Chapter 10: Bound
There were a few more loose ends to tie before bounding off to Washington. Letting Elliot know of his situation, rebuilding infrastructure in their newly captured territories, and keeping other organizations at bay. His contacts also noted that José and Remington were close on his tail and arriving sometime within the next couple of days.
He could say damn it all to hell and leave for Ana, but having an entire militia and two men who wanted him dead in Washington was not the sane move. His wild days as a fugitive and hitman had to stop someday. He needed to be the man Ana deserved.
Two days out, Christian gets the notice he's been waiting for. Two men, matching José and Remington's descriptions were captured in Duluth. As Christian requested, they are captured unharmed. He comes to visit them in the town's local holding cells.
Stepping down into the dank cellar, he can see the two are in separate cages. He's careful to avoid moving too close to the bars, less they get any ideas.
"José. Remington." Christian stops a few feet from the prison bars, crossing his arms.
"Christian." José tries hard to remain impassive, but his disdain is clear.
Remington takes a different approach. He's clearly pained and full of desperation, "Where's Ana?"
"Ana is safe." Christian doesn't like what Remington is implying or his potential infatuation with her, but answers honestly nonetheless.
"She didn't return to Rushmere." José responds accusingly.
"Your plan to kill me didn't pan out." Christian moves to the edge of the room to sit on a metal folding chair.
"So, you killed her?" Remington practically wails.
"I would never hurt Ana." Not intentionally. Christian corrects himself, he still had his sins to pay for. He's sure he's broken her heart.
"Then where is she?" José challenges.
"Not in Rushmere. But she talked to Ethan. I'll let you radio him then maybe we can work things out." Christian knows that if Ana wasn't involved, he wouldn't even be having this conversation. He'd killed them the first chance he got. They are a liability that might hunt Ana down. But he has feelings to consider now. Primarily Ana's.
"I want to speak to her." José insists.
Christian is unfamiliar with the feeling of jealousy that these two arouse in him. Although he didn't like the idea of arranging for Ana to speak to another man, it might be essential in this case.
"I'm meeting up with her in a week. If you really want to wait here that long, I can arrange that."
José moves up to the bars, "So you do know where she is. Tell us."
"No."
"You bastard. Let us hear from Ethan then."
"I'll have my men bring you to comms." Christian stands up, "And just so you know, I'm doing this out of courtesy for Ana. Think about that before you decide to come after me. Killing you hurts her, not me."
José scoffs at Christian's arrogance when he exits the room. It's clear Christian saw no possible outcome that would result in Remington or José killing him.
While Christian's men arrange for José and Remington to radio back to Rushmere, Christian returns to his office to compile his files. Without his presence here, he needed to make sure all plans for the month were squared away. Later this week, he could meet with Elliot.
When he returns back to the dank cellars, he can see the men in a completely different state. Much less tense and much more melancholy. Remington is lying down and José is sitting against a wall.
"I take it you've talked to Ethan?"
José ignores him, but Remington looks to be in a state of disbelief, "She couldn't do it. She likes you."
She loves me. Christian corrects mentally. He steps closer to the bars, disarmed by their vulnerable positions, "I love her. Let us be."
Christian hears cursing underneath José's breath, then José spits,"Well, you can have her."
"If I let you go, you have to give me your word — that you won't chase after us."
Remington sits up, looking at José. José is struggling, he's obviously having a difficult time.
"I can't give back what I took. But it sure as hell won't happen again. My position back in P.A. has allowed me to make that promise. As for the supplies we stole, all I can do is reimburse you tenfold."
"We don't want your pity." José snarls.
"It's not pity. It's just what's deserved and even that's not enough." Christian sighs, "I'm sorry and I don't expect your forgiveness. I just want you to let us go."
Maybe saying it to his face wasn't helping matters, so Christian relents, "You can tell a guard if you make up your minds. I'll order them to release you upon making your statements. Good day gentleman." Christian leaves.
The next day, Christian is informed by the guards that they left in the morning.
Christian's meeting with Elliot goes smoother, it seems like Elliot was expecting his departure.
"I'm going to Washington to meet with Ana. I have spoken to my Captains and have all orders set in place for this coming month."
"What about our operation in Twin Falls?"
"I'll be there when the time comes."
Elliot relaxes, "As long as you can still perform your duties when called upon, I take no issue."
"Thank you General."
"I'm happy for you Christian."
Christian notices the informality, "Thank you Elliot, but nothing is confirmed yet."
"I'm sure it will work out. Safe travels. Contact HQ when you arrive in Washington."
"Will do."
With that, Christian is prepared for his journey. With a small entourage of three vehicles, they head out to Washington. The trip would be three days or more.
The wait was excruciating, now that she knew Christian was coming. The next few days went by painstakingly.
On Saturday, she hears a knock at her door. She finds Christian there in green fatigues and a field cap. What captures her attention is his pale left eye. Void of sight. Her heart hurts to think of how much he must still suffer. After a month without him, she finds herself speechless — but opens the door for him to step in.
Christian drinks in the sight of Ana. For the first time since he met her, he is pleased to see her in a simple grey dress. His eyes move up to her's, instead of walking past her, he sweeps her into an embrace. She can feel him breathing in her scent at the nap of her neck, "Ana, I missed you."
She stiffens up at first, but then relaxes. "Please, come sit." She urges, releasing him and leading him to the apartment's sofa.
Christian sits next to her and removes his hat. His one good eye sweeps over the room, he's satisfied with the conveniences he paid for. His view settles onto the entrance into the bedroom, he wonders if this space would be good for the two of them, then stops himself from getting carried away. He feels Ana's hand settle on his thigh. He turns to look into her pleading eyes, he isn't sure what she'll ask for, but he's sure he'll agree.
"Ms. Steele, you said you wanted to negotiate…"
Ana looks torn, she removes her hand. The absence makes Christian wince. Then she swipes her hand over his left eyebrow.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore, but I can't see anything from it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"I was useless." Ana drops her hand, distraught.
"You saved my life." Christian clutches her hand between his.
Before she can lose the nerve, she let's the truth go, "Christian, before we begin there's something you should know. I'm pregnant."
Christian sucks in a breath, but keeps his hands on her's. The pregnancy test he requested. Why didn't he get the intel before her? "How?"
"I got the results yesterday from Belfair's clinic and I've been thinking about it ever since. There were a lot of things I wanted to say today, but with this news… I don't know anymore."
"Ana..." Christian doesn't know what to say. He's elated and afraid at the same time.
"Christian, you're the only man I've slept with. It's ours."
"I never thought otherwise."
"I want to keep it."
"Of course," He wondered why that needed to be said, the idea of forcing Ana to have an abortion was repulsive, "Please let me help. Anything that you need, I'm here."
His words encourage her to spill the thoughts that have been circling her head, "Christian, I promised my father I'd only have a child with the man I love. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you weren't that. I don't think I'd want this with anyone else because I love you Christian. I love—"
Before she can finish Christian's lips are on her's. She wraps her hands around his neck as he ravages her mouth, only breaking away to whisper, "I love you Ana." Being able to touch her like this after so long is intoxicating.
When she reciprocates his kissing, he responds by lifting her onto his lap, "I want you in my life and our child."
"Do you mean it?" Ana grabs him by the chin to look into his eyes.
Christian doesn't evade her smoldering gaze, "Absolutely. If you'll have me."
"I want every piece of you."
Christian growls in response, pulling her back to him for another desperate kiss. Ana breaks away to straddle his lap and place her lips on his neck. He feels her hands unbuckling his belt and finds himself hard at a moment's notice. He never imagined she would be open to sex so soon, but he would be a fool to decline. He lets her reach under his boxers and grip him, her warm hands on him nearly makes him purr in delight. She drops in front of the sofa to pull down his boxers and pants where they pool at his feet.
His breathing accelerates, here he is sitting on her sofa, dick out in the open air, staring at Ana licking her lips. Have me, have all of me. He chants in his head.
As if hearing his mantra, she dips down take him into her mouth. He moans as she begins sucking and licking him. While she's preoccupied sucking his cock he moves to undo her hair, he loves to see it wild and free. He grabs her head gently then as she bobs her head up and down. He's trying hard not to cum, but her dedication is making it more and more difficult. When he's close, she suddenly stops after one long lick. Standing up, he watches her pull up her dress to remove her pink cotton panties. He nearly finishes at the thought of what's coming next.
She straddles him again and he immediately accommodates her by reaching under her dress to grip her bare ass. She smiles down at him coyly, hikes her dress up to her waist, and slides down on his cock in one swift stroke.
"Fuck." Christian chokes out. Feeling her wet folds surround him is excruciatingly good.
Locking her arms around his neck, she begins bouncing up and down. Christian juts his hips up to meet her as best he can, taking as much of her as he can get. He fondles her breasts over her dress, but finds himself beginning to get frustrated at the offending clothes. "Take it all off." He orders, grabbing the hem of her dress and pulling it up. Ana settles on his cock and slides her dress over her head. Her bra follows next.
To feel her skin on his, Christian removes his shirt. With the barriers gone, he pulls her to him again, sucking on her left breast then right. Ana arches her back and begins bouncing again, she can feel the juices of their lovemaking dripping down her thighs onto Christian's pelvis. Christian stops sucking and sits back while fondling her breasts, he just wants to watch her taking in his cock for a moment. He's not disappointed at the sight. When he looks back up he sees Ana caught him peeking. She smiles and pulls him up for a kiss.
Christian takes the opportunity to try a different position, he flips her onto her side. She yelps in surprise then giggles. He spoons her from behind. After placing a kiss on her cheek, he lifts her leg up to position his cock at her entrance. He takes her then, silencing her giggles and setting a rough and needy pace.
He loves her little gasps every time he thrusts inside of her. He feels her pussy clench around him now and feels Ana's body tremble against him. It's just enough for him to find his own release, spurting out into Ana's quaking cunt.
After coming down from his high, he pecks her chin, cheek, and forehead in veneration, "You're amazing."
"Hm." Ana mumbles, grabbing Christian's arm and wrapping it around her. They revel in each other's warmth, cherishing the post-coitus bliss.
Christian dips his hands down to Ana's belly, he doesn't notice any signs of her pregnancy — yet the knowledge that Ana is carrying his child fills his chest with paternal pride.
"Are you staying?" Ana breaks the silence.
"They're allowing me to be stationed here, but I may have to take trips every now and then."
"Do you have to be in a militia?" Both the idea of the misdeeds of P.A. and the danger Christian could get in are not appealing to her.
"I think they're better for it."
Ana can't argue with that, if what he says is true about the changes he's imposing.
His safety is paramount to her though, "I want you to be safe."
Christian is touched by her concern for his well being, "As Colonel, I'm not involved in direct combat unless something goes terribly wrong."
"Having you away at all…"
"Hush, I'll try my best for our family." Christian lets his thumb graze her belly.
"Okay."
It's with this agreement that two begin the even longer journey of building a life together.