Chapter 24 – The Champion
Ana POV
I stare in disbelief at the letter in my hands. I, little Annie Steele is now a member of the US Olympic Volleyball team. I asked Christian to read the letter for me because I was too nervous to read it myself. My heart is in my throat right now. I still can't believe it.
"Are you okay, baby?" Christian asks.
I nod my head, unable to speak. He chuckles and shakes his head. We sit there in silence while I try to find my voice.
"Should I call my mother and let her know the good news? Or maybe we should have everyone meet us at the penthouse and tell them together?" Before Christian can answer, the pilot comes across the speaker to say that we are preparing for takeoff.
"I'll send Elliott a text and have him get in touch with everybody to meet us at the penthouse. I think telling everyone together would be better than trying to call them separately. We should arrive back around 8:30 or 9:00 pm." I smile up at him.
"That sounds wonderful, thank you." I lean over and kiss his lips. He holds onto my face with his hands and deepens the kiss. The flight attendant walks through to make sure we have buckled our seat belts. She also offers us something to drink.
"Elliott said he would take care of getting in touch with your mom and the rest of my family. I am so proud of you, baby. How do you feel?" He takes my hand and rubs his thumb over my knuckles.
"Excited, nervous, overwhelmed, among other things." I lean my head back and take a deep breath. "I would have been disappointed if I didn't make the team, but I feel honored even to get invited. The women that were there have exceptional ability. It's like playing Stanford on steroids." I laugh.
"Did you know any other people that were there? I am sure you have played against them before."
"I didn't know any of them. The other players were all friendly, though. So were the coaches. I'm sure in the next six months I will see a different side of the coaches. It's going to be exciting. I can't wait!" I lean back in the seat and close my eyes — the next thing I need to prepare for the NCAA postseason.
I hear the engines rev up, and we start to taxi toward the runway. Christian takes my hand and rubs his thumb across my knuckles. His touch is so soothing to me. "Why don't you take a nap during the flight? You have to be exhausted." I open my eyes and turn my head toward him.
"I think I will. I am a little tired. Does this thing have a shower on it? I'd like to freshen up a bit before we get to Seattle." He nods his head.
"Yes, there is a shower. It's connected to the bedroom. Once we level out, I'll show you everything." I smile back at him.
"Okay, thank you." I look around the plane and take it in. It is beautiful with plush cream-colored chairs and couches, and tables that are dark wood. There is a small table with chairs, and a television mounted in the corner.
I feel the plane lurch as we take off, and a few moments later, the pilot advises we are free to unbuckle our belts and move around. Christian takes my hand and shows me the rest of the plane. He ushers me into the bedroom and shuts the door.
"Do you want to shower or take a nap first?" He comes closer to me and takes my face in his hands.
I lean into his touch and consider my options. "Will you lay with me?" I press my body into his, and he wraps his other arm around my waist.
"Is that what you want?" I nod my head. "Okay. It's a two-hour flight back to Seattle."
"Alright." I start to get undressed. Christian cocks his head at me. "I don't want to sleep in these clothes. I'll shower when we wake up." He nods his head and helps me get undressed. I crawl under the covers and watch him remove his clothes. He has a gorgeous body, and I am not sure how much sleep I will be getting on the flight home.
I wake up hearing someone knocking on the door. "Mr. Grey, the pilot says you need to get in your seats and buckled up." I hear Taylor's muffled voice through the door.
"Okay," I answered groggily. "Christian, baby. We need to get up." I rub my fingers softly over his chest and place kisses on his cheeks and lips.
"Mmm…don't stop," he moans. He rolls onto his back, and I can see evidence of his arousal underneath the sheet.
"As much as I would love to take advantage of you right now, we need to get back to our seats. Taylor just knocked on the door." He covers his eyes with his arm and groans his annoyance. I roll on top of him. "There will be plenty of other opportunities for us to join the Mile High club, baby." I chuckle.
"I can't wait." He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. I lay there for a few seconds, then crawl out of bed. I guess I should have showered before lying down. Oh well.
We get dressed and return to our seats. As soon as we land, both of our phones ping with notifications. It's all text messages asking if I made the team or not. I laugh and shake my head as we prepare to exit the plane.
We agreed during the ride home not to say anything for a little while. Christian tells me I am mean for doing so, but I don't care. We exit the elevator hand in hand and walk into the foyer of the penthouse. I try to keep my expression neutral and not give anything away. I hear loud voices, and Christian squeezes my hand. He looks down at me, and I give him a tight smile. "Ready?" he asks me, and I nod my head.
Kate is the first one to see us when we walk into the room. "ANA!" She runs over to us and engulfs me in a hug. Christian lets my hand go as I hug Kate in return. "Well? Did you make the team? Did you know any of the others trying out? How were the coaches?" she starts to ask another question, and I put my hand up.
"One question at a time. Let's go sit down, okay?" She nods her head, and we walk in and join the others. Everyone is sitting on the edge of their seats.
Christian sits in one of the oversized chairs, and I sit down in his lap. He wraps his arms around me as I lean back into him.
"Well?" Elliott asks impatiently. I take a deep breath. Before I can answer, Grace, speaks up.
"Ana, it doesn't matter to us whether you made the team or not. We are so very proud of you for everything you have accomplished." I smile at her.
"Thank you, Grace. The workout facility is very nice. There is every piece of volleyball related equipment there. The coaching staff is friendly, and so were the other players trying out." I fiddle with my hands in my lap, and Christian squeezes my side.
I brace myself for what will happen next. "Starting January 1st, Christian and I will be living in Anaheim until after the Olympics." I sit still and don't say anything else. I look around at everyone waiting for their response. Mom is the first one to jump up and run over to me. I stand up as she wraps me up in a hug.
"Oh, Ana! Congratulations, sweetheart! I am so proud of you." She hugs me tightly and whispers in my ear. "I know your father is proud, too." I sob into her neck, and she continues to embrace me tightly.
Each family member hugs and congratulates me. I sit back down on Christian's lap, and we talk about what happens next.
"Well, first, she needs to graduate. Then, there is the NCAA tournament starting next week. I was able to find temporary housing for us near the training facility. It is fully furnished and in a nice area." Christian tells everyone.
"The letter said I would receive a packet in the mail this week that will have the full schedule for the upcoming months, as well as the required travel documents I will need. I already have a passport, which helps immensely." I move to get up, and Christian tightens his hold on me.
"Where are you going?" he whispers.
"I need something to drink. Do you want something?" Christian nods his head in agreement. I ask if anyone else wants something to drink.
"I'll help you." He lifts me, and we walk into the kitchen to grab some bottled water.
Everyone stays for about another hour. We discuss the upcoming weeks, including Christmas. The last regular-season game is this week, and the NCAA bracket will come out next weekend. Hopefully, we will be in Pittsburgh the week before Christmas.
We hug everyone goodbye amid congratulations to me for making the team. I am suddenly exhausted. I guess the weekend has finally caught up with me. I yawn, and Christian leads me toward the bedroom. "Come on, baby. Let's take a bath before bed."
I spend the next few days preparing to take my final exam. This week is the last class before the final posts online. I had initially planned on entering medical school after graduating from the nursing program. After doing rounds in the different hospital departments, I decided to stick to the emergency room. I like the excitement of the type of cases that come in. I'm sure Grace will be ecstatic. It will also give me a chance to offer the services of the foundation to those who can't afford to follow up on health care.
Our last regular season match is tomorrow afternoon against Oregon. The flight time is a little over an hour, and we will make a turnaround trip once the game is over. I am sitting at the breakfast bar, going over some class notes when I hear the elevator ping with an arrival. I am not expecting anybody, so I get up to meet whoever it is.
I see Luke enter the living room wearing jeans and a t-shirt. "Hey, what are you doing here?" I ask.
"I am out of the loop a little bit and came by to talk with Taylor. He said he and Mr. Grey were on the way here and that I could come and speak to him. So, I thought if you were home, I could talk to you while I wait for Taylor to get here. I'm going stir crazy sitting around the house. I need to get out a little bit. I am hoping I can go into GEH and do some desk work." He is not wearing a shoulder brace and seems to be moving around well.
"How is your therapy going?" I sit back down at the breakfast bar and close my laptop.
"It's going well. The therapist said I might be ready in a month or so." Interesting.
"What about the psychiatrist? What does he say?" Luke shrugs and looks at the floor.
"He said I am doing okay. I haven't had any nightmares in a few weeks. I went to see Roger at the VA Hospital. He is doing better, as well. He wants to meet with you and apologize for what happened in the ER." I step around the counter and grab some items from the refrigerator for sandwiches.
"I'm going to make some lunch, would you like some?" I hold up the chicken salad as evidence.
"No, thanks. I ate before stopping by. It was good to see you, Ana. I'm going to wait for Taylor in the security office." He turns and walks away.
"Good to see you, Luke," I say to his retreating back. He raises in hand in acknowledgment.
I hear the elevator notification again, and look up in time to see Christian walk into the living room. He lays his jacket across the back of the couch and starts to remove his tie. He closes his eyes like he is trying to forget something, or he is stressed out. I wipe my hands off on a towel and walk toward him.
He opens his eyes and smiles. We greet each other with a hug, and we don't say anything. We hold onto each other for a few moments before I ask him about his day. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
He pulls back from our embrace and takes my face in his hands. His lips lightly brush against mine, and l lean into it, wanting more. He breaks the kiss and our foreheads touch. "I'm just frustrated with some shit at GEH. When Sawyer asked to meet Taylor here, I was glad to leave the office. I needed to see you."
Christian leans down and rests his head on my shoulder, turning his face toward my neck. He takes a deep breath in and hugs me tighter. His scent always calms me, and I guess I do the same for him.
"Are you hungry? I was getting ready to make a few sandwiches. I have to leave in a little while for practice." I take his hand and lead him to the breakfast bar. He sits on a stool while I finish lunch.
We talk while we eat, mostly about living in California for six months. I am excited to live in a new place. We clean up our mess, and I go to our bedroom to change for practice. Christian follows me into the room and sits on the bed while I change clothes.
"Come by the office when you're done with practice if you want to." He looks at me with puppy dog eyes, and I chuckle.
"Of course, I will come to your office. It should be around five or so. Do you want me to bring some food?" I pull on my shorts and t-shirt as he watches me closely. I cover up with the team warmup suit. He smiles and nods his head.
"That sounds perfect." He stands and walks over to me, taking me in his arms.
"I wish I could stay in your arms forever. You relax me, Christian." He hums in my ear.
"You do the same for me, Ana." He kisses my forehead and leads me out of the bedroom. Taylor and Belinda are waiting for us by the elevator. We ride down to the garage together.
Practice went by quickly, and Coach requested a short team meeting afterward. We discuss our plan against Oregon and the potential for us to be the number one seed in the NCAA tournament. The end of season ranking will be announced live on Sunday evening. We decide to watch it as a team in the film room.
Belinda stops at the Italian place near GEH, and she picks up the to-go order I placed online. We arrive at GEH, and I take the express elevator to the executive floor. When the elevator opens, the lobby is empty. Andrea must have already left for the day. I open the door to Christian's office without knocking. He is sitting behind his desk, with the chair turned away from the door facing the windows. He is on the phone, so I stay quiet, not to interrupt his conversation.
"I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me." It is silence for a few seconds, and the other person must be talking. "I will talk to her about it later. Right now, she has a lot of stress with her final class and volleyball playoffs." Another brief silence. "Okay, I will, and thanks again. I love you too." He turns his chair around and hangs up the phone.
We make eye contact as he hangs up the phone. I set our dinner on the corner of his desk, and he turns his chair to face me. He holds his arms out for me, and I sit on his lap. I rest my head on his shoulder, waiting for him to tell me who he was talking to.
"How was practice?" He asks while rubbing one of his hands up and down my back.
"It was okay. We are watching the selection show as a team on Sunday. Coach thinks we have a chance at being the number one seed."
"That sounds great." He taps me on the butt and reaches for the bag with our dinner in it. "You hungry?"
"Yes, I am. Do you want to move to the conference table?" He nods and carries the food to the table. We are silent for a few minutes, and I decide to ask him about the phone conversation.
"Who were you talking to earlier?" He swallows and lays his sandwich down on the table.
"I was going to talk to you about this later, but now is as good a time as any. I was talking to your mom about an idea I had for Christmas. She told me to let you decide what you want to do. I considered a trip to New York for the two of us. We would return before New Year's Eve to get ready to relocate to California." He sits back in his chair and rubs his hands down his face.
"What did my mother have to say?" I take a drink of water.
"She listened to my plan and told me I should let you choose. We can either stay here in Seattle for Christmas or go to New York. Carla said since we are moving to California at the first of the year and will be away from family, I should let you pick what we do." I smile and shake my head.
"You want to surprise me for Christmas with a trip to New York?" he nods his head, and I jump from my chair into his lap. "What did I do to deserve you?" He smiles, shyly, and kisses the end of my nose.
"You are a remarkable woman, Ana. You deserve the best things in life, and I promise to give them to you. I know that family is important to you, and I want the decision to be yours about where we spend Christmas."
My eyes fill with tears, and I find it hard to speak. I clear my throat and let Christian know my decision. "Since we will be living in California until after the Olympics, I want to stay in Seattle for Christmas." I check his face for any type of adverse reaction, and I see none.
"Okay, whatever you want, Ana." He squeezes my side, and I nod at him.
"Are you upset about not taking me to New York?" He frowns.
"Of course not. We can go to New York anytime. I have an apartment there, remember?" He smiles and lifts me off his lap. "Finish eating, and we can discuss things in more detail later at home." I kiss his lips and return to my food.
"Oh, you tell my mother you love her?" I can see blush cover his cheeks, and he shrugs slightly.
"Whenever we talk on the phone, she tells me she loves me before hanging up. I do love your mother as if she were my own, and I want her to know it." My heart is bursting right now.
"That is so sweet, Christian. I didn't know she told you that." I finish my lunch and sit back in my chair.
"What time is the team flying out tomorrow?" He stands, reaching for my empty container. I stand as well, and we discard our lunch in his trashcan.
"The plane leaves at 11:00 am. The game is at 2:00, and we should arrive back at Sea-Tac around seven or so. I never thought I would say this, but I am glad the season is winding down. I think all the traveling is catching up to me." We sit down on his couch, and he pulls me close to his side.
"This semester has been a busy one for you. Luckily, you weren't taking a full course load, or you would be out of your mind right now." He leans over and kisses my temple.
"I know. I'm glad I told my advisor to keep my last semester load light." I sit quietly for a moment pondering whether or not I should tell Christian about my future nursing plans right now or wait until later.
"Is something on your mind, Ana? Do you need to talk about anything?"
"Yes, there is a lot on my mind right now. I have been thinking about what specialty of nursing I want to pursue. I enjoyed my time with the babies, but I believe I will get more satisfaction by working in the emergency department. I learned a lot from your mother, and it's a great opportunity to reach out to those in need of services after the initial emergency room visit. Does that make sense?" I turn and look into gray eyes that know me so well.
"Of course, it makes sense. By the time the Olympics are over, the foundation should be fully operational. Mom has a lot of contacts in the medical field that will be more than willing to help those in need. I support you no matter what you decide, baby." He smiles at me, and I move to sit in his lap.
"Thank you for being so supportive of me." I kiss his lips softly and run my fingers through his hair. He moans and pulls me closer to deepen the kiss. Man, he is good with his tongue.
We end the kiss too soon for my liking, and he chuckles. "We can finish this at home. I want to take my time and ravish your body." I hop off his lap, and we gather our things to head home.
The next two weeks fly by, and I find myself on a flight to Pittsburg with my teammates. We finished out the regular season with a win against Oregon. Stanford finished the season ranked number one, and we finished number two. We coasted through the first three rounds of the playoffs, only losing one set. Baylor played us closer in the quarterfinals, but we came out on top three games to two.
Now we are flying to Pittsburg to play in the national semi-finals against Wisconsin. Stanford is on the other side of the bracket playing Minnesota. If we face Stanford in the finals, we have decided as a team to change a few things around. We worked out against the men's team, trying our players in different positions. We mostly switched around the middle and outside hitters. Hopefully, we will be able to use it to our advantage.
I am sitting next to Hannah, trying to muster up enough courage to ask her opinion about Luke. I take a few drinks of water and decide I can't take it anymore. "Hannah, can I ask you something?" She puts down the book she is reading and looks at me.
"Sure, what's up?" She turns to face me, and I swallow hard. How do I ask her if she thinks her boyfriend is recovering?
"If you don't want to talk about this, just say so. Luke came by the penthouse a few weeks ago. He seemed like he was doing okay, but I haven't seen him in a while. What do you think? Is he recovering from what happened?" She looks away and shrugs her shoulders slightly.
"Honestly, I had my doubts at first. Luke pretty much shut me out for a few weeks after the incident. Once he started seeing his psychologist, he seemed to get a little better. I can tell it is still bothering him, but not as bad as before. He goes to the VAH twice a week. One day he does a group therapy session with other veterans. The next day he goes and spends the day with Roger. I believe seeing and talking to Roger helps more than the therapist does. He still has nightmares and writes everything about them down in a journal. It takes him a few days to talk about it. I learned from being with Liam to be patient. So, to answer your question, yes, I believe he is getting better." I take her hand and squeeze lightly.
"I know this is hard on you, Hannah. I am glad Luke is opening up to you and not keeping it to himself. If you need someone to talk to, please call me. I know we don't spend a lot of time together, but I consider you one of my closest friends." She leans over and hugs my neck tightly.
"Thank you, Ana. For everything." I pat her on the back, and we continue to talk about her after graduation plans. I can hear the excitement in her voice as she talks about entering medical school to be a physical therapist.
"Is Luke coming to see you play in Pittsburg?" She nods her head, enthusiastically.
"He is on the jet with Christian and the rest of your fan club." She laughs, and I shake my head.
"Good, I am glad he is coming. So, will there be wedding bells for you two soon?" I know I shouldn't have asked her that, but I want to see what she says.
"I would like to get married, but I am in no rush. Between medical school and his job, we will hardly see each other. At least I will be going to school in Seattle." I frown. I didn't think about how his job as my CPO would affect their relationship.
"I'm sorry, Hannah. I didn't mean to upset you." She shakes her head.
"You didn't upset me. I am realistic about things. We have talked about taking the next step, but we are both happy about where our relationship is right now." I smile and nod my head.
"Okay." I decide it's time for me to shut up. I don't want to upset her any more than I already have. She says I didn't, but I can see it in her eyes.
"Congratulations on making the Olympic team. Are you excited about it?" She asks, effectively changing the subject.
"Yes, I am. The relocation thing will be an adjustment, but at least it's temporary."
"Good luck, I know you will do great, Ana."
"Thank you." I assume she doesn't want to talk anymore because she picks up her book and continues to read. I look out the window of the plane at the ground below. We are somewhere over the Midwest because I see nothing but open fields below. I lean my head back and close my eyes for the remainder of the flight.
We safely landed a few hours later and greeted by our "fan" club. Christian is the first one I see, followed by the others. My mother, Grace, Carrick, and Elliott have made the trip. I see Luke making his way to Hannah, and I can't help but smile. She is good for him.
"Hey, baby. How was the flight?" I walk into Christian's embrace, and he kisses the top of my head.
"It was fine. I'm glad to be on the ground, though. We are going to the arena for a short practice. Are you all going to the hotel and get checked in?" I lean up on my toes and place a quick kiss on his lips.
"Yes. I was able to block off some rooms for everybody. We are on a different floor from the team, but at least we are at the same hotel. What time will you return to the hotel after practice?"
"I don't know. We will have a brief team meeting, and then we will be on our own for dinner. Curfew is 11:00 pm. We will have a team breakfast tomorrow morning, and then a free day until we meet for the ride to our game. We play at 5:00 pm, and Stanford plays after us." We walk arm in arm to get my luggage.
"This is the last time you will fly economy. From now on, you will fly on my private jet. I hate being around all of these people. They have no idea what personal space is." I laugh at Christian's comment as he reaches for my bag.
"Let's go before you get me in trouble." His free hand takes mine, and we walk together to the team bus. The team's bags are loaded, and Christian kisses me goodbye.
"Text me when you are on the way back to the hotel. I want to spend the evening with you if that is okay." I smile and nod my head.
"I will. See you later." I board the bus after Kate, and we sit down together.
"God, Steele. You and Grey are awful. You just saw each other this morning, and you're acting like you have been apart for months." I shoot her the finger and roll my eyes.
"Oh, come on. You and Elliott are worse. If I did a DNA swab in your mouth, I would find Elliott's in there instead of yours." She shoves my shoulder as the rest of the team gets on the bus. Chasity and Hannah sit in front of us. Chasity is one of our outside hitters, and she is a sophomore. She is very talented and will probably make all-conference this year.
I take a quick shower after practice and ride the elevator to Christian's room. We decided to order dinner and watch a movie. I told him to surprise me, so he picked The Mummy as the movie and ordered a light dinner from the room service menu.
After dinner, we cuddled up to each other. One thing led to another, and needless to say; we didn't look at the television until the credits were rolling. I make it back to my room before curfew, much to Christian's disappointment. I hope he can sleep without having nightmares. He says he still has them on occasion, especially when I am not in bed with him.
The next afternoon, we arrive at the arena a few hours before our game starts. Fans have already begun to gather in the parking lot, even though it's below freezing outside. We arrive at our locker room, and all of a sudden, I have a nervous feeling. I usually have butterflies before a game, but never like this. It's to the point I could easily throw up. "Are you alright, Steele? You are pale. Need a bucket to puke in?"
"Haha, Kate. No, I don't need a bucket. I don't usually feel this nervous before a game. I guess the stage is a little bigger now. They will go away once the game starts." At least I hope they do.
We take the floor for warm-ups, and fans start to fill the arena. Our fans are dressed in purple and most of them sit together in the area behind our bench. This place can hold around 19,000 people, but I don't think there will be that many people here tonight. Considering two of the four teams are from the west coast.
The announcer introduces the starting line ups, and the national anthem played. As both teams take the court, I realize I don't want my college career to end just yet.
CPOV
UW took the first game in dominating fashion, winning 25-10. They are playing crisp, error-free volleyball, and they look fantastic. I could tell Ana was nervous before the game started. She kept bouncing back on forth on her feet and rolling her head in circles. I gave her a full body massage last night before she left my room, hoping it would entice her to stay. I didn't sleep very well because she wasn't in bed with me, but I know she had to stay in her room because of team rules.
The teams take the floor to start the second game, and UW picks up where they left off in the first game. It's evident to me that UW came to play, making it harder for Wisconsin to find their groove. The second game ends in the same score, 25-10.
The UW players haven't even broken a sweat playing this game. I hope they win all three games. Stanford has been watching from the side, but seeing how quickly this game is progressing, they have left to go back in their locker room.
"This is impressive. How many games have you been to, Christian?" Elliott asks me during the time out. I shrug my shoulders.
"I didn't get to as many as I wanted to, but I haven't seen them play this well all year. I hope they can continue the momentum into tomorrow night. They are going to need it." He nods his head in agreement.
"I tried to make it to every home game. You are right, though. I haven't seen them play this good either." He pats me on the back. "So, little brother. Have you and Ana set a wedding date yet?"
"We have talked about it here and there, but nothing is final yet. Have you finished everything with the house?"
"Yes, it's ready for you to move in. Since you will be in California after the first of the year, will you wait to move in once the Olympics are over?" I think about his question for a few moments.
"That sounds like a good idea. It makes sense not to move in yet. We only have a few weeks before leaving, and the stress of moving will drive Ana insane. I will talk to her about it after this is over." Elliott slaps me on the back.
"See, I have a few good ideas now and then." Before he says anything else, the referee blows the whistle, and the third game is underway. Wisconsin plays a little better in this game but still come up short. The final score of the third game is 25-15. Ana and her teammates are hugging each other and high fiving.
She and Kate run into the stands. Ana jumps in my arms and hugs me tightly. "You played great, baby. Go get dressed and come back out to sit with us for the Stanford game, alright?"
"Okay. I just wanted to come for a hug and kiss. I love you so much. Thanks for supporting me."
"You are welcome. Now, get out of here before I give the fans a show they will never forget." I kiss her lips and pat her on the butt as she walks away.
The team returns and sit together as a group in front of where we are. Stanford and Minnesota take the floor and start their warmups. I hope this will be a good game, but I have a feeling Stanford will try to make a statement and win just like UW did. We will see, I guess.
After the first game, Ana and Kate come to sit with Elliott and me. Stanford won the first game 25-5. Minnesota is no match defensively for the tall hitters of Stanford. I lean over and whisper to Ana, "It appears that you will be playing Stanford tomorrow night. Will you all be ready?" She shrugs her shoulders.
"I hope so. If we can play on the same level we did tonight; it will be a close game." Stanford wins the next two games quickly, 25-5 and 25-3, setting up what will be a fantastic national championship game.
"Come to my room after you take care of things with the team. I want to spend some time alone with you. Maybe soak in the jacuzzi tub?"
"Mmm…I can't say no to that. See you in a little while, Mr. Grey." She places a chaste kiss on my lips, then joins the rest of the team. Next to me, Kate and Elliott have locked lips and will need to come up for air soon.
Once they break apart and Kate leaves, I rib him about how he and Kate can't keep their hands off each other. "Dude, you are in a public place. Show some class." He shrugs his shoulders.
"Sorry, bro. I can't help it. Kate just makes me lose my inhibitions." He grins, and I shake my head.
"Well, try harder next time, would you?" He punches my shoulder, and we grab our coats and walk out to our cars.
Ana and I spend a relaxing evening in my room until she has to return to hers. I made sure she was good and relaxed, to the point I had to carry her downstairs. I kissed her forehead after tucking her in. "Good night, baby. Get some rest, and I will talk to you in the morning." I look over at the other bed, and it's empty. "Ana, where is Kate?"
"She got permission to stay with Elliott as long as she is at breakfast on time in the morning." She opens her eyes and looks up at me. "I asked about spending the night with you, and Coach didn't have a problem with it. Would you like to stay with me?" She smiles, and before she can change her mind, I undress down to my boxers.
"Why didn't you say something earlier, when we were in my room?" She laughs and cuddles up to me as I slide in next to her.
"I wanted you to carry me back to my room." I shake my head and pull her closer to me. It's almost juvenile that the team members have to ask permission to do anything, considering they are adults. But I guess they are representing the school, and have to be on their best behavior. I hope the Olympics aren't like this. I will go crazy being away from Ana while visiting another country.
I kiss Ana goodnight, again, and pull her on top of me. "This is what I have been missing. You next to me in bed. I didn't sleep at all last night." She rests her chin on my chest and looks at me.
"I'm sorry, I should have asked about us staying together. I think Coach is worried about us not getting the rest we need. I explained to her how you have nightmares, and she pondered the idea, finally saying yes. I promised her I would go to bed early and behave." I smile, and Ana slides up my body until we are nose to nose. She just stares at me without saying anything.
"What?" I ask while rubbing my hands up and down her back.
"Nothing. I feel so lucky to have you in my life. Five years ago, I would not have thought we would be here today. I know we still have somethings to work on, but I love you with all my heart, Christian." I roll her over on her back and rest my forearms by her head, running my fingers through her hair.
"I can't imagine my life without you in it. We have taken the long road to get here, but it was necessary. Neither one of us was ready for a relationship then. We are heading in the right direction, don't you think?" I kiss her deeply. She wraps her arms and legs around me, cradling me into her.
I make slow and gentle love to Ana, whispering how much I love her and kissing every part of her body I can reach. I hope she can feel and understand just what she means to me.
I wake up to soft kisses on my chest. I place my hands behind my head and watch Ana make her way down my body. She reaches inside of my boxers and wraps her fingers around my dick. I raise my hips as she slides my boxers down, removing them completely. It was semi-hard before she started playing with it. Now, it's standing at full attention, ready for her next move. She pumps it a few times with her fist and wraps her lips around the tip. I take a deep breath in and moan on exhale.
She continues her assault on my dick, and I quickly approach liftoff. Before I can come in her mouth, she lets go with a pop. "What are you doing?" I choke out. She grins and moves her body to straddle my hips. I sit up, so we are nose to nose. She places one of her hands on my shoulders as she rises on her knees. She takes my dick in her other hand and lines it up with her sex. Ana lowers herself down slowly until my dick is buried entirely inside her pussy.
We both moan at the feeling of our connection. I place my hands on Ana's hips and move her up and down on me. Ana leans closer to me and touches her forehead to mine. Her arms wrap around my neck, and her hands grab my hair. Our bodies are moving in sync with each other, and I find myself on the verge of an explosive orgasm. I feel her walls start to tighten around me, and I piston my hips into her harder and faster.
I kiss Ana's neck and bite softly at the junction of her collarbone. She moans my name and grinds her hips in a circle. "God, Christian." Both of us are panting and chasing our orgasm.
"Come with me, baby." I lean down and take one of her nipples in my mouth, biting and teasing it. It does the trick, and a few seconds later, she is coming all over me. After a few quick strokes, I follow behind her. I lean back and lay us on our sides.
"Good morning, baby." I grin and kiss the tip of her nose.
"I love waking up wrapped around you. Good morning." I look over her shoulder at the clock.
"We need to get up and shower. Team breakfast is in thirty minutes." Ana groans and buries her head into my neck.
"I wish we could stay like this all day." I chuckle and hug her tighter.
"I know, baby, but today is going to be a big day for you. It's your last college game, and you have a great chance of winning the national championship. I want you to enjoy it completely."
"Yes, tonight is going to be huge, but I enjoy our time together more. It seems lately we haven't had much alone time. But after the first of the year, things will be a bit different." I nod my head.
"Yes, and I can't wait. Come on, let's take a shower."
Ana and the team have breakfast together and then leave for a light practice. I take the opportunity to speak to Carla about Ana's decision for Christmas. I join the table where my family is sitting.
"Good morning, everyone." I grab the newspaper sitting on the corner of the table and skim the headlines.
"Good morning, son. How is Ana doing this morning? Is she nervous?" Dad asks before taking a sip of his coffee.
"I don't think her nerves have taken over yet. I hope she will embrace today and enjoy the experience. She was nervous yesterday, but she hasn't shown any nervousness this morning. Win or lose, I hope the team plays well." Everyone at the table nods in agreement.
"Christian, what did Ana decide to do about Christmas?" Carla asks.
"She wants to stay in Seattle and spend it with all of you guys. Since we will be in California until the Olympics, she wants to be here with her family." I lean back in my chair.
"I'm glad you two are staying in Seattle. All of my children have significant others, and I'm excited we can be together." I nod my head in agreement and take a drink of coffee.
After breakfast, I spend some time in my room going over some emails and end of year reports. The last two weeks of the year are the busiest for GEH. Each department submits its yearly report to me so I can determine what if any changes are needed.
I must have been in deep concentration because I didn't hear Ana come into my suite. I feel her arms wrap around my neck, and she kisses my cheek. "What are you working on?" I reach around and pull her into my lap. I turn my computer to show her what I am doing.
"These are reports that have been submitted to me by each department head. I look over their expenses, payroll, and any other items that can potentially lead to saving or losing money. I make cutbacks where they are necessary, and more money or personnel is devoted to the areas that need it. Does it make sense to you?" She nods her head and plays with the buttons on my shirt.
"Yes, it makes some sense. I did take a few business courses, but nothing that will help me make any important decisions. I need Mr. Grey to teach me a thing or to." I chuckle and kiss the top of her head.
"I will help you whenever you need it. I can even offer private tutoring, if necessary. Mr. Grey will be at your beck and call, Miss Steele." I pull her tighter against me and take a deep breath. "How was practice? Are you all ready to play?"
"We are as ready as we can be. We've waited an entire season for this, and there's no turning back now." She snuggles into my chest more.
"Do you want some lunch? I can order room service, and we can relax a little bit before you leave for the arena."
"That sounds good. I'm going to take a warm bath while you order lunch." She pecks me on the lips then walks to the ensuite. I would love to join her, but she needs to conserve her energy for tonight's game.
We enjoy lunch together and spend the next few hours talking about California, Ana's plans for her job, and the establishment of the Raymond Steele Foundation. GEH's attorneys are helping with setting things up and then making sure everything is in order. Everything will be ready to go once we return to Seattle after the Olympics.
Ana POV
We arrive at the arena and gather together in the locker room to get dressed. I am feeling calm, surprisingly. This will be my last game as a collegiate player, and I plan on giving it my all.
We take the floor and start warmups, just as we have for every game before this one. We have played Stanford twice this year, and their strong players are familiar to us. We have worked on different ways to neutralize them in practice. This game is for all the marbles, so we will do whatever it takes to win.
Warm-ups and pregame activities wind down, and both teams take the court in what should be a great match. We won the coin toss and will serve first. The butterflies I didn't have before have now taken flight, and I feel like I am going to throw up. I take a few deep breaths, hoping the feeling will pass.
"Ana, are you okay?" Kate whispers in my ear as we walk onto the court.
"Yeah. Just feeling a bit nervous, I think." I take more deep breaths, and Kate smacks me hard on the ass. I turn to her, and she is laughing. "What the fuck was that for?" I rub my butt cheek, trying to stop the stinging.
"I am helping you get rid of your nerves. Get out of your head, Steele. Play like the star I know you are, and it will be fine. We all have your back." I smile and nod my head in agreement.
"Alright, let's do this!" I give Kate a high five and walk around to my other teammates to do the same. We take our places on the court, and the whistle blows to get the game underway.
Both teams are making stellar defensive plays, and the lead changes back and forth. The referee blows the whistle for a Stanford substitution, and I notice the score. We are tied 20-20. Neither team will be backing down, and I feel we will be playing five games.
We take advantage of a hitting error and take the lead. We have game point at 24-23, with Kate serving. She puts the ball in play, and our defense sets up for their outside hitter. We are still using the same defensive setup as before, as it's working so far. Hannah and Destiny slide to the outside, following the setter's pass to the outside hitter. They line up with the ball, timing their jump perfectly with the hitter. The spike comes, and Hannah blocks the shot, causing it to hit the floor on their side, in bounds. We all crowd around Hannah, praising her for the outstanding play she just made. We take the first game, and our fans are going crazy.
We switch sides, and I peek up into the stands at my family while we are walking to the bench. Christian is smiling, and he blows me a kiss. My mom is clapping and waving. Elliott is giving me the thumbs-up sign. I smile back at them all and join my teammates in the huddle.
"All right, ladies, you played that game very well. We will keep things the way they are defensively. If we can continue to keep it away from number ten and keep a strong presence at the net, our chances of winning this match are high. Just give me everything you have out there, alright?" We all nod in agreement and meet hands in the middle of the huddle.
The second game goes similar to the first one, but the outcome is different. Stanford wins it 25-23. We split the next two games, and now we go into game five tied two games each. This one will go to fifteen instead of twenty-five.
Four of the six starters are seniors, and I know they were thinking back to our elimination in the semifinals last year. Stanford beat us in four games. I would love nothing more than to win this game and wipe away the bad taste from last year's loss.
The game starts, and we continue to score back and forth until we tie at ten. Coach calls a timeout, and we huddle around her. "Okay, I think now is the time to change things up. We need five points to win this, and I don't want to continue this back and forth stuff. Let's move Hannah to the middle instead of the outside on offense but keep her outside on defense. Keep the sets quick in the middle and utilize the slide play if you have to." We nod at her instruction and clasp hands in the center of the huddle.
"I know this is it for the seniors. Leave everything out there. Don't think back and say what if. Give it all you got." We chant win at the break of hands and take our places on the court.
Kate and I look at each other, knowing this is it. "This right here is where we want to be, Ana. Let's do this." She high fives my hand, and I clasp my other hand over hers.
"This is for us, Kate. We are the leaders out there. Let's take this championship back to Seattle." We smile at each other and take our places on the court.
Stanford serves to Kate, and she passes the ball perfectly to me. I set up Hannah quick in the middle, and she puts it down, untouched on Stanford's side of the net. Their defense is caught entirely off guard, and we go up 11-10. We win the next three points, and Stanford calls a timeout with the score 14-10.
We crowd around each other, waiting to hear what Coach has to say. She takes a deep breath before speaking. "I don't have to tell you ladies what to do. This entire match, you have excelled in everything. You have supported each other, picked each other up when a mistake is made and continued as nothing happened. I have one thing to say, and that is to finish what you started. You came out on fire, and so finish that way. For many of you, this is your last time on the court. Make it count."
The referee blows the whistle, and every single person in this building is on their feet, clapping and cheering for their team. We have a match point, and Kara serves the ball for us. Stanford makes a tremendous defensive play getting the ball to their setter. She sets to their strong side, and Hannah and Destiny slide to make the block. They get there late, and the spike gets through. Kate makes a fantastic defensive play and sends a great pass to me. I set up Hannah quickly in the middle, and Stanford tries to block it. It skirts off the blocker's hand and falls to the floor on their side of the net.
Holy Shit! We just won the national championship! Kate is the first one to get to me, and we engulf each other in a tight hug. The rest of the team piles on top of us as we celebrate our win. I feel myself release the emotion I have been holding onto since dad passed away. I wish he could have been here to see this. He always told me he was proud of me and looked forward to watching me play.
A few minutes later, the pile starts getting up off of us, and I feel two strong arms pull me up off the floor. "Baby, I am so proud of you right now." Christian wraps his arms around me, and I bury my head in his chest.
"Thank you. I can't believe it. We have worked so hard to get to this moment, and we finally made it." He pulls back from the hug and leans down, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"Go celebrate with your team. I will be watching from the stands. I love you, Ana." He takes my face in his hands and wipes my tears with his thumbs.
"I love you, Christian. I will find you later. Tell everyone thanks for coming and supporting us." He kisses me again and then releases my face. He walks back toward the others, and I rejoin my teammates.
We continue to hug each other until the trophy presentation. They hand us championship hats and t-shirts to wear, so we put them on. We crowd around Coach as she accepts the national championship trophy. We pose for pictures for what seems like forever, but I soak up the moment knowing I will never be here again. The song The Champion is playing over the speakers, and I feel the words. I was made for this, I was born to win. I smile and continue to soak up this incredible feeling.
Hannah receives the MVP award for her outstanding play during the entire tournament. I am so proud of her. She overcame so much when Liam passed away, and it didn't get her down. I watch my teammates congratulate her, and I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the head coach of the US National Team walking toward me, and I suddenly feel nervous.
"Ana," Karch Kiraly reaches his hand out for mine. "You played an awesome game, leading your team to the national championship. I look forward to seeing what you do with team USA." I almost choke on my spit.
"Um, thank you, sir. I am excited to join the team. I can't wait to get started." He nods his head and walks over to speak to the Stanford coach. Kate comes over and leans her shoulder into mine.
"Who is that?" referring to Coach Kiraly.
"That is the head coach for the US Olympic team Karch Kiraly. From what I understand, he was a legend at UCLA, won several gold medals for the US hardcourt and beach volleyball teams at various Olympics, and has been coaching the US National Team since 2012."
"Wow, that's impressive." Kate wraps her arms around my shoulder and leads me back to the other players. "Come on, Steele. We have some celebrating to do!" I smile back at her.
"Yes, Kate. So much to celebrate. Thank you for being such a great friend!"
Six months later
CPOV
I check over the email before I send it, and it pisses me off that I have to fly back to Seattle for the week. Ana just returned from an international trip, and I want to stay with her, but the upcoming meetings have been on the calendar since before Christmas. I send the email to Ros, letting her know I will be at GEH in the morning after 9:00 am. The jet is leaving Anaheim at 6:00 am. I hear the front door open and shut, and I check the time. Ana is home early from practice.
"Christian?" she calls out to me from the kitchen.
"In my office," I tell her. I hope she won't be too upset about me leaving town for a week. I have only had to make day trips here and there. She appears in the doorway of my office with a bag of groceries.
"I want to cook for us tonight. Does salmon sound okay?" I stand from behind my desk and meet her at the door.
"Sounds nice. Is everything okay? You are home earlier than normal, not that I'm complaining." I pull her into an embrace and smell her hair. I can still smell her shampoo even though she has been working out.
"Yeah, Coach Kiraly said we would have a few light practices to allow our bodies to return to normal. Most of us are still suffering from jetlag." What I have to tell her sucks even more now because she will be home early all this week, and I will miss the opportunity to spend time with her.
"Come on, let's get dinner started. I'm hungry." We walk together into the kitchen, and I help her unpack her store items. I pull out a container of ice cream and look at her. "Ice cream?" She smiles and shrugs.
"I haven't treated myself in a while, so I grabbed some. I hope you like vanilla." I put it in the freezer.
"Yes, I like vanilla ice cream." I grin at her and continue to put away the grocery items. I guess it's time to rip off the band-aid. "There is something I need to tell you. I have to fly back to Seattle for a few meetings." I stop and wait for a reaction. She doesn't say anything, so I keep going. "I will be gone all week." She slows her movements down, and I wait for her to respond.
"When do you leave?" She turns around to face me, and her expression is unreadable.
"Taylor and I fly out tomorrow at 6:00 am. I tried to get out of going, but these meetings have been on the calendar since last year. I'm sorry, baby. I know you just got back into town, but I can't avoid this trip." She shrugs her shoulders and starts to gather ingredients for dinner.
"It's your company, Christian. I understand there will be times when you have to handle things. I will be here when you get back. Besides, we will be living in Seattle, and it will be normal for you to go to GEH for meetings." She smiles and shrugs her shoulders again.
I lean my hip against the countertop and watch Ana work. "Prescott and Sawyer will stay here with you while I'm gone. If you want to go shopping or whatever, feel free to do it. Should I call your mom or Kate to come and stay with you?"
"That won't be necessary. Mom can't leave her patients on short notice, and Kate is interning at the Seattle Times. I will be fine. I promise." She stands on her tiptoes and presses a quick kiss to my lips.
"Okay. How long before dinner?" I need to pack my bag.
"About thirty minutes." I nod and kiss her cheek.
"I'm going to pack my bag now, so after dinner, we can spend some quality time together." I waggle my eyebrows and pat Ana on the butt.
"Okay." She continues to prepare dinner, and I head to the bedroom to start packing. I only have to pack a few small items since I still have the rest of my clothes at Escala. As I reach for my carryon bag, the ring on my pinky finger flashes against the sunlight. I smile at the memory of how I got the ring.
Flashback to Christmas
Ana and I are sitting on the couch in my parent's living room as Mia distributes the gifts to everyone. She and Ethan are still together and are planning to share a place when they move back here sometime next year. She hands me a small box that neat wrapping with a little ribbon on top. I look at her in surprise. "Who is it from?" She shrugs and goes back to the other gifts. I untie the ribbon and paper, finding a black felt ring box. Maybe Ethan meant to give this to Mia.
"Who is it from?" Ana asks, peeking over my shoulder.
"I don't know. There was no note or anything." I turn the box around in my hand, looking at it.
"Open it and see what it is." Ana nudges me in the ribs.
I lean over and whisper in her ear, "maybe it's for Mia? I think it's an engagement ring." Ana rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"I doubt that, Christian. He would make a big show with a knee drop and everything. Not put an unmarked box underneath the tree." I stare at the box and say to myself, 'what the hell.'
When I open it, I am speechless. It is a small ring with the initials ASG inscribed on a platinum band. I look over at Ana and she is smiling. "What is this?" She shrugs her shoulders.
"I wanted to give you something that reminds you of me. It's a pinky ring for your right hand. You will have a wedding band on your left hand when we get married." I am shocked by her gift.
"You got me a ring? What does ASG stand for?" As soon as I ask, I already know the answer. "Anastasia Steele Grey?" She nods her head, and I pull her into my lap. I kiss her profoundly, trying to show my gratitude for her thoughtful gift.
"I love you, Christian. Merry Christmas," she says after pulling away from my mouth.
End of flashback
I look down at my hand, and I thought I would never be wearing any type of jewelry. I didn't picture myself getting married, much less wearing a pinky ring. I see a lot of men wearing these types of rings without knowing the significance. I quickly finish packing so I can spend the rest of the evening with Ana.
The next few days are stressful. The meetings are back to back, with lunch being served somewhere in between. We have discussed everything from new acquisitions to deciding which companies may need to close. There are a few that have not been profiting since our takeover. I don't like closing down companies and eliminating jobs, but I don't want to continue to lose money. I will offer a severance package to the employees that are unable to find work within another GEH owned company.
I rub my temples in frustration, and Ros tells everyone it's time for a break. Once the room is empty, she sits down in the chair next to me. "Are you alright, Christian? I didn't realize we would be doing so much during these meetings. We need to re-evaluate the department heads and possibly make some changes." I nod my head in agreement.
"I think tomorrow should be the last day for this shit. I don't think I can handle listening to these fuckers repeat everything verbatim what they composed in emails. I can read that shit for myself." She laughs and leans back in her chair.
"Have you talked to Ana today? She needs to talk you off the ledge. I haven't seen you this worked up in quite some time." I check my phone for messages and don't see any from Ana.
"I haven't talked to her today. They are supposed to go back to full practice mode, and I probably won't hear from her until this evening sometime." I lean back in my chair and close my eyes.
"Well, make sure you do some facetime fucking. You are in desperate need of it." I give her the middle finger, and she gets up to leave the room.
"I'm serious, Christian. Ana is the best thing for you. I'm glad you are happy. You deserve it." She smiles and leaves the room, probably to smoke a cigarette. I continue to keep my eyes closed, enjoying the quietness of the place.
That evening, Ana and I have a pleasant conversation about nothing in particular. We talk about how our days went and what is on the schedule for tomorrow. I took the advice of my COO and watched Ana get herself off multiple times via facetime. The only thing it did for me made me want her more. I have a serious case of blue balls. Watching her give herself pleasure was one of the most erotic things I have ever seen. The only thing that tops it is the dining room scene last year. That image will be forever in my mind.
The jet is ready to go, and after signing some documents, I can get back to California. As I am reading over some contracts and figures, Taylor comes running into my office. "Sir. You need to turn on the television." I grab the remote and turn it to Fox News. What I see on the screen sends me into panic mode. A 3.9 magnitude earthquake shakes up Anaheim, California. The epicenter is near Disneyland. That message is scrolling across the bottom of the screen while video after video plays showing buildings damaged, cars smashed, and people running around in a panic.
"Have you been able to reach Sawyer or Prescott?" Taylor shakes his head no. I grab my phone and try to call Ana. The call doesn't go through. "What the fuck is wrong with her phone?"
"I'm sure the cell towers are overloading due to people calling 9-1-1. We are unable to fly into the airport at Anaheim until the area is safe due to possible aftershocks." Taylor sees the horror on my face.
"We have to find a way to get to California. I need to know if Ana is okay." I go online and see if there are any pictures in the area of the training center. I feel sick to my stomach, and I grab some water from the corner of my desk. "This can't be fucking happening right now. I should have stayed in California with her. This entire trip has been nothing but bull shit problems that should have been handled by the department heads." I grab my hair with both hands and pull as hard as I can. My cell phone starts to ring, and I answer it without checking to see who is calling.
"Ana? Are you okay?" I scream into the phone.
"Christian, it's Grace. I heard what happened in California. Have you heard from Ana?" I almost launched my phone across the room.
"No, mother. I haven't heard from her. I have tried calling, but her phone is not connecting. I am sick with worry because the center of the earthquake is near the Olympic training center." My words come out choked, and I almost start to cry.
"Christian, everything will be alright. As of right now, the news media is reporting numerous injuries but no fatalities. I can reach out to a friend that works in a hospital there if you would like me to." I shake my head no but realize she isn't in the room with me.
"No, I will keep trying to reach her security. Taylor is trying to figure out a way to get there until the airport allows incoming flights." I stand up and start to pace my office.
"Okay, son. When you so make it to California, please be careful. Sometimes the aftershocks are worse than the initial earthquake. Call me when you have any word on Ana. I love you, Christian." I close my eyes.
"I love you, mom." She disconnects the call, and I toss my phone on my desk.
"I don't care what it takes. Get us to California. I need to make sure Ana is okay. Please, Taylor. She is my life. I can't live without her." He nods his head and leaves my office. I walk over to the windows and look out over Seattle. Please baby. You have to be okay. I can't do this life without you. My thoughts keep going to how I will handle my life without Ana, and I have to stop myself. I can't be negative right now. I need to send every positive thought I can to her in hopes she is okay.
"Sir, my contact at the airport says we should take off and get as close as we can to Anaheim. We may not be able to land there, but we can drive the rest of the way if need be." I grab the documents on my desk and shove them into my briefcase.
"Have the jet ready to take off as soon as possible. We are leaving here and going straight to the airport." I lock my desk and tell Andrea the circumstances in California, and I will be leaving here now. If there are any meetings scheduled for the rest of the day or week, cancel them.
"Let's go, Taylor. We can figure the rest out while in flight." He nods, and I race toward the elevator. I can hear Ros yelling in the background, but I don't listen to what she says. I am focused on getting out of here and back to California. I can't live without Ana in my life.
A/N
Forgive me for leaving this on a small cliffhanger, but remember there will be a HEA for Christian and Ana. The song for the chapter is The Champion by Carrie Underwood (With Ludacris). Thank you for the nomination and votes for third place in Top Five FSOG WIP stories for January. There are so many great stories out there and I am truly thankful you guys have enjoyed this story. I will post the next chapter and epilogue together, hopefully in the next week.