Princess vs Darcy chp02

C-POV

I stare out my conference room window, a disastrous Tuesday. This was supposed to be a short week with Thanksgiving Thursday. I can't look at the door, I must not look at the door. To do so would ruin me. Show me the wages of my sins. The bastion of my self-exile cage remains closed. If I stare out into the open air, gray sky of Seattle's Puget Sound; I will be alright. I hope and pray, that thought is true.

The polices, coroners and asshole others are taking apart my office and trying to finish destroying my life. A process started all those years ago when I was first introduced into the lifestyle. My last submissive, Susannah is dead. I'm to blame, I knew when I ended our contract. She was unstable. I just never thought it would come to this. Did I ever think about this option, has my narcissism blinded me?

She tried to get pregnant; poking holes in the condoms, skipping her pills. Taking In-vitro drugs. Once she was with my child, she planned on blackmailing me to marry her. I discovery her misconduct and ended our contract a month ago.

Three hours ago: She dragged Andrea in here at gun point. When I refused to marry her; she blew her brains out. How did I get here? How did the choices I made bring me to this point in my life?

Jason takes me home. I wallow in bed for five days. Playing the right and wrong decisions' in my tormented mind. The nightmares of Ella and the pimp haunt me even during my waking moment. The world is dark, and I am without everything, others have. Happiness and love.

My sex life is not what I want anymore. I find myself repeating the same boring unimagined scenes. The sub's are becoming faceless, monochrome, monotone. I stare at the holes in the ceiling stucco. What do I want in my life?

I weight the worlds between my parents and my birth mother. I think I've punished Ella enough, need to move on. Maybe I should restart Flynn, maybe try to be normal. Could I every find a woman, I could trust. To not touch my chest or back, put up with my nightmares?

Material wise, I have everything. Personally, I have a loving family, good friends, respect. I'm missing someone to share everything with. Money can buy a lot of things. It can't buy love, true companionship. It can't buy me out of this hell, not even from Purgatory.

Christmas eve:

I pull myself up, to fake enjoying the Christmas season. I need help. I need someone to help me see the world, is not defined by my birth mother and my Fifty Shades of Kinky Grey Domination and sadism. Looking out the Living-room French doors onto Lake Washington. I reflect on the forks in the road; I traveled. Left or right it matters not the path they have all let me to here. How did I get here?

I remember his face, the boy that got me kicked out of my last regular high school. His red head, pimply blooded face, the tooth lying next to him. I remember envying him, he was allowed to return to school. My fourth expulsion ended my abnormal high school experience. I began online high school courses.

He got drunk the next year and ran over a City Park Lawn, plunging into the Sound. He and four friends died that night; an alcohol fueled joyride. All had alcohol four times the legal limit. Did I cause that? Did I avoid it?

The Club, I wander into one night before my seventeen birthdays right after I graduated high school. BDSM was serendipitous moment in my early life. I loved the control, and ability to fuck without anyone touching my chest or upper back. I manage after a month to get a Dominate to train me. I excel at this, gaining a reputation.

The shock explaining it to my parents. I don't hide it. I revel in the freedom. Mom is most upset with my choice. I know I've let her down, again. But I don't ever see anyone loving me enough to overcome my fears of touch. I work hard at whatever I put my mind to.

I earn my BA in International Finance, my pilot license in helicopters. I run a marathon, and learn to soar in a glider, hang gliders and even Kite boarding. All while applying my mind to my dreams. I achieve them!

I talked Grandpa T' into loaning me the money to start my company at eighteen. I worked like a dog. Making the dreams of my imagination; reality! I paid him back just six-month after I incorporate. I clear my first billion-dollar profit by the time I'm twenty. I rampage thru the financial world. A hungry lone wolf; A very lonely-hungry wolf.

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Last week of May:

At 27; I am lonely and broken standing in my great room looking out at the Ferris wheel on the Sound. The darkness promises a Dawn, it's just a twilight away. I can't stand to enter my playroom. I haven't been in there since before Susannah's suicide. I see all the wrongs I did in there. I sip my whiskey and just don't know why I am doing anything, what for? Why amass money, power, without anyone to share it with? Without someone to love me? Could I ever love someone unconditional?

I watch the darkness, bleeding away. I change and head out for a run. I need to outrun these thoughts. How do I outrun myself? How do I rid myself of the demons in my mind? Jason, follows me. We run to Discovery Park and back. I pace along the water; the walkway is nearly deserted this morning.

I see a jogger ahead, drop onto the walkway about a half block ahead from a side street. Even from here her ass is making me stiff. Her pace is solid and unhurried, I want to see her front. See her face, hear her voice. See her tits bounce and swirl. My mouth drools at these thoughts, fantasies. The first time in months I feel sexually excited.

I speed up. She fires me up the more, the closer, I get; the outline of her panties, the outline of her body under the sweatshirt. She looks behind at me. I stutter a step, her large piercing blue eyes. She trips an goes down.

I look down at an angel fallen to this mortal realm. Stuck in this moment, we are the only two people in the world. She is the perfect vision of my imaginary submissive; but she will never be one. I look into blue eyes that sear my soul and makes me a slave to her. She is not a submissive, never will be.

"Are you ok?" I sputter, nervously. She is perfect: Just perfect. Angelic face, brown luscious hair, soul crushing blue orbs, and a mouth: made for loving. I watch her blush, rubbing her thighs together. I'm just a massive hard on, how do you talk or touch an angel. Do I dare anything with her, given my darkness? I look into her eyes; I know she is everything I need, want, Angel will save me.

Reaching down taking her hand: electric current surges me; shocking me. Making me even want her more; I feel the weight of the world disappear. She feels the currents surging between us. She leans in, putting her head on my chest. I stiffen expecting the pain; the burning. It never comes, instead a warm, happy connected power radiates thru me. I relax in its sweet embrace.

I carried her onto the nearby Great White Fleet Pier. Holding her on my lap, sitting on a bench. Looking into her face, lost in the beauty it holds. I see everything I could hope to be, and many things I thought were beyond my keen existence.

I can feel her heat. She overwhelms me in something I don't understand and have never experienced; or did I; vague threads to my past, I felt this before. Did I or am I warped into an alternate reality.

She moans smelling me. Her hands wander my hair, chest, back. I feel only the need for more, MORE! Looking into fathomless blue orbs of a vibrant glacier lake. Vague ghostly images of a table, a bowl of chocolate brownie mix, I look into her smile, begging for me to commit to her siren call.

Angel pulls my hair and kisses my lips. Pulling her head back; I can see Angel has known pain; but lusts for connection, for me. My heart sings and soars with the knowledge we connect! I slowly lean down; Savoring the emotions swirling about us. I give everything to her in this opening of my soul. The Kiss is like nothing I've ever felt, seen, or dreamed. I see the future and I want it, no matter how fu #ked up I am. I want it with her. I will capture this fallen Angel. Images of my past flood my mind. Awaking the long dormant child in me.

I'm still lost remembered moments; when I realize she is gone, I see her moving up the hill near Pike Market. I should chase her, but don't. I see the old, batter scared table in the apartment, Ella's apartment, a bowl of brownie mix, her brilliant smile, her ratty limp brown hair, I twist it in glee. My mother, the crack whore, Ella. Making me birthday brownies. Smiling at me, showing me love, she loved me. I never remembered this before, why now, why here?

I longingly look up the hill to where she disappeared into Pikes Market. I wish she would return; I wish, I was able to chase her. I sit here trapped in the past sitting here. Afraid to move forward; Afraid the past will pull me back. I'm fifty shades of F##$king wrong, besides? How do you capture an angel fallen to earth? Do I deserve her? I honestly don't know.

Jason gets me home. I lounge in bed for several days torment by my inaction, by my actions, the visions of my birth mother, Grace, my friends and family. Of things I never remembered before. How did I miss them, forget them all? Why did I suppress them, did I need too? The image of her face on the pier, haunts and overrides all other images and thoughts.

Mom visits me, upset at my malaise. How do I tell her I met and lost the woman; I will marry? I smile half listening as she talks about a girl she met at church. She would be perfect for me. A nerdy English Lit. Coed up from WSU, she talks about her roommate being very much Elliott's cup of tea. I want to bury my head and never hear mother's idle matchmaking again.

She been on overdrive since I stated my BDSM; to get me a good girl. I don't need a good girl, or bad girl either; I need a girl who can touch me. I need to find and reclaim My Angel.

After mom leaves, I play my piano for hours. It's not till dinner; that I realize; I never played my usually sad haunting songs. I was playing happy songs all day. I did no work, just fantasied about us. I wanked several times to my dreams of her, us, our future bliss. It just leaves me longing for her more.

Laying in the predawn of Monday. I see her face hover above me.

Should I try to hide
The way I feel inside
My heart for you?

Would you say that you
Would try to love me too?

In your mind
Could you ever be
Really close to me?

I can tell the way you smile
If I feel that I
Could be certain then
I would say the things I want to say tonight

But 'til I can see
That you'd really care for me
I will dream
That someday you'll be
Really close to me

I can tell the way you smile
If I feel that I
Could be certain then
I would say the things I want to say tonight

But 'til I can see
That you'd really care for me
I'll keep trying to hide
The way I feel inside Songwriters: Rod Argent

The Way I Feel Inside lyrics © Marquis Songs Usa

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Weeks later: Dinner at Grey manor Sunday:

I walk into the house, something smells different. I can't place it. Walking into the great room, I am greeted by a huge hair beast. Terrible burns on his side. Laying on the couch, it's head in mom's lap. He looks at me, snorts. I stop and stare. Trying to wrap my head around this scene.

"Hey! What the fu ##$K!" I shout, looking down as an unusually white hairy Bassett Hound hitting my leg. He's looking up at me, sniffing; smiling with sad droopy, Spaniel eyes. He must be a mutt. I walk to the lounge chair, sitting. Looking at mother. I feel the white furball settling at my feet.

"MOM?"

"This is Max, our new dog. He's an AKC Otterhound. He's been horrible abused. He is just the most precious guy." She nuzzles him. He seems to relish the attention. "the AKC standard says Otterhound shows great dignity. But looks aren't the whole story, because this is a dog with a childlike, joyful heart. Their wonderful personality makes them a great Family dog. We couldn't agree more. Ain't that right Max. My little clown."

I stare at my mother, never having seen this side of her. She looks younger, happier than I've ever seen her. She looks at me, I feel her love; I feel I deserve it. The realization of that; blows my mind. I feel furball nudge my leg. He seems to want something from me. I have no clue?

"That's Winston Churchill, your dog." Mom smart mouths me. I stare at her, is she gone senile already?

"I remember you telling Elliott and Me 'no dogs'. Now you want me to take this furball mutt off your hand. I can drop him at a shelter." I am lost, I want to cruise the parks, jogging haunts to find angel. Not pick up dog shit. I scowl at her.

"Christian, good to see you. See Winston's has taken a shine to you. I had Mrs. Jones get all the stuff for him to live at Escala." Dad says walking in, sitting next to mom, one arm around her shoulder the other pets their dog. Smiling at me.

"That's bad Dad, cause he's staying here or going with Elliott to Kirkland."

"Afraid not son; You are taking Winston. Period. Or you are coming next week to Church and meet the girls." Great, just frigging great. Dad as backed me into a box overlooking a chasm and waits for me to jump off the cliff. Dog or incessant church girls

"Ok. I'll take the furball mutt till I can find him a good home. Ok Mom?"

"Yes Christian, although I don't understand Elliott and your aversion to meeting Anna and Kate." Mom pouts

"Just leave it, you know girls like that are not going to allow me to tie them up and punish them."

"I guess your right? I just wish you would settle down and find a good woman."

"On a different topic how did the dogs get here?" I change the topic before she goes off on how bad a parent she must be, for me to turn to BDSM.

"Well; Anna and Kate were coming back from the movies; found Winston being mauled by a pack of wild dogs: Rescued him. They took him to a vet: A marvelous woman called Marcie Hamilton. She takes all animals regardless of payment. Unfortunately, she couldn't keep Winston. She also needed to find a home for Max. It was love at first sight."

"Why couldn't this Anna or Kate take the furball."

"They're roommates. Their apartment doesn't allow pets. So, Anna called me. I agreed to sit them till we could find them homes. Once Max was here, I couldn't bear to let him go. But Winston needs a home; An as best we can tell, He's a pure breed Clumber Spaniel. Not a furball. His name is Winston."

"ok but I don't like it." I pout, till Winston pulls my expensive pant leg. Great he's ruining a thousand-dollar pair of pants. "Hey that's Brioni, stop! What now?"
"I believe he wants to go outside to do his business." Dad laughs at me.

I go to open the door, maybe he'll runway. Mom snaps a leash on his collar. Hands me the end, a doggie bag protrudes from a d-cell flashlight battery size plastic dispenser attached to the loop of the leash. She smirks at me, like she read my mind.

I walk the dog, arguing for him to stop smelling everything and piss, shit, do something besides smelling everything. EVERYTHING! I pull my hair. Frustrating, demented dog and parents. I can't find ANGEL! AGGUUUUH! I hate my life.

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I am distracted for weeks, over Jason and Welch inability to find my girl. Leaving Winston, my dog with Gail; who spoils the clown. Its Saturday, Elliott drags me out on my small twenty-foot sail boat 'the Mia'; From the Yacht club. I need to build more family time with my brother and sister. He is bugging me about some girl stalking him.

"Elliott is Mom's church girl stalking your limp, small dick ass?"

"Hell no! You don't date church girls your parents approve of. Man, chicks like that are marriage only, rabid spenders and dead cold fish in the sack."

"I think your wrong. But I'm not dating Mom's church girl either." I say, dreaming off to the side. Remembering the kiss; with My Angel.

"HEY! Look at the hotties. Sunning their hard bodies! I could hit it with either one or both." Crude, rude Elliot needles me. I look at the two: A blond, I never could find appealing. The other a long hair brunette, I harden at her vision. "Angel" I whisper in need.

The blonde woman flashes her tits. Elliott acts like twelve-year-old. Thumbs up the girl's display. I ignore it, till Angel does the same.

Wow! Babe! I want to worship those till we are old and gray. I feel myself falling, Elliott has my belt. My siren just lured me into deeper waters. I see her blush as Elliott hauls me back. They turn and disappear. By the time we wear-around back to the Yacht club. The trail is cold. I fantasy using Winston to track her.

My security can't find her or the blond. I have a Deja Vue on the blond. Like I've seen her, maybe met her. I am on a tear the whole week. I must find her. I just must to live, breath, to dare to be happy.

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Tuesday: 10am: Elliott-pov

Grey Construction site Capital Hill section of Seattle.

I just get my second cup of coffee; the building site is finally back in the groove. I had to fire an asshole Carpenter, who couldn't get along with anybody. Worse to keep this project on time a budget. I need to get an expert cabinet maker in here to do the finish work on the one of a kind curved custom cabinets in this art-deco-styled kitchen.

"Ring! Ring!"

I see dad is calling me. "Hey dad. What's up?"

"I need a favor." Ok dad has never asked for a favor.

"What is it?"

"A friend. Had her apartment broken into around 8:30 this morning. The door is shattered and the Building Manger and Handyman are saying a week to replace it. I would like you to install a decent front door, security system, with panic buttons."

"I should have a door at the warehouse, and some Alarms; I should have a couple spares from the install for Roz and Gwen temporary apartment, in Escala fifteen floor. While I remodeled their condo across the street. Yea doable. Address and is anyone going to be there today."

"Yes. Kattie is staying till a door is on. The address is Market Place Tower, unit 930. It's on 1st and Lenora. Any other questions?" Who is Kattie, a why is dad acting like it's a shady?"

"Who's the girl? Does mom know?"

"Yes, she is friends with both of us. If you Mom knew about this; she'd have them move in with us. So? Get it done today Elliott." He hangs up. I wonder who the girl is, probably one of mom sorority sisters or maybe a Lesbian couple. Like mom's friend Dr. Sandy. I can see why dad doesn't want them at Grey Manor. Sandy and her wife are party bears, screw calling them just tame animals. They make Mia and me look like cloistered nuns. Vision of them dancing on the tables, naked at the Mile-High Club last New Year's party. I shudder at the image.

I call Sam at the warehouse: He'll get everything, pick me up and we can knock this out in a couple of hours. I twiddle my thumbs. I hope the cougar doesn't jump me, won't mind the sex, it's been weeks since I had any. Except the aftermath; why can't these chicks under stand I'm a 'hit then quit it' kind of guy. I wish I had hottie blondie titie flashers bombshell's number?

Finally, Sam picks me up, driving to the Pike's Market district, I nap. We arrive at the Apartment building. I see Sam has one of Christian's Steel Security Doors with ornate wood laminate, eight grand of maximum honeycomb steel filled with fireproof ceramic, full door hinges, steel door frame; a stylish panic room door. I'd like to see some idiot kick this thing. We haul everything up, I'm not impressed by the security in this building. The front security buzzer door is blocked open. No one has challenged or ask who we are and what we are doing.

It's easy to find 930; Following the screams. I arrive to find a goddess's blond coed throwing glasses at two guys. I wonder who they are?

"Help me, their trying to rob me!" I drop my tool bag, surge into the fight.

I wake from the battle lust with blue eyed Blondie holding ice on my bloody, bruised hands. I look around, where did they go and where is am I? When did those two human size holes get in the wall? I blink as SPD walks in with Sam.

I'm Elliott Grey, I'm here to install an alarm system and front door. Favor for dad. Who's the girl? I expected a cougar or older. Not this goddess? I wonder what her name is? After the SP takes my statement, questions us; they leave. She pets my face, "I'm Kate. Your dad sent you over?"

"Yea, Elliott. I better get started on the door." I get to work on the door. I must think, must think. Sam, my Electrician, works on installing the Alarm. Kattie is so hot, perfect Kattie.

Kattie is calling dad, of all people. I barely hear the conversations. But she seems to be arguing about not staying at Grey Manor. Could the parents be kinky into a three-way? Bad thoughts Elliott as my pants tent, I fear breaking my zipper; Christian in a mankini: Christian, Roz and Jason in mankinis. That did it.

I stand back and admire my work. The high security door is installed and tested, the door moves effortlessly, belying the weight. I need to fix the wall, apparently, I threw the robbers into the wall, and pounded them both before Sam could pull me away. He was bummed I didn't leave any for him.

I feel her behind me, looking back over my shoulder; I smirk at her. I want her right here and now. But I must be a gentleman.

She blushes. "Lunch?"

"Sure, were?" I rather lunch on your sweet box, I bet she's wild in bed.

"Pizza place down the block near Pike's" she asks; I hope she says yes to both. Shit! Sam standing behind her.

"Oh! I love their calzone. The three of us?" How do I get rid of him?

"Sorry guys. I have a lunch date with Mrs. Do you want me to swing back by?"

"No. I can drop him off. Thanks for installing everything." She purrs looking at me and only me. Sam leaves, I only know this because the door slams shut.

I move closer to her, smelling her scent, her heat. I can just taste the sweetness of her sex coupled with her coconut scented body. We clash together in hot passion. I take her on the living room floor, the couch, the breakfast bar. She's a wild cat. She is everything I want and need, my forever.

I look at the clock, it's nearly three. Wow! Where did the day go? I could stay here forever, except I have to piss. I get up, put on my boxers, slightly torn from her frenzy to remove them. I piss and go in search of beer. I just take a bottle of Vitamin-R&R (Rainier Radler beer) out, taking a drink of the brew.

I taste lemon zest, lightly roasted malt and orange peel with a dry quick light finish. Kattie has great taste, the beer is light bodied and perfect for the summer months. I could see us driving up the mountain to a picnic overlook. Nice beer, Kattie in a skirt pantie less, button up shirt unbutton; braless; fucking her against the overlook wall, EMMM outdoor sex. I'm headed back to give Kattie a very nice wake up from her nap. When the doorbell chimes.

I open the door, naked except for my hardon in my newly torn boxers, sweaty, smelling of sex, lots of sex. Can of beer in hand. To my mother! I stagger back, what is she doing here?

"Elliott, put the beer down, and go get dressed, tell Kate I'm out here."

I rush to the bedroom, thank god Kattie is awake and dressing. Smirking at me. She beats me, walking out of the bedroom. "Grace, you didn't have to come over."

"They returned; Kate, I was worried." Mom says very concerned, Kattie must be important to her. Strange I've never heard about her. Or have I?

"Yes. They came back. Elliott and Sam beat them up and made citizen arrest on the creeps. They claim someone hired them to trash the place and injure Anna and me."

"I know Cary told me."

"Besides Grace; Elliott and Sam installed a serious front door and Alarm system; panic buttons in every room."

I walk out, buttoning my fly. Mom is sitting on the couch, laughing at me. Kattie joins her. What are Kattie's torn panties on me? One of the condoms? I don't understand. Checking myself?

"Cary wouldn't have had to call you if you had agreed last Sunday to go to church." Mom smirks at me.

"Well Graced he did say 'Quota Parent approved church girls are marriage only, big spenders and dead cold fish in the sack. Unquote'." Kattie smirks. What does that mean. OH! SHIT! Kattie is Kate; the church girl she wanted the last few Sundays to introduce me too. I blush to my toes.

"Well you're in good hands Elliott. Try not to muck it up." Mom leaves; We just stand silent, lost inside thought. I wonder Deja Vue strikes me?

I know I've seen her before. I put the thought out of my mind, living in the moment of us. We head out to eat dinner in a café near the water. Anthony's Pier 66 & Bell Street Diner is packed, but I did some remodel work for the Chef. He gets us a good table near the window. We laugh, Tease and talk the night away. Till the Diner closes.

We walk back to the apartment; her roommate is asleep. We lay in bed, not needing sex: for the first time relishing the comfort and emotions of cuddling with a girl: With only this girl.

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Escala C-pov Thursday

Today has been weird. All day Winston has been prowling Grey House. Barney says the Clumber's have an exceptional nose, almost bloodhound level. That he likes a scent and wants to figure it out.

Second night I had him. Once I get him home, walking him on the roof in a grass patch Taylor installed. I stare out over the city, feeling connected and part of the world. Strange how a dog can do that to a person.

My twenty inches high, eighty-pound couch potato dog is gentle, loyal and affectionate, but dignified and aloof particularly with strangers. His happy go lucky style makes him the worst watchdog. All a robber has to do is pet him, rub behind his ears or toss him a snack. He looks at me, with love and acceptance. Clumbers' are a Vulnerable Native Breed, as they are rare. Particularly here in the States.

I find the breed's history fascinating. Most people believe the clumber was a mix of Bassett Hound, Great Pyrenes and extinct Alpine spaniel or an old type of Bleinheim Spaniel mixed with a King Charles Spaniel. Originating in France, a nobleman only breed. They escaped to England, when the REIGN OF TERROR decided to purge them, Noble dogs must have been a threat on par with nobleman.

Arriving in Britain, At the 2nd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne's Clumber Park estate. The royal family took an interest in the breed, hording the dog for nobles only till the mid-19th century. A British soldier in Halifax, Nova Scotia introduced the breed to North America in 1844. WWI almost caused the breed to go extinct, King George V revitalized the breed in 1925. In 1878, the first Clumber Spaniel was entered in the Westminster kennel Club Dog Show. One of the first ten breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1884. (Wikipedia) Like me he has been beaten and battered, but he refuses to unlike me become a mean dog. We make a matched pair of lonely guys. We both need a girl in our lives.

After dinner, he drags my sweat pant cuff to the media room, I flip thru the catalog; till I see something I want to watch. Winston hops up on the couch, cuddle into my side. Petting him, relaxes me.

I just fade into the movie, the night. I wake after dawn, still in the chair. Just Winston and me; Covered with a blanket and pillow. Gail must have taken care of us again. A little sore, but I realize, I slept without nightmares.

Last weekend: I had to fly to New York, Winston goes with me. My cell phone is constantly on as Elliot is yammering about some girl. I tune him out. Mia is incessantly talking about this and that. I can't keep track. Mom is demanding I take church girl to dinner.

Sunday, flying back, I find myself wishing for her, Angel. What are you doing, thinking? Are you thinking of me? does she like dogs? Will Winston accept her. He actually growled at several people in Grey House; I had Jason re-vetted them. Several were fired. My dog is an excellent judge of character. Snoring loudly, Winston cuts a big fart and burbs-snores at the same time; not sure which end is worst smelling. "Taylor! Tell Gail to change his food. We may have to pop a window."

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Market Place Tower, unit 930 same Sunday night
A-POV

I washed my hair, enjoyed a Hallmark Movie, painting my toes. I sip a nice white wine, enjoying the peace and quiet of No Kate and Elliott. How can people be that loud in sex, oblivious to everyone banging on ceilings, walls, and floors. They're headed to an all-day music festival in Edmonton Saturday, crashing at his house in Kirkland. I miss my friend, but enjoy the temporary reprieve, a quiet evening reading.

I miss Winston, I wonder what's he's doing? Grace said her son Christian is taking good care of him. I hope so? I fade to sleep on the couch, dreaming of Adonis, my Mr. Darcy. I wake as I bring myself to orgasm. EEEMMMM, so good. I bet with him it's even better.

That damm alarm clock is buzzing. Must get up and go to work. I watch the rain pouring like a waterfall. Seattle's normal day, in the rain. I wonder if it comes from Spain. I laugh at my screwy corruption of the line from My Fair Lady. I must reread George Bernhard Shaw Pygmalion. I sipped my tea and let myself drift to sleep last night in the pages of Willkie Collins 'The Woman in White', who's theme of the unequal position of married women in law at the time; I'm not married, but I understand the unequal position. Am I Laura Fairlie or Anne Catherick and does My Adonis play Walter Hartright or Sir Percival Glyde. Should I wear all white to work? God no, I'd never keep it clean, HAAA. HAAA I laugh. I turn off the light.

I walk into Grey House ready to do battle. Ready to kick ass and take names. Looking out the window at the end of the cubicle row, I imagine Adonis, walking Winston. I keep imaging I hear him.

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Carrick-pov Tuesday 1800pm

I sip my Irish coffee, one down: one to go. Elliott is perfect for Kate. They bonded within minutes. I could almost pardon the stupid criminals. They gave me the perfect excuse to throw them together. Now I just have to get Anna and Christian together. How to do that. If I can't pretty soon, Grace will use the coming Coping Together Ball to match-make. How can she work at Grey House and they not meet?

It will do my heart good to see my sons happy and settled. I watch the coffee cool. I need to head home and bang Gracie's into next week. Emmm.

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Wednesday: C-POV

Today has been surreal, I thought I saw angel walking across the street in front of Grey House. I smelled her vanilla perfume everywhere I walk in my building. Winston is dragging Luke all over the place, he actually barked for a couple of minutes at the Elevator. Clumber Spaniels rarely bark, they're breed to be silent hunters. I think I may need to call Flynn to ask about a doggie shrink.

Now he refuses to let go of my pant cuff. Lucky, he has a natural soft mouth, these are five grand pants of my favorite suit. "Winston's Stop! This a William Fioravanti Bespoke Suit." He is demanding attention and a walk. I give up, to the laughter of Roz and Andrea. "Laugh it up! It just means we're staying late tonight." I watch them shake their head. Together ragging on me. "What's this WE, angst boy!" I shake my head at the crazy women infesting my life.

First my mom, then Roz, Gwen, Andrea and now Gail. All wanting me to meet this church girl of moms. Elliott succumbed to Kate. I am avoiding the topic at all cost. I only want My Fallen Angel.

Stepping into the elevator, I hit the roof button, he has a grass pad to do his business. He refuses to leave the elevator. Great he wants a long walk. I've been slow jogging and walking a great deal with him. His short legs prevent him from following me when I jog at my normal pace.

But Clumbers are breed for endurance. Their bodies allow them to keep a fast walking gait of about five miles an hour, they can keep that up for hours. I slow jogged Winston in New York's Central Park till we were both winded. My phone's GPS said we did twenty-five miles in less than five hours.

He loves to explore; his nose leads him astray. He has led me to things I never saw on my run's before. Flowers, stores, vistas. He has expanded my world within the streets of Seattle. I can't wait to take him to Aspen.

We arrive at the lobby, he refused to leave the elevator. Looking up at me, he looks pissed off? What now? I shrug, like I can read his mind or understand dog language. He snorts and gets up on hind legs, front paws hit the panel and push buttons. Barking at me. To what push all the buttons? I shake my head, I can't believe my dog is topping me. I push all the buttons. We ride upward, as each floor opens to us.

Not paying any particular attention; I casually looking up the 14th, whoa! Winston bolts from the cab dragging me like a para-glider. I follow him from one side of the building to the other then back to the elevator, then he circles. Like he's going to take a dump. "Don't you dare Winston."

He sits looking at me, then yawns. Mom tells me its dog laughter. I glare at him. He rises, stretches like the royal dog he is. Jauntily he walks back down the hallway. He turns into a cubicle row, then turns into a cubicle in the middle. He jumps his paws on a chair. I thought empty, till it turns to show a brunette with her legs curled under her. I watch as she's bent over strokes Winston's head, I'm so jealous of him; Why?

She hugs him. She looks up! Blue orbs destroy my world, as it shrinks to just us.

My world tilts and shifts! I may faint. ANGEL!

My soul drives my body, as my mind is blank, with nothing but her, scent, eyes, aura. I step into the cubicle, she stands. Cupping her head. She tilts to take my kiss. I feel drawn, heaven is just her lips. I melt into her. I want to live here forever.

"Mr. Grey?" I hear a nasal annoying voice behind me, ignoring the asshole. She leans back, looking me up and down; taking my breath. She smiles.

"Babe?" I whisper.

"Anna." She purrs back to me, just above a whisper.

"Christian." I says to her, dripping in feelings I want to live in forever.

"We should go somewhere private? To talk I mean? Adonis? Christian" she blushes. I have strange flashes of summer days in flowered meadows, children dance around us laying on a checkered blanket. They disappear to us making love alone on the blanket. Just Us. Making love in the sunshine.

She grabs her bag, hooking my arm. We go to my office on the top floor. She leans on my shoulder. Walking our dog. Winston is strutting like a herald proclaiming our joy to my office. My man, has made my day; my Life, the very existence of my universe!