Chapter Twenty Three
I know this is short, but I felt this needed to be a stand alone. Sorry for any mistakes!
Kate POV
I wish Ana was the one who told me about her attack yesterday rather than hearing it through the Grey Grapevine. I can't be too pissed though, she was the one who was attacked. I hope she's okay, Elliot said that Christian said that she has a lot of bruising. My poor Ana banana I'm glad and not at all jealous that she's made new friends who are already there for lunch. Like ninety percent not jealous. Okay I am jealous, but I'm more happy she has friends. She is a truly wonderful person and deserves the best people around her, that these girls are here for her right now on such a dark day for her says a lot.
Wow this lobby is grand, it reminds me of a hotel in Paris with its classy, minimalist decor and perfectly dressed staff. I recognise one of Christian's body guards. Damn! If I wasn't with Elliot I'd be on him. He's got straggly stubble around his perfectly chiselled jawline, a black suit tailored to make it look like he was painted on, a crisp white with a black silk tie.
"Miss Kavanagh." He greets with a distinctly Australian accent. I'm dead. "Right this way." He leads me to the last elevator pushing in a code too quickly for me to even understand one digit. He stays in the lobby, leaving me alone. The ride up to Christians penthouse is long, was it this long last time? The last time I was in this elevator I was in Elliot's arms. That was a weird day.
"Christian, just open the door." Carrick commanded his face impassive as we stand in front of a non descriptive door in the penthouse. I guess being a lawyer he's used to pushing down his emotions when he needs to be calm. Not like my dad, he runs a media empire whatever he's feeling we all know. Just like Christian Right now, he's frowning, his hands shake as he slowly opens the door he is the textbook description of anxiety. It looks almost as though he was opening the jaws to hell, I guess having to show your dad, brother and brothers girlfriend your kinky sex room may feel like hell.
"Holy shit." Elliot mutters as we enter the deep red room. Christian and Carrick stand nervously at the door, Carrick's calm facade has waned there are now tears in his deep blue eyes.
I walk slowly around the red room, with some of the implements, the lack of natural light and the darkness of the wood it feels like a serial killers wet dream. This is used for sex?! Slowly walking around I look closer at the implements on the walls, some of the stuff I recognise, a couple of items I've used. I share a grin with Elliot when we see one of the riding crops, only last night I confessed how I'd enjoyed being spanked with one as a teenager and would like him to try it soon if he wants. I kept horses and was dating a college guy who was kinky.
"Was her dungeon like this?" Carrick asks his voice filled with venom.
"Hers was more, severe." Christian allows.
"More severe?" Elliot shudders. "How?" He asks.
"There were blood stains on her floor, and the furniture, her toys made these look like nothing." Christian robotically replies.
"Blood." Elliot whispers.
"Some mine."Christian whispers looking to the floor.
"How did she make you bleed?" Carrick whispers tears falling down his face.
"Her cat." He begins.
"Cat?" Elliot interrupts.
"Cat 'o nine tails. When she used it, it made me bleed." He replies. "She never left a permanent mark." He shrugs. How can he be so blasé about this? Does his calmness mean he does this to Ana, she said they play but... I take a few deep breaths to calm myself, when I turn I'm face to face with a row of what I think are called floggers; most are all leather, they have a tied leather handle with tassels, some of the tassels are made of rope. I pick up a black one with thick tassels.
"You had better not be harming my best friend, Grey! I promised I'd never tell anyone about today but by the grace of god I will kill you with my bare hands if you hurt her." I growl. Elliot puts his hand on my arm, Carrick stands behind Christian who is a few feet away from me. Christian takes a deep breath before replying in a calm almost soothing tone of voice.
"I'm going to ask Ana at some point soon if she'd like to completely remove everything in here, I'd never hurt her, but I want her to be as comfortable as possible I this room. These are meant for pleasure, for consensual pleasure with willing adults. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me, I want her to pick and choose everything that goes in here so she feels as safe as possible. I'd never intentionally hurt her." I believe him.
"Christian, has everyone you've ever been with sexually consented?" Carrick asks glaring.
"Yes, everyone completely consensual and in the case of the women who have been in here we had contracts where we would outline what everyone involved is comfortable with." He shortly replies.
"Was everyone of age?" Carrick interrogates.
"Yes. Anastasia is the youngest woman I've ever been with." He replies a slight blush on his face, I know it's because she was a virgin.
"What the fuck is this thing used for?" Elliot grins breaking the tension holding some bar thing.
"It's a spreader bar." Christian replies his lip twitching.
"For what?" Carrick asks taking the bar from Elliot holding the straps at the end, I think I can guess what it's for.
"You put someone's ankles in each hold, and you can control how wide their legs are parted." Christian explains openly smiling.
"Oh." Carrick replies his face red, leaving Christian and Elliot standing grinning. I hear a drawer opening, then being slammed shut with Carrick sheepishly walking away and standing by the door looking around tentatively. I go to stand next to him.
"Are you okay, Carrick?" I softly ask.
"I'm a red blooded male, I understand sex, I understand experimenting. What I can't understand is how that vile woman could do this to my son? Whatever consenting adults do in their private life is up to them but he was a child when she introduced to this." He growls.
"Can we leave here now?" Christian asks exasperated.