Author's note: Music is Romeo and Juliet Overture, by Tchaikovsky.

Thank you.

Chapter Five

About an hour later, there's a soft knock at the bedroom door. Presuming it's Natalia, I'm surprised to see Wendy, and she greets me, "She's fallen asleep again. Is everything okay, with the pregnancy?"

I glance past her, but can't quite see Ana. "I think she might have anemia. It can wait until we get back, but I'd better move up her next appointment with Greene."

"You still use Greene?"

I shrug, and remind her, "She's the best."

Wendy shakes her head a little, and says, "This is all very strange. I would never have bet on this scenario, not in a million years."

"Yeah. Thanks for being so reasonable about everything." Gesturing that she should precede me, I move into the cabin until I can see the top of Ana's head, as I say, "This could have been quite unpleasant, if you were the type to hold a grudge."

She shrugs, saying, "It was a long time ago. Besides, you were always respectful. Though I hope you haven't sent the insurance files to all your exes. The postage alone would set you back quite a bit."

I smile at the thought, and say, "Sorry about that. And, no, Ana pointed out how inappropriate that was. I'm just not very good yet at..."

When I struggle for the right word, Wendy grins, and suggests, "Mainstream?"

"Something that passes for it anyway."

"But it's getting easier?"

"Yes. You're considering it?"

There's a faraway look in her eyes, when she says, "Maybe. Jim wants to start a family."

"How long have you been together?"

"Two years."

Other than Elena, my longest relationship was two years. I might still be with Susannah, if she hadn't needed more from me. "Long enough to know, one way or the other."

"Yeah." Ana is stirring, and Wendy quietly asks, "How did you know, about me?"

I smile at memories, and explain, "You were always staring at me. Even when my back was turned, I could feel your eyes on me. You played your part well, but I could tell you didn't really have a submissive bone in your body, and thought it was better to end it early."

She smiles, and says, "I had no idea, and was so angry with you."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Ana is sitting up, so I conclude, "Just let Natalia know if you need anything."

"Thank you, for everything."

As usual, I wake up confused, and apparently sitting up. Thankfully, Christian then informs me, "We're on the jet, baby, en route to New York. You fell asleep again."

"God, I'm sorry. Is Wendy here?"

"Well, it's not like she can step out for a minute. She's in the little girls' room right now. Come on, let's get you into bed."

I reach out, and he takes my hand, helping me stand, as I ask, "Is this level of fatigue normal? I almost fell asleep at work today."

"I think you need even more iron. It's probably something to do with your menstrual history. We'll see Greene, ASAP. For now, bed."

I shake my head, saying, "No, I'm not sleepy anymore. I don't want to disappoint Wendy."

"You haven't. And no one said anything about sleep."

It's still amazing, the effect he has on me; from fast asleep to hot and horny in seconds. "Oh...okay."

After giving Ana a quick tour of the bedroom, and adjacent en suite, I help her undress, and then instruct, "Wait here."

I put on some music, fetch the ball gag, and place it in her hands. She explores it for a few seconds, and then asks, "This goes inside me?"

I stifle my laugh, and explain, "Not in the way you mean. It's a gag, soft enough to be fairly comfortable, and you'll be able to breathe through it. I'm sure our fellow passenger has an idea what we're up to, but I presume you don't want her to hear the proof. You won't be silent, but you won't be able to scream my name from the rooftops, like you usually do."

She glares at me for that quip, and then examines the gag a little more with her fingers, before merely asking, "How do I put it on?"

Her courage is humbling, and my next breath trembles with awe, that she trusts me so much. Her gaze snaps to mine, at the sound, and she smiles her love for me, before placing the ball in her mouth, as if she's always known. With trembling fingers, I fasten it in place, and then face her to rest my hands on her shoulders, and ask, "Did your judo training include tapping out?"

She hesitates a moment, but then taps my arm three times, in quick succession. "Good girl. You do that, anywhere, and I'll immediately stop and remove the gag, okay?" She nods, without hesitation, but I'm still nervous enough about this latest experiment. "Do you want this?"

This time, her nod is vigorous, and I finally relax. "And do you trust me?" She merely points to the gag. I chuckle, and say "Even gagged, you make an excellent point, Ms. Steele," and her beautiful velvet-blue eyes flash humor.

A moment of terror flickers over her face, when I suddenly shove her backwards. Of course, she merely bounces once on the bed. I'm reassured when her delighted laughter is only just audible. She's so beautiful. I quickly strip, never taking my eyes off her. As if she can feel my ardent gaze, she starts squirming, rubbing her thighs together in a bid to gain some relief, so I command, "Spread your legs." She doesn't even hesitate.

There's nowhere to anchor restraints. I never, in my wildest fantasies, imagined fucking someone in this room. Besides, I want to time her orgasms with the music, so we don't have long. "Grip the headboard." Again, she obeys instantly, and my cock swells further at her complete surrender. It'll be difficult for her to keep still. "If you remove your hands, or close your legs, we're done. Understood?" She nods once, her eyes wide with excitement.

I'm gagged, and effectively blind, and have no idea what Christian will do next. But I know it will be fun, so I'm panting through the gag—which feels odd—and trembling slightly, when he finally touches me, a gentle caress on the top of my right foot. I don't feel the mattress dip, so I know he's standing beside the bed as he caresses up past my knee, his feather-light touch gliding along my thigh. It's a shock when his hand is suddenly gone. And then I notice that my legs have started to close. Oh, this is going to be tough. I spread my legs, until my feet are actually off the edge of the bed, and anchor my heels, in a bid to keep them there. He chuckles, and says, "Good girl, but now we have to start again."

My muffled groan of despair sounds weird. Thankfully, it's soon evident that he was messing with me, because his hand alights in the same spot on my thigh. He skirts around where I most want him to be, gently torturing a fiery path up the side of my groin, as the music builds and builds. When he suddenly gropes me, just as the sound of loud drums fill the room, I almost come right then. He must sense it, because he stops there for a few seconds, as the music trills a more sedate tune. As it builds again, the heel of his palm grinds against my groin, until I'm writhing in a bid for release. The music drops again, and he slips one finger inside me, slowly gliding in and out, as the music carries me away on an image of fast-moving clouds.

Ana is close now. All it takes is a few seconds with my thumb on her clit, and she tenses through her first orgasm, somehow managing to keep her arms and legs in place. When the music slows almost to a stop, I position myself between her legs, hold her knees down, and put my mouth to her as the tension and tempo again build. I tease her with little flicks of my tongue, matching the music, until the time is right, and then I suck her clit into my mouth while gently rolling my teeth over the tip. This time, she comes so violently, that I almost lose my grip on her legs. She's stronger than I thought.

I already know that her third orgasm is often the most intense, and I've long been wanting to make her come just from me touching her breasts, so I hold her thighs in place with my knees, while I tease her nipples into points of pleasure. Each time the cymbals clash, I squeeze the tiny buds between finger and thumb, and she comes again through a thunderous drum roll, and spasms so hard that she almost manages to buck me off.

I'm repositioning, for my next assault on her senses, when I feel three rapid taps on my shoulder. Fuck. I'm immediately trembling, so have trouble with the buckle, reassuring her, "You're okay, baby. I've got you." I toss the gag aside, and start massaging her jaw, saying, "Don't try to talk right away. Just give it a minute."

Obedient as ever, she manages, "I'm okay. Please, Christian." Even as she speaks, her hand finds my cock, and I twitch as she grips me.

A relieved laugh escapes me, and I drop onto my back beside her, cautioning, "Okay, but don't be too loud, or you'll distract even our pilot."

Her smile is so wicked it should be illegal, and she climbs astride me, saying, "I don't care."

It's soon evident that she's been paying attention, because she starts slow, finding a rhythm that matches the current tempo. I feel the ache of too much love in my chest, as we meet each other's gentle thrusts, while her face contorts with pleasure. Surely, there can be no better sight in the world. Her hands are resting on my thighs, and I suddenly know what she needs, so grab her wrists, momentarily interrupting the pace, and press her palms onto my chest. I release her, and command, "Explore."

For a moment, as my hands rest on Christian's chest, nothing else exists. But the music, the pleasure building within me, and this beautiful man beneath me, drag me back to my body, and I command, "Grab the headboard."

I know he's complied, because I hear it fight his strong grip. I start grinding against him, as I explore his slightly hairy chest with trembling fingers. I encounter what must be one of his scars, but don't linger, and remind myself that my touch is proof that he's healing on the inside. He bucks when my fingertips brush one nipple, and then gasps a laugh, saying, "Sorry. Not used to that."

Oh, I love him. "Can I explore them too?"

His breathing is a little erratic, but he manages, "I was hoping you would."

He spasms again when I brush my thumbs over both of his nipples. "How does that feel?"

"Uh...I'm sorry, baby. I can't describe it."

I do it again, a little harder this time. "What's the image?"

"Aah. A, uh...supernova. White hot in the middle, with colors radiating out."

I smile, and say, "Not unpleasant then?"

He sounds a little more in control, when he says, "No, not unpleasant."

"Then I'm going to explore with my mouth now."

His only response is a loud moan, so I know he's willing. His nipples are smaller than mine, and it's soon evident that they're not quite as sensitive. But his breathing is out of control, and his hands have found my hips, to take control of our pace, so I know he's enjoying it. I don't know how many orgasms I've already had, when I feel the start of another. He seems to sense it, and says, "Easy, baby. Wait for the drums."

Wait? Astride the God of Sex? "Christian, I don't think I can."

His broad hands glide up my back, holding me close, as he murmurs, "For me, baby girl."

Oh, God. What is it about that term of address that makes me want...need to surrender? The thought is distracting enough to bring me back from the brink. I focus on the music. Just as the roar of timpani drums again fills the room, Christian says, "Now, Ana."

I lean forward, and kiss him. He holds me there, plundering my mouth with his tongue, as we become the supernova.

Ana is still on top of me, her head resting on my shoulder, while I caress her back. And she eventually stops trembling enough to beg, "Please tell me you're done."

I hug her to me, thrilled that she enjoyed it so much, and promise, "For now. Need to move?"

"Not quite yet. I like being on your chest."

"I like that too. Ready to talk about why you needed the gag gone? If it wasn't working for you, we don't need to ever do that again."

"No, not that. I liked...it wasn't so much pleasurable by itself, but...the pleasure was in knowing that you enjoyed it, if that makes sense?"

"Perfect sense. So, what happened?"

"I think it was only that it's unfamiliar. I didn't know, until now, that I mostly breathe through my mouth during sex, and it felt weird through the gag. As my breathing got out of control, I suddenly felt panicked, and remembered Greene's warning. I knew you wouldn't want me to persist under those circumstances."

I frame her face with my hands for a kiss, before saying, "No, I wouldn't. Thank you, baby. It's a load off my mind to be able to trust you in this too." When she doesn't reply, I ask, "Need more sleep?"

She sounds so tired, that it's obviously a lie, when she says, "No. Wendy and I still have some work to do, and we'll be landing soon."

"Ana, it's only been half an hour. You've got plenty of time."

She lifts her head, to look at me, and ask, "Half an hour? But...how many orgasms did I have?"

I smile at her shocked expression, and say, "You tell me. As usual, I ended up completely distracted by you, and lost count after the fourth."

She suddenly sits up, exclaiming, "Fucking hell, Christian, no wonder I'm always exhausted!"

A warm roll of laughter rolls through me, at her vehemence, and I ask, "Is that a complaint, baby?"

She quickly kisses me, and climbs off the bed, saying, "No, not a complaint, but this fatigue might be nothing to do with Little Blip."

Suddenly worried that she won't comply, I ask, "But you'll see Greene, when we get back?"

"Of course. Why do you sound scared? I'd never hurt our baby."

"No, I know. I just...if anything goes wrong, it can't be down to me. I couldn't bare it."

"Darling, it's not down to you. I know you're smart enough to understand that not much is."

Of course, I've always known my illusion of control is exactly that, but I'm only half joking, when I plead, "Are you trying to give me a panic attack?"

Ana finally relents enough to try for another nap, after extracting a promise that I won't let her sleep too long. I don't notice the permanent smile on my face, until I sit next to Wendy, and she asks, "Feel better?"

She must have noticed my earlier nerves. My smile broadens, and I say, "Quite, thank you."

Natalia is hovering, so I silently dismiss her, and then tell Wendy, "Ana just needs a little more rest. She'll be out in time to do some more work. May I ask something about that?"

She eyes me warily, and asks, "You're not about to tell me how to do my job, are you?"

I smile, and say, "No. Anastasia is smart enough to make me promise that I won't interfere. I'm just curious, why all the homework for a symposium? In my experience, the information usually flows to the audience. She can't possibly be one of the speakers."

She visibly relaxes, and says, "Ana's insistence. She wants to know as much as possible before we get there. I'm happy to oblige, but she really needn't bother. She has the best instincts of anyone I've ever met...other than her awful taste in men, of course."

I glare at her for the taunt, and ask, "So, you think she'll go far?"

"If you can keep your promise, yes. Speaking of which, there's been a raft of changes made at UPP, with the orders coming from the very top. I don't suppose you know anything about that?"

"Perhaps. Does it bother you?"

"It bothers me that the disruption meant my new assistant is behind in her work, but all of the changes have so far been beneficial for me and my colleagues, so I'm not worried. And, if my suspicions are correct, the company will also ultimately benefit. But, how is that not interfering?"

I chuckle, and reveal, "Ana asked pretty much exactly that, on Monday night. Too often, our definitions of words don't quite coincide. She was pretty pissed."

With a glance towards the bedroom, Wendy says, "Looks like you're forgiven."

"Thanks to her."

"Oh, I'm sure you're making an effort too. You seem like a different man than the one I knew. It's good to see you so happy."

"Thank you, and I am happy. Though this conversation proves I'm not a different man. My past keeps rearing its head, in ways I never imagined." Running a hand through my hair, I explain, "I just can't...I wish that I could wipe it all out. Clean slate. No offence intended."

She smiles, and says, "None taken. But, no one gets that, Christian. If you throw a pebble into a pond, the pebble will disappear, and the ripples will fade, but the pond is forever changed."

"Why does that sound like a quote?"

"Xena, the Warrior Princess. My favorite show growing up."

I grin, and ask, "Yet you still thought that subbing was the way to go?"

Her laugh is the one I remember, and she says, "You're not the only one who occasionally fucks up. I don't regret it though. Oh, and Jim says thank you, for the Polaroid. I don't have any other proof of that phase in my life."

"You showed it to him?"

"A gift."

"And, may I ask questions about him?"

"If you don't always expect an answer, sure."

Good enough. "You live together?"

"No. I'm thinking about it though. That would be the next step, if I decide to have kids. He wants to do the full-time parenting thing, at least until they're at school. Living together is working for you?"

I smile, that it's a question, and explain, "Most days. And the apartment is big enough that Ana can retreat from me when I really piss her off." I'm pleasantly surprised when there is no pain at the memory, even though it gutted me when she stepped away from me, in the shower.

"And you'll stay there, after the baby is born?"

"No. Too many ghosts. Again, no offence intended."

She smiles, saying, "Again, none taken. I also feel like it happened to a different person."

I can't stop myself from saying, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

I breathe a laugh, saying, "Not sure really. It just feels like anyone before Ana got short-changed."

"Christian, I haven't met any of them who feel that way. Like I said, you were always respectful, and those two weekends remain some of my best ever."

Somewhat relieved, I feel a flicker of fear, when I ask, "You've talked, to the others?"

With a quiet smile, as if sensing my unease, and says, "You didn't really think that NDA would prevent us comparing notes?"

"No, I suppose not. And I think that's enough tripping down memory lane for now. Thanks, for not being too weird about it."

"Likewise. One last, peripheral question." When I merely raise one eyebrow, she grins, and says, "Thankfully, all I heard was the music. But, seriously, Romeo and Juliet?"

"I see that time has not erased your cheekiness. Apparently, I'm a romantic." My grin matches hers, and I quip, "Who knew?"

Her smile is the brightest yet, and she vows, "Everyone."

I wake to Christian explaining, "We're in New York, baby, on Thursday morning. You've got a little over an hour to get ready for the symposium."

I vaguely remember landing, and a very naughty shower with him after we got to the apartment, but not much else. Scrubbing some alertness into my face with both hands, I comment, "Yeah, definitely see Greene. Last time I had this many gaps in my evening, I'd been drugged."

"I've already contacted her. She suspects you need either a B12 injection or iron infusion, and will come to Escala on Sunday, to take a blood sample."

"Infusion?"

"Intra-venous. It'll start working quicker than an injection. If that's what's needed, you'll have to take time off work, because the process takes a couple of hours."

"Just as well my boss already worked out that I'm pregnant." Unsure if I even want to know, I sigh, and ask, "What's scaring you today?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm awake, and you're awake, and at least one of us is naked, but I'm not yet in your arms."

He resists for a few seconds, and then reveals, "Millar is applying for bail, so I need to go to Portland, and make sure he fails. Taylor is in the adjoining room, and will stay behind. I'm sorry, baby."

The man who tried to rob the store is still a junkyard dog in my mind, but mostly what I remember now is his stench, and my fear. Shaking my head, I automatically remind him, "Not your fault." And then my brain recovers enough to process Christian's words, and I ask, "Why are you needed to stop him making bail?" When he doesn't immediately reply, I guess, "You're not."

"Not exactly. But I want to make sure everything is being done."

He's micro-managing again. "Darling, what is the point of hiring the best of the best, if you won't let them do their job?"

He runs a hand through his hair, and explains, "It's...this is how I do things, Ana."

"It's how you did things, Christian, but that doesn't mean you have to keep doing it. At this rate, you'll have a heart attack before fifty, and I won't be around to see it."

"What?" Fuck, he sounds really scared.

"I'm sorry, poor choice of words. I just mean, if you keep obsessing about every little thing, you'll drive a wedge between us that not even this stubborn brunette can dislodge."

He sounds much more relaxed, when he says, "I do like my brunettes stubborn."

I laugh, and say, "Evidently." When I hear a frantic whisper of cloth on cloth, I ask, "Change your mind?"

As he climbs into bed, and into my arms, he says, "I'm not sure that I stood much of a chance once you reminded me that you're naked."

Overjoyed that it went so well, I thread my fingers through his hair, and say, "Then, fair warning, Mr. Grey, if that's all it takes to win an argument with you, I might never wear clothes again."

He's already trailing kisses down my body, and says, "I'm okay with that."