Christian Grey did not like the photographer.

Anastasia Steele had phoned him the previous evening, requesting a time for the photo shoot he had promised, and he had been more than happy to oblige. But he had not expected her to come with her own personal boy-toy at her heel.

The photographer was young, 21 or 22 at the most, and he was fit, and his eyes found Anastasia's every chance he got. He'd learned from eavesdropping on their conversation that the only reason the boy was even doing this photo shoot was at Miss Steele's request. She had him wrapped around her finger, and eating out of her hand…and if she enjoyed the boy' company as much as the boy seemed to enjoy hers…Christian did not like to share his things, this would need to be investigated further before he made her his. The discovery had soured his mood considerably, but he dutifly obliged Katherine Kavanagh's demands throughout.

After the shoot, it took only a small amount of cajoling on his part to get Miss Steele to agree to join him for coffee. Initially she'd tried to decline on the basis of needing to drive her friends back home, but that hadnt been entirely true. If he didn't know better, he would think she was playing hard to get on purpose.

Christian stood at the counter in the small, local coffee shop, ordering his latte and muffin, and Anastasia's beverage. The girl had requested English Breakfast tea, bag out, and Christian was not entirely sure why but he found that request so very endearing. Her preferences were odd, and her experiences seemed very limited. She'd startled when he held her hand, as if no one had ever done that with her before. Where had this girl been waiting all this time, it felt as if he'd been searching for her his whole life.

"Is the photographer your boyfriend?" Christian winced internally as the question came out of his mouth. He'd meant it to sound far more casual than it had. Instead he'd blurted it out the first chance he got, after returning with her tea, his coffee and muffin. She spluttered, her eyes widening at him as she shook her head vehemently.

"Jose?! No no! He's more like…my brother" She explained, regaining some of her composure. Christian smirked…poor boy, friend-zoned. Good. He took a bite of his muffin, grinning internally at the way her mouth popped open as her eyes were drawn to his lips.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" May as well stick with the blunt approach, he thought. She shook her head, still watching his mouth.

"Hm? Uh…no." She flushed a little. Adorable. Good. Very good.

"Tell me about your family." He commanded softly. He needed to know more about her. About what drove her, about her wants and desires. That was the only way he would be able to bring her into his world.

By the end of their conversation, Christian was feeling more and more like an intruder in Anastasia's world. She had such bold ideas and bright hopes. And all he could think about doing was dragging her down to his level, into his darkness. He was sick. He needed help. Dr Flynn had been doing his level best with therapy, but it clearly wasn't enough, because even as she'd been talking, all Christian could do was imagine what her pretty lips would look like wrapped around a bright red ball gag. And when she bit that lower lip of hers, it sent electricity coursing through his body. He needed to put a stop to this. She was not in his world. She did not belong there, and he would be remiss to drag her down with him.

This was not going to work. And the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

Anastasia was not even sure why she was crying. She had barely managed to make it away from the enigmatic Christian Grey after the man refused to kiss her without breaking down in front of him. He'd told her to steer clear of him, but only after he'd invited her for coffee, had she made that much of a fool out of herself that he never wanted to see her again? She hadnt even been sure whether or not she wanted to go for coffee with the man, and now she found herself sobbing uncontrollably in the parking garage outside her apartment complex, feeling utterly dejected by his rejection. What was wrong with her?

"Excuse me miss, are you alright?" A male voice drew her attention from her self-deprecation and her head snapped up. Grey eyes. Piercing, inquisitive grey eyes stared back at her from beneath a bearded face. She recognized him.

"Y-You were in the hardware store the other day" She hiccupped, hurrying to wipe her tears away, humiliated enough as it was. She saw recognition flash in his eyes and he nodded.

"Yes. The other day, you checked me out," he confirmed, smiling kindly. She flushed, embarrassed by the memory.

"Are you alright? I heard you crying from the street." He was kneeling at her level but stood when she made a show of attempting to stand, offering her his hand in order to help her up.

"I-Im fine….thank you, Mr…" She paused, realizing belatedly that she did not know his name.

"Peter." He supplied for her, "Please, call me Peter." She smiled.

"Ana," She introduced herself and extended her hand. He shook it, staring at her intently and Ana was again struck by the remarkable resemblance between this man and her own Mr. Grey. Not *your* Mr Grey. Her subconscious sneered at her unkindly.

"Will you be alright?" Peter asked. "Can I see you home or anything?" Ana shook her head.

"No, no… I'm fine. Thank you." She declined. After all, she was not a complete invalid. She could make it home on her own. He smiled at her and nodded.

"Very well. It was good to meet you, Ana." He grinned boyishly at her and was off. She shrugged and pulled herself together. She couldn't explain why but after the brief meeting she did actually feel a bit better. Peter was a good soul, she figured.

Christian needed to pull it together. He wanted Anastasia Steele so bad it felt like he was going mad. She was too innocent. Too inexperienced. She would be better off far, far away from him, preferably in a different time zone. She had wanted him to kiss her on the street, kiss her right there like some ridiculous romantic comedy. He was not a rom-com kind of guy. He smiled to himself mirthlessly. If she only knew. He wouldn't have needed to tell her to stay away, she would have run screaming.

Deciding it was best for his sanity for the time being to push Steele as far from his mind as he could manage, he thought it best to focus on work, he had emails to send and meetings to set up. Before he could begin that however, a message in his inbox caught his eye. It was from Alice.

From: Alice Porter

Subject: My Request

Mr. Grey,

I want to first take a moment to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to sub for you these last three months. I enjoyed every moment of it and I am only sorry that I could not provide for you what you needed as you have provided so generously for me.

In response to your statement Monday morning, there is one fantasy I've always had, outside of subbing for you, which I have been unable to safely fulfill. My request is to act out a role-play scenario in which I am not necessarily your submissive, but rather a captive of sorts. I will detail my request in writing for both your safety and mine, as I know that is of the utmost importance to you, Sir.

In my fantasy, I would sneak into your home as if to rob you, or perhaps find something with which to blackmail you for a rival business partner. You would catch me in the act and, rather than calling the police, you would take my punishment into your own hands. I would like to fight back and attempt escape only to have you overpower me. I would maintain the safe word and all hard limits would still stand, of course Sir and I would not try to hurt you in any way or touch you where I know it is forbidden. I would like you to bind me in the playroom and give me the beating of my life, before fucking me however you choose. Finally, I would like to humbly request the addition of facial slapping and minor choking to acceptable activities as I believe that would add some realism to the scenario.

If you accept Sir, please inform me of how you would like me during the scene and I will oblige. If not, I understand and look forward to serving you once more this weekend. It's been a hell of a week and I could use the release.

Yours,

Alice

Christian finished reading the email from Alice for the third time and sighed to himself. She was every bit the professional in her manner, even as she requested that he basically rape her, in a scene. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Fuck. He'd told her he would consider it. But fuck.

He preferred his submissives willing and compliant. He enjoyed watching them orgasm under his dexterous fingers almost as much as he enjoyed binding or spanking them. He wanted them begging for his cock, not struggling against it. But he liked Alice, and she had done her best to be good for him. This was not an uncommon fantasy among women thatshe was requesting, he knew that. But could he? Really?

He typed out a reply.

Miss Porter,

I too would like to take a moment to thank you for your service these last three months and for your understanding in my declining to renew your contract further.

As a reward for your impeccable service, I will oblige you your fantasy; however. I will change some of your specifications to fit my desires as well.

I accept the addition of facial slapping but will refer you back to the contract, Appendix 2, hard limits, which include breath play. I will not be including choking, light or otherwise, in our scene. It is dangerous. And you even requesting it is in direct violation of section 16 of the contract you shall not put yourself in direct harm or involve your self in any activities that I deem unsafe. I have half a mind to punish you for that alone. That being said, I will indulge you in the rest of your fantasy. I will catch you. I will punish you. I will tease you. And I will fuck you, but not before first having you beg for it.

Finally, in order to enact this fantasy appropriately, I will be unable to rely on your body to give me clues as to your endurance and needs, therefore, in addition to you usual safe word of Red, I will be employing my own safe word. It will be Green. If at any point during the scene I say green, you will reply with "Green" and we will continue. If you do not reply with green at that time I will assume you are at the limits of your endurance and the scene will end.

Until Friday,

Christian Grey

Christian hit send and then leaned back in his chair. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration and sighed deeply. This was not his usual forte. But he had offered. And he did find himself feeling guilty about Alice, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Thursday was the graduation Ceremony at WSU. He would focus on his agricultural projects with the school until then and worry about what to do with Alice, Friday.