Just a small filler chapter before moving on to her birth.
"We're home!" Anastasia announces, letting the dogs off their leashes.
It has been almost four weeks since we left and we're both ready to be back home. Work has been going really well. We've both enjoyed sharing an office and I don't know if I'll ever want to stop. I'm hoping it's permanent. Anastasia is now almost twenty-four weeks along and the baby is growing rapidly. She's now off her brace, her knee healing quite well, but her feet have been swelling so often, that she rarely gets to wear her high heels without foot pain. I make it a point to rub each of her calves and each foot every night before we go to bed, hoping that it helps with her swelling.
Even though she's been moody, she's still absolutely glowing. She's always touching her stomach, her mind constantly on our son, her face glowing with pride. I find my own hand on her stomach whenever I'm close to her, especially when I'm at work, claiming her and our son in my own way. When people mention how lovely she's looking, or congratulates us on our son, she beams. She's so proud of the family we're growing and I feel the same. I already have so many pictures of her maternity shoot and our last ultrasound on my desk and on the walls of my office; I can't imagine how much fuller it'll become when we have our son. Our office will be filled of pictures of the three of us and I really can't wait.
We've decided on a name for our son, but have decided to wait until the birth to tell everyone. They have all tried to get the name out of one of us, using everything from bribes to guilt trips, but nothing has worked. Everyone has been coddling Ana and she's absolutely eating it up. Very rarely are we together that there isn't someone in my family touching her stomach. Everyone is hoping to be the first person to feel the baby kick, but no one has been that lucky, yet. Ana is such a petite girl, but the baby hasn't kicked or moved hard enough for anyone to feel. I've asked about the movement of the baby so often, that Anastasia has made it a habit to tell me when he moves and where. I'm so anxious to feel my baby move... to know that he's really there. Of course, I know he's there...but being able to feel him will make it even more real for me.
I'm worried that Ana isn't ready to come back home, even though it's been quite some time since we've been here. She's itching to get the nursery done, and I think that's her motivation to come back. Still, I'm worried that our room will be a trigger for her. I've changed the mattress, bought new bed linens, changed the flooring and the wall color, but a part of me still worries that it isn't enough. I guess I'll find out today.
Gail comes running from the kitchen to greet us.
"Oh, Ana! I've missed you so much! It's been so lonely around here without you two. You've gotten so big!" She pats Anastasia's stomach affectionately and Ana grins.
"I know. I'm huge! You'll have to tell me everything that's been going on around here. I'm so out of the loop!" We haven't seen Gail in almost a week and a half, but the girls act like it's been ages.
"We'll talk during dinner! I have it already started. I'm making your favorite tonight."
"Oh, that sounds great. I hope you've made plenty! My appetite has gotten out of control lately. At this rate, I better be having a twenty pound baby...or I've got some serious weight to lose after he's born."
I roll my eyes. "You look great. You'll do no such thing."
"If you think I'm not going to start running and doing my workout after he's born, then you're nuts! I don't care if I have to run on the treadmill while the baby sits in his bassinet in the corner. I'm running! I miss it."
Oh, yea...have I mentioned my wife has become much more sassy over the last month? Her mouth is going to get her in trouble one of these days.
"I'm going to go put our bags in our room."
"I'll come with you!" Ana smiles at me.
"Are you sure?"
Her eyebrows knit together. "Yes? Why wouldn't I be? We're sleeping in there tonight, aren't we?"
"Yes...but I'm still worried..."
She sighs. "If you're worried, then wouldn't it be good to find out now instead of at bedtime?"
I concede. "Alright, you're right. Let's go. Are the stairs going to be a problem for you?" The loft had an elevator and she hasn't really done any stairs being so pregnant.
She gives me an affectionate smile. "Yes, baby. I've got this."
Still, I'm unsure.
"Christian...I promise that if it's too much, I'll let you know." She heads towards the stairs and I follow right behind her, just in case she begins to fall backward. Right now, she's kind of front heavy, but I'm worried she'll try to overcompensate by leaning back too far and she'll go rolling down the stairs. I don't need her breaking her neck.
We make it up the stairs without incident and continue down the hall to our room. I can feel my heart pounding faster the closer we get to the door and I notice that Anastasia is slowing the closer we get.
"Ana... are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm okay." She clears her throat and reaches for the door knob, pushing the door open slowly. She doesn't move from the hall as she looks into the room. I wait behind her, giving her time to take everything in. Looking in myself, I see that everything has changed except for the fireplace. The walls that were dark gray are now a cream color, the headboard has changed to a more modern look. The cream bedding is now gray with the same modern look, along with the chandelier. Everything looks more modern...more fresh. The chairs at the end of the bed have been replaced with a bench, a chase lounger now sits next to the windows. Instead of cream carpet, there is dark hardwood, making the light colored rug and walls pop. It's beautiful.
"We should have let Gail decorate from the very beginning." Ana mentions, staring.
"No joke."
She slowly takes a step in and then another and then one more before I follow her.
"You okay?"
She looks around the room and crosses her arms. "Um, yea. Yea, I'm okay."
I look her over for a few seconds, trying to find any sign of unease or panic. Her face is relaxed, so I place our bags on the bench at the end of the bed. "Alright. I've got to print a couple of things out for Ros and sign them before dinner." I make my way down the hall.
"WAIT! Don't leave me in here!" I look over my shoulder to see her hurrying out of the bedroom and towards me. I turn and open my arms, pulling her to me.
"Baby, I thought you said you were okay? Should we leave?"
She shakes her head. "No, no. I love being home. I was okay...when you were in there. I just have to get use to it. A part of me still worries that he'll pop out of the closet or something when you're not in there. I know it's silly."
My poor girl. "Are you going to be okay with me going to my office for awhile?"
She nods. "I'll just go visit with Gail in the kitchen. Take your time." She lifts up on her tip toes and kisses me. "I love you, husband."
I smile. "I love you, too, wife." I turn her and pat her butt. "Now, go make me food, woman. Take your shoes off and let your feet breathe. They're starting to swell."
XxXxXx
I've been in meetings all god-damn morning. The last couple nights have been hard with Ana. She woke up multiple times from nightmares and made me search the room, closet, and bathroom every time she heard a noise. We're both exhausted, she's emotional, and I'm cranky. It's finally lunch time and I'm headed back to the office to see if Ana wants to head out for lunch today. I just need a few minutes away from the building to clear my mind and wake up a bit.
Entering the office, I see that it's empty. I check our bathroom, but it's empty, too. I check her drawer and see that her handbag is gone.
"Shit."
I run out of the office and into Taylor's quickly. "Ana's gone! Where did she go? Did she tell anyone she was leaving? Where is Sawyer?" I pace in front of his desk, rubbing my temples.
"Sawyer is with her. He texted me about ten minutes ago to let me know they ran across the street to get us all lunch."
"What? I didn't authorize this! She can't go out by herself! We've discussed this! She knows better!"
"Christian, just calm down. She isn't alone. She's with her CPO. That's what you hired him for, isn't it?"
I huff. "She didn't tell me she was leaving! What if the two of them get hurt or she gets taken?" I am so angry with my wife. I stomp out of his office, heading straight for my own.
I don't understand how she can do this after everything she's been through with the Hyde fucker. She didn't even bother to leave me a text or an email...or hell, even a fucking note! She's carrying my son! She needs to learn that she isn't just putting herself at risk anymore, but a fragile, innocent child that can't defend himself. I haven't punished her in quite some time, but she needs to know she's overstepped a boundary.
I pace in my office while I wait for them to come back. It's only a few minutes, but when the door opens and the two of them step into the office, I snap at Sawyer and point to the door.
"OUT!"
His eyebrows shoot up and he backs out of the office, shutting the door behind him.
"Christian?" Anastasia is actually surprised by my outburst!
"Where. Have. You. Been."
Her eyebrows knit together. "We went to get lunch."
"What are the rules Anastasia?"
"Don't go out alone?"
"And?"
"And tell someone where we're going."
"No. Tell me where you're going! ME, Anastasia! Having Sawyer text Taylor that you two were leaving does not suffice! What if someone got ahold of his cell phone and sent a message? What if Hyde or some crazy fucker he knows took you and neither one of us were looking for you because a text was sent from Sawyer's phone?! You let ME know when you plan to leave this floor. You do NOT send me a text about it, either. I need to hear it from your mouth. I need to see that you are okay!" I can feel my blood pressure rising with my voice. I'm sure my face is red and I can feel the vein popping out of my forehead.
"Christian..." Her voice is quiet, trying to sooth me, but it isn't going to fucking work. "We just went to get lunch."
"You broke the rules. They were simple. Since you're pregnant, I'm going to give you a choice on your punishment. It's either a spanking or TLS until dinner." TLS stands for no touching, no looking, no speaking. If she chooses this one, she can't touch me, look at me, or speak to me during her punishment.
She frowns and wrings her hands, looking down. "I don't want a spanking."
"Fine. You've made your choice. Now, maybe, you won't put your safety and our son's safety at risk again. Go get our food from Sawyer. You'll eat at your own desk today."
She scampers off without a word and I plop down in my chair, letting out a deep sigh. I hate having to be hard on her, but she needs to understand that her safety is something I can't gamble with anymore.
She enters our office a minute later and places my food and a water bottle on my desk, keeping her eyes downcast. She heads toward her own desk and has a seat, opening her own lunch. She got us turkey sandwiches with home made chips from the deli across the street. As I eat, I keep glancing her way and see that she's eating slowly, her lips pulled down into a pout. I need to watch her closely, because, although she needs punished, I don't want herself to work herself up too much and stress the baby out.
She keeps quiet and I'm happy to see that she eats most of her sandwich and drinks her whole bottle of water. She dives back into her work, so I do the same. Everything is quiet for about a half an hour, until I hear a sniffle come from her side of the room. Looking over, I can't see her face. She's looking down at a manuscript and her hair is in front of her face, blocking my view. I sit and wait, but she doesn't sniffle again, so I let it go and continue with my email correspondence.
Fifteen minutes later, she stands and disappears to use the restroom. She actually lasted longer than I thought she would. Usually after she drinks that much she's running to the bathroom within the same half hour. I wait for the flush, but there isn't one. Five, ten, fifteen minutes go by and then I start to get worried. She never spends this much time in the bathroom. Not even when she's having a bowel movement.
I start to get up, but then I hear the flush, instantly making me relax. I hear the sink turn off and then the door opens a minute later. She keeps her eyes downcast, but her cheeks are flushed and her eyes look a little swollen. Fuck. She's been crying.
I watch her have a seat in her chair and weigh my options. She's been crying so much lately, it could be from anything. She isn't panicking, so there's no need to calm her down. She's already made me a big softy and I don't want to fold on her punishment that easily. She needs structure. A strong husband who will keep her safe and sound, keeping her moving in the right direction. It was written in our vows and it's what she wants. She might hate me right now, but she won't make the mistake of forgetting the rules again. It's for her safety. For our baby's safety.
I hear her sniffle again and then I watch her blot her eyes with a kleenex. Stay strong, Grey. She's just pregnant. She's emotional. I need to let her push herself through it. She blows her nose and throws the tissue in the trash, clearing her throat. She looks down at the manuscript and I hear her sigh. I force myself to pull my attention from my pregnant wife and concentrate on my laptop, but then I hear a soft sort of hiccuping sound coming from her side of the room.
She's propping her head up by her hand, her face turned away from me. I can see that she's holding a kleenex in her opposite hand and I can hear her sniffle and whimper lightly. Oh, fuck.
"Anastasia. Come."
She stands quickly and comes to my desk, her head bowed and her eyes on the floor. She begins to kneel beside my chair, but I grab her arms before she can kneel.
"No need, Anastasia. I don't want you on your knees while pregnant."
She sniffles and stills, standing in front of me, while she stares at the floor. I can see that her eyelashes are wet and her cheeks are warm and tear stained and it breaks my heart.
"Come sit in my lap."
She does as I say and I hold her against me, allowing her to pull her feet up into the chair, her knees bent against her tummy. Her head rests on my shoulder and she curls her arms inward, between our bodies.
I sway us back and forth with the chair and smooth her hair, giving her a kiss on the head. "I think you've had enough punishment, Mrs. Grey." Now it's time for aftercare.
I continue to hold her tight, stroking her hair. "You're my good girl, Anastasia. I love you, baby. Everything is okay, now. You know I'll make everything okay."
It doesn't take but a couple more minutes before she's asleep in my arms. I rest back in my chair, pulling her with me, and place my hand on her stomach. I rub her swollen stomach in circles and jolt when I feel her stomach move. She groans in her sleep, but doesn't wake. I hold my hand over the spot that moved and press a little. I feel a small push back. A kick. The baby kicked!
I have yet to feel our boy until now. I feel a burst of pride and excitement run through me, but I need to keep calm since she's asleep. I press on her stomach a little again and enjoy feeling my boy kick again. He's here. He's real. The feeling is surreal. Of course, I know he's real...but this makes it seem more real. It won't be long before he is here and I'm sure the feeling of seeing him and holding him the first time is going to be indescribable.
"I can't wait to meet you little man." I say quietly, rubbing my Ana's stomach.
After almost an hour, Ana is still sleeping, so I decide it's time to go home. I text Taylor to let him know and text Sawyer to come and fetch her belongings. I slide my arms under her knees and back and she stirs, groaning.
"I'm going to take you home, baby. Do you want me to carry you?"
She doesn't even bother to open her eyes, but she nods. "Mmhmm."
I grin and press my lips to her forehead. "My needy little thing. Don't worry. I'll take care of you."
XxXxXx
"...You ready, baby?" I have Ana blindfolded on the bed, but I leave her limbs free. Ever since Hyde used handcuffs to bind her, I haven't had the stomach to tie her up again.
She hums and wiggles her naked body against the bed, even though I've already brought her to orgasm twice with my mouth. "Yes, I'm ready. I need you."
Tonight, I'm going to surprise her by giving in to one of her fantasies. She has admitted to me that she's curious what double penetration feels like, so tonight, I've grabbed the home-made vibrator that's a replica of me and the oil so she can experience it.
"Roll over. On your hands and knees." She does as I command and I knead her backside. "Open wide." Her knees shimmy further apart and I hum in appreciation when everything is bared to me.
I take the oil and lubricate the toy before pouring the oil over her ass. I slip in two fingers and make sure her backside is well lubricated. I stroke my own dick up and down a couple times, relieving the dull ache, before pushing myself into her front.
She gasps when she feels her center fill, confused since I just lubricated her backside. "Am I getting a bigger plug?"
"Just stay relaxed." After I make sure I'm seated into her to the hilt, I take the vibrator and begin to press it into her backside, moving it back and forth until it slips into her fully.
"Oh, Christian..."
"How does it feel, baby? Are you ready for me to move?"
She moans. "Oh, yes, please."
I hold the base of the vibrator against my skin and as my hips move back and forth, my dick and its replica move in sync. She begins to mewl and moan as I move and it causes me to go a little faster.
"Feel good, babydoll?"
"Oh, yes, Master. So good. Oh...I'm going to come...already..." She's panting and clinging to the bed sheets as her ass begins to move with me, pushing back so that I thrust into her harder. "Oh, please let me cum. Please. I can't control it!"
I flip the vibrator on and groan, realizing I can feel it, too. "Are you my good girl?" I spank her ass cheek with my free hand.
"Oh, yes. Yes, I'm your good girl, Master. Please, let me come. I'll do anything."
I grin. "Scream my name, babydoll." I pick up my pace and her mouth and body obey me as she convulses under me on her knees. "Fuck!" Her muscles are milking me so tight that I can't control my own body and I come, grunting her name while her body and the vibrator work their magic.
When my orgasm subsides, I slowly pull the vibrator out of her tight backside, turning it off. I slip myself out of her and she rolls to her back, flopping down on the bed.
"Incredible." She states, panting hard. Both of her hands are over her thudding heart while she tries to suck in air.
I throw the vibrator onto the side table and relax next to her, my hand automatically finding her stomach.
"Our son is active tonight." I run my hand back and forth on her stomach, loving that I can feel him now.
"Professionals say that orgasms can rock babies to sleep in the womb, but mine seem to make him more active. Guess he already likes sex."
I frown. "I'm not sure how to feel about that." I know that one day, it'll eventually happen, but I don't want him to go looking for it too soon. Losing my virginity at fifteen really fucked me up.
"Oh, Christian." Her hand cups my face. "That's a long time from now. He's just a baby. We've got plenty of other things to worry about first. I'm sure you could probably come up with a handful right now."
Her comment makes me laugh. "I just want to keep him safe."
"I know. And I love it. You'll be a wonderful father."