Chapter 34: What the hell

Author's note!

Got this one out whilst preparing for Chinese New Year. I have served my duties by cooking up a storm, cleaning the family cars and preparing those damn oranges. Enjoy this one… or not. Hahahahaha. Muahahaha.

What the hell.

I put my hands on my hip and gripped onto it so tight that I once again felt my nails digging in. There Christian was, knocking back shots, with no other than Elena Robinson. I bore my teeth and narrowed my eyes. He knew how I felt about her and how she made me feel. I could never understand why he would still keep her round. I certainly would have never stayed friends with an old man who had raped me as a child. But then again, Elena was not for her age, even hotter than I was. Was that what Christian was after?

Ugh! It made me angry just thinking about it. Here I was trying to help protect Christian and get to the bottom of it all and there he was, off flirting with Elena like I did not exist. I had said I needed time, I did not say that that time consisted of leeway for him to be hanging around with an old flame. Just then, Christian brought Elena's shot and his together and they laughed as they chugged it down. Why was he saying he was miserable when he clearly was not?!

All that talk about me making him happy, only me, must be a lie. Because I had just walked out on him at the office and would have never thought that he would wind up here, with her. I was so furious that I could spit. My hands dropped to my sides like balled up fists, shaking and shaking and shaking. I growled and clenched my teeth together. That jerk.

I was not going to run this time. I had spent my time running for far too long, I needed to confront him right there and then. No other time would do. Hah. I was becoming another Christian Grey, an in the moment kind of girl. Stalking up to the two of them, I made sure to stand in between them and grab the first glass of vodka Christian had evidently ordered for Elena.

As I threw it down my throat, I watched as Elena looked amused and Christian seemed shocked to see me. He better be. I slammed the empty glass on the table and reached for the next, dunking it into my system faster than the first one. As my hands wrapped around the third glass, Christian grabbed the glass as well, holding it firmly to prevent me from doing any more damage.

Elena let out a sickening laugh, "Oh Christian, you never mentioned that Ana was an alcoholic."

A look of annoyance crossed Christian's face as he pursed his lips and I could not be entirely sure that it was aimed at Elena. For all I knew, it was targeted at me. That made me angrier and I fought off his hand for the glass. Clearly if drinking was his thing, I would gladly oblige.

"Is that why she's an ex?" Elena teased, tipping me off the edge.

I spun and glared at her. "I'm not an alcoholic, you bitch."

"She's not my ex." Christian spat.

Elena raised her eyebrows, clearly impressed by the fire within me. "From what Christian's been telling me, I'm pretty sure even if you're not one now, you're definitely headed in that direction."

What? Christian had talked to her on multiple occasions? Not only this time?! I thought about the previous times I had gotten drunk, the two dates so far apart that I was made certain that Christian and Elena had been meeting up far too often for my liking.

"Elena, stop." Christian ordered, not at all happy with the information she had so casually leaked.

"No, continue." I snarled. "Have you been fuc*ing my fiancé too?"

I grew irritated with her following chuckle, letting out a huge gust of air like an overheated train that needed a release. "Why don't you ask him that yourself?" The knives stabbed my heart from all directions.

"Shut the hell up, Elena." Christian was furious, his arm snaking around my waist and pulling me away from the troll.

"Hey, you're the one who calls me out." Elena shrugged with a teasing smile on her face.

I grabbed Christian's hand and threw it off me, turning to face him head on. "You wanted us to talk it out? So talk!" I shoved his biceps backward. Christian remained firm, his jaw squared as he deliberated his next move. "Why on earth have you been with Elena?"

"Anastasia, she's only trying to help."

"TRYING. TO. WHAT?!" I blasted in complete disbelief.

Elena was pitching in. "Who else would come up with the idea of dumping all the alcohol in both Escala and your apartment?"

My brain was beginning to be overwhelmed with all these confessions. "YOU LET HER INTO BOTH MY HOUSE AND OURS?!"

"F*** you, Elena!" Christian groaned. "Just leave already, I'll have to fix the collateral damage you inflicted!"

"Alright. But I'll assure you," I heard her heels make contact with the marble floor. "You'll come running back to me."

It was as if those words were meant for me. Elena was staking her claim on Christian, she was pointing out that he truly belonged to her and not to me. Christian and I remained completely still, our gazes locked in a battle as Elena retreated.

"You want to talk!" I hollered, "SO TALK!"

Christian's eyes scanned the club scene behind me. "We'll do this in private, Anastasia. There's a room in the back."

"I'm not going anywhere until you explain why you've been seeing your ex." I folded my arms stubbornly.

I observed as Christian pursed his lips and then he rose to his feet. I came face with his chest and he grabbed my waist, lifting me up and over my shoulder so my head and legs hung down at either sides. "GO TO HELL!" I screamed, thrashing against his hold. But he did not stop, instead, he continued walking.

When he finally put me down, it was in a small cozy room with couches and a coffee table. "You know how I hate being carried like that." I accused.

"Yes, I do." He stroked his eyebrow. "But it was necessary."

"It wasn't. And so is meeting your ex-lover every time we have a tiff."

Christian's eyebrows furrowed. "This is so double standard of you!"

"How is it even double standard?!"

"Whenever you fight with me or walk out on me, you run to Ethan!"

"IT'S NO THE SAME THING. YOU FU**ED HER, ETHAN AND I HAVE ONLT EVER KISSED."

The fire glinted in his eyes. "That's reason enough." I clenched my jaw in utter disapproval. "And contrary to what Elena believes, I never sought her out. I've told you, I'm not much of a talker either way."

"She said..." Before I could finish, he interrupted me.

"That night, she rose up in the same elevator as my friend who was carrying your drunk self. He explained to her, not me." Christian explained with a stern look, daring me to question his loyalty. "She was coming up to get some papers signed for her salon."

"At such a late hour?" I found it hard to believe.

"I was returning from New York late and she needed those papers by the next morning, Ana." Christian reminded me and added in a key factor. "I wanted to be with you the moment I landed, I wanted to sleep in with you. So there was no way I would agree to meeting her outside."

I felt myself flush at his confession. It was surprising... And sweet. I would have never thought...

"Before you accuse me of concealing Elena's role in this, I'd like to point out that you came home stone drunk and I was too furious to explain her to you."

That was a valid argument.

"The second time, she found out because it was her hard liquor."

"What does that even mean?" I blustered.

"It's a Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch, Anastasia. One of the twelve in the world, she was purchasing it for a alcohol auction she's attending." He pursed his lips at me and I could gage the rough cost that bottle had been valued at. "I so happened to have the connections to get it for her and I was just holding onto it for her."

I swallowed nervously under his judgmental gaze. "It tasted yummy."

He smirked, "I'm glad you think so. You chugged down $63 000 worth of it, Steele. And I had to explain to Elena why I could not deliver her order."

Something then occurred to me. "You never reprimanded me for it."

Christian let out a gust of air through his nose and his gaze softened. "We had a moment, I was not going to throw it away over a silly promise to a friend." That was the morning that he had scrambled back to Seattle to be with me. "I was just merely going to warn you about becoming an alcoholic, but then you jumped to a conclusion and left me."

It was accusatory once more and I took a step back, my bravado beginning to scrape itself off my vulnerable self. Christian had always had me in mind. If I were in his place, I would have killed Ana and dumped her into hell. "I'm not turning into an alcoholic."

"You best not, it'd be my fault." Christian shook his head, as if unbelieving that his introducing me to better wines had been the cause for all of this.

I reached out to hold his hand, "Never."

Christian stared down at our hands and he intertwined them, "You chose Jack over me today, Ana."

A sinking feeling filled my stomach and my hands were clammy. How was I going to explain this situation to him without revealing what I already knew?

As if reading my thoughts, he grimaced. "You have to tell me the truth, because the same way Elena and I looked to you, that how you being with Jack made me feel."

The familiar pang of guilt hit me and I dropped my head. It must have looked like that to Christian, the rage and jealously would have filled him to the brim. But I was doing it for him.

He has to know, my inner goddess told me with all seriousness.

"It's incredibly double standard if you think about it, sweetheart." His voice was gentle and soft, like velvet sliding down a baby's skin. "I feel the same way about Jack as you do about Elena."

I had to buy some time to think. "Why were you with her today, baby?"

Christian remained his serene self. "Baby, I don't feel like you love me anymore. I really don't." Upon finishing his sentence, the pain seeped into his eyes and he just looked so… sad. It broke my heart.

Carefully, I brought my free hand to frame his jaw, running my hands along the familiar stubble. "I will always love you, Christian Grey."

"You chose Jack." Christian pouted slightly, subconsciously. "And Elena happened to call me for lunch, so I thought, why the hell not?"

"So you didn't know I was going to be in this hotel?" I arched an eyebrow at him.

Christian shook his head against my palm, a question in his eyes. "No, I was quite surprised that you were here. Elena recommended the place."

Elena recommended the place. My brain began to draw parallels, connecting the dots. Could it be? I needed more evidence, I had to have more evidence. Anybody could have asked Jack to meet him here, not just Elena.

He squeezed my hand, "Why did you choose Jack, Ana?"

"I…" I could not find the words to explain, neither could I bring myself to confess to him. "I only chose to have lunch with him, Christian. I've already chosen to spend the rest of my life with you."

In response, Christian lifted my hand with the vacant finger. "This does not support your point."

In exasperation, I sighed. Leaning forward onto my tiptoes, I brought my lips to his softly. Christian grip around my hand gave me the necessary support to deepen the kiss and he began to bring the hand behind his back so I fell into his chest.

As he carefully lowered us both onto the nearby couch, I broke away for a moment and gasped for air. "Is that evidence enough?"

"I miss you, Ana." Christian told me, flipping me over onto my back so he could pin me down. "You've been so irrational lately, but I miss you."

"I miss you too." My chest met his every time they rose.

Christian closed the distance between us and locked our tongues once more, his hands exploring downwards. His right hand paused at my right breast while his left hand kept on going, caressing my hipbones with a tease. His lips began to nip at my neck and I moaned. "Come home, Ana." He whispered.

I deliberated. Of course I wanted to. I knew I belonged with Christian, I belonged to him in every way. There would never be anybody else for me except this man right here who was driving me crazy with his sexpertise. "Come home." He persuaded.

I groaned as he found the overheating spot in between my thighs and he sneaked him thumb under my underwear and pushed it aside. "I love you new fashion sense." He nuzzled my blouse in confirmation. "Except, it's restrictive in a way."

"Get on all fours." He commanded and I did as I was told, resting my weight on my palms and knees against the leather.

Naughtily, Christian grinded himself into my back and I gasped at his rock hard erection. "I'm going to remind you that you're mine." He told me matter-of-factly, adding oil to the heat I was on.

I felt his fingers run up the side of my outer thighs and he folded the fabric up so my ass was exposed to him. He let out an appreciative groan. "I've missed the sight of you fine fine ass, Ms Steele."

My breath hitched as his palm caressed the sensitive areas. "I'm going to spank you, Anastasia."

"Why?" I was breathless, my brain hazy.

"You want the list?" Christian chuckled. "First, despite whatever I've said, you've constantly indulged in irresponsible drinking." The first slap against my butt cheek set off a dark fire within me and I groaned.

"Secondly, you ran out on me and jumped to an otherwise, irresponsible conclusion." He hit me once more, harder this time, and then soothed my ass with the back of his palm.

"Thirdly, you refuse to come home." He growled and hit me hard across my cheeks, I could feel myself getting wetter in knowledge that I had been a bad girl and he was now punishing me.

"Fourthly, you hung up on me this morning." Christian wacked me once more, this time in between my butt cheeks. He nudged my thighs apart with his legs and I felt his breath against my sex, inspecting my arousal.

I heard his zipper go down and I lowered my head a little more to catch him pulling out his impressive shaft from its cage. "Fifthly," There'a s fifth?! "YOU. CHOSE. JACK. OVER. ME." He shouted, in the same moment, he entered me to the hilt and his palm hit me the hardest he had ever hit me before.

I gasped in shock and then fell into a mouthful of moans as he pulled out of me only to slam back into me. "You're mine, Steele." He panted like an animal, taking me doggy style. "With." He slammed into me. "Or." He banged into me once more. "Without." Rammed himself deeply into me. "Your." His grip on my hips tightened as his ball sac swung up to meet my skin. "Ring." He snarled.

"YOURS!" I screamed, intoxicated by the violence in his sex.

Christian fell forward slightly, his chest against my back as he put his hands against my shoulders. Leaning to meet my ear, I was momentarily stunned by the depth he had entered into me. "Tell me if it gets too painful, sweetheart." He kissed my earlobe tenderly, so different from the current situation.

I gave him a nod of approval and he began to pound into me at a brutal rate. I felt my eyes roll back in pleasure, this sex so savage and so raw. My moans turned him on and he increased the passion, his hands reaching to grasp my breasts as he hammered into me over and over.

I began to feel my insides quiver and he must have felt it too, because he bit the soft spot of my neck whilst pulling at my covered breasts, shoving me off into oblivion just as he released a large shot of cum into me as well. He did not stop after one explosion, I felt him empty into me thrice before it stopped.

"I love you." We both said in unison.

Just as before, Christian could only reassure himself of my love for him in this way. He had to join our bodies together in such an erotically coital manner in order for him to understand that we were okay. We really were okay.

"The ring goes back on, Ms Steele." Christian huffed, not even willing to negotiate this time. "I will glue it onto you until we switch it out for a wedding ring."

Taking some time to calm my breathing, I paused before deciding to tell him the truth. "Christian, I need you to promise to be calm."

That seemed to pique his interest immediately. He pulled out of me immediately and I winced at the displeasure. Lovingly, he helped me straighten my panties and assisted me in sitting down beside him. "What did you do, Ana?"

Blushing, I cast my glance away. I was so screwed.

"Don't make me ask again, Anastasia."

"Look." I began rubbing my shoulders subconsciously and making me feel guiltier, he reached around to rub them for me. "Someone's been trying to shake your investments in Asia." I did not want to lock eyes with him, it would suck my courage entirely. "It's not a coincidence."

"How did you know?!" Christian was flabbergasted. "Did anybody attack you?"

Instantly, my head snapped up. "You knew?"

"Of course I did, I'm never that bad in my business to leave that many loopholes." Christian explained. "Someone was unthreading the business, are you okay?"

"I'm unharmed." I assured him. "Are you okay?"

Christian smiled affectionately at me, "It's just a silly business, Ana. I already have my whole world sitting right in front of me." The colour rose in my cheeks again. "Did something happen?"

"Jack Hyde…" I started.

"What did that fu**er do?!" Christian flared, pulling my protectively into his chest.

"No, he's been tricked, Christian. Somebody tricked him into believing that I was in trouble and he needed to help distract you through your Asian counterparts in order to break me away."

"You were in trouble? Why?" Christian arched an eyebrow in worry. "Were you?"

"No," He relaxed upon my words. "Someone sent him a photo of you…" My voice trialed off.

Christian's hand tilted my chin up so he could stare right into my soul. "Tell me, Ana."

"It's of you.. in dom mode." I squeezed my eyes shut.

In response, Christian gently squeezed my chin until I opened my eyes. I opened them to a stormy grey, "When?"

I knew what he was referring to. "It's not with me, Christian."

He heaved a slight sigh of relief. "Good."

"You looked young, like really young, Christian."

His eyes tightened. "What?"

"I couldn't see the girl exactly, but you looked much younger. You were probably twenty."

"What the hell?" Christian was not taking this well. "What has this got to do with you?"

"You were holding some… equipment." I winced. "Jack slipped under the impression that you were an abusive boyfriend."

Christian grimaced, acknowledging that that would be easy to swallow for someone of Jack's standard. "Is that how you see me too?"

"No, of course not." I kissed his cheek to reassure him.

"Thank you, baby." Christian nuzzled my cheek in response. "So you went out with Jack for…?"

"I wanted to find out who he was working for."

That made Christian furious. "HOW DARE YOU PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER LIKE THAT?!'

"It was for you!'

He smashed his hands against his head in utter frustration. "WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU THINK THAT THAT WOULD JUSTIFY PUTTING YOURSELF IN DANGER?!"

"Don't yell at me." I whimpered, like a dog with a broken leg.

The effect was instant and with a look of apology, he softened and brought me against his chest once more. "The last thing I want is for you to get hurt to protect me. I want to protect you, I need to."

"I want to protect you too."

"That's why I love you, Ana." He cradled me warmly. "But I can't let you."

"Aren't you worried about who took those pictures? They're probably circulating as we speak."

"Welch has been on his toes with information about me, so rest assured that this threat is definitely internal." He was dead confident. "But I'll call him just in case, do you have the photo?"

"Internal?" His confidence was persuasive and soon I too begun to feel that this was not as bad as I had made it out to be.

Christian nodded. "It's a direct threat aimed at me, whoever this is, he's trying to get my attention."

"It's a she." I stated.

He cocked his head to a side. "A she? How'd you know?"

I felt proud. "My detective work with Jack." Oh lord. "JACK!" I leaped to my feet. He was probably still waiting in the restaurant, probably already panicking over my sudden exit and prolonged return.

"What?" Christian followed swiftly.

"I left him upstairs, let's go!" I persisted, starting for the door.

Christian caught my hand and I stopped to stare at him. "Don't ever let my hand go, Ana."

I gave him a twinkle and squeezed his palm, "Never let go."

Christian gravitated towards me and fixed his lips against my forehead. Pulling back, he murmured a soft "mine". This was then penetrated by his rowdy "Let's get that bastard", as he led me out of the club hastily.

The moment we made it out of the lift and into the lobby, a pacing Jack Hyde confronted us. Momentarily, I pitied the man. "Jack!" I called. "I'm sorry for making you wait."

His head whipped up and he looked thrilled to see us. Both of us. He stalked right up to our union and Christian tugged me behind him, squaring his shoulders in a testosterone flare. This was never going to get old.

"Mr Grey," Jack appeared to be trembling. "Ana." I peeped out from behind Christian's shoulders as far as he would let me with such a death grip. "She goes by the acronym of E.L. That's all I know, I'm so sorry."

But it was far more information than I needed to piece the puzzle together. "Elena Lincoln." Christian and I said in unison.

Oh, Look, no cliffhangers. Review.

What the hell ; Avril Lavigne

Take me to the riot; Stars

Dao Xiang; Jay Chou

Just give me a reason; Pink Ft Nate Reuss