Ana laid quietly beside Christian, wrapped in his arms, soaking up the afterglow of his lovemaking. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, "It will all work out. Trust me."
"I know." She whispered as she pulled his face down, hoping to drown in their kiss and forget everything else that was about to happen. "I don't think I can eat" she whispered into his chest.
He opened his eyes and said sadly, "For once I am inclined to agree " he looked at the clock on the nightstand. It read 4:45 pm. He sighed and announced "I need a shower and to check in with Ros."
"What time do you want Gail to have dinner ready?"
"How about 5:30?"
"Okay I'll let her know."
At 5:20 Ana sat down to the table. She was wearing the pale blue shirt and jeans Taylor bought her from the night Christian rescued her at the bar.
Gail asked if she would like a glass of white wine.
"Please," Ana replied.
At 5:30, Christian and Taylor emerged from the study. Christian headed for Ana but was still engaged in conversation with Taylor. Christian bent down and kissed her cheek and slid into a chair beside her.
"Good evening, Mrs Grey. May I say you look especially lovely tonight."
"You may. After all, this is a Taylor made outfit. This shirt is one of my favorites. You really outdid yourself that day Taylor. Your other purchases fit even better. "
"What other purchases?" Christian growled.
Ana looked at Christian, replied casually, "You know the blue lace bra and matching panties you said were so sexy? Thank Taylor. "
Christian is looking furious. "Ana go and change immediately. Give the clothes to Mrs Jones and she will discard them."
Then he turned to Taylor. "I believe I asked you to replace her jeans, her sneakers and her socks. I never authorized you to buy her intimate apparel. "
Before Taylor can answer, Ana interrupts. "Don't be ridiculous, Christian. I like this outfit. It's one of my favorites. I'm not throwing it out just because you're insecure."
Christian turned his cold grey eyes onto his wife. In his most menacing tone of voice he ordered, "Get out of those fucking clothes now or would you rather I drag you to the playroom and rip them off?"
"I am not taking these clothes off and you are certainly not taking me to your playroom."
"Make me drag you to the playroom and I can promise you will not be able to sit for a week."
"Sir, " Taylor started
"Shut the fuck up!" Christian thundered.
"Anastasia?"
"I am not taking these clothes off. "
"Mrs Jones. We will not be having dinner tonight. Please turn everything off and return to your quarters. You too, Taylor. "
" Sir, I know you have had an exceptionally difficult day but may I remind you your wife is pregnant."
"Go Taylor. "
"No. What are you going to do, threaten me with your playroom?"
"You're fired, Taylor. Leave."
"I'm calling Flynn! You've lost your mind!"Ana screams pulling out her blackberry. Christian knocks it out if her hand.
Taylor pulls out his phone and announces he will call Flynn.
In a deathly evil voice, "Do not interfere or I will punish her even more severely than I plan to."
"Not while I'm here. "
"There will be other times when you're not."
Then he turned to Anastasia and ordered, "Go upstairs and wait for me in the playroom. "
"No." She said stubbornly.
"Fine. You want it rough, we can do it rough. I will punish you tonight and it won't be with any of the toys you like. Do you want to feel my belt again Ana?"
Forgetting about Taylor for a moment , Christian bends down to Ana's face , "I promise you, you are going to feel my belt tonight. I am going to beat you until you bleed, that is, unless you want to take her punishment Taylor?"
"She's not your sub!"
"Are you offering Taylor? I haven't had a male sub for a very long time."
"Scared a real man might beat your ass?"
"Enough!" bellowed Christian. "This ends now."he grabbed Ana's arm and hauled her to his side.
"All right. I'll do it" Taylor conceded.