Chapter 10

Anastasia PoV

I woke up in the morning, far too warm. I opened my eyes and discovered that Christian was wrapped around me like a burrito. His head was on my chest, his arm wrapped around my waist, and his leg draped between mine. He radiated heat, like my own personal sun. I liked that idea, but it wasn't helping me stay asleep.

It was shocking to me that I still didn't feel threatened by his physical closeness. I hadn't ever been able to let someone this close physically or emotionally. This wonderful man has changed nearly everything about me in the span of just a week. And I know that he's changed a lot, too. I ruffled his hair lightly and kissed his forehead.

As I carefully slipped out of bed, miraculously not waking him, I found my new robe and padded out to the living room. I'd given my bag to Taylor, and had no idea where he'd put it. I needed to check my messages in case something catastrophic happened at Steele Designs. He was nowhere to be seen, so I'd have to either wait for Christian to wake up or hunt through the house for my purse. Sure I'd shared a bed with the man, but I didn't feel entitled to rifle through his closets just yet.

There probably was a hall closet where my bag was put, that seemed innocent enough. I headed towards the foyer in search of it. Taylor appeared out of nowhere and asked if I needed assistance. I jumped when he spoke. "Oh, I'm sorry Miss Steele. I didn't mean to startle you."

"You must have been a ninja in another life," I said once my pulse calmed down. "You took my bag from me when I came in last night. May I have it please?" He chuckled lightly then led me to the wall next to the elevator doors. I blinked at him in confusion.

"Yes of course. I placed it here, in the closet. I should have told you where it was in case you needed it. My apologies. Your shoes are there as well." When did he collect my shoes? Were they still there when I sang for Christian? I couldn't remember. He opened a closet that was previously invisible, the hinges being hidden. It looked like part of the wall just opened. Mystery house style; I liked that. My shoes were on the floor, my purse hanging on a hook just inside the closet door. I thanked Taylor for his help and he disappeared silently. Odd, that.

"You're leaving?" I heard Christian's voice ask. He sounded so sad.

"No, of course not!" I replied, peeking at him from the other side of the closet door. "Why would I leave without saying goodbye? Where would I go in this thing?" I asked, gesturing to my very thin robe that left little to the imagination. "I was just getting my bag to check my messages. Taylor put it in here."

"Oh," he replied. "I woke up and you weren't there. I guess I panicked. Sorry. I tend to overreact sometimes. Flynn and I are working on that." I watched as his muscles relaxed. Apparently he was really worried about me leaving. Why would I leave when I had just poured my heart and soul to him the night before? And gave him the most intimate part of me. He had some serious abandonment issues, yet another thing we needed to work on.

"Good," I said, backing out of the closet and closing it. The break in the wall all but disappeared when the door was closed. If I didn't know it was there, I wouldn't have ever noticed it. Awesome. "I want a closet like this in my house. Get on that, would you?" I demanded playfully, giggling.

"I'd do anything to see that smile and hear that giggle every day," he replied, taking the tone down a bit. "Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?" He was wearing nothing but a pair of flannel pajama pants that hung off his hips deliciously.

"Yes, that would be lovely," I said, taking his offered hand and following him back into the kitchen. "Wait, first things first." I stopped him. I leaned up on my tip toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "Good morning, boyfriend."

"Good morning, girlfriend," he said back. His smile was dazzling and had me swaying on my feet. "You let me hold you last night."

"I feel very safe with you," I replied. "Your touch doesn't bring back horrid memories. Perhaps we can get there with you one day, too. I held my hand above his chest, over his heart, and paused. I needed his permission to do this, as I'd taken his hand last night and placed it over my heart; he needed to take the initiative here.

"I… I can't," he replied. I dropped my hand. "Not yet. I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Christian. We'll get there," I reached up and patted his cheek and headed the rest of the way towards the kitchen. I paused at the end of the bar to rifle through my purse for my phone. As I suspected there were several messages from Kate and even a couple from Ethan.

8pm: Ana! How's the date going? Are you naked yet? Let me know! K

10pm: ANA! Seriously, what's going on with Mr. Money Bags? Is he showing you a good time, y'know what I mean?! K

10:30pm: Big sis, Kate seems to think you're purposely ignoring her texts, but will answer mine. Apparently both of us are curious as to how your date is going. Well, I just want to make sure he's being a gentleman. That's what brothers are for, right? E

12am: ANASTASIA ROSE STEELE! I'm going to come over there if you don't tell me what in the eff is going on!

12:15am: I calmed Kate down, no worries about her showing up tonight. But we would like an update. Please call or text soon. E

With that, I decided to call Ethan. He'd be much easier to talk to than Kate, as she was apparently pissed at me. "Ana! Thank god!" he answered.

"Jeez, where's the fire, Ethan?! I have one date with a guy and you both freak out. I'm a grown woman for Smurf's sake," I replied, rolling my eyes at his reaction. I glanced at Christian who seemed amused by my interaction with my brother.

"First date," he amended. "First date EVER. The random dinner on Monday hardly counts, and it was at our house. Wednesday was in a public place. Last night you were at his place. Alone. And you didn't even tell us where he lived. Seriously, Ana, it's dating rule 101. I don't care if we do know his family. When you go to a man's place for the first time, you give someone his details in case we have to come searching for you."

"I'm sorry, Ethan. I'll keep that in mind. But I'm fine. Last night was great, and we're about to have breakfast." I tried to ignore the double standard he just gave me. He has never given me an address or a name for any of the women he's dated in the past. Unless he entrusted that information to someone else.

"You're still there?! You spent the night?! Oh dear god. I do not want to think about my sister that way. Oh god!" I giggled, imagining him trying to rid his mind of the mental image of me in bed with Christian. Well, we did it on a piano bench, but still. I heard what sounds like a struggle or someone dropping the phone.

"ANA!" Kate yelled, having stolen the phone from our brother. Oh dear. "You have some serious explaining to do. Where are you? When are you coming home?"

"I'm still at Christian's," I explained. "We're about to start breakfast, and I'm starving so I'm going to let you go now. I'll be home later. I'm not sure when."

"Wait, what? You're still there? Did you? Oh my god, you did. It's all in your voice! Yay! No more V-card for Ana-bear!" My cheeks flushed at her words.

"Goodbye Kate!" I said as I hung up the phone.

"That sounded interesting," Christian mused, a beautiful smirk on his face.

"Yes, my siblings are having fits over my having a boyfriend. Which they don't even know officially yet. They know I'm here and that I spent the night… they're filling in the blanks, I guess."

"Well, I'm sure they'll tell Elliot and Mia and I'll be getting similar calls later today," he added, chuckling. "Oh, how many changes you're making in me, Miss Steele. Now, on to breakfast."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"Um…" he replied. That right there told me that he rarely set foot on the other side of the breakfast bar.

"Not to worry. Leave breakfast to me," I said. I gestured for him to sit down and I went to work locating a skillet, a mixing bowl and all the ingredients to make a Spanish tortilla.

He watched in rapt attention as I deftly cut up the potatoes, chopped the peppers, cheese, onions and mushrooms and whisked the eggs. I whirled around the kitchen, never missing a beat. The potatoes were frying a few minutes before I added the mushrooms and onions. Lastly I added some peppers and freshly minced garlic before pouring the eggs in. "Wheat or white toast?" I asked, holding up both loaves. He indicated wheat and I set about toasting the bread while the tortilla was finishing up. I then cut up some fresh fruit I found in the crisper and plated the meal, tossing some shredded cheese on top of the tortilla.

"Wow," he replied. "I don't think Mrs. Jones can even work that efficiently. How do you do it?"

I shrugged. "I love to cook. It's one of few places that I'm in my element that I feel most comfortable. Plus, everything in this kitchen is so accessible. Whoever designed the layout and organization deserves an award of some kind." He smiled and took his first bite as I sat down next to him. He moaned in delight.

"Good god, woman. First the bruschetta, the tortellini, and the soufflés. Now this. You've got every major meal covered. You should definitely open up a restaurant."

"Maybe someday." I thought about it briefly, but hadn't decided if being a chef at a restaurant was something I really wanted to do. I loved cooking for one or two people or maybe a small gathering here and there, but not necessarily a restaurant full of people every day.

"Perhaps you and my sister Mia could open one up together," he suggested. "She studied cookery under some renowned chef in France. And I know she's an excellent cook, too." The idea was intriguing. Perhaps once Steele Designs really took off, I could relinquish the reins to my sister and brother, and pursue other things.

After breakfast, the doorbell rang. Or rather, the elevator dinged, alerting us to someone's arrival. "Christian?" a woman's voice called out. It sounded like his mother.

"Yes, mother," he replied, confirming my suspicion. He seemed slightly surprised, but not put off by her unannounced arrival. "What brings you here?" He leaned down and kissed her cheek in greeting. She kept her hands to herself, I noticed.

"Oh I wanted to stop by and see what you were up to today; I thought maybe we'd have brunch together." As she finished her words, she peered around him and spotted me perched on the bar stool, wearing nothing but a silk robe and a shy smile. "Oh, but it looks like you've got company. Who is this lovely young lady, Christian?"

"Anastasia Steele, my girlfriend," he replied.

"Ana, please," I amended, hopping off my stool. "You know my parents."

"Oh yes! That is you. Without the mask, of course. How lovely to see you again, dear!" She greeted me in the same way as her son, keeping her hands to herself, but leaning in to kiss my cheek. My parents must have tipped her off. "And his girlfriend?! Oh that's wonderful! I'm just thrilled for the two of you!" She was grinning from ear to ear, practically bouncing in place with excitement, clapping her hands together. "Well, I won't keep you. I just was driving by on the way home from a house-call for one my patients and thought I'd drop in. You two have a lovely day! And I'll see you tomorrow Christian, and perhaps you, too, Ana?" She looked at me curiously but beaming happiness. I looked at Christian, who nodded, smiling back at his mother. "Oh excellent. Well, see you tomorrow, then!"

She bounded out of the house practically turning cartwheels, she was so happy. "What was that about?" I asked as I heard the elevator close.

"She's never seen me with a woman before," he explained. I raised my eyebrows. "No one in my family has. I kept my arrangements with my submissives very, very private. For my own protection, truthfully. I imagine my mother is rather excited to see me not celibate." I considered that for a moment. My family had never seen me with anyone before either. My parents were sure to have a conniption.

"What's going on tomorrow?" I asked.

"Family barbecue," he replied. "I suspect Kate and Ethan will be there as well. I realized I told my mother you'd be there without having asked you first. Is it even something you're interested in?"

"Yes, of course," I said, smiling. "Do you think we should invite my parents as well? Since all their kids will be there."

"Great idea, I'll just text that to my mother. She can arrange that, since she's good friends with them." He pulled his phone from his pocket and sent his mother a quick message.

"I wonder how the parents will react when they see that all three of us Steeles are with all three of you Greys," I said, giggling. Christian grinned at me.

"I'm sure they'll be glad that they're already such good friends, if wedding bells are ever in the air for one, two or all three couples, they'd be getting to know each other rather well."

"I know what I'd like to get to know well," I whispered seductively, eying him up and down, hoping I was pulling it off. I figured the answer was yes, as Christian swallowed loudly and blinked several times.

"You… um… you want to… again?" he asked, stumbling over his words.

"Oh very much so, Mr. Grey," I replied, giving him my best attempt at a smolder. He swallowed again, pulled me off my stool and half ran with me into his bedroom. He closed the door quickly and turned to me. I could already see the beginnings of an erection poking out from his robe.

The look in his eyes told me everything I ever needed to know. He wanted me and he cared for me.

Christian PoV

I'd never had a woman suggest sex to me before Anastasia. I'd always been the initiator. Now, she'd done it twice. In the span of less than twelve hours. This woman who not a week before was terrified of sex. It was more than humbling that I was the man who changed her outlook on it. I walked towards her slowly, drinking in her every curve before reaching out to pull the tie from her robe loose. It fell open revealing her beautiful body to me. She was self-conscious about her scars, but I saw nothing but beautiful creamy skin that blushed beautifully under my gaze.

"You are exquisite, Anastasia. I can't believe I get to have you all to myself," I said quietly. She gasped at my words and stepped backwards, her legs hitting the end of the bed, causing her to sit down on the mattress. As I reached her, she shakily reached forward and pulled the tie from my robe open. I shrugged it off my shoulders as she removed her own robe and scooted up the bed. I knew she wasn't quite ready for anything more that simple vanilla sex, but even that with her was so amazing, I had no complaints.

I climbed up the bed, hovering over her, and leaned down to kiss her passionately. "You amaze me," I told her. I pressed soft kisses all over her gorgeous face, down her neck and made my way to her beautifully pert breasts. My tongue laved her skin, my teeth pulling on her nipples, making them stick out.

"Oh Christian," she breathed. "That feels incredible." She was squirming beneath me, rubbing her thighs together, searching for friction.

"Your nipples are so sensitive," I said as I tugged on one of them, watching it harden immediately. She gasped in pleasure. "Shall I make you come this way, baby?" She groaned in response, unable to give me a verbal assent. I continued my ministrations on her breasts.

"Yes, Christian. Oh, god, yes!" she yelled, throwing her head back in ecstasy. I bit down harder and tugged on her pert flesh and she came undone. Before she came down from her orgasm, I swiftly filled her with my engorged member to the hilt. "Oh, yes, yes, yes," she chanted as I began moving within her. She was so incredibly tight. I wondered if she would always be this way.

"Ana baby, you feel amazing," I told her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my lips to hers. "Do you want me to go faster?" I asked. She nodded and I picked up the pace. Like the night before, she wrapped her legs around my hips and dug her heels into my ass. She lifted her hips, meeting my every thrust, allowing me deeper into her.

"Faster, Christian. Please," she begged. I sped up again, thrusting slightly harder than before. I could tell I was hitting her g-spot with every thrust. "Oh god, this is… this is… oh Christian!" she came again, harder than ever, her sex squeezing me like a vice, milking my own release from me. I grunted her name as I spilled into her and collapsed on her.

I was panting heavily against her, feeling the sweat of both of our bodies mixing together. As my heart calmed down, she traced lazy patterns along my back. What? I tensed momentarily, waiting for the onslaught of the pain and memories, but it didn't come. All I felt was the soothing balm of her soft fingers caressing my flesh. At that moment, I knew I loved this woman. I also knew that it was far too soon to tell her.