before she can get a good look so she stands to my left, the hand not holding the washcloth resting on her smooth hip.
"Why did he do that? You didn't even have the ball."
"I told you, Ana. He wants you and he knows I know it. I'm cock blocking him." She scoffs at me and checks the wound. My God she smells so good.
"Cock blocking? Wait, you're blaming me?"
"No, I'm answering you. Ask Elliot or Ethan if you don't believe me. That guy's been gunning for you all day and he knows I'm not going to let him get near you so he's pissed. End of story."
She shifts her body so that she's got one leg between mine and her other leg on the outside of my thigh. She's trying to kill me. As she pats at the cut and gently parts my hair to survey the damage I am treated to an up close view of her pert 34D's. They're creamy and softly swaying mere inches from my face and I am seriously about to blow my load. I know she's talking to me but I can't hear what she's saying as her voice washes over me, caresses me and strokes me and I close my eyes and groan.
"Did I hurt you?" She's still standing there with one hand on my head and I slowly shake my head no.
"I'm dying here, Ana, you're killing me in that bikini, standing so close." My voice is husky and without thinking I trail the tips of my fingers along the outside of her legs until I reach her shorts. So soft. I can see the outline of her nipples as they harden in response and I reluctantly drag my eyes away to meet hers.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She whispers.
"Don't be." I whisper back and then reach up with my thumb and pull that bottom lip out from between her teeth. I shouldn't be doing this, she's not signed a contract, she's not part of the lifestyle, there is still so much she should know about me but right now, I just don't care. Her mouth is so close I can feel her breath on my face and I lightly grab her hips, pulling her down to my leg. Those eyes that I've fantasized about a million times are staring into mine, reading my soul and laying me bare but I can't look away.
"Christian." She whispers as if to stop me but the movement of her lips draws me even closer and I press my mouth against hers before she can protest. Her lips are soft and sweet and I groan in appreciation. Slowly, tentatively she kisses me back and opens herself up to my tongue which dives in between her lips, tasting and stroking her mouth. My hands have pulled her closer and I feel the softness of her breasts against my bare chest but what is making me crazy with desire, literally crazy with the need for this woman, is the damp heat I can feel between her legs as she straddles my thigh.
"Ana." It's the only word I can manage right now, the only thought in my head and she answers me, rocking against me and kissing me back while the world around me spins and disappears.
My hands run up and down her back exploring while her hands run up and down my arms, avoiding my chest and back. She's remembered. I twist my finger around the tie of her bikini and give a tiny tug, a silent question begging for an answer. She gives me a small moan and I'm out of my mind, the painful throbbing between my legs becoming faster and more urgent. God that lip, I have wanted to bite that lip of hers for weeks now and I indulge myself and suck on it before nipping it with my teeth. I have never kissed like this, unrestrained and affectionate and I'm just about to lay her on the bed and peel off that top when I hear a loud scream and some shouting from the back yard.
Ana hears it too because she pauses and pulls away, looking towards the window. Oh no no no baby, come back to me.
"What was that?" A space ship could have just landed but I don't give a fuck right now.
"Who cares?" I take her face within my hands again and turn her towards me but the noise outside erupts and becomes frenzied. I can make out Elliot's voice and my mother's pleading tone.
Ana jumps off of my lap and runs to the window and I follow her. Outside there is a small crowd on the patio, with Derek Brock in the middle while Elliot curses him out. My cousin Gavin, who is as much of a hot head as me, is joining in the argument which is quickly escalating.
"Shit. We should get down there I guess." My head is still bleeding, not as much now since all of the blood in my body has rushed to my dick, so I take the washcloth and run down the stairs two at a time.
My mom is frantic trying to get up to speed with what happened while also trying to stop whatever is about to commence. To my surprise the other person as fired up as my brother is non-other than Ethan Kavanagh. Perhaps he's not so bad.
"Enough! I'm fine, Elliot, Gavin, Ethan, I'm fine. It's a small cut, nothing more."
There is a volley of arguments being tossed at me but I know my mom would be upset if this escalated into a fight and for that reason alone I want to end it now. Derek comes out from behind the screen of people in front of him and walks to my mom, kissing her cheek and thanking her for a lovely time.
She just stares at him like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car but he continues, "I think it's best I go now, this misunderstanding and accident is causing too much of an uproar for your boys. I'll see you on Monday."
I give a subtle nod to Taylor who had followed us upstairs and then back downstairs and he quietly goes to the front of the house.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." Ana just nods, I think she's in shock, something tells me violence isn't part of her day to day.
Derek is being delayed by the valet, on purpose of course, and I walk up to him and stare him down. He snorts and shrugs, bracing himself for the punch he thinks is coming. "Do your worst, Grey. I'd love nothing more than to lay a law suit on your desk and run your name through the mud you arrogant prick."
"I'm here to thank you actually. While you were hiding from my brother, I was upstairs with my tongue down Anastasias throat and her legs wrapped around me. So tonight, when your tiny dick is in your hand and you're thinking about her hot little body, I'll have the real thing pressed up against me."
I turn to go but toss out one last line. "If you ever show up at this house again or come within ten feet of Ana, I'll come after you from every angle. Don't fuck with me Brock and do NOT fuck with Anastasia."
APOV
"You really don't think these shorts are too short? I feel kind of trampy, Kate."
"Oh my god, you're such a damn Puritan. You look great."
I turn to Ethan and raise my eyebrows. He glances me up and down and shrugs, "You look 22 and healthy."
The Grey's house is massive. As in, I could get lost for three days and no one would know massive. This is where Christian grew up, in a humongous house on the water with a yacht docked outside. And a boathouse. He has a freaking boat house.
Grace and some of the staff greet us in the kitchen and though the house is large and these people have more money than I could ever dream of, she makes the place feel warm and homey.
"Ana! Carrick and I are so glad you were able to come today and we are just thrilled that you're attending the Coping Together Event next weekend."
Kate gives her a hug and introduces Ethan to her while we make small talk. My eyes are scanning the windows that show the back yard but I don't see Christian or Elliot. I'm still searching the backyard for them when we step outside and Elliot pops up to greet Kate and meet Ethan. Ethan leans over to me to crack a joke about Elliot's 'girly curls' and I laugh.
I feel a zing of electric shoot up my spine and look up into the most beautiful pair of grey eyes. The uncertainty of my outfit is laid to rest when I see him eye me up and down and even I know he likes what he sees.
"Hi." I can barely breath he looks so good in his black board shorts and white tank that show off his strong, well-built arms but it's his bare feet in flip flops that have me panting. He has the sexiest feet I have ever seen. He bends me to him when he hugs me, the flat hard planes of his muscles make me feel safe and vulnerable all at the same time.
I take the pina colada he brings me and head inside to offer my help to Grace, saying hello to Mia who's on her way out.
"Ana! My mom said you were here! I'm so glad you could come." She looks amazing, absolutely perfect in her pink bikini that is way smaller than mine and I want to hug her. If she had been in a one piece, I would have just died.
"I'm happy to have been invited. Did you get a chance to meet Kate's brother yet? He's over there with your dad and brothers."
She squints her eyes and I count down until she sees him. 5, 4, 3,2
"Oh my GOD! Are you freaking kidding me? Please tell me he's single. He is seriously hot. Introduce me, come on." She grabs at my arm but I just laugh her off and tell her to go say hi herself.
"He's really nice, down to earth and not at all a prick, just go introduce yourself." I take notes as she sashays over and flips her hair as casually as she can before reaching out to shake Ethan's proffered hand. Sashay, casual hair flip, touch. Got it.
Grace hands me a tray to bring out and once I put it down Christian takes my bag, dropping it on one of the lounge chairs but I'm so not ready to take off my shirt just yet so I ask for a tour. I want to see the boat house, I've never been in one. Or known anyone that's had one.
There are rows and rows of trophys for all three of the Grey kids but I'm only interested in his. I know so little about his life before GEH and any information I can gather is sacred to me. His accomplishments are overwhelming, is there anything he's not good at?
"You're so competent. Everything you do, you do it well." The words leave my mouth before I can filter them but his reaction is priceless. I smile back at him and I'm sure my grin is goofy but I can't help it, he looks so happy right now.
"Come, I'll show you the rest of the house." He takes my hand and I float out of the boat house and through the rest of the tour until we wind up in his childhood bedroom. I'm mesmerized by the evidence of his adolescence. It's so…normal. Posters of bands and fighters adorn the walls while ticket stubs from concerts he's attended are tacked on a corkboard above the desk. I run my hand over it and imagine a teenage Christian sitting her doing his homework.
The corkboard has pictures of him and various places around the globe and a pang of jealousy shoots through me at the experiences he's had. I've done a little travelling but nothing like him. A small picture of a woman tacked in the upper corner catches my attention.
"Who is this woman?" she looks familiar and I study her face before realization dawns on me. Oh my god. "You look like her."
"That's my birth mother. She died when I was four and that's how I came to live with Carrick and Grace."
I don't know what to say or what to do. There are a thousand emotions playing across his face, none of which I can interpret. So he's adopted. That explains why all three of the kids look so different. My throat is dry but my eyes are wet. I need to say something but I don't know what so I offer an apology for her death. He's receptive but challenges me, he knows I want to know more but I won't ask.
I study his face and see the anguish, he wants to tell me. I ask but I'm not at all prepared for his answer. A drug addict prostitute? Four days? Four days at four years old with his dead mother? If I speak now the tears that have gathered in my eyes will spill over so I tentatively reach out and embrace him. His whole body is tense and his heart is beating wildly but when I go to move away he pulls me tighter. I can feel the weight of this moment and only when he kisses the top of my head do I let him go.
He's begging me not to cry and I won't with him here. I haven't cried in front of anyone since I was 15 and the vulnerability that comes along with being that open isn't something I'm eager to experience again.
Suddenly a voice comes over the intercom looking for Christians help with the sound system. He rolls his eyes and I jump to hurry downstairs. The last thing I want is for his parents to think I'm a slut. I glance quickly one last time at the picture of his birth mother. I don't know whether to hate her for what she did or love her for giving him life.
The moment of truth. The pool. I've avoided it for almost a full two hours but the sun is blazing and my host is intent on going in. I undress as quickly as I can so that I can get in the pool as quickly as I can but when I see Christian in just his bathing shorts I'm not in such a rush anymore. He looks good, like, really really good. I follow him to the pool and dive in, eager to hide my body under the water.
"Hey Steele, any surf boards around?" Wise ass. My last trip was to the Kavanaghs beach house in Malibu. Ethan tried, to no avail, to teach me to surf but the only thing I learned was that not only can I not surf, but I'm a danger to those around me. He's got the four stitches on top of his foot to prove it.
I like this, floating in the pool with the hottest man on the planet, his attention solely on me. Everyone here wants a piece of him, they've all tried to corner him and talk to him about a potential deal or some insider information they claim to have. He just rushes them and brushes them off before turning his attention back to me to listen to me prattle on about the newest book I'm reading.
When I mention being hungry his eyes shift under his aviators and he sprints out of the pool to get me fed. I laugh at the plate he brings me, it's laden down with just about everything on the buffet and he looks confused by my laughter.
"What? You said you were hungry!"
"For lunch! This is enough to host our own party with!"
He grins and runs his hands over his wet hair, "Yea, I guess it's a bit much for you. I call dibs on the ribs then."
"What was that all about?"
"I'm not entirely sure to be honest. He just kept telling me that Derek 'wanted in my panties' and then changed the subject."
Kate, Mia and some of the other guests are sitting on the bleacher seats and watching a group of guys play football. I've never cared for the game but watching Christian, well, actually, Christian, Elliot and Ethan, run around shirtless is quickly making me a fan.
"He does, Ana. You are so naïve it's scary sometimes. God, even now he's ogling you from across the field." I'm not going to look, I have no interest in anyone but Christian and if Kate is telling me the truth, I don't want to give Derek the wrong idea by staring at him.
There's a flurry of activity and I watch as Christian runs along our sideline. My eye catches movement from the right and I look just as Derek, at full speed and a look of determination on his face that frightens me, tackles Christian into the bleacher seats.
"Oh my god!" Mia is pushing at people to clear a path and I follow her until we're on our knees in front of a bleeding and panicked Christian. It takes me no time at all to see the hands of well-wishers on his chest and back so I leap into action, pushing them away and yelling at them to let him go. He's despondent when we lead him away and only when Mia suggests getting their mother does he react.
As soon as we're in the bathroom I bend him over the sink and gently wash the blood out of his hair so that I can see just how bad the cut is. I grab two washcloths and hand him one so that he can clean his chest and with the other I sit him in his desk chair and hold it against the wound.
He sits still and lets me check the cut every minute or so, the flow is slowing and I don't think he'll need stitches but I'm still a little freaked out. It was so….violent.
"Cock blocking?"
My arm is tired so I shift my legs and use my other hand to hold the cloth against his head. After a minute I check it again and am relieved that he's almost stopped bleeding.
"You're not going to need stitches I don't think. You should have your mother check it of course but for now I think you're fine." Did he just moan?
"Did I hurt you?" When I look down at him it's not pain I see in his eyes. They're stormy and dark grey and impossibly beautiful.
"I'm dying here, Ana, you're killing me in that bikini, standing so close." My face loses all expression, of all of the things I thought he'd say, that was not one of them. Suddenly I'm acutely aware of the warmth of his breath on my skin and I belatedly realize that I've quite literally shoved myself in his face.
His fingers lightly rub small circles on my legs and a feeling I've never felt before settles low in my belly. It's an aching, roiling sensation and somewhere in the back of my mind the word desire swims around. When I apologize he reaches up slowly and pulls my lip out from between my teeth. I didn't even realize I was biting it.
His hands circle my hips, gripping lightly before pulling me down and I feel a rush of moisture between my legs. I'm terrified by the sensations and whisper his name but he ignores it and kisses me softly as if I might break. I want this, I want to lose myself in this man, give him everything of myself and I kiss him back, holding onto his arms while his tongue explores my mouth.
His hands are everywhere, on my hips, running up my legs and back and I rock against his thigh, the friction offering both relief and renewed urgency. He groans and rocks me again and I answer with a moan of my own when his teeth sink into my bottom lip.
Our intimate moment is interrupted by a woman's scream and shouting right below the window. Christian doesn't seem to care and instead grips me tighter and rocks me against his leg again. Oh god, yes. I don't care what's going on outside anymore either.
Grace's voice is growing more despondent and frantic but it's Elliot's bellow that finally gets him to move. It's just dusk but I can make out the figure of that guy Derek in the middle and I know it's going to get ugly if Christian doesn't show his face soon.
We rush out side and Christian calms everyone down while Derek says goodbye to a bewildered Grace. I want her to look at Christian's cut but he's disappeared. When he shows up a minute later with two glasses of wine in his hands he looks smug.
"Sweetheart let me take a look at it, why wouldn't you come and get me right away?"
"It's a cut and I'm 28 years old. Besides, Ana took care of me." He looks at me and winks and damn if I don't blush like crazy. I want nothing more than to go up to his room again and continue but this is his parent's house and I still don't know what it is he wants from me. The man can kiss though, I'll give him that much. She puts ointment on it and tells him to take it easy for a few hours, no pool, no football, no heavy lifting.
Going back inside would be awkward at this point, there's no reason other than to make out again so instead we opt to sit at one of the tables with Kate, Elliot, Mia and Ethan. He seems smitten and so does she but Elliot and Christian seem less than thrilled with the attention he's paying her. I put on my jacket when it gets chilly out and sit back down but it's just Christian and I now, everyone else is either making out or trying to.
"Kate told me that fucker quarterback called you and asked you out. How did he get your number?"
Oh shit. Freaking Kate again! "I have no idea, we didn't speak long enough for me to ask." I know he wants to know what I said but I'm new to this 'game' and I need answers. What is it that he wants from me? I quickly dispel the idea, game playing is probably the last thing I want in a relationship so I nix it and offer up the truth.
"I told him I couldn't go because I was going to be here with you." I'm so embarrassed but I force myself to look up at him and he's grinning from ear to ear.
"You did? Good." I neglect to tell him that he then asked if I could have dinner next Friday and even though I know Christian will be out of town and might never find out, I'm just not interested. Kate was furious which made it all worth it.
He takes my hand when Kate announces she's ready to head home. I'm hoping that he'll offer to bring me home so we can hang out longer but instead he explains that he and his brother are on clean up duty and are staying here for the night to help his mom. He walks me to the car and leans in without saying a word and brushes his lips against mine.
"I'm so very glad you came today, Anastasia. I'll see you in the morning for brunch?" I just shake my head yes and feel him smile against my lips. "Good night then sweet girl." And with a final kiss on my forehead he walks away but stands in the driveway watching us until we're out of sight.
Kate does her best to keep quiet on the ride home but halfway there she glances over with a satisfied look on her face. "I'm only going to say this. That kiss, that was not 'just friends'." I'm smiling like a fool as I run my fingers over the lingering tingle on my lips. No, it sure wasn't.
