Hi everyone! I apologize that I have taken a bit of a break. I suffer from endometriosis and the pain has been getting really bad lately and my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year but the flare ups of the endometriosis is now getting too much to bear so we have been undergoing tests for IVF treatment and starting the process so I really needed to focus on that as it is a huge step and incredibly emotional for me so that is the reason why for the long break.

Someone reviewed stating that they were worried that my story will be abandoned like my other stories and that it was frustrating for them. I do understand where you are coming from but at the same time, I am not being paid to write and with the circumstances stated above, I really needed to focus on that as I want to take care of my mental health whilst undergoing treatments which will change my hormones and hopefully lead me to becoming pregnant. This story will not be abandoned as I love this story. I personally believe it is my best one yet which is also why I am only focusing on this story and not the others. However if I am going through a tough time, I will obviously focus on me rather than a story which can be updated when I am ready to but this story will be finished.

APOV

I finished getting changed out of my dress and quickly check my suitcase which was pre-packed for me by a palace official. However though, it was only lacy lingerie and with the decision that has been made, this could make this incredibly tricky. I manage to find a white satin slip nightdress with lace trim around the bust line with a white satin dressing gown. That'll do. I slip it on and I make my way back through to the bedroom. Christian is standing by the fireplace, sipping what looks like to be bourbon or something. He is wearing a plain grey t-shirt and joggers. He turns to look at me when I enter.

"This was only the appropriate thing to wear that they packed for me." I say sheepishly.

"It looks lovely. You should always been in silk or satin." He comments. I look at him, taken aback from his compliment and I feel that I am blushing. "Why don't we sit and chat about the day's events?" He points to the sitting area by the bay window, looking out at the palace gardens.

I sit down and he brings me a glass of what looks like to be orange juice. I gulp it down straight away as my throat was dry.

"Thirsty?" He smirks.

"It's been a little bit of a overwhelming day." I giggle.

"Well, how did you think it went?" He asks.

"I thought it went well. I must apologise for my father though, that mustn't have been very nice for you."

"It's not me that you should apologise to, why do you let him treat you like that?" He asks.

"You think I like him talking to me like that?!" I scoff.

"Well you don't speak up for yourself when he does."

"Because when I have tried, it hasn't worked out well in my favour so I tend to just leave it because if I argue, he never stops so sorry that I don't respond the way you would." I snap.

"Anastasia - I wasn't trying to tell you how to speak to your father. It just bothered me that he talks to you in that way and you don't seem to shut him down and I only wanted to know why. I'll mind my business." He lets out a big sigh at the end. Great - now I feel really bad.

"I'm sorry Christian. My relationship with my Dad isn't one that I am proud of. Honestly, I always thought once I got married, I wouldn't be worth anything to him anymore so our relationship wouldn't continue so there wasn't any point to try and sort it out."

"What do you mean you wouldn't be worth anything to him? You're his daughter and you marrying me has just made him avoid bankruptcy." He raises his eyebrow.

I sigh. "My father made it clear to me that there is not really a big place for women in Monarchy. He always wanted a boy to carry on the line but was very upset when my mother had me. My mother tried to win him back but he didn't care. She left him because of it but left me with him which he wasn't happy about. I think he would have preferred it if she took me with her. I tried everything I could to get love from him. I became the top of my class in school, I always did what he told me to do, I tried to present myself as the most respectful and polite Princess but no matter how hard I tried, it didn't change anything." I look down as the memories start flooding back.

His voice is nothing more than a whisper when he speaks. "I'm so sorry Ana. I can't imagine how that must have felt."

I sniffle, blinking back the tears that were threatening to make them known. "Unfortunately, that was the way for me - I couldn't do anything about it so I just waited. Waited for the day where someone would take me away from him." I look at him. "Again, I know this arrangement is not one you might have wanted or chosen, but for me, it provided an escape for me. From him. Which is why I was very open to this." Pointing back at me and him.

"Well we can try to make the best of it." He gives me a slight smile.

"So," I state with my voice taking on a brighter note. "You've had a brief description of my dysfunctional relationship with my father. Care to indulge me in something such as why I couldn't touch your chest earlier or the woman? You take your pick."

He lets out a big sigh. "I was abused by a nanny when I was younger."

I gasp in shock. His tongue is in the inside of his cheek whilst nodding his head.

"Yep - she didn't like the fact that I wanted my mother more than her and I embarrassed her once when she presented me to my parents. After that, she would burn my chest with cigarettes, knowing that my mother would never see as she didn't bathe her or see us with our shirts off."

"Oh Christian - I am so sorry." He shrugs at my apology.

"She managed to get away with it for 3 months. My brother, Elliot caught her doing it and managed to get his tutor to cover for him, telling my mother that he had seen her do it rather than Elliot, so that it was believed by an adult rather than dismissed because of a child stating it. She got arrested and sent to jail for it but I still have issues because of it which is why I asked you to not touch it earlier." He clarifies.

"Well thank you for telling me that, I appreciate it."

"I need to make this clear though, no-one can know about it, my family obviously have not made it public because of how it would make them look as parents."

I nod my head. "I understand, Christian."

"So there you go." Wait, I want to know more!

"So not going to tell me about the women?" I question him.

He chuckles "You're very eager, aren't you Anastasia?" I shrug at him.

"Ah, she's one of my mother's friends. She is a lot older than I am and we had a relationship for a few years and then it ended. That's really it."

"Your mother's friend?!"

"Yes - I was going through a difficult stage and she was there so we had a strictly sexual, non-emotional relationship."

"So you guys were basically fuck buddies?"

He bursts out laughing. I look at him questionly, why is he laughing at me? I don't like the way this makes me feel. He calms down and clears his throat.

"I guess you could say that. Yes, we were fuck buddies."

"But she came onto you tonight?" This isn't adding up.

"She's had a bit of a tough time with the announcement of the marriage. She doesn't believe in marriages and relationships, believes everyone should not be romantically involved with someone else, only for use of sex."

"Why does she think that's her right to state that to you?"

"I guess because she really helped me throughout the tough part of my life and we stayed friends after our sexual relationship ended so she thinks of it more as a friend being there for another friend whereas I made it clear that I do not see her in that way anymore so I have informed my security to have her taken off the list of approved people allowed to come into Grey House."

"Does your Mom know you had a relationship with her?" I query.

He frowns. "Oh god, no and if she did, I would not feel comfortable with that. She wouldn't understand so I have not told a soul."

I raise my eyebrows. Not told a soul?

"Wait - I'm the only person you have told?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yep. Only you."

"Why tell me then?"

He looks at me quizzically. "You asked to know. Plus for some weird reason, I want to get close to you and feel like I can trust you, especially as you told me something bad from your life."

He wants to get close to me? My cheeks start to heat up with that sentence and I look down because he can notice.

"Someone getting bashful?" He teases me.

"Why would you want to get close to me? I don't really think I am the type of girl you would go for?"

He scoffs at my question. His elbow is resting on the arm of the chair and he's twiddling with his fingertips.

"You did not just ask me that question?"

"Erm, I think I did. Honestly, why?"

"You obviously don't see yourself clearly, do you? Or you're fishing for a compliment."

Ok, now that's ridiculous. I scoff at his reply. "Erm trust me, I am not fishing. What do you mean when you say I don't see myself clearly?"

"Why do you think I got so mad about the interviewer for our engagement? Ana - you are drop dead gorgeous. It took everything in me tonight to not grab you and have my way with you."

I gasp. I did not know I affect him so. My inner goddess is lying on her chaise, flicking her hair, posing with the knowledge that Christian, Prince of Bellvue, fancies little ol' me! Maybe I can change his mind about the no sex thing. I lean forward, showing him the slightest bit of my cleavage.

"You could enlighten me." I run my tongue along my lip subtly and I see him stare at it. I look at him through my eyelashes.

"I know what you're doing and it's not going to work. You might as well beg me." He smirks.

"Oh really? You think I am going to beg?" I scoff. He nods proudly. "You'll be begging me, your royal high-ass!" I giggle.

His mouth is wide open at my remark. "Alright smart mouth - it's on. Whoever begs, loses."

"You're on!" I put my hand out for him to shake and he takes it. Immediately, there is a huge bout of electricity coursing through our fingers. I raise my eyebrow at him. He looks at my quizzcally and then gets it. "Hell no missy! Not tonight, I am not losing this." He smiles. We let go and I yawn.

"Come on, lets get you to bed." He says.

"No, it's fine - I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Anastasia - I am not letting you sleep on the sofa. I'll sleep on the sofa if you want but you'll be sleeping in the bed."

"I don't want to put you out."

"Fine - I'll sleep in the bed then."

"So I'll sleep on the sofa?"

He looks up in exasperation. "Anastasia - we will both sleep in the bed if it means you'll actually sleep in the bed."

I raise my eyebrows at his suggestion. "Really?"

"Sure - let's just stay on our sides of the bed and everything should be fine."

I start making my way to the bed which honestly looks like the most plushiest bed I have ever seen. I take off my dressing gown and hang it on the nearby closet door. I get into the bed and before I know it, everything goes dark as sleep takes over.