*Ana's POV*

I wake up after tossing and turning all night. There is still a dull ache in my chest from yesterday and I feel like we're back to where we started. I still can't figure out how someone can go from that hot to icy cold within a few minutes. I keep running the sexy quicky we had in his office through my head and I can't figure out what I did wrong. I grab my phone off the side table to silence the alarm that has yet to go off and find a message from Christian.

*Your new CPO will pick you up at 7:30 sharp. His name is Sawyer.*

I want to respond and say I don't need a CPO, that I could drive myself, but then I would have to actually talk to him and the silent treatment just feels easier this morning. My heart needs more time.

I take a long hot shower giving in to a few tears while I stand there. I promise myself no more tears after I step out. I've got to make sure those book jackets are done and printed and in pristine condition before they go through Elizabeth. I will not give her a reason to write me up or demote me.

When I step out of my apartment building, a beautiful dark haired man in a black suit is standing, waiting for me outside in front of a black SUV. He's tall and broad and I find myself almost tripping over myself. If I wasn't head over heels for the sexiest man on the planet, he'd be a contender. He's definitely sturdy enough to climb up. With his haircut there is no doubt he's an ex-military man and I'm sure he could show a woman a thing or two.

"Ms. Steele?"

I clear my throat. "Um, yes?" It comes out more like a question. "I'm Anastasia."

He nods. "Hello, I'm Luke Sawyer. From here on out I will be your CPO. You may call me Sawyer, I will call you Ms. Steele."

I crack a grin. "Well...okay, then."

I swear I see his lips twitch, but I can't be sure.

"Let's get to it then." I wave at the door and he opens it for me and allows me to climb in before shutting it behind me.

I busy myself with my phone, deciding to group text Ethan and Kate.

*Lunch today? -A*

Always down for food. -E*

12:30/Lauries? -K*

*Perfect. -A*

*See you soon! -E*

I put my phone away and sigh. I need some BFF time. Laurie's is located right across the street from work, so I also get to save the embarrassment of having a CPO drive me around like I'm a spoiled brat.

On the way up to our floor I buy myself a pink drink from Starbucks and two lattes for Roger and Alex as a thank you. By the time I make it to our floor, Roger is handing me their book jackets.

"Holy shit, guys! You rock." I hand them both a latte. "Hope you guys like lattes. A thanks from me to you. Some caffeine for staying late."

"I love lattes." Alex says, taking a sip.

"Do you even know what a latte is?" Roger asks, throwing his coffee straw at him.

I roll my eyes and leave them to it, taking the jackets with me so I can fit them to the books.

By lunch, my mood is light again. Elizabeth was blown away that we got them finished in time and even mumbled good job to me before I left her office. If I wasn't so uncertain with the Christian situation I would have went up and demanded a celebratory kiss or two.

I greet Ethan who has already grabbed a table for us and give him a hug.

"Who's the suit?" He points to Sawyer with his thumb.

"My security. Hey Sawyer!" I call to him. "Are you going to sit with us?" I hope not. But I don't want to be rude. I'm not going to feel free talking with someone under Christian's payroll nosing into our conversation.

He shakes his head and points to a table close to the door where he sits.

"Well, he seems personable..." Ethan states, rolling his eyes. It makes me laugh.

"I ordered for us already since you're on a time crunch. Kate called and said she couldn't make it. Has some big meeting to prepare for."

"Well lah-de-dah. She's moving on up at the Times isn't she?" Kate graduated with me with the same major, but different career paths. She wanted to work her way up the newspaper, eventually being a news anchor and I wanted something more quiet. Publishing is much more quiet. Plus I love books and I'm a daydreamer... it works well for me.

Ethan nods. "She is."

"And how is the big-shot model?" I grin at Ethan. He's breaking into the modeling industry after three years of trying. Once he bulked up just a little and perfected his work-out routine, it seemed that everyone was looking for him.

A big, beautiful smile showing off his dimple and bright white teeth tells me it's going well. "I booked Calvin Klein."

I gasp. "You didn't! Oh that's incredible! We need to celebrate!"

"Thank you, Stasia. I knew you'd be happy for me." He leans in and takes my hand in his and I squeeze it.

"They're going to love you."

Our conversation stalls as the waiter sets down our usual. We thank him and dig in. They have the best fries in all of Seattle.

"What the hell?" Ethan's bright face darkens as his eyes catch something, making me turn around.

Hard gray eyes snap away from mine and he looks straight ahead, acting like he hasn't seen me. Beside him is a thin brunette. A very pretty one wearing a smile. It's obvious that she's ecstatic to be here with the father of my unborn baby. Yesterday, he was mine. He escorts her by the small of her back to the opposite corner and my stomach rolls. He really is done with me. He seems to have already moved on and it's barely been twenty-four hours.

"Ana? What is that? What is going on?" Ethan looks alarmed by the situation.

I chew my lip, doing my best to keep the tears out of my eyes. "Honestly, I don't know. Yesterday...well, he got mad that I was sitting with a couple men from work and he took me to his office to..." How do I explain this? "to... remind me I guess I was his and we had explosive sex right on his desk and then he told me to go."

He shakes his head in disbelief. "That's it? He just threw you out of his office after acting like a complete barbarian? And then takes another woman to lunch the next day? Shit, Ana. Do you know how fucked up that is? You're carrying his child and he finds another woman to climb on?"

I shrug, my eyes wandering over to where they are sitting. Had he already had her in his office like he had me?They're both leaning over the small table talking quietly. Douche bag.

"I keep thinking back, trying to figure out what I did...but I'm unsure. He had Taylor take me home and texted me a good night last night and then this morning I woke up with a text saying that the suit over there was going to pick me up today. I guess he wants to keep me safe because of the baby even though he's done with me." I rub my stomach, wiping away my tears quickly.

My eyes find Christian again and he's watching me, a frown tugging on his lips. Probably pissed I'm not eating.

"Stasia..." His hand clasps mine on the table and squeezes. "God, he's stupid. I don't even know what to say. You know you deserve better than this, right? You don't need him. You have me, you have Kate, you have Ray. We all love you and we'll help you with the baby. Uncle Ethan will be the best uncle ever."

I smile at him through my tears and I can feel them rolling down my cheeks. He wipes one away for me and I sit back, sniffing. "Ugh, I hate crying! These damn pregnancy hormones make it impossible not to!" I wipe my tears away.

"Well right now theyre making you look like a pregnant racoon..."

"Ethan!" Throwing a napkin at him, I laugh. It feels good to laugh through the hurt. It's cathartic. I dip my napkin in my water and wipe my mascera away using my compact mirror. I shake my head. "Why do I love you?"

"Well, for one, I'm hilarious. And two, I mean...look at me." He looks down at himself and then winks at me. "I love you, too, Stasia. We'll figure this out together."

The rest of the day goes by painfully. If Elizabeth was nicer, I would have went home early. I refuse to let her hold anything over me. At 5:00 pm, I grab my handbag and Christian's blue blanket I've been holding and make my way to the elevator on shaky legs. I run my fingers over the edge over and over while it descends, ignoring the others on the elevator. I keep my eyes downcast as we exit and I feel a hand on the small of my back once I hit the sidewalk. It causes me to startle, but it's Christian. The realization doesn't make me feel any better. He steers me toward his SUV with Taylor standing there and waves off Sawyer.

I'm too exhausted to fight him. My body aches from trembling through the emotional afternoon. My eyes are sore and puffy from crying, my nose red. I'm mentally and emotionally spent. I just want to block out the world and sleep. In the vehicle, I can't look at him. And he doesn't ask me to. I can't help, but wonder if she sat in my spot just hours ago. I'm sure he captured her attention. He didn't allow her to be broken and raw while he sat there stoic and put-together. My fingers keep running over the blue fabric wishing I could curl up into a ball with it and sob my eyes out until I fell asleep. Right now though, I have to put my big girl panties on and deal with this.

*Christian's POV*

Anastasia hasn't spoken a word to me in the car or on our way up to the penthouse. She has my blanket in a vice grip and it is killing me. She looks utterly destroyed and it's my fault. Once we're inside the great room she stops, looking around.

"No one is here, angel." I know who she's looking for.

"Don't call me that." Her voice is low, but venomous.

I wince. "Why not? I've always called you that."

"You can't be seeing another girl and call me that. It isn't fair to her and not to me." She crosses her arms... the sign that she's shutting me out.

"I am not seeing anyone else!" I'm angry that she's so quick to shut me out. We've barely started.

"Who is she? Why did you throw me out of your office and give me the cold shoulder if you're not seeing her! Why did you take her to lunch? You touched her like you touch me!" Her face is red and her eyes are glistening. I hate seeing her cry.

"I didn't throw you out of my office! I walked you out! And you were the one who didn't text me back!"

"Bull shit. Who is she?"

I yank at my hair. "Emma." Before I even get the name out, her arms fall to her sides and I know she wants to run. "Do not run!" It isn't what it seems.

"Emma? As in your previous..." She doesn't finish, but I nod.

"She needed help." She was alone. "The last time I saw her I left her bruised, confused, and heartbroken. I needed to make it up to her."

"She isn't your responsibility! You told me they chose that lifestyle! You two do not have a contract anymore!"

"She reached out. What was I supposed to do?"

"Ignore her. Tell her that you can't anymore. Taking her out on a date when you have a woman carrying your baby only feet away was not the answer!" She paces, but at least she hasn't run yet.

"I didn't know you'd be there."

"Well fuck, of course not! Would you have even told me if I wasn't there? What did she want?"

Would I have told her? I wouldn't have wanted to upset her. "She isn't worth mentioning. She wanted financial assistance for school."

"How much did you give her?"

"Two-hundred and fifty."

"THOUSAND?" She chokes through the word and I wince.

"It's not that much for me..."

"Two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars." She says again, her palm on her forehead like she's checking for fever. "You gave an ex a quarter of a million dollars for college." She turns away from me and I follow her, watching her collapse in one of the armchairs. "I need you to be honest with me."

I nod.

"Yesterday when we had sex and you realized it wasn't enough for you... did you contact her or anyone else for more? Is the money you gave her a trade for a new contract?"

My heart plummets. "Is that what you think? You think that I sent you away because you didn't satisfy me? Jesus Christ, angel. I am sorry. I let you go because I lost my cool again! Last time I did that you ran. You ran sobbing from me. Yesterday, I realized I fucked up again and I was trying to give you an out. I wanted you to have space so you could feel safe! I figured you'd come to me when you were ready. But... just like last time, you ran straight to the blond fucker."

"Kate was supposed to be there, too." Her voice is quiet.

"What?"

"She cancelled but I didn't know until I got there."

Fuck. "I'm a monster."

Her head jerks up quickly. "What?"

"I escorted her to the table. I touched her because I was jealous. You were with him. You hadn't told me. You two were sitting so close...fuck." I kneel in front of her. "I'm sorry."

"You hurt me on purpose." She realizes. "I sat there devastated knowing I wasn't good enough for you and then seeing that it took mere hours before you moved on to another brunette. Leaving me and your baby behind so you could curl up with a smaller prettier girl that enjoys that lifestyle." Her hand rests on the small swell of her stomach. I'm nauseous.

I shake my head. "I never left you. You are enough. You are everything. I don't want her or anyone else. You are it for me. You are the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on." Grabbing her hands, I place them on my chest and hiss. Fuck, it burns! But I need to show her she's different. I clench my eyes closed, willing the darkness to go away before it engulfs me.

"Christian, no!" She sobs, trying to pull away.

My eyes fly open. "No, Ana! Feel me. My chest. How it expands and contracts? It's because of you... because of our baby. You breathe life into me just being! Feel my heart? Feel it beating? It's yours. You have all of it. You own me, Ana. Can't you see that? I don't have room for anyone else! My heart, my mind, my body. It's consumed by you. Only you can touch me this way." Please see how I feel about you! I don't know how else to explain to her how I feel.

"But I can't... I'll never be able to..."

I shake my head. "I don't want that. I want what we have. I need you sassy and feisty. I need that quick witted brain of yours. I need your smart mouth. I could never settle for submission again." I pull her toward me and hold her tight, letting her hold me back, her palms on my shoulder blades for the first time. I can feel an uncomfortable tingle, but, I'll get used to it. She gave me her virginity so I will give up my haphephobia for her. She gave me something so precious and she's giving me another precious gift by having my baby. I know that what I'm giving her can't compare to everything she's given me, but it's something. Something of mine that no one else has.

"I don't know what to say, Christian." She burrows her head into my neck and I close my eyes.

"Say you won't leave me." I need to hear her say it herself.

"I won't leave you. Don't leave me."

I laugh. "I don't think that's a possibility, Ana. I'm obsessed with you."

"If you touch another woman like that again, I'll kill you." Her tone is light, but I get the message.

Pulling away from her, I pull her shirt up and lean down, pressing my face into her belly. "I swear you've grown since yesterday." I'm amazed at how fast her stomach is swelling.

"I'm just getting fat from all the food I've been eating." She runs her fingers through my hair and it makes me nuzzle against her. "Are you still supporting your other girls, Christian?"

I sigh and sit up, finding her crystal blues. "They're not mine. Only you are mine. And no. Not anymore. I've always helped them, but none of them need it anymore."

"Except for Emma."

I shrug. Why do we still have to talk about this?

"I need you to tell me you'll cut her off. I don't want you helping her anymore or even talking to her."

"How am I supposed to do that? No one was there for me when I needed them the most. I know what it feels like Ana. How am I supposed to let her struggle?"

She snorts. "Having to get student loans for college is not struggling, Christian! It's part of life! Hell, it's a part of mine!"

"No it's not." Did she really think I wasn't going to take care of her debt?

"I... what? Christian! God damn it. How did I not notice that it wasn't coming out of my account?"

I grin at her, a little entertained. "So, not only do you not want me to pay for others, you don't want me to pay for yours either?" She gives me a scowl and pushes my shoulder.

"Listen Ace, I hate it, but I am a jealous person. You don't even want me around Ethan because he's male... well what if I had a relationship with a male I've had sex with still? You'd allow me to do that? Knowing he saw me naked? Had me underneath him? Made me-"

"ENOUGH! Okay I get it." The thought of her being under someone else is enough to send me spiraling. "I'll cut ties. No more support."

She sighs. The relief is evident in her face. "Thank you."

I'm still bristling from the thought of her with another man. "I need you under me, now." I need to see her- feel her- underneath me knowing I'm the only. I stand, pulling her up with me and pick her up to carry her to my bed.

XxXxXx

"I like make-up sex." She curls into me, her head on the front of my shoulder and her palm over my heart. "You're still a little pissed and have all this pent up energy and you take it out on me. I like it."

Oh fuck. "So you do like it when I'm a little rough." I see a shy grin on her face and I press my lips to the top of her head. "Nothing wrong with that. Keep being honest about what you like and what you want to try and I'll keep doing what I do best."

She giggles. "My Christian and his sexpertise."

"God I love that sound." I take her hand and show her just how much by resting it on my hard dick.

She hums and squeezes, making the air leave my lungs. I lay there and let her play, not in any hurry to come. Just laying here with her naked and drowsy is enough. I can tell that she's too exhausted for another round.

"Christian?" She says my name quietly as she plays with the head, rubbing in the pre-cum that forms at my tip.

"Hmm?" My eyelids are heavy and I can feel myself started to give in to my own sleep.

"Are we ever going to figure this out?"

"Yes." I truly believe we'll get this shit figured out. We keep fucking things up, but we're learning.

"You're sure?"

My eyes close. "So sure, I'd marry you right now if I could." Taking one last deep breath, I feel myself succumbing to sleep. We'll talk about this tomorrow.

A/N: Our favorite couple is making progress. Teaser for Chapter 18? Just let me know.