Chapter 10

The summer went by fast and it all felt different when Ana and Kate realized they were professionals now. They didn't have school to return to and work kept them busy.

Kate was settled in her job for the Seattle Times. She didn't want to work for her father. She had her own ambitions and Christian respected that. She never used their friendship. He went to her with a purpose to speed it up. Christian and Elliot helped launch her career with an exclusive interview after the New York trip. Christian did it to give Elliot's business a boost as well. He now ran Grey Homes. Elliot went to college to be an architect. Grey Homes was a building company now making smart homes all over Washington state. The smart homes offered solar power to help the environment, which was also a part of Christian's business.

Ana also gave an interview to look at the new Grey Publishing. She was still an assistant, but she was now working with Jack Hyde and he offered her more of a learning opportunity. Ana was definitely enjoying going to work a lot more.

Mr. Roach couldn't keep up and was offered a nice retirement settlement. The new publishing world was far different than what he was used to. He did come around and told Ana her future was very bright. Elizabeth was helping by pulling double duty, she found her love in editing again. She was also pulling Ana along the way.

Christian didn't interfere with Ana's job at all. He actually turned it over to Elizabeth Morgan. She was now in charge of the decision making and met with him every two weeks. She wasn't sure at first, but she flat out asked Christian if Ana was to be moved in Roach's position. Christian responded with a no. She would need to earn every step. They both gained a lot of respect with her.

The only thing Christian did do was move Grey Publishing to Grey House. It was actually Ana and Christian's second big argument. She didn't like it. She felt being in the building with him would be a distraction. It didn't help that he fully admitted that he wanted her close every day. She refused to listen to him and even left to return to her and Kate's apartment. She cried for 2 days and refused to take his phone calls. She even threw his 50 white roses in the dumpster.

He stayed outside her doorway for an entire night, begging her the next morning to listen to him. He told the truth, he wanted her closer every day. He loved having her near him, but it also made sense to downsize and get rid of an extra building. He promised nothing would change and he would never interfere.

Over the months Christian liked to make decisions for Ana and he had to learn to ask first. Christian learned Ana had quite a temper and told her she could never be a submissive. They both had a good laugh about that and even better make up sex.

Christian also had another reason to move Ana. He had completely torn down Elena's life. He not only took every business away from Elena, but he reported her illegal business. That set off a downward spiral. Her husband left her. She landed in jail, but a month ago she was released on bail and had disappeared. "Taylor, any news on Elena?"

Taylor and his other security team sat in his office. Every week he was debriefed on the situation. He told Ana that he was concerned, so she would understand why she needed security. Christian saw Elizabeth Morgan waiting outside. Taylor still didn't have any new information. "That'll be all. He walked them out. "Taylor, any news about Elena should come straight to me." He nodded and Christian invited Elizabeth in.

They went over the details of Grey Publishing. "Mr. Grey, I think it's time. Ana is so far ahead of her peers. Jack thinks giving her the editor duties at a much lower pay would be beneficial to her and the business. That way she can start working her way up." Elizabeth explained that Ana had a great idea for younger audiences. "I'd like to see her run with it. Of course she may turn it down. The work would outweigh the pay right now."

Christian only dealt with the money part and what she said sounded good. "Ok, I like it. You have full responsibility for this." Christian looked over the financials for the business. Things had improved with the publishing company.

Elizabeth was nervous, but she wanted to ask ever since the edition Kate Kavanagh posted. Christian allowed access to the entire Grey family. It was now a matter of public record of his upbringing and adoption. Christian thought if he told others how he started it may give them hope. Elizabeth and Jack Hyde were from Detroit. "Mr. Grey, I'm from Detroit, so is Jack. We had a very difficult life. My sister and I struggled and Jack helped us. We couldn't save her though. I admired your article, telling the truth." Christian gave her a small smile.

Elizabeth couldn't help but look at him differently, "Sometimes bad things fall apart so better things can be put back together. Thank you for that. Have a good day Mr. Grey." She gathered her things but stopped again, "Sometimes people only concentrate on the things they lose, but they should really focus on what they have." Christian waved as she left, but thought she was right. His life before wasn't pretty, but now he had Ana.

It had been a busy day and it was only a little after 12. He was finishing up a meeting with Roz, his number 2. She was off to China for an important meeting in the morning. Before Ana, Christian took all the trips and sometimes Roz came along, but never led the meetings. It had nothing to do with trust, Christian just wanted to be away. Things were different now. "Christian, thank you for the growing opportunities. I won't let you down." Roz stood up, "I like this new you. I mean we've always clicked, but you're so much happier." Christian met Roz at Harvard, she was driven and he wanted her by his side.

When she left she saw Elliot. She helped both of them get his business up and running quickly. He was different from Christian, but so smart with great ideas. They grew closer and she knew it was Ana. They gave each other a hug in passing. Elliot was friendly, always had been. It was a quality Christian used to be jealous of, but not anymore. "Hey, baby bro!" Christian smiled even though he hated that.

Elliot sat down and started talking about Kate. "She's stressed and I think she misses Ana. It's different because they don't have school anymore. They don't live together, we took that. We should do something special for them."

Christian had an idea, but asked him a question first. "Why do you always say hey baby bro? I hate it, you know." Christian waited for him to answer.

Elliot laughed and then frowned. "When I got older and I understood what happened to you, I realized even though we were both adopted we were different." Christian knew what he meant. Elliot's parents loved him, but unfortunately they died in a car accident with his only Aunt, Uncle, and last living grandparent. He was the only survivor. "It felt like everyone was sorry for you, but I never was. I was just glad I had a baby brother."

Christian smiled as he talked about some of his favorite memories. It made him feel bad, he never understood Elliot's love for him until that very moment. "I knew you were struggling with loss and just trying to figure it out. Where I didn't have to figure anything out because I was never mistreated. I wish I knew about that evil bitch though." Christian's eyes shot up. "So, if you really hate it, I'll stop, but I'm so proud you're my baby bro." Christian told him to come for a ride. "What?!? Leaving work at 1:00?"

Christian shook his head, "Let's go big bro!" He had Taylor take them to Escala. Elliot questioned the entire way. He opened his playroom door. Christian watched Elliot's eyes pop open and his jaw drop. Christian answered all of his questions for an hour. Elliot shook his head, "Shit man, maybe I'm the baby. I know a little something, but damn." They both laughed together. "So what's this about Christian?"

Christian pointed to the back, "It's really just another master's suite when you change the color of the walls and take all the toys away. Ana has seen it, so I can't just change it and move up here, but I can remodel it and you and Kate can." Elliot was surprised. "You said they miss each other, move in with us. They get to be with us and see each other more. You get to be my big bro. It's a win win El. What do you think?"

Elliot hugged him. This was Christian trying to make up for lost time. "Also, let's take them for a weekend getaway and give them the news." Elliot looked around and Christian made notes of everything he wanted to change. Elliot laughed and asked him not to get rid of all the toys after he saw the spreader bar. Christian laughed, "Sorry big bro, Ana already has dibs."

Ana held Christian's hand while they enjoyed the ferry ride. She smiled at her best friend doing the same thing. "So, who's idea was this?" Elliot pointed at Christian. They were headed to San Juan Island.

When they got to the resort, they saw the beautiful view of the harbor. They were in a luxurious two bedroom cabin. The boys told them to rest and relax while they made dinner. Ana and Kate talked while Elliot showed Christian how to grill. "Kate, I can't believe our lives have changed in 3 months. I think he's the one Kate. Is that crazy? Am I crazy?"

She looked outside and saw Christian laughing. She knew it was new for him, but she was happy for him and Elliot. Kate was happy for all of them. "Ana, it's not crazy, it's wonderful. I'm just a little sad. I thought we had time before we separated. I'm happy I have Elliot, but I feel like I'm losing you. We don't see each other much and when me and Elliot have our arguments, I don't have you."

Ana felt the same and they hugged each other crying. Elliot and Christian came in with full hands. Elliot being a jokester broke it up, "Ladies, we're in paradise, why the tears?" They stopped and helped with the plates. They had grilled chicken kebabs, grilled shrimp foil packets with sausage and corn on the cob, steak, and asparagus.

Christian smiled very proudly, "I made foil packets." Ana gave a small smile. "Ana, what's wrong?" Christian hated seeing her upset. She waved it off and tried to enjoy dinner.

They started eating, but Christian couldn't enjoy anything if Ana didn't talk. "I don't want you to take this wrong and get upset." Christian promised. "Kate and I miss each other, but we love you guys."

The boys knew. "Yeah, we know. And that's why we've been talking about how to fix it and make our girls happy." Kate smirked and asked what they were talking about. Elliot smiled, "Finish your dinner and maybe we'll tell you." Afterwards the girls wanted to clean, but the boys wouldn't have it. "Nope, sit, and relax. We've got it."

They walked to grab some ice cream and Ana was more than curious, "So, you make us happy, but what's the plan?" Ana licked her ice cream and it only made Christian's boxers tight.

Elliot smiled, "Well, my baby bro has an idea. He thinks Kate and I should move into Escala. He even has a master suite upstairs Kate. They have downstairs, we have upstairs, and we all get to see each other more. Especially you and Ana. I mean it's just for the meantime. When we get married, we'll have to rethink the living arrangements."

Kate laughed, "You're gonna marry me?" Christian interrupted saying it was definitely in the cards. Ana ate her ice cream but stared at Christian excited but worried. She was very quiet at first, but Kate was screaming because she was so excited.

When they got home, Kate pulled Ana to the bathroom. They got ready for bed while having a girl talk. Ana sat on the bed as Christian came from the shower. His towel was wrapped around his waist. She smiled at his naked body and bit her lip thinking what was underneath. "See something you like?"

Ana swallowed, "Christian? The red room?" Christian straddled her and pushed her leg wide with his knee and held her wrist above her head, "Shhh, it's more like the blue room now. It's being broken down and remodeled while we're here." Ana took a deep breath she had talked to Kate a little, especially since the family knew about the BDSM, but she hadn't mentioned the room.

She felt like a weight was lifted and then she smiled, "But I didn't get to try it." Ana was a little curious from the little bit she did see and what she read. She didn't like the discipline part, but the bondage and and dominance part got her thinking.

Christian laughed, "Leave your hands there and don't move them." He watched her as he brought his hand down her shirt and in between her legs. Then he looked at her again. When he parted her lower lip with his long fingers, her arms came down. "Yeah I thought that would happen. I would have to tie you up."

Ana kissed him hard and flipped him. She grabbed his tie from the bag that she made him remove on the ferry. Christian didn't stop her as she tied his hands together. "Leave your hands there and don't move." She pulled his towel open to see his erect length pointing up. He was ready for her, but she gave him some more. "I saw you looking at me when I was licking my ice cream. Have you been hard since then?"

Ana licked from the base all the way from the tip and circled her tongue spreading his precum. She pushed his hands down seeing them pop up and sat on his length at the same time. They both moaned together as she rocked back and forth. She held his arms down and slid up and down at a slow rhythm then faster. "Ahhhh! Ana! Ahhhh!"

It felt different and Ana liked it. She knew she had the power and she could make him cum whenever she wanted. She also figured out in that short time, this was a major turn on, being the dominant. She understood Christian in that moment. She didn't force him though. "Christian cum with me. She released the tie and placed his hands on her hips. "Ahhh Christian! Ahhhhh!"

They both came hard and held each other. "Christian, I liked that. It felt different, but good." He laid flat back and she giggled. Ana finally felt what her laugh did to him. "You're really going to marry me?"

He smiled, "Yeah!" Ana asked him why? "Because I've been fucked up so long, but with you there's no gray area. I don't need boundaries and rules. I don't want them. I just want you and I want to live our lives free." Christian wondered how long she was going to stay on top of him. "By the way you're topping from the bottom, Ana. I like that! It's definitely different. Oh and I kept the spreader bar. We will try it when we get home."