A/N:Who is ready for this story to get crazy? I cannot wait to hear your reaction to this chapter! Thank you to everyone that has left reviews of Chapter 10. Your encouragement is what keeps me going. I am not sure what my posting schedule will be over the next several weeks since the holidays are upon us. Hopefully, it won't be long until the drama fully unfolds and the lives of our characters are forever changed. As always, E.L. James owns the characters.
Chapter 11
Click, Click
After several days of Mia and I begging, Christian finally concedes to allow us to take the test shots in his red room. He has tons of stipulations. He gets final approval of the photos. They cannot be detailed enough that someone who has been in his playroom could recognize the location of the shoot. His security will be present for the shoot. Everyone present must sign an NDA. Only our group can be involved - no one else like models or anyone from SIP.
Worried that Mr. Kinky Fuckery will back out of his promise, José wants to shoot as soon as possible. By Saturday morning, we are gathered in Christian's great room as José and Frederic haul in the photog equipment. He brings two cameras, a laptop, studio lighting, tripods, and a few cases of items that I can't even identify.
Mia is here to help style the shoot. Much to Christian's chagrin, Kate and Elliott join us as the models for the shoot. Neither of their faces will be in the pictures.
Christian tucks himself away in his study. I'm pretty sure he completely regrets agreeing to allow us to do this.
I haven't been back in his playroom since the night of the riots. I don't know what I would do if he asked me to, umm, 'use' the room with him. It seems exciting but way out of my sex novice wheelhouse. I keep expecting him to bring it up but so far he hasn't.
For the shoot, Mia borrowed items from a local lingerie boutique. Her contacts are endless. Mia puts Kate in a black, strapless Merry Widow that laces up the back. Kate looks amazing. The top really accentuates her hour glass figure and voluptuous curves. Elliott can't stop touching her and kissing her neck and shoulders. Mia puts Kate's hair in a loose French braid. Kate wears black silky pajama shorts since only her top will be in the shots.
The first pictures are Kate only. She stands with her back facing the camera. Mia ties a grey silk scarf around her eyes and knots it in the back. I watch the shots come across the laptop screen. José is really talented. The pictures show Kate's upper back and head. José uses shadows and lighting to define the images. He directs Kate to roll her shoulders back and bow her head. The symmetry of the composition juxtaposed with the darkness around her is stunning.
With Kate's blindfold still in place, José directs Elliott to pick Kate up, bridal style. Elliott is shirtless and in black pants that sit low on his waist. With Elliott's back to the camera, Mia adjusts Kate's blindfold and braid. Kate puts her head on Elliott's shoulder. Again, the photos are taken from the back.
Watching the pictures come across the lap top, I realize Elliott is almost as buff as Christian. His muscles are well defined as he grips his fiancé. These pictures are breathtaking.
At some point, someone turns on some music. Frederic sets up refreshments including some crazy good sparkling rosé.
Mia moves Kate over to the cross. I feel like I am watching some Kate and Elliott foreplay as Elliott straps her wrist into one of the leather cuffs. José takes several shots of her wrist in the cuff. Mia jumps in to fold Kate's fingers so that her well-polished manicure softens the harsh image of the leather.
Mia has Elliott hold a leather riding crop across the flesh of Kate's chest. The picture that comes across the laptop is from her mouth to her waist. The grey filter creates a sharp contrast between her fleshy, alabaster cleavage and the black crop. Wow, just wow.
I am impressed by the level of commitment that everyone shows towards getting good test pictures. José is in his element. He directs Kate and Elliott on how to move their bodies for just the right shots. Mia and Frederic serve as his assistants, adjusting lighting, props, and wardrobe to create stunning angles and composition.
After two hours, José stops to take a run through the images he has captured. He navigates the computer software as he deletes, crops, and adjusts the images. Our goal is to come up with at least ten test shots for LaLa to view.
While José works at the laptop, the rest of us take a break. Frederic opens a second bottle of rosé while Elliott ops to raid Christian's extensive beer collection.
Satisfied with the images he has taken; José sends me downstairs to get Christian. So far the King of Kink has stayed well away from the red room. He returns with me so that he and José can go through the images for Christian's final approval. Sawyer has stayed quiet in the corner of the playroom all morning. What I wouldn't give to know what he is going through that CPO's mind today.
While Christian and José scroll through the images, Kate and Elliott put their clothes back on. Mia puts all of the borrowed clothing back on hangers on a rolling wardrobe rack. Frederic works on putting furniture back where it belongs.
Christian and José stay huddled in discussion for quite some time. I start to get nervous that Christian is having second thoughts about these test shots. Damn, he is so sexy as he stares intently at the images while tapping his finger to his chin.
Finally, José claps his hands together and declares it's a wrap on the shoot. When we all move to help break down the photography equipment, Christian tells us that he will help take care of packing up José's equipment. That's odd…really odd.
Christian directs me to show Kate, Elliott, and Mia to the elevator. Look who is being Mr. Bossy Pants. I see Christian whisper something in Mia's ear that makes her giggle and head for the door. What is that crazy billionaire up to?
After thanking Christian's siblings and Kate and hugging them good bye, I head back upstairs to finish breaking down the shoot and cleaning up the playroom. I meet Frederic and José on the stairs.
"Bye, Boo. We will stop by tomorrow to pick up the equipment. Christian said he would see to getting it packed up," José says as he winks at Frederic. What is going on? Why isn't José taking his stuff with him today? Maybe Christian is tired of having his red room invaded. I'm thankful he let us use it. I won't question why he is sending the guys away.
I go to see if Christian wants my help with packing up José's stuff. Opening the door to the red room, I find my super sexy boyfriend sitting on the tufted, red leather chesterfield. He pats the seat next to him and offers me another glass of champagne. After spending all morning on my feet, it feels good to take a break. He pulls me into his lap and lazily rubs his thumb in circles along my arm.
"Do you think your author will like the shots that José got today?"
"I hope so. José got some crazy good ones," I say resting my head in the crook of his neck.
We sit relaxing in silence for a few minutes. I'm having trouble working up the motivation to finish packing up. I would much rather be skin-to-skin, sniffing my man.
"So, I had an idea, Ms. Steele," Christian begins in his sexy voice. "What if we took a few more pictures this afternoon?"
"Of your red room? I don't think we need any more test shots. Did you not like the ones José took?" I begin to worry. Crap on a stick. He doesn't like the test shots. Is there time for another test shoot at a different location? I knew this was a bad idea.
"José's images are great. I just thought it might be fun for us to take some pictures. Private, pictures, Anastasia."
I start to understand. "Like pictures of me and you?" I gulp down my rosé.
Christian slides me off his lap and walks over to the rack of lingerie Mia left. Wait...did he tell her to leave the wardrobe for us?
"Yes Anastasia. Pictures of you and me. You can model some of these items." Christian gestures to the lingerie.
I close my eyes, say Anastasia Fierce three times, and giggle when I say, "Let's do this Mr. Grey."
We establish a few ground rules. The pictures are for our eyes only. Christian assures me the memory card will go straight to his safe. Apparently, he handed off the card with the test shots to José already. The camera is loaded with a new, blank card just for us. No full nudity. I wouldn't be comfortable with a nip shot or my vajayjay being preserved in perpetuity. Christian agrees. We can go through all the pictures when we are done. Either one of us can choose to delete any photo that makes us uncomfortable.
Christian leaves me so I can change and get ready. I suggest he put on a pair of jeans. I mean, Elliott did look pretty good wearing just pants in the test photos.
I put my hair in a messy bun. What to wear? I pick a maroon satin corset with black lace adornment and attached garters. I choose black lace panties that have a bit more coverage than a thong. I praise the goddesses for my recent full wax job. I attach black stockings and don wicked black stilletos. I check myself out in the mirror. Okay, I need to darken up my eye make-up. I go for a smoky eye with lots of coal eye liner and mascara as well as some extra pouty lip gloss.
Ehr mah gawd, what is taking Christian so long? Just as I am about to chicken out, I get a whiff of Mr. Sex-on-Leg's heavenly elixir. All my lady parts begin to tingle.
When Christian sees me, he breaks into a ridiculously pleased grin.
"Holy shit, Anastasia. You look fucking amazing!" He growls as he gets that whole 'stalking his prey' look and slinks over to me. He sets down a bottle of bourbon and one of the double old-fashioned glasses that I made. Looks like I'm not the only one that needs a little liquid courage. He reaches down and puts his hands on my waist, "Wow, you look like a million bucks."
I giggle and feel my full body blush activate. After assuring Christian I am really okay with taking some boudoir pics, we get down to business. Christian puts on a playlist that I can only assume he created with the intention of using for some serious seduction time. Roy Orbison and Marvin Gaye set the tone. When Christian takes off his white button up shirt, I playfully put it on, leaving it open in the front.
Christian grabs my hand and walks me over to the massive four poster bed swathed in satin sheets. I climb on and wait for him to set up the camera on the tripod. Christian checks the laptop to make sure everything is framed well and in focus. He sets the camera to auto-shoot at regular intervals.
The first photos are of only me. I pose on my knees, rising off the bed.
-Click
Christian climbs up on the bed and gets on his knees behind me. His shirt slides off my shoulders. He wraps his arm around my waist and bends down to kiss my neck
-Click
I turn my head towards him. My back is to his front. He whispers in my ear. "God damn, Anastasia. You have no idea how incredibly sexy you are" I giggle.
-Click
Neither one of us really have a plan here for how we are going to pose these shots. After trying a few poses with us both facing the camera, I toss his shirt on the floor. Christian pulls my black pearls from his back pocket. Once the strand is around my neck, he ties it in a knot right at breast level. Feeling cheeky, I get on all fours on the bed with my side to the camera. Christian stands beside the bed facing me. He takes the long end of the pearls and pulls me like I am on a leash.
-Click
Next, we set up a scene with me blindfolded sitting on the end of the bed facing the camera. Christian stands between my legs, facing me with his back to the camera. He nibbles on my neck while my fingers run through his hair.
-Click
We are both starting to get more comfortable. I lick up his jaw line.
-Click
I lie on my back with my head hanging off the side of the bed that the camera is facing. Christian climbs up my body, licking, and nipping while I suck on the pearls that have fallen into my mouth.
-Click, Click
Christian asks if I am comfortable posing with my wrists bound behind my back. He ties my wrists with a grey silk neck tie. I'm going to need him to wear this tie to work on Monday.
-Click
I stand with my back to the camera displaying my bound wrists sitting just above my bottom.
-ClickChristian whispers in my ear, "You look so hot right now. I'm having a hard time controlling myself."
"Then don't," I challenge.
-Click
He groans in appreciation. "Not yet baby. Let's take some more pictures first. Why don't you set up some shots, Anastasia?"
He releases my wrists and goes to adjust the camera. Feeling brave, I pick out a braided leather riding crop.
Feeling powerful, I stand with crop in my hand, my legs spread shoulder width apart, and put my hands on my hips. I am in full dominatrix mode.
-Click
Christian slowly rises up my body, kissing the gaps between the corset and the panties.
-Click, ClickHe is standing at his full height and wraps his arms around me, grabbing my ass.
-Click
Still holding the crop, I wrap my arms around his neck and he lifts me up. My legs snake around his waist.
-Click
All of this body contact, the kisses, and the music are adding up. I am feeling very hot and bothered. Judging from the bulge in his pants, so is Christian.
He kisses me as he walks me over to the cross. "Can I please take some pictures of you cuffed to this, baby?" He begs while kissing down my throat. Judging from the moisture between my legs, Mia will not be returning this outfit to the store that loaned it.
-Click
I nod yes because I secretly want to see what this is all about.
He blindfolds me again and then he raises each of my arms and puts them in the leather cuffs. He cuffs my ankles as well
-Click, Click
The next thing I feel is a feather running across my collar bone. This feels sexy as hell.
-Click
I'm really starting to heat up. I can't rub my legs together to release the pressure building between them.
I hear Christian walk over to the wall of toys. He returns with something new.
-Click, Click
Fuck, is that a belt? Christian isn't using it to whip me, but I tense when I realize he is running it over my body. He senses my mood change and immediately drops it to the floor. The jingle of the metal buckle clanging to the floor triggers something inside of me. Suddenly, I'm not feeling very into this shoot anymore. I am blindfolded and my arms and legs are cuffed. I start to feel a sense of panic overtaking me. My body tenses.
-Click
"Christian?" I whimper. "I don't want to do this anymore."
-Click
Christian immediately goes to uncuff me, starting with my ankles. He tries to calm me and reassures me he will unbind me as fast as he can.
-Click
I start to pull at my wrist restraints. I feel trapped. I shake my head violently trying to work the blindfold off. I can't catch my breath.
-Click, Click
My ankles are released. In his haste to undo my wrists, Christian leaves the blindfold in place. The darkness closes in on me as I begin to scream and shake.
-Click
I hear Christian curse as he works to uncuff my arms. With one arm free, I rip the blindfold off. Tears are streaming down my face. I can't stop myself from tugging at my still bound wrist making it more difficult for Christian to uncuff.
-Click
My last wrist is released and I sprint for the door.
-Click
I run down the hall, tripping in the stilettos. I vaguely hear Christian call my name as I reach the bathroom. I slam the door locked as I make it to the commode just in time. I heave violently as I vomit up everything but my toenails. I am sobbing and shaking as I continue to heave and heave. I feel like I am choking. I still can't catch my breath.
I hear Christian banging on the door and calling my name. I don't know why I locked the door. It was some kind of basic fight or flight response to put maximum distance between me and the playroom. I can't stop heaving and sobbing long enough to tell Christian that I'm alright.
About the time that I finally slump against the wall beside the toilet, I hear the lock pop and Christian comes rushing in. He finds me still in the lingerie with mascara running down both of my cheeks in thick black streams. My chest is rising and falling rapidly as I try to stop hyperventilating. I cling to the strand of black pearls hoping they will give me some mystical power to overcome this moment.
Christian's eyes water as he sees me in this state of total collapse. He gets on his knees several feet in front of me. He approaches me slowly, like I am a wounded animal. When Christian speaks softly to me, I hear his own fear.
"Ana, baby. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, sweet girl." He is right in front of me. "Can I get you off the bathroom floor?" he asks, waiting for my permission before touching me. I let out another sob and nod yes.
As soon as I consent, Christian scoops me up in his strong arms. I bury my face in his chest to hide my tears. I feel safe in his strong hold. He carries me down the stairs, through the great room, and into his bedroom. Only once the door is closed do I feel myself able to take a deep breath. I am safe. Christian places me on his bed and climbs in behind me. His arms wrap around me and pull me close. He holds me tightly while I work to calm myself down.
The great adrenaline rush is over and I am instantly tired. Sleep overtakes me as Christian holds me and murmurs calming shushes in my ear. Over and over, he tells me how sorry he is. The last thing I remember before losing consciousness is Christian promising to always keep me safe.
Having no idea how long I slept, I wake up still wrapped in Christian's cocoon of safety. I roll over to see he is awake and his face wrought with worry.
I cringe as I replay my earlier panic attack in his playroom. I am no longer wearing the maroon corset and black undies. Gone are the black stockings. I am now wearing one of Christian's old Harvard t-shirts and a pair of his boxer briefs. I reach up to my face and feel no remnants of the mascara that flooded down my cheeks. Christian must have changed me and washed my face after I passed out. Most guys would go running after witnessing a complete thermonuclear meltdown like I had. Christian stayed and took care of me. What did I do to deserve this man? I stare directly into his eyes, trying to think of the right thing to say.
A loud, hammering noise startles me. It sounds like the ceiling is about to fall in. Christian sees my concern and strokes my cheek.
"Don't worry sweet Ana. That's Taylor and his guys breaking down the playroom."
"Breaking down the playroom?" I don't understand.
"They are taking it apart and getting rid of everything."
I sit up, "What? Why are they doing that?" I try to understand what is going on. More loud banging sounds through the ceiling.
"I'll be damned if I am going to have a room in my house that can scare you that much. I want it gone. You are my girl and there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that I will not do to make you feel safe."
I am speechless. I sit there staring with my mouth half open.
"Anastasia, you are mine and I take care of what is mine."
I will myself to blink. I close my mouth. I'm still speechless.
Christian's voice switches from loud Mr. Billionaire-in-the-Boardroom to a gentler tone. "When you are ready, we can talk about what happened upstairs. Not tonight, though. Tonight, you are going to let me take care of you and make you feel safe."
I nod in agreement and lean over to kiss this amazing man. I cannot even begin to tell him how safe and loved he makes me feel.