Christian's POV
I'm driving with Taylor to SIP, anxiously awaiting seeing Ana after her news. Even though she hasn't been there for very long, there's no doubt in my mind that she can go very far, especially considering the sleaze ball is no longer her boss. I clench my fists at the memory, trying hard to regain my temper. How the hell did he think he could get away with this? Thankfully, I arrived when I did.
When will you realize I'm a lot stronger than I look?, Ana's words ring in my head.
Sighing deeply, I try to erase my thoughts as we pull up to SIP, just as Ana walks out the front door and heads for the car. God, she looks lovely.
Taylor goes to open the door for her and within a few moments, she's sitting right beside me.
"Hi", she says sweetly.
"Hi", I reply, taking her hand in mine and softly kissing her knuckles in turn.
"How was your day?"
"Just fine, thank you. I wasn't expecting to get a promotion in this way."
"You've earned it. I'm sure you'll do well", I say proudly but as I do, she stares nervously at her lap, completing avoiding my gaze. What isn't she telling me?
"Is something wrong?", I ask concerned as I release her hand. She bites her bottom lip and I resist the urge to touch her.
"Ana, talk to me", I coax gently and after a while, she meets my gaze and takes a deep breath.
"Christian, did you have anything to do with this?" What? Why the hell would she think that?
"To do with your promotion?" I can't believe I'm hearing this.
Embarrassed, she looks away and I sigh deeply before reaching for her hand.
"Please talk to me, Anastasia", I coax again and soon, she turns to face me again.
"Why do you doubt yourself? You earned that promotion."
"But you own the company."
"Ana, that has nothing to do with this. You got this through hard work and dedication. Something that Jack Hyde could never hope to accomplish."
"What do you mean?"
"Ana, he's been fired three times in the last year for being lazy at his job. It's a miracle he's been an editor for so long."
"How do you know this?"
"I've been keeping a file on him ever since you started."
"Oh, of course you do", she says sarcastically and I can tell she's rolling her eyes.
"I know when you're rolling your eyes at me, Miss Steele."
"Well, then what are you gonna do about it, Mr. Grey?", she asks as she deliberately bites her lower lip.
"Trust me, you're going to find out tonight", I smirk before taking her hand and giving it a tender kiss. She gasps at my gesture and I take the opportunity to put her hand on my lap, before slowing moving it over to my growing erection.
"I'm so happy you're wearing a skirt", I murmur. Ana flexes her fingers on my lap and bites her lip as I groan in response. If only she knew what I had planned for tonight.
We pull up outside the same restaurant where we had our first real date, and memories from before start flooding my mind.
"I remember the last time we were here", Ana remarks, interrupting my thoughts.
"Lucky for you, I already have a room booked."
"Is it gonna be private?"
"Is that an offer, Miss Steele?"
"Always, Mr. Grey."
"It's always gonna be private. If I remember correctly, I think we enjoyed our last date", I grin wolfishly as I open the door and motion for her to enter. She steps ahead of me and I take a moment to admire her fine ass. I wave to the maître d and lead Ana upstairs just before the waiter meets us at the top.
"Welcome back, Mr. Grey. Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Champagne, please. We're celebrating a promotion."
"Very good, sir. I'll be right back with your drinks", he grins before glancing at Anastasia and heading down the stairs.
"Come", I order, ignoring the waiter's prying eyes, and lead Ana to a table right at the end of the room. I pull out her chair for her and once she's seated, take the seat across from her.
"Do you wish to order the meal?"
"Christian, as this isn't a date, I'm just anxious to get home." Oh?
"And why is that?"
"Because I was hoping to take this celebration home", she remarks, gazing up at me through her lashes and biting her lip again.
"Miss Steele, I believe you're insatiable."
"Mr. Grey, you have no idea."
Before I can respond, the waiter soon returns with our glasses and I wave my arm, motioning for him to leave. Once he's gone, I raise my glass to Ana.
"Congratulations to SIP's new Fiction Editor, Miss Anastasia Steele." She smiles shyly as she raises her glass to mine and we both take a sip.
"It's just temporary", she mumbles.
"At the rate you're going, it won't be for long."
"Was it like this for you when you started GEH?"
"Honestly, it took over a year. I knew what I wanted but even with Elena, I had to prove my worth."
"Are you ever gonna see her again?"
"After what she did to you, I'm not sure that I will."
"Why don't you like me talking about her?" What? When did I ever say that?
"I don't mind if you talk about her, Anastasia, but I just wish it was under better circumstances."
"Considering that she slapped me and gripped my arm at the ball?"
"Mostly, yes", I remark, clenching my teeth as I do.
"Why do you think she's determined to tear us apart?"
"Honestly, I wish I knew", I sigh.
"Is she jealous of me?"
"If she is, then it would be a first."
"What about Leila?" What?
"What about her?"
"Did she ever meet Elena?"
"No. I asked Leila to be my submissive on my own but before her, Elena recommended my submissives."
"Why did you ask me to be your submissive? Since I was inexperienced?"
"I told you, I was incapable of leaving you alone. If I had known you were a virgin, I wouldn't have considered it at all."
"Why was me being a virgin such a big deal for you?"
"Because all my submissives were experienced in some way. Not just in sex, but also in the lifestyle."
"If I had been experienced, would it have been different?"
"No. It wouldn't."
"Why?"
"Because then I wouldn't have all these firsts with you", I smile and she smiles shyly in return.
"I asked you a question the other day and you haven't given me a reply."
"What question?"
"About asking you to move in with me."
"Oh. Um, I'm still thinking about it, to be honest", she says nervously. Is she telling me no?
"Ana, do you not wanna move in with me?"
"What? No, it's not that. I just need to talk to Kate and see if it's alright."
"When is she due back from Barbados?"
"Hopefully by next week. I really miss her, to be honest."
"I'm sure she misses you, too. Her and Elliot seem to be getting along rather well."
"Has he ever been with someone for this long?"
"Honestly, all his girlfriends have only lasted for a few months."
"Should Kate be worried?"
"No, that's not what I meant. He just hasn't found the right girl yet and I've never seen him this way with anyone but Kate."
"Same with you and your girlfriends?"
"I've never had a girlfriend. I've only had you."
"Not even in college?"
"No. I was too busy with Elena", I remark as I shift uncomfortably in my seat. Ana takes the hint and has another sip of champagne.
"Um, can we go home after this? I wanna celebrate another way." Oh, Miss Steele is a carnal creature.
"And how do you want to celebrate?", I smirk as I take a sip myself.
"Um, maybe in the Red Room?"
"Ana, I don't wanna celebrate in there."
"In your room then?"
"If that's what you want." As I say this, she takes another sip of champagne and I can tell she has something on her mind.
"What is it, Anastasia?" What is she hiding from me?
"Could we do it in the Sub Room instead?", she inquires and I stare at her in disbelief.
"Ana, you're no longer my submissive."
"I know but, the last time we were in there..." She stops and I know what she's going to say. The last time I was in her room was just before she left me.
"Are you sure you want to do that?", I whisper, hardly believing what I'm hearing.
"It was just a thought", she says quietly and after taking a deep breath, I give her my response.
"Only on one condition", I say eventually.
"What?", she asks and after giving her a wolfish grin, I lean in closer and whisper in her ear.
"Take off your panties and then I'll take you home." She inhales sharply and I can tell that this was not what she was expecting to hear.
"Right in here?", she squeaks, her eyes growing wider.
"Yes, right here. Now", I order and after she checks the main door, she smiles seductively just before moving her hands to her lap. I watch as she slowly, very slowly, raises her hips and starts sliding her panties down her legs. She licks her lips as she bends further and slips her panties from her thighs before sitting up with them in her hand.
"Do you want them, Sir?", she whispers, emphasizing Sir.
"Yes, and then I'm gonna fuck you until you come", I smirk and she discreetly hands me her panties before I take them and stuff them in my pocket. I quickly stand from the table and hold my hand out for hers and after a moment, she accepts and stands to her feet. I lead her outside and head for the elevator. I press the button for the lobby and we wait as some people exit, just before we step in as well. We ride a few floors, occasionally stopping to let in more passengers, and I pull Ana to the corner before bending and pretending to fix my laces. I quickly glance up at the people before slowly reaching out and touching Ana's inner thigh. She gasps softly at my touch and I tenderly run my hand up her leg before reaching my goal. I run my fingers over her sex and very slowly insert one inside her. She gasps softly again and looks nervously at the other patrons, and I take the moment to slip in another finger. She writhes against my fingers and I can already tell she's wet.
"What are you doing?", she huffs as I circle my fingers and stretch her even further.
"What I've wanted to do since I saw you leaving work", I murmur and twist my fingers again as she leans into my touch. She grips my jacket as I feel her walls tightening and very quickly remove one finger.
"Don't come", I warn but I'm also aroused by her reaction. I glance quickly at the people in front of us and fortunately, they don't notice what we're doing. I notice Ana biting her bottom lip just before the elevator dings and I withdraw my finger.
"I'm so happy you were wearing a skirt", I remark as I briefly slips my fingers in my mouth and suck off her juices.
"I can't believe you just did that."
"Do I need to be punished?"
"Truthfully, I just want you to go further."
"And why is that?"
"Because you turned me on and I want you to fuck me", she almost shouts and I can't help my laugh.
"As ever, you're a hopeless romantic", I reply as I pull her into my arms and kiss her. Hard. After a few minutes, I pull away and we're both breathing hard.
"I think it's time we did something different", I huff and before she can respond, I take her hand and lead her outside.