Chapter 17 - Let the Games Begin
Christian's POV
"Good morning, wife," I grinned.
I still couldn't believe this beautiful, amazing, intelligent woman had agreed to be mine forever.
"Good morning, husband," she smiled brightly.
The Monday morning blues hit me like a ton of bricks. Ana and I had to leave our bubble and face the real world. Ana had to go to class, and I had to get to work.
"I don't want to leave this bed," I groaned, pulling her on top of me.
"Me neither," she pouted, "But we have things to do."
Her delectable bare body was rubbing against me, and she leaned in for a kiss, her lips hovering over mine. All of a sudden she left me hanging, rushing off to the bathroom.
She giggled, "Join me in the shower, Mr. Grey!" Little minx.
While Ana got dressed, I turned on my phone to see if I missed anything this weekend. And what I saw was astonishing.
I had a crazy amount of messages – some were congratulations on the engagement while some were alerting me that Ana and I were papped yesterday. Shit!
I immediately pulled up the various articles on my phone, and all the media outlets were speculating about our engagement. Fuck, and Ros wanted to release a formal GEH statement today. Great, now my personal life was getting involved in my business. Definitely not what I wanted.
At least none of the media outlets knew we got married, so that secret was still safe with us.
As I scroll through the rest of my messages, I see one from my father along with texts from my mother telling me to call him back.
I really should get over myself and call him, but I didn't want him to sour my extremely good mood.
Ana walked out of her closet wearing a fairly conservative blazer and skirt, somehow still looking like a sexy goddess.
"Jerry's coming back, tonight," she reminded me, "And did you check your texts? He knows we got married."
"Yeah, I saw that. He's perceptive."
She giggled and replied, "He said he'll keep it on the down low."
"Good," I smiled.
"Good morning, Mr. Grey," my third personal assistant in a month chirped when I walked into the office, handing me a cup of coffee. She was wearing way too much makeup and a blouse that was borderline unprofessional.
It was so hard to find a fucking assistant who didn't bat their eyes at me and flash their tits out any chance they can get. How fucking hard could it be to find a woman who wasn't interested in fucking me? Because news flash ladies, there was only one girl I wanted to fuck, and that was my wife.
"Jessica," I grumbled. I give it a week before she pisses me off and is out of a job.
"Hey, boss," Ros startled me when she burst into my office, "You're late."
"Late night, you know," I said while reviewing some contracts.
"I'm sure." she smirked, "But really congratulations," she gushed, "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Ros," I smiled.
"Did you see the statement I emailed you. I had PR draft it for your approval."
I rolled my eyes and replied, "Do we really need to comment on this? I think we should just say nothing, let the gossip die down."
"It's necessary," she insisted, "If we choose not to comment, it will have the opposite effect. The media will start to speculate even more and try to get information from anyone close to you. I think this is your best option. Plus, we've been getting way too many calls to this office, and it's distracting us from actual work."
"Fine," I said begrudgingly, "I'll send you edits if necessary, then you can release it as soon as possible."
"Perfect," she said, shutting my office door.
I logged into my computer and saw the email in my inbox.
From: Ros Bailey
Subject: Engagement PR Statement
Date: January 17, 2011: 07:43
To: Christian Grey
Christian,
Here's our official statement.
Official Statement from Grey Enterprises Holdings
Christian Grey is pleased to announce his engagement to Anastasia Steele. The couple is grateful for all your kind wishes and congratulations but kindly requests that you respect their privacy during this time.
Further questions or comments should be directed to our Communications Director, Sam Harris.
Ros Bailey
COO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
To my liking, the statement was very brief and didn't give the media too much information. I should let Ana know first to make sure it was okay that I publicly confirmed the engagement rumors.
Ana's POV
After my first class, I decided to walk to a coffee shop just off campus to get my caffeine fix. With a piping hot nonfat chai latte in hand, I exited the small shop and was completely caught off guard.
"Anastasia!" dozens of men with cameras screamed in my face.
Shit! Shit! Shit! This was not good.
I tried to walk away from them as fast as I could, but they were relentless in following me.
Camera flashes were going off in every direction, and I felt completely overwhelmed.
The shouting continued.
"Anastasia, are you engaged?"
"Are you pregnant?"
"Are you sleeping with the president's son?" What the hell? Where did that come from?
How the hell could I get these creepy men away from me?
"Show us the ring!" one guy yelled.
"Please get away from me," I pleaded, shielding my eyes from the flashes.
"Hey, hey, hey," I heard a booming voice shout. "Get the hell away from her. Ever heard of manners?"
I looked up to see a familiar face, shooing the paparazzi away from me.
"Thank you so much, Brody. I had no idea what to do."
"Hey, no worries. You looked pretty terrified. Are you okay?"
"A little shaken up. They've never gotten close to me like that. Usually, they have the decency to keep their distance. Today was definitely a shock."
"So the rumors are true?" he asked.
I flashed him my ring and smiled, "Yep."
"Wow, Ana. That's one hell of a ring. Congrats."
"Thank you, it came as quite the surprise."
Brody was a genuinely nice guy. I still didn't know why Christian got his panties all in a twist about him. Sure he was good looking, but he had nothing on my husband.
I checked my watch and realized I had to get to class.
"Oh! I have to get to class. I guess I'll see you in English Lit later today. Thanks again for your help."
I gave him a quick hug before darting off to my next class.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: FW: Engagement PR Statement
Date: January 17, 2011: 08:46
To: Anastasia Steele
Hey baby,
Unfortunately, Ros wants to put out a statement confirming our engagement. I forwarded it to you for your approval, but if you don't want anything confirmed, we don't have to say anything. I'm still the boss around here.
I hope you're having a good day at school. I love you.
Christian Grey
Lovestruck CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Re: FW: Engagement PR Statement
Date: January 17, 2011: 08:51
To: Christian Grey
Hi Husband,
It's completely fine with me, but I think we both know who the boss around here is. ;)
My day got off to a terrible start. I got accosted by paparazzi outside of a coffee shop. They completely ruined my good mood, but things are looking up.
Ana Grey
Your loving wife xx
I got a call from Christian a minute after I sent my last email.
"Are you okay?" he asked frantically.
"Calm down, baby. I'm okay."
"They didn't touch you, did they?"
"No. But they did get awfully close."
"I'm leaving work. I'm coming to pick you up, and we can spend the rest of the day together."
"Christian," I giggled, "It's still morning. We've only been away from each other for two hours. I need to go to my classes. And you need to work."
I heard him sigh, and I knew he was stressing out over this. I could just imagine him pulling at his already unruly hair.
"You're sure you're okay, though?" he asked, concerned.
"Absolutely."
"I'll pick you up after your last class," he stated.
"I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Grey."
"As am I, Mrs. Grey."
Christian's POV
I had half a brain to hire a personal bodyguard for Ana. I never wanted anything like that to happen to her ever again.
And I knew Ana. She was definitely downplaying the rudeness and invasiveness of the paparazzi. But I knew if I hired a personal bodyguard without her consent, there would be hell to pay. We would have to talk about this tonight.
Fuck and I also never thought about this. Ana was the perfect victim for any kidnapper. She was small, fragile, and light. She was every criminal's dream. And God knows I'd pay any amount of money to get her back. Plus, with us being so prominent, it was like we were sitting ducks to any creeps or weirdos.
I felt a wave of fear wash over me, knowing Ana was alone on the streets with no one to protect her. She was no doubt going to fight me on this issue, but it was for her safety. She had to understand.
"Ray," I said, greeting him through the phone.
"Christian, two days in a row. It must be my lucky week. Are you calling me about wedding details?"
"I'm afraid this call isn't so social," I informed him, "Ana just informed me she was accosted by the paparazzi this morning. And I'm really worried about her being on her own. With the level of media attention we're getting, Ana could be a potential target for any criminal looking to make quick money."
"I'm well aware of the threat. That's why I have someone covertly watching her."
"You what?"
"Yeah, of course. I've had a guy on her ever since you two started college. He's CIA. You might know him. Mr. Brody Worth. He's the one who defused the situation with the paparazzi today."
Brody? That blonde fucker I'd been jealous of the guy assigned to watch Ana?
"With all due respect, I'd rather someone was close to her at all times. If there was a sudden threat, the covert operative wouldn't be able to get to her in time. If someone was with her, that whole situation today could have been avoided."
"I'd prefer if she had a permanent CPO, but my daughter would definitely not agree to that. But if you can get her to agree, I'm on board."
"That's actually what I called you about. I'm looking for a security advisor. Do you have any references?"
"Of course, son. I'll have my assistant forward you some names. All ex-military. They all come highly recommended."
"Thanks, Ray."
"Thanks for looking out for my baby girl, Christian."
The Seattle Nooz
It's confirmed!
Christian Grey just publicly announced his engagement to the lovely Anastasia Steele, and we have the inside scoop on the engagement ring.
An employee from Cartier confirmed that the ring Grey bought was an original one-of-a-kind design, totaling ten carats of diamonds. The ring had a hefty price tag of $1 million.
And do you remember the photos of them outside Cartier yesterday because we sure do! The same employee said Grey purchased wedding bands and a diamond necklace for his soon-to-be bride.
So is it safe to say they're looking to get married as soon as possible? Why else would they buy the wedding bands so far in advance?
We're on official Grey watch. Until next time...
Christian's POV
The list of references Ray provided me with was very helpful. They were all ex-military and highly trained operatives, so I couldn't go wrong with any of them.
I ended up choosing Fred Welch due to the fact that he owned a private security company, so he should have insight into hiring a bodyguard for Ana. I was going to have to discuss the matter with Ana before I called him, though.
I was now reviewing the final contracts for a deal with a small shipping company in Boston. The documents just required my signature, and it was looking like it'd be another $20 million in profit for GEH.
Shit, we were growing really fast. GEH was on pace to expand into a whole building in a few weeks, as this small floor of office space wasn't going to cut it for much longer.
My phone's ringing pulled me out of my thoughts, and I got excited thinking it was Ana.
But… it wasn't. It was my father calling me.
Fuck, I should just get this over with. It wasn't like I could ignore my dad for much longer before Grace started badgering me about it.
"Hello," I said sternly.
"Christian. You finally answered my call."
"Yes, well… I've been busy."
"I know you have. And before I forget, I want to congratulate you on the engagement."
Not what I expected to hear from Carrick, but I'd take it.
"Thank you, dad. Is that all?"
"No…" he paused, "I'm sorry, son. For my temper when you told me you dropped out of Harvard. But from my perspective, my son was dropping out of the most prestigious university in the world. It was hard for me to wrap my head around. But you're obviously very successful already, so I was wrong. And what I said about Ana. I'm truly sorry, son."
I was stunned that my dad was man enough to admit he was wrong. This meant a lot.
"Thanks, Dad. That really means a lot to me. And I do understand why you were upset. But I guess it all turned out for the best."
"It sure did, Christian. Now I'm hoping you and Ana will come back for spring break. Your mother misses you dearly."
"We'll be there."
"Good. Oh, and I'd be more than happy to give you legal counsel regarding your marriage."
That would be perfect. I'd have to put Ana's name on everything related to GEH so that she'd have ownership of the company as well. And we'd probably have to deal with getting a joint bank account too. And I was also definitely going to have to set up a will. Carrick could handle all of that.
"And I'm sure Ana would like to have her own representation as well. I can give you a few names to give her."
What?! "Why would Ana need her own representation?"
"Well, it's common in these situations. We don't want her to feel like she's being taken advantage of."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The prenuptial agreements," he stated casually.
"Have you lost your mind?" I shouted angrily.
"Christian, it's standard procedure for a man in your position."
"You do know Ana has her own money. She would never take mine if we got a divorce. But that point is moot because we're not ever getting divorced!"
"Christian, that's what everyone thinks. But look at the statistics. 50% of marriages fail, with both parties entering with good intentions. And I'm aware Ana's wealthy in her own right, but you're on another level, son. I read that Wall Street Journal article about GEH. Your company's growth rate is through the charts. You're projected to be a billionaire at the end of the year."
"And your point?"
"If you two split, she could take it all. Half of everything you've worked so hard for. Half of GEH."
"No!" I shouted, "No fucking prenup! Ana helped me build GEH from the ground up. The company is as much mine as it is hers. And let me stress that Ana and I are never going to get a divorce. So why are we even having this conversation in the first place?"
"Christian, I strongly advise…"
I cut him off, "I don't give a shit what you advise. You've crossed the fucking line. Don't you dare ever speak to me about this again."
"Christian, she's young. You're both young. I'm only looking out for your best interests."
"And I'm looking out for mine. I'm not going into this marriage with Ana counting what's mine and what's hers. Everything is ours. And if she ever left me she could have it all."
"Christian…" he stressed.
"You know, I thought this was shaping up to be a pleasant call, but I was wrong. Goodbye."
Fuck! Why did Carrick always have to put his damn foot in his mouth? Fuck him. Plus, Ana and I were already fucking married so he could go shove that prenup up his fucking ass for all I cared.
My phone rang again, and I harshly answered, "What?!" thinking Carrick was calling me back.
"Jeez, someone's not in a good mood for just having gotten married. Is the honeymoon phase over so soon?" Jerry teased me.
"Sorry, Jerry. I thought you were someone else."
"No worries, dude. Do you want to grab lunch?"
"Ana told me you weren't coming back until tonight."
"Change of plans."
"Aren't you skipping class?"
"I'm sure I can get the notes from Ana. So lunch? 12:30 at Menton? I'm in the mood for French."
"Don't you mean in the mood for ridiculously overpriced French food?"
"Exactly. Your treat. I'll see you there."
When I got to the restaurant, Jerry was already waiting for me at a table, along with one of his bodyguards watching him at an adjacent table. I'd have to ask him his opinion on a CPO for Ana.
"Christian!" Jerry greeted me.
"Hey, Jer!"
"I can't believe you're married, dude! Congrats," he shouted.
"Bro, quiet down," I said looking at the patrons around us. They were mostly older businessmen at this restaurant, but still. You never knew who would be looking to make a quick buck selling information to these gossip websites.
"Shit, sorry man. I'm really happy for you and Ana. Wait, is that a necklace?" he asked, eyeing me.
"Yeah," I said, pulling it out. I showed him my ring and replied, "Ana and I are wearing our rings on these. No one can see them. Which, by the way, you're the only one who knows. And we'd like to keep it that way."
"No worries, C. I can keep my mouth shut. Don't worry. Anyways, tell me the story."
"Did you suddenly turn into a girl over the weekend?"
"Haha, funny Grey, but no. I still happen to have a dick. And I want to know how you go from being scared of popping the question to getting married within a matter of days."
"The proposal was a complete surprise. I actually did it twice."
"Twice?"
"The first time I proposed, I blurted it out. And I didn't have a ring."
"She said yes?" he asked, "Or did she shoot you down because it wasn't romantic enough?"
"No, she said yes of course, but then the next day I set up a proper proposal. Dinner, flowers, lights… You know, the works. And I had a ring this time."
"Good man. And the impromptu wedding… Who's idea was that?"
"Both of ours. We didn't want to wait."
"Awww, well look at that. Christian Grey getting all sentimental. You're still going to have a big wedding for the family, right?"
"Of course. Have you met Ana? There's no way she'd forgo her fantasy wedding," I laughed.
"So that means I'll have time to plan the most epic bachelor party then," he said, smirking.
"Hey, I need your opinion on something," I said after the waitress brought us our meal. Black cod for me and seared scallops for Jerry.
"Shoot."
"I was thinking of hiring a CPO for Ana."
He looked at me like I was crazy. "She's not going to like that."
"I know, but she got harassed by paparazzi this morning, and I'm worried. And she's a prime target for kidnapping."
"You know her dad's got someone following her."
"Yeah, I know. Ray just told me today. I can't say I'm surprised."
"So then why the need for extra security?"
"To prevent photographers from getting in her personal space. And she could be picked up quickly in a grab and go situation. I don't think the undercover guy will be much help then."
"You do have a point."
"That's why I need your advice. You have a goon following you everywhere you go."
I motioned to the guy in a suit watching us intently from the next table over.
"I didn't have a choice. It comes with the territory of my dad's job."
"I was hoping you could talk to Ana. Maybe convince her that it's not as bad as it seems."
"I mean, after a while you kind of forget that he's there. It did take some adjustment, though. But I got pretty lucky. I get along well with my detail. I can ask my dad if he knows anyone in the personal security business."
"That's okay. Ray already gave me some names. I need to get Ana on board first."
He scoffed. "Good luck with that one, bro."
"It's for her safety, she'll understand," I tried to convince myself.
Ana's POV
I'd gotten used to being at school without Christian, but being here without Jerry had me feeling really lonely.
I realized I only made one friend here, Ros, who had now changed her schedule to night classes to accommodate her job at GEH. I'd give it a month before she realized school is a waste of her efforts and time.
Then it would just be Jerry and me going to school. At least I knew he wouldn't drop out. Uncle Fitz would never allow it.
So I guess it would be just me for lunch. Great. I was definitely going to stay on campus for lunch to avoid the paparazzi. I could not deal with them again today.
Oh, and I forgot to text my dad back about my mom. Why the hell was she calling him? And why the hell was she trying to contact me? She might have been my mother by blood, but she was not my mom. She hadn't paid much attention to me for the past ten years of my life, so I didn't see why she wanted to reconnect now. I would need to tell him that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.
Ugh, this was turning into the day from hell. I knew I shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning. Christian and I could've celebrated our marriage for another day.
I sat down at one of the dining halls to grab a salad when I got a call from Kate. Thank God! I wasn't alone!
"Hey, Kate!" I said very excitedly.
"You're in a good mood, today."
"I'm eating lunch by myself. I was desperate for human interaction," I laughed.
"Well, I guess I read your mind. Anyways, we have to talk wedding Steele!"
"Oh my God! I know!" I gushed, "There's so much to plan."
"Wait! Tell me how he proposed first!"
"Oh, Kate! It was so romantic. We just moved into the new townhouse, so we don't really have any furniture inside let alone furniture outside. Anyways, he made a table out of cardboard boxes on the balcony. And he decorated with lights and an explosion of roses. It was gorgeous. He ordered dinner from my favorite restaurant, and it was perfect. Every girl's dream come true."
"Ugh, I'm so jealous, Steele."
"I would be too," I giggled, "And this ring is to die for."
"I bet! I need to come visit you, so I can see that rock in person."
"You really should Kate. I miss you… Enough about me. How's Brown treating you?"
"Ana… the guys here. Off the charts hot."
"I'm glad to hear," I said sarcastically, "How are your classes?"
"You're funny Steele."
"Yeah," I laughed, "I should've known better than to ask you a question like that."
"Don't worry, banana. I'll get serious later."
"I hope so. Maybe if you come visit me some of my study habits will rub off on you."
"Doubt it. Oh, but there is a three day weekend coming up next. Maybe I could take the train to Boston."
"I'm sure my dad could get a driver for you."
"Really? That would be amazing. We could start planning the wedding then. Maybe Karen could come as well?"
"I'll ask her. But we definitely have to include Mia, and I'm not sure if she has the long weekend."
"Oh right… Christian's little sister. What grade is she in now?"
"She's a junior. And I'd feel guilty if she wasn't able to come. I'll ask her too. If not, maybe we could put off the planning until she can make it."
"Yeah, whatever you want, Steele. I'm still coming next weekend, though. I miss you. Do you have a date in mind yet?"
"We were thinking July." I didn't want to wait long to make Christian my husband in front of all our friends and family. Well, I couldn't wait to make him my husband again… This time much more official.
"Perfect!" she squealed, "That should give us about 18 months to plan."
"Ummm, I meant July. As in July of this year. Not next year."
She gasped and replied, "Are you insane, Steele! That's six months away."
"I know."
"You're going to need to start planning now. Forget about next week! I'm coming immediately. I'm taking the next train to Boston!"
"Kate!" I admonished, "Don't you have school?!"
"Oh, please. Planning you a perfect wedding is much more important than school. You're not changing my mind on this."
I sighed in defeat.
Kate continued, "Oh, and I forgot to ask. Why didn't you and Christian come home for Christmas? I was expecting you."
"We kind of changed our plans last minute. Christian and his father are having a bit of a disagreement at the moment."
Shti! That reminded me. I had to tell Christian to call back his father. Grace was really worried about her two boys not getting along.
"That's too bad."
"Yeah, but we're definitely going back home for spring break."
"Good."
"Hey, I have to get to class," I said, checking my watch and realized I only took a bite of my salad. "You should try going sometime," I teased, "Maybe you could put that brain to some good use."
"Haha, Steele. Funny. I'll see you soon. I'll text you my train info! Love you girl!"
I should probably tell Christian we were going to have a full house tonight. We'd have to be much quieter than usual.
I had class in five minutes, which meant I had no time to finish my lunch. I would have to bring this salad to class with me. I didn't know the professor's policy on eating in class, but I was starving.
NBC News - Seattle
Good afternoon, Seattle. This is Kimberly Mitchell reporting live from our studio. And We've got a jam-packed afternoon of news for you today.
First, we have news about Seattle native, Christian Grey. He's a college dropout, and now the head of Grey Enterprises Holdings, a multi-million dollar corporation.
This morning, Grey Enterprises Holdings released a statement confirming that Christian Grey has proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Anastasia Steele.
It seems like just yesterday when I was reporting to you live outside of the couple's high school in downtown Seattle.
As per the statement, the couple thanks everyone for their good wishes, but are requesting privacy for the time being.
It's to be noted that Miss Steele was hounded by the paparazzi this morning at a coffee shop on the way to school.
The wedding will certainly be society's event of the year. We're still waiting on the guest list, but many suspect that with Miss Steele's close relationship to the President of the United States, the wedding will likely be a star-studded affair along with the who's who of Washington D.C.
Moreover, the details of Steele's engagement ring were confirmed. Here are photos of the couple taken yesterday afternoon with Miss Steele donning a very large diamond ring.
An employee from Cartier confirmed that the ring Grey bought for her was a completely custom and one-of-a-kind design. The ring totals ten carats of flawless diamonds set in platinum. The total cost – $1 million.
Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele are both only nineteen years old. But at such a young age, Christian Grey has already excelled in the business sphere.
The Wall Street Journal projects that Grey Enterprises Holdings is on pace to be valued at $1 billion by the end of the year.
If they're correct in their analysis, Grey would become the youngest self-made billionaire in the world at twenty years of age. Quite the feat…
Once again, this is Kimberly Mitchell reporting live. Now for the weather…
Christian's POV
I was wasting away time in my office, keeping my eyes on the clock. There was no work getting done today. I was too preoccupied worrying about Ana without any protection.
It was only 2:00 pm and I had already checked out. Oh well, a day of doing nothing never hurt anyone. And it was only an hour and a half until I got to pick up Ana at school.
After lunch, instead of going to class, Jerry went to our house to take a nap. Lazy fuck.
I got excited when I saw an email from Ana pop up in my inbox.
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Visitors…
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:05
To: Christian Grey
Christian,
We may have a surprise guest, so you'll have to behave yourself tonight.
Your wife,
Ana Grey
Were you fucking kidding me? Jerry had gotten used to the noise we made already, but I really wanted to fuck my wife hard tonight. Plus, we needed to talk about security! This was not the time for unsolicited guests!
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Re: Visitors…
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:07
To: Anastasia Steele
Mrs. Grey,
May I ask who this visitor is?
Christian Grey
Not a Hotel Manager, CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Old friends
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:10
To: Christian Grey
It's Kate. She wants to start wedding planning ASAP.
So no funny business tonight.
Ana xx
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Better ideas
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:14
To: Anastasia Steele
There are many hotels in Boston that I'm sure Miss Kavanagh would find to her liking. Then we'd be free to make as much noise as we please tonight.
I can buy some rope and vanilla ice cream on the way home.
Think of the possibilities...
Christian Grey
Horny CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: A man can dream
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:19
To: Christian Grey
Dear Mr. Horny CEO,
My best friend will NOT be staying at a hotel.
And while I can only imagine the possibilities of what you could do to me with rope, Kate and I might be planning for the wedding all night.
But maybe… If you don't mind waiting up for me, we could play a little game… I think it might be sexy if I have to keep quiet. Perhaps you could punish me if I make noise, sir?
I'll see you soon.
Ana Grey
Your wet and wanton wife xx
Fuck! Now my pants were getting tight and uncomfortable. I had to adjust myself as I typed my response.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: I love your…
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:22
To: Anastasia Steele
...dirty mind.
I'll take you up on your wager, Mrs. Grey.
But I have to warn you, I'm not going to hold back. I do have a twitchy palm right now. ;)
Christian Grey
Extremely Hard CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings
From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Excited…
Date: January 17, 2011: 14:29
To: Christian Grey
…and wet too.
But I have to pay attention in class. Stop bothering me.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. We have to pick up Kate from the train station this evening. I know you're looking forward to it!
I love you,
Ana xx
"Jessica!" I screamed out to my assistant.
"Yes, Mr. Grey," she came stumbling into my office.
"I need you to run an errand for me," I commanded.
"Yes, sir," she replied, "What can I get you?"
"Run to the hardware store and pick up five yards of rope." I would have asked her to get the vanilla ice cream for me, but I knew it would melt before I got home.
"Can I ask what this is for?"
"Do I pay you to ask questions?" I bellowed.
She started to shake and nervously bit her lip. Served her right. She should know better.
"Ummm," she mumbled, "No sir."
"Good. I need it within the hour," I stated, dismissing her.
"Right away, sir," she said, frantically leaving my office.
At 3:30 on the dot, I got ready to leave for the day. Normally, I tried to leave work at around 6:00 every day so I could spend time with Ana. Then after I thoroughly fucked her, I'd work for another one or two hours before going to bed.
I found that I could function well on very little sleep. And after all, a company didn't build itself. But still, Ana was my first priority. So I usually worked from my laptop, while she slept soundly right next to me.
But today, I dropped her off at school, so I had to pick her up after her last class. I didn't want her roaming on the streets by herself where any creep or criminal could approach her. And sometimes it was good to take a break from work.
My dick was stirring, thinking about what I was going to do to her tonight. I had the rope safely tucked in a paper bag in my trunk just waiting to be tied around Ana's porcelain skin tonight.
By 3:45, I was stalling outside the gates of Harvard, waiting for Ana to come out after her last class.
I spotted her immediately in the crowd of students, as she was impeccably dressed in her Balmain blazer and matching skirt. Always runway ready that one.
I got out to open the car door for her, and she rolled her eyes at me like she always did. It kind of became our ritual.
"Hey, baby," I greeted her with a kiss.
"Hi husband," she whispered. I fucking loved when she called me that. "Can we go to the grocery store first? We have no food at home. We can bring the groceries home then go pick up Kate. Her train is supposed to arrive at 5:45."
"Can you make mac & cheese tonight, baby?" I asked with a childlike grin. It was my favorite meal.
"Of course."
"Oh, Jerry's back already, so you'll probably need to make a ton of food."
"He told me he wasn't coming back until late tonight."
"I had lunch with him today."
"What the hell! He was having lunch with you while I was suffering at school? Oh, I'm so going to kick his ass when we get home."
I couldn't help but laugh as I drove us to the grocery store. There was something so domestic about this, and I fucking loved it.
Ana's POV
"That doesn't go in mac & cheese," Christian said to me as I put kale in our shopping cart.
"You do know we have absolutely no food at home, right?" I giggled.
I picked up a vine of cherry tomatoes and placed them in the cart.
"Ugh," he complained, "How long is this going to take?"
"Stop whining. It shouldn't be more than half an hour."
"You know," he whispered seductively into my ear, "If we get home quick enough, we might have time for a quick fuck."
I shuddered as his lips brushed against my ear. Ugh, why was he making me horny in public?
I grabbed a head of lettuce, picked a leaf off, and threw it in Christian's face.
"What the hell?"
I giggled and replied, "Serves you right, Grey."
I didn't know why I always ended up at the grocery store with Christian. He was the most impatient man I know.
I was getting all the ingredients for Christian's favorite mac & cheese recipe while he was wandering off somewhere.
I was in the pasta aisle, when Christian walked behind me with 5 pints of Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream.
I gave him a skeptical look. "What are we going to do with that much ice cream?"
"Well for starters," he smirked, "I'm going to lick a whole pint off you tonight."
"Vanilla?" I questioned, looking at the label, "I'm surprised you didn't go for Karamel Sutra or Chunky Monkey."
"Hmm, both good options," he smirked mischievously, "But I think vanilla's my favorite. Don't get me wrong, though. My other preferences tend to lean towards the dark side."
"I'll keep that in mind Mr. Grey," I mumbled as I bit down hard on my lip.
"Hey Mr. Mogul!" Kate said as she hopped into the back of the Range Rover.
"Katherine, I wasn't aware Brown had the week off."
"They don't," she smiled.
I elbowed Christian in the arm, reminding him to be nice.
"We're so glad you came," he said unconvincingly.
"I'm sure," she laughed, "So Banana, I'm starving. What's for dinner?"
"Mac & cheese," I stated.
"Ooh yum! And is that hottie Jerry home yet?"
Christian rolled his eyes while I giggled at her bluntness.
"Yes, he's home," I replied, "But please try not to sleep with someone I consider my brother." I was only half-kidding. I didn't think Kate would ever sleep with him. But, hey you never knew. Kate had a history of sleeping with any man who had a pulse. I was just being cautious.
"Like he would ever want to sleep with you…" Christian mumbled under his breath, earning another elbow from me.
When we got home, Jerry was on the couch watching Netflix and eating a bag of popcorn.
Thank God I bought some real food. These boys would starve or become obese without me.
"Geez, Steele. Nice place," Kate said looking at the vast ceilings and intricate paneling on the walls.
"Thanks, we still need to decorate, though. We only have the essentials so far."
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed, "I could help you with that too. The new place and the wedding! You must be overwhelmed."
"Thanks, Kate. I really appreciate it. I've been busy with school. I haven't had time to do much else."
"No worries, Steele. And plus, think of how fun it'll be to spend the mogul's money."
A few moments later, Christian burst through the door carrying Kate's four bags of Louis Vuitton luggage.
Jerry, Kate, and I all burst out laughing.
"You know I could use some help over here, Jerry. Get your ass off the couch."
"Nah, I think I'm good," Jerry chuckled.
"Christian, why don't you put the bags in the guest room on the second floor," I suggested.
"Fine," he replied, schlepping the bags up the stairs.
I got started on dinner in the kitchen with Kate as my sous chef. Well… more like my supervisor since she was only watching. I knew better than to let her get anywhere near unprepared food.
Jerry came stalking into the kitchen with his empty bag of popcorn.
"What's for dinner?" he asked, "I'm starving."
"I'm sure you are," I replied, taking his empty bag of popcorn and throwing it in the trash.
"Ana's making Christian's favorite meal," Kate chimed in, "Look at her! She already looks like a wife!"
Jerry winked at me, already in on our little secret.
Kate grabbed a bottle of wine from our wine fridge and poured herself a large glass.
"You want one?" she asked Jerry and me.
I declined because I wanted to be fully aware of the dirty things Christian was going to do to me tonight.
"I'll take a glass," Jerry said, also taking out a pint of Christian's vanilla ice cream from the freezer.
I snatched the ice cream out of his hand and chastised him. "Wait for dinner."
"Whatever you say, Mrs. Grey," he smirked, instead grabbing another bag of popcorn.
I glared at him, hoping Kate didn't notice his little joke. Thankfully, she was too busy pouring Jerry a glass of wine and filling hers again.
I put a large pot filled with water on the burner for the pasta and took out all the other necessary ingredients. I was making Christian's special baked mac & cheese. It had five different kinds of cheeses (asiago, parmesan, sharp cheddar, fontina, and swiss), pancetta, and a panko breadcrumb topping. I got hungry just thinking about it.
While I waited for the water to boil, I took out another pan to cook the pancetta and also grated the cheese for the sauce.
Christian came down the stairs having changed from his suit into grey Gucci joggers and a black Gucci t-shirt. He sat next to Jerry, so now they were all gathered at the island watching me cook.
I saw Christian take a handful of Jerry's popcorn from the bag and I rolled my eyes. "At least put it in a bowl," I suggested, taking out one of my most recent purchases – a large gold plated bowl from Hermes. I might not have had time to fully furnish the house, but I sure as hell had time to fully stock the kitchen with luxury items.
Like the good boy he was, Christian listened to me and poured the bag of popcorn into the bowl.
"Yes," Jerry commented dryly, "Because we all need to eat $3 popcorn in an Hermes bowl."
"Says the boy who eats grilled cheese off of priceless White House china," I scoffed. "And you two need to stop eating junk. I'm making dinner."
"We're in college, banana. Aren't we supposed to be eating like shit? Top ramen and takeout pizza?"
"He's right, Steele," Kate said finishing off her second glass of wine. "We can't all have our own Ana to cook for us."
"Jeez, Katherine," Christian gasped, "Slow down a little."
"We're celebrating your engagement," she shrugged.
"Trust me, Ana and I celebrated last night. And we're planning on celebrating tonight and the night after that."
That comment earned him a bashful look from Kate, a laugh and pat on the back from Jerry, and a dirty look from me.
"Baby?" he asked, "Are you almost done with the food? We're starving."
Oh my, Mr. Grey. So impatient.
We all moved to the informal sitting room to eat our dinner and as per Kate's request, we were watching Gossip Girl.
About halfway through our meal Kate interjected, "Oh my gosh! I brought wedding magazines. We have to look through them. Christian, where'd you put my stuff?"
"Second floor, first bedroom on the right," he replied, his face glued to his phone screen probably going through work emails.
Kate squealed excitedly and ran upstairs and back in record time.
She laid all twenty of her magazines on the table and started blabbering, "Since you already have a date in mind, we'll need to start with a location. And then we'll need to pick the color scheme. Then there's the flowers to think about. We'll have to choose the flowers in your bouquet and the floral arrangements for the tables if you choose to go that route, and the flowers that will decorate the pews and the aisles. Oh, and of course, the dress. And the cake. And the menu. We've got a lot to plan, Steele."
Jerry heard all this wedding talk and excused himself to do homework. Pshh, homework my ass. He just wanted to get out of the room.
Christian followed Jerry a few moments later. He placed a soft kiss on my head and said, "I'll be in the study doing some work. You guys have fun."
"Now that the boys are gone, we can do some serious planning," Kate giggled in excitement.
Along with all her magazines she had what she was calling my 'wedding bible.'
"It's basically a book that will help you keep track of everything: the flowers, the venue, the guest list, the food… Everything," she explained. "What do you want to tackle first?"
"Maybe the venue?"
"Where were you thinking of having it? I'm sure Mr. Mogul could fly you anywhere you wanted. Maybe Santorini for a beach wedding? Or Paris? You can really never go wrong with Paris. Ooh, or Italy?"
"I was thinking more domestic," I replied. While a destination wedding sounded tempting, I'd rather get married somewhere sentimental or meaningful to Christian and me.
"I know Fitz offered the White House Rose Garden as a venue, but we'd have to keep the guest list small if we did it there. Or maybe we could have it in Seattle. I know Christian's mother would be more than happy to host the wedding at their estate. The view of the Sound is breathtaking there. What do you think?"
"The White House! Are you kidding me? You have to do it there!"
"Okay, okay. Settle down," I laughed, "I'll call Fitz in the morning to sort out the details. But let me ask Christian his opinion first."
"Okay," Kate nodded, "I'll take that venue as a tentative yes. Why don't we go over things that Christian probably doesn't care about. What were you thinking for the color scheme because once we can nail that down, we'll know what to choose in terms of decorations."
"I like silver and pale pink," I stated. That color scheme fit perfectly with Christian and me. Silver to represent Mr. Grey and pale pink to represent me, Anastasia Rose.
"That will work well in the summer," she commented, "And we can have the bridal party wearing those same colors. We can have the bridesmaids wear pale pink dresses and we can have the groomsmen wear silver ties."
I couldn't help but laugh as Kate was acting like she was the one who was getting married. Oh, you gotta love over-excited best friends.
Kate and I mulled over wedding details for hours, combing through the excessive amount of bridal magazines she brought.
So far, we had the venue, the color scheme, the idea for the flowers I wanted to order, and my side of the guest list nailed down. Of course, I'd have to go over everything with Christian to make sure it was okay with him. It was his wedding too.
But after hours of wedding planning, I needed a break. More specifically, a break with my husband… In bed.
After her fourth glass of wine, a very tipsy Kate said she was going to go to bed. Thank you, Jesus! Finally, some alone time with Christian.
My inner goddess was doing somersaults, imagining the pleasure Christian had in store for me tonight.
I ran up to our bedroom to freshen up, and I also changed into a skimpy lingerie set.
I then grabbed my cell to text Christian.
Ana: Your pleasure awaits you, sir
I rushed to Christian's closet to take out the rope he bought and placed it on the bed next to me.
A few moments later, I heard Christian's footsteps approaching. When he opened the door, I could already tell he was in his sexy, domineering CEO mode. He had a pint of vanilla ice cream in his hands with only one spoon.
He stalked over to me and whispered, "So you want to play?"
"Yes sir," I mewled, biting my lip.
"Mmm, good," he mumbled, planting a soft kiss on my lips. He looked into my eyes and said sweetly, "Can I try something new today, baby? If you don't like it just tell me to stop. I don't want to hurt you."
My ears perked up in excitement. Anything Christian suggested in bed always gave me mind-blowing orgasms. I was open to trying anything with him.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Bondage," he smirked, "But some heavier stuff."
"How heavy are we talking?" I asked, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Christian's tied me up many times before, but I had a feeling this is going to be a whole lot different.
"It's not going to hurt, baby. But I've been doing a little research into Japanese bondage. It's not just going to be securing your arms and legs to the posts. You won't be able to move any part of your body. You'll be at complete mercy to me."
"That sounds appealing," I smirked devilishly, feeling moisture pool between my legs.
"I'm glad you think so," Christian smileed. "Now, I think you'd look better if you weren't wearing any clothes," he commented, switching back to his dom voice.
"I thought you'd enjoy taking it off me, sir."
"Mmm, you thought right, baby."
I was taken by surprise when he ripped my panties off in one swift movement.
I was about to say something about him ripping my lingerie when he interrupted, "I'll buy you another one, don't worry."
"Anastasia," he said in a husky voice, "Can I blindfold you? All your other senses will be heightened."
I nodded my head, unable to form words. Christian produced a monogrammed Louis Vuitton bandana from his pocket and carefully tied it around my eyes, completely hindering my vision.
He whispered into my ear, "My brave girl. You look so sexy like this."
I felt his hands cup my breasts and I gasped, "Christian…"
"Anastasia, don't you remember your little game? You have to be quiet. I don't want to hear a word from you unless I ask you a question. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," I gasped, wiggling my legs together to try to get some friction.
He then unclasped my bra and slipped it off me. My nipples pebbled due to the cold air around me and the highly aroused state I was in.
"Dinner was delicious, Anastasia. But I think I'm going to enjoy my dessert much more."
I felt Christian take the rope off the bed beside me.
"Stand up. Turn around. And put your hands behind your back," he commanded, and I obeyed all his orders.
He used a short strand of rope and expertly tied a slip knot tightly around my wrists. The rope had no slack, so there was no chance of me moving my hands.
Christian's tied me up before with almost anything we could find. Silk scarves, ties, leather belts, and we had also done rope a few times before. Unlike all the other mediums of bondage we used, the rope was painful… But in a good way.
When I pulled and tugged on the rope, it burned a little. But so far, I had learned that pain and pleasure were two sides of the same coin. It was kind of like a drug in a way. And if I really pulled hard on the rope, it would leave red marks on my skin, reminding me of Christian's dirty games. The marks always faded away by the next day, but that didn't stop Christian from showering me in bracelets just in case I'd need to cover a mark up.
But Christian's never tied up my whole body before. I had never been completely immobile and at mercy to him. I couldn't fucking wait. My juices were flowing uncontrollably just thinking about it.
He guided me back to the bed, and somehow I could feel him staring at me.
"I think I'm going to have my dessert now," he declared.
I sensed his face hovering next to mine and felt his lips brush against mine. He lightly pressed his lips to mine, and I was surprised by the cold sensation.
The next thing I knew there was something cold and wet dripping down my chest. Christian's tongue glided along my skin, lapping up the coldness from my skin. It tasted sweet, like vanilla.
"Mmm, Ben & Jerry's and Ana. Delicious," he grunted. Of course this man would choose to eat his dessert off me.
He fed me another spoonful with his mouth then dragged the cold metal spoon covered in the creamy liquid across my breasts, deliberately circling around my hard nipples.
I couldn't help but moan as he once again used his tongue to clean up his mess.
"You're sweeter than the ice cream, Ana. Why don't you open those pretty legs for me."
Like a good submissive, I obeyed his command. I thought Christian was kneeling on the ground because I could feel his breath on my thighs.
He spooned some ice cream on my pubic bone, and I shuddered at the cold liquid so close to my dripping pussy.
I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from begging him to relieve me.
Christian put his hands on my knees to open up my legs wider, and I leaned back on the bed, desperate with need.
I could feel the ice cream start to melt and drip down to my wet slit.
Like a man in a desert, he lapped up the sweet cream like his life depended on it. I had to bite my lip to keep myself from screaming. My legs started to squirm, and Christian tightened his grip on my knees to keep me still.
Christian was mercilessly teasing me. Between the cold ice cream and his warm mouth, my body was in sensation overload. He continued to spoon and lick ice cream off me. But he knew exactly what he was doing. By the time his tongue had got me all worked up, and I was about to cum, he was done licking up all the ice cream and put another spoonful in its place.
By the tenth time he repeated the cycle, I desperately needed to cum. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Sir," I cried, "Please let me cum!"
He immediately removed his head from in between my legs.
"I thought I told you not to speak, Anastasia!" he scolded.
He then slapped me hard on my inner thigh. At first, all I felt was the stinging pain, but a few moments later, that pain turned to pleasure that spread to my whole body.
"I'm sorry, sir," I apologized.
He slapped me hard again, this time on the other thigh, and I screamed in pain and pleasure.
"No talking, Anastasia," he reminded me, "You'll get to cum when I want you to cum."
I nodded my head in approval and Christian continued his ministrations. And just like that, his tongue was back on my clit bringing me to the edge again and again.
My emotions were all over the place, and I had to hold myself back from outright bursting into tears from his endless teasing.
Another dollop of ice cream landed on my slit, but this time, Christian didn't move his tongue from my clit. He started pumping two fingers inside of me, hitting my g-spot with every thrust.
"Cum for me, Ana."
When his teeth grazed my clit, I fell over the edge, and it was pure heaven. I moaned and screamed and shook until my mind went blank and I felt numb.
Christian let go of my legs and gently massaged them to make sure they weren't sore after being stretched for so long.
He pulled me into a kiss, and I could taste the ice cream and my juices off his lips.
As if I was a feather, he picked me up bridal style.
"Are you okay, baby?" he asked sweetly, removing the blindfold from my eyes.
I nodded, my brain still not fully functional after my last orgasm. He flashed me his signature grin and laid me back down on the bed.
"Turn around, Anastasia. Ass up," he ordered.
It was a bit awkward flipping over with my hands tied behind my back, but I eventually make it and stuck my ass, wanting him to fuck me already.
"Good girl," he mused, "I'm going to tie you up now, okay?"
I nodded my head, and he looped a single strand of rope around my upper chest and my arms, rendering upper body movement impossible.
"Bend your knees," he declared next.
I was a bit confused as to what he was about to do, but I complied, bending my knees so that my feet were hovering over both of my butt cheeks.
With two strands of rope, he tied my right leg together, so that my calf was pressing against the back of my thigh. He did the same with my left leg.
"Are you uncomfortable?" His voice shifted from a dominant to a loving husband.
"No, sir," I answered, feeling oddly sexy in this position.
"Good," he stated, "Because I want to fuck you. Hard."
"Please, sir," I begged, trying to wiggle my ass as him, despite all the restrictions from the rope.
"Hush, Anastasia," he demanded, switching back to his dom voice, "Not another sound, or I'm going to spank you."
It was like he wanted me to make noise on purpose. Oh sir, if you thought that was a punishment… I was going to milk that for all it was worth.
I felt Christian's hands on my ass as he lined himself up with my entrance. In one hard push, he sheathed himself all the way inside me.
"Oh, fuck!" he groaned, pushing in and out of me.
I desperately wanted to grab the sheets or push back against him to create more friction, but I couldn't when I was all tied up like this.
His grip on my hips seemed to be getting tighter and tighter with each thrust, which reminded me that I wanted to try out his twitchy palm.
"Oh fuck me, Christian!" I cried out, knowing that was two infractions right there. One for making a noise and the other for calling him Christian.
And just like I anticipated, Christian left two successive swats on both of my ass cheeks.
"Anastasia!" he growled, "No talking. And that is not how you'll address me right now."
Ever since Christian and I started playing hard, we've agreed that I'm supposed to call him sir. If not, I'll be punished. But I happen to fucking love being punished by Christian.
"But sir," I cried, taunting him, "I can't help it. You feel so good. Your dick is so good inside me." I knew he loved dirty talk. It got him going, especially when he was in dom mode.
Another spank landed on my ass, this time harder than all the ones before. This one was meant to hurt, but the sting of his sharp swat only made me want more.
"Ohh, Christian!" I moaned, wanting another spank, but I didn't get one.
"I know what you're doing, Anastasia," he growled, "If you make one more sound, you're going to get a real punishment."
I had no idea what he meant by that, but I didn't want to take the chance of him denying me orgasms. That was not a pleasurable punishment.
He continued pistoning his dick in and out of me, and I felt the tip rub against my g-spot every single time. I had to try really hard to keep my noises at bay, but with Christian's forceful thrusts, it was proving to be a very difficult task.
I could have been screaming like a banshee right now, but I kept biting on my lip harder to suppress the sounds threatening to come out of my mouth.
With each thrust, my need to cum grew exponentially. I wanted to beg, plead for my orgasm, but I would rather hold it than subject my ass to more spanks.
"You've been such a good girl for me tonight." Christian's voice was deep and husky.
I felt him move a finger to my tight rosebud, and my body responded in pleasure.
I desperately needed to cum, and I wasn't sure if I could hold it any longer.
Sensing my need, Christian growled, "You like this?" and continued to rim my asshole.
I nodded my head frantically.
"Do you want to cum?"
Again, I nodded my head.
"Cum, Anastasia," he commanded, pushing his whole finger into my asshole.
My body welcomed the orgasm, and I could feel Christian hold onto my limp body before my world turned black…
… I woke up surrounded by warm water and strong arms. With my vision still a little hazy, I took in my surroundings slowly.
I was in our bathtub with Christian positioned behind me. He was gently washing me with soap and massaging my sore limbs.
"Ana, baby," he coaxed.
"What happened?" I asked, curious as to why I couldn't remember how I got here.
"You blacked out," he explained.
Wow! I had heard stories about women blacking out after intense orgasms, but I'd never thought it was a real thing.
"How are you feeling?"
"That was so intense, Christian."
"I know, baby. I know."
"I'm tired," I replied, forcing my eyes to stay open. Christian wore me out.
"Bed soon," he assured me, "Let me wash your hair first."
While I loved my sexy dominant Christian, I also loved this side of him. The side of Christian who wanted to take care of me. The man who loved me more than anything in the world. My husband and sometimes dominant. Master of my heart and my body.