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I also have a Pinterest account that I update with every chapter, often before the chapter is out, so there are some pic teasers there. It's under 'NineN3Quarters' and the board is labeled 'The Donor'.
Detroit Part II
Christian and Anastasia enjoy dinner with Ros and their CPO's, but it's obvious that Ros is still a little put off over what happened earlier. Christian feels frustrated with Ros. She can't expect him to live and breathe work. He'd go crazy if he allowed work to swallow him whole. Sure, he knows that since becoming Anastasia's donor he hasn't been as available as he used to be, but he isn't willing to ditch his responsibilities to Anastasia because Ros wants access to him 24/7. He understands that he still has a responsibility to his company, but he's able to juggle his responsibilities to both.
When Christian scowls at Ros over her attitude during dinner, Anastasia pinches his thigh under the table. She feels that it's her fault and Ros has a reason to be a bit put off over the situation. If it wasn't for her hormones, Anastasia would have never done that. Hormones make her brave. Her need for Christian outweighed her logic. Christian came to Detroit for work and he ditched working for a romp with her. No wonder Ros is hot-headed over it. She wants to apologize to Ros about it, but she doesn't want to bring it up. She worries that Ros will begin to ask questions and she'll have no way of knowing how to answer. Right now, she's enjoying what she and Christian have and she doesn't want anything ruining that. She doesn't want to overthink it.
"So, what are your plans for after dinner, Ros?" Christian asks with a cheeky grin on his face.
Ros gives him a scowl. "I'm going to do what I came here to do and work, then I'm going to Skype my wife who didn't get to come on this little outing."
"No one said she couldn't come, Ros." Christian's jaw ticks.
Anastasia's shoulders slump. "I'm sorry." She feels bad that Ros is so upset. Ros doesn't understand the significance of this place for Christian and Anastasia cannot explain it to her. Ros must feel like Anastasia is imposing. She wishes she would have stayed in the hotel room and called room service instead of coming down with Christian. At least, then, they would be able concentrate on work instead of Christian fretting over Anastasia.
Ros sighs. "Ana, I didn't mean to make you upset. I'm just frustrated with Christian. I've never seen him so unfocused before. Work has always been so important to him and I could always depend on him to help with anything and now, I can barely get a second to even see him. I know he's trying to be a good man for you and your baby, it's just something I need to learn to navigate. He isn't going to be in work mode 24/7 like he used to...and it'll probably get even worse after the baby is born. I'm sorry that I'm so irritable. It's just a change for me. I'll get used to it."
Now, Christian feels bad. "Ros, things have changed and are going to change even more, but perhaps I have been a little unfocused since Anastasia's been pregnant. I know I need to concentrate more on work. I'll never be the workaholic I was before Anastasia became pregnant, but I promise to do better at being available and focus more on work during business hours."
Ros nods. "That's fair. What are you two doing tonight?" Ros wiggles her eyebrows and Anastasia colors. "By Ana's face, it seems like something fun."
"I was hoping to go swimming." Anastasia looks at Christian. "They have an indoor pool. Maybe I can do that while you work with Ros?"
Christian shakes his head. "You are not going down there by yourself."
Her eyebrows knit together. "Even if Sawyer comes with me? Sawyer and Taylor will swim with me, won't you guys?"
Christian growls at the thought of those two in bathing suits around Anastasia. His jealousy kicks in full force. He doesn't want her looking over their two muscular bodyguards with no shirts. She should only be ogling him.
"You aren't going without me." That's final.
"It's fine, Christian. Just go with her. Tomorrow, though, be ready to work all day." Ros gives them an encouraging smile.
XxXxXx
While Christian looks through his bag for his swim shorts, Anastasia steps out of the bathroom in her black bikini, making him stop in his tracks. Her bikini it tiny. Her bottoms are practically thongs, showing the roundness in her backside and hang low enough to accentuate her baby bump. He isn't sure how he feels about this.
"Don't you dare start, Grey. I see that look on your face. I won't be able to wear these much longer and I've never allowed you to control what I wear. Just because I'm carrying your child, don't think you get to throw your weight around now."
His teeth grind together and he continues to dig through his bag. Finding a casual button-up, he throws it at her. "You'll wear this as a cover up until we get to the pool."
She holds the light blue button-up in her hands. It smells of Christian and freshly laundered linen, so she decides not to fight him on it. Compromise, Steele. "Alright, but that means you'll wear a shirt too."
He nods. "Deal."
They make their way down to the pool together, giving Taylor and Sawyer the night off. Christian takes his phone, just in case he needs to call Taylor in an emergency.
When they enter the pool area, they are relieved to see that it's mostly empty. There's only two young women who are sitting in the hot tub.
"I'll get the towels, baby." Christian makes his way over to the opposite side of the pool, next to the young women. The big, white towels are folded on shelves and he busies himself with getting two for each of them. One to dry and one to lay out on the lounge chairs.
He hears the blonde in the tub give a snicker. "Do you see her?"
His eyebrow immediately cocks and he pretends to be looking through the towels as he listens.
"Can you say sit-ups?"
The brunette snorts. "Doesn't she realize that bikinis aren't made for women shaped like her?"
Christian's finds his jaw ticking and his hands balling into fists.
"Excuse me, ladies…"
The both turn to look at him and give him bright smiles. "Hello, there." The brunette batts her eyelashes at Christian.
"I couldn't help, but overhear what you were saying. That happens to be my wife and she's actually pregnant with my child. Even if she wasn't, there is nothing wrong with her figure. Who are you to judge what someone else wears? Every person is beautiful in their own way and it's unfortunate that you two are too shallow to realize that. I've found that most shallow people really have low self-esteem, but I want you to know that blowing out someone's light isn't going to make yours any brighter. You better pray that she didn't hear your venomous words and this better be the last you speak of her tonight, or we're going to have a problem."
The blonde rolls her eyes. "Like there's anything you could do."
"Oh, you'd be surprised the kind of power I have." His jaw sets and he gives each one of them one last look before heading back to his girl.
When he returns to her, she's sitting at the edge with her feet in the water.
"Everything okay?"
He tosses the towels on a couple of loungers and nods. "Yes, everything is perfect."
Anastasia watches as Christian jumps in beside her, and does a couple laps up and down the rectangular pool. She's mesmerized by the way his back and arm muscles flex as he moves and how fast his body can carry him in the water. He's one strong man. Her heart flutters. He's just too beautiful for words.
His form swims towards her and pops up at her feet, making her smile. He reaches up and rubs her stomach and gives it a kiss. "Get in the water." He tugs lightly on her ankle. Wasn't this her idea?
She slips into the water and sighs. It's warm and feels good on her sore muscles. Having sex with Christian sure is satisfying, but he makes her use muscles she didn't even realize she had. She relaxes back and lets herself float for a few seconds. It doesn't last long, because she can feel Christian staring at her.
Christian watches her, worried that she'll start to go under. The deep end is six feet and he's able to keep his head out of the water by standing on the pads of his feet, but it's too deep for Anastasia to touch.
"What is it?" Anastasia's annoyed.
"Just watching."
"Why?"
He reaches over and pulls her to him, holding her against him. Although she's angry with him, she wraps her legs around his waist, craving the contact. "I just like to look." He's lying, but he doesn't want to start bickering.
"You think I'm going to drown." The small twitch of his lips tells Anastasia all she needs to know. "You're ridiculous."
The grin that Christian was trying to hide widens. "Alright, alright. Maybe. But, can you blame me? You are about the most uncoordinated woman alive."
Anastasia cannot contain her giggle. "Okay...maybe you're right."
"Maybe?"
She gives him a smile. "Just maybe." She wraps her arms around his neck. "Guess you'll just have to carry me around the pool then."
"Or you could move to the shallow end."
She pouts.
"Or I'll carry you."
Her smile returns.
"Spoiled." He murmurs, giving her a wink.
"It's your fault. Now, carry me peasant!" She presses a kiss to his mouth.
Christian's eyes narrow. "Peasant, huh?" In one swift move, he pulls her off of him and throws her, making sure she lands face up so that her back hits the water first. She squeals on the way and when she comes up, she's giggling.
Anastasia swims back to him. "Do it again!" She hasn't been thrown like that since she was a little girl and she forgot how much fun it was.
"Of course, you'd enjoy that."
She gives him a wink. "I like it rough."
He grabs her again and throws her one more time, making her giggle and squeal.
"I forgot how much fun it is!" She swims back to him, smiling.
"Throw me, then." He pulls her to the five foot mark and wraps an arm around her neck, pulling his legs up, so she can hold him under his thighs and back. "It's my turn."
She laughs. "Just think, I might have one of these growing in my stomach right now." She rocks him back and forth like a baby. "Baby Christian."
"I didn't ask you to coddle me, I asked you to throw me."
"Okay, fine. Ready? One...Two...THREE!" Instead of throwing him, she releases him and pushes his head under the water. As soon as he disappears, she tries making a run for it, but doesn't make it very far before he catches her.
"You're going to get it!"
XxXxXx
Playing in the pool last night really helped with Christian's sleep. He wakes after a restful sleep and is surprised that his alarm is going off.
An annoyed growl comes from the small pregnant woman beside him. "Turn that off."
"Good morning to you, too." He reaches over to silence the alarm and stretches. Today they meet the owners of the business. He's hoping it goes rather smoothly, although he doubts it. They're hiding something and they aren't going to give it up willingly.
"I'm not ready for morning, yet."
"Me, either." He curls up to her and pulls her against him, enjoying her warmth.
"Okay, let's go back to sleep."
"Sounds good to me." He nuzzles into her hair and sighs. Anastasia is his sanctuary.
"Christian?"
He startles and grunts, realizing he was half asleep.
"I don't think Ros would appreciate you sleeping the day away when you're supposed to be here for business. Remember what you promised last night?"
Christian grunts again. Yes, he remembers, but he wasn't curled around Anastasia when he promised. "Fine. Wanna shower with me?"
Anastasia snorts. "No. I'm going back to sleep."
"Could have made my whole day...but, no. Ms. Queen has to get her beauty sleep…" He sits up to climb out of bed and Anastasia grabs one of her pillows and turns, smacking him with it, making him stop in his tracks.
"Did you just…?"
Anastasia smiles at him.
"Do it again, Anastasia Rose. I dare you."
Her eyes flick down to the bed, deciding if it's worth it. She bites her lip and her eyes meet Christian's again before smacking him in the side.
"That's it!" He dives for her, making her scream, and wrestles her pillow away from her. "My turn!"
"No!" She squeals, grabbing another pillow. "You're mine, Grey!"
XxXxXx
Although Christian didn't get to share his morning shower with Anastasia, the pillow fight was another great way to start his morning. She always has such a way of making him feel so free and young at heart. It does so much for his stress levels. Even now, sitting in the conference room waiting for the owners to walk in, he can't keep the smile off his face.
"You're looking pretty smug this morning, C." Ros grins, looking him over.
He shrugs. "I'm happy."
"You're in love."
His smile gets impossibly larger. "That, too. But, don't mention that in front of Ana. She doesn't know."
Ros laughs. "Bull shit. It's obvious that both of you are in love. You two are so damn cute together, it makes me sick."
"You think Ana is in love with me?" Christian is hopeful.
"I know she is. A woman doesn't put her life on hold just to jump on a plane to be with her best friend for two days. You're the center of her world. Any sane person can see that."
God, he wants to tell her. He wants to kick himself for not telling her last night. He's dying to hear Anastasia say it back. If they love each other, then that means they can move forward. Maybe even move in together. He'd love waking up to her beautiful form every morning...especially if it is naked.
"Have you spoken to the two employees that were requesting to speak to us?"
Ros shakes her head. "I promised that I'd speak to them after our meeting today, under the cover of wanting to know how their jobs function."
Christian nods. Now that he isn't about to bury himself into Anastasia, he's curious to hear what the men have to say.
There's a knock on the door and they swivel around in their office chairs. Two men walk in. The first is wearing a black suit that is one size too big for him, making it obvious that it isn't his usual workwear. His hair is short and parted down the side with mousse, but it does little to help the hair that sticks out oddly all over his head. It's a new haircut. At least he's trying. The second is wearing a red button-up, dark wash jeans, black motorcycle boots with chains and his graying hair is so long that it lays at his shoulders.
When Christian's eyes meet the second man's, his whole body gives a jolt, the feeling of ice surging through every vein in his body. He's met this man before. His hair might be longer and his face more wrinkled, but it's him. He'd never forget that face. The way this man used to smell...like stale cigarettes, hard liquor, and absolute filth comes flooding back and his stomach heaves. He has to swallow back the bile that rises in his throat. He can still hear the sound of his boots on the hard floor...the way the chains on them would rattle as he'd get closer and closer...and the way he'd laugh when Christian would cry. A deep, gravelly laugh that still haunts him in his dreams.
No way.
He can't do this.
Ros stands to greet them and Christian takes the advantage and dips out of the room quickly, refusing to look back.
"HEY!" His voice stops him in his tracks.
Taylor is right behind him, making him feel a little calmer, but not much. He forces himself to turn around.
"Where's the fire, Mr. Grey?" The man's lips curl into a disgusting grin, showing his yellowing teeth.
He doesn't know. He doesn't recognize Christian.
Christian uses this to his advantage and makes his way back to the fucker, punching him right square in the nose, causing the asshole to hit the ground, holding his nose.
"Christian!" Ros screams from the room. "What are you doing?"
"What the fuck?" The abusive monster looks up from the floor at Christian, acting the victim. It pisses him off even further. He gives the man a good, swift kick to the ribs.
"That is for the little maggot."
The breath leaves the man on the floor. He looks speechless, but Christian doesn't give a fuck. He turns and stalks down the hall, Taylor behind him.
"Taylor, call the Sheriff. I know what they're doing with the money."
XxXxXx
Refusing to spend anymore time at the shipyard, Christian speaks to the Sheriff on the way back to the hotel and offers to make a sizable donation to the police department if they open up an investigation on the owners of the shipyard. Ros is still confused by the situation, but she's just going to have be confused for a little longer. He feels like he's barely keeping it together as it is and if he has to try to explain himself, he might shatter right in front of his VP. That can't happen.
He needs his Ana.
Christian practically sprints to their hotel room door when they get off the elevator, but he's too anxious to get the key card to work. Three times he tries to put it in the slot and each time, he fails.
"God fucking damn it!"
The door opens and Anastasia is standing there with a highlighter in one hand and a pencil behind her ear. She looks surprised.
He practically stumbles in the door and shuts it behind him, locking the deadbolt.
"Christian...what's happening?" Anastasia feels a little panicked by his actions.
Turning toward her, he can feel his body begin to shake. He's held in his emotions for as long as he could and now he can finally fall apart. He flings himself at her, hugging her tightly to him and he brings them both to the floor as he sobs into her shoulder. The highlighter and pencil both fall to the floor next to them, forgotten.
"What? What happened? Christian...please, tell me!" Anastasia finds herself crying, too, although she isn't sure what's happening, yet. Christian's reaction is heartbreaking enough. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and rocks them side-to-side. "I'm right here, Christian. I'm here for you. Tell me what's wrong."
"The pimp." He croaks out against her neck.
"The pimp? What...what? The one who hurt you?"
Christian nods against her.
"What about him?"
"The owner." He's sobbing too hard to explain further, but Anastasia understands.
"He's the owner of the company? Holy fuck…" She holds him tighter to her and runs her fingers through his hair, knowing it calms him. "I'm so sorry, Christian. I'm here. I'm here for you. Take your time. I'm not letting you go." She presses a kiss to his hair and continues to rock them slowly back and forth.
They sit there for a long time, so long in fact that their butts are numb and their backs hurt, but neither move. Anastasia allows Christian to cry it out while she cries silently for him. Detroit will always be tainted for Christian. There is no way that Christian will ever want his name tied to it, now. Anastasia knows that he won't buy the shipyard. He wouldn't be able to stomach that. He could never hand money over to that satanic bastard or stand where the bastard stood. He defiled the shipyard; it will never recover. Not in Christian's eyes.
When Christian composes himself somewhat, he realizes just how uncomfortable this position must be on Anastasia. Sniffling, he sits up, feeling his back crack as he straightens.
"Uncomfortable?" Anastasia asks, hearing the crack of his back. She reaches up and wipes the wetness from his cheeks.
"Let's lay in bed."
She nods. "Okay."
As they climb into bed, he turns away from her and reaches back for her arm, pulling it around him before scooting back against her.
Her heart breaks and she lets out a small sob. He's letting her be the big spoon. She holds him tight and cradles his head in the crevice of her elbow, pressing kisses to his hair over and over. She doesn't know if anything is going to make him feel better right now, but damn it, she's got to try. He needs a love overload and she's going to shower him with it.
"He didn't even know who I was." Christian says quietly after they lay there for awhile.
Anastasia's relieved that he's willing to talk about it. "Did you tell him?"
"Not until after I hit him."
"You hit him?"
Christian nods.
"How'd that feel?"
"It felt good when I did it, but now I feel like I've sunk to his level. He just hurt Ella and me so much and I just wanted him to hurt, too. I'm no better than him."
"Christian! Don't you say that. He's a satanic monster. You were sick of being the victim and you took your power back. All he got was some well deserved karma, is all. He deserved it. What he did to you… what he did to Ella… you two didn't deserve it. He used his strength and power to control your mother and abuse you. You don't have that in you, Christian. You could never manipulate or abuse anyone."
"But, I have control issues, Ana."
"Because you had no control when you were a toddler. The only control that you're seeking now is the control to keep everyone around you safe. That isn't a bad thing. You're trying to protect us. It's true that sometimes we feel like you're overprotecting us, but we still appreciate it and love you for it. You've a beautiful heart and soul, Christian. You are such an incredible man. So incredible, in fact, that I can't even begin to describe just how lovely you are and how much we love and adore you." She presses a kiss to the skin behind his ear.
"I love you, Ana."
She smiles. "I love you, too, Christian."
He sighs. "No, I mean I'm in love with you. I don't want to play this back and forth game anymore. I don't want to pretend that we're just best friends that make love and have incredible sex. I'm in love with you and I want to be with you. Really with you. Today just drove home the fact that I need to tell you and stop fighting this. I've fought it for too long."
Anastasia squeezes him. "Oh, Christian." She's so happy she could burst. She can feel tears bubbling up again, but this time they're welcome.
"I've always sort of known that there was something more between us than just best friends and I think that's why I always tried to keep my physical distance. I pretended to hate hugging and cuddling you because I knew if I let myself do that, then I'd just fall harder for you and it'd consume me. When you started the IVF and you got pregnant, I just couldn't stay away anymore. The physical closeness we have now has fueled my feelings for you and now that we've had sex...now that I know just how good we are together...I can't pretend anymore."
Warm, wet tears fall down Anastasia's cheeks at Christian's admission. "I love you, too, Christian. I'm so in love with you that it hurts."
Christian cranes his neck to look at her. "You do?"
Anastasia nods. "Absolutely."
He turns in her arms and wraps his own around her, pulling her in close. "Thank God, Ana." He nuzzles into her neck, breathing in her scent. This has been such an emotional day, but now that he has Anastasia...now that he knows that she feels the same way he does...he feels like he can get through anything.
When he lifts his head, she smiles up at him, eyes sparkling. "You're mine, Christian. All mine."
He laughs. It's cathartic. "Yes. And you're mine. Both of you belong to me." He rubs her stomach and she nuzzles into his neck. "We're going to be a family, Ana. A real family."
Her heart swells. "Yes. I love that."
"Let's buy a house together."
Anastasia's whole body jolts. "What?" She laughs. "Christian! We just admitted our feelings to each other."
"Our apartments aren't any place for a child. They need room to run and play. They need a place that's safe and not one full of strangers that walk the halls and glass and elevators and flights of stairs. Our child deserves to play outdoors on their own swing set in their own grassy yard where no one will hurt them."
She sighs. This is really sudden. She feels like her whole life has been turned inside out for the second time this year.
"Just promise me you'll look at houses with me. Just take that step." Christian needs Anastasia to agree to this. He wants a family in a real house with plenty of room to grow and run.
That's easy enough. "I can do that."
"Instead of kissing on it, let's make love on it." Christian wiggles his eyebrows, making Anastasia giggle.
"I like that idea."
He pushes himself up on his knees and rolls her onto her back. "Clothes off, Steele." He yanks her bottoms off quickly and licks his lips when he sees her naked bottom half. Oh, he's going to enjoy this.
A/N: If you want a teaser for the next chapter, let me know.