*Ana's POV*
Christian has been a lot more playful since we started working with Dr. Flynn to resolve his haphephobia. His heart seems lighter than it has in the past and he's even smiling more at work. On more than one occasion I've caught people doing a double take over that smile of his. Serious, domineering Christian is lightening up some... but I guarantee that domineering part of him is hiding somewhere. He just hasn't had to use it with me. I stare at the picture of the two of us on my desk and smile. We're snuggled together on my couch post shower with his hair wet and mine piled on top of my head. I wanted him to delete it due to the lack of makeup, but he said that the fresh face made it all the more beautiful. Raw, unfiltered us. Christian in his light blue t-shirt, me in one of his gray hoodies.
I recieved the picture and frame through interoffice mail at work yesterday with a note that said 'Think of me always. -C'. Of course, I had to return the favor, so today I sent him his own picture of us posing with the water behind us. This time I had makeup on and made sure to make it twice as big as the one he sent me. I left the explanation that his desk was much bigger, but in reality it was my way of claiming him.
My phone rings at work, pulling me out of my daydream.
"Grey Publishing, Anastasia speaking. How may I assist you today?"
"Angel."
I melt at his voice. It's full of awe and appreciation. "You like it?"
"I love it. It's perfect. I'll add it to the others."
I pause. "The others?" How have I never noticed this before?
He laughs. "Do you really think I wouldn't have pictures of the love of my life on my desk? I...unlike some people...like to show our love off."
I roll my eyes. "Your jackassery is showing."
He laughs into the phone, the vibration tickling my ear. "So sorry, Ms. Steele. I'll cover it with a jacket next time."
"Oh, shit. I've got to go. Ursula has emerged from her seacave." Elizabeth is headed my way and I hang up the receiver, standing quickly. "Hello, Elizabeth! Anything I can help you with?"
Elizabeth's eyes sweep over my desk and upon seeing my new picture and frame, she purses her lips. I can tell she isn't happy with the picture of the two of us being out for everyone to see, but there is nothing she can do. Christian would have her head for bitching. If it were up to him, she'd be gone, but I've begged him to leave it be and promised him that I'd let him know if she was too out of control.
"Yes, Anastasia. I have emailed you what Wiley Perk has in mind for his book jacket. I need you to reach out to our illustration department to create five options for him to pick. He's coming tomorrow afternoon." She cocks her head to the side and smiles. "I'm making it your responsibility to make sure they get it done." Seeing my face, she cocks an eyebrow. "Are we going to have a problem, Ms. Steele?"
"Five different jackets in twenty-four hours?" I know she hates me, but why would she put this pressure on our art team? They haven't done anything to her.
"You heard me, Anastasia. You better get moving." Turning on her heel, she sashays back to her office and find myself sticking my tongue out at her retreating form. Bitch.
XxXxXx
"Come on, guys! You know I wouldn't be asking this if it weren't important!" I managed to wrangle Roger and Alex from the art team before they could run away. The other three, Edna, Katherine, and Bennett saw me coming and ran for it after I sent the email. Roger tried, but I managed to grab his arm and yank him back to his desk. Alex, on the other hand, hadn't moved a muscle. I suspect that Alex might have a little crush on me and unfortunately, knowing this has made me use that to my advantage here and there.
"Elizabeth is mental." Roger complains while he freehands on his tablet with a stylus.
"That's true." I agree.
"There is no way we're going to get this done without overtime." He yanks on his beard so hard I start to worry he'll rip it right out of his chin.
"Also true."
"How are we going to get the suits to agree to that?"
"Just leave it up to me." I'm sitting on Alex's desk while he works works carefully and skillfully. I smile down at him and I see his cheeks tinge pink before he can duck back down to continue his work.
*Christian's POV*
Anastasia is not at her desk when I come to see her and I have to ask Vanessa where she went. She directs me toward the art department where I find my girl sitting on some poor drooling soul's desk like a damn pin-up girl. She's leaning back on her hands, her dress hugging her thighs right above her knees, her left leg crossed over her right, high heels dangling off her feet. She looks completely comfortable conversing naturally like she isn't sitting there like she just climbed out of a calendar. She smiles down at the fucker with a noticeable hard-on and he almost loses it over her.
"Anastasia."
Her head turns towards me and she sits up, uncrossing her legs, letting her feet dangle as she swings them slightly. "Hey, Ace." She grins. That's her new nickname for me. I don't know why she calls me that, but she grins everytime she does, so I have got to remember to ask her one of these days.
"What are you doing?" I make my way closer.
"Supervising." She grins up at me as I stop in front of her and I lean down for a kiss, claiming her in front of these dickbeaters.
"Why?" I wipe her lipgloss from under her lip, making her look like her perfect professional self.
"Because the ugly sea witch has made an almost impossible demand and I can't do it without the help of these fine gentlemen." The bearded one snickers. "This is Roger and Alex."
I don't give a flying rat's ass what their names are.
"Anastasia... can I see you in my office?"
"Right after you agree to some overtime for these two." She slides her fingers into mine, squeezing.
"I think you skipped a few people in the pecking order, Ms. Steele." I quirk an eyebrow at her playfully.
"Oh, okay. I'll just go to Jesse's office..." She jumps up and turns and I yank her back to me.
"The hell you will." Jesse is the head of the art and social media teams and he's a fit mother fucker. I'm not about to let my angel be behind closed doors with someone like that.
She giggles when her body collides with mine and I find myself swatting her ass for being sassy. She knows I don't want her around him.
"Fresh!" She admonishes, but I pull her along, up to my office.
I hear the Roger fucker joke that she's in trouble and I pretend to not notice the bird she gives him in return. I like that she's playful and comfortable at work, but she's mine. She shouldn't be flirting.
I escort her out of the elevator by the small of her back and straight for my office, closing and locking the door behind me before I round on her.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" She's surprised by the roughness in my voice and it pisses me off more. "Don't play that innocent little act now, Anastasia! You definitely weren't that way downstairs!"
"What? You're crazy! I was just sitting with my coworkers, Christian!" She crosses her arms but I'm not about to let her close up now.
I come at her quickly, backing her to my desk and kiss her hard. "You are mine, Anastasia." I pick her up and drop her down on my desk, hearing portraits and office supplies fall. "If anyone gets to watch you lay across their fucking desk like a God-damned Playboy bunny it's me!" I use my leg to push her thighs apart, quickly pushing her panties aside before I shove two fingers into her. "This is mine." I pump, causing her to moan. "This pleasure only comes from me. Only I can make you feel like this. No one else, Anastasia. You. Belong. To. Me." I thrust hard with my fingers with every word. She's panting. "Tell me!"
"I'm yours." Her answer is breathy as she pants. "I belong to you."
"Who gives you pleasure?" I curl my finger slowly pulling out until she startles and I find her g-spot.
"You. Oh...Christian..." Her head falls back.
"Who makes you come?"
She whimpers. "Only you."
I kiss her mouth. "I'm going to take you on my desk now and you're never going to find yourself on anyone else's, is that right?" She whimpers, so I slow my movements, making her whine my name. "Then answer me!"
"That's right! Only yours!" I reward her with a carress of her clit and a press of her g-spot. "Please let me come." Her head rolls as I continue to play.
"That's a good girl. Come and then I'll fuck you."
*Ana's POV*
He helps right my clothes, but he still looks angry. Usually sex calms him down, but not today. His sexy mouth is clenched closed and he's brooding.
He gives me a tight-lipped kiss and I barely even feel his lips on mine.
"Christian?"
"Go back to work, angel."
I frown. Did I do something wrong? I'm new to sex, but he's never complained before.
"Go on. We've already wasted half your lunchtime. Go eat."
Wasted? My chest clenches painfully. Has he just now realized I'm not what he wants? Maybe I can't satisfy him like he needs.
He escorts me to his door and opens it for me, closing it behind me as I walk away. I'm so sick to my stomach that I make a quick beeline for the nearest restroom, getting sick in the toilet. My stomach doesn't stop spasming until every bite of breakfast is gone.
"God." I push myself up off the floor and flush, stepping out of the stall. I'm greeted by Ros, who stands there with a wet paper cloth.
"Morning sickness?"
"I suppose. Thank you." I take the damp cloth and wipe my face before heading to the sink to rinse my mouth and wash my hands. "Wait. Don't you have your own washroom?" There are a few offices on the twentieth floor with their own bathrooms and Ros has one of them.
"I do, but I saw how pale and sick you looked and I was worried. I just wanted to check on you."
Her response warms me. "Thank you, Ros. You're wonderful. To Christian, too." I'm thankful he has someone close at work to have fun with and who cares for him.
"Wish he could see that." She gives me a wink and throws her arm over my shoulder to walk me out of the restroom. "You take it easy, okay? C told me how much of a wench your boss is. Give her hell, Ana, but don't make yourself sick over it."
I give her a warm smile, the heaviness in my chest slowly easing. "I got this. Don't worry."
The afternoon ticks by much slower than the morning and I stop by to thank Roger and Alex for staying late again before I head out. Christian hasn't come to get me like he usually does so I hit the button for level 20 once I'm in the elevator. My phone pings and I look at it.
*Working late. Taylor will take you home.*
I frown and hit the cancel call button, not wanting it opening to Christian, who obviously doesn't want to see me. Instead I hit the L for lobby level and let Taylor take me home. I was secretly hoping he'd take me straight to the penthouse, but as we drove by it, my hope deflated and I didn't have the nerve to ask to stay there. It is past ten o'clock when my phone pings again and all it says is good night. I don't respond. It is not a good night.
A/N: If you would like a teaser for the next chapter, drop it in the review and I'll send you one via private message on . Next Chapter will continue to be angsty.