Ana's POV
Well dinner at the Space Needle was all it was cracked up to be, it was so lovely to see the whole Seattle skyline from such a vantage point, it wasn't the same as from the helicopter which is still my favourite view of Seattle but in the private room with the full view and no throbbing helicopter blades, it was so much more intimate and pleasurable.
The food was divine, prawns that melted in the mouth, scallops that just dissolved, creamy blue cheese, tender steak and despite Christian's protestations and denials, his choices all seemed aimed at fattening me up but I wasn't going to argue as I scoffed every last morsel including what appeared to be every single dessert on the buffet to be delivered and which he hand fed me. Christian's company was so attentive that I don't understand how he says he can't do this sort of thing, I know he went into overdrive to try to remove the effect of the Carla conversation and he did, I was so completely absorbed by him as we discussed the places he'd been and where I'd like to go especially after he realised that I really did know very little of the Seattle region and pretty much anything outside of the areas I had lived in.
I know my eyes were shining and he could pick up my excitement when talking about the places I'd like to go and the things I'd like to do, my long held dreams of visiting Europe and especially the United Kingdom to see the places in my favourite books. I stated that I hoped I'd get to travel with my job and he was quick to tell me with a strange shadow across his face that he hoped I'd do all that travel with him. It was just a quick unconscious touch of my necklace as I quirked an eyebrow at him that had him sitting back in his chair, nodding and saying "Well during your vacations, we can travel as well, is that better?"
The evening was beautiful with a final night cap on the balcony. I'd said I wouldn't go out there until I could move under my own steam and now that I can walk, when Christian will let me, he had a chaise put out there so we could relax together, his warmth holding out the chill from the air as we sipped our drinks and continued chatting. Finally I am hearing about the work that puts a fire in his belly and I love the ideas he has for the future, his plans to help others, the solar powered and sustainable energy ideas as well as other business plans to feed the hungry and help students all over the world reach their potential.
The explanations and excitement all bubbled out of him and it was nice to see him relaxed and enthused at the same time, a quick mention that I felt guilty for having taken him away from all of that for the last few weeks had him saying earnestly, "My businesses have been my wife, lover and mistress for the last years, the subs solely an outlet." I understand that but it feels so callous when he talks about the subs like that and it had me shuddering and he tried to explain, now that he knows what love actually is, he can't live without it and the businesses will need to just be his mistress, stealing time away from his true love. I don't doubt him one bit, the moonlight shining down on his face highlighted his expression and I didn't think I could fall further in love but I did.
Feeling safe and secure in his love and content in his arms, I was hoping this feeling would never end, the perfect conclusion to a perfect evening. I let my mind drift back to the massage, the bath, onto dinner and out on the balcony looking at the stars, all perfect and snuggled closer into his arms, revelling in the feeling of them tightening around me, his heartbeat strong against my ear, his lips in my hair. I let myself completely relax and just as I was falling asleep, he whispered, "Come on sleepyhead, it's much nicer inside," scooped me up and I was inside before I had time to protest the carrying so just smiled and let him take control, for once it felt right to hand it all over and just go with the flow. The satisfaction on his face was worth it and I was asleep within minutes of us snuggling in bed, the sleep the best since I met him and I woke up to today rested despite today being the day I have been dreading.
"Good morning Gorgeous," his standard greeting whispered in my ear and followed by those delicious lips down my throat have the effect of waking all of me and I can't help the squirm and then gasp as the pain from my pelvis shoots through me, surprising me with its intensity.
"Ana, seriously," and his eyes are wide with panic as he shoots up onto his left hand and looks in concern at me, "What just happened? Are you ok?"
I nod tearfully, "I just wiggled and for some stupid reason, it twisted my pelvis, I'll be ok, honestly," I hate that he saw that pain, normally I can hide it and I desperately want him to continue what he seemed about to do. His face stays a picture of concern as he looks at me, trying to decipher if I am lying to him or not and so I reach up and gently put my hands in his hair, drawing his face down to mine, touching our noses together. "I'm ok, it was just a quick stab, I really want to start the day relaxed and I know what would do it."
I can't do seduction, I've never done it and while it seems like every heroine I've ever read can, it's just not in my repertoire so I hope that something I say or do will sink into him so I attempt to kiss him but he resists, his eyes still clouded with doubt and concern.
"Ana, I, ah, …" and he stops as though confused and pulls away from me, "I can't, I can't… I just can't, it's going to hurt you and I can't hurt you ever again."
I can't help it and throwing my arm up over my eyes, I try to compose myself, I feel so cheated at this moment, I just want to hide my disappointment but the tears that roll out from under my arm and the twisting of my lip give me away and he groans as I roll to my side away from him.
"Oh Ana, baby, I …. There's nothing more that I want in this world. Don't cry, please don't cry…" and since I won't turn back to him, he slides out of his side of the bed and comes around to mine, tenderly lifting my arm while I still keep my eyes steadfastly shut and kissing the tears off my cheek, "Baby, look at me, open those baby blues and look at me… please," he practically begs, "I love you with everything, I want to take away all your pain, I just can't do anything that might hurt you and the thought that I might hurt you even unintentionally is killing me here."
His sincerity and the fact that I can feel his breath on my lips makes me try to stifle a sniffle and open my eyes to look into his pained eyes and I can't suppress the sob and he asks me gently to sit up and I comply mutely, unable to think and then he stands and reaches out for my hands, "Can you stand?" he asks and when I nod, he acts as a support, allowing me to stand in the most comfortable manner and then he folds me into his arms, hugging me so that I can feel every inch of his body against mine. His erection, hidden by his pyjama bottoms, presses between us, leaving no doubt in my mind that he desires me and his hands as they travel up and down my back, caressing and kneading warm me, just as they leave me feeling bereft as they move to my sides.
"Baby, never doubt that if you were not injured that you would not have left this room for the last few weeks, I haven't had to use my control for anything other than resisting you and I have to say, in that task, my control has been sorely tested. Please believe me, your pleasure is right at the top of the list of things I want you to experience, I have let my control slip a couple of times but every time I was sure you weren't in pain but I saw that pain a few minutes ago, that wasn't an "oh I bumped my elbow" type of pain, that was a deep, "deeper than pleasure will mask" pain, am I correct?"
And I have to nod sadly at him and I know I'm making him wait and that brings on a whole new level of self-doubt, I know that I am desperate for his touch and I've never experienced it other than those stolen moments but he is missing out on something he had regularly and despite his obvious honesty in his words and how he's acting, I can't but help to think, if temptation comes his way, will he give in to it because he has to wait for me. He gazes into my face for a moment longer and then crushes me to him again, doing his mindreading trick and says "I have enough control to last me until you are healthy baby, don't doubt that for a minute, I am totally fine, it's you that I worry about… constantly."
Once I have calmed down he breathes, "Let's go have a shower, you have a big day ahead of you," and at my look of questioning horror, he laughs and says, "I have someone coming to give you the full treatment, I want you to not worry about a thing today, I have organised for pampering, I can't do your nails or your hair or your make up otherwise I would." He leans in conspiratorially and says, "I loved being your masseuse last night and I hate that other people will have their hands all over you but I don't have time to learn how to do all those things."
And I swat his arm playfully, my self-doubt diminished and his playfulness and the image of Christian, CEO, painting my toenails removing the last of my funk and he rewards me with a huge smile, his eyes twinkling "There you are, gorgeous girl, let's go have this shower," and picks me up again and nuzzling into my hair proceeds to the shower.
As the warm water hits my shoulders, I can smell the sweet smell of last night's aromatic massage oils and smile as the scent reminds me of his gentle ministrations and I put out my hand for the body wash. He passes it to me with a raised eyebrow and I lean into him and say "Please allow me to wash you, you always do everything for me," and he takes a deep breath and nods but it's the fear that flashes across his eyes that gives me pause and I realise that all the times that I have touched him, he's known what I am doing and that this whole touching his scarred areas is still new.
Gently I start from the top, massaging the body wash into his shoulders when I ask him to spin for me after washing his chest, I marvel at how it is such a beautiful body and I can't help myself and I wrap my arms around him and lean my body against his back, kissing his back as I do so and feel the tension leave him.
I continue leaning against him as I move my still soapy hands down his front and down his happy trail, to be bumped into by his fast rising erection and feel the growl reverberating through his body and I know he's fighting for control as I tentatively wrap my hand around him. I have variously bumped into him, accidentally touched him and that one time that I pleasured him but I am surprised at what he feels like now, so much so I almost let go and he moves himself a little to allow me better access, doing so he thrusts and I gasp as it is simultaneously hard and soft under my hand, and amazingly, still growing.
Goodness knows what my face says as he chuckles and then turns to capture my lips with his, leaning against the wall, he pulls me against his chest, gently removing my hand, the water cascading over us, "Beautiful girl, thank you but we are sharing him, I don't need you to do that for me, we do this together or not at all."
"But you've made me… go bang, a couple of times, now I feel selfish," I say petulantly, I was so ready to pleasure him and he lifts my face and shakes his head smiling indulgently.
"No gorgeous, you needed it, I don't, trust me, and if we start, we are NEVER going to meet the rest of your appointments today," he says trying to placate me but quite frankly, I couldn't care less if I turned up naked to the gala with ugly hair but his smile and his gently rubbed circles on my back calm me and finally I nod and we finish the shower, have breakfast and then he leaves me in the company of the professionals tasked to turn me into the belle of the ball. A fairy godmother would have been useful, right about now!