You Are Challenging!
Christian's POV:
"The spare room is upstairs. Can I help you?" I offer. I know Ana believes she is more than capable to move around without assistance, but she is kidding herself. She also doesn't realize how big this apartment is.
"No. I can manage" Ana stubbornly declares, almost pushing me away. I can't wait till I have her submission. If I knew that it wouldn't make her run, I would present her with the next piece of essential paperwork, so she will be forced to accept my help.
"Anastasia let me help you." I groan. I know she won't agree to let me help her, so before she can protest, I bend down and quickly pick her up. Ana starts to wobble and then does the unthinkable. The one thing no one has ever done for years. Not my mother, not Elena, no one. Ana places her hand on the top of my chest to stabilize herself. The pressure of her hand on me sends a stroke of pain throughout my whole body. I scrunch up my face and close my eyes as I take in the pain, but strangely there is another feeling. One that scares me even more, and causes me to partially drop Ana.
"AAGGGHHH!" Ana calls out. Shit! Not her other foot!
"Ana! Are you all right?"
"Yes, I think so. But you are not" She replies almost accusing me.
"Me?"
"Yes. Your face. You were in pain, frightened even, when I touched you accidentally." I cringe just thinking of the moment and then enter CEO mode. I cannot give up control. Control is crucial.
"No, I wasn't. It was just... I…" I run both his hands through my hair. "We need to get you off your feet before you hurt yourself more. Since you can make it up the stairs, then you will have to sleep in the main bedroom."
"The main bedroom? Isn't that your room?"
"Yes Anastasia it is." Ana looks at me mystified, but I enter CEO mode, becoming unreadable. I ensure I don't offer any emotion as it is something she is never or rarely going to get from me. I can't give it to her know. It would be unfair.
"Follow me" I order and walk towards my bedroom. Ana hesitates at first and then takes small steps.
"Do you need me to carry you?" I admonish her sternly.
"NO! Don't. You. Even. Think. About. It!" Oh, Miss Steele I am going to have so much fun training you! Don't get use to saying 'no' to me. I opened the door to my room for Ana, and her eyes widen.
"Maybe I should just go back to my apartment. This is…." Ana says meekly.
"I would feel better if you stayed here. I promise you will be comfortable. Ms Jones will make you anything you want for breakfast and I am not scheduled to go into the office tomorrow." I explain hoping it eliminates any excuse she may have up her sleeve.
"You aren't going to go into the office tomorrow?" Ana looks at me curiously. Shit it is as if she can read me like a book.
"No. I thought I would stay here with you" I stop and restate those words in my mind. Even I am surprised at them.
"To get to know each other better? Is this how you want to start a relationship?" Ana probes.
"Anastasia, I am a very private person. If we have a relationship then you will never really know me" I inform her.
"I don't understand" She declares. There is a sad tone to her voice.
"You will. Now please get some sleep. I have some work I have to do. I will come back and check on you soon"
"You don't have to check on me. I am a big girl!" Ana states.
"I know, but …" I stop immediately when I realize I am about to tell Ana that I want to check on her, and she rolls her eyes at me. Focus Grey. Don't make her think you are something you are not.
"Can I use your bathroom?" Ana requests.
"Of course. It is the door to the left." I watch as Ana pulls her toiletry bag out from her backpack, her waist length silk camisole, and then tries to hide her underwear. She moves quicker than I have seen her since she hurt her ankle. Probably to get some space between her and I.
I remain in the bedroom, waiting to make sure Ana is alright. After about fifteen minutes, she comes finishes. Her silk camisole gives me another view of her long legs, and her panties. The view is mighty fine. She looks up and finally realizes that I am still in the room.
"Christian!" She admonishes, pulling her camisole down to cover herself, very unsuccessfully. "I thought you would be….somewhere else"
"And I thought I would wait to make sure you are alright." I try to tell her sternly, but my eyes are transfixed on her perfect body.
"I am alright! I am brilliant! Fantastic. Now can you leave?" I can't help but smirk at her urgent response. "Christian leave now. I am half dressed!"
"Ana you were showing more of your perfect body on my yacht a couple of days ago," I smirk.
"I had a bathing suit on! Please Christian get out!" I pull down the covers of the bed, and gesture for Ana to get in. She groans and moves towards the bed, still trying to cover herself as best as she can. This is almost too much fun. I cover Ana with the duvet, and my good humour dissipates when I see that she is seething.
"Sleep well Anastasia. I will see you tomorrow" I am about to head out of the room when Ana stops me.
"Christian?"
"Yes"
"I haven't agreed to start a relationship with you." She reminds me.
"We will talk about that tomorrow. Get some sleep"
# # # #
I wake up in a thick coat of sweat, and start to shake a little from my nightmares. They are never far away, but this one was worse than ever. I look at my surroundings and I attribute the height of the horror of my dreams to this room. I never sleep in the spare room. It is my submissive's room and it reminds me of the time I was one. It unnerves me. I look out the window and witness the light starting to chase away the darkness of the night. However, I feel shrouded in darkness. I need to brake this. I need to prepare Ana to be open to sign the submissive document and then take her into the playroom. If she won't, then I need to move on. I can't keep going like this. It has been too long.
I head downstairs, and rather than walking past my bedroom, I feel compelled to enter. Common courtesy would dictate that I knock or resist entering, but this is my apartment after all and if Ana signs then she will have to get use to the fact that I will take liberties with her personal space.
I am struck by how at peace Ana looks. Her skin is perfection and I think I am only starting to comprehend how beautiful she really is. My eyes become transfixed to her lips and it takes all of my self-control to not bend down to kiss them. Ana stirs and turns overs, causing the covers to pull away from her. Fuck! Her camisole has ridden up and her long legs, panties, flat stomach and small waist is exposed. She is perfection. I lay on the bed, and reach out to touch her. Her skin feels so soft that without thinking I move my arm down her arm. I want to touch her all over. Ana suddenly moves again, startling me. I jump up out of the bed and walk out, though not before looking back.
I glance at the clock at take note that it is six in the morning. The penthouse is still silent and I move towards my piano and start to play. I loose myself in the sad melody not because it is how I feel, but because I fear I may never have what I want.
"You wake up early" I look up, and there is Ana. She looks like an angel in the early morning light. She still has her camisole on but sadly is wearing a pair of sweat pants now.
"I don't sleep very much." I admit.
"You play really well" Ana compliments as she walks towards me.
"Thank you, and I am pleased you are walking much better. Does your foot hurt?"
"No. It's a lot better."
"Good. Can I interest you in some breakfast?"
"Yes, but after I eat, I should be getting back to my apartment. I am not having any problems getting around and you must have a lot of work to do" My lips form a hard line and I shake my head.
"I have no work to complete. I informed you yesterday of that fact"
"You run a multi-billionaire corporation and you have no work to do?" Ana comments humored.
"I am very efficient at my job. Plus I have a highly competent and vast staff that are more than capable of holding down the fort. Besides as I have alternative business that I want to negotiate today, as I told you yesterday"
"Business?" Ana says confused.
"Did you sleep well last night?" I ask cocking my head to the side.
"Yes, but what does that have anything to do with what we were talking about?"
"You aren't as edgy and feisty as you have been since I met you. You are more compliant, mellow. I like it! You should be like this more often" I grin.
"Only if you agree to stop being overbearing and dictating." Ana challenges. Ah, and sassy Ana is back.
"I meant what I said. I want to have a relationship of sorts with you and we need to talk about it. Today. However, first we need to eat."
"You are a little obsessive about eating" Ana comments but after putting on a pair of jeans and a top, joins me in the kitchen.
Mrs Jones is already in the kitchen and has just finished preparing a breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, muffins and fresh fruit. I instruct Ana to sit at the breakfast table, where Ms Jones passes her a cup of English breakfast tea and myself a coffee.
"Help yourself" I smile internally as Ana confidently takes her fair share of food. Maybe she is finally starting to relax a little. Mrs Jones, through routine, passes me a copy of today's paper.
"Can I see some of the paper?" Ana requests.
"Of course. Which part would you like?"
"The first few pages." I nod. I am much more interested in the business section anyway.
"You are interested in politics?" I raise my eyebrows, looking at the article she has taken great interest in.
"Yes! Why wouldn't I be? You make it sound as if it is a great shock" Ana comments rolling her eyes.
"No! I never said that" I comment sternly. "It is just that you don't seem the sort of person, to be interested in politics." My candid comments causes Ana to drop her fork and glares at me angrily.
"I think that is the worst thing anyone has ever said to me" She get up to start to walk away, but I grab her arm.
"That was never my intent. I only meant that…" Ana scathing look at me causes me to stop. Not because it has unnerved me, but because no one, especially no female, has looked at me like that before.
"Because I am an English literature major, that my head would be in the clouds and I would have no real interest in reality?" Ana comments, arbitrarily finishing my sentence.
"Well… you were the one who said it" I challenge her.
"I will have you know, Mr Billionaire Grey, that unlike you, I didn't come from an affluent family. Decisions the government made impacted my family, so I learned from a young age that I should take an interest in the day to day decisions of the government." She scolds.
"Well, Ms Anastasia Steele, I should also let you know that regardless of the fact that I was adopted into an affluent family, decision the government makes impacts on me, and most of all my employees." I point out.
"You're confusing! You do know that, don't you?" Ana remarks.
"What are you confused about?"
"Sometimes you present yourself as Mr Cold – I am so much better than anyone else, and then sometimes you show that you have….. A heart. That you really care about everyone around you" Ana comments shrugging.
"Some people would argue that I don't have a heart" I comment
"I would….." Ana starts to respond but stops. "Actually no I don't agree" She looks amazed at her answer. Ana shakes her head and commences to focus reading an article. I doubt that she really cares about the article she is reading right now, but is pretending to be to distract herself. I can't help but smirk, knowing that I have started to get to her. Oh Anastasia, you don't even realize that your tough exterior is cracking and soon you will be mine. I decide to humor myself in this very normal scene, and continue to read my part of the paper whilst finishing my breakfast.
"Would you like some more?" I offer after Ana finishes everything on her plate.
"No Thank you. That was delicious" Ana informs me but the tone in her voice doesn't match her words.
"Are you sure?" I probe
"Yes, sorry I was just reading about the President's proposal on gun control. " I inquisitively analyse her disapproving expression.
"Interestingly I would have thought that you would be anti-guns"
"My father, well stepfather, was in the military. He taught me how to shoot, but most of all he educated me about gun safety and their proper use." Ana announces proudly.
"That was very responsible of your father; however, most people don't get the same instruction. People, kids specifically, make mistakes and when they can access guns easily, then people die. My father has gone to court over too many crimes involving guns, and my mother has had to patch up too many victims from gun shots." I emphasis.
"But restricting or eliminating guns isn't the solution. It won't stop gun crimes" Ana replies.
"I agree. However, it would definitely make an impact. A few decades ago there was a mass shooting in a café in Australia. The government then imposed very severe, tough gun laws, and they haven't had a mass shooting since." I point out, refuting her previous agreement.
"But legislation can pass easier in Australia than America. Their executive in part of their legislative branch, so all they need to do is get their Senate on board. Plus all their state governments didn't oppose the new gun laws. Also, Australia doesn't have a Bill of rights, where one of the amendments is the right to bear arms." I nod acknowledging Ana's valid point, though I am still extremely anti-gun and believe the legislation needs to be introduced. Obviously still fired up over the issue, Ana has stood up in front of me.
"We need to educate since legation…." I can't help but ignore Ana's continued argument as my eyes become focused on her lips. Even without lipstick they are a rich pink colour and are perfectly shaped. Strangely, I long to kiss them, in a way, I have never felt before.
"Christian! Christian, are you listening?"
"Yes... no… ummm... yes." I recompose myself.
"No, you weren't. Do you find me that boring?"
"Not at all!"
"Then why were you looking at me like you weren't listening. You were a million miles away" Ana observe
"Because there was something else on my mind."
"And what was that?" Ana's annoyance, at my rudeness doesn't deter me from what I am about to do.
"Let me show you." I slide off my chair and close the gap between us. I look into her blue eyes, and then put my hand behind her head. "You are so beautiful," I tell her before I lean down and place my lips on hers. I pause for a second feeling her lips on mine before making slow, tender movements. Even though I don't want to, I stop and look back slightly to gauge Ana's reaction. This is one of those occasions that she can't find any words to say.
"Can I kiss you again?" Ana nods slowly. At least for now, I can read her just like the books she reads. She wants me to touch her, but she is apprehensive. I lean down and press my lips against Ana's, this time she responds eatery. Opening her mouth and allowing me to possess her. Much to my excitement she responds with a similar amount of force. This is the most passionate kiss I have ever experienced. No woman to date has ever affected me like she does.
"Well, that was unexpected" Ana comments after we finally pull our lips apart. "Is that how you usually get women?"
"Are you complimenting Ms Steele? Am I that good a kisser?"
"You are definitely not bad, thought in fairness to you, I have to admit that I haven't had much experience. So I am probably not a good judge" I cock my head to the side at Ana comment of her lack of experience. I wonder idly how many men she has been with. I say a short, and very rare prayer that her experience is limited. I want her to be all mine, in every way. Nonetheless, reality hits me. She is beautiful and has been a college student for four years. She probably has been with several fuckers at least. "Oh, hang on I just remembered, you don't do relationships… or at least not how I would define them. What did you mean by that?"
"We can talk about that later." You are not ready to reveal that right now. You would run! "First we need to talk about other matters."
"We have talked a lot already" Ana comments rolling her eyes.
"I know, a fact that amazes me, but we need to talk even more. It is the only way we are going to progress. Let's go into the living room" I take Ana hand and walk with her. Once and awhile I look down to make sure she is walking easily.
"Sit" I order. Ana complies immediately and a glimmer of hope rises up in me. Maybe she can be submissive, even if it is in short periods.
"Christian, I still don't understand why you want to be with me. You can have anyone."
"I know I can have anyone, and the one that I want is you. You challenge me, you are bright and you are exactly my type. I like brunettes" I reach over and tuck several loose strands of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks. My hair is too long. I need to cut it." Cut it? NO!
"Don't cut your hair short. It is too beautiful" I tell her urgently. I long to wrap her hair around my hand. "So Anastasia, what would you like to do today?"
"I don't know. I guess I could just read or watch TV. This way you can work"
"Actually I have another idea. Do you have anything you need to do tonight or tomorrow?" I inquire.
"No, I would just have to ring Kate or she will worry. But..." My lips form an automatic hard line. If Ana tells Kate, then she might tell my noisy brother. Fuck it! I will risk it and just go into damage control.
"Ring Kate now and be ready to leave in thirty minutes. I will have Mrs Jones grab your backpack and pack a few items for me, though I can get anything we need where we need delivered to us. I need to speak to Taylor and make some plans." I walk off to my study before Ana can question me or respond. I don't want little Miss feisty to object.
"Ready?" I question Ana. I am glad that she has put on a jumper. It can get cold where we are going.
"I am at your mercy" She replies
"I hope I can take you literally," I smirk. Ana's jaw practically hits the floor in confusion and shock, but at least lets me take her hand as we head towards the elevator. The elevator door opens to the top floor of ESCALA and there she is. Thank gosh they got her here on time and on short notice.
"Your company helicopter" Ana point out as she sees the GEH logo on the side of the helicopter.
"Yes, but Charlie tango to be specific. Let get your buckled in and we can be off" I tightly strap Ana in and her harness is giving me so many ideas. Fuck! I am going to have get my thoughts in order or I am going to burst out of jeans and we will never fly out of here. I get into the helicopter and commence the pre-flight check.
"You are going to fly this?" Ana asks
"Yes. I am fully qualified"
"Wow. So where are we going?"
"Don't worry about where, think about what we are going to be doing" I smirk. Ana lips part slightly as she exhales. I have her where I want her!
Authors Note: Okay so this was a filler chapter, but the next few chapters that I am writing are much more interesting. Hope you didn't mind the little political discussion…. I spend several hours a week discussing and research this subject, and I wanted to give Ana more substance.. Thanks.