Enjoy x

Ana was sitting in a small coffee shop just down the road from the publishing offices having a strong black coffee when she felt someone sit down on the chair opposite. She lowered her manuscript and saw who was sitting there.

'Jess…what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?'. She ignored both the questions 'I need to know…I need you to explain it to me'.

'Explain what? Does Christian know you're here?'.

'The whole….dominant thing…I know about the contracts. And no, of course he doesn't'.

Ana looked surprised and put down the newspaper slowly 'Jess…this isn't really for me to explain to you…I think Christian should be the one to explain…it's complicated'

Jess didn't look placated in the slightest 'don't treat me like a child Ana, I need to understand this'.

She sighed and took a long drink of her coffee, glancing around to check no one was close enough to hear them 'Look, I know what you probably think…but it's not like that'

Ana bit her lip in thought for a few seconds

'Jess, what you have to understand is that he's not one of these people that get some sort of pleasure in other people's pain. He doesn't go until it hurts, it's just, you know...rough, I guess. It started because he can't be touched, I'm the first person that can without him freaking out'.

'Why?'.

'Why- that's a question for Christian to answer, not me. It's not really my place Jess'.

Jess nodded slowly, tapping her fingers idly on the table. 'So..it's not...violent?'.

She got the answer she wanted in Ana's derisive snort 'no, not at all. It's just at the point where it's good...really good'.

Ana blushed and waved a hand 'I shouldn't be saying this to you-'.

Jess cut her off sharply 'I'm not a kid Ana, clearly I've had sex before, I've got a son for christ's sake'.

Jess stood swiftly, buttoning her coat as she stood in front of Ana 'So, it looks like I need to speak to Christian?'.

Ana nodded and Jess sighed, glancing back at her briefly.

'It nearly killed him when you left. He's a mess...either come back or finish it completely. Me and him might have our differences, but I don't want to see him walking around like a wounded puppy all the time. If Christian ever loved anything in his life Ana, it was you'.

Ana blinked in surprise and Jess sighed, glancing around the fairly empty coffee shop.

'Can I ask…why did you leave? He said he was getting rid of all the contracts…if that's the issue?'.

'It wasn't the contracts, well, I mean…that didn't help. Everything was just too much…he wanted too much from me you know…when we were having sex and stuff. It was like he was constantly comparing me to his exes…I just felt like I could never measure up, you know...I wouldn't do all that stuff, the things in the contracts... I could never be the person he wanted me to be, I could never be those girls'

'Christian doesn't need the girl on the paper Ana- he needs you'.

Without another glance, Jess left the coffee shop, leaving Ana staring after her with wide eyes.

Christian had ice cubes wrapped in a tea towel on his injured hand as he held the phone to his ear with the other one.

He was sitting at his desk in the Escala study, barking orders to Ros down the phone.

Halfway through the conversation he saw Jess at the door, wearing a blue dress and a pair of black leggings, her long red hair was in it's long natural curls and she watched him for a second, the two making eye contact as Christian continued to speak and listen to Ros.

After a few seconds she dropped her handbag in the doorway and disappeared back into the apartment out of sight.

'Ros, I know full well what the costs could be, but we can't not make the shipment-'. He was evidently cut off as Ross started barking back at him down the phone.

Jess was back at the door, with a small bottle of antiseptic, cotton wool buds, bandages and an assortment of other things he couldn't see.

She moved into the room and put the items down on the desk beside Christian, who was looking at her warily, still listening to Ros down the phone.

Jess put a finger to her lips in a shush motion and made the motion for him to continue talking.

It was awkward and stilted due to his confusion, but Christian continued to talk to Ros, his eyes never leaving Jess.

She drew up the spare chair and sat just in front of Christian, putting a medical glove on her right hand and quickly putting her glasses on as well.

Christian watched her warily as Jess took the melting ice in the towel away from his hand and leant over it, examining it closely.

'I know, but the last...uh...the last shipment got through. We can't-we can't ignore this one'. Jess placed a piece of kitchen towel on the table and pulled his hand towards her, gently taking out tiny shards of glass that were still embedded in his hand and fingers.

Christian winced a few times but continued to speak, still arguing with Ros.

Without saying anything or looking up, Jess methodically worked around his hand, removing the glass onto the kitchen paper. When she had finished, she opened the antiseptic, poured it onto the cotton buds and gently cleaned the criss-cross of cuts on his hand.

Still completely silent, she held Christian's hand and bandaged it quickly, fastening it expertly.

She took off the glove and put everything used into the bin beside Christian's desk, sitting back in the chair and watching him intently as he quickly finished the conversation and hung up the phone.

'I...thank you...you didn't have to do that'. Jess shook her head 'you shouldn't have left the glass in it, but of course you're too stubborn to ask anyone to help you weren't you'.

Christian saw the hint of a smile before she pulled her legs up and put her arms around them, mouth twisted as she looked awkward.

'Christian...I need to understand...I saw Ana, I know you'll kill me for seeing her, but I had to understand...I had to understand all of this. She tried to explain, she said it's not to see the woman in pain...it's just to make it more intense?'.

Christian nodded awkwardly and Jess continues before he can speak 'Is it because no one can touch you?'.

He nodded and Jess sighed 'I need...I need you to explain this Christian, please?'.

Christian ran a hand through his hair and sat back in his chair, looking awkward 'I don't know where to start Jess'.

'Just start from the beginning'

There was a long extended pause before he sat forward, taking a deep breath before he began to talk.

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