A/N: All mistakes are mine. As promised! The plot thickens!
CHAPTER 11
Anastasia
We wake the next morning and do our ritual of working out, showering and then we eat breakfast. I feel anxious and fidget throughout the entire morning. Today is the day. That I'm going to take my life back.
Something is going on with Christian as well because he seems extremely distracted this morning. I have caught him several times off in his on head while we were working out but he just shook it off.
As we step into the shower I let the warm water rush over my achy muscles.
"Thank you for letting me come and see you work tonight, babe." I look up and kiss his chin. "I promise to be on my best behavior." I put up the signal of the boys scouts.
He chuckles then wraps his arms around my waist pulling me into his hard body.
"Well, you make it hard to say no to you when you ride my dick like you did last night." Christian leans down and plants a kiss on my waiting lips.
I knew that if I sexed him good he would cave.
"But Angel, you have to stay by my side the entire night. Things might get a little intense at one point but I promise that you will be safe with me."
I nod and we finish up cleaning each other.
Dressing, Christian walks over with a velvet box in his hands.
"I wanted to give you this a few days ago but wanted to wait until the right moment." He pauses trying to steady his breath. "Anastasia I know that we are building back our trust that was broken when I took you from your parent's party. I want you to know that you giving us another chance is a big leap of faith for you and I promise to that after tonight we will get back to where we were."
Is he about to propose? Surely not.
"I'm not proposing Angel. Well, not yet anyway not until I speak with your father at least. I saw this and thought that it was the perfect item that your body needed."
I hate it when he can read my thoughts.
Opening the velvety box I see the most beautiful necklace. It's a stainless-steel chainmail necklace with a heart padlock. Attached to the heart is a set of Angel wings along with an A and C intertwined.
"It's beautiful Christian." I say truthfully.
He reaches up and undoes the current leather collar from around my neck and massages the area.
"Would you wear it for me?" Why does he sound so shy right now?
"Of course!" I say eagerly.
He takes the necklace from the box and latches it in place around my neck. He kisses the back of my neck and I get up and walk over to the mirror to admire it. I run my fingers along the chainmail all the way to the back and feel a small lump on my skin. Must be from the collar, I think.
"Oh Christian, this is just lovely. Thank you."
"I want to give you the world, Angel. If you will let me." Our eyes meet in the mirror and I know that I shouldn't do this but I can't help the way he makes me feel.
I turn my body to him and wrap my arms around his neck.
"I love you." I let slip.
I see his eyes widen and he stares at me like I've grown three heads.
"You do?" He says almost pleading.
"Yes, I think I have since we met in Miami."
He crushes our lips together and picks me up moving us to the bed. I know that I just opened a can of worms here telling him how I feel but right here in this moment I want to believe that we are okay. And that nothing else in this world matters but us.
Christian
I crush my body with hers on the bed. I have waited forever to hear those words leave her mouth. Once tonight is done with I am going to whisk her away from here and we can start our new life together. She will want for nothing and our happy ending will be set.
I hover over her placing soft kisses on her face. I move down her body caressing her skin with my fingers and trailing them down to her hot pussy. She was made for me in every way. My mouth is on her and I start devouring her like a starving man.
She is my queen and I will make sure every day I treat her as such.
I feel her thighs start to shake and she comes in my mouth gushing her sweet cream all over my tongue. I lap it up not missing a drop she has to offer. Moving up her body I kiss her sharing the taste of herself. Lining up my dick I thrust home. Her nails scrape down my back and dig into my skin. I welcome the pleasure pain that it causes. Her moans are driving my wild and I speed up my pace.
"Come for me again, Angel."
"Oh Christian!" She screams out and her walls tighten around me.
I swallow her moans with a kiss as she comes. I thrust two more times then unleash my load into her. I see a burst of light from behind my eyes and fall limply on her. I think she just sucked the life out of me.
We shower again and even though I love the way she smells after sex I don't want any other fuckers getting her after sex scent.
"I need to make one more trip to the library today if we are leaving tomorrow." She states as she puts on a pair of denim shorts and shirt. The shorts are a little too short for my liking but she is only running down there and back so not many people will see her. I watch as she bends down and ties her running shoes and I can't keep my eyes off her tone luscious legs.
I decide to show her that I trust her to do as she says.
"Okay I will be in my office. Come there when you are done and then we can finish packing up whatever else you want for our trip." I say and we both walk out into the hallway. "Remember your rules, Angel. You have less than five minutes before I send a search party."
She nods and takes off down the stairs.
She could run you fool. You shouldn't let her get that far from you. I shake those thoughts off and walk over to my office.
Turning on the computers and TV I settle behind my desk and bring up our confirmation for the flights and hotels for the next few weeks. My plan is to stay in Florida for a few nights then island hop until it is safe to come back to the states.
I check the time and see that she is almost over. I start to pull up the program that tracks her chip when the door burst open and she plows in breathing heavy.
"Cutting it pretty close, Angel." I give her a smirk and then pat my thigh.
She walks over and takes up residence in my favorite place for her to be. She settles in and burrows her bare cold feet under my other thigh and plants a kiss on my neck.
"I was just wanting to make sure to keep you on your toes."
I give her a squeeze and swat on the side of her ass before we hear the TV.
"This is Allison Michelle with Fox News and we have a breaking story to cover. The search for local socialite Anastasia Rose Steele has been called off."
"WHAT!?" We both jump up and scream. Called off what in the world does that mean? How can they call it off is she hasn't been found yet or a body hasn't been discovered?
The coverage turns to a media conference room where Ray and Carla Steele are standing up there at a podium with a few other men. In the background I see Kate and Ethan Kavanagh along with my brother Elliot, who is holding Kate by his side.
"Yes, Derek, we are just waiting for the family to make a statement and then hopefully we will be able to get some answers as to where Anastasia has been. We haven't received any news or have noticed the family going to the hospital so it makes up wonder why they are calling it off. Here is Ray Steele now.
We watch as Ray gets a pat on the back by a man in an overpriced suit and nudges him to the podium.
"Hello everyone, I'm Raymond Steele and I would first like to start off and say thank you to all the search and rescue teams who have been working tireless amounts of time in searching for my baby girl. Her mother and I could not ask for a better city to live in and for those volunteers who worked around the clock with us.
Holy shit! Please tell me that the Police didn't find a body and are trying to pass it off as Anastasia. I chance a glance at my Angel and can see that she is barely holding it together.
Carla and I would like to say that we have been in contact with Anastasia and that she is safe and well. We will be able to speak more about the situation at a later date but right now that is all I can say on the matter. Thank you for your support."
The camera cuts back to the reporter and she starts blabbing about her theories. I can't take much more so I grab the remote and turn it off.
Shit! What just happened?
The door to my office burst open and Luke and Taylor come barreling in. Anastasia hasn't moved from her spot in front of the TV.
"Christian, we need a word." Taylor stresses.
"Yeah, I would say that! We just saw a news conference with the Steele's." I yell but Taylor shakes his head telling me to shut up. "Let me get her back to our room and then we can meet up."
I walk over to her like a wounded child and try to steer her towards the door. She looks so lost.
"I…I…don't understand. I haven't been found yet. How can they stop looking for me? Why are they giving up?" She sounds like a small child who got lost in a clothing store trying to find her parents.
"I don't know Angel but I will find out what happened. Don't worry you will see them soon okay." I see the tears in her eyes as I guide her back down the hall to our room.
I help her in bed and reach to help take her shoes off but she is barefoot. Hmm, she must have slipped them off in the office. I put her under the covers and then walk out the door and attach all the locks. I can't have her trying to escape now in a desperate attempt. She is not in the right frame of mind right now and I need her to stay focused. We only have a few hours left and then we can blow this joint and never look back.
I walk through my office door and slam the door shut.
"What the hell is going on?" I demand.
"Christian, you have to know that this wasn't part of the plan but I just got off the phone with…"
ANASTASIA
I am lying in bed wondering if this is the twilight zone. Will I wake up and this will all have been one big dream? What the hell just happened? How can my parents say that they've been in contact with me when I haven't said a word to anyone outside of this prison?
Is this some kind of joke that they are playing on me? To show that no one cares if I'm gone? No, that can't be. Christian looked just as shocked as I did when we watched it. Or was that another lie for him? I don't know what to believe any more. My head is so messed up right now, I just want to go to sleep and not wake for days.
I close my eyes and let my tears and pain I feel loose.
I'm startled awake by the locks and I see from the hall light that it's Christian. I can't even bring myself to sit up. I just turn on my side and watch as he tries to come in as quietly as possible. I watch as he tries to gather his tux and shoes without making any noises. Is he trying to leave me here and not take me down to the auction?
I bolt up thinking how I need to be at that auction downstairs if I ever plan on getting away from here.
"Trying to leave me behind?" I say scaring him and making his leather shoes drop out of his hands.
"Angel, I thought you were sleeping. Did you still want to go down to the auction? I thought that you would want to stay here until it was time to leave."
"I want to go. I need to get out of this room. The walls are closing in and I need a breather."
"Okay baby. I can have Gail come by and help you get ready if you want."
"Sure."
I watch him shift his weight from each foot. He does this when he's nervous.
"What is it, Christian?"
"Are you okay after earlier today? I know that must have been a shock to see."
I let out a sigh. What am I going to do about it now? It's not like I have a phone to use to call and speak to my dad or mom. I just need to focus right now on my plan and then I will find out what is happening with them.
"There's not much I can do about it now, can I? I just don't want to deal with it right now, okay?"
"Okay, Angel. I will let Gail know and send her in. Wear the silver satin dress and these." He holds up a pair of red bottom heels with crystal rhinestones.
Thirty minutes later Gail has helped me with my hair, makeup and dressing. She is really a nice woman and I wonder how she got caught up in all of this. She seems like she can hold her own when it comes to these guys.
"Thank you, Gail." I say looking in the full length mirror.
"My pleasure."
I see that she pauses at the door and then turns around and comes back over to me.
"Anastasia, I know that this isn't the best situation but I think that you will understand once we are all away from here. Give Christian a chance to explain everything before you rush to judgement."
I nod not knowing how to answer her. Everyone is so cryptic in this house. And why is everyone so 'Team Christian'.
"By the way, if something happens tonight and things get out of control run out the side door next to the library. Head straight for the wooded area. Don't look back no matter what you hear."
When what she says registers, I turn to ask her more but she is gone out the door. The mention of the library has me on full alert. For the last week I have been leaving items in there to help my escape. I left the final item there earlier today and now I just have to wait for the right moment to make a break for it. Gail has given me the knowledge that I needed to find the best way out and I'm taking it.
Christian comes in a little while later in his nicely fitted tux. He looks so good in a black tux with a black shirt and black bowtie.
"Wow baby, you look amazing." He greets me with a soft kiss on my neck, trying not to mess up my makeup.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." I straighten his already perfect bowtie.
"The guest have started to arrive, are you ready to go down?"
"Yes, I'm ready to get this night started."
"Remember to stay by my side. No wondering around, I need to know where you are at all times."
"Yes, Sir!" I salute him which earns me a chuckle.
"Here, put this on." He hands me a black box.
I open it and find a silver mask next to a golden one.
"We have to wear them down there. It will let everyone know that you are not up for the auction." He answers my unspoken question.
I bet it will also help conceal my identity so that no will know that I'm Anastasia Steele. Not that it would matter at this point, my parents went and told the world that I wasn't missing.
He helps me tie it into place and I help with his. And then he does something that we haven't done since Miami, he takes his phone out and snaps a picture of the two of us.
"Ready?" He asks and touches my necklace.
"As I will ever be."
We walk down the stairs and I can hear the music playing. It's a soft and sensual beat. There are people everywhere. Men in black tuxes in white shirts with black Zorro masks on holding drinks in their hands talking with other men. The servers are in black pants with a cream colored jacket tuxes holding serving trays with champagne flutes. They have masks on but it only covers half of their faces.
The women who are walking around are in different types of bra and panty sets. They all have their heads down and are either sitting on a lap, on their knees on the floor, or standing by a wall waiting to be acknowledged.
I have never been to a whorehouse before but I can imagine that it would look something like this. Just with a little more class than most.
Christian has my hand in the crook of his elbow as we walk around the room. He hasn't said a word to anyone yet but has received several nods of acknowledgement. We walk in to the other ballroom and I immediately can point out Jason and Luke. They are also wearing golden masks and an all-black tux outfit. A woman comes over and she is wearing an emerald green dress and from her red hair I can tell that it is Gail. The mask really hides her identity well.
"Anything yet?" Christian asks Luke and Jason.
"No but Jose says that they are on the way."
"They?"
"Yeah, we were surprised too that he said 'they'. Just be on your toes and be ready. We will get this underway soon."
They walk away from us and we continue walking around the room not saying a word to anyone.
A short while later a man from the stage calls all the women to one room and the men and bidder to the other. As everyone starts to separate the ballroom doors close and Christian phones starts to ring. He answers and then hangs up without a word.
"Okay Angel, we need to go down the hall. I want you to stay in this room and don't come out. Even if you hear something, can I trust you to stay put?" His voice is commanding and leaves no room for argument.
"Sure." I sound nervous and God knows that I am.
"I mean it, Anastasia. Don't come out of this room."
I nod and he motions for a server to come over to us.
"What is your name?" Christian asks the guy.
"Benjamin Thompkins, sir."
"Do not let her leave this room, Benjamin. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Sir."
Christian turns back to me and I see his eyes have soften just a bit.
"I love you Anastasia and no matter what happens in the next twenty minutes will ever change that." He leans down and kisses me with urgency and all too soon he pulls back.
I feel like his kiss daze until I feel him push open a door and gently nudges me inside. He turns on the light and I see that we are in the library. My luck couldn't get any better if I tried!
"See you soon, Angel."
And with that he walks out and closes the door behind him. I wait for a minute before I jump into gear. I start running all over the room gathering up my yoga pants, tank top, sports bra, socks, and lastly my running shoes that I left here this morning. Every time that I was allowed to come in here I would leave a piece of clothing and hide it somewhere in the room. Christian always thought that I was reading through books at a fast pace but I had other ideas going on.
Tying the last lace on my running shoe I hear the click of the door. Shit! How am I going to explain this to Christian? I don't have long to dwell on that thought because as the door opens I see the last person on this Earth that I ever wanted to see.
Jose.