Hello…Hello…Hello! Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. So here it is chapter 45. I got a lot of help from a friend of mine on this chapter and I really can't thank her enough for it. So thank you "J" Anyways pins are up. Enjoy. Next chapter starts the time jumps.
APOV
"Not yet!" Christian barked.
Leila's eyes widen with shock, and then she seems to crumble. Her face falls and her eyes fill with tears before she turns and runs away to some place unknown. I see Taylor motion for Sawyer to follow her.
Cross-takes a step closer to me, his face full of righteous indignation, which causes Christian to pull me closer, and Taylor to grab his arm.
"Isn't it sacrilegious to give Elena the honor of a Catholic service considering her lifestyle? She's spending eternity in purgatory for her sins. She can't be absolved. You've caused everyone here that repeated those prayers to speak blasphemy. I hope you enjoy burning in hell."
Christian pushes me behind him as he steps toward Cross. "If that's the case, you'll be joining Elena when your time comes. Keep talking about my girlfriend and family like that and you may find yourself there sooner than you want. Not that it's any of your business, but my mother planned the service. Would you like to tell her how you feel about her efforts?" Christian's voice is cold, and sharp, cutting like a knife, daring him to say something further.
"Oh I very much would like to tell your mother exactly what type of woman Elena Lincoln was"
I watch Christian and Gideon go at it with one another. Both throwing verbal punches at each other. But what I wasn't watching for was Grace who has now entered the tent, confusion marring her face, and cloudy her red-rimmed eyes, as she watching her son verbally attack another man. Then shock takes over as she hears the details of their barbs.
I try my hardest to get one of their attention. I clear my throat but that didn't seem to get their attention. I even tried coughing as loud as I could but my voice is unable to carry over theirs. And in a loud roar Gideon said,
"You let that poor priest stand up there and pray for Elena to be sent to God, thanking him for what she brought us. She doesn't deserve it!" He stopped to take a breath. I watched in horror as the tears rolled down Grace's face. This has to stop someone needs to do something. I'm tempted to pick up one of the chairs and sling it into the others but before the thought even had a chance to escape my mind another roar rang out but this time it wasn't from Gideon, nor was it from Christian. This roar came from Grace's own lips.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Christian and Gideon both stopped and blinked at each other. It was Gideon that first broke eye contact with Christian and looked over to where the second voice was coming from. He didn't seem shocked. No, if I had to guess he seemed pretty pleased with himself. Almost grateful that Grace heard what he has said.
Gideon straightened himself adjusted his tie and smirked at Christian before saying,
"I think were about even now' Taylor releases his hold on Gideon arm. Before Gideon walks out of the tent he acknowledges both Grace and I with a fake smile before pushing open the curtain of the tent and walking out.
Christian turns around and takes hold of my shoulders rubbing his hands up and down my arm asking me if I'm ok. With a small nod and an unsure smile he sighs in relief. But his body begins to tense again as he looks over in his mother's direction.
"Mom-" He starts but she cuts him off by putting her hand up not waiting to hear what he has to say.
"That man….The things he said, why did he say those things about Elena? What is it that you're not telling me Christian? Do you know something about Elena that I don't?" Grace questioned. Not a peep or breath came from Christian mouth.
"Answer the questions Christian. I want to know, is there something you're hiding from me about Elena?"
"Mom how about we…."
"Oh no you don't Christian Trevelyan Grey. We are not putting this off for a later time hoping that I will completely forget about it. I just witnessed you and another man verbally attacking each other about something that had to do with Elena and the services that were done here today. Now if you don't start talking so help me I'll…."
"Ok I'll tell you. Just please can we do this at Escala" After a few moments of thinking about it Grace finally agrees.
After Grace informed him that she was riding back to Escala with Christian and me, Carrick left with the rest of the family in the limo.
Walking into the penthouse I start to get nervous. I have no idea how Grace is going to react to what Christian has to tell her. How does one even begin to tell their mother that from the time he was 15 years old until the age of 21 he was Subbing/Dominating her best friend. There is no doubt in my mind that she'll change her whole outlook on the friendship she had with Elena.
Although most of Christian private staff knows of his lifestyle, Christian asks for them to give us some privacy. I watch as Gail, Taylor, and Sawyer make their leave into their living quarters. Walking over to the small wet bar in the corner of the great room Christian pours himself a glass of scotch and downs it in one gulp. He pours another along with a second glass. He looks over to me as if he is asking if I would like one but I shake my head no.
Sitting down on the couch Christian comes over with a glass in each hand. Christian gave to her one of the glasses of scotch before taking the seat next to me. She smells her drink and turns up her nose while placing it on the side table next to her.
"Ana would you mind giving Christian and I a little privacy?" I start to stand, but Christian blocks me with his arm.
"No I need Ana here with me. I need her support to help me get through this" He grasps my hand and he looks at me, his gray eyes worried and pleading with me to stay. Of course I'll stay. I love him and he needs me. I give him a reassuring smile and squeeze his hand back.
"Mom before I tell you I need to make sure that you will wait until after I am finish before you react" Grace looks at her son then to me. I close my eyes and nod my head slowly as if I am almost pleading with her to hear Christian out first.
"Alright" She says looking back at Christian. I kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear that he can do this. He looks at me and smiles.
Christian began to tell him other everything. How his "affair" with Elena started when he was 15. Of course I raised an eyebrow when he said affair and not her submissive, or sex slave. But with a squeeze of my hand and a quick glance at me, I knew he would explain himself after Grace left.
He continued to say how their relationship continued until he was 21, with a break while he was at Harvard, that she gave him $100,000 to start GEH, which he returned in full plus interest when he made his first sale, and how he returned the favor and invested in Esclava, the business of the salons was the only type of relationship they continued.
He then went on to tell her how after meeting me, he finally saw how wrong their relationship was and was going to sign his shares over to Elena to get her out of his life completely.
When he's finished, he drains the last of his scotch and brings his eyes up to his mother's for the first time since he started talking. He looks like he's holding his breath, waiting for the backlash. To be honest, I am as well.
Grace starts to open her mouth to speak, but stops herself and closes it again. This goes on for the next minute or so. It's like she is trying to figure out what to say but she can't. Her face shows no kind of emotion, so I have no idea if she pissed or happy. I mentally slap myself on the forehead. What the fuck would she be happy about Ana?
"Mom, will you say something please?" Christian begs.
"I just…I can't…why did…oh my god," Grace stutters at getting the right words out. She picks up the glass that Christian gave to her earlier and begins to drink. One sip, two sips, and it's gone. She gets up and walks over to the wet bar and pours herself another.
She doesn't come back to her seat; instead she starts pacing the length of the room and mumbles to herself about where she went wrong as a mother.
"Grace if I may?" Her head spins in my direction and she nods.
"Christian was a fifteen year old horny boy. At the age most teenage boys tend to think with their…" I look down. "Instead of their heads."
"You knew about all of this?" She asks.
"Yes, but it never changed the way I looked at him. I still love him," Ok, so I'm telling a little white lie to Grace.
"She's right. I wasn't thinking when it all started. I had the option to say no and I didn't take it. I know how sick this is going to sound, but I wanted it. What 15 year old boy wouldn't?"
"But she was twice your age Christian. What were you thinking?"
"Again Grace, he wasn't."
"This is all just so disgusting…How could she do that to a fifteen year old boy?"
"When Elena told me what she did with Christian, I was disgusted, furious, but she knew about his issues with touch and the fighting, and thought she was helping him. If he stopped fighting, she'd give him what every teenage boy wants, and he didn't have to explain why and where he didn't like to be touched."
"Regardless, there are other ways to have helped him with that. Having sex with my son, a fifteen-year-old boy, was her way of comforting him. Un-fucking-believable," Grace starts searching around the room for her things. "I can't take this right now. The fact that one of my dear friends slept with my son, for years and never once thought it was wrong. I need to go, I need to get out of here," She grabs her coat off the arm of the couch, shrugging it on harshly.
"Mom, please don't leave like this. I don't want you walking out those doors mad at me."
"Christian, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the fact that all this happened right under my nose for years and I didn't see it, didn't stop it."
"Mom, even if you tried I don't think I would have stopped."
"That's not true," she starts to cry. "I would have had her arrested for statutory rape. This all make sense now. The things that man was saying to you about the funeral and about the priest. I feel like such a fool," she found her purse that was at the side of the couch where she was sitting earlier.
"Grace you're not a fool, you didn't know."
"But you two did. You could've told me before I arranged such an elaborate service for someone who didn't deserve it. We should have just put her in a pine box and set it on fire."
"Grace, you don't mean that. We didn't want to ruin the memory of your friend, and even though what she did was horrible, I still loved her like an Aunt.
"No a friend wouldn't do something like that to another friend's child. Where's Taylor I'm ready to leave."
"Mom please –"
"Christian, if I stay here any longer I'm just going to get more upset. I need to go."
Taylor appears at the foyer door. When Grace sees him waiting for her she begins to walk in his direction, but Christian cuts her off before she has a chance to walk out the door.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this. I love you," I could hear the truth in his voice.
"I love you too Christian," she pats him on the shoulder and smiles a little. But as she starts to walk away, Christian grabs her by the hand and pulls her into a tight embrace. "Oh Christian," Grace begins to sob on his shoulder. I have seen Christian hug his mother once before, but it was so quick she never had the chance to really enjoy it.
CPOV
It's been hours since my mother has left. I told Ana that I had some things I needed to get done in my study. That was over five hours ago. I just still can't get the image of my mother's facial expression when I finally opened up and told her about Elena and me. To say she was horrified would be an understatement.
Around dinnertime Ana had to pull me out of my study to get me to eat something. For the first time in my life the thought of food never crossed my mind.
While eating, if you can call it that. I only managed to take a few bites before I found myself just sitting there swirling the food around on my plate. I'm sure if Gail could she would slap me upside the head and tell me to snap out of it.
After dinner Ana tells me she is going to take a shower and that if I feel up to it to join her. Truth be told I'm just not in the mood. I know a first for me. But can you honestly blame me. I just told my mother that I had an affair with her best friend and that it went on for six years. I had my reasons why I left out the whole BDSM lifestyle. I feared that if I told her that not only was I having sex with her friend but her friend was tying me up and beating me with a cane would kill her.
Looking at the screen on my computer I see the time is now 9:11pm. Shit I have spent most of the day in my study, only stepping out for dinner. I run my hand through my hair and over my face. I'm far from being tired but I know Ana will expect me to lay down with her. I'm glad she was with me today while my mother was here; I truly don't know what I would do without her. Anastasia is the one person in my life that I am grateful for and I owe my thanks to Elena for bringing her to me.
Standing up from my chair and walking out my study I head over to our bedroom. I slowly open the door not waiting to wake Ana up in case she is sleeping but I am greeted by the sight of Ana playing with little Aspen on the bed.
"Hey baby"
"Hey" she looks up and says but turns her attention back to our puppy.
Not really feeling like taking a shower so I strip out of my clothes that I have had on since this morning and put on a simple pair of basketball shorts and climb in bed. Ana grabs Aspen and places him between us so that were all snuggling together. I run my hand through his hair tickling the back of his neck making his back leg start to shake. Ana lets out a giggle and Aspen gets up and begins to lick her face as if she was covered in bacon.
After Aspen finally settled down I moved him toward the end of the bed where he passed right out. I snuggled into Ana feeling her still warm body from her shower on the front of me. She gives her body a little shake and I bury my face at the back of her neck smelling her still damp hair.
"Christian can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything" I reply
"Good because I have to questions"
"Oh?"
"Yeah. One, how come you told your mom it was an affair and not…."
"The truth?"
"Yeah why didn't you tell her the truth?"
"Because I figure it might be too much for her to handle in one sitting. It's bad enough that I had to tell her I used to sleep with her best friend, it would have been worse if I told her that her best friend used to tie me up and beat me"
"I understand. Do you think you'll ever tell her the whole truth? About your lifestyle"
"Maybe one day I will but for now let's just leave it at an affair. And your second question?"
"At the cemetery you said something that kind of took me by surprise, as well as Leila and I was just wondering if you meant it?"
I'm trying to remember what it was that I had said? Then it came to me. Leila had commented about Ana not being family when Taylor had mentioned Leila isn't allowed to be within 100 feet of my family and I had barked back with 'Not yet'
"You mean when Leila said you weren't family and I said not yet?"
"Yes"
"So does this mean you want to marry me?" She turns around so that she is facing me. I look deep into her beautiful blue eyes and tell her,
"A long time ago I said something to you. Do you remember what it was?" Remembering the time we were stuck in the elevator and she had asked if I meant what I said about kissing her. She scrunches her face trying to look cute as she is thinking but soon shakes her head no and frowns.
"You had asked me if I meant it when I said I wanted to kiss you. And I told you that I always mean what I say" She bites down lightly on her lower lip. Her teeth only linger for a moment before she says,
"You want to marry me?"
"Mmmhmm I do," I say sweetly and she smiles.
"Good because I want to marry you too" That's it that's all I could take before lunged myself at her kissing every inch of her face down to her neck. The lower I went the louder her moans become. For the next two hours I made love to her, and cherished her as if she was already my wife.
Ok here is the little extra for you guys on how Gideon Cross and Leila Williams ended up together at the funeral service for Elena. Hope you enjoy. (Big thanks to 50shadesforever)
I dash into the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. That was close, Master almost saw me. I know I'm not supposed to go anywhere near him because of that damn NDA, but I have a right to say goodbye to Elena. Besides, if it wasn't for that little bitch it'd be me by his side. I know I could have gotten him to love me if I'd just had a little more time.
I look at my watch, ugh; it's barely after (insert time). It's too early to go to bed and I don't want to be alone in my room with nothing for company but the TV. I head to Shuckers Oyster Bar; maybe I can find an older gentleman to buy me dinner and a drink.
Just before I enter, I hike up my skirt a bit and perk up the girls. It's pretty busy tonight. I scan the restaurant and there's only one seat available at the bar, luckily the guy in the next seat is very good looking. He reminds me of Master in a way. He got this dark, dominance about him. He looks like he may be in his late thirties, early forties, dark hair, foreboding eyes, nice, pleasure inducing stubble over an angular face. I'm taking a big chance here, but I have a feeling about him. I make my way over to the empty seat and stand just to the side of him. Keeping my eyes down I ask, "Is this seat taken Sir?" I make sure I purr that last word. I see his head turn toward me and he smirks.
"Look at me," he commands. I comply immediately. He's staring at me; I know it's a test. I won't speak again until he tells me to. After what seems like ages but is mere seconds, he leans in to my ear. "Very good pet," he whispers. His warm breath skims across my skin, smelling of brandy, and sending tingles down my spine to my core. Wow! I never thought anyone would affect me the way master could. Then he leans back and smiles a full 32 teeth smile. "Sit down, relax, and join me. I'm just waiting for my appetizer."
I take the seat and cross my legs toward him, making sure my skirt goes higher. I know he's looking, I can feel the heat of his stare. The bartender comes by and I order a Lemon drop Martini.
"So what's your name beautiful?"
Me? Beautiful? I don't think so. I clear my throat and answer, "Leila Williams, Sir. You?"
"Gideon Cross. You can drop the Sir. There's no need for formalities right now. Let's just get to know each other."
I smile brightly at him, "That sounds like the best offer I've had in a long time."
"Bad ending?"
"Ugh! The worst! I wanted more but he didn't. Then another girl entered the picture and well….here I am." I take a big gulp of my drink.
"That's too bad. His loss though."
His eyes roam my body and I blush. What is this guy doing to me? I love Master. I guess it couldn't hurt to let him dominate my body. Master is with that bitch anyway.
We've been talking for hours about everything and anything except the lifestyle. We shared oysters, chowder, and crab legs. He licked butter off my fingers and I swear I nearly came in my panties from that alone. I've lost count of how many drinks I've had, but I'm definitely feeling the effects of them now, and from the looks of things, so is Gideon. He stumbles to his feet, pulling me off my stool and into his arms.
"What do you say we continue this is my room?"
Oh God yes! I'm so ready I can't even speak, I just nod, and he leads us to the elevator. As soon as the doors shut he's on me, we're kissing and groping like starved animals as we're whisked up to his floor. When the doors open again he pulls me with him to his door where he fights with the key a few times. Once the door opens he stops me from entering by grabbing my throat. It's not painful, but it is tight, and the message is clear. He's taking back control of our evening.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, sir," I answer. I don't drop my eyes since I haven't entered the room yet. Besides, I like to challenge my Masters.
He gives me a quick nod and pulls me into his room. He slips off his suit jacket and drapes it over the back of the desk chair where he opens his briefcase and retrieves a document. I stand here, just outside the sitting area, eyes down. I'm not sure what position he wants me in. He didn't give me any command. When he turns around, I hear him sigh. "You can look up Leila. I'll let you know if, and when, I want to scene. But before that…. We've been having a great time together haven't we?"
I smile fully. "Yes, sir. I mean, yes Gideon. I've had a great time."
"Good. Come here," he pats the love seat next to him where he taken a seat.
I slip off my heels and start to walk over to him, but stumble with alcohol-induced brain, and giggle as I fall into Gideon's lap. "Oops!" I look in his eyes and I'm hypnotized. They're nearly all black, just the barest hint of hazel around dilated pupil. He looks like he wants to devour me. His hand glides up my leg from below my knee to my thigh, and straight up to my ass cheek, and then he squeezes it and groans.
"I like you in my lap," he says huskily. His forefinger is grazing across my ass check and thigh, inching closer and closer to the inside. "Before we go any further, I need you sign this paper. It's an NDA. I'm a well-known and important businessman in New York and I can't have details about my personal life getting out."
I giggle again. I don't need convincing. I swivel on his lap to face the coffee table, making sure to grind against the steel rod I feel in his pants. I hear his whispered epithet as I lean forward and sign the NDA. When I turn back around he's frowning at me.
"You didn't read it. You should always read anything you're going to put your name on," his voice is cold and firm.
I snort, "Now you sound like Mr. Gr-, um…I mean, I've already signed one before. I keep it in my purse."
He narrows his eyes at me and hmmm's. I bat my eyes and grind against him again to bring him back to where we were headed. His large hand grips me, stopping my motion.
"We can't do a scene here, but we can play. What would you like Leila?"
I take a moment to think about what I like that can be done in a hotel suite. There's not much, but I always did love a good spanking. "Please spank me, sir," I ask in my most compliant voice.
"Why? Do you need to be punished?"
I nod, "Yes, I fell in love with my previous Master."
Something flickers in his eyes before he says, "Ah. That is most unfortunate and needs to be corrected. Stand." I comply immediately, almost falling again in my haste. He smirks and pulls me into the bedroom. "Strip."
I quickly remove my clothes while he takes off his tie, dress, and t-shirts. God he's ripped, there's only one other torso that rivals it. He sits at the end of the bed and pulls me down over his lap. He starts a rhythm that's all too familiar and tells me to count. By the time he stops at fifty my ass is on fire and I'm dripping wet. Oh God, I feel like I'm with Master again. Maybe if I don't have to look at him again, I can keep this feeling.
"On your knees, eyes closed," he commands, his voice is raspy.
The next thing I know I'm being blindfolded. Looks like I get my wish.
"Open your mouth," he says as he rubs the head of his cock against my lips.
I do as I'm told and almost gag at the force of his entry, but I relax quickly and he fucks my mouth like it's nothing but a hole to fill. He's rough and mean, gripping my hair and head in a vice grip, grunting and calling me names. I love it! I know he's close, but suddenly he pulls out. Damn, talk about control! He pulls me to my feet.
"Crawl on to the bed like a good little pet and put that ass in the air," he gives me a sharp slap and I nearly convulse.
I feel for the end of the bed in front of and climb on. I'm not sure how far I've gone before I feel him behind me. He grabs my hips and impales himself in my pussy. He resumes the same rhythm he had with my mouth. Fuck, this is good! I'm not sure how long I can hold out, but he hasn't given me permission to come. I'm gripping the bedspread so hard my nails are digging into the flesh of my palms. I'm just about to go over, permission be damned, when he says, "you may come," and the name I've always wanted to say, but was never allowed, rips from my throat, "Christian!"
Dimly through my orgasm fog I hear a roar and then, "Sarah!"
Who the fuck is Sarah? Who the fuck cares? I collapse on to the bed and the last thing I remember is a whispered, "Christian Grey will get what's coming to him."
The next morning.
The next morning when I woke, I found myself alone in the bed. Great, just my luck. Someone else just like Master that doesn't sleep in the same bed as his submissive. I wrap the bed sheet around me and rise from the bed. I go into the bathroom to relieve myself, wash my hands, and fix my hair. I walk out and into the main living area. There he was sitting at the table only in a pair of boxer shorts reading the morning paper.
"Good Morning." His voice is ever so chipper.
"Morning," I barely a whisper, still exhausted from last night's activities.
"I ordered some room service, it should be here shortly. I hope you're hungry, I wasn't sure what you would like so I order a little of everything."
"Thank you." I sat in silence, staring at him while he went on to read his paper. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. He folded his paper and placed it neatly down on the table. Standing from his seat he walked over to the door and opened it.
A young man with a cart filled with covered silver platters walked in, only stopping when he reached the table. He placed a pitcher of orange juice on the table, as well as a carafe of coffee. He removes the lids off the platters and places them under the cart, then gives me a small, shy smile before taking his leave.
"Help yourself," Gideon said, motioning his hands towards the food. I place a little bit of everything onto my plate before putting it down on the table.
While we are both eating he tries to make small talk with me. Asking me questions like where I'm from what do I do for a living? I have a vague memory of discussing the same things last night. Soon after he cuts right to the chase.
"Would you like to accompany me to a funeral today?"
I smirk at him. "I thought you would never ask."
