Chapter 10: The Sound of You

Author's Note: Thank you EL James for your characters. Sorry about any errors, I try to catch them, but grammar isn't my strongest point. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

ELPOV:

Part of me hated this side of "friendship", the obligatory duties one must make in order to keep up the outward appearances of closeness with another person. But here I sit, in the car heading towards Grace Grey's home so that I can express my relief that her son Christian is going to be fine after his accident.

Christian. Now that's one person I wouldn't mind experiencing closeness with. He's truly beautiful from head to toe. Just the right amount of muscles without it being obnoxious, a perfect ass that just begs to be squeezed and a mouth so beautiful that it was meant to be doing naughty things to a woman. His older brother Elliott wasn't bad looking either, but he had a wild streak in him that was dangerous to attempt to break. Christian on the other hand, he could be molded if I could get my whip on him. If given enough time, I could break him and then he would be mine.

Just picturing him strapped down to my whipping bench, completely naked, his beautiful back marred red with whelps had me growing wet.

"Ma'am we are here," my driver said as we came to a stop under the portico at the Grey house.

"Well then open the damn door." I couldn't hide the disgust from my voice, nor should I. What did he think I was paying him for, it certainly wasn't for the mediocre fucking he provided me whenever I wanted to feel a cock between my legs. At best, he was a decent standby until I could finally convince Christian to give me a try.

I had been dropping subtle hints around him for years but he still wasn't biting. Yes, Christian would enjoy being bitten, I just know it. I don't know how many times I'd put my hand on his thigh or run my fingers through his hair so he could familiarize himself with my touch. I was beginning to worry that he might have performance issues we'd have to deal with since he never once gave any indications of getting hard when I touched him. So odd, most men melt at my touch and beg to fuck me.

Well, I'm sure today will be different. From the information that I gained from the nurse at the hospital, Christian is badly banged up from his little mishap this morning and will need some tender loving care once he returns home. That good-for-nothing body guard of his is still in hospital having gotten his brain jiggled around a bit. He'll need some help at home and that is where I come in. I'd even endure giving him a sponge bath as long as I got some show of appreciation later.

Climbing out of the car, I quickly adjusted my breasts that were beautifully on display in my new La Perla bra, making sure that my cleavage was deep enough to be suggestive but not reading to pop out of its confines. I certainly didn't want that husband of Grace's getting any ideas, he was definitely not my type. He was almost as old as my own husband. I already had a California raisins at the house, I didn't need more dried fruit hanging around. No, I wanted someone young and virile like Christian, who I knew could actually last a few rounds in the sack without the aid of a little blue pill.

After having rung the bell, the maid Gloria was it – really who cared – led me into the house. She took my coat and bag and laid it down on the couch, much to my distaste after I made it clear that I didn't have time to wait for her to put it away before she led me back to the family as was normal protocol. Instead she led me back to the kitchen area where the family apparently had just sit down to eat.

Grace has a lovely dining room, I really don't understand why she insists on slumming it with the help by eating in the kitchen where the maid is constantly underfoot.

Walking into the kitchen I expected to see smiling happy faces, but instead I receive a rather cold greeting. I can't imagine what the cause of it would be until Grace has introduced me to everyone, including the two newcomers to the table. They must be the reason Carrick is currently smiling at me as though he has recently had a Botox injection. Mia and Elliott, always the embodiment of good manners are both avoiding eye-contact with me, apparently they can't stand the new company either.

"Grace, darling," I offered a double kiss to my dear friend in greeting.

Grace came from old money and really married beneath her when she and Carrick eloped in Paris, but she's done the best she could to raise him to her social status. I would have said that the rushed marriage was due to an unwanted pregnancy, but the poor dear had to have a hysterectomy when she was only 17 years old due to ovarian cancer, so that was never going to be a problem. In a way I envied her for that. Until two years ago when I finally went through menopause, my life was constantly being burdened by having to arrange for birth control methods to avoid ruining my body with that of a growing vermin inside of me.

As Grace I greeted Grace's mother and father, from the corner of my eye I noticed the little blond girl - who really needed a visit to the cosmetics counter for some assistance in knowing what she was doing - was doing something with her hands, to which the brunette was paying very close attention to before she herself did something similar in response.

Grace's voice drew my focus back as she introduced the brunette as, "Ms. Anastasia Steele."

The only polite thing to do would be to offer my hand to her in greeting, so I made sure to turn my hand palm downward so she would be allowed to see not only my perfect manicure, but also the four carat ruby I had just purchased that glittered just right under the light.

I don't know why it concerned me to know if she was impressed by me or not, but what did quickly draw my attention was where her other hand was currently placed.

On the table, in plain view and might I add against proper rules of etiquette, was her hand entangled with Christian's as though she was trying to convey a message to me. Well two could play at that my dear.

"Hello darling, I'm Elena Lincoln," I purred in my most alluring voice. This little tart needed to learn who she was dealing with from the start, I was not having someone move in on Christian when I finally had him where I wanted him.

"I'm Ana," she mumbled as her meaty paw gripped my hand so tight I was certain to have a bruise tomorrow.

I had to resist the urge to wipe my hand off on the napkin in front of me once she released me, but instead continued to inquire as to whom she was to the family.

"How do you know our Christian dear?" Grace took that opportunity to jump in and explain that Ana and Christian had both been involved in the explosion together and that they had been practically inseparable since then.

"How charming," I offered as I quickly grabbed what I assume must be Grace's chair and pulled it close to Christian so that I would be able to touch him.

In his current state he really was a specimen of manliness. His beautifully muscular arms were on full display with the shirt he was wearing and his shorts were loose enough that I could easily slide my hand through the legs to caress any part of him he wanted massaged. Granted the cast was a bit clunky, but that just meant that I'd be doing the riding for a while, which was fine.

I was so close to touching his muscular thigh that I could practically feel the hair on his leg when I was forced to yank my hand back for fear of being savaged by a hideous beast that decided to make himself known.

I clutched my almost mangled hand to my chest.

"A dog," I tried to hold in my disgust as I addressed Grace, "you got yourself a dog?"

"No, he's Ana's service dog, Henry," Christian said with a huge smile on his face before leaning over and kissing Ana's cheek.

The huge mutt's head was currently resting on the spot that I had previously attempted to touch on Christian's leg like he was some sort of guard dog of the human body. He continued to watch me as Christian stroked his big head, which was making me exceptionally nervous. I don't tend to get along well with animals and it would seem that this creature was certain that I was up to something with the way he wouldn't leave Christian's side.

"Why would Ana need a service dog?" I sincerely inquired. "What's wrong with you dear?"

"Nothing is WRONG with her…dear," Abigail Grey piped up from her seat next to Carrick. Until just then I had practically forgotten that she was even in the room.

"Ana has difficulty hearing some things and she has Henry to aid her in day-to-day life, if you must know. There most certainly is nothing WRONG with her."

There was no mistaking the offense that was dripping from Abigail's voice as she explained poor Ana's defect.

"I meant no offense, Abigail. I have just never met anyone that required a service dog before and was curious as to the reasoning behind such a need."

"Does she take him everywhere she goes," I turned and asked Grace as she finally found a seat to join us at the table with.

"It's very rude to talk about someone, especially when they are right in front of you," little Miss Mia decided to snootily chime-in. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

I confess I was a bit flustered. How exactly do you talk to someone who can't hear you?

"Talk directly to her, she can read your lips," darling Christian suggested before bringing their clasped hands to his lips.

Well, this should be entertaining if nothing else.

"Did…you…understand…me…when…I…introduced…myself…earlier? I'm…Elena…" I couldn't help rolling my eyes, carrying on a conversation with her would take forever.

"Elena Lincoln, I know," Ana shocked me by speaking. "You are a friend of Grace's. You work with her on the Coping Together fundraiser she throws every year to help children of abuse and neglect."

"Been talking about me, Grace darling?" I smiled adoringly at Grace who always seemed to enjoy dropping my name those around her.

"Mom just said all of that when she was introducing you to Kate," Elliott sneered, looking at me with such disgust. "Mom just told you Ana reads lips, she heard all of it. And stop talking to her so slowly, she's not an idiot. She can easily keep up with you, you geriatric hag."

To say I was shocked by Elliott's uncalled for outburst would be putting it mildly. Instead of staying and giving me my justified apology he threw down his napkin and stormed out of the kitchen through the back patio doors.

"Well, I have never been spoken to in such a rude manner before."

"That's cause you ain't listening," someone mumbled something from beside Carrick, but I was too upset to decide whom said what.

"Grace, I have no idea what has gotten into your children, but I would think you would have better control over them than this." I couldn't hide the disgust from my voice as I addressed Grace, nor should I have to. I was the one who was wronged here and she needed to make amends for it.

"Perhaps it is time that you leave, Elena." Grace was addressing me. Me! As though I were the guilty party in all of this. I was the one who was offended here, I was the one who deserved to be treated better. I was a guest in their house for heaven's sake and I was being treated like a pariah or something.

Carrick practically jumped from his seat once Grace announced her desire that I depart the house. "I'll get your coat for you, Elena."

Well I was never one for staying somewhere I am not welcomed to be, so I rose from my seat and cast them all a hasty goodbye before heading towards the front door where I'm sure Carrick would be waiting with my coat.

As I slipped on my coat I felt it necessary to remind Grace of the proper protocol regarding guests in the home, "Grace, I cannot imagine what you were thinking allowing that girl to bring that dog into your home. He will destroy everything, and don't get me started on the shedding. And why were your children so hostile towards me?" I searched through my bag to retrieve my sunglasses, "I've been nothing but congenial towards them and yet they are vicious to me whenever I see them."

GPOV

If I didn't get this woman out of my house soon, I was willing to sick Henry on her. Although, from the little time I've been around him he seems more like a massive teddy bear than anything even remotely dangerous.

How dare she speak to my children like that, and to half the gall to attempt to touch Christian without his say so was just a step too far. Everyone knows if you aren't family that Christian is very uncomfortable with being touched. If he doesn't initiate it, then you are to keep your hands to yourself. I'll have to remember to give Henry an even bigger dinner portion than I had originally planned since he was able to intervene before Elena was able to feel-up my son.

Mother has never been a fan of Elena since she and I were younger because of how much trouble she was able to cause, which ultimately tended to become my troubles as well, so it was no surprise that she was openly hostile to her from the start.

I honestly wasn't certain what would cause Elliott to become so openly rude to someone, but it seemed as soon as she walked into the room he shut down. He wouldn't even look up when I addressed him, mumbling his answers when his grandmother spoke to him. Something was wrong there and I was going to find out what.

But what became the final straw that had me wishing I could physically cast her from my home was the way that she addressed Ana. I have never been so appalled by someone's bad manners in my life, and Elena normally has excellent manners.

She was treating Ana as though she were slow-witted or something with how slowly she was speaking to her. I have no idea how to apologize enough to Ana for my supposed friend's behavior.

Following Elena to the door I never expected to be berated for my grown children's behavior, nor was I expecting to be condemned for the manner to which I kept my house and what I did or did not allow in it.

The only thing that made the moment even remotely better was that at just the moment I was ready to give Elena a piece of my mind was when Henry decided he was going to make sure Elena knew she was not welcomed. It all happened so quickly I wasn't prepared to try to stop it. Suddenly Henry rushed passed me, barking loudly, heading straight for Elena, to which she turned and high-tailed it through the open door that Carrick was currently holding open.

"You keep that mangy mutt away from me. He is a lawsuit just waiting to happen," she screeched.

I grabbed hold of Henry's collar just before he was able to pass through the open door and even closer to Elena, "I'm sure he was just needing to go out and saw the open door as his exit. He's harmless, Elena. But if you feel threatened by him, then I will certainly understand if you choose not to come around the house anymore."

The look of shock on her face was priceless. Yes, I was choosing a dog over her and she couldn't believe it.

By the time she was able to regain her composure Ana had come and retrieved Henry from me telling me she was going to take him out the back for a few moments for a break.

I stood there in the doorway of my home watching my oldest friend turn and flee from my mom and I couldn't seem to find it in myself to be worried about her feelings. In fact, I was actually glad she was gone.

Carrick's strong arms around me confirmed my suspicions that he too was glad to see her leave. How could someone like her with all of her wealth and influence still continue to be such a truly miserable person.

"I don't know why you continue to befriend her, Grace," mother said from the kitchen entrance. "She's always been a bad influence on you, always attempting to drag you down to her level."

Walking to my mother I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, "Maybe I was just trying to give her a taste of what a good upbringing was like in the hopes that some of that might rub off on her instead of the other way around."

I walked back into the kitchen with my arm around my mother, wishing somehow we could just forget hurricane Elena.

"Well, now that everything is practically cold, why don't we eat," I said as Carrick and mother retook their seats. Glancing at the patio doors I could see Elliott and Ana talking as Henry sniffed bush after bush in the yard.

Poor Christian looked lost without Ana beside him. He wasn't focused on the food in his plate, but rather than young woman currently hugging his brother. If he had been more mobile, I'm sure he would have been rushing out the door to find out what had caused the display.

EPOV

My chest felt like it was being sat on by an 80 ton elephant, my ears were ringing and I swear if I opened my mouth I might vomit all over mom's kitchen table. The more that woman talked the more I knew I had to get away from her. She is a vile human being and her mere presence makes me nauseous. How mom can continue to be friends with her is beyond me, doesn't she know what kind of woman she is?

No, that's right, she doesn't know, because I allowed Elena to convince me that if I told that it would be me who got into trouble, not her. That my mom would never believe me over her. To this day, my skin crawls whenever I think of what almost happened and what did happen.

I had to get out of that room or else I might do something I've never done before and that's physically harm a woman.

"Mom just said all of that when she was introducing you to Kate," I couldn't seem to reign in the amount of venom I wanted to spew at that woman.

"Mom just told you Ana reads lips, she heard all of it. And stop talking to her so slowly, she's not an idiot. She can easily keep up with you, you geriatric hag."

I knew I had gone too far, the rage inside of me was boiling over and if I stayed put I wasn't going to be able to hold back everything I had ever wanted to say to that woman since I was 16 years old. So instead I stormed out of the house, praying that fresh air would allow me to calm down enough to be able to rejoin my family soon.

I hated that Kate saw me like that. There was no way that I would be able to explain what happened in there to anyone much less to her. She probably thinks I'm bipolar with how easily I snapped in there, but if she knew the truth it would be much worse. She'd never look at me the same way again. I had just met her, she would think I was filthy if she knew the truth.

Sitting down on one of mom's Adirondack chairs I watched the waves of the sound as it lapped up against the pier. My anger was slipping from me just as I was hoping it would, but instead of making me feel better all it was making me feel was hollow inside.

I was feeling like shit, like the weight of everything was suddenly on my shoulders. I didn't know how long I sat there, holding my head in my hands, racking my brain for the right thing to do until I was suddenly comforted with the kiss of a big hairy dog that slid his head into my lap offering comfort.

I didn't have to look up to know who would be there. In the short time I knew her she always seemed to have a knack for showing up when I needed to talk, so I shouldn't have been surprised when it was Ana that sat down in the seat next to me.

"You want to tell me what happened back there?"

The look in her eyes was only concern for me. Not anger or judgment because of my behavior, just concern and in that moment I knew I had to tell someone the truth. It hurt too much to hold on to it anymore. Why did I choose Ana? I could come up with a million different excuses, but in all honesty the only one that seemed to matter at that moment was the fact that she offered me nothing but friendship with no conditions. She was just a good person wanting to help. I needed that right then.

"You'll never believe me," I started off.