APOV
Liam Halen is a sleezeball. I know it the minute I sit down across the table from him. Sawyer sits at a table less than five feet away with a glass of water in front of him, pensive and on high alert. I'm sure it's not an accident that we're in a private corner though I'm not sure if Christian or Liam organized it that way.
"So, then, you wouldn't be the one handling my account?" His disappointment is evident but the emotion displayed on his face is anger.
"No, Matt would be handing the day to day tasks and he would be the point of contact for your liasons here and abroad." He huffs a bit and crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back and appraising Matt with slitted eyes.
"You're capable of dealing with this kind of money? This project could net my company upwards of $400 million dollars. You can sit across the table from a man in Laos or Taiwan and speak well enough to not fuck it up?" What an asshole!
To Matt's credit he remains calm, nodding once before answering. "Sir, I have degrees in both Asian Studies and Business Administration and also in Linguistics and Business Administration. I'm well versed in the culture of both areas as well as the language. I'm available for international trips when necessary and will be available to you here as well."
Liam's eyes shift to mine. "And you'd be overseeing everything?"
"It is my company so yes. But I have total confidence in Matt's abilities and his professionalism."
"And if I needed to speak with you, you'd be available?" It's more of a statement but I choose to answer it as a question so that there is no miscommunication.
"I'm available as a business owner but the project is Matt's."
After a beat Liam leans forward and shakes my hand, congratulating me on such a competent hire and then offering his hand to Matt as well. With the flick of his wrist he orders a bottle of champagne and toasts to our new business venture.
"I can have my office manager send you a contract this afternoon once we tidy up the last few points with your legal team."
"Sounds great." He sips and smirks, his eyes focused on my collarbone. "How's that boyfriend of yours?" Matt leans back fractionally before excusing himself to the bathroom. Sawyer must have heard him because his body is turned towards me, eyes trained on Liam.
"He's great, thank you. I'll make sure to tell him you asked about him when I get home tonight." His brows raise and he sips again.
"You live together then? That's true?"
"Yes."
"And you're drinking?" I must look confused because he drops his chin and says, "The baby." Oh my god he thinks the rumors are true. Christian and I, together, decided not to release a statement contradicting the paparazzi's bogus claims of my pregnancy. If we start that now, then we've set the precedent up for future rumors as well so as a unit we agreed to continue on his well worn path of silence.
My cheeks burn but I'm not sure if it's because I'm angry or embarrassed. "I'm not pregnant." He grins wide and then leans back, tipping the last of his champagne back.
"I knew Grey didn't have it in him. The day he settles down with a kid is the day the world stops spinning." Sawyer stands then, my cue that our hour is up and I rise.
"Mr. Halen, thank you for the opportunity to work with your company. I'll have Missy Stamper reach out before end of business and Matt will contact your assistant later today with his contact information. Thank you for lunch." On the way out I can feel his eyes on my ass until Matt moves behind me.
He's quiet on the ride back to the office, texting with his wife to keep himself busy.
"OK, what's up?" He looks at me and smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"Nothing. This is a big deal for the company. I hope I don't screw it up."
"You won't, you're better than me and I'm damn good. Now what's the problem?" I've only been working with Matt for a few weeks but his 'tell' is easy. When he gets nervous or uncomfortable, he begins to play a drum beat on his knees. Right now, he's got one hell of a song going on. It takes him another minute but finally he answers me.
"I don't know, there's something about him that doesn't sit well with me. And when he was talking about the factory in Laos he skirted right over my question about the workers conditions which is kind of important being as that's part of the contract negations he wants me to help out with." He snorts. "Actually, he wants you to help out with."
"I noticed that too. The workers part. We don't do illegal and I'm not willing to be immoral either. If you find out that he's hiding something or mistreating anyone, you need to tell me right away."
"Yes, boss." It still sounds so strange to be called boss and have people work for you. I am the boss but I'm still learning how to be a business owner. Christian has been a great sounding board and has been key in helping me to navigate some of the issues I've come across but at the end of the day, this is my company and I'm the one in charge.
"Do you mind if we stop at GEH? I want to grab some paperwork to work on over the weekend." Really, I just want to reassure Christian since I know he didn't like the idea of me meeting with Halen.
"Not at all, I left a few documents there on Tuesday that I need to bullet point."
In the lobby all eyes turn to me as usual. Now that everybody knows that I'm dating Christian, I've become something of a freak show around here. The 20th floor is very private and houses only the upper echelon of the GEH staff so it's less of an issue up there but getting from the parking garage to the sanctuary in the sky is always interesting.
Matt waves hello at Jacqueline and Andrea and then makes his way to my office to get what he needs. I want to check in with Christian and tell him how lunch went but when I turn to his door, Andrea starts to say something and then smiles benignly, turning back to her computer to type.
"Is he with someone?"
"Yes, but you know you can go in anytime, I'm sure he'd love to see you. They should be out in a minute or so, he's got a budget review meeting in five minutes." Just then the door opens and out walks a woman. Drop dead gorgeous and tall with long black hair and a flirty giggle on her lips. Who the…?
Christian sees me then and his face lights up, a casual, "Hey!" thrown my way. Hottie turns to look at me and that flirty giggle falls flat as does her mouth. Half a second later she remembers where she his and smiles big, as disingenuous as they come, and cocks her head to the side as if she has no idea who I am.
"Anastasia Steele, this is Mona Turshe. She's the president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce." My hand goes out and the smile I toss back at her is just as fake.
"Ms. Turshe, nice to meet you."
"You as well. Do you work for GEH?" Bitch, you know exactly who I am, everybody in this town does at this point. Suddenly, I'm a fan of the paparazzi. Ms. Turshe will be getting a subscription to USWeekly beginning on Monday.
"Ana is my girlfriend but her company's been contracted to work with GEH on an international project."
"Oh. Your company as in you're the owner?" Christian walks around her and leans in to kiss my lips quickly, completely unaware of the cat fight taking place in front of him. He's just wearing a goofy grin that sets my heart on fire and my sex to liquid.
"Yes. Steele Translations." Now leave.
"How nice, we can always use more female entrepreneurs, right?" We stand in an awkward silence, her unwilling to let go of the one on one attention she had with Christian and me unwilling to give it to her. The arm that snakes around his waist sends a clear message. Taken. Mine. Goodbye.
Andrea and Jacqueline sit in silence and watch with wide eyes as she takes her leave, leaning in for a cheek kiss that he doesn't give her. All she gets from me is a one handed wave and then the doors of the elevator shut and I feel the jealousy slowly begin to ebb.
"What are you doing here?" He pulls me into his office, shutting the door behind me. Mona's cheap, cloying perfume is all over this huge space. No wonder he's sneezing.
"Matt and I stopped to get a few documents. He wanted to bullet point the records from his work on Tuesday. Me? I just wanted to see my man." His head snaps around and looks into the hallway.
"Matt's here?"
"In my office."
"He went to lunch with you, right?" I just give him an 'oh come on' look. I'm sure Sawyer sent him minute by minute texts. "Let's go say hi."
"Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're kinda jumpy and since when do you care to say hi to another guy? Or anybody for that matter."
"Ana, it's the new me. I told you, I'm loving life, baby." The pretend cool surfer vibe does not work on CEO Christian Grey but I give him points for trying.
"Matt! How are you?" The men shake hands as if they're old friends and then Christian gets right down to brass tacks. "You met with Halen? What did you think of him?" So that's why he wanted to meet with Matt.
"He seems like a good business man. Solid company, vast knowledge on international business trade. The project itself is pretty big but I can handle it."
"So he was alright dealing with you and not Ana?" Matts face breaks out in a grin, he's finally caught onto Christian's game. His demeanor changes, a silent male communication taking place between them that fascinates me.
"He wasn't given the choice. I'm sure I can keep him happy so that the only interaction he and Ana have is when she deposits his checks." Christian grins, shakes his hand again and turns, crossing his arms over his chest and taking a wide stance.
"You're off to the spa now?" I just shake my head and smile.
"You are something else, Grey." Matt lifts the documents up in acknowledgement and hightails it out as quickly as he can.
"I'll be waiting in the lobby." Niether of us say anything to him.
"What? I merely asked how the lunch was." I have to laugh at him. He's adorable.
"And who was that Mona bizzo?"
"Bizzo?"
"Bizzo." He fights a laugh and loses.
"I want to see your diploma. English Major my ass."
"Mona? Bizzo. Spill." He stills and straightens up, crossing his arms again and leaning back on his heels.
"Are you…jealous, Ms. Steele?" Uh, hell yes. She's a freaking supermodel.
"Are you?" I fire back.
"That you're having lunch with Liam Halen and then working with him? Yes." If Christian is anything, it's honest. And blunt.
"She wanted you, you didn't see the predatory look in her eyes but I did. And when she met me? If looks could kill, you'd be planning my funeral right now." His humor dies and he steps forward, grabbing my arms and kissing my forehead.
"Don't even joke like that." I hug him and pinch his butt to lighten the mood. It works when he pulls away with wide eyes and that goofy grin.
"You just pinched my ass."
"Mmmhmm."
"And you're jealous. I like that." I just huff and wave my hand as if he was crazy. "I'm going to marry you, Anastasia Steele." When I roll my eyes he reaches around and pinches me right back, growling and pulling me against a very hard erection. "It's been too long, Ana."
"I'll make it up to you tonight. Has that chick ever come on to you?" He scratches his head and looks down.
"Yes. A lot of women do. Means nothing to me."
"A lot of women? You say that as if it's no big deal." He scoffs at me and shoves his hands in his pockets.
"It is no big deal. I'm rich as shit with a pretty face. I don't even look twice at women like Mona. I ignore the bullshit, close the business and move on. It means nothing if I'm not participating in it." His hands open flat in front of me in a 'so what' gesture.
"So if it's no big deal that women come onto you 'all the time', then why do you freak out when I get hit on. If you trust me the way you expect to be trusted, then that should be no big deal either."
"Because they eye fuck you. And you're mine and I don't want them even thinking about you like that. Shit, men are just different, Ana. There are men, like Liam Halen, who will do anything to fuck you and no consequence is heavy enough."
"And there are women like Mona Toomuchperfume who will do the same." He half grins and puts his arm on my shoulder, leading me towards the door and back to the lobby of his office.
"I know I go off the deep end on the jealousy shit sometimes but I'm trying. A month ago there is no way in hell I'd have let you meet with Halen let alone work with him. But I do trust you and I want to better myself so I'm working on it." Before we turn the corner he stops and turns me, cupping my face in his hands so gently it brings tears to my eyes. "You have nothing to worry about. I am so into you, baby, I don't even notice other women."
"Back 'atcha, Grey."
Matt is waiting by the elevators when Christian kisses me goodbye, sternly reminding me to have fun but not too much fun tonight. Once he's shut the door to the conference room I make my way over to Andrea who knows everything about everything and plop myself down on the edge of the desk with my arms and ankles crossed.
"How's it going, Andrea? Jacqueline?" Both women turn to me and look at the closed door. Andrea's eyes stay focused on her computer but her words tumble out as fast as she can manage.
"She comes monthly to try to convince him to join the Chambers board. Always brings him cookies, always arrives early and tries to stay later. He only lets her in at the scheduled time and usually has her out in less than 10 minutes."
"Since when?"
"This is the sixth month. She brought chocolate chip." I snicker. Stupid bitch. "He usually brings them out and has me put them in the staff kitchen but you distracted him today." She smiles brightly at me and for the first time, I see Andrea the person and not the assistant. "She was here before you came into the picture and even then he wasn't interested. Now though, that supermodel Gisele could spread out on his desk naked and he'd just yell for me to call security and housekeeping."
Jacqueline snorts behind her and meets my eyes which are crinkled with a smile.
"Sorry." She says quickly, turning to look at her computer.
"Don't be. Just tell me the next time Mooooona is coming in."
"She'll call in the next week to schedule something. Just check his calendar next Friday and you'll see it."
In the elevator Matt leans against the wall and shakes his head, looking at the floor.
"Women."
"OK, I know you're like, super busy with the new man in your life and I'm sure your toes are the last thing on your mind but girl, you need to pay attention to detail. I mean, shit, Ana, I bet you clack on the floor like a dog."
"This from a guy with bright blue hair and a pearl necklace."
"My hair is intentional. Your toes are just an atrocious accident." Devin laughs until he cries as he picks out the polish he wants on his own nails. "Mmm Mmm. You think you'd try a little harder with a man like Christian mylifeisoverbecausehesnotgay Grey. I mean, you just give us girls a bad name when you let yourself go. Next you'll be buying your jeans two sizes too big and wearing a sweatshirt with Tweety Bird on it."
"Child," He says, handing the bright red polish to the woman at my feet doing her best not to laugh, "put this on her no matter what she says. I'm going to the front desk to schedule her next appointment so she has no excuses. Ugh, Ana Steele, it's like we're 19 again. I shudder to think what your wardrobe would look like had Casey and I not come along when we did. Khakis with pleats! Pleats!"
Just when I think the whirlwind is over he leans back around the corner, "You want a cucumber water?"
Kate, Missy, Lisa and Heather are cracking up but Casey just shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
"He talks about your wardrobe meanwhile the man hasn't seen an iron, ever, and if he has, it was because his momma used it." Casey is hot in a surfer turned snowboarder kind of way but he's wicked smart and sexy as all hell. Seeing him and Devin is a study in contrasts and one that I can't take my eyes off of. Where Casey is tall, blond and built, Devin is short, black and skinny. And don't forget the blue hair.
These two have been as influential in my life as Kate and Missy have but I hardly ever get to see them so spending a few hours at the spa and then getting to eat and dance with them is a real joy. Even if Devin is overly dramatic…about everything.
"You're all set for the next year, Annie and don't think I won't check up on that shit."
Once we're polished, scrubbed, massaged and masked we head over to Kate and Elliots to get ready. Elliot opens the door and gapes openly at the blue haired black man who can't weigh more than 130 pounds but somehow fills the room.
"Oh sweet child o' mine! Katiebaby where did you find this one?" Elliot hasn't blinked but to his credit he hasn't cracked a joke yet either. Which for Elliot is kind of a big deal. Kate slides her hand up Elliot's chest and kicks her back heel up, gazing at him with doe eyes.
"He is super dreamy isn't he?" Elliot snaps out of it and stretches his hand out to Casey and Devin.
"Elliot Grey."
"Grey! I thought you were full of shit when you said you were dating Christian's brother! Well hot damn, baby, you got any more brothers hiding around here?"
"A sister." Devin points his finger down his throat and makes a gagging sound.
"Casey Cooper. Devin's…boyfriend." Casey just rolls his eyes, long past the point of being surprised by anything Devin says or does. Devin talks a big game but we all know he's as sweet on Casey as anyone can be.
"Aw hell, if your parents create such deities as you and Christian, I might be tempted to check this sister of yours out anyway."
Elliot points at himself. "Adopted."
"Ugh. Of course you are. Straight from heaven too no doubt. Now where's your stereo system?"
90 minutes later we're shellacked, dressed up and ready to go. Elliot takes a bunch of pictures for us and then waves from the door. Kate sighs when he's finally out of site.
"I'm gonna marry that man and give him lots of babies."
"Mmmhmm, sure you will Katiebaby, just don't forget to keep up with your toenails."
"Oh my god, sugartits you have to marry that man! Have to. Have to. Have to!" Devin polishes off his second dessert and leans back. "Anyone that lets me eat like this for free and then throws in not two, not three, but four bottles of $500 wine is a friend of mine. Shit, forget the pedicures, focus on your kegels instead."
The table erupts into laughter just as Sawyer motions for us to go. In the limo are three bottles of Cristal that Casey and Heather waste no time in uncorking.
"Damn, Ana, even I'm in love with your man." Casey sips his champagne and swings his look to Heather. "And what's the story between you and that Sawyer dude? Don't tell me nothing either, I've seen too many glances in the last few hours."
Heather grunts and flops her head back, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.
"We were fuck buddies a few weeks ago and I thought we'd turn into something more. I liked him, a lot, but he doesn't want to 'commit' to anybody right now." Casey squeezes her knee and pats it.
"Sex was good?" She groans and rolls her head back and forth.
"Unreal. Off the charts good. The man is hung like a horse with stamina and presence. You know what I mean? He's in it, totally in the moment and he brings me with him. When we were...I guess we can call it dating since we did go out a few times...he couldn't get enough and then BAM, one day, nothing."
"No conversation?"
"Nope." She pops her 'p' in typical Heather style and licks her lips. "Just the song and dance about not wanting to commit and then he and his big dick were gone taking my orgasms with them." She sighs for dramatic effect.
"And you wanted a relationship enough to let that go? I mean, sweetie, you say 'hung like a horse' and all the rules fly out the window! That is sexual satisfaction 101. Love does not equal great sex. Size does!" Devin slaps his knee, cracking himself up and leans forward to adjust Missy's boobs.
"I did. I mean, I'm fine with casual sex but I liked him after awhile and I guess that showed because he literally shut it off overnight and has avoided me like the plague ever since."
"Then let him be a fuck buddy. Holy shit, Head, you need to get on that and stay on that. Who gives a flying fuck about a relationship?" Heather laughs and yells up to the front.
"Ya hear that Luke? We can start laying the pipe again!" Oh my god thank Christ the privacy screen is up. Devin, Lisa and Casey give her a high five and open the next bottle with a hoot. This is going to be a long night. While they drink I check in with Christian.
"Hi, baby, how's it going?" Lisa screams with delight at something Missy just said in the background. "What in the hell was that?"
"Lisa."
"I thought the driver ran over a cat or something. Elliot said he met your new friends."
"Well, they're not new to me but I guess to you guys they are. What did he think?" He chortles for a second and then begins to cough into the phone. "Are you ok?"
"Fine, fine. He had nothing to say, which says it all. How was dinner?"
"Amazing, you were so gracious and I so very much appreciated it. We all did. Thank you so much."
"My pleasure, baby."
"By any chance did you tell Sawyer that he couldn't date Heather?" Another cough.
"No, why would I care about that?" So Sawyer was being honest with her then.
"You wouldn't. How was dinner with your mom?"
"Good, we kind of avoided the whole Elena thing which was fine by me. It was different being out alone with her. It was…nice."
"That's great, baby!"
"I asked her about Sunday. She was over the moon about the prospect of meeting your dad. Would you rather do dinner at my parents or at a restaurant?"
"Let your mom decide, Ray won't care and I certainly don't. I can cook too if she'd rather that."
"I'll call her tomorrow and ask her. It sounds insane in there, be safe and don't dance with anyone but the people you came with. After Elliot's description of the guys, I'm not at all concerned anymore." He laughs but it turns into another coughing fit.
"You should go to bed, you sound like shit."
"I'm fine, really and I'm not going to bed. It's 10:30. Now go have fun. When you come home, be prepared to fuck. All night."
I admit it, I'm pretty happy to have Sawyer, Myers and a few other CPO's that stand on each corner of the roped off VIP section. Getting in wasn't a problem, finding a bottle of Belvedere and two more bottles of champagne wasn't a problem. But when the DJ made the announcement that 'Ana Steele is in da hoooouuuuse!' the crowd went stupid crazy and suddenly everyone wanted to be right next to our area. Poor guy, no doubt he'll be unemployed this time tomorrow.
Sawyer stomped off to the booth and forcibly removed the him but his job is to get the place crazy and that's exactly what he did. His forced apology to me was embarrassing but I accepted it nonetheless and requested that he play as much Rhianna as possible. As I dance between Casey and Devin to her 'Please Don't Stop the Music' I catch Sawyer checking out Heather who's talking to some random guy over the rope.
We've been here for two hours and I've caught him eyeing her a few times so far but this time, he acts on it.
When the guy she's talking to reaches over and puts his hand on her hip to pull her a little closer, Sawyer walks over, pulls the guy off and tells Heather, not gently, to stay behind the rope. As pissed as she could have gotten, she holds it together and instead runs a fingernail up his arm as he walks away. Interesting.
When the guys start making out over the top of my head I excuse myself, even though they aren't paying any attention to me anyway, and find Kate who's sexting with Elliot. When I try to read their conversations she hides her phone and bursts out in a belly laugh that has my eyes tearing up just watching her.
"Trust me, Ana, you do not want to know the things your brother in law is saying to me right now."
"My brother in law? Rushing things a bit, Kate?"
"Not as far as I can see. My bet is you'll be hitched by the new year and if you're not officially married, you'll be engaged." She looks up at the crowd of people vying to get my attention and rolls her eyes. "If you think it's bad now, just wait until you're Mrs. Christian Grey." She turns and yells at a particularly aggressive group of girls, "Fucking pariah losers!"
With a chink we shoot back a few rounds of vodka and then dance to Rhianna's 'Only Girl in the World'. I catch the eye of the DJ and give him a thumbs up and I think he was going to smile back but his face falls and he looks down. When I turn Sawyer is standing less than two feet behind me with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"Ms. Steele, I don't want to ruin your time but the crowd is getting more and more out of control. I can only do so much with five guys. It'd be a good idea if you thought about winding things down."
I look around and see Missy leaning up against Lisa, half asleep and obviously very drunk, sipping out of a penis shaped thermos. Actually, she's covered in penis's from her necklace to her earrings to the fake tattoo on her upper arm. She had wanted to put that thing on her face but thank god Devin nixed that idea. Nobody argues with him, it's too exhausting.
"Dev, Case, it's time to head out." Devin looks at me like I'm on fire and then puts his hands on his hips but never does his head stop bouncing to the song.
"Are you out of your head? Look around you!" His arms sweep to the crowd vying for my attention. "I am eating this shit up, girl! If I don't land in one of those magazines after a night with you I will be hella pissed off. You think I wore the pearls for nothing? Hells to the no. Now get on out here and move those hips like I taught you."
Sawyer taps his watch and I look at it. Two am. "OK, ten more minutes." Devin just swats me away and waves his Calvin Klein clad ass at the crowd.
"You do not measure time with minutes in a club, Annie baby. You measure it by song." His eyes roll and he pulls me against him, smearing his body glitter all over me. "I see I still have things to teach you. Now watch and learn, these hips don't lie."
Nine songs later we're all piled in the limo, sweaty and exhausted. Everyone but Heather and I are asleep, even Devin has his eyes closed, tiny little snores cutting through the air. Logan meets us in the car park of their apartment building and picks up Missy, carrying her in with an eye roll and a whispered thank you. He could have yelled into a megaphone and she wouldn't have woken up. I do not envy her in the morning.
Casey, Devin and Lisa get out next. I shoot Elliot a text to tell him we're almost at the house but he doesn't reply so I get out and drag Kate to the door where Elliot answers it in his pajamas. His hair is sticking out all over the place and his eyes are half shut but he attempts small talk with me until Kate leans over the side of the steps and hurls into the bushes. I give a quick wave and run back to the limo before he's even had a chance to grab her hair. His problem now!
I'm surprised to pull up in front of Escala next but when I see that Sawyer walks me to the elevator and then allows me to go up alone I have a pretty good idea where he's spending the night.
Christian is sleeping in the middle of our bed, head back, mouth open, snoring like a lumberjack. Next to him are two crumpled tissues. Christian Grey is sick. And loud! Damn! I take a quick shower and throw on a t-shirt before sliding in next to him.
"Hey." He grumbles, rolling to his side and kissing my temple. "When did you get home?"
"Ten minutes ago. You're sick." Before I can reach up to feel his forehead he's already lifting the t-shirt over my head and sucking on my nipple.
"I'm fine. I just need to get rid of the poison in my balls."
"Oh my god! You are such…oh…god…"
"I've been called worse. God sounds pretty good."
"Shut up and suck. Oh god that feels…ah!" When his hand dives between my legs I arch into him and bite my lip hard enough to hurt. "Inside, please, I just want you inside me."
CPOV
"This is nice, Christian. Just us. I think your dad was kind of jealous but you guys have lunch enough that I didn't care. What's Ana up to tonight?"
"Bachelorette party for her friend Missy."
"Oh boy, strippers?"
"Mom!" I am not talking about strippers with my mom. Shit, are there going to be strippers? Under the table I fire off a text to Sawyer but he assures me that he's heard nothing of the sort. I will lose my shit if some guy rubs up on her. Lose. My. Shit.
I'm just about ready to end dinner and go find Ana to ensure no greasy beefcake in a neon G-string is grinding his junk on her but then the waitress comes over and takes our order reminding me that I'm here. With my mom. Working on our relationship. I give her my best panty dropping smile just to feel like the shit that I know I am and she doesn't disappoint. She has to ask my mom, twice, what it was she ordered. Still got it.
When dinner arrives I address the elephant between us. "How have you been doing?"
She finishes chewing her salmon and lets out a small sigh. "Alright. I found a therapist who specializes in sexual abuse so dad and I have gone twice so far this week. It's been…tough but therapeutic." She laughs and drinks her chardonnay. "I guess it should be therapeutic since it is called therapy!"
"Elliot said you just never showed up for lunch on Sunday." Her demeanor changes into angry mom and she lays her fork down with a clang I feel in my teeth.
"Of course I didn't go. I hate that bitch, I'd have stabbed her across the table and then ordered a celebratory cocktail."
"Did she call?" She guffaws and drinks the rest of her wine in three sips.
"Did she call? Oh yea, she called. I ignored each one, deleted each text, blocked her emails. I know you don't want me to do anything but damn it, I want to rip her to shreds."
"Yet. I just don't want you to do anything yet. I know you need closure too though." She snickers and picks up her fork, delicately cutting her zucchini.
"I have my ways of fighting back without her knowing. I hate to sound pompous but I have a quite a bit of influence in this city. So, when I tell my friends I'm not going to Esclava and drop hints about the cleanliness of the place, it makes ripples. When you tell me I can though, I'm going to make waves."
I grin behind my wine glass and watch her, prim and proper in her pale pink shift dress eating her healthy dinner and keeping her elbows off the table. My mom.
"So far, Kathy Donovan, Brice Matthews, Kristin Hopkins and Spencer Tillman are already following me over to Finesse. Screw that disgusting piece of filth." When dessert comes she sits back with a simper and swirls the port, her eyes boring into mine.
"So, when are you going to ask that girl to marry you?" A coughing fit overtakes me then, but she sits still and waits with a smirk until I've finished the glass of water in front of me.
"I…uh…I've…" Just tell her for Christ's sake. "The ring is in my safe at home." Her jaw drops, the revelation totally unexpected but then her hand flies to her mouth and she screams into her fist, losing control of her carefully demure demeanor.
"You have the ring? Oh my god, I was half kidding! You...you really do have the ring don't you?"
"Yes. Surprised?"
"Christian, if Elvis walked through that door right now and sang 'All Shook Up' to me I wouldn't be more shocked." She drops her hand and laughs at her own joke, wiggling with excitement in her seat. "Your father and I have wanted this for you for so long, since that first day you came home with us and sat at the foot of the stairs watching Elliot play with his Matchbox cars, we have hoped and prayed that you would find happiness. We didn't care if you were gay or straight, fat or thin, rich or poor, we just wanted you happy. And you are." Her voice catches and she gasps on a sob.
"Mom." My hand reaches for hers on impulse and she grabs it, her light pink finger nails digging into my palm. "I am happy. Ridiculously happy."
"Can I tell your father? When are you going to do it? Have you asked her father? You have to ask her father, you know that right? Oh my god, you can do it on Sunday. Where do you want to have the wedding? Do you think you'll"
"Mom, mom, mom. Holy shit, you're freaking me out." She sits up straight, her eyes wide as saucers.
"Sorry. Don't freak out. I'll be good." I chuckle at her and pat her hand, pulling away and sitting back to take this entire conversation in. Wild.
"I'm not freaking out, you are. You can tell dad but I don't want him mentioning it to anyone. I hadn't planned on telling anyone but you caught me so off guard…" I feel regretful; this openness is so not my style.
"I won't breathe a word of it, I promise. Well, except to your father, we don't keep secrets from each other and we could use some good news right now."
"Yes, you could." Telling her was the right decision. They deserve this intimacy with me. They've earned the right to be part of my inner circle and they have never failed me. After a few sneezes she frowns at me and reaches to feel my forehead but I pull back.
"You sound terrible. Actually, you look worse now than you did when we first got here. Let's get you home and in bed." She goes to stand but sits quickly. "But first answer my questions." This is a side of my mother I've never seen before and I have to say, I'm enjoying it. I wonder if she's always been like this and I've just never noticed it or if knowing what was 'wrong' with me and seeing me happy has lifted a weight off of her.
"Your questions." I stroke my chin thoughtfully and divulge what I will. "I don't know when I'll do it, she's not quite ready yet, that much I know. I haven't asked Ray, hadn't even thought about it to tell you the truth." My stomach plummets to the floor at the visual of me sitting with Ray asking to marry his daughter. Give me a stone cold board of directors, no problem. My girlfriends father and the marriage talk? I'm sweating already. "Shit, I never even thought of asking him." My voice is low and distant as I think about it.
"Christian, he loves you. She loves you. You'll be fine. Just don't curse or demand anything and whatever he says about grandbabies, tell him he can have his way." Her hands clasp and she bounces in her chair. "Oh my god! Grandbabies!"
I am going to pass out. Do I have a fever or is it the mention of grandbabies that has me about to puke on the floor.
"You may be holding out on Elliot and Kate for that one, mom. I'm not sure I'd be a good dad." Her head snaps back and she snorts.
"Bull shit."
"What the hell did you just say?" Bitch and bull shit in one sitting? I'm shocked and kind of...proud.
"You heard me, don't make me say it again. Christian Trevelyan Grey, you will make a great dad one day. Everything you've ever set your mind to you've mastered. Piano, flying, kick boxing, rowing, business, Ana, your mental well-being. You will do the same with being a husband and a father." Her eyes fill with unshed tears. "Don't short yourself on the greatest joy in life because of fear that you shouldn't own anyway."
The air rushes from my lungs and I gasp but it comes out in another coughing fit which cuts short a conversation so fraught with emotions I'd rather have tuberculosis.
"Come on, let's get you tucked in." Outside she informs Taylor that she'll be coming home with me but I laugh her off and walk her to her car, making sure she's ok to drive.
"Call me tomorrow and tell me about dinner on Sunday. I want to know if you spike a fever too!" I shut the door and walk to the SUV, collapsing in the back seat, shivering in the July air. I am definitely sick.
Taylor offers me a cough drop and rides the elevator with me but stays as far away as he can, waiting for me to wave him off for the night before sprinting to his quarters for a shower and sanitization. I can't recall the last time I was sick and I've never known Taylor to take a sick day either.
It's still early but I'm exhausted so instead of going to my office as per usual, I take my laptop to bed with me and put on the TV, pausing when TMZ pops up to alert us that 'Baby Grey Gate' is in full effect and that Ana was seen purchasing baby clothes earlier today. I snort at the bold lie and immediately regret it, coughing and sneezing until I groan like a child. Maybe I should have let my mom come and put me to bed.
A few hours later I wake to the feel of soft woman curled against me and sickness be damned, I want in that and now. Things are a bit fuzzy but I know where the hem of her t-shirt is and I know I want it off so I do just that, tossing it to the bottom of the bed and latching onto a sweet hard nipple.
Burning fever or not, when your woman tells you to get inside her, you do it. Before she can change her mind I turn her so she's spooned against me and lift her leg high in the air, sliding into that perfect, tight, wet, heat.
"Hell yeah. Oh fuck." It hurts a bit to talk but I don't give a shit about anything but fucking my girlfriend right now. I like this position for four reasons. I can wrap my arm underneath her and hold her breast, I can go deep or shallow while the curve of her ass presses against me perfectly, and I can hook her knee in my elbow and play with her clit which she loves. But most of all, and any guy that says differently is lying, I like to see her leg high up in the air while I drive into her.
If she had heels on, I'd have come already. Her little moans hit all the right auditory nerves, the pressure in my lower spine building with each thrust until I stay still, gritting my teeth while I focus on that hard little bundle of nerves at the top of her pussy. If I move, if she clenches any harder, I'm going to blow.
"Right there right there right there…oh god oh god oh god…" and then she goes silent like she always does right before she comes, her body tensing, her nipple so hard in my palm it stabs at me. When she releases her breath she cries out my name and tightens her walls, forcing out a climax of my own that has me twitching for a full minute after.
"Did you dance with anybody besides your group?"
"NnnNnn."
"Were there strippers?" She stifles a laugh and I slip out of her. I want back in.
"Oh my god, no. For one, Missy would die. Die! And Logan would kill us." Good.
"Did anyone hit on you?"
"Nobody could even look my way let alone talk to me." Sawyer did his job then. She rolls over, untangling her leg from my arm. "You don't sound so good, baby." And like a typical woman she reaches out and touches my forehead. "Oh my goodness, you're burning up!"
"I'm fine, god you and my mom are the same!" Before I can protest she's up and pulling her shirt back on. "Don't do that, Ana. I'm going to rock your world tonight, remember?" But even as I say it I long for sleep.
"MmmHmm. Looks it. I'll be right back, did you take anything yet?"
"No." My eyes are heavy and it really hurts to swallow but I refuse to give in to the pain. I'm not at all surprised when she sticks a thermometer in my mouth and clucks like a hen when she reads the number a minute later.
"102.4. You need to see a doctor. Lift your chin, let me feel your glands." I do as I'm told and wince when she pushes on my neck. "I bet you have strep. I used to get it all the time until I had my tonsils and adenoids out." Well that explains the amazing deep throat she's capable of.
"Here, sit up and take this." She hands me a medicine cup filled with green liquid which tastes…like green liquid. Awful. "Now lay back, I'll get you some ice water. Who's your doctor? I'm going to call first thing to get you an appointment."
"My mom. And I don't need an appointment, she makes house calls."
"Duh. How stupid of me. OK, I'll call her first thing. Now go to sleep, the Nyquil will kick in in a few minutes." I kind of like this, being taken care of like this. Ana covers me to my neck and then gets a washcloth to clean my dick off. It's so sweet it almost makes me tear up. Man up, Grey.
When she's finished she slides in and props herself up on one arm so that she can run her fingers over my scalp, lulling me into a deep sleep that pulls me under and keeps me there until morning.
"Good morning." I wince when I open my mouth. Overnight I've gone from in pain to agony. Ana rushes over from the coffee maker with my mother and watches as my mom sits me on the bar stool and opens my mouth with a tongue depressor.
"My guess is strep as well. I'll take a culture and we'll know for sure by afternoon but in the meantime, lots of rest and liquids. I'm going to call in some penicillin, you should start that right away. If the culture comes back negative, just don't take another dose."
"Now, Ana, I know you've had your adenoids removed but that doesn't mean you won't get sick, it just means it won't be as severe. Try not to kiss each other for the next 36 hours and don't share any drinks or utensils."
"Mom, we're not five. We know this already."
"You, shush." She turns back to Ana and continues. "He can eat anything he wants but he'll probably not have a normal appetite for a few days. If he's not on the upswing tomorrow morning, we'll get him something stronger and we'll have dinner here instead."
I smile, there is no way my mom isn't meeting Ray Steele.
"Now, I've got to run, my shift starts in less than 20 minutes. Christian, this is no time to be a hero. If you feel sick, let Ana take care of you."
"Yes, mom."
"And do try to eat. Gail?" Gail turns the corner and gives me a pitiful glance before looking at my mom.
"Can you please pick up his prescription. I'll call it in on my way to the office, it should be ready in 30 minutes."
"Of course, Mrs. Grey."
Mrs. Grey. I want to hear that from Gail's mouth when she's speaking to Ana. Mrs. Anastasia Grey. Mrs. Christian Grey. This fever is doing a number on me.
"Are you hungry for breakfast, Mr. Grey?"
"Isn't Saturday your day off?" I want Ana to take care of me.
"Usually it is but I can stay on if you're not feeling well."
"It's alright, Gail. I can manage it. If I need you, I'll give you a call." Ana smiles at her warmly and Gail returns it, making quick plans with Taylor to go get the meds.
"And fudge pops!" I call after her. Ana laughs at me and then makes me a blended smoothie.
"Cold, packed with vitamins, and filling. Come on, you can eat in bed." I let her lead me back to the bedroom and tuck me in, handing me the smoothie with two Advil's and a glass of ice water.
"I'm going to take a real shower instead of the rushed one I took last night and then we'll watch a movie. Sound good?" I nod. I'd be sick everyday if it meant spending the entire day with her in bed.
I want to go shower with her but the effort it would take to get out of bed and undressed seems monumental so I dutifully sip my drink and wait for her to come out, steamy and wet. She does not disappoint either.
Hells yea, that woman is mine. Like a voyeur I watch as she lotions her lithe body before putting on a navy blue satin tank and boy short set that is going to kill me for sure.
"You like?" She asks and turns around, shaking her ass and stopping when I grab a handful of it.
"I love. Let me take it off you now." She pulls away and swats at my hand playfully.
"You need to rest. Besides, Taylor is on his way back with your meds. What do you want to watch?"
"You." I can't help it, I just can't stop myself. Her giggle and the way her breasts bounce when she gets in the bed doesn't help either.
"Later if you're feeling better. Right now I think we should watch…" She flips through the library on the iPad and decides on the first 'Lord of the Rings'. "OK with you?"
"Perfect. You know, I reread the trilogy over the last few weeks."
"I know, I saw it on the counter and on your desk a few times." Her silky skin brushes mine as she settles in against me, resting her head on my shoulder. A few minutes later Taylor knocks on the door and she jumps to answer it.
"Put on a damn robe, Anastasia!" She stops mid-stride and makes a show of grabbing one off the edge of the bed. I didn't even notice her put it there.
"Do you really think I'd answer the door in my skivvies?" Skivvies?
"Alright, here you go, take this now and then you'll do another dose before bed." She hands me the small cup filled with white liquid but I refuse it.
"Take off the robe first." She does with an eye roll and sticks her hand back out. "Now shake your chest back and forth…yes, just like that. Damn, woman you have the finest set of tits I have ever seen."
"OK, Rico Suave, eyes back to the movie."
This time when she climbs in she sits behind me so that I'm resting in that holy of holy spots between her breasts. Her smooth legs are wrapped around me and her hands alternate between light touches on my shoulders and arms to gentle tugs of my hair.
I feel like shit but I've never been better.
Author's note: Two things.
1) It's December, I own a finance company and that means year end. So I will do my absolute best to update regularly but between work, family and life in general, this month kicks my ass. I will post at least once a week, shoot for twice and do my best to keep it at the three but as faithful readers, I feel it only fair to let you know that it may slow for a bit. But it won't stop!
2) Devin is based off of a very good friend of mine and that is his real name and he's super stoked to be in this story. He asked that I made sure you all knew that he does in fact have blue hair and killer cheekbones but would never wear a pearl necklace. And he said I need a manicure more than a pedicure!