Chapter 54 - Ethan? Ethan Who?

Christian's POV

He's a good looking fucker I'll give him that. Tall, broad shoulders, cut as fuck arms and blonde hair, he's got that whole surfer boy look about him and it pisses me off just watching him. Leant against my SUV like the cocky fucker that he is, his foot is pressed against the door and his hands are fisted in his jean pockets, it's almost like he's waiting for me. Ready for me.

"Where's Ana?" Climbing out of the car, I fasten the first button on my jacket and adjust my cufflinks as if I'm preparing for battle, which in many ways I am.

"Inside, Sir. Sawyer escorted her to the break room whilst waiting for you to arrive. It was a risk leaving Kavanagh alone but he didn't move a muscle, Luke returned to find him standing in the exact same spot."

"She went willingly?"

"Yes, Sir. She didn't even roll her eyes." If I wasn't so pissed I'd laugh. The fact that my CPO's have caught onto my girlfriend's errant mannerisms surprisingly pleases me no end. "She did tell Luke to tell you not to rip his head off though." That doesn't surprise me either. Once Taylor and I reach Ethan, he drops his foot but remains pressed against the door. His lips curling into a self satisfied smirk as I move to stand in front of him, my face merely inches away from his.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" My voice is low and controlled - demanding. He blinks slightly but his expression doesn't waver, he's still smirking and it's taking every ounce of strength I have not to punch his fucking face in. "Answer. Me." Shuffling onto the opposite foot, he tips his head back slightly and puffs his cheeks out with an exaggerated sigh.

"I came to see Ana."

"Why? Why would you come here when I specifically told you to stay away from her? Do you have a fucking death wish?"

"Funny that, I don't remember agreeing to bow down to you, you pompous, conceited prick. Like I said, I came to see Ana, so be a pal and go get her for me." My hand flies out and curls around the base of his throat before I even register what I'm doing, I feel Taylor's hand on my shoulder but I don't release him. I want to kill him, I want to squeeze this fucker's neck until he's begging me to stop for even thinking that he can get the better of me. That he can have what's mine. "Now, now, Christian. What would Ana say about this?"

"Don't you even breathe her fucking name. You're nothing to her, nothing."

"Mr. Grey, let him go. You're creating a scene." Sure enough, people are looking but I don't give a shit. I promised myself that if he ever came near Ana again I would kill him. I'm not stupid enough to think we won't be around him again, he's Kate's brother and if she and Elliot stay together, he'll always be fucking around but this - this is on another level entirely. He deliberately sought her out, he tried to get close to her and if Sawyer wasn't here… I force myself to drop him, giving his throat one final squeeze before pulling away.

"All I wanted was to talk to her. Your fucking henchman didn't need to drag her away like that, what did you think I would do to her exactly?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

"I wouldn't hurt her if that's what you're thinking, Grey." He spits, clenching his jaw and pursing his lips into a thin line. "I would never do that. I love…" He pauses mid sentence and scrubs a hand over his face. My stomach twists and tightens at his unfinished sentence, knowing exactly what he was about to say. He loves her, he loves my Ana.

"You love her?" He doesn't answer me. He simply stares me down and chews on his bottom lip, his eyes constantly flickering towards SIP's double doors behind me, almost as if he's contemplating making a run for it. "Do. You. Love. Her?"

"I've always loved her." He breathes and closes his eyes and for a minute, for a split nanosecond I pity him. He's in love with the most beautiful and the most incredible woman on the face of the earth and there's nothing he can do about it because she's with someone else, she's in love with someone else. There was a time not all that long ago where I was in the same position as he is now, watching her from a distance and only being able to pray that one day - one day she would see you and finally feel the same way. I pray the fucking Lord that Ana saw me every day, because the thought of not having her in my life fills me with sheer devastation and dread. "She's just so…" Ethan waves his hand in the air as he struggles to find the words to describe just how fucking perfect my girlfriend actually is.

"You don't need to tell me what she is, Kavanagh. I know exactly what she is, I just want you to tell me what was going through your fucking head coming here today?" My hands are balled into fists at the side of my hips, I'm growing more and more anxious by the second, I desperately need to see Ana but at the same time I don't want her out here. I don't want her near him.

"I miss her." He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. For a minute I think he's going to cry, his voice cracks and he swallows hard. "I haven't seen her…I haven't seen her properly since I came home and I…I just wanted to see her." He's a mumbling mess, tripping over his words and choking on his own breath. When he opens his eyes, he fixes me with a glare and clenches his jaw, his fists mirroring mine and balling at his side so tightly his knuckles are turning white. "You've taken her away from me."

"Excuse me?" I breathe, my voice just above a whisper. "I've taken her away from you? How the fuck have you figured that one out?"

"Before I left Seattle she was living with Kate and happy, she had her own life and she didn't answer to egotistical bastards like you. What the fuck did you do to her, hmm? Throw your money at her no doubt, offer her a life of fucking luxury? Give her something she couldn't say no to?" I take two steps forward and get in his face once more, breathing heavily through my nostrils.

"If you really think that then you don't know Ana at all, because if you did, you would know money isn't what drives her. So I suggest you rephrase that, Ethan."

"I know her better than you."

"See, I don't think you do. If you did you wouldn't be here now, begging to see her would you? She doesn't even want to speak to you so what does that tell you?"

"She didn't have a choice." He too takes a step forward, squaring his shoulders and straightening his stance. "That prick you pay to smother her dragged her away before I could even get to her."

"Actually, I think you'll find she wentwillingly. That prick called my head of security instantaneously and informed him of the situation, Ana asked him to call me as soon as she walked through those doors," I point behind me with my thumb. "She wanted me here because I am her boyfriend, not you. When the fuck will you get that into your thick skull?"

"You don't deserve her."

"So you've already said. The thing is though, Ana seems to think I do, Fuck even I'm starting to believe I deserve her. That beautiful woman has chosen to love me, not you, me. I don't blame you for wanting her, every man that walks into the same room as her wants her. She's funny, gorgeous, sexy, sweet - the list is fucking endless. But you aren't the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with, I am." His eyes narrow and his chest starts to heave, I don't doubt that he wants to hit me for a single second. I do have the one thing he wants after all.

"If you're that confident she loves you, why won't you let me near her? What's the real reason?"

"Because I don't fucking trust you around my girlfriend."

"Really? Or is it because you don't trust, Ana?"

"That's enough." The unmistakable, sweet yet strong voice of my girl sounds from behind me. Turning on the spot, Ana stands not even ten feet away from us, looking more than beautiful in a white and navy chevron dress with a tie wrapped around her waist, her rich chocolate locks are hanging loosely around her shoulders and breasts and she literally takes my breath away. "Seriously, Ethan what are you doing?" The last thing I want is for Ana to be out here for this, but at the same time all I want to do is hold her and touch her.

"Ana, I -"

"What? You were telling my boyfriend that he shouldn't trust me? I don't know what you're doing but it needs to stop and it needs to stop and it needs to stop now."

"I don't think he's right for you, Ana, and if you were truly honest with yourself, you would feel the same way." I lunge forward in an attempt to beat the fucking shit out of this dickhead but a small, warm hand curls around my arm and halts me in the process, Ana glances up at me through her lashes and shakes her head, imploring me to stay calm.

"That's it, Ethan. I won't have you talking that way about Christian, I love him." Her arm wraps around my back and she presses a soft kiss to my clothed bicep. I think I stop breathing for a second, I've had her touch me countless times, she's kissed me countless times, but never has my heart stopped beating the way it did just now. "What you're doing is thoughtless and disrespectful, have you no regards for my relationship whatsoever?" I snort under my breath. Of course he fucking hasn't, all he cares about is getting into my girl's panties.

"The relationship you so blindly walked into within a matter of weeks? He is the reason you ended up in fucking hospital, Ana! Kate told me all about what happened between the two of you and that Brody. What kind of person sleeps with his best friend's fucking girlfriend?!" Despite Ana shrieking in protest and Taylor clasping me around the shoulders, I shove this mother fucker against the car so hard his neck snaps back and his head bangs against the bonnet, my hands are fisted around the scruff of his shirt causing his own hands to fly out, curling around my wrists in a futile attempt to push me off.

"I should knock you the fuck out for that. You don't even know what you're fucking talking about you, deluded, sanctimonious piece of shit! If you ever, ever bring up Brody again I'll make you wish you're in that prison cell with him."

"Christian, please! People are looking!"

"You didn't protect her." Ethan spits through gritted teeth, his eyes burning a hole into mine. "He could have killed her and where were you, hmm? You didn't even know he had her until it was too late!" Everything rushes north and I feel like my head will shoot the fuck off if I don't get Ana away from this fucker.

"Christian let him go! Taylor!" Pressure builds on my forearms and I'm reluctantly forced to drop him like the sack of shit he is. Ana is breathing heavily and her face is flushed, she pushes her hair out of her face and closes her eyes, no doubt relieved I haven't done anything else other than get a little rough with Ethan. I know she worries I'll do something that will land me in jail. "Where did you hear that? Kate?" Ana addresses Ethan with a bite to her tone, her baby blues narrowing into small slits as she folds her arms across her chest and rocks on her stilettos. "Because she wasn't there either! No one knew anything until it was too late so why don't you," Striding forward she jabs her finger into his chest. "keep your theories and your opinions to yourself because you weren't even in the country, Ethan! I love Christian more than I've ever loved anyone and nothing will change that. Not you, not Brody not anything."

I have never wanted to kiss this woman more. My heart feels like it will burst from her words alone and when she turns her head to look at me, a small, beautiful smile spreading across her face, I simper like the whipped pussy that I am because that's what Anastasia Steele does to me. She breaks me down piece by piece until there is nothing left; no barriers, no walls, no false emotions - just Christian, her Christian.

"Ana, I'm sorry. I didn't come here to upset you, I just wanted two minutes alone with you. I wanted things to be like they used to be."

"Well they're not." Her voice softens but only slightly. "We're not those kids who shared the same apartment anymore, Ethan. We've grown up, I've grown up. I have a life now and I'm sorry if it doesn't include you the way you want it to but that's something you're just going to have to deal with."

"So what? This is it, we can't be friends anymore?" His voice cracks and he looks like he'll breakdown at any second.

"I'm not saying we can't be friends. I just don't think we should spend any time together until you sort yourself out, you're Kate's brother, you're my brother." He blanches at her words, clearly disgusted with her choice of endearment but I on the other hand couldn't be more fucking thrilled. Hearing her say she only sees him as a brother makes me want to rip my shirt open and beat my chest. "We will always be friends but this," her hand flickers between the three of us who are now standing in a small circle of small sorts, Taylor and Sawyer stationed on the sidelines observing. "this can't go on."

Straightening out my jacket, I lace my fingers with Ana's and raise her hand to my lips, pressing soft butterfly kisses to her knuckles. Ethan looks ready to kill me but I don't give a fuck, this woman is mine and if I want to kiss her I'll kiss her. He's lucky I'm not bending her over the car and fucking her senseless just to show him who she really belongs to.

"I'm so happy you're back in Seattle, despite what you might think I have missed you," My throat catches and I find myself tugging away from her but Ana tightens her hold on my hand. "But I can't be what you want me to be, please just respect that." Ethan lowers his head and takes three steps forward, his hand reaching up as if he's making a move to touch her but I stop him, smacking his fucking hand away and stepping in front of Ana.

"Don't even fucking think about it. Back. Off." A hint of a smirk tugs at his lips, I know Ana can't see him because I'm blocking her view which instantly tells me none of what she has just said registered with him whatsoever. "This is where you leave."

"Don't worry, I'm going. Ana," He looks over my shoulder and his face softens. "I'm sorry." I don't hear her respond so I can only guess she nodded in return, her face pressing against my back. I watch as he walks across the sidewalk, his head hanging in defeat and his hands fisted in his pockets, only pulling one out to press the fob on his keys, opening his car door and climbing inside without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

"Come here," I pull Ana into my chest without a second thought and cup the nape of her neck, her dainty hands locking at the bottom of my back as I press my lips to the top of her head. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," She responds, her voice muffled by my shirt. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" I cradle her face and tilt her head so that she can look at me. Her eyes are swimming with unshed tears and her teeth sink into her lower lip. Does she think I'll be mad at her over this? "Baby, that wasn't your fault, you didn't know he would show up here today."

"I know but still, you rushed over here no doubt thinking all sorts." She sniffles slightly and drops her gaze. "I don't know what's gotten into him."

"I don't give a fuck about Ethan, Ana. The only person I care about," I bend my knees slightly and kiss her soft, plump lips. "Is you. Are you sure you're okay?" She nods her head and leans into my touch, her cheek pressing into the palm of my hand. "Do you still want to meet with Caroline or do you want to go home?"

"Will you come with me?"

"To Neiman's?" She nods once and I want to fist pump the air. She needs me. "Of course I will, I'll go anywhere you want me to, baby."


"Haven't you got anything a little more modest?" I ask Caroline with a frown, tipping my champagne glass towards Ana who steps out of the fitting room and rests her hands on her hips. If this woman thinks I'll allow my girlfriend to parade the streets of Paris wearing that she's got another thing coming. This is exactly why I wanted to be here.

"What's wrong with it?" Ana drops her hands and slumps her shoulders looking more than disappointed. She turns on the spot and raises her chin, smoothing her hands over her stomach and standing onto her tip toes as she admires herself in the full length mirror.

"Nothing's wrong with it." That's the point. The black spandex sticks to her body like a second skin. The Marquis cut out at the front of the dress and the halter neck fastening pushes the dress from modest to daring and seductive as fuck. My cock hardens as I watch her turn and twist on the spot and when she slips her feet into the Louboutins Acton hands her to 'complete the look' I almost lose it.

"You look beautiful, Anastasia." Caroline gushes and stands back to admire her work. This is the forth fucking dress I've disapproved of and if I was a gambling man, I would bet that she's doing this purely to piss me off. I fired off strict recommendations as soon as Ana and I walked in, no cleavage, nothing skin tight and nothing short. Yet, here my girlfriend stands representing all fucking three.

"Don't you like this, Christian?" Ana's voice is soft and disappointed, I can tell that she likes this one. She feels confident in it and so she fucking should, she looks hotter than hell but I'm still uncomfortable with the thought of her walking around looking like that. Fuck she looks so hot.

"I'm just not sure, baby. Try something else on and then come back to it." Her bottom lip juts out and she frowns, a v forming in between her brows. "Caroline, another one please." I grin like a fucker and wolf whistle when she steps out in a floor length, Yigal Azrouel, monochrome gown. It has a gathered one shoulder neckline and a slit in the left leg. Fuck. Yes. "We'll take that one."

"Christian, when would I ever wear this?"

"I'm sure we'll find somewhere, Ana. That dress is hot as fuck. Don't you like it?" She picks up the slim fitting skirt and drops it again, admiring herself from the waist down.

"It's beautiful. But I thought we were shopping for Paris? I hardly think this is suitable for climbing the Eiffel Tower and eating croissants, where would we go that would even warrant wearing this?" I raise an eyebrow and cross my ankle over my knee, staring her down as her mouth forms a silent 'oh', her eyes widening in realisation.

"What makes you think that's all we'll be doing, baby?"

"Well I..I just, I didn't…" She's so fucking cute when she rambles. Her fingers graze the fabric on her stomach and she smiles shyly, nodding in agreement.

"I'll have Marissa bag it up for you, Mr. Grey. Shall we move onto day wear?" Caroline opens the curtain open, gesturing for Ana to step back inside and undress.

"No, actually I want to look at the lingerie." I deadpan and Ana gasps and spins on the spot, her jaw dropping to the floor as her cheeks redden with the most adorable blush. Why is she so embarrassed? Outside of us sightseeing, I plan on locking Ana away in that hotel room and letting her walk around in nothing except lingerie and stockings.

"Christian!" Ana grits and narrows her eyes, I simply shrug and knock the rest of this god awful champagne back. "Why did you have to say that in front of Caroline?"

"Ana, how else do you expect to try it on? She's a professional and this is her job, she didn't even bat an eyelid. Now get in there and get that dress off." Caroline returns with more lace and garter belts than I think I've ever fucking seen in my life, either she knows how often Ana and I fuck, or she's hoping that I'll buy the lot. Either way she's right.

For over half an hour, I sit back and watch as Ana tries on the lingerie Acton picked out for her and it's all I can do not to stand up, push her backwards into that fitting room and fuck her brains out. I adjust myself for what feels like the fucking thousandth time and breathe through my nose when she steps out in a black satin set completed with a suspender belt, she's wearing those god damn stilettos again making her legs look like they travel for fucking miles, she tilts her head to the side and bites her lip shyly.

"Well?"

"Well?" I repeat and lean forward as I pick my jaw up off of the floor.

"You like?"

"Oh, baby," I stand and stalk towards her slowly, her breath hitches and she takes a small step backwards and scans the room, no doubt making sure Caroline doesn't walk back in. "I more than like." My finger traces the ample swelling of her tits and she gasps, her eyes darkening with lust and want. "Much, much more." My hand slides from her chest into her hair as I cup the side of her face, tilting her face towards mine and squeezing possessively. "You look fucking incredible." Nudging her nose with mine, I swipe my tongue across her closed mouth and fight back a groan when she whimpers, her shoulders sagging as she melts into my hold.

"Christian, not here." She protests with a gentle push on my chest but I'm not buying it, I know she wants nothing more than for me to rip these panties off her and drop to my knees right here in the middle of the Ladies department. Her soft moans are telling me as much.

"What, baby? We're not doing anything." I adjust my erection once more and step away from her, walking towards the door and asking Caroline's assistant to get our purchases ready, leaving Ana open mouthed and flushed. I smirk when she clears her throat and presses her thighs together. She's wet and it makes my dick throb thinking about just how wet she really is. "Add that one to the pile, baby."

Ana covers her ears and 'la la la's' when the cashier rings the purchases up. I just laugh and hand over my Amex card not even giving a fuck what the total is, money is something she needs to get used to and while I love that she doesn't give a shit about it, wealth dominates my world and Ana needs to deal on that. "You have more money than sense." She mumbles and presses her ass against the counter, folding her arms across her chest. "Thank god it isn't all mine."

"I only picked a new suit out, baby. The rest is all yours." Her mouth falls open and she flies around to look at the bag that - Marissa is currently packing, one of many. "I couldn't choose between those last three dresses so I bought them all, and before you chastise me on spending money," I press a kiss in between her brows. "You looked beautiful in all of them, baby."

"Isn't this slightly backward?" She frowns.

"What?"

"This. Surely it should be me demanding you buy me all of this, how come I'm the one cringing at the thought of all these clothes?" I laugh and mirror her stance, leaning against the counter and shrinking to her level slightly.

"That's because you're not most women, and I'm not most men."

"No you're not," She grumbles and I pull back smirking.

"Why do you say it like that, baby?"

"No reason. Just sayin'." The little minx smirks right back and taps my nose, her eyes dancing with mischief. Fuck, I've missed her today. "Maybe that's what makes us so perfect for each other?"

"Hmm. Maybe." Our eyes lock and the all too familiar pull charges between us, Ana bites her lip and smiles salaciously. Spending the day apart, arguing with Kavanagh and watching her strut around in scraps of lace for the best part of thirty minutes has made me ravenous for her - absolutely desperate. The pissed off cough coming from the left of me breaks our heated gaze as my neck slowly cranes to face the cashier, she shoots me a fake as fuck smile and hands me my card back. I want to rip her a new one but the soft, warm woman currently pressed against me stops me from doing just that.

"Leave the poor girl alone." Ana breathes in my ear and leans into nip my lobe slightly, causing my cock to spring to life and strain against the confines of my pants. "We're probably making her uncomfortable."

"I'll make you uncomfortable if you bite me like that again." I turn to face Little Miss. Chirpy and snatch my Amex out of her hand, her eyes widen slightly and she plasters one of those 'happy to be of service' smiles on her face, smoothing her hair and fluttering her eyelashes which are coated in far too much fucking mascara by the way. I simply purse my lips into a thin line and nod my head when she tells me she will have someone carry our bags to the car.

"You are a bad, bad man, Mr. Grey." Ana slides her hand into mine and drapes her purse over the crook of her elbow. "Thank you, though."

"For what?"

"Today. This. Taking my mind off Ethan, you've spoiled me."

"Baby," Placing my hands on her hips, I twist her to face me and pull her flush against me. "I will always spoil you, and as for taking your mind off that fucking shit storm today, I have a few other ideas in mind." I push my pelvis against hers and grin as she gasps in response, her lips parting with desire.

"Oh yeah?" Her voice is thick with lust, deep and husky. "Like what?" I bend down even lower and pop a loud, firm smack against her ass. Ana jumps and yelps, a soft moan leaving her lips.

"Get your ass in that fucking car and I'll show you."


"Drop the sheet." Rolling over onto my side, I prop myself up with my elbow and tug at the Egyptian cotton Ana is trying to wrap around her naked, sweaty body. After the third round, she peeled herself away from me and begged me to let her pee. "Go naked."

"Perve." She mouths and swats my hand away, tucking the sheet into her arm pit and blowing her just fucked hair out of her face. "If I go to the bathroom naked you'll stare, and when you stare at me naked you get hard, and when you get hard you want to fuck me, and I'm sore so no, I will not be dropping the sheet, Grey." She stumbles over the sheet slightly but catches herself before she falls to the floor, mumbling something under her breath as she closes the door making me grin and flop back onto the bed, even now she's still shy peeing in front of me even after everything we've done together. Ten minutes ago she was riding my face like a cowgirl on Prozac, how the fuck can she be shy over a bit of piss?

What the fuck is Mia up to? She and Kate had their heads together all fucking night at Mom's. Something tells me you're in for a surprise, brother.

I toss my Blackberry onto the nightstand and wait for Ana to return to bed. I know they're up to something and now Elliot has told me that, I'm fucking positive. I've tried digging for information but Ana's having none of it, so either she's just as clueless as I am or she's a fucking good liar. I hope it isn't the latter.

After her short bathroom break, she heads into the kitchen and returns with a tray of fruit and cheese. She's always hungry after sex.

"How the hell did I survive without Gail for as long as I did? Where does she get this feta from?" Ana moans and pops a chunk of feta into her mouth, closing her eyes as she chews slowly, savouring the taste. My dick twitches at the sight and sound of her but I shift in my position and focus, I have other pressing matters to deal with first.

"I'm not sure, some deli somewhere. Have you spoken to Mia today?" She turns her head and swallows her mouthful.

"I talk to her every day."

"Every day?"

"Give or take, yes. Why are you even asking?" Damn her and her sexy as fuck poker face.

"Just wondering." I shrug. "So you've spoken to her?"

"I just said I did. What's with the twenty questions?"

"Can I not just be curious?" She smirks and shakes her head, moving the tray off her knee and placing it onto the nightstand before shuffling onto her side and resting her head on her bent elbow.

"Are you fishing again?"

"No." I answer quickly, a little too quickly trying to sound as contrite as I can. Ana just laughs and kisses my shoulder.

"For someone who bull shits for a living, you are a terrible liar, Grey."

"Bull shits for a living? I think you'll find it's more than that, baby." She giggles the giggle that makes my cock throb and flashes her perfect teeth, even after I've fucked her brains out she still looks so damn beautiful.

"Maybe so, but you're still a terrible liar."

"Elliot text me." I explain and roll onto my side so I'm facing her, my fingers trace her soft arms and she shivers slightly, snuggling into my touch. "He said Kate and Mia were planning something at Mom's tonight."

"He actually said that?" She cocks an eyebrow and pouts her lips.

"He said they had their heads together all night which means they're planning something. Spill it, Steele." I slap her ass playfully.

"How do you know? They could have been discussing anything."

"Such as?"

"Elliot. Brad. Sex." I scrunch my face up and pull my head back to glare at her. "Don't look at me like that. Your sister has sex, Grey, get over it. She's twenty one years old."

"I don't give a fuck. She could be forty one years old and I still wouldn't want to hear about her sex life. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"You're such a hypocrite. You started fucking at what…Sixteen?"

"Fifteen." I state and her eyes narrow. Why would she ask if she didn't want to know the fucking answer?

"Fine. Fifteen." I fight a smirk and bite the inside of my cheek. I fucking love it when she get's jealous. "I can tell you for a fact that Mia didn't start that young but she has had sex, Christian. Get over it." I pull her up so that she's lying on top of me and squeeze her ass, her hands press into the mattress at the side of my head and she blows her fallen hair out of her face. I want to do that.

"You are more than pushing your luck tonight, baby. Are you willing to pay the price?"

"Are you willing to stop digging for information about your birthday?"

"Depends." I roll my hips and grind my erection into her core, her wet core making her gasp.

"On?"

"What you're willing to give me."

"Who says I'm willing to give you anything?" I grind into her again, harder this time and drag my hands up her back, clasping her shoulders and pushing her into me. Her eyes roll into the back of her head even though she tries to fight it, there's nothing more fucking erotic than watching her fend off her arousal. The more she fights it the more she wants it.

"Oh, baby, I think you are."

"State your terms." Her voice is thick with seduction and desire, her hands are still at the side of my head but she shifts so that her knees are resting at the side of mine, effectively straddling me. Sore my fucking ass.

"Give me something about Wednesday. One hint."

"Why?"

"Because I need to fucking know before I lose my god damn mind, Mia's too much like me and it's driving me crazy. Tell me."

"What do I get in return?" Smirking, I sit up so that we're nose to nose. Her hands wrap around my neck as mine lock around her lower back, her pussy is brushing against my dick and it's all I can do to stop myself from flipping her over and fucking the shit out of her. Tucking her hair behind her ear, I lean in and graze her ear with my lips, she shudders in my arms and wraps her legs around my back giving me the reaction I was hoping for.

"Whatever you want, baby." I give her a long, wet lick on the side of her neck and when she whimpers and rocks against me, I know I've got her.

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Fine. We have a deal, what do you want to know?" Fuck, yes.

"What is she up to? Mia? What the fuck is she planning?"

"Something." She's breathless and clearly turned on and while I love it, I really want to know what I'll walk into on Wednesday.

"What does 'something' mean. Give me more than that, Ana."

"You said to give you one hint. You didn't say I needed to give you two." I growl and push her ass into my pelvis, making her head fly back in raw want. "Okay, okay. I think she's planning a small get together at Bellevue, a cake, presents that sort of thing."

"What the fuck? When I specifically told her not to? Why?!" I almost push Ana off of me and jump out of bed. Instead I twist around, reach for my phone and unlock it but before I can find Mia's contact icon, Ana snatches it from my hand and holds it in the air above her head. Does she really think I won't be able to reach it there?

"Don't be a dick. If you spoil what she has planned by being…You, I will beat your ass."

"I don't want a fucking party, Ana. I told her that."

"And I told you to drop this and stop being an old grump, seriously you are really starting to test my patience."

"My sister is starting to test my patience, give me my phone back." She stretches her arm up higher, her tits hitting me in the face as she leans up onto her knees. "Ana!"

"Christian! Don't you dare call her, I mean it when I say I'll have your ass."

"My ass?" I scoff and roll my eyes. "Baby, please. Don't make threats you can't follow up on." She cocks her head to the side and lowers her arm, tossing my cell behind her and pressing her hands against my chest, making me fall onto the bed with a flop. She hovers over me and lowers her mouth, her lips melding with mine in a slow, sensual dance. When we break away, her eyes are laced with desire and her breathing is heavy. My cock is throbbing wildly now, knowing that she's this turned on for me and only me? Fucking hell, it's the most erotic, most calming feeling in the fucking world.

"Let me rephrase that. If you be a good boy and go along with whatever Mia is planning, I'll let you have my ass." I freeze and my eyes widen. Soaking up whatever the fuck it was she just said to me.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'll let you have it, you do still want it right?" Is that a serious fucking question?

"God, baby of course I do. I just…I thought you weren't comfortable with the idea of it?"

"No, I said I've never been comfortable with the idea of it before. It's different now, I have you now." She pushes her hair out of her face and smiles down at me. Her hair is a mess, her face is flushed and her eyes are bluer than I've ever seen them, she's grinning like a kid in a sweet store and even though she's just told me that she wants me to fuck her ass, all I can focus on is her sitting on top of me like this. So beautiful.

"Are you bargaining with me, Miss. Steele?" She wiggles against my cock and smirks like the little vixen she is.

"Maybe. Is it working?" Without another word I flip us over and drag her arms over her head, pinning them to the bed with one hand as I position my dick at her entrance with the other. She writhes and struggles in my hold but it's futile because I impale her with one swift thrust. Groaning long and low as she clenches around me, adjusting to me.

"What do you think?"

Anastasia's POV

"I had to tell him Mia is planning a party at Bellevue, it was the only way I could throw him off the scent."

"Did it work?"

"I hope so. I think so." Peeking my head around the door, Christian is still sleeping soundly in bed, the light from the bathroom illuminating his peaceful form, he's on his stomach, hands over his head and snoring softly. I quietly close the door and move to the far end of the bathroom, perching on the edge of the counter and continue my late night conversation with Kate. "He's like a dog with a freaking bone, he just would not give it up."

"He's a Grey, they do that. Should I warn Mia he's on to her? Well you actually but seeing as you threw Mia under the bus, he's onto her."

"No." I sigh and twirl the ends of my hair around my finger. "I managed to make him promise that he wouldn't interfere."

"How'd you do that? Actually don't tell me, I think I have a good idea."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you fucked him. Or gave him a blow job, or both. I'm going with both."

"Kate -"

"Am I right or wrong, Steele?"

"Neither. He fucked me, and well I…I kind of made of made him a promise."

"What kind of promise?"

"Before I tell you, Is Elliot there?"

"He's asleep. I'm in the kitchen with my other lover."

"Other lover?" I'm almost shrieking.

"Ben & Jerry's, Ana." She dead pans and I roll my eyes, the sound of Kate opening and closing a drawer reverberating through the phone. "So, come on then. What did you promise him?" I scan my surroundings like an idiot, crossing my legs and pulling the hem of Christian's t-shirt down my legs.

"I umm…I kind of told him he could…have my ass." I whisper the last part and rub my forehead. I don't even know what possessed me to promise him that, it just came out like word vomit and before I could really comprehend the fucking severity of what I had said, he flipped me over and fucked me to an orgasm under two minutes flat.

"What? You told him he could ass fuck you?"

"No, I didn't say it like that but yes, I told him he could. Oh god, just thinking about it is giving me palpations." I push my hair out of my face for the hundredth time tonight and release a heavy breath.

"Chill, babe, it's not that big of a deal." She grumbles through what I guess is a mouthful of ice-cream, making me relax slightly.

"Really? So you've let, Elliot -"

"God, no. Let Elliot stick his huge dick in my ass?! I'd rather piss kidney stones."

"Why are you telling me it's no big deal if you won't do it?! You're a shit load of help, Kavanagh!" Now I'm really starting to panic, I haven't got a clue how big Elliot is - Sure, Kate's described him down to the girth but I still don't know for sure. However, I do know how big my boyfriend is and the thought of him putting that in there…I'm wincing at the mere thought of it.

"I didn't say I wouldn't, I just said it's not a pleasant thought that's all. It was painful enough going through the front door."

"Jesus, Kate! Will you stop putting visuals like that in my head, I'm already freaking out!"

"Prep and you'll be fine. Lube up, relax and trust him. If you do that then you can't go wrong, Ana." I'm sure I look horrified - or traumatised - or both. "Listen as much as I want to talk about ass sex all night, what happened with Ethan today?" My hands still in my hair. I don't know why I didn't expect her to bring that up? It's like I've completely erased the memory from my brain and now she's asking me for the details, I really wish that I had.

"I'm sure Ethan has already filled you in."

"He has, but I'm asking you for your side, Steele. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I can't say the same for Christian but I'm okay, what the hell was he playing at, Kate?"

"I wish I could tell you, babe. If it makes you feel any better he feels really bad about what happened." That piques my interest.

"Did he tell you that?"

"Yeah." She sighs. "For what it's worth, I think he was genuinely trying to talk to you, I know Christian doesn't see it that way and I don't blame him, if that was some chick stalking Elliot outside of his office? Well, you know what I'd do. But I don't think he was trying to cause trouble."

"I want to believe that, Kate. Ethan has always been, we've always been so, I was just really hurt and disappointed that he would do that after I told you I didn't want to see him for a while."

"He wasn't happy about that either, it's like he couldn't understand why you were cutting him out of your life like that, I don't need to tell you who he blamed."

"Christian?"

"The one and only. I should be pissed at him for trying to punch my brother but I'm not, Ethan acted like a dick. He should have known he would never get through Christian fucking Grey."

"It's not that, it's just his complete lack or respect for my -" I pull the phone away from my ear and press disconnect with fumbling fingers when the door cracks open. My boyfriend pokes his head around the door and his sleepy eyes find mine. Squinting as he tries to adjust to the light.

"Who are you talking to?" His voice is thick with sleep, his hands scrubbing his face as he stands in front of me bare chested, dressed only in his boxer shorts.

"Kate. She called me to ask about what happened with Ethan this afternoon." Not exactly a lie.

"I wondered how long it would take her. Couldn't she have waited till morning though? It's one thirty, Ana."

"I'm sorry." I hop off the counter and walk towards him, stroking his chest and kissing the side of his neck. "You know what she's like. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You talking on the phone didn't wake me, I reached over for you and realised you weren't there. I hate waking up to find you're not there." He brushes my cheek with his knuckles and kisses me square on the lips, probing my mouth with his tongue for a brief second before pulling away. "Are you coming back to bed?"

"Of course I am. Come on."


For the first time ever, I'm awake before Christian. I peeled myself away from his hold at around 6am and rolled onto my own side, propping myself up on my elbow to watch him while he sleeps. He's twenty eight today, but he looks so young when he's asleep. His breathing is shallow, his hair is hanging over his eyes and his dark, long eyelashes are fanned across his cheek, I can't resist touching him. My fingers graze the stubble on his jaw line causing him to stir slightly, he jerks and releases a puff of air before shifting further onto his side.

Today is his birthday. His first birthday with me. Our first birthday together.

Taylor and Sawyer will arrive at the marina for eleven thirty along with Kate, Elliot and Mia and because I know Christian will question his security's whereabouts, Evans and one of the other guys will take their place after all the heavy lifting is done. I feel like we're part of a covert mission instead of a birthday surprise, but that's honestly how my boyfriend makes people feel whenever they attempt to do anything that remotely resembles a surprise - or fun. He's onto you like a ton of bricks every time.

"You're watching me sleep."

"Huh?"

"You're watching me sleep. You never watch me sleep." Christian's eyes slowly blink open and he stretches his arms above his head, the sheet riding down his body exposing his chest and abs. "What are you even doing awake?"

"I couldn't sleep. I've been up for thirty minutes or so." He rests his face against the palm of his hand and shuffles closer to me, we're both laying on our sides and looking at each other.

"Something on your mind? It's not Ethan is it?" I frown and twist my nose, shaking my head as I rub his shin with my foot.

"No, not at all. I haven't even giving that a second thought, Christian I told you yesterday." Leaning up on my elbow, I rub my nose against his and kiss him, long slow and deep. "Happy birthday by the way, baby." He smiles - actually he grins and shakes his head, running a hand through my hair from root to tip.

"It's weird hearing you say that."

"What? Happy birthday?"

"Yes, and it's even weirder that I like hearing it. To think I wasn't even going to tell you -" He lets the sentence hang in the air and pushes me over so that I'm lying on my back once more, Christian's legs half draped over mine.

"Good job Mia ratted you out then isn't it?"

"Hmm." He buries his face into my neck and presses wet, languid kisses along my collar bone and shoulder blade, his lips trailing lower onto my sternum and breasts. Once again I'm naked, there was a time where I wouldn't have even dreamt about going to bed without my boy shorts but now - well now I can't even remember what it feels like to wear panties while I sleep let alone anything else. "You smell so fucking good. Why is that? How can you wake up and still smell so good? It should be fucking criminal."

"I don't. It's all in the mind, Grey."

"I don't think so. I know somewhere else that smells good as well." He flashes me a salacious grin and ducks his head, disappearing under the covers and running his nose along the inside of my thigh. My hands find his head and I tug at his hair, trying to pull him back up. No way is he taking control of my ride today.

"Hey, hey, hey. Slow down, Tiger. I have plans for you."

"Do they involve my tongue in your pussy? If not then I don't give a fuck." He kicks the sheet away from us and dives right back in there and when his tongue hits my clit, I almost cave. I want nothing more than to throw my head back and give into what he so clearly wants to give me, but this isn't about me. Today isn't about me.

"No, baby, it doesn't. But it does include me making you breakfast in bed." He raises his head and cocks an eyebrow, pushing his morning hair out of his face.

"The only breakfast I want is you. Now shut up and let me make you come." I'm losing the fight here, I'm really losing the fucking fight. Oh god, why does he have to have such an amazing fucking tongue!

"Christian. Christian. Christian!"

"I fucking love it when you say my name. Say it again."

"No! Let me up."

"Not until you beg me."

"Please, Christian."

"Beg. Me." Having had enough, I kick my legs out and somehow manage to wiggle away from the salacious man in between my thighs. Christian shakes his head and pouts as I climb out of bed, leaning against the head board and folding his arms across his chest. I step into my panties and scan the floor for Christian's tee-shirt.

"Oh, stop looking at me like that. You'll get what you want soon enough, Grey."

"What I want is you riding my face."

"Well, you'll have to suffice with pancakes first. Or do you want eggs? Or both?"

"You'd cook me both?" I laugh and tug his shirt over my head, somehow I don't think he's thinking about eating my…thing anymore.

"Of course I would, I'll cook you whatever want. You are the birthday boy after all." He leans forward and tugs on my hand, pulling me onto the bed so that I'm half hovering over him. His hands cup my cheeks as he pulls my face to his and kisses me long and wet.

"Damn straight I am. What else do I get?"

"All in good time, baby. But let me feed you first."