Christian's POV
I'm on a video call with Ros, discussing what's going on back home.
"Why did you suddenly wanna go to New York?", she asks as she tries to assess my expression.
"Ros, you know I have a place here."
"That's not what I meant. Looks like Miss Steele's done the number on you after all."
"That she has." And I think I'm starting to like it.
"Whatever, Christian", Ros says, rolling her eyes. I laugh at her reaction.
"Any word from Lucas Woods?", I ask, hoping to change the subject. I decided to give him another chance and it blew up in my face. He showed up drunk to work one morning, after he promised to be there early, and that was the last straw. I fired him on the spot and saying he reacted badly is...an understatement. He threatened to sue but I don't give a shit. Elena wouldn't allow that nonsense from anyone. I smirk at the thought.
"No, thank God. Welch has been keeping tabs on him just in case but as of now, we haven't heard from him since."
Good. Elena would be pleased.
Just then, I hear a ping from my computer and look to see a new e-mail from Elena. Speak of the devil.
"Hey Ros, I gotta go. Send me those designs once you have them, alright?"
"Will do. Have fun in New York", she remarks as she raises a brow. Oh, I fully intend to. The Miss Steele Effect is doing wonders on my staff.
"Bye, Ros", I say before hanging up. I open up the e-mail and start reading, astonished by the heading she sent with it.
From: Elena
Subject: Dinner with Anastasia
Date: June 10 2011 14:28
To: Christian Grey
Christian, I hope you don't mind the intrusion but I wanted to offer something for Ana.
I know we've gotten off on the wrong foot in the past, but I'm hoping to make it up to her by taking her out to dinner when you both return from New York. You could attend if you wanted and it would give me a chance to learn more about her. I don't want to cause any trouble but if you'll let me, I would like to at least and try to be her friend. I know she means a lot to you and I wanna make this right.
Please let me know what you think. I'm always available; I hope you don't forget.
Elena Lincoln
Esclava Beauty Salon
What? She wants to meet with Anastasia?
I look up suddenly and see Ana standing in the doorway, wearing one of my shirts and from the looks of it, she's not wearing any underwear. She looks stunning.
"Good morning, Miss Steele", I greet her.
"Good morning, Mr. Grey. I woke up and you weren't there."
"I didn't wanna wake you. You looked so peaceful", I smirk and she smiles shyly in return.
"What are you doing?", she asks when I motion for her to come in.
"Some work from home. We're trying to design a new water system for some places in Africa in the hopes that more water can come to their villages when they need it."
"Sounds ambitious", she remarks warmly as she sits on my lap.
"It is but, we have to try what we can." She smiles and I plant a quick kiss on her lips.
"Elena e-mailed me. She was asking about you", I start and Ana furrows her brow at my comment. Okay, this could go either way.
"What did she want?", she asks uninterested.
"She wants to meet up when we come back to Seattle. She's hoping to have dinner with you to discuss what to do."
"Why would I want to meet with her?"
"I don't expect you to but apparently, she's trying to make peace with your interactions from the past."
"Does she now?", Ana inquires, rolling her eyes.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"
"No", she feigns innocence.
"I think you have, Miss Steele. What should I do about that?"
"Are you gonna spank me?", she asks quietly. Carnal creature.
"I always want to spank you and I'm touched that you feel the same way. But no, I have something else in mind", I say and stand before she has a chance to protest.
"Does Jack need you?", I ask, hoping it sounds casual.
"Not until tonight. We have a meeting for the expo."
"I could take you, if you want", I offer. I know he's her boss but I still don't trust him. This way, I can keep an eye on the fucker if he tries anything on her. Hopefully he won't.
Shaking my head at the thought, I extend my hand for hers and after a beat, she accepts. I lead her to my room and close the door behind us, then lead her to the bed and start unbuttoning my shirt.
"I like you wearing my shirts", I state as I slide it off her shoulders.
"I like wearing them, too", she replies and looks up at me through her lashes and, on impulse, bites her bottom lip.
"You're biting your lip, Miss Steele. What should I do about that?" I kiss her quickly and then motion for her to lie down on the bed. She complies immediately. For once. I reach in my bag for my silver tie—my favorite tie—and start tying her wrists to the bed. I check the restraint and sure enough, she's fastened securely. I give her a smile as I then reach in my other bag for a blindfold and once she sees it, her eyes go wide.
"Now you won't be able to roll your eyes at all", I remark as I gently lift her head and slide the mask over her eyes, watching her gasp and pant as I do. I kiss her chastely and slip my shirt over my shoulders before unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them, along with my boxers, down to the floor. I reach for a condom in my pocket and rip the packet with my teeth before sliding it unhurriedly down my length and marvel at the view of Miss Steele.
She's a goddess.
Realizing the now aware feeling escalating through my body, I slowly reach up for her neck and guide my fingertips softly down her throat. She gasps loudly and I continue tracing my fingers slowly down her body, barely touching her, and gently pinch her nipple and watch in amazement as it elongates at my touch.
"Always so eager, Miss Steele", I quip as I twist the nipple around my forefinger and thumb. She raises her hips as she opens her mouth in silent request, and I take the moment to sit on the bed and turn my attention to her other nipple. I continue twisting it around, watching as it buds under my embrace, and take the other one in my mouth and suck. Hard.
"Oh, Christian", she moans and I smirk against her skin. I circle my tongue around and around on her nipple and switch to do the same movement to its twin. Ana moans loudly and lifts her body off the bed, her mouth slack and open in a wordless plea. Yes, feel it baby.
"We'll have to teach you to keep still", I warn but I'm secretly enjoying the effect I have on her body. She's had the same effect on mind since she fell in my office.
I release her nipples and guide my tongue from the base at her throat, slowly heading toward my destination. Once I reach the apex of her thighs, I insert a finger and see that she's wet. Very wet.
"You never disappoint, Miss Steele", I remark in amused pleasure. I insert another finger and carefully start twisting them around, and she lifts her hips to meet my every movement. I'm about to warn her to keep still, but soon I notice her legs quivering and quickly remove my fingers as I do. Not yet, baby. I'm not ready for you to come.
"Why did you stop?", she whines and I stifle my laughter at her pout.
"Because I want to make you come in a different way", I state and quickly turn her over before slapping her fine ass. She yelps in surprise and I waste no time in slamming into her. She cries out at my assault and I help her sit up straighter as I start up a steady pace. I wind her hair around my wrist and close my eyes as I continue to ram into her. Over. And over. And over. And over. She matches me thrust for thrust, meeting her hips with my own as I feel her walls tightening and a strangled cry from her face in the pillow. She's close.
"Come for me, baby. Come for me", I growl and soon, she calls out my name and I shout to the heavens as I climax around her.
We're lying face-to-face in bed with her hand sitting carefully on my chest.
"So, you don't want to see her?", I ask and she avoids my gaze when I do.
"Christian, you know how I feel about her, so frankly this date doesn't sound like the best choice."
"She's just trying to make amends. That's all."
"Was she ever like this with your other submissives?"
"No. She's also never told me to stay away from one of them before."
"Why me, then?"
"Maybe because you left", I sigh.
Don't go there. Not now.
"If you don't want t see her, I'll tell her you're not interested."
"She cares for you", she says quietly.
"And I her." When will she realize this? She's a friend; nothing more.
"Did you ever want a real relationship with her? When you were together?" What?
"No, Anastasia, I never wanted her in that way. Only you."
"Not even close?"
"Once when I was fifteen but, it quickly went away when we started going further."
"What do you mean?" Sighing deeply, I give her the full details.
"Once I realized she wanted me as her submissive, I suddenly got worried she would touch me and almost backed out of our relationship."
"You did?"
"Even then, I couldn't bear to be touched. Not even with her and she promised not to do it."
"Did she ever, um, have a road-map like I do?"
"No. The road-map is for you", I smile and she smiles shyly in return.
"Will I ever be able to touch you everywhere? Past the lines, I mean?"
"Maybe someday. It's slowly getting easier."
"I'm glad to hear that. I like touching you", she states shyly.
"I think I like it, too. More than I ever thought possible."
"What do you feel when I touch you? You always seem so tense whenever I raise my hand or say what I want."
"More or less, I feel fear and darkness tightening around my soul and evidentially, it terrifies me that I have to step away."
"Because of what happened to you?"
"Yes. The crack whore's lover left an impact on me and according to Flynn, it traumatized me for life."
"Your therapist?"
"The very same."
"Could I ever meet him?"
"Do you want to meet him?"
"Maybe. He might give me some insight into you." What? Where's she going at with this?
"Don't I give you enough insight?"
"Of course you do. I'm just curious about his professional opinion."
"I see", I say and suddenly sit up.
"What's wrong?", Ana asks as I slip on my jeans. She's sitting on the bed, looking apprehensive.
"It's nothing. I have some calls to make. I won't be long", I remark and after giving her a quick kiss, head back to my office. Taylor suddenly emerges from it and stops when he sees me approaching him. What? You've seen me without a shirt before.
"Mr. Grey", he addresses, recovering quickly.
"Taylor. Any news on Leila?"
"Nothing yet, but her family might have an idea on where she is." What?
"Where?"
"Detroit." My spirits drop at the mere mention of the name.
"I see", I retort. "Any idea why?"
"She said that's where she met her husband and apparently was hoping to find more information on you."
"Same with the files?"
"Apparently so."
"Has she done anything recently? Transactions? Purchases?"
"Nothing yet sir but once she does, you'll be the first to know."
"Okay. Good work. Is that all?"
"Your mother called you. She was wondering if she could speak to you for a moment."
"Okay, I'll get right on that. Thank you, Taylor."
"You're welcome, sir. Oh, Miss Steele's Beetle has been delivered to her apartment. The repairman said it's in perfect shape for driving." Oh, I'd forgotten all about that.
"Good. I'll be sure to tell Miss Steele. Please don't inform her because I want to tell her myself." And hopefully she'll accept. After her graduation, I'm sure she wouldn't hesitate.
"Will do, sir. Will that be all?"
"Yes. Just keep me up to date on Leila. The last thing we want is her causing more harm than she already has."
"Yes, sir. I'll be upstairs if you need me", he remarks before heading in that direction. Taking a deep breath, I head for my office and pick up my phone to call Grace.
"Darling, there you are", she answers on two rings.
"Mother. Do what do I owe this pleasure?"
"It's about your birthday, sweetheart. We were hoping you might wanna attend it this year." Fuck. Not this again.
"Mom, you know I have no desire to celebrate it."
"I know, but Mia's arranged a big party for you and she'd be disappointed if you didn't show up at all." It wouldn't be a first.
"I don't know, Mom. I haven't even told Ana about it."
"Why not?"
"Because she doesn't need to know."
"Oh, Christian, I'm sure she would love to celebrate your birthday with us. It would be your first date to your birthday party, you know." Just like my first date at the gala.
"I'll think about it. Anything else?"
"Just that Elena's seems more uptight recently. She said that her and Ana haven't gotten along since you arrived for dinner a few weeks ago." Shit. How do I tell her this?
"It was just a misunderstanding, is all. We're taking care of it, I promise."
"Is there something I should know?" Trust me Mom, there's nothing you should know.
"Of course not. I have some work to do. Talk later?"
"Of course, dear. I love you."
"Love you too", I say and I can tell she's speechless.
"Mom?"
"Sorry. You know, I'm so glad you've met Ana, Christian. I haven't heard those words from you for a long time."
"Gotta go. Talk to you later", I reply before hanging up. Since when are three words such a big deal? The last time I said I loved her was when I was fifteen, just before Elena sunk her claws into me. Shaking my head at the thought, I pick up my phone and start to dial Welch, wondering how in the hell I'm supposed to tell Miss Steele about my birthday.