I'm sleeping soundly in my bed before being woken up by what sounds like an alarm. I turn over sleepily and notice that the sound's coming from Christian's phone resting on the side table. I sit up to see who it is and see the name John flashing on the screen. I furrow my brows and contemplate answering it but just like that, it stops on its own. I then hear the door handle rattling and look up to see Christian entering my room, his hair wet and clothes clean. Hmm, I could get used to this.
"Good morning", he says as he leans over me and kisses me gently. Once he pulls away, I smile sweetly at his embrace.
"Did you sleep well, Miss Steele?"
"Just fine, Mr. Grey. You?"
"I always sleep better when you're with me", he smiles shyly and my heart constricts at the sight.
"You got a call on your phone", I blurt out loud and Christian gives me a puzzled expression. He reaches across to grab his phone and after checking for a few moments, he puts it in his back pocket.
"Nothing important", he assures me but the look in his eyes tells me he's uncertain.
"Who's John?"
"He's my therapist. I haven't seen him for a while."
"Why not?"
"No reason to visit", he grins.
"Would I ever get to meet him?", I ask without thinking and Christian furrows his brows at my question.
"Do you want to meet him?"
"I just wanna learn more about you."
"Don't you know enough?"
"But if I'm gonna move in, shouldn't I know more?"
"You want to move in?", he asks hopefully.
"Yeah. Yeah, I really do", I confess because deep down, I know this is what I want. Before I know it, Christian kisses me passionately and pins me down on the bed and after a while, I can sense his smile against my lips.
"Miss Steele, what am I gonna do with you?"
"I can think of something", I reply as I lift my hips up to meet his erection, which is growing at the feel.
"Oh, baby", he breathes and just like that, our conversation is forgotten.
We're driving somewhere with Taylor and I can tell that Christian's tensing beside me.
"Are you okay?", I ask, forcing him to look at me.
"We're going to meet an old friend. It shouldn't be too long."
"Who?"
"It's a surprise", he smirks and raises my hand and kisses my knuckles in turn. I roll my eyes and turn my head, gazing out the window before hearing a soft chuckle.
"I know when you roll your eyes at me, Miss Steele."
"I'm fully aware of that, Mr. Grey, but alas there's nothing you can do about it."
"Is that so?"
"Not right now, anyway", I say as I turn to face him and deliberately bite my bottom lip.
"You are impatient as ever, Miss Steele."
"Mr. Grey, you have no idea."
We pull up outside a building I don't recognize and Taylor comes to open the door for me and I climb out, immediately followed by Christian.
"Where are we?", I ask when Taylor climbs back into the car.
"You wanted to meet Dr. Flynn, so I scheduled an appointment." My mouth pops open when he gives me this confession.
"I was just kidding, Christian. I don't have to meet Dr. Flynn."
"It's like you said, Ana. If you're gonna move in, then you should know more about me", he says but by the tone of his voice, I can tell he's hiding something.
"Christian, I already know what I want to know. I love you for you."
"I know, but maybe once you meet Dr. Flynn, you can understand a little bit more." He regards me carefully and even though I don't know what's on his mind, I can already tell there's something he's not telling me. After taking a deep breath, I slowly nod my response and Christian seems to relax when I do. I reach up and kiss him gently on the lips, not caring at all if anyone can see. After a few minutes, we both pull away trying to catch our breath and when I look up at Christian, he gives me his shy smile, my favorite smile in the world.
"Are you ready, Miss Steele?"
"Always, Mr. Grey. Especially with you."
Christian leads me to the main lobby and waves at the receptionist, who nods in response as we walk toward the elevator.
"Are you sure you want me to do this?", I ask once the elevator arrives.
"Of course", he replies but he still seems unsure. We ride in silence to Dr. Flynn's office and Christian leads me to the end of the hall before gesturing for me to stay where I am. I watch as he knocks a few times on the door and after a few moments, it opens in response.
"Christian?", a man asks in disbelief and I immediately assume that it's Dr. Flynn.
"Hello, John. I hope you don't mind an appointment", Christian responds before turning toward me and motioning for me to come. I quickly do as I'm told as Dr. Flynn opens the door wider and stares at me in surprise.
"Hello, Ana. It's such a pleasure to meet you." He knows who I am?
"You know me?"
"Of course, my dear. I saw you at the masquerade with Christian and just knew who you were." I look at Christian and he shrugs in response.
"What can I do for you?", John asks Christian.
"Ana wants to talk to you. She's agreed to move in with me and wants to learn what she can."
"Oh, I see. What would you like to know?", he inquires toward me and I don't know what to say.
"Um, I didn't really think of any questions."
"That's alright, my dear. If you want, we can get started right away", he gestures to the door and I look up at Christian who nods with permission. I take a deep breath and follow Dr. Flynn into his office and with one final look at Christian, he closes the door behind me.
"I must say, you were not what I was expecting", Dr. Flynn says suddenly, interrupting my reverie.
"I'm sorry?"
"From the other submissives. You're not what I was expecting."
"Oh, um..." Shit, what am I supposed to say to that? John motions me to a white leather couch and after offering me a drink, he takes a seat across from me in a matching leather chair before reaching in a side table and pulling out a notebook. He adjusts his glasses and I suddenly feel as if I'm in the principal's office.
"So, tell me, how are you and Christian getting along?", he starts and I straighten my posture, briefly remembering my first meeting with Christian.
"Um, fine, I think."
"Are you still under a contract or has he moved on from that?"
"You know about the contract?" When did Christian tell him about that?
"Trust me, Ana, I know just as much as you do", he smiles warmly and I feel myself blushing.
"Um, we haven't really talked about it lately but he doesn't really want me to sign it anymore."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, um, he says he wants a more vanilla relationship." Jeez, why do I feel like I'm talking to Kate?
"Really? I have to admit I'm surprised."
"Why?"
"Well, as you may have noticed, Christian isn't exactly what I like to call a committed individual, meaning that a real relationship has never been on his agenda."
"Yeah. It's the main reason why we weren't together at first."
"Were you shocked when he told you that?"
"Um, a little but after seeing the, um, Red Room, I think I understood why."
"What was your first reaction to seeing the Red Room for the first time."
"Honestly, it was pretty overwhelming. Then he told me about the contract and I didn't know what to expect."
"May I ask why you were so hesitant to sign?"
"Um, honestly, I've never been in a real relationship in my life, so the thought of someone I just met wanting me as his submissive, it was just kind of hard to accept right away."
"I don't blame you. Some of his other submissives were not virgins by the time he met them, but most of them had no BDSM experience at all."
"Really?"
"Yes, but I don't remember the exact number. Some went through a bad break-up or hadn't been, if you don't mind me saying, intimate for a while, so when the offer to become a submissive came to mind—with no disrespect to Christian—it wasn't exactly easy to embrace."
"Did any of them say no?"
"Some did, but none of them were forced. Everything between them and Christian was confidential and if any of them wanted out, all they had to do was ask."
"Did any of them get hurt?"
"Unless you're counting a broken heart then no, I wouldn't say so."
"Were they only with Christian? I mean, did they have anybody else?"
"Christian's not exactly the "sharing" type from what I've seen, so I highly doubt he stole them from anyone else."
"Is it also because of his jealousy?"
"Partly, but also because he doesn't like to share."
"I can see why", I mutter under my breath as I adjust myself in my seat.
"Has he ever shown any jealousy toward you?", Dr. Flynn asks as he takes down some notes.
"Ever since we met, even before that. I honestly don't know why."
"Why would you say that?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Not to me, my dear. If you don't mind me saying, but I can see very clearly why Christian wants to be with you."
"What do you mean?"
"For as long as I've known Christian, he's never fought for anything in his life or, more specifically, anyone in his life. When I saw the two of you together at the ball, I could instantly tell that you were something special and I've honestly never seen Christian happier until that moment. I have to say, I think you've left quite the impact."
"Do you think it'll last?", I ask out loud without thinking.
"Honestly, I can't say for certain, but I do know that Christian's a much better man than he gives himself credit for."
"Why is he so hard on himself?"
"Did he tell you about his mother?" I nod.
"After she died, Christian instantly set up this wall inside of himself and slowly started to turn against the world, that is until he met his adoptive family. From what he's told me, he was talking briefly when he first met Grace, Dr. Grey, but then he had a memory from his past and never felt the need to talk again after that." Oh no...
"How long did that last?", I ask, trying hard to keep my emotions at bay.
"A little over two years. Once Mia was adopted, he had a, I guess you say, eye-opening experience and his first word with her was in fact her name. Once he was older, he started acting out and always had a temper, and his brother, Elliot, instantly started fearing him and growing up, they got in a lot of fights. He even got expelled a couple of times just before he went to college."
"Oh my God..."
"Yes, but he's never been in any serious danger and, quite frankly, neither has anyone else. He definitely seems a lot calmer because of you."
"He's still fighting with some control over me."
"I don't doubt it, but it's just in his nature. He needs to control and if he doesn't have it, it brings him back to that dark time in his life."
"What do you mean?"
"Christian has always blamed himself for his mother's death but at the same time, he resents her for leaving. He doesn't want to admit it but deep down, I know he truly loved her, just as much as he loves his new one."
"Has he ever been to her grave?"
"Once he left, he never went back. Honestly, nobody knows where she's buried."
"That must've been so terrible for him...", I whisper, choking back a sob.
"Ana", Dr. Flynn says gently before leaning closer to me. "I know Christian's a little hard to get to know, but I promise you that he's a very good man. He might need some growing up to do but ever since you came into his life, I've seen the change in him and anyone that cares for him knows it's something to behold. I don't know what you're doing but in my personal opinion, I suggest you keep it up." He smiles warmly at me before sitting back in his chair and I smile shyly in response and for a while, we talk more about Christian.
After about an hour or so passes, my time with Dr. Flynn is cut short and as I'm shaking his hand and about to leave, I suddenly hear my phone ringing and pull it out before checking the caller ID; it's Kate. Excusing myself, I quickly answer the call.
"Kate", I answer, obviously excited to hear from her.
"Ana! God, it's so good to hear your voice."
"Are you back from Barbados?"
"Actually, we come in tomorrow night but my brother came back a little early for a meeting and was wondering if he could stay at your place until we get back."
"Oh, um, I'm not sure if I'm gonna be there to be honest." Shit, how the hell am I supposed to tell her?
"Why not?"
"Um, Christian asked me to move in with him and I need to get some things before I do." Kate's silent for a while and I check to make sure she's still with me.
"Kate?"
"Ana, are you sure about this? You hardly know the guy."
"I know, but this is what I want. Besides, it means you and Elliot can have more privacy", I joke and Kate laughs in response.
"Well, that's obviously a welcome change but Ana, are you sure it's the right move?"
"I'm positive, Kate. I love Christian and I want to do this. I'll be fine; I promise", I reassure her and after what feels like forever, she sighs deeply on the other side before giving me an answer.
"Well, if that's what you want..."
"I do."
"Well, in that case, I can help you move when we get back home."
"Deal, and later we can have dinner and catch up."
"Sounds like a plan. I gotta go but Ethan should be on his way. I can't wait to see you!"
"Me too. Call me when you land."
"Will do. Laters, Ana."
"Laters", I giggle and hang up. I follow Dr. Flynn to the door and he opens it for me, just so I can step out and find Christian leaning against the wall.
"All done?", he asks, a little anxious—I think.
"Yes, but hopefully you'll sign on for a future session", Dr. Flynn scolds him as Christian takes my hand.
"We'll see, John", Christian replies dismissively and John chuckles in response.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Ana. I hope to see you again soon", he says as he shakes my hand goodbye.
"The pleasure was all mine, Dr. Flynn."
"Oh please, call me John", he grins. "And remember what we talked about, okay?"
"Okay", I smile sweetly and with one final wave, Christian leads me outside.
"What did you talk about?", Christian asks before we exit the building.
"Lots of things", I tease.
"Such as?", he smirks.
"You", I grin while biting my bottom lip.
"You're impossible, Miss Steele."
"So are you, Mr. Grey."
We climb inside the car before Taylor asks where we'd like to go.
"Escala", Christian answers.
"Um, can we go by my apartment? Kate's brother, Ethan, wanted to see me."
"For what?"
"He's gonna be staying there until Kate and Elliot get back. It'll only be for one night", I say, secretly hoping we don't have a fight about this. After a while, Christian sighs and nods his approval and I lean across before giving him a kiss.
Benefit of the doubt...I can definitely do that for now.
We pull up outside my apartment and just as I'm climbing out, Christian gets a phone on his cell and grunts when he sees the caller ID.
"Two minutes", I mouth before he nods in response and I quickly climb out into the pouring rain before heading for the intercom and calling for my place. After a moment, I'm finally accepted and make my way inside and open the door. Ethan's not here yet, so I make my way to the bathroom for my toothbrush and toothpaste but as I reach my room, I suddenly hear something fall to the ground and freeze in place as I carefully check the house. I don't see anything and shrug it off as my imagination and continue making my way to grab a few things from my bathroom. I grab some toiletries and gaze at myself in the mirror, grinning widely at what I'm about to do.
Christian. I'm moving in with Christian.
Was Kate right? Am I moving too fast for this or is this really what I want?
Of course it's what you want!, my subconscious screams and I silently curse myself for having such thoughts. Just then, I hear something in the living room but freeze again as I make out the sound. I assume it's Ethan waiting for me, so I call out to him saying I'll be out in a minute and grab a few more things, just before making my way down the hallway while putting a few things in my pocket. I look up and stop in my tracks and instead of Ethan, I see Leila gazing at me from across the room and something shiny held firmly in her hand. Upon closer inspection, I see that it's a gun. My blood immediately runs cold as I take a deep breath to try and calm my nerves. The look in her eyes show hints of determination, but also another emotion that makes me unable to breathe; anger. She's angry at me.
"Anastasia. I was hoping it'd be you." Oh no, what am I gonna do?