Chapter 17: Settling into Married Life

Ana and Gideon honeymooned in Great Britain. Knowing that his wife loved British Literature he took her to England to tour the towns that her favorite authors had lived or wrote about. They spent a month enjoying their time together. They made love, they took walks, they visited historical buildings and places, they saw the changing of the guard, they went to pubs, and they fell in love with England together!

They arrived back in New York City at the end of July. Gideon carried her across the threshold of their apartment and right to the bedroom where he laid her on their bed. He gazed down at her in adoration. "Welcome home, Ana." He covered her body with his own and kissed her softly. His hands roamed over her body and began taking off her clothes. "I need you so much."

Ana moans filled the room as his hands brought her body to life. "I want you, Gideon." She whispered against his lips. "Love me, just love me." She undid the buttons on his soft white cotton shirt. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and let her hands trace over his pecs and abs. He was hard and muscular. Her fingers fumbled with his belt and then worked on the button and zipper of his trousers until she walk his pants and boxers down over his hips. Her warm hands grasped his already throbbing hard cock. "Mmmmm, there's my big boy."

"Vixen." Gideon laughed. His smiled radiated the joy he never believed that he could ever have or feel in his life. Ana made this happened. She came roaring into his life and changed everything. She made him want to laugh and to play. She showed him that there was more to life than work and obtaining money. With Ana he wanted the dream. He wanted home and hearth, he wanted love and devotion, and with her he wanted a family. His hands went into her silky tresses and he caressed her head as he kissed her. "I think we should revisit and discuss having children sooner than we decided."

Ana was shocked speechless. A baby? They talked about having children but she assumed they would wait awhile. "Gideon, I thought you wanted to wait awhile."

"Whenever it happens, it will happen. I'm not saying that we get pregnant this evening." He gave her a gentle smile then kissed her once again. "Goddess, when you are ready, then we can start trying." He felt her relax. "I'm just saying that if we have a surprise I won't go crazy."

"I do what to have children with you, but can we get settled into our new life as husband and wife. I want to experience us before we add children into the mix. Can you give me a few months?"

"Goddess, like I said, whenever you are ready?" He had her skirt undone and was pulling it over her hips and down her shapely legs. She wore a pretty sapphire lace garter belt with matching thong and bra. His hand traveled up and down her silk clad legs. "Mmmm, Ana, silk stockings…I do like." He captured her lips with his and kissed her with passion. "Let's keep these on while we make love." Ana giggled as she agreed. He was inside her quickly and stayed still enjoying the feeling of being cocooned in her warmth. He was breathing hard as his heart raced wildly.

"Please, Gideon…I need you." Ana begged. "I love you."

Gideon brought her legs over his shoulders and he began to move slowly at first then slammed hard and deep inside her. He wanted her slow and gentle and he wanted her fast and hard. He would worship her with his own body. Their mating was special and deep with feelings. He couldn't explain all the feelings that were running through his body, but he only knew that it felt great. No other woman made him feel like this. Only Ana could touch him on so many levels. "Come for me, Ana. You are so tight and wet…I …need you to come with me." His voice was raspy and deep. "Now, Ana…now." She threw back her head and yelled as her body fell apart under him. Her body wrapped around him and clinched down and Gideon could feel his release come hard and almost violent. He let loose of her legs and they automatically went around his hips. His eyes were closed as he pumped out the rest of his orgasm. "My Ana. My wife. My love." He whispered to her. "You make me so happy and content."

Her arms were locked around his neck. She had tears of love and joy in those beautiful eyes. "Oh, Gideon, you are my life. I will love you forever."

Summer faded into autumn as the Crosses went to work and came home to enjoy their life as a married couple. They enjoyed going out for dinners by themselves and with friends. They partook of the cultural nightlife of New York City by going to Great White Way and seeing shows and going to different nightclubs to dance. They were seen almost daily in the society and gossip pages. There were bets in some of the gossip rags on how long until Ana was pregnant. Ana had learned to deal with paparazzi when engaged to Christian so she easily ignored the photographers that followed her constantly trying to get the money shot of a baby bump.

Ana picked up her phone off her desk and noticed that it was Kate calling. She answered with a big smile on her face.

"Steele, you damn bitch." Kate said laughing. "I read in the Star Caller that you are preggers and you're having an alien baby. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh, shit Kavanagh, I didn't want you to know that Elliot was an alien and the father." Ana teased back. The girls busted into laughter. "So, Sis, how you doing?"

"Exhausted. The wedding is only a month away."

"I love your wedding invitations. I see Mia's hand in them." Ana said sitting back in her office chair.

"She has been a godsend. I wouldn't know what to do without her." Kate declared. "But, I still wish that you were my Matron of Honor. Mia said she would step down if you want to change your mind. I can always add another groomsman to even out the wedding party."

"Kate, I don't think that would be a good idea. With Christian being Elliot's best man I think it would be best if I was just a guest. But, I promise to get you a very nice wedding gift and something extra special for your honeymoon."

"Ana, please just think about it. Don't let Christian keep you from us. We are sisters and I love you. He will just have to learn that you will be in my life forever, besides Elliot and I hardly ever see the man."

"I tell you what, I will discuss with Gideon and get back with you."

"Thank you, Ana. I love Mia, but you are my best friend and the sister I never had." Kate was trying hard not to cry. She missed Ana so much. "So, tell me how is married life to Mr. Stud."

Ana had to laugh at Kate's nickname for Gideon. She bit her lip thinking that it fit Gideon so well. He was a well-hung stud and she was damn glad! "Mr. Stud is a wonderful husband. He is supportive of my career and he doesn't keep me locked up in an ivory tower."

"Oh, yeah, I want to thank you for the wedding pictures that you sent. I love them so much."

"I'm glad that you and Elliot were there with us." Ana smiled. "Did Elliot figure out that I painted his toe nails pink?"

"No, I got blamed for it. He said that little Ana would never do something like that!"

Ana laughed out loud. "He doesn't know me very well does he?"

"Hell no! You have him hoodwinked." Kate laughed. "Oh, well, it's still funny. His feet are so ticklish that he wouldn't let me use polish remover on him. I just don't know how you did get them painted."

"He was passed out, Kate. I could have done full makeup on him and he wouldn't have waked up." Ana noticed that she three emails come into her mailbox and one was from her husband. She clicked on it and read it as Kate talked about wedding flowers, her frustration with the caterers, and Elliot wanting to leave the reception in a hot air balloon which Kate refused to do. Ana rolled her eyes at Elliot's idea. "Just for orneriness I should order you a pink limo to take you from the reception… you know to go with his pink toe nails."

Kate began to laugh. "Hot pink!"

"Where are you going for the honeymoon?"

"We are going to Hawaii." Kate answered happily. "Two weeks in Hawaii with Elliot Grey, a dream comes true!" Kate took a breath. "From the pictures you emailed me it looks like you had a great time in England. You and Gideon look so happy."

"We are happy, Kate." Ana had to smile. She was crazy in love with her husband. "He makes me feel so loved and secured without suffocating me to death. I can actually go out with friends without having to ask for permission."

"I'm so happy for you, Sis. You deserve such joy. Soooo, when are the babies coming?"

"We are discussing. Probably in the next few months I will go off my birth control and we will start trying and Kate, that's off the record."

"Of course." Kate said rolling her eyes. "Well, sis, I better get off here. I'm late for work…again."

"Girl, you need to get a better alarm clock!"

"I didn't sleep in Silly, I fucked in."

Ana chuckled understanding completely. "That makes two of us, Kate. Give Elliot my love and try to stay out of trouble."

"Laters, Sissy."

"Laters, Kate."

Ana's attention went to the email from her beloved husband.

To: Anastasia Cross

Subject: Lunch?

From: Gideon Cross

Date: September 12, 2013, 10:15am

Message:

Darling Wife,

Would you interested in having lunch with me today? I find that I cannot concentrate today and I need to see your beautiful face.

Let me know.

Gideon

Gideon Cross, CEO, Cross Industries, Inc.

To: Gideon Cross

Subject: Re: Lunch?

From: Anastasia Cross

Date: September 12, 10:30 am

Message:

Beloved Husband,

I would love to have lunch with you today. I have a writer's meeting at 11:00 am but can get away at noon. Do you want to make the reservations?

You think you have trouble concentrating, try doing it with wet under-panties. Every time I think about this morning's romp, I cream my panties. I think I should keep a supply of them in my office.

I love you!

Ana

Anastasia Cross, V.P. Cross Publishing, Inc.

Ana grabbed her phone and left her office for her meeting with one of her writers in the conference room. She heard the beep of her email program and read it quickly to learn that Gideon would make their lunch reservations and he would be at CP at 11:45am to pick her up.

She replied with a text message that she would be ready for him and that she was going into the meeting with the President of CP, then with the writer.

She went to her short meeting with Dalton Kemper who could be described as the classical man's man. He was tall, handsome, with dark honey-colored hair and emerald green eyes and with a rugged male beauty that had women stopping and staring at him. Ana never feared taking a meeting with Kemper alone because he was a devoted married man and the father of four children. She looked at him as a favorite Uncle. He approved of her newly written contract that she wanted to offer this new author. It wasn't the usual deal that they offered writers. This author had one chance with CP and his contract was for just this book. Even though, Ana found his manuscript interesting and worthy to be printed, she didn't want to take a long term risk with him.

Her meeting with the author went well and he signed the contract for one book with an option for CP to resign him depending on how well his book did sell and if he proved to be a dedicated author. By 11:40 am Ana was walking out the front door to meet her husband. She smiled at Gideon who was leaning against his Bentley wearing his dark navy suit and his muscular arms crossed over his chest. She caught her breath as she always did when gazing upon this perfect specimen of male beauty.

"You are quite a sight, Gideon." She said standing on her tippy toes to kiss him.

"And, you are beauty in motion." He said as his hands went straight to her behind and squeezed her buttocks. "I could easily take you in the car right now. I hunger for you, Ana." His mouth crushed down on hers taking her mouth possessively. He wanted everyone to know that this woman was his and he wanted to reassure himself that she did belong to him.

"Gideon, you keep this up, we might not make it to the car." She joked with a devilishly sparkle in her eyes.

He pushed off the car and opened the door. With his hand still on her bottom he guided her into their car. He slid in beside her and they embraced in a wild fury of passion not caring if their photograph was being taken.

Christian was walking through his offices like a man on a mission. He was back. He took back control of his life and his business. After his break-down he decided that his life would go back to pre-Ana normal and would be all about control. Every part of his life was in his complete control. He never spoke to his employees unless he needed to but he did nod once in awhile at one who had done a good job. He walked passed a cubicle which had a gossip site up on someone's computer. He just caught it by the corner of his eye, but it stopped him in his tracks. He stepped into the empty cubicle to read the story and look at the photographs. There were five different photographs of Ana and Gideon standing next to what looked like a Bentley. One picture was of Ana standing on her tippy toes to kiss her husband, there were three pictures of Gideon's hand on Ana's ass from different angles, and the last photograph was of them kissing passionately in the back of the Bentley. He sighed heavily then read the accompanying story.

Mr. and Mrs. Cross were caught outside of Cross Publishing, Inc. today in a display of a very public moment of passion. It looks like this power couple has a powerful love affair going on. Sources report that New York's lovebirds are about to feather their nest with hatchlings. Time will only tell and everyone is waiting for that tell-tale baby bump! Looking at these examples of PDAs it won't be long until we see little Crosses running around the city!

Swallowing his anger Christian stalked out of the cubicle. He went straight to his office and slammed the door behind him. He started to go to the bourbon bottle but stopped himself. Drinking would not help him to forget her. She moved on and he knew that he had to. He had to get over her somehow and someway because her best friend was marrying his brother and he was sure that their paths would cross. He went to the window and stared out over Seattle. His kingdom spread out before him. He was the King of his world. His word was law. He was The Christian Grey. He still missed Ana. "Fuck." He whispered against the glass.

With a sly smile on her face Ana sat across from her husband. Her stocking clad foot was in his lap and rubbed against the bulge in his pants. She was biting her lip and teasing Gideon without mercy.

"You have to stop before I pull you out of that chair and drag you to the bathroom and have my way with you." She only giggled at his deep voiced threat. "Ana, you are making my pants too tight."

"You make my panties wet." She said in defense of her actions. To give him relief she stopping wiggling her toes and rubbing up and down his crotch, but she kept her foot in between his legs.

Her powder blue eyes stared into his electric blue eyes. Her body yearned for his. He kept her in a constant state of arousal. She had to get her mind off his sexy lips and them on her skin. "Kate called me this morning."

"How's the wedding planning?"

"I think she is wishing that she and Elliot had gotten married in Vegas." She said with a sad smile. "She is stressed out."

"I'm glad we did a simple and sweet wedding with just a handful of family and friends."

Ana nodded agreement. When the news of their marriage broke they were in the air on the way to England with no one knowing exactly where they were going. By the time they returned home the news of their marriage had become old news. "She asked me to reconsider being her Matron of Honor."

"What did you tell her?" Gideon asked shrugging his shoulders.

"I told her I would discuss the matter with you."

"Goddess, it's your decision." He declared.

"It's our decision, Gideon. Stop and think who is going to be Elliot's best man. I don't want any drama caused by me being in the wedding to ruin Kate's day."

"I see your point, but you and Christian have been over for almost a year. Surely, he has come to terms with this by now."

Ana looked away and shook her head. "He had a nervous breakdown. I guess he started to drink heavily and his parents had to take control of the situation." She said quietly. She blamed herself for his pain. "I think it would best for everyone if I only attend as a guest."

"I still think you should be her Matron of Honor. She came to Vegas at a moment's notice to stand up for us. Listen, I will be there and I don't think Grey would do anything to upset the wedding of his older brother." Gideon was amazed that he wasn't threatened by Christian being in such close proximity to his wife. He was secure in their love, their devotion, and their marriage. He knew Ana was a loyal wife and she would never hurt him. "But, it is still your decision. I don't want you regretting not being in your best friend's wedding later on down the line."

Ana reached out and took his hand. "How did I get such a sweet and understanding husband?"

"I guess you are one lucky lady."

With a bright smile Ana nodded agreement. "That I am! I will call Kate and tell her that I accept"

Gideon picked up his ice water and saluted Kate. "To Kate and her Matron of Honor. Cheers!"