A/N: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your reception of this has been beyond amazing and the reviews...they have me cracking up. I want to clear up a few things. Ana and Christian will have a little more fun before the stuff hits the fan. Trust me, his secret will not go on for long. Please stay with me. One more thing, I've reviewed this so many times my eyes started to cross, so please excuse any errors.
She takes a bite of that fucking churro like she just hasn't dropped a bomb on my world. Dear God, she knows who I am, all about me. How did I think I could keep this going? Flynn was right someone was bound to discover my true identity.
I take a deep breath, square my shoulders and stare her down the same way I have done in thousands of meetings to get a rival to see things my way. "Nancy look…"
"Don't look Nancy me. I know who you are. I knew from the moment you stepped in the backyard at the house. The only thing I didn't know was that you were the same guy I'd been hearing about for days. I was honestly surprised especially since I know how you met. What would a big, rich CEO be doing at an old church in Portland? Then this morning she filled us girls on everything. That's right, she told us everything. Christian Taylor, my ass. I used to live in Seattle and you were always in the news. Christian Grey donates to this charity or Christian Grey was at this fundraiser. What's with the simple guy persona? Why are you lying to her? Is this some kind of sick game?"
"Ok, Mrs. Allen what's it going to take to keep this quiet?" I instantly regret my words.
"You pompous asshole! You think you can buy your way out of this? I don't want your fucking money. You're lucky I've got this baby inside me because my husband isn't the only one that would kick your ass. Besides, when I tell Ana about your game, she'll cut your nuts off." No she can't tell Ana about me. I run my fingers through my hair. This can't be happening, not like this.
"Nancy, please don't do that."
"Really? Tell me why I shouldn't? To me, you're using her. Do you think she'd want your money? Ana of all people is nothing like that."
"I know she's not like that. She's a good person and that's all I was trying to be too. She deserves the best and me, the real me, is in no way good enough but I couldn't stay away from her. She's captured a part of me. I don't understand how, why or when it happened but it has."
"Is this about your reputation? Is it that you don't want the blue bloods at the country club to you with her?" I can see why her and Ana are friends; both are pint-sized terrors. "Just because I, I mean she wasn't raised with a silver spoon in her mouth doesn't mean she should be regarded as less than." I caught her little slip and this is more than about Ana; this is personal. Ana did say that Mike was from affluence. Maybe his family and friends treated her harshly. That's not what this is about. Hell, I don't like being around the country club set and I definitely don't want Ana around them.
"Nancy, I'm not embarrassed by her and could give a fuck what others think. I like being with her. She's all that matters." She doesn't give much away but there's a small glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Why the name Taylor? Who's that?"
"It's the last name of my head of security. Ana thought that he was brother when we met and I let her believe it. She knows absolutely nothing about me. Please Nancy, if you tell her I'll lose her."
"I have to tell her. She's my friend and I care about her. What you're doing is just wrong and she deserves to be told the truth. She's fallen for you Christian. Do you know that? I mean really hard for you. What if this was your sister? Would you want some jerk doing this to her? Leading her on and basically making her look like a fool." How did she know I have a sister?
Answering my unspoken question, "Yes I know you have a sister. I know about the entire Grey family. Anyone that ever reads the Seattle Sun Times knows about you, your brother and sister and let's not forget about your parents; ones a doctor and the other an attorney, right? What I know about them doesn't matter. They're not lying to my friend. You are. Give me one good reason I shouldn't scream it out now."
"I tried to tell her last night but it didn't go as I planned. All I can say is that I can't imagine my life without her."
"What does that mean? Are you saying she's "the one"?
I'm at the point of no return. I need to make her see that I'm not trying to be a monster in this. "I don't know what I mean especially when it comes to her. I think about her all day every day. She makes me…happy. No one and I mean no one, has made me genuinely happy. She makes me want to be a better man and I never thought that was possible." I'm pleading for my life. "I know I'm wrong. I feel like absolute shit for misleading her but I didn't know what else to do. Being Christian Grey comes with a host of bullshit and sorrow and she's too innocent for that mess. I couldn't bring that to her. I would give up everything I have for her. When I looked at her and immediately, I mean at that precise instant I saw her I knew she's what I want: what I need; right there in front of me, is my life. Please don't say anything." She holds the key to my survival.
The ride is over and they're walking towards us. Ana still has the largest grin on her face. Our eyes connect and I know that she's aware something is wrong. Reaching us, I stand and hug her with all I have. This will be the last time I'll get to hold her; I need to make it count. Nancy will spill my secret, it'll devastate Ana, which will break my heart and Reggie, Mike and Alex will beat the living shit out of me. I'll deserve that beating. "Christian is everything ok? Nancy, you look like you're going to cry. What happened?" I can't speak. I want to grab her and pull her away from here but I've created this. My life is over.
"He's fine Ana, we're fine." I see Nancy does have unshed tears in her eyes. She stands and takes my hand patting the top with her other, "Little Henry here started doing some serious acrobatics and was kicking harder than usual. It was painful. Christian got scared because he thought I was going into labor. Right Christian?"
She's covering for me; I have a stay of execution. I can't believe this. "Yeah, she was in pain." I go along with her story. Why is she helping me? Mike steps closer, puts his arms around Nancy and kisses her forehead.
"Are you sure you're ok babe? We can go home if you need to?
"Nope. I'm fine now. You know you're everything I want and need, right?"
"I love you too. What's gotten into you?" She looks at me again. "I jumped to conclusions but Christian helped me see that things aren't always as they seem. He calmed me down."
"You two scared me." Ana chimes in. "From the ride it looked like things got tense. You both looked upset. Now that things are good, what do you do you want to ride next?"
"How about the Ferris wheel?" I suggest. "That way we all can get on. Can you get on that Nancy?" I owe this woman everything right now. "If not, I can sit with you again."
"Thanks for the offer but I can handle the Ferris wheel. Mike, baby, can we make out when we get to the top?"
"No doubt baby."
"Why didn't you say anything and thank you?" I managed to get a few moments alone with Nancy when she needed a bathroom break. After our conversation every time I saw her with Ana, fear seemed to paralyze me that she would change her mind and expose me. It's been hard to keep calm.
"It's probably my pregnancy brain but what you said touched me. Alex said to me and Rachel that you're in love with her and I think you're sincere in your feelings. Did you really say that to him?"
"I am. I really am." I avoid responding to the love question. I want to be around Ana always but I don't think its love. I can't love anyone and I know she couldn't possibly love me.
"In love with her or sincere in your feelings? Don't answer that. You need to decide what your heart wants and where you want to be. Either way, you have until her birthday. If you truly are sincere that should be more than enough time to figure your shit out."
"That's in a few days. What happens then?"
"Consider it an early Christmas gift. I won't say anything to her until after her birthday. She deserves that day plus the party she's getting and I will not have you ruining it. If you don't tell her after that, I will sing like a canary. I don't know all the reasons why you've done this and honestly, I don't care but you will tell her. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." She starts to walk away but I need to say one more thing to her. "Nancy, I don't usually admit when I'm wrong but I'm…I'm sorry for insinuating that I could pay you off. I didn't mean to…I was just…"
"It's ok. I understand. You're reputation of being a ruthless business man was also something that was talked about. I'm a big girl, I can take it." Looking me square in the eye; she and her husband have the same intense glare. "Don't blow this. You're never going to get anyone as good as her. But you can do one more thing for me."
"Anything, just name it."
"Fried dough. Get me fried dough with lots of powdered sugar."
VERY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AROUND 2AM
I open my eyes and I'm back; back in the shit whole of my childhood; my hell on earth. The smell of cigarettes mixed with the toxic fumes of a crack pipe burn my nostrils causing me to gag. This place isn't fit for animals. It's absolutely filthy and I know there's no food in the refrigerator but my four-year old self is oblivious. Somehow I found a miniscule ounce of happiness sitting on the floor playing with my favorite teddy bear.
There she is, my so-called mother, slumped over on the sofa. I can see that she used to be pretty; probably had young boys falling at her feet but now, now she's a zombie. "Where are you, you little shit?" He's yelling from the other room. I know what's coming next.
"How could you let this happen? Get off your sorry ass and protect him, protect me." I scream at her but she's out of it and doesn't move. I can hear his footsteps coming closer and I panic. "Run Christian. Go to the closet. He won't find you there." I yell at my younger self.
"You fucked up my smokes. I'll teach you to touch things that don't belong to you." Quickly he's on me, picking me up and slamming me on the floor. It hurts so badly. He kicks me in my side with his big boot and I cry real hard. Pinning me down with his knees, he rips my shirt off and pulls the lit cigarette from him mouth.
"No! No! Please stop." My adult self-begs. "I promise I'll be good." The burning stick sears my skin. The pain is excruciating. I'd rather have the boot. My chest is on fire. I feel it, every single moment all over again. "Mommy, help me please. It hurts." I beg. She closes her eyes and forgets that any of this is happening; she couldn't be bothered. He burns me again with the cigarette and I yell out.
"Christian?" I know that voice. She's calling my name. It's Ana. "Christian?" She calls my name again. Suddenly my arm is warm but it's comforting. My eyes flash open and Ana is sitting next to me crying.
"Ana baby, why are you crying?"
"Me? You're the one screaming, begging and promising to be good. You said it's burning. Oh Christian, does this have something to do with your scars?"
I nod. "But…I don't understand. I haven't had one since…" Then it occurs to me. "Ana were you in bed when I started to have my nightmare?"
"No. I needed to take a shower; you had me all sweaty from earlier. I was in there when I heard you screaming and raced back in. You were thrashing all over the bed and I tried to wake you but you wouldn't come out of it. Christian I was so scared."
"I'm sorry baby. So it is you." I pull her into my arms.
"What me? What did I do?"
"Nothing but be wonderful to me." I take a deep breath and tell her about the dream. "The thing is I have had these nightmares almost every damn night of my life until…until this past Friday."
"What happen on Friday?
"That's the first night we spent together. I like sleeping with you Ana. It feels good waking up next to you and you keep the nightmares away."
"Don't worry; no one will hurt you again at least while I'm around."
I roll her over on her back and kiss along her neck and the soft spot behind her ear. Since the first time we were together, Ana responds to my touch. "I'm sorry baby. I'm going to make you all sweaty again."
"Go with that feeling. Who am I to stop you?" She giggles.
"Damn baby, I love that sound."
The alarm clock screams in my ear and I'm filled with dread. That sound means that my time in heaven is over and I'm being cast back to depths of hell. Ana and I have not left this apartment since we got back from the fair Saturday night. All we've done is make love, sleep, eat and repeat. So happy she had a stocked refrigerator or we'd have starved.
Rolling over her side of the bed is empty. Why is she not here? Its 4:30am, can't be another shower. Clicking off the offending sounds, appearing in the doorway is my angel, holding a hot cup of coffee wearing one of my t-shirts. She's so fucking sexy. "Why are you over there covered up instead of naked lying next to me?"
"I see we woke up without our manners. The correct response when greeting someone in the early part of the day is good morning." She comes to my side of the bed, sits and hands me the coffee."
"You're right. Good morning baby." I kiss her cheek and take a sip of the coffee. Not bad for instant. "Now that we've got the pleasantries out the way, get your hot naked ass back in this bed and lie next to me."
"No way buddy. You have a three-hour drive to Seattle ahead of you and I will not have you be late for work on my account. But you do look luscious wrapped in my sheets." A salacious grin spreads across her face. "Put the coffee down." She demands. I'm no fool and do as I'm told. Her head disappears under the covers while her mouth wraps around my cock. Oh yes, another of her fantastic blow jobs but I'd rather be deep inside her. Both of us are wrapped in the covers and sheets and I can't pull her out.
"No Ana, baby, stop. I want you." I plead as I finally get the comforter untangled. The damn sheet is still a barrier. She rolls her tongue around my balls and I'm almost gone. Frantically I claw at the sheet. I have to have her. I can hear her giggles between the slurps and it's sending me into a frenzy. "Damn it Anastasia, stop!" I bark at her. I know she's playing with me by keeping the sheet tangled. I did mean for it to come out so harsh. I just know that having her tight, wet pussy wrapped around my cock is the only option now.
She sits up back on her knees pulling the sheet off her head. "What's your problem?" Her voice is harsh. Fuck, she's angry.
"I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to say that, it was just that…I wanted us both to get something pleasurable and I was about to cum and I didn't want…"
"What? Are you saying this was frustrating you?"
"Well…yes."
"Tough!" she says with an evil grin. Without the slightest bit of indication, my amazingly, wonderful and beautiful angle flies forward and I watch in what appears to be slow motion as she takes every single inch of me into her warm mouth. This is the deepest she's gone and even though I would never, even on the threat of death admit this out loud, even to her; Anastasia Rose Steele owns me deep, deep to the recesses of my soul. I should have made that tattoo permanent because it speaks the truth. If this is whipped, I'll take 1000 lashings.
A 6 month old baby is more coherent than I am right now. I reach down to grab her hair but she grabs my wrists and pins them down at my side. I could easily break free, she's not strong enough to hold me but that would be the dumbest decision ever. "Hold still Christian." She orders. That's the last straw, my thighs tighten and I cum and she milks me of every single drop. I'm spent; done.
She crawls up the bed and lies next to me. "Now you listen to me young man. Get up, go take a shower and meet me in the living room. If you don't, as you've said to me on several occasions, I will have to punish you." An image of her in my playroom room and me on the whipping bench flashes through my mind. I feel myself getting hard again.
"Oh no you don't, I see Little Christian is waking up again. Not gonna happen. Get up. I have to get you ready for work." With that she leaves me spread eagle in the middle of her bed, eyes partly open, panting. This week is going to be hell without her.
APOV
"Come on Christian, move that cute butt. You're going to be late." I yell down the hall. I don't think he's a morning person. You drained him again; of course he'd be out of it. That doesn't matter. I will not allow him to be late for work. I know how my manager can get when we show up late and I don't want him getting chewed out.
He doesn't come out the bathroom when I call. I swear I will turn the cold water on him if he doesn't get out here soon. I finish putting the cupcakes in the bag and hear his voice.
"Anastasia, why are you being so loud?" He asks strolling into the living room, naked, with a towel flung over his shoulder. His body is exquisite. There isn't an ounce of fat or a misplaced hair.
"I know what you're doing and it's not going to work. Put some clothes on."
"Whatever do you mean?" He gives a smirk. "For your information, I like to air dry after a shower." He leans against the wall and stretches his arms above his head, making my eyes drift down his body to his cock. Damn does that thing ever sleep? I walk over to him and give him a chaste kiss. "Listen, seeing you like this makes me want to knock you to the ground and take advantage of you but sometimes we can't give into our desires no matter how much we want them. I can't have you late for work. GO. !" I turn him towards the bedroom and give him a firm smack on the ass.
The weather is brisk this early in the morning. It figures since the sun hasn't risen yet. We've been on the porch for a while now, kissing and snuggling. Damn, I can only put my arms around his waist; that's not really snuggling. I really don't want him to leave but he already stayed an extra day. We can't stop the inevitable.
"I don't want to leave either Anastasia." He says like he's reading my mind. "This weekend has been more than I expected. It's been wonderful."
"You don't have to leave. I know my place is small but I can make room." He softly kisses my forehead.
"Baby, don't fret. The three days will pass quickly and before you know it, I'll be back down her Friday night. Will you miss me?"
"Of course I will but the question is will you miss me?" His hands cup my face bringing us inches apart.
"Miss you? I will more than miss you. The other day you said I was a part of you. That applies to me as well." We kiss once more but linger on each other's lips; neither wanting to be the first to admit we have to part.
"Here." I pass him the paper bag I'd brought down with me. "It's for later."
"What's this?"
"Your lunch silly and a few snacks. There's a sandwich, yogurt, a fruit cup, cheese and crackers, a hardboiled egg and a cupcake. I don't want you going hungry." He looks at the heart and arrow I've drawn on the front.
"Wow! You've done this for me? Is it possible for you to get any sweeter?"
"Let me know that you've arrived safely."
"Ok. Go back inside. You shouldn't be out here anyways. I don't want any assholes seeing these oh so sexy Rainbow Bright pajama bottoms." I watch him make it over to his car and he quickly pulls off. This week is going to be hell without him.
The next chapter is done but needs some major reviewing. It'll be up in a few days.