Christian's POV

I wake up again and my breath stutters in my throat as I realise Ana's bare back is still flush against my bare chest and then I remember and relax and enjoy her heat as it permeates my chest. My chest, she is skin to skin against me, my left arm is asleep under her and my right hand is resting on her breast.

Oh.

The impact is immediate and then I hear "You should look but not touch a snake, but they don't say that about sticks" and the giggle that follows is like music to my ears and I have to unwind my legs so that I don't prod her any further.

"Hey Gorgeous Girl, are you ready for breakfast?"

"Are you?" and she oozes kittenish sexiness as she rubs her body against me, I can feel her heat and everything in my brain explodes, no coherent thought is possible.

"Oh Ana, you can't say and do things like that. You have no idea how much I want to worship your body, make it sing and dance. I want to do things to you that will change how you think about everything," as I say this, I rub my hand down her side and feel her shiver.

"Ana, do you know how much I want you? How am much I want you to want me?

Her breathing is shallow and her answer breathy though she doesn't turn to me, "Christian, you know I've never slept with a man, not even laid in the same bed, barely been kissed, let alone slept semi naked in a gorgeous man's arms, you can't be questioning whether I want you… you must know… you do things to me already that I never knew anyone could do." She stops as she feels me nod my head against hers and then she continues, "I was so scared that I'd never let anyone near me. Who was ever going to love me with all my scars? It was safer to retreat into my books and the heroes that would never hurt me. The heroes that would love me for me, I'm just a little afraid that I'll wake up and find that all of this with you has been a dream."

"Oh it's no dream Baby and you are driving me wild, I want you to love your body as much as I do, I want to show you in the most basic of ways how beautiful you are but you're too broken still for me to do that safely"

I need to leave her alone but I crave her touch and I gently, ever so gently, kiss her on the back of the neck and am rewarded by a little gasp, I travel down her spine, leaving butterfly kisses as my lips follow my hand caressing her body. I stop the kisses at the base of her spine but let my hand continue over her bottom, I make sure I don't linger where I'd like to and trace down the back of her thigh. I know she's trying not to squirm and I have to remind myself that any movements are going to hurt her pelvis and her ribs.

Her breath is shallower and becoming rapid as my fingers move, "Breathe slow and steady and lie still Ana or I will stop," I say and she stops breathing altogether. "Breathe baby, I need to know that you are ok."

I roll Ana onto her back and support her leg, it will be so much easier for her once she doesn't have the brutal cast but that is actually one stable part of her injuries, it's her pelvis and ribs that worry me, I know she doesn't show pain outwardly but I can feel her cringe when she overdoes it and I need to be even more aware of those silent gasps that she does, by laying her on her back at least both the ribs and hips will be stable and I can see her reactions, note if she is in any sort of pain.

She is glorious, her hair cascading around her shoulders over the pillow, those full lips, "Ana stop biting that lip or I won't be able to control my actions around you, I desperately want to be inside you but that is not an option and won't be for a long time" and her mouth pops open in shock and she covers her mouth with her hand. My brain to mouth filter is gone, I am completely undone seeing Ana in all her glory right in front of me.

"Please put your hand down, I want to see you in all your glory," I echo my thoughts as they won't stay inside my head, she needs to know how in awe of her I am, how she affects me, "Please don't be embarrassed, I want to kiss you from here to here," I whisper, my voice hoarse filled with desire, as I indicate the top of her head to her toes.

Leaning over her to kiss her on the top of her head as I promised, my breath is sucked right out of my body when Ana tilts her head and plants a kiss over my heart, right on a scar in my forbidden zone and I can't stop the moan emanating from my body as I close my eyes and dare to feel.

"Right back at you Christian," Ana whispers and as my eyes fly open, she takes advantage of my position and pulls me onto her chest, her breasts tantalisingly tracing themselves on me as I stop myself crashing into her.

Exasperated at her lack of self-preservation but unable to resist her, I kiss her lips gently, then take that bottom lip and suck it gently until she moans and then carefully tug at it with my teeth, "I told you I wanted to bite it," I say, smiling against her lips.

I leave her enticing lips and continue kissing up to her ear lobe, then travel down the arch of her long neck and down her shoulder, I am torn as to whether I should go near those delectable breasts and whether doing so will start something that I can't stop. Is it fair to Ana to do so? I continue placing little sucking kisses down her shoulder and I can feel her palpable frustration with me, her growl as I moved down towards her stomach instead of across, I can feel her little hands fluttering on my back as I move down her torso, and then I reach up and cup her breast and her hands still.

Yes, I am home, I am right where I want to be. "Breathe Ana, we were meant to be, look how you fit my hand perfectly, I want to have you exploding for me but I'm scared about what it will do for your injuries."

And as she mewls below me, there is no way I want to stop, I can feel her coming undone andI need to continue. Ana's eyes are closed, her hands now clasping and unclasping on my back, as I tighten my grip on her breast, the nipple elongated and rolling between my finger and thumb, I gently blow then suck on the other and Ana groans, when my teeth close on the nipple, she shudders, her legs stiffen and she's gone, I absorb her cries with a deep kiss, holding her body as flat as I can against mine to stop any convulsions and when she's done, I am rewarded by a look of complete gratitude and awe.

"Baby, you're amazing, you're so very responsive," I say in amazement, satisfied that I managed that without too much apparent damage and I have to kiss her again, hold her tight against me, forbidden zone against forbidden zone.

It's the quietest whisper so I almost miss it, "My first ever. So amazing!"

"Your first ever? Have you never pleasured yourself?" I ask astounded and pull away to look at her.

I am so saddened by her response, "No-one else loved me, why would I?" and she says it with such finality that it hurts, but then she gasps, "What about you? You've just been left hanging."

"No hanging here, Baby," I chuckle and we both look down and Ana eyes bug at the almost indecent bulge reaching to the top of my pants.

"It's fine Baby, it'll go down, I'm starving and it's late and you said you were going to study."

"Well, I was until you distracted me," she says with a pretty pout.

"Huh, I distracted you? I asked if you were ready for breakfast and what you replied had nothing to do with breakfast you cheeky monkey!" I pause as I smile and raise my eyebrows at her "I didn't take up your offer but I will eat that when you are ready, but not now, I want pancakes and bacon."

I laugh as she catches up with my train of thought, turns a shade of beetroot red and thumps me with the pillow.

The rest of the day passes in a blur, as Ana continues to study, I call Welch and Taylor into my office and I explain to them in detail what I discovered today, they need to understand my now almost maniacal desire to destroy Morton and Carla.

I won't take a photo of Ana's butt to show them but I pull up graphic pictures online to show them exactly how Ana's injuries must have looked to cause the extent of the scarring and both men, seasoned soldiers, pale and nod determinedly. Outside of myself and Ray, I think these two will protect Ana over myself if necessary, despite their brief being to me first and I am glad that I have them on my team.

When I mention the "ashtray" burns, Welch audibly groans and Taylor closes his eyes in distress and I have no doubt that Carla will never ever be free to enjoy herself. "If there is some way to prove neglect and then move past state and federal statutes of limitation, I want them charged so that there is punishment for his damage and her neglect, if something else happens to them in custody, or anywhere, let's just say, I don't care as long as Ana isn't hurt again."

"Quite frankly, a slow roasting alive over hot coals would be too good for these two animals, they make a good pair," Taylor finally spits out.

Assured that my team will handle that side of things, I want to put in place my plans for the next four or five days but only after seeking Ana out again. I need to touch her, feel her, her response this morning was nothing short of satisfying in the fact that despite all her damage, her body is willing and she trusts me. She trusts me! When everything in her should logically turn away from me, she sees something that she trusts; maybe I am able to be saved after all.

"Hi Gorgeous, can I help you up? The physio is on her way up and I want to be here with you, we need to know what you are going to be able to do over the next four days so that you have enough energy for these silly exams, which you shouldn't be doing, and not be totally exhausted by the end of it."

"Christian, I am doing the exams, I am stronger than you think I am," she says crossing her arms over her chest, daring me to argue with her again and looking adorable in the process.

"I know there's no point in arguing with you baby, I just want you well, there so many things that I want to do with you, hopefully when you've finished the exams you will actually rest and get better soon," and the physio sweeps into the room having heard the tail end of the discussion.

"Who is doing exams?" and then grimaces when told, "Are you serious? Child, you should have been sleeping for the last 10 or however many days since the accident and only moving to do exercise, I cannot believe that you are doing that to yourself! Is your doctor letting you?

Ana looks at me a little panicked and says "I haven't asked."

"How are you going to maintain this sort of hitching system and how are you travelling?" the physio is becoming a little agitated and Ana looks at me beseechingly, damn it, I totally agree with the physio but I've promised Ana, I know how much this means to her.

"I have that under control, Ana will be continuously supported, both for the travelling and the exams and at any signs of distress, she will be airlifted back here or to the closest hospital" and Ana's eyes go wide and troubled. Oh, it's good to be me, she'll have to get used to my power and money, somehow I think that will be my hardest struggle with her.

The physio's words though cement my plans and I watch while Ana is put through her paces, I can see the exertion she is using and can imagine the pain but unlike the first time when she did all this and then was in tears, though her face hollows with the effort, she stoically does it all without a peep and then thanks the physio when they are finished.

The list of exercises is given for our trip but she is told not to worry as the exams will probably draw too much energy anyway and she'll see us on Thursday. "Bye Ana, be careful and girl, you deserve a medal, if not your degree, for how you're handling what you have gone through and doing all your exercises every day when most don't bother. Good luck." Are her parting words as she pats Ana on the arm, oh, if she only knew what my poor girl has gone through, she'd know how true her words are, Ana just nods.

"We really should clear this with Mom, she'll be here in an hour then you need to eat dinner and sleep." I say intending it as an order and Ana simply nods again, no defiance and I realise that she is tired and take this opportunity to go over my plans, hoping that she will be too tired to argue.

As she's sitting on the edge of the chair, I stand in front of her and put my hands around her tiny waist ready for when I will have to lift her off and look into face but her eyes are trained below my eyeline and she doesn't lift them as I speak.

"We'll leave here tomorrow afternoon after you have a shower as there is room here, we stay the night in your apartment so that you can farewell it and say good bye to your old life and then we spend Monday and Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday night at the Heathman where there is a lot more room." I say it in a bit of a rush, looking at her anxiously expecting her to put up a fight over it.

"That'll be nice, thank you." Is all she says quietly, almost absentmindedly.

"Ana, are you ok?" I ask concerned at her lack of expression.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be? It sounds like you have planned it perfectly." She answers again quietly, just flicking her eyes up to mine quickly and then looking down again.

I have a distinctly uneasy feeling and I don't know what I have done or not done but something isn't right and I curse my lack of relationship knowledge. If this was a merger, I know that at this point, I am about to lose the deal, her quiet acquiescence without additional questioning, just isn't her and I find it unsettling.

"Do you want to come in to the main room and just relax, have some nibbles and a drink?" I need to feel her, and thankfully she nods so I lift her and carry her out to the big room signalling Gail for pre-dinner drinks and recline on the couch, moulding myself around her body so that she is safe and as comfortable as possible. Still nothing, now I feel like a cushion, she is just sitting here on me, she isn't leaning in to me or absorbing, that's what I suddenly realise, normally I feel like we are absorbing each other.

Gail comes into the room with the drinks and the smile on her lips stills and she looks between us and then at me with worried eyes, even she can see something is wrong. She fusses with some snacks, placing them within reach and lingering but Ana doesn't say anything and just sits there on me so Gail leaves after I thank her, again looking at me with concern.

Suddenly Ana says, "I'm sorry Christian, I need to, um, I need to pee, do you mind bringing me there?" and I oblige relieved that I will be able to ask Gail what she thinks is going on but as I leave Ana in the bathroom, promising that she will call me when necessary, my mother appears and I am pleased to see her.

"Christian, what's the matter?" she asks as I run my hands through my hair.

"I don't know, Ana's gone distant on me and I don't know what I have done." I was about to ask if Mom had seen her scars because she hasn't mentioned them and she was there both when Ana came in the ambulance and when she was rushed to emergency but Ana calls quietly and I say "Help me Mom, I'm not good at this."

"Hi Darling Girl," and Mom gives Ana a kiss and as much of a cuddle as she can while I am holding her and while Ana perks up, she still isn't herself.

I put her down and before I have a chance to say anything Ana says in a rush, "Grace I need to go and do my exams on Monday and Tuesday because I don't feel that I have earned the degree that they are conferring on Wednesday, please say it's ok to go."

My mom looks at Ana and then at me and I say, "I have agreed to make sure that Ana gets there safely, is able to do the exams, and will be able to be evacuated out if anything happens."

Her eyes shine and she says quietly, "Well, Ana let me check you over and I trust Christian to not take your health lightly, so if he can get you up there safely and keep you there safely, I don't see any reason for you not to go. Darling girl, I am never going to stand in the way of your dreams, everyone here wants the best for you."

Ana closes her eyes briefly and one tiny tear starts and she dashes it away, she won't look at me and I don't know what to do. Mom says, "Christian, I'd love a cup of tea, Ana would you like one?" Ana nods and I drop a kiss on her neck as I walk past her, I can't stand that Ana is hurting for some reason and I don't know why.

Ana's POV

Christian walks out of the room to organise the tea and I guess his mother wants to chat to me but I don't know how to start with Grace, how do I say that my world is spinning out of control and I have such a tenuous grasp on it, she'll probably have me committed like my mother.

Like my mother, that's it, I'm like my mother, the first time someone has shown any interest in me, I basically throw myself at him. Like my mother, I am throwing myself at a rich man. Actually, he's beyond rich, I have no idea how rich he is but what he told me in the interview and how he has acted since, paying for everything, he must be rolling in money. Yet I am just a poor uni student, how can I live in this world with him, a world where someone has planes at his disposal to fly on a whim, where everything is organised and planned and done by somebody else. How can I live in a high society life? I don't fit in. Me with my scars and history but no life experience, how can I survive in the business and social world, we are so very different, different circles, different everything.

He thinks he likes me because I understand his issues. He has issues but nowhere near as many as I have and soon he'll realise what a mess I am and won't have anything to do with me. What am going to do? My body craves him already and all he did was touch me this morning, we don't know each other yet I basically want to give him my v-card like some brazen hussy, like my mother who once she gave it away would give herself away for anything. This morning if he had thought of a way of making it possible, I would have given it to him, just like that, no qualms at all, god I was rubbing myself against him basically begging him.

I am just like the waste of space that is my mother. I am not like the amazing woman standing in front of me, the woman who just said that she wasn't going to stand in the way of my dreams, unlike my mother who always puts herself first and always put road blocks in front of me.

I can't stay, I can't get any closer to Christian, he'll figure out soon enough that I am just like a vapour, after the first heat is gone, I'll just be droplets of water that need to be wiped away, and what will be left of me? I need to do these exams, I need to succeed on my own, I can't have Christian, I need to be on my own, I cannot turn into my mother.

Finally, as Grace puts her hands on my shoulders, I realise that she was talking to me. "Ana, please, calm down, you're having a panic attack, just breathe for me, please just breathe for me."

As I nod to acknowledge that I have heard her and try to draw in a breath I realise that Christian is standing there looking scared. Great, I have managed to take one of the world's best businessmen and reduce him to this and I sob "I'm sorry Christian, I can't do this to you."

When he rushes forward to hug me, I reach out with my arms and stop him, "I can't, Christian, I can't. It's not fair on you."

"Ana…" it's a tortured sound as Grace stops him and says, very professionally, the mother figure has gone, it is a doctor in a professional capacity standing there, "Ana, can we get you upstairs please? I need to check you over properly and I think you're over tired at this point" and I know that isn't the problem but maybe I can hide up there.

His smell as he picks me up and cuddles me close, his heat, his concern and his inate goodness all meld into one huge burden on my heart as he quickly carries me to the bedroom, I close my eyes, I don't want to see the pain in his eyes and etched on his face, that I am causing him, I know I will just keep causing him pain, that's all I, as my mother's daughter will do to him.

As he lays me on the bed, I just want to curl into a ball but with my leg I can't and now my ribs are hurting from the silent sobs and the pain killers aren't working as well, see, I am my mother's daughter, I am already needing harder pain killers, I am so close to that slippery slope and as I think that, I realise that Christian is still holding me despite having covered my body with the bed clothes, my final realisation as the panic subsides is that Grace has sedated me again and I give in to the red cloud as it covers me and drags me down.