Wounds to Bind Chapter 34 – "Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret to success."
December 11
"Hello Anastasia," Dr. Flynn appeared while I sat outside a game store. Kate is inside buying a hand-held battery-operated baseball game for Elliot's Christmas stocking.
"Hello, Dr. Flynn," I greeted him. "It's Ana, just Ana."
"If you are just Ana, then I'm just John," he said, taking a seat beside me.
"So, which camp claims your allegiance – the give Christian a second chance camp or dump Christian's rude ass and move on camp?" I know my voice is resigned. I can't help it. Kate's been after me all morning to start dating again, or at least make an effort to have a New Year's Eve date.
"Are those my only two choices?" John teased. "How about a support Ana's decision camp? I'm not breaking doctor patient confidentiality. I want everyone to have peace on earth and a wonderful holiday season. I believe you and Christian would both have a Merry Christmas if you could just talk to one another."
I sighed. "John, see that three-dimension chess board?" I pointed at a crystal, onyx and quartz chess game in the window of the toy store. "Christian's on one level; I'm on one level, and we can't seem to coordinate our moves to get together on the same level."
"Eloquently explained, Ana," John rose.
"Christian would say, fair point well made." My soft voice does not reveal the pain my heart feels. I've seen five different potential Christmas presents for him this morning; and haven't purchased a thing. The SEC has been, to repeat a rude phrase from Kate, a cock blocker. He's constantly been in my thoughts since the elevator ride, and the handshake and the 'laters baby' in that sex-on-legs voice of his.
"Would he now?" John said. "I'm available if you want to attend couple's counseling with Christian. Couple's counseling addresses relationship issues."
"Thanks, but… I heard Christian quit touch therapy." I shrug. "I'm not keeping tabs on him, but Elliot and Kate talk, and I do hear. I don't think Kate hears me when I say I'm not interested in dating anyone."
"Technically; he postponed attending touch therapy sessions until after the holidays. Christian is trying to keep business trips to weekdays so he has weekends to spend with his family." John explained. "However, he was in New York for a conference when you attended the Grey Annex White Christmas Gala."
"Ah, then you understand I attended with a friend so my drunk boss wouldn't hit on me? John, I'm working on my issues and I'm not outing Christian's. I don't want to be made to feel guilty because I feel the way I feel. I'm not ready to date yet – not Kate's fixups, or Christian. I need time, and I wish everyone would understand that. If I don't see you again before Christmas, please have happy holidays." I picked up our shopping bags and headed to Kate. Then I whipped around. "Hey, John, can you tell me the best place in Seattle to buy English crackers for Christmas?
XX - 3PPOV
John didn't normally buy presents for his patients but this seemed too serendipitous to pass up. He walked into the toy store and bought a three-dimension chess board for Christian.
December 13 – APOV
Mary and I try French cuisine tonight. I can't help but think about Christian's ability to speak French. She's pleased I'm on schedule with buying my Christmas gifts. She asks what I will do if Christian sends me a gift. I explain I don't want anything from him. I explain Kate wants Elliot to propose…and I want time to think about my life. Our desires are so different…like our Grey men. Mary and I have a serious discussion about the fundamental differences between Christin and Elliot. While she's curious about Christian's 'buttoned-up' life…she does not pry.
This week's assignments require some explanation. Practice kindness and sympathy…which is not to be confused with charitable donations. Make someone else feel special…again, not to be confused with charitable donations. Control your mind…don't waste time daydreaming; but use your time to make a game plan you can live with. Control your emotions...i explain I'm anxiously awaiting news about a situation. I tell her I can't discuss it yet. She reminds me to maintain control of my emotions and just breathe. She reminds me to practice deep, relaxing breathing exercises.
December 16 - CPOV
I had a night terror last night; so I won't go to bed until the last possible moment tonight. Taylor must have warned Mrs. Jones I was coming home with two boxes of work files. When I explained I was working in the office; she brought me a large slice of chocolate cake and a glass of milk – 'to tide you over until dinner' – of course.
An hour later; she brought me a tray with a carafe of ice water. I eat the excellent Steak Bordelaise with red wine, shallot and mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, and braised red chard, white asparagus tips and red onion rings. I'm lucky she isn't my mother who would be offended because I wasn't eating at the table after she cooked such a wonderful meal. I'm lucky she remembers how I used to always eat in my home office while working.
One of Barney's stacks contains half a dozen folders for fiber optics materials plants and fiber optics manufacturing plants which could use intervention and reorganization. Barney suggested GEH acquire and consolidate. The issue is; they aren't in Washington; and will require travel to inspect them, negotiate with the current owners, and at least a week of hands-on work while we're reorganizing the company. I send the suggestion off to Ros for review and formulating a game plan. Unless something more interesting appears on the west coast…we can conduct the preliminary checks between now and the end of the year and then start M&A talks after the New Year.
Ros recommends Barney and I attend an emerging technologies summit in Raleigh, North Carolina in February. It's the last week of the month, in the middle of the week. It will leave my weekends free for therapy and family. It is midnight when I work through the final file in the boxes. I have attached notes and detailed directives to the front of each file. Andrea and Ros will have a good time with them tomorrow. The problem with that is it leaves me to Olivia's miserable attempts at serving coffee. Maybe I can send Olivia to filing and depend on Taylor to keep me in coffee.
XX
I sit in my chair behind my desk. Ana entered and closed the door. "I need to work," I said, attempting to establish my Dominance with my voice.
"I know," she said, 'but I just want to be in the same room with you." She has a satin sheet wrapped around her. She drops it on the floor revealing her naked body. The little minx is topping from the bottom!
"Come here," I held out my hand. She walked across the room and took my hand. I guided her to between my knees. "Kneel, sit back on your heels, hands flat on your thighs. Put your head on my left leg." She followed directions, beautifully. I stroke her hair while reading. Occasionally I rub my thumb across her pouty lower lip. A couple times I put my hands on her head; my thumbs at her ears. I am able to pull her up and plant a kiss or two on her lips from time to time when items are loading on the computer. A couple times I slipped my thumb into her mouth, and had her suck it.
I have her go to the office bar and pour me a drink, with ice. When she presents it to me, she straddles me, one leg on one side; one on the other, the drink held in her hand. I take a drink and then plant a cold kiss on one of her breasts. When I am done with my drink and with kissing her, I slip her down between my knees, in her quiet position. When I'm done with work, I pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, swat her on the ass and carry her off to my bed. I am ready to bury myself in her for hours…and she is ready for action…having been passive for the last five hours. Anticipation makes her hot, and wet and so ready for me.
"I want you…" I lay her down on the bed. "You are mine…" I tie her hands above her head, blindfold her and explore every inch of her naked alabaster skin. "You are so beautiful…" I kiss her pouty mouth. "Don't move…absorb all the pleasure I'm going to give you…" and I go down on her. After I make her come several times with my fingers and my mouth…I bury myself in her, hard, hot, deep and fast and cry out her name over and over as I come harder than I have come in weeks…
…and I wake up…missing the warmth and softness of my Anastasia. It's another cold, grey morning in Seattle. Once I clean up…I'm going to run until my legs are rubber and my angst has evaporated into the cloudy sky.
December 17 - APOV
Kate and I decided to host a Christmas party at our condo. She is celebrating Christmas in Aspen with the Greys, and I am going to Montesano. I invited Claire, Emily and Amber. She invited three interns she works with. For fun and giggles, we both invited Mia. Mia helped us plan our party, decorations and menu. I prepped the food, Mia decorated and Kate bought champagne. Mia said she had an icebreaker and a game to play and Kate said she had other entertainment for us.
Everyone brought a decadent or designer present with a $50 spending limit. I asked Kate to select my exchange gift because I don't have a clue. She bought a lovely Waterford bud vase for my $50. Her gift is a Coach card and change wallet with the signature Coach leather tag on it. It is black leather and nice…but seriously…it's a glorified change purse, not the bank. Who knew luxury could be had for so little? Everyone was requested to wrap their present in red and white paper. Kate gives me the presents to wrap. I have candy cane wrap which makes Kate giggle and walk away. I'm not sure I want to ask what that is about.
XX
"Kate has a 9-sided dice. Everyone rolls and gets the gift with that number." Mia called out directions for us to roll the dice alphabetically. Once we're done; she continues. "Introductions are easy…we'll begin with whoever has gift number one. which is me. State your name, your favorite Christmas movie, your favorite Christmas song, your favorite Christmas treat and your favorite Christmas ornament. My name is Mia. My favorite Christmas movie is Miracle on 34th Street – the original one with Natalie Wood. My favorite Christmas song is White Christmas. My favorite Christmas treat is gourmet hot chocolate with cinnamon-flavored marshmallows. My favorite Christmas ornament is a crystal piano because my brother always plays piano on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for our family." Mia wears a red cashmere sweater dress with black knee-high, high-heeled boots. She's wearing jingle bell earrings that tinkle when she shakes her head or moves.
"My name is Claire. My favorite Christmas movie is The Preacher's Wife. My favorite Christmas song is The Christmas Song by Nat and Natalie Cole. My favorite Christmas treat is pecan pralines. My favorite ornament is a corn-husk angel which my grandmother had when she was a girl." Claire wears a drop dead red tunic sweater and leggings with a red velvet headband in her Halle Berry pixie hair. Her nails are painted white with holly and berries motif.
"My name is Ana. My favorite Christmas movie is Scrooge, the Musical. My favorite Christmas song is Greensleeves. My favorite Christmas treat is gourmet white chocolate truffles. My favorite Christmas ornament is wooden angel my Father made for me when I was seven." I'm wearing my white tunic sweater and leggings, and my hair is in a ponytail. My natural French manicure needs to be refreshed… which is scheduled for tomorrow. I'm wearing white pearl stud earrings.
Everyone is dressed festively, the condo is decorated festively, and chatter and laughter fill the rooms. Mia banned all talk about work, and for this I am grateful.
XX
"Now that introductions are over, and everyone has a plate of food and a glass of champagne, let's begin the entertainment. I have 120 questions," Mia said. "They are all Christmas oriented. The first person to answer correctly gets to steal a prize. Ready? The song White Christmas was first performed in what 1942 film?"
"White Christmas," Kate guessed.
"Nope," Mia said.
"Holiday Inn," guessed one of Kate's friends. She won and stole Kate's present. I recognize our wrapping paper on the present she traded Kate. It's the vase.
"What does Donner and Blitzen mean?" Mia asked.
"Thunder and Lightning; they are German origin," Claire said, and stole my present, which was a flat, square box wrapped in red with a huge white gossamer bow. The present she hands me is a candy cane shaped box which feels like it holds a bottle of booze. She's addicted to bracelets so she must think there is one in that box.
"What Christmas condiment is made from marshworts?" Mia asked.
"Cranberry sauce," another one of Kate's friends guessed. She was right and stole Mia's gift; which was Kate's Coach wallet. Mia now has an intricately wrapped flat box, about the size of a tie box.
After forty minutes of laughter and an argument about what date is St. Stephan's Day, all the presents were stolen one last time. I answered the question correctly as December 26; which became a discussion of Boxing Day, and mummers, and Good King Wenceslas. I also correctly answered the questions about the origin of English crackers, the numerical name of Three Kings Day (Twelfth Night), the flavor of marzipan (almonds), and that Good King Wenceslas was not a king. Kate knew the chemical composition of snow was H2O; that poinsettias originated in Mexico and they have white berries. She also knew that brandy is made from distilling wine.
Since I answered the last question – I get one last trade before we open our presents. I was holding the bracelet box; and Claire was holding a square box. I traded her which netted me a brilliant smile. We open presents next. Claire got a thin, etched vermeil bangle bracelet which one of Kate's friends bought in an antique store. She's excited – she says this is the 100th bracelet in her collection. Emily opens the tie box to reveal a set of silver-plate bookmarks with a white silk tassels. They are etched with a forest scene. I secretly covet them. I won a Godiva Chocolate Biscuit Tin. Kate won a Tiffany silver-plated key ring. Mia won a bottle of white truffle oil which was in the candy-cane shaped package. Amber won my Waterford crystal bud vase. One of Kate's friends unwrapped the Coach card and change wallet.
We ate Caprese Finger Sandwiches; Minced Red Pepper and Chicken Salad Finger Sandwiches; Ham, Asparagus and Havarti Cheese Mini Quiches; Red Pepper Bits, Bacon and Sharp Cheddar Scones; Vanilla Bean Scones, Cranberry Orange Tea Cakes, Cherry Shortbread Cookies and Christmas Petit Fours. We didn't drink a lot of tea, but the champagne flowed freely.
Kate 'entertained' us with a Christmas porn DVD. I occupied my time circulating food and feeding Sawyer and Anders tea goodies. They occupied chairs in the hall outside our condo. At a huge outbreak of giggles, hoots and catcalls, I peeked, "Santa is kissing Miss Holly under the mistletoe. You just don't want to know where he's placed it." Sawyer snorted, Anders blushed Christmas red.
When a male stripper showed up in a Santa suit, Sawyer went ballistic. I caught a look at his blue eyes and busted Elliot trying to gatecrash the party. Sawyer threatened to make him leave…which made Elliot threaten to leave coal in all our stockings. I told him to sit down and eat. A cranky Santa is no fun for anyone. I brought out another full platter of goodies. More giggles, hoots and catcalls filled the hall. Elliot wanted to know just what we were doing in there. Sawyer gave me a look.
"You don't want to know where Santa's putting his candy cane," I said. "I don't want to know where Santa's putting his candy cane." I blushed.
Elliot grimaced. "Have Katie call me when she's done." He took a napkin full of treats and raced down the stairs.
After everyone left, Kate, Mia and I exchanged gifts. I gave Kate the emerald green winter set I bought at the VFW Christmas Fair. Her Christmas cracker had a holly-motif whistle in it. I gave Mia the amethyst winter set. Her Christmas cracker had a purple aluminum kazoo. Both of them will stand out on the slopes at Aspen! Kate bought me a cobalt blue silk teddy and robe combination. Mia gave me a bone china tea-4-1 set with wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies on it. It will look great in my new office. She found it at one of the tea shops. Kate called Grace to come imbibe with us, and it was quite fun. I get a case of the giggles, and eventually Kate puts my silly head to bed.
XX - CPOV
Sawyer said Ana drank too much champagne and Kate put her to bed. When Mom, Mia and Kate disappear, I beg Taylor to break in to the condo and let me make sure Ana is alright. How could they put a drunken Ana to bed and not check on her? Taylor swears; he remembers Ana throwing up that first night from drinking too much. He drives me there immediately, and lets himself in with a key and a code. "Improvise, overcome, adapt…when Elliot was drunk one night, I brought him here. I made a mold of the key and he told me the security code. I remembered it …just in case I needed it."
"I'd fire you, but I need that level of discretion now," I remind him. I go into Ana's bedroom, quietly taking off my shoes, and lying down next to her. I wrap my arms around her, breathing in the scent of her hair. She snuggles into my arms like she never left their protective circle. I'm so fucking happy at this moment to hold her, smell her scent, bury my nose in her hair and wrap my arms around her. If she were sentient, I'd spank her for getting drunk and then fuck her into the middle of next year. "Je t'aime, mon ange," I whisper to her. She bought new high thread count sheets. It's a joy to lay my head on the pillow next to her. She's wearing a flirty silk cobalt blue teddy. I'm going to torture myself researching designer silk and satin teddies for my girl to wear to bed.
Three hours later, Taylor lets me know Kate is on her way back to the condo, with Elliot. We have to go, or be discovered. I start to slip out of Ana's bed, when she starts talking in her sleep.
"Go away," she mutters.
"Go away?" I'm surprised. I know she's asleep but she snuggled into my arms when I came to bed. Now she wants me to leave?
"You always go away…you're like Jane Eyre haunting Edward Rochester's dreams. You are here in my dreams so many times…and then in the morning you are gone." She pulls the comforter up to her chin and snuggles into her pillow.
My thumb can't help itself, it soothes that little v-frown she gets. I want to kiss those pouty pink lips…but I cannot wake her or get caught. I'm out of there as quick as possible. Taylor and I are less than two blocks away when Anders reports Kate and Elliot are going up to the condo for the night.
XX - APOV
I think I wake in the night to Christian stroking my hair. Is he speaking in French? I don't want to open my eyes and chase the dream away…but he's leaving anyway.
"Go away," I mutter.
"Go away?" He sounded surprised.
"You always go away…you're like Jane Eyre haunting Edward Rochester's dreams. You are here in my dreams so many times…and then in the morning you are gone," I fall back asleep, and in the morning, I think I remember Christian's scent, but it's evaporated like my dreams of him. I don't want to think about him. But, I search my bed for a stray copper hair – but there is none. It was just a dream. I'm lucky he didn't know I drank until I got the giggles and passed out. At least this time I didn't throw up and embarrass myself by drunk dialing him.
December 18 - CPOV
I wake, not from a nightmare or from a wet dream, but from an erection…a painful, throbbing erection. It is so hard; I would have thought I was with Anastasia in the playroom. I spend a lot of time laying there, waiting for my erection to subside. What was I dreaming about? I'm sure it was about Ana…but the dream is gone…and the pain survives.
XX – APOV
Mia, Kate and I choose detox massages today. I guess I'm not the only one hungover from our Christmas party yesterday. My head throbs painfully while I'm getting a manicure. It's nice to have a face and neck massage during the facial and a scalp massage during the shampoo. I skip the pedicure. It's winter and no one will be nibbling on my toes for a while. I can't read manuscripts on my tablet because my head hurts. Kate brings me a bottle of water and reminds me to hydrate. I remember Christian giving me water the night I got drunk with Kate and José…and although it seems so long ago… lately memories of Christian are never far from my head…or my heart.
XX – 3PPOV
Elena had not heard from Leila since before Thanksgiving. She was healed from her bruised ribs and black eye from Halloween; what was she up to? Elena didn't like what she was hearing from Lauren about Ana Steele and what she was hearing from Liv about Christian. She was pissed to hear Ana was in Grey House and personally escorted to reception by Christian who said, "laters, baby" to the bitch!
She called Leila's phone, but it kept going to voicemail. She had been to Leila's motel twice and dropped notes through the mail slot to her room. There was no one to contact about Leila. Susannah had not heard from her. The motel owner would not open the room for her. He claimed Elena was not on Leila's contact list. He said Leila was not there and he felt honor bound to leave her things as they were. He verified Leila wasn't lying dead on the bathroom floor. Until the police came to say she was missing, or until Leila returned or until her rent was exhausted the first week of January – he wasn't letting anyone in her room.
The salons were floundering. Elena finally closed them on Mondays and shuffled staff between the salons to ensure they stayed open. She was doing the best she could; managing three salons and assigning Franco to manage three salons. She hadn't worked this hard since she opened the chain and worked 12-hour days. Franco, against her orders, slashed the prices at his three salons through the holidays, claiming the walk-in traffic at Post Alley had dwindled to almost nothing. He provided flyers with 30% discounts to local hotels to keep their business from closing the doors. He hired six mid-level students from three of the local beauty academies. Top level students were not interested in the Esclava Salons any longer.
Franco wanted to offer free WIFI at the shops to attract new clients; or encourage established clients to opt for more services in order to take advantage of the free WIFI. He also wanted a bigger social media presence. He wanted to offer event pricing – like bridal, graduation, prom specials. He wanted to attend chamber mixers to get the word out to potential new clients. He fired the maintenance crew which had been with her for years; assigning cleaning duties to each of the staff members on a rotating basis at the three shops he managed. He created holiday gift baskets from retail product which wasn't moving. The baskets which didn't sell, which were few, were donated to charities as gifts in lieu of the full day of beauty she used to offer. Fucking flamboyant fairy! Wouldn't share good gossip when he heard it…pain in her goddamned ass when she already felt screwed by Christian Grey, et. al.
Elena contemplated selling everything and moving to Belize. She had enough money stashed; she should have a good life for the rest of her days. A palatial home by the sea, good looking male servants to fuck when she wanted, social life when she needed it. She could run a discreet dungeon at her home which catered to tourists with a twist. There was no sense killing herself over these damn salons. Damn Anastasia Steele and damn her hold on Christian Grey. Stupid bastard.
December 20 – APOV
Jack has a sly grin on his face when I appear at the editorial meeting. I sit next to Amber and talk quietly to her, ignoring the cool atmosphere of the room. Lauren, sitting on the other side of Amber, is subdued, but at least she's dressed appropriately. I wondered how soon she would lose her giggly, flirty demeanor working for Jack. Amber sent me an instant message this morning. Jack's announced he's going to ask me tough questions about the manuscripts I've been reading. He thinks I'm just screwing around and not really reading. I thank Amber for the heads up. I may not have eidetic reading capabilities like Jack. I had a 4.0 GPA, asshole; I do my homework.
Before we get started, Mr. Roach appears. "Sorry to disrupt the agenda," he said. "I just need to make a quick announcement and then we'll resume. Grey Publishing submitted an online position announcement for an Electronic Publishing Editor. The position announcement requires three years of electronic publishing experience with five years in publishing. The deadline for résumés is December thirty-first. We will convene a panel consisting of three editors, myself and HR to review the résumés. We will pick the top five candidates by January sixth. Phone interviews will be conducted by January thirteenth. We will invite the top three candidates for interviews the week of January 23. We hope to tender an offer to someone before February 1, with them arriving at GP by March 1 to begin their work."
"Where are we going to house the new editor?" Jack asked. "Since Ana took the only available open office; we don't have space for a real editor."
"Grey Construction is reconfiguring offices over Martin Luther King's birthday," Mr. Roach said. "I haven't seen the blueprints yet, but Grey House HR assures me there's plenty of room for everyone." He begins a systematic review of everything on the agenda.
I have a short presentation prepared. I have two manuscripts which I am championing; and Jack is a prick about my presentation. He has a dozen questions for each manuscript. I politely thank him for his insightful questions. He suggests the genre for both of them is glutted with new releases and we should postpone dealing with them right now. Mr. Roach sidesteps his suggestion and requests the manuscripts be sent to the beta readers for their input. I assure him I will handle his request.
When we break for lunch, I make a quick escape up to Mia's office. "Please don't tell anyone I am here," I ask. "I just need a place to hide out so I don't stab my ex-boss with a letter opener today."
Mia laughs, Sawyer brings us lunch. We gossip about Kate's article in the paper with the picture of our tablescape and the menu for the party. There is no hint about Kate's entertainment. I think that article is part of the reason Jack is such a dick to me. Online it's had several thousand views. Kate's link to a PDF of Mia's Christmas trivia is popular also. I'm excited for her.
One of Kate's January articles is about National Soup Month. We're taste testing soup from various restaurants, cafes and food trucks. So far, the cheddar potato leek soup she buys in Pike Place Market is one of our favorites. She asks for my Survivor Soup recipe to put in her column. Elliot votes for chili every time we serve it. Mia offers her tri-color lentil stew recipe. We can taste test it and if Kate likes it; she can use it in her soup articles. It has tri-color bell peppers, tri-color onions and tri-color lentils with spicy turkey sausage. I decide to stop and shop. I can put the soup in the crockpot so Kate and Elliot can taste test it with me.
XX
Mary and I talk about Jack Hyde and his issues with me at the editorial meeting. We spend our time researching You Tube topics on handling business meetings, preparing for business meetings, business attire, business attitudes. She gives me a dozen questions about my job and career and life goals to consider and bring back answers the first week in January. She wants to know how many hours a day or week I'm working…and if I'm using work to avoid people and events.
December 23 - APOV
Text from Harley Harrison to Anastasia Steele:
I hope you've been a good girl…Santa Extraordinaire Claus is delivering two packages before the end of the year.
I don't need to be a code breaker to understand. The SEC is arresting Hyde and Lincoln before the end of the year. I shake my head and look out the window of my office for a minute before getting back to work. Part of me wishes I could give Christian a warning; but I can't. Part of me wishes … and I sigh. Will he forgive me for helping put Elena in prison?
December 24 – CPOV
I'm wearing a Santa suit…and it's very odd. It's not like me. I reach in the bag of presents and pull one out. "Isabella." My first submissive rises from a dark corner and moves toward me.
"Thank you sir," She doesn't look at me but takes her lacy boyshorts-clad ass to another corner. She loved lacy lingerie…and it seemed the more it irritated her skin…the happier she was.
"Dawn," I call out; holding a package for her.
Dawn rises gracefully and I remember she liked pale pink and pale purple panties.
"Thank you, sir," she accepts my gift and walks to the corner and kneels.
"Kristin," I call out; holding a package for her.
Kristin rises gracefully and I remember she liked white satin and lace lingerie and white silk blouses.
"Thank you, sir," she accepts my gift and walks to the corner and kneels.
"Susannah," I call out; holding a package for her.
Susannah rises gracefully and I remember she liked cream, beige, mocha and chocolate lingerie. The colors seemed to warm her cool, pale skin.
"Thank you, sir," she accepts my gift and walks to the corner and kneels.
"Kendra," I call out; holding a package for her.
Kendra rises gracefully and I remember she liked dark-colored lingerie; navy, burgundy, dark purple and black to accent her pale skin.
"Thank you, sir," she accepts my gift and walks to the corner and kneels.
"Leila," I call out; holding a package for her.
Leila rises gracefully and I remember she liked animal print underwear. It didn't matter the color as long as it was animal print.
"Thank you, sir," she accepts my gift and x walks to the corner and kneels.
"Sabine." There is no reply.
"Sabine." She still does not come forward. I set the gift on the table…there is already a pile of gifts there…with Ana's name on them.
"They don't want what you can buy them," John says. He's wearing a Father Christmas costume. "I don't see your heart on this table; addressed to Ana."
…and I awake. I remember Ana looked …edible…fuckable…loveable…in the pale blue underwear Taylor bought for her.