APOV

"Did you run a back ground check on Matthew Smith?" I close out of my voice mails as Taylor hits the button in the front seat and automatically the glass partition goes up giving us privacy. "That was subtle."

"Of course I did. The guy's going to be working for you. I needed to make sure he wasn't a freak or a criminal. I sent Missy a copy for his HR folder."

"I know, that's how I found out. He's my employee, Christian, not yours. Don't start meddling in my business or I will get seriously pissed."

"It's not your business I was worried about, Anastasia. It was your safety." He will never get it will he?

"Next time you want to do something like that that could impact my business or my employees in any capacity, ask me first." He answers tightly while he looks out the window.

"Will do. That's what you're pissed about?"

"Yes. But I've gotten so used to your overprotectiveness that this seems mild so you're getting off easy. Now tell me what you found out, I know hardly anything about him personally."

"29, African American, 5' 11", religious affiliation unknown, married, twin three year old daughters. Originally from Briarcliff Manor, New York but moved out here after college and met his wife. Graduated fourth in his class from SUNY with a master's degree in Asian Studies/Business Administration and a minor in Linguistics/Business Administration." He chuffs out a puff of air and grins. "That's a smart hire on your part by the way. You're amazing."

"He's amazing to have studied that way but thank you. Now, when you meet him, pretend you don't know any of that or you will freak him out."

The paparazzi have all but abandoned me at this point and the lone photographer hanging outside the Pilates studio snaps the obligatory photo of Christian and me walking in along with a few students. Riveting. Jared comes right over, does his whole granola eating, tree hugging, hemp wearing 'Namaste' and then retreats with Christian to the viewing room.

Since I have two pretty obvious….love bites on my body I leave my hair down and wear a light weight scarf, walking between students and focusing on proper positioning and stamina. Christian is on his phone the entire time, no doubt working now so that he can relax tomorrow.

Jared occasionally attempts to engage him in conversation but Christian politely cuts him off each time. I feel a bit bad for Jared but once you disrespect me, you're pretty much guaranteed to receive hostility from my boyfriend. Little Miss Matteo found that out the hard way this afternoon. The memory makes me smile and I turn to find his face, watching me through the glass.

He offers a little wave and then rolls his eyes and his neck towards Jared who is still attempting conversation. Christian makes a gagging motion with one hand and then crosses his eyes and lolls his head to the side dramatically. Funny as it is, I hope this is the last class he insists on coming to, it's hard for a few of the ladies in my class to concentrate. I can't blame them, when sex itself is sitting a few feet away and it looks like him, it's tough to care about the form of your V sit. The second the class is over he walks out purposefully, gives those same ladies a panty dropping smile and then grabs my hand pulling me to the SUV.

I change into my 'plane' outfit in the back seat of the car while he watches and blocks Taylor's view of me earning him an eye roll and a chuckle. After a quick stop at Starbucks we arrive at Sea-Tac but instead of going to the terminals, we bypass them and drive to a secluded part of the airport I didn't even know existed. I have no idea what I was expecting when he said 'private jet' but it definitely wasn't this.

We've driven directly onto the Tarmac and are greeted by a beautiful blond who introduces herself as Nanette and then hands me a glass of champagne. Don't mind if I do, thank you very much. Across the side of the plane in big bold gray letters are the words 'Grey Enterprise Holdings'. My boyfriend owns this. I keep it together until Nanette ushers us inside and I take a look around.

"This is yours?" His hands are in his pockets as he rolls back on the balls of his feet. He's so proud it makes my toes tingle.

"Yup. Bombardier BD-700, custom made. This baby can fly from Seattle to Tokyo without having to refuel even once. He runs his hands over the tan leather seat closest to him like it's a lover. I've never seen him like this, excited by something other than me to the point of acting like a school boy. It's wonderful and I follow him around, trying to remember bits and pieces of the things he finds so exciting.

"Regina, my girlfriend Anastasia Steele, Ana, Regina Valen, pilot extraordinaire." We shake hands and she smiles at me warmly before going over a flight plan and protocols with Christian. I don't know if it's her perfect mocha skin or the way she smiles at me but Regina seems awfully young to be piloting a plane. As soon as we shut the cabin door I start throwing questions at Christian.

"How old is she? Shouldn't there be a co-pilot? How long has she been flying?" He laughs and cups my face, kissing me between each answer.

"I'm not sure but I think somewhere around 35. There is a co-pilot, me. And she's been flying since her dad taught her how to when she was 14, you'll meet him on the flight home. Do you think I would ever put you in danger?"

"No, I don't but she looks so damn young! And what do you mean you're the co-pilot?" His back straightens and he puffs out his chest.

"I can fly. I mostly fly my helicopter and my glider when I can but if there is an emergency on board, I can fly the jet." He walks past me, grabbing my hand again and rifling through the onboard kitchen until he finds a something he wants. "Apple?"

"No, thanks." I've never been nervous to fly but being the only two people up here, for some reason it freaks me out.

"Let me give you a tour while Nanette gets us some refreshments for take-off." Across from the kitchen is a small door housing a small room for Nanette to relax in so that we can have privacy. There's a seat and a single sized Murphy bed. I've never seen anything like it and he laughs at me when I ask him to put it down so that I can see it. There's also a miniscule bathroom as well as quite possibly the tiniest closet I have ever seen. Past the stewardess room is the main cabin. Towards the front is a wraparound tan leather couch facing a huge flat screen TV and further down are 12 oversized tan leather seats facing each other in groups of twos and fours.

"This door," he opens it and steps inside, "is my office in the sky. I can access any and all of GEH's records from here." His office is small by comparison but still manages to be impressive. Across the hall is a bathroom and a media center where laptops, printers, faxes and scanners are neatly organized. His eyes gleam when he gets to the back and final door.

"And this," he says, winking and grinning like a fool, "is where we're going to fuck." He walks in and spreads his arms out, looking up at the mirrored ceiling. "Oh yes! How could I have forgotten the mirrored ceiling?" Oh my god.

"Have you ever…..has anyone ever been in here with you?" A salacious smile spreads across his face as he stalks towards me, grabbing my ass and pulling me tightly against what is a quickly growing erection.

"Nope. Only you, baby. And before you can ask, no one's ever been to my Aspen house or the apartment in New York either." What?

"You have an apartment in New York too?" His nose nuzzles against mine as he nods, the warm heat of his body melting into me.

"Mmmhmmm. We'll go there soon. Come on, let's get in the air so I can get you back here." With a kiss meant for porn movies we walk out and settle into our seats. Nanette has spread out an impressive platter of cheese, crackers and fruit and refreshes our champagne.

"How long is the flight?"

"A little less than two hours, then it's about a 15 minute drive to my house." He pulls out his phone and shuts it off, handing it to Nanette who quickly stores it in his office before buckling herself in. Regina's voice comes over the intercom and informs us that we're next in line for takeoff and before I know it, Seattle is fading into the horizon as we rise into the clouds.

"Why isn't Taylor coming with us?" I've rarely, if ever, seen Christian out and about without him. He spreads some fig jam on a cracker covered in brie and looks surprised.

"It's the Fourth of July. I gave him tomorrow off." He begins to fix himself another cracker and continues. "Aspen isn't really a security concern of mine but we'll have a team anyway. I've met a few of them when I was last here with my family." So not alone then.

There is a heavy silence between us as we sip our champagne and nibble on fruit. Truth be told, I'm not exactly looking forward to seeing myself have sex. I've come a long way in just over two weeks but a vixen I am not.

"Hungry?" I ask him when he reaches for a cluster of green grapes. He slowly pops one in his mouth and grins.

"Very. But I'm in the mood for salted caramel." Oh god. "Know where I can get some all the way up here?"

"I could ask Nanette if she's got some in the kitchen." I squeak out, terrible at this game of seduction he plays so well. He stops mid-chew and laughs, standing the second the Regina lets us know we can move about the cabin. His hand shoots to mine and lifts me up from my seat, walking with purpose to the bedroom in the back.

Once the door is locked he leans against it, letting his eyes travel up and down my body before pushing himself upright by his shoulders. Instead of coming to me though, he walks towards the bed and sits on the edge, unbuttoning his pants and kicking off his shoes and socks. Not once does he look anywhere but at me.

"Strip." His voice is deep and husky, the demand in it rushing through me and instantly turning me on. The tank top and bra are tossed onto the chair in the corner but he stops me before I can take off anything else. "Leave on the heels and turn around when you take off the shorts." I know what he wants and despite my own nervousness, I'm going to do it for him.

I half turn and unbutton my fly, pulling the zipper down before looking over my shoulder at him, purposefully tossing my hair to the side so that he can see my pout. "Off." He mouths, rubbing the groin of his jeans with the flat of his palm. I push the white fabric down, bending over as it slips over my ass. He groans and then pulls his shirt over his head.

Damn he is so fucking hot. There is not an ounce of fat on his body, not one hair that doesn't look like it was placed there by an artist seeking perfection, not one mole or freckle that diminishes his appeal. I will do anything he asks of me right now.

"Come here and give me your breasts." I settle myself between his knees, standing so that his mouth is at the same level as my nipple. "So beautiful, Ana. So sensual, so feminine." He places two chaste kisses on each nipple. They pucker and flush at his touch, the only relief coming in the form of his tongue as he laves first one and then the other as his hands skate up the back of my thighs until he grips the curve of my ass.

After a minute he stops and shifts up on the bed, resting his head on a pillow before grinning at the mirrored ceiling.

"Come here." Oh god just his voice has me trembling. "Shoes on." He reminds me sternly when I reach down to unbuckle the red strap. "I want your mouth on my cock." The entire lower half of my body clenches, liquid gathering between my legs and readying me.

His legs widen to accommodate my body and with one long wet stroke I lick him from the bottom of his sack to the tip of his crown and back down again. He says nothing but jerks beneath me, his legs opening a bit wider so that I can suck on his balls. I like this, the power doing this to him affords me. There's a vulnerability on his part that I find to be such a turn on.

Keeping with our biting theme of late I gently nip up his length and back down, each time my teeth apply pressure his abdomen tenses.

"Suck it, please, Ana." I know he's afraid I'll tease him like I did on the Grace but I don't have the patience for that right now, I want him inside of me and if I need to do this to get that, then I need to make this quick.

In one deft move I suck him in as far as I can, my tongue swirling around the tip and the top of his shaft as I bob up and down. His legs are taught under my palms, the slight tremble a testament of his waning control.

When I glance up his mouth is open in an O and his eyes are glued to the ceiling. I had totally forgotten about the mirror but now that I see his appreciation, my reservations disappear. He loves this, I should too.

His eyes still watching I scratch my left hand up his abdomen, over his nipple and across to his heart where I grip the hair there gently. He groans and jerks, shutting his eyes for a second before opening them to resume his voyeurism. When I reach down with my right hand and tug at his sack he rears up, falls back down and then grabs my hair roughly.

"Fuck, yea. Oh shit, just like that." He's panting and moaning with each downward suck. "Ana, I'm going to come baby. Fuck don't stop. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" His back arches, his hand tightens, his legs shake but he keeps his eyes open until I've milked him dry, swallowing all he gives me and kiss up his chest to rest on top of him.

He's breathing hard, holding me to him in a loose limbed hug that screams of satisfaction. It takes him less than two minutes and before I know it he flips me so that I'm lying on top of him, my back to his chest so that I can see my very naked body in the mirror above. So this is his view. I need a wax.

"God, look at you. So fucking perfect." His large hands run over my chest and stomach and rest on my mound where his fingers drum lightly, the tiny vibrations sending me into a tightly wound frenzy. "Spread your legs for me." Brazenly I do as I'm told and plant my feet on either side of his legs. "Watch me."

Both of his hands reach up to pinch and pull at my breasts, grabbing them with his palm before dragging his fingers to the tips, elongating my nipples and making the coil in my womb twist. "You're dripping on me, Ana. Does this feel good, baby?" His neck bends forward to kiss my neck as I groan and writhe on top of him. I don't even recognize the woman above me, spread out and almost begging for him to fill me.

"What do you want, Anastasia?" I groan and close my eyes but he slides his now hard cock up through my sex, sending electric jolts from my groin to my brain.

"You."

"Where?"

"Inside me."

"Like this?" He chuckles and reaches around to hold his erection lengthwise against my parted lips, rubbing up and down. He pants in my ear when my wetness coats him.

"No, inside me, Christian. Please."

"Oh, you mean like...this." He slides inside me and I gasp loudly, arching my back so that I can grind down on him. It feels so good, so fulfilling to have him in me and underneath me. "Shit you feel amazing." He holds still for a minute and then moves slowly, both of our eyes focused on the visual above us.

In my entire life I've never seen anything so erotic.

"That's fucking hot. Holy fuck look at you." My red heeled sandals find leverage on the mattress and I lift myself slightly only to grind back down in a slow rhythm, circling my hips and reaching up to grab at his hair.

"So good, Christian." I pant and close my eyes, the sight of me like this almost too much. It doesn't seem real. "I want you so much. All the time." He growls and grabs my hips tightly and begins to raise his hips quickly, meeting my downward thrusts with his own. "Oh god, yes!"

"Fuck me, Ana, let me watch you fuck me like this." Oh my god I'm right there and it has little to do with his body and all to do with his words. I double my speed and grip his hair tightly, the gravely hiss in my ear an indication as to how well I'm doing. "Open your eyes and watch."

I don't want to, I'm afraid it will ruin the moment but he gives me no room to argue. One hand leaves my hip to grip the back of my hair, pulling my head aggressively to the side so that we're face to face. I can see myself the way he sees me, spread, wet, breasts bouncing on each thrust and for the first time I feel my true sexuality. His eyes are focused on his cock as it breaches my body but my eyes are focused on him.

"Come on, baby, I want to watch you come like this." He licks the shell of my ear and then pulls my hair tighter and the spiral starts in my breasts and travels at lightning speed to my womb.

"Fuck!" I scream, not caring who may hear or what I may look like. I need to come and now. There's a huskiness to his demand but I have no idea what he's saying, my entire body is focused on the painful pleasure desperate for release.

My eyes open wide as the coil springs, my eyes resting on his face. He's determined, almost angry looking, the tendons and veins in his neck dangerously close to snapping. I come undone, writhing and grinding down onto his larger than life cock looking for him to fill me. Our hands are pulling at each other's hair, our hips pumping furiously against each other's.

"God damn! Holy shiiiiiiit!" He roars and I watch the muscles in my own abdomen tense and ripple as my orgasm takes over. He jerks underneath me, strong thrusts of his hips turning into disjointed pulses and finally into stillness. Holy mother of god that was good.

"I'm installing mirrors in the bedroom at Escala. Give me my phone, I'll call Taylor now." I laugh and he slips out with a groan, rolling me onto my side and pulling the blanket from beneath us to cover our nakedness.

CPOV

She thinks I'm kidding but I am most certainly not, I want mirrors everywhere. Holy shit that was hot. Her body is sticking to mine, her hair strewn everywhere including my face but I couldn't move if I wanted to. That was, without question, the second most erotic sex I've ever had only trumped by the time I took her virginity. I smile and pat myself on the back. All mine.

We've still got a solid 45 minutes before we land so I untangle myself from her sweet body and tuck her in chuckling at her ability to sleep so easily. With a satisfied grin I get dressed and grab the platter of snacks Nanette has left out before I close myself in the office. Holiday or not, tomorrow the final audit report on Agnes Perkins is due and I want a total so that I can have her arrested.

Welch sends me a e-file update on Morton. He's visited a brothel in the last 24 hours but that's not a violation of his parole nor is it a crime worth jail so I leave it alone and focus on the latest report from Ray's friend who is hunting down Hyde. It chills and encourages me.

He's been able to determine that in the last 24 hours Hyde has been seen in two different locations in Seattle. The first one is the deli across the street from Ana's apartment and the other is at a gas station on the outskirts of town. An involuntary chill runs down my spine. Outside of Ana's apartment.

"Sir." I have zero time for pleasentries right now.

"When was your last contact with our guy?"

"30 minutes ago. He believes that Hyde followed you to the airport and is now heading out of town. I sent a man to the hangar and confirmed that a man matching his description had inquired as to where the jet on the tarmac was going."

"So he was there while we were! FUCK Welch! How did this happen?" In my mind I run through everything we did between the car and the plane. Introduced Nanette, took a glass of champagne and then walked up the stairs. A total of less than one minute but long enough for him to have seen us and gotten off a shot if he had a gun. I feel sick.

"Sir, we're closing in on him, at most we're 70 minutes from his last known whereabouts. He's getting desperate and sloppy just like we knew he would. The man at NetJets said that he had a limp and a full grown beard so whatever Sawyer did, he managed to hurt him. I've got Ryan reviewing security camera footage from the deli and the hangar as we speak." It's a small consolation right now.

"We also know that he left in an older model Honda Accord. I've alerted the authorities along all major routes from Seattle to Aspen and have a team of security sweeping the grounds now at the house. They'll meet you at the airport and escort you to the house; a car in front, a car behind. I'm confident we'll apprehend him shortly."

"If something happens to her, Welch, I can't even begin to describe the rage I will let out and I will direct it all on you. Tell Ray's guy I'll double whatever his fee is if he gets this closed tonight."

"Sir."

I can't contact the guy hunting Hyde down since I can't have any ties at all to the man. I know Ray has given him my latest instructions to bring him in alive but I also know Ray has his own set of demands and Hyde beign alive wasn't one of them. Shit! I pace back and forth in the six foot wide space, tugging at my hair and cursing over and over at my impotent position right now. I'm 32 thousand feet in the air and don't know where this asshole is.

Taylor calls then to inform me that they are certain that the man at the gas station was in fact Hyde and that they were able to narrow down the year of the car to 1994 and the color to red. Damn idiot picks a red car. I'm a bit relieved when he tells me that the flight plan wasn't disclosed, he's got to make his move on nothing more than a guess but if he's waited this long, he's not about to let a little thing like this get in the way.

"Taylor what's the latest with Ms. Morgan?"

"Nothing, Sir. She still refuses to cooperate on the contents of the tapes even after she was presented with the evidence of his brutality on other women. It almost seemed as if she liked it. Her phones, emails and visits have all been monitored around the clock but nothing suspicious has turned up."

"And the car?"

"We've run the plates and have requested an APB on all major roadways but so far, nothing of consequence. Our guy is on his way, he's convinced Hyde is going to take the highway to save time since he has no idea we're this close to him. I tend to agree, Ray's guy is sharp as a tack."

"I want him vicious. Smart is secondary. Keep me informed."

"Christian?" That soft sleepy voice immediately smooths over me and while inside I'm still as close as ever to a mental breakdown, I hide it well and turn to embrace her. But the minute my arms wrap around her the panic seizes me again, anything could happen to her, anything could take her away from me.

"What's wrong? Why is your heart about to leap out of your chest?" She lays her hand on my sternum and kisses it but it brings no relief to the strangled fear wrapped around my head like a vice. "Christian? Is something wrong at home?"

There has been so much lobbed at this 22 year old woman in the last few weeks. So many changes and confrontations and heartache that I debate telling her. Surely it would only frighten and terrorize her to know that the man who said he'd kill her and then tried to, is on his way to what's supposed to be our escape from everything.

"Nothing, baby, just bullshit that I'm trying to wrap up." She doesn't buy it but she doesn't press either. "Did you sleep well?" She rolls her eyes and pulls away, adjusting the strap on her tank top.

"Yes, although it was quite disconcerting to wake up looking at my own face above me."

I laugh, kissing her and squeezing her to me again "Come on, let's get you strapped in, we're going to land in less than 10 minutes and I'd like for you to eat a little something more."

"What time is it?" I have to think since we're switching time zones.

"Seven I believe. I wanted to go for dinner before heading to the house but I think we'll go straight there. I've alerted my staff to have something prepared for us. Do you like venison?"

"As in, Bambi? I've never had it." She doesn't look happy but it thrills me just the same to have her with me. "I guess I'll try anything once." My ears and my dick heard that.

"If you don't like it we can have Carmella make something else." She cozies up to me as we take our seats and sips her new cold glass of champagne.

"I really want to try that sushi place Elliot talked about." I really don't want her out of the house with all that's going on but when she asks like that…

"We'll see what the day brings tomorrow, ok?" She nods and rests her cheek on my arm, sliding her hand into mine as we descend.

On the ground the team of security Taylor has arranged greets us and it doesn't take Ana long to inquire as to why there are five men here instead of the usual one or two. It's an easy enough question to brush off since I'm busy instructing the lead man, a guy named Hall, as to what my expectations are for the drive home.

In the car we're driven by Hall and just as I was told, a black Escalade is in front of us and another behind us. Ana keeps looking out the windows, a V between her brows as she tries to work things out in her head. Her hands twist in her lap until I take one and run my thumb over her knuckles. She relaxes a bit under my touch. I have the same effect on her as she does on me.

"This is your vacation home? Holy crap!" I laugh at her choice of words and look out the window. It really is stunning lit up from within, the dark wood and large stones shadowed in the dusk. "How often do you come here?"

"A few times a year. Mostly to ski but occasionally just to get away from things." She continues to stare and gape when we exit the car and walk inside to be greeted by Mrs. Bentley.

"Carmella Bentley, my girlfriend, Anastasia Steele. Ana, my house manager Carmella."

After a brief introduction and a quick tour of the first floor which ends in the kitchen where Mrs. Bentley has laid out the table for dinner, Ana seems a bit calmer. After two glasses of wine she's downright relaxed.

"This was incredible by the way. I don't even feel guilty eating it." She polishes off the last of her venison steak, swirling it around the red wine reduction sauce Carmella is famous for. "When do I get to see the rest of the place?" I tip back my wine and rise, offering her my hand to grasp.

"Right now." She pauses in the great room and sighs. "What?"

"I'm picturing myself sitting in that chair, with a book, a cup of coffee and a roaring fire. Oh! And it's snowing outside." I file that away and make a mental note to make that happen.

The upstairs of the house is comprised of bedrooms, bathrooms, a laundry room and a glass domed library. I save that for the very last room, walking past the door twice before opening it to reveal the cherry wood shelves, dark leather chairs and the view. Her feet freeze on the threshold.

"Oh my god." She breathes and then clasps her hands over her mouth. "Oh my god! Oh my god! This is…this is….oh my god!" I'm bouncing on my heels watching her as she walks around the room reverentially touching the leather bound spines of every book worth reading. Her ass plops itself into an oversized chair where she closes her eyes and covers her heart with her hands.

"If I died right now, I'd be the happiest woman in the world." Just the thought has me running to her side. Those green eyes pop open and smile. "How do you ever leave this place? It's stunning."

"So, you like it?" I tease.

"Christian, you have a fireplace built into a glass wall and every book known to man. This is my vision of heaven." She sighs and stands up, resting her cheek against my chest as she wraps her arms around my waist. "It's all so grandiose. What made you build a house like this?" The answer is simple.

"I was waiting for you." She squeezes me tightly, my mind replaying the design and construction process. "When I designed this I focused on this room more than any other which was strange since I had no real appreciation for library rooms to begin with. I guess I'll call it fate."

My phone rings then to the shrill tone I have reserved for my security staff. Immediately my heart rate picks up.

"Sir, we've identified a car matching the Honda at a gas station just outside of Echo, Oregon. We've got a team about 20 minutes away on Interstate 84 and will keep you posted."

"Every 15 minutes, Welch." My heart is hammering in my chest.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, baby. Do you want to watch a movie or read a book? Or, we can fuck. You pick; if you let me pick, we're definitely fucking." She steps back and slits her eyes at me.

"Something is going on and I want to know what it is."

"Ana, leave it." She tenses and huffs out a breath crossing her arms in front of her.

"Does it concern me? Your phone has been ringing since we landed and each time it does you get all jumpy. What's going on?"

"Nothing!" I chuckle. I'll tell her when it's over. I see no benefit in telling her that she's being hunted down right now by a man who has sent her four washcloths with semen in them, 19 psychotic love letters, a picture of an engagement ring and a list of the names he wants for their children. Not to mention the stalking and assault.

"OK, whatever you say, Christian. I don't feel well enough to fight about anything right now anyway."

"What's the matter, baby?" My hands hold her face and search for any sign of what's bothering her. She shrugs and closes her eyes.

"I don't know, it comes and goes. I feel a bit nauseous but mostly I have a killer headache."

"We should get you to a doctor." Her hands pluck my phone away so that I can't dial the physician Andrea found out here should we need one. "Ana. My phone."

"You can have it back when you stop overreacting. It's probably stress." It pains me to hear the words because I know it's being in my life that's stressing her out. She sighs and hands me the phone back when Welch's ringtone begins blaring.

"I have to take this, baby, I'm sorry." She rolls her eyes and huffs out, walking to window to get a closer view of the grounds.

"Sir I've alerted the Oregon State Police who are willing to cooperate with us. They've dispatched two cars near Haines and will detain and arrest Mr. Hyde. You'll need to contact the Oregon DA's office so that we can expedite his transfer to Washington State. My influence only goes so far. I've emailed you the name and number of the person you need to speak with."

"If Hyde maintains his current speed Ray's guy should be able to overtake him within the next 15 minutes. If he deviates for any reason, we'll zero in on a 100 mile radius and bring in some copters."

"Every 10 minutes, Welch. I want to know exactly what's going on as it goes on." Per custom we hang up without formalities. Ana is watching me carefully so I give her a smile and pick her up with a screech and carry her to our bedroom where I promptly toss her on the bed. Distraction by sex. It's a win/win.

"Uh uh. I'm seriously not feeling well right now. I need some Advil's and bed." She gives me a sad look and scoots off the mattress to brush her teeth. "You're not mad are you?"

Normally, I would be but right now, if she's sleeping I can focus on what's going on with Hyde and not have to worry about her finding out anything.

"Not at all. It's probably altitude sickness, it takes a few days for it to balance out in some people. Come on, I'll tuck you in." Once she's settled in my gray cotton t-shirt, teeth brushed and hands lotioned I give her an unusually chaste kiss and then shut the door, dialing Welch before I hit the stairs.

"Update."

"Nothing new since we last spoke. The troopers are in position, our guy is convinced he's closing in on him."

"I'm going to call the DA's office now and have my father follow up if I run into any issues."

The District Attorney's office is closed for the night but I have the State Attorney's home number. Of course. I don't feel the least bit guilty calling a private residence at 11 in the evening to demand that they do what I want. Of course, the guaranteed donation I'll be sending in to her reelection campaign and the promise of a $50k grant for the state's DNA lab doesn't hurt. Business attended to I check on my girl and watch her sleep for a minute before heading downstairs to get myself a glass of Bourbon.

The wait is agonizing. The great room in this house is huge but it closes in on me with each pace of my feet. As promised Welch calls every 10 minutes but there hasn't been any new developments for close to two hours. The minutes tick by silently as I stare out at the mountains, standing at the huge glass windows, my hand cramping from the iron grip I have on the tumbler in my hand.

At 1:01 in the morning my phone rings again and before the first ring is finished I have it pressed to my ear.

"We've got him." The glass in my hand falls to the floor with a thud, my hand immediately raking through my hair.

"Alive?"

"Yes, he hardly put up a fight. Ray's guy was right, he caught up to him in North Powder and maintained speed until he pulled off at an exit for a coffee. It appears as if he planned to drive through the night. Our guy approached him when he walked back to his vehicle, ID'd him and made a citizen's arrest after roughing him up a bit."

Satisfying as that is I hope it doesn't fuck things up later on.

"For obvious reasons our guy couldn't stay for the actual arrest but he called the local authorities then called me. Handcuffed him to his steering wheel after disabling the car and took off. He's headed to an unknown location now."

"And Hyde?"

"Cops are there now. I've got a team on the way to oversee it all but the DA has already called the local police department and is sending the State Troopers there now to process, report and extradite. His car will be impounded and searched. It's a done deal, Sir."

"Thank you." I hang up and drop to my knees in relief. One less person who wants to hurt Anastasia. The burden I've been carrying around from the minute I found out about his existence to now falls off of my shoulders and dissolves. I kept her safe, just as I said I would. If I believed in God, I'd pray to him right now and offer up my humblest thanks for making me a wealthy son of a bitch.

"Ray. Christian. We got Hyde."

"I know. Just hung up with him. Wish he was dead though. Annie know yet?"

"I'm going to wake her and tell her now. Tell your guy I may need him for another project." He grunts before clearing his throat.

"Thank you. For protecting my little girl." His sincerity strikes at me.

"I love her." It's a statement of fact and not one I can hide behind. Loving her has cracked my heart wide open and left it raw and exposed.

"I know you do, son." I hear a click on the other end and stand to go to Ana.

My feet feel light, almost as if I'm floating but I manage to get up the stairs and into the bedroom, landing at the side of the bed where she's sleeping peacefully. Inside I debate the merits of waking her to tell her or waiting until morning. Ultimately the decision is made for me when she opens her eyes and gasps in terror when she sees me standing so close to her.

"Fuck! It's just me, Ana! It's just me, you're safe!" She jumps to her knees and wraps her body around me seeking comfort. I stroke her hair and shush her until she giggles into my neck and falls back on the bed.

"God, Christian. You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing anyway standing there like a creep?"

"Look at me, Ana. I've got really great news." She gets back into a kneeling position and looks at me expectantly. "Hyde's been arrested. He's being processed and shipped back to Seattle to go to prison for what he did to you. It's over, baby."

APOV

"It's over?" He nods with a satisfied smirk. "He's been arrested?" Another nod. "It's over?"

"Yes, Ana, he's gone." All of the air rushes out of my lungs and my body bends forward as a feeling I've never experienced before seizes me. I don't know what it is but it terrifies me and steals my breath. My heart is beating wildly, the tips of my fingers numb and uncomfortably cold but it's the loud whine between my ears that frightens me the most. I can hear Christian talking to me, I know he's rubbing my back and telling me something but it sounds as if I'm underwater.

Suddenly I'm standing but my feet aren't touching the ground. Instead I'm being held tightly against a hard male chest, while my fear slowly recedes.

"Ana, you're safe. I will always keep you safe. Shhhh, now, relax, I've got you." He repeats himself several times until he finally lays me down, the few seconds it takes him to lift his shirt off just about pushing me back into panic mode. He senses my impending panic and doesn't take his pants off before he lies down and pulls me against him tightly. My face is pressed into his chest, the low rumble of his voice a soothing comfort as he continues with his mantra.

After a few minutes I ask for details. His hesitation is warranted, he's clearly afraid I'll have another melt down but I need to know. After reassurances he explains it all, from Welch's call before we landed to the tail he had on Hyde to the arrest and his call to the DA.

He knew this was happening for hours. Hours! And didn't tell me. My entire body tenses but the confusion is overwhelming. He knew and told me repeatedly nothing was going on. And Hyde has been arrested and is gone, out of my life until I have to face him at a trial.

He was on his way here. And Christian knew it and said nothing. My mind swirls, a part of me is so angry I can't speak. I feel like an idiot and a child but another part of me is grateful to him for getting the job done. I want to be mad at him but am I allowed to be considering he's the reason Hyde got caught and the reason I've been kept safe for these weeks?

It takes an hour and a Tylenol PM for me to finally drift off but another hour later I wake to puke in the bathroom. Christian follows me in, rubbing my back for me and helping me hold my hair while I gag on the fear and anxiety making it's way out of my body. I should care that he's seeing me like this, but I just don't. I feel almost numb.

I don't want him to touch me when crawl back into bed but I can't sleep without agonizing fear unless he's holding me so I back myself into him and close my eyes, the familiar heavy hum of the sleeping aide taking effect again. I'll deal with his secrecy later, right now I need him far too much.

I don't know I'm having a nightmare until Christian is shaking me awake, sitting me up and flooding the bedroom with light.

"Ana, Ana wake up, you're dreaming, Ana." His eyes search mine frantically, his large hands holding my face and smoothing down my hair, alternating between wiping the tears from my face and rubbing the back of my neck. "What was it, Ana?"

"I don't remember." I really don't, I just feel afraid. I feel alone. I feel isolated. I feel out of control. I can't remember the dream but I can't shake the emotions behind it. He holds me tightly, rocking back and forth and shushing me until the sweat dries and my tears stop. The clock reads 5:28 but I couldn't fall back asleep if I had to.

"You knew and you didn't tell me." A gasp of a sob bursts from my chest and even though it's ridiculous, I feel betrayed by him on some level. I have been terrified of that man finding me and hoping and praying for him to be found for weeks now. And when things finally start coming together, when there is finally good news in the midst of all of this, I'm left in the dark.

Instead, my boyfriend puts on an act worthy of an Oscar, hiding me from extremely relevant news while he tells me that nothing is wrong. I feel lied to and cheated. Mix that with the fallout of my stalker getting arrested and an impending menstrual cycle and you've got one overly emotional woman on your hands.

He's quiet for a few minutes, close to five by my estimation. Each second brings more anger, the fury of it all building in my chest so that when he does speak, I have to tell myself over and over to keep my mouth shut.

"It seemed like the right thing to do. I didn't want to scare you or frighten you." He pulls me away and looks at my face intently. "I want to keep you from every bad thing there is, I want you to always feel safe and protected when you're with me and telling you, before we knew what would happen just seemed foolish." He shrugs, even he knows he's fucked this one up.

"I didn't think you'd be upset. You hardly ever asked about the investigation, I thought you just didn't want to know." Now I feel like shit. I draw in a shaky breath and do my best to stem the tears that just will not stop.

"I didn't ask because if I did, you stonewalled me anyway. You told me you'd update me, you never did, so I assumed nothing had happened."

"Up until tonight, you were right. Nothing did happen." That makes me feel a lot better actually.

"Christian, I know I'm safe with you. I know you'll protect me and I know you've done all you can to ensure my safety but I would have liked to have known that this was going down. I'm upset that I missed it, I feel like part of my own redemption was taken from me." He looks wounded so I crawl into his lap further and cup his face now. The last thing I want to be is ungrateful.

"I am so so thankful for all you did. I don't want to think about what would have happened had you not been in my life during all of this." He shudders and hugs me tightly, burying his face into my hair and inhaling.

"Don't talk like that, it makes me crazy inside." His voice is a whisper that soothes me.

"I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I want to be a part of things with you. Not after the fact. This was a huge part of my life that I should have been informed about. I know your intentions, Christian and that's the only reason I'm not mad but in the future, I want to know about what is going on when it comes to my security. Keeping me from it makes me feel less safe. I don't want to always be wondering about what you're not telling me."

He tilts his head to the side and takes a minute to absorb my words, allowing them to fall into place before he sighs and tightens his arms around me.

"I will do my best to inform you of any and all measures taken to ensure your safety going forward. Forgive me, baby?" His finger lifts my chin so that we're eye to eye.

"There's nothing to forgive. I know your heart, you just need to trust me the same way." I sit back, lying down prostrate, giggling as his eyes turn almost black at the site of my bare thighs. "Now, what I'm mad about is that you lied to me!"

His head snaps back, eyebrows knitting and for once he's the one biting his lip. "I did not. I've never lied to you!"

"You told me nothing was going on the entire night." He flops down next to me, my thighs abandoned and groans.

"That wasn't a lie. That was an omission to protect your sanity. And at that point, we didn't really know much."

"Fine, an omission. It may not technically be a lie, but it has the same effect." I lie on top of him, his hands automatically grabbing onto my ass and watch that smile form at the corners of his lips. "Please don't leave me out of things again, it hurts."

The smile fades as does the squeeze of his hands when he registers that he's inadvertently hurt me. "I'm fine, Christian." I breathe against his mouth, nipping at his bottom lip until his hands resume their massage.

"I'm sorry, baby." I continue to kiss him, licking small strokes over his lips and tongue until I feel him fully hard and pressed against my belly.

"You don't need to be sorry, you did nothing wrong. You just…..made bad judgment call." My palm slides over his erection and I catch his moan in my mouth. "But at the end of the day, you probably saved my life." I grip him, he bucks and I smile. "I'd like to say thank you."

"I may have probably saved your life, Ana. But you have definitely saved mine." He grins like a cat but his breath is speeding up along with his heart. He winks. "But I'll still take that thank you."

*salted caramel is what CG describes AS as tasting like