Author's note: We may have a problem. Not sure why it didn't occur to me before, but a few of these chapters (including the next one, if I choose to continue) appear to violate the site's Rules & Guidelines; "MA" means something different in my country. The problem being that I'm a stickler for rules.

Hmm. Since writing the above have learned the term "lemon" and that the site is riddled with them. This is confusing.

-Okay; solved. I'm just going to keep writing and hope for the best. It's pretty much my modus operandi anyway, so it might as well apply here as well. Thank you, for those who offered advice and/or support. Update soon.

On the Rocks: Chapter Twenty-one

Ana complies, trying to guess what food will be next; prosciutto, cheddar, Havarti or perhaps an olive. The tangy flavor of her blue cheese dressing spreads across her tongue even as she realizes that it's covering Christian's finger. Her moan, as she greedily closes her mouth around him, is answered by the sound of air hissing past Christian's teeth and then his finger is gone and he's kissing her. His mouth seems like the world as he teases both her lips and tongue in turn. Already swept away by this simple affirmation of everything that is right between them, Ana almost can't stop herself from gently biting his bottom lip when it comes within range of her teeth. Christian plucks his lips from hers enough to groan, "Ana, please."

Ana's eyes fly open at the raw need in his voice. His face matches his voice; nothing but desire to be closer to her, and Ana wonders if it's really a choice when she grins and says, "Okay, but make it quick or the chicken will dry out."

Christian's expression changes to one of pure joy as he says, "I do prefer a juicy breast."

Ana quickly removes her apron and then reaches down to hitch up her skirt as she says, "You're wasting time that could be spent on fucking me, Grey."

With a fierce grin, Christian silently accepts her challenge. Reaching between her thighs to grasp the top of her panties, he pulls at them until the fabric surrenders, the slight sting as they strain at her hips fuelling Ana's passion and she moans again as he rips them from her. And then she breathlessly complains, "I'm going to need an underwear allowance."

Almost frantically unbuttoning his jeans, Christian says, "Shut up and hang on." Ana reaches behind her to find the raised breakfast bar, and he says, "No, baby, hang on to me."

Tentatively grasping his shoulders, Ana is reassured by Christian's warm smile and she exclaims, "Fuck, that's hot!"

Beaming his pleasure at her words, Christian says "Not quite," and shrugs her hands from him as he pulls the t-shirt over his head, discarding it along with the remnants of her panties. Her mouth open in shock, Ana can only stare as Christian takes her hands and replaces them on his shoulders, saying, "No wandering, okay?"

Praying that she'll be able to keep her promise, Ana vows, "Okay."

His scorching gaze fixed on hers, Christian slips his hands along the outside of her thighs, lifting her skirt and her body, until she's naked from the waist down. And then he rests her on the counter edge with his hands under her bottom and says, "Don't come. I've been doing research too." Ana is wondering what the hell kind of research he's talking about when Christian enters her, eliciting a moan of pleasure from both of them and Christian says, "God, you feel good. But I was serious, Ana; don't come."

Desperate for the feel of him moving inside her, Ana says, "Okay. Keep your shirt…" She giggles and continues, "Keep your shirt off, Grey. I'll do my best."

Apparently satisfied that she'll obey him, or past caring, Christian starts moving within her, quickly picking up the pace until, only seconds later, he holds himself deep inside her as his entire body tenses through a silent orgasm. His eyes are closed and Ana keeps herself removed from the exquisite experience by focusing on the feel of his shoulder muscles straining beneath her fingers, and his beautiful face, now expressing only bliss. After a few seconds, Christian opens his eyes and smiles on seeing that Ana is staring at him, then says, "Now that's what I call an appetizer. Thanks, babe, I needed that."

Ana grins and says, "Well, it's certainly whet my appetite. Sure you can fulfill your obligations for the final course, Grey?"

Christian kisses her and says, "You know I can." And then he withdraws from her body, even as he hitches up his jeans, and suggests, "How about you go change while I serve dinner?"

Grateful for the consideration, Ana nevertheless warily asks, "You know what you're doing?"

Christian buttons his jeans as he protests, "Hey, I can't cook worth a damn, but I know what cooked looks like." Ana's hands are still on Christian's shoulders and she's suddenly reluctant to move. Christian notices her reticence and warmly promises, "They'll still be there after we've eaten."

At that, Ana smiles and releases him, saying, "True. Thank you, for that. You've no idea how much it means to be able to touch you. It's all I've wanted to do since I met you."

With a knowing smile, Christian says, "Not quite all."

Ana giggles and says, "Well, no, I very much wanted you to touch me, as well."

Christian kisses her one more time before lifting her off the counter as he says, "And I will. Go get changed."

"Oh, I was going to have a quick shower?"

With the hint of a smile and one raised eyebrow, Christian says, "You're asking my permission?"

Only now realizing she'd been doing exactly that, Ana blushes and lies, "No, I just want you to time serving…" As the smile on Christian's face widens, she says "Oh, shut up," and leaves the room to his soft laughter.

After the quickest shower in history, Ana abandons her plan to get dressed up for the evening and opts for extreme casual wear. She enters the living area to see that Christian has ignored the dining table, instead covering the coffee table with food, placing cushions on the floor either side. He's nowhere in sight, so she calls out his name and hears an answer from behind the breakfast counter. When she heads towards the sound, it's to find a now fully clothed Christian on his knees, spray cleaner and paper towel in hand, wiping the floor. Ana's hands fly to her mouth in an effort to stifle an imminent giggling fit as Christian says, "Slight accident with the…" And then he looks up and exclaims, "Oh, God, that's your night shirt."

Still fighting the urge to giggle, Ana looks down at her WSU tee and says, "Yes. I didn't want to risk more underwear. I don't have your budget."

Abandoning the cleaning tools, with suddenly trembling hands, Christian says, "Come here. Mind your step."

Laughter still silently bubbling within her, Ana smiles and shakes her head, daring, "You come here."

Cheerfully accepting her challenge, Christian crosses the few feet between them on his knees. And then he rests his hands behind her ankles, staring up at Ana as his fingers leisurely ascend her legs, pausing to watch her reaction when he teases the backs of her knees. Ana is wondering how she's going to remain standing when Christian's hands pause at the hem of her tee where it reaches her thighs. He rests the side of his face against her clothed groin and his hands slide under the shirt to gently cup her buttocks as he says, "God, I could eat you for dinner and never feel hungry."

Ana's joyful laughter finally escapes and she entwines her fingers in Christian's hair as she says, "I thought you were saving me for dessert?"

Christian lifts his head away from her, staring at her groin as if he can see through cotton and then groans before saying, "Yes, but you're making it very difficult to wait that long."

When he then presses his mouth to her, pleasure pulses through Ana's body from the place where his lips touch her and she breathes, "Sorry."

It's even more exquisite when she feels Christian's resulting smile, and then he says "No, you're not," before nipping her through the material.

Ana pulls on his hair, tipping his head back, as she complains, "Hey! Not nice."

Unashamed, Christian smiles up at her as he says, "You're going to force me to have dinner while you sit opposite me wearing only a t-shirt. I'd say all bets are off."

Apparently unable to stop smiling, Ana releases Christian as she says, "Fair enough. Let's eat."

Also smiling, Christian stands as gracefully as his injured ankle will allow, then puts the paper towel in the trash and the cleaner in the cupboard under the sink before washing his hands. Ana watches him, pondering how it could have come to this; kinky billionaire philanthropist Christian Grey moving around her kitchen as if he does so every day. When he's done, Christian becomes aware of her stare and says, "What?"

Shaking her head at the wonder of it, Ana says, "I just…I've never felt so loved."

His face transformed with that joyful, boyish grin, Christian says, "Good." And then he gestures for Ana to precede him to dinner.

As they kneel either side of their meal, Ana asks, "So, this is Japanese dining?"

Christian shrugs and says, "Not particularly. I just wanted to be closer to you than the dining table would permit." He deftly tears off a strip of chicken with his fingers and holds it up in toast as he adds, "However; itadakimasu." At Ana's silent question, he translates, "I humbly receive."

Ana's constantly simmering passion flares at the words and she confesses, "Oh, I like that." And then she copies his gesture with a piece of chicken and permits the lust into her voice as she says, "I humbly receive."

An answering passion flares in Christian's eyes and he says, "I see what you mean." And then he shakes his head and points out, "Though you could read from the TV guide in that tone of voice and it would work on me."

Wondering how it's possible for her body to sustain such happiness, Ana laughs and says, "Maybe later."

They eat in silence for a while, staring at each other as if nothing else exists, and then Christian grins and asks, "Better than the internet?"

Having just stopped, mid-chew, as she'd fervently watched Christian apparently absentmindedly suck roast chicken juice from his fingers, Ana swallows and says, "Much. You were doing that on purpose?" When he only smiles, Ana nervously pleads, "You won't laugh if I try that?"

Christian's eyes widen in surprise and then he smiles and says, "I seriously doubt it."

His promise lending her courage, Ana chooses a parsnip wedge and dips it in the juices at the bottom of the roasting pan, then sucks the gravy from it before biting it in half. By then Christian's lips are parted slightly and his breathing is accelerated. So Ana smiles and says, "I would think that the biting would be a turn-off for a guy, but you didn't seem to mind."

Christian shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts and says, "No. No, I don't mind at all." And then he picks up a vegetable strip and copies Ana's movements of coating it before offering it to her. Staring straight into Christian's eyes, Ana licks the gravy from the morsel and then bites it from his hand, deliberately grazing his fingertips as she does so. Again, the air hisses past Christian's teeth and then he breathes out heavily and says, "I'm possibly biased, but you have an incredible natural talent for seduction, Miss Steele."

Ana swallows, smiles and says, "Considering how many women you've been with, I'd say that you must have some talent yourself, Mr. Grey."

Frowning slightly in confusion, Christian says, "You're not even a bit jealous, are you?"

Ana shrugs and says, "If any of them were still in the picture it could get ugly. But, no, they had their chance and you're mine now."

Seemingly proud of her for the statement, Christian beams his pleasure at Ana and says, "Yes, I am. And you are mine."

Gaining confidence with every second, Ana dips her index finger in the gravy and offers it to Christian, echoing, "Yes, I am."

His eyes locked on hers, Christian opens his mouth to accept her offering, unable to stifle a moan of pleasure as his lips close around her. Nabbing her wrist, Christian holds her in place as he sucks her finger dry and then turns his attention to the rest of her hand, gently tracing the contours of her palm with the tip of his tongue, sending shivers of pleasure up her arm, before he nips the fleshy pad at the base of her thumb and says, "I think dinner's over."

Ana's voice fails her at first, so she clears her throat and then manages, "Okay."

Suddenly nervous, Christian reveals, "Uh, I'll have to leave the ankle brace on; not very sexy, but spraining it again would be even less so."

Ana springs to her feet and steps around the coffee table, offering Christian two helping hands as she says, "That's okay, old man, we'll manage."

The only warning Ana has is that Christian's mask of indifference appears as he accepts her offer of assistance. Suspicious, but unafraid, Ana only realizes what he's up to when his vice-like grip closes around her wrists and she's falling forward. Christian catches Ana as she yelps her surprise, and then he holds her in place across his lap with one hand on the back of her neck as he says, "What did you call me, Miss Steele?"

Pleasure coursing through her body at his dangerous tone, Ana stifles her giggle as she says, "Uh…alderman; a term of respect for a high-ranking official?"

Even as she finishes the sentence, one of Christian's hands is sliding her t-shirt up, exposing her buttocks to the air, and he gently caresses her as he huskily says, "I don't think so."

When his hand suddenly leaves her body, Ana braces for the impact and manages not to cry out as Christian's palm descends on her. Resisting the instinctive urge to reach back and protect her butt, Ana takes a moment for the pleasurable shock waves to recede, as Christian again tenderly caresses her assaulted flesh. And then she says, "Uh…on demand? I was referring to your ever-readiness for sex. It's a compliment."

Ana can hear the laughter in Christian's voice when he says, "I think you're still lying to me, Miss Steele."

This time, with her nerves already aflame from the first strike, Ana can't stifle a yelp of pain and pleasure. She feels Christian's hand at the back of her neck ease, even as he immediately soothes the site of the blow and she guesses that he's still nervous about hurting her, but she's enjoying herself too much to stop, so she quickly says, "Agamemnon."

Clearly amused, Christian continues his caress as he asks, "Agamemnon?"

Nodding emphatically as best she can, Ana says, "Because you're like a Greek god."

"Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to beat it out of you?"

Wondering how her body can react with trembling fear, when her rational mind knows that his words are an empty threat, Ana's muscles clench in terrified pleasure as she says, "You're going to have to beat it out of me, Sir."

Christian's hand stills for a second and then he groans as if in pain and says, "God, Ana, you truly will be the death of me." Without warning, he lifts Ana off his lap. Confused and a little dizzy, she kneels beside him, searching his face for clues as to his sudden change of heart. With a sheepish grin, Christian confesses, "I'm sorry, babe. But, if we keep going with this game, I'll be done before we get to dessert."

Satisfied that he's not disappointed in her, Ana beams at him and says, "So, I win again?"

Trusting her to support him, Christian leans a hand on Ana's shoulder as he struggles to his feet and says, "Yes, you're very clever. Now, are you going to fuck me, or not?"

Taking advantage of his offered hand to get to her feet and stand before him, Ana says, "I'm going to fuck you, Mr. Grey."