Woo! I've got the smut itch back. I can't keep myself from writing right now. That and I tweaked my back moving this weekend so going out in the evenings or stopping by rehearsals sound less than fun.
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I think at the end of this I'm going to get a WIDE array of reactions to this chapter, so please hold back on the hatred if that's your initial response. Think happy sexy thoughts. Special thanks to nedbella for this wicked idea. MWHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Ch. 23 - Stare Down
By the time I get back to the table, the food has arrived and poor Ethan and Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh are sitting politely not eating while their food gets cold.
Kate's still not back.
"I went to the ladies' room and couldn't find either of you," Mrs. Kavanagh says when I sit down. "Where did you two go?"
"We, uh," I hesitate. "We had a little fight. I'm sure Kate just went to get some air."
Ethan raises an eyebrow. "And where did you go?"
There's a knowing smirk on his face I can't say that I like.
"I got a drink at the bar. Sorry, Mr. Kavanagh."
Mr. K gives me a genuine smile. "And do you feel better?"
I smile back. "I definitely do."
After a couple minutes, we decide to dig into our food, tired of waiting for Kate to return. She rejoins us a few minutes later, tucking her phone back into her purse.
"Where'd you go?" Ethan asks, mouth half-full.
"I just had to make a phone call," she says. She lets her fingers graze my legs as she puts her napkin in her lap. She doesn't look at me.
"Calmed down?" Ethan says. Momentarily, Kate seems to panic as her hand stops midway to her knife. "So who's fault was it?"
I lean towards her. Now it's my turn to tease.
"It's all Kate's fault. She's the instigator. She just pushes my buttons." She looks at me, horror-stricken. I smile languidly at her. "Are you going to apologize to me for the fight we had in the bathroom?"
Her face transforms from one of surprise to a you'll-pay-for-this-later glare. "Well, you were a bit rough yourself," she says.
"Never would have happened if you hadn't been so touchy," I shoot back, jovially.
"When have I ever not been touchy? I thought it was one of the things you liked about me."
"Well, I'm not going to apologize," I say, putting on my best haughty air as I take another bite of my salmon. Damn, it's good.
"I won't either," she retorts, turning back to her steak.
"Women," Ethan sighs.
At the end of lunch, I thank the Kavanaghs and walk back to the apartment myself so Kate can have some time to say goodbye to them – and so I can have some time to call Christian. He picks up before the second ring.
"Anastasia."
"Mr. Grey," I answer, melting as I walk.
"How did it go?"
"Very well, sir." I blush, thinking back to our intense kiss.
"Did you do as I said?"
"Yes, Mr. Grey. She came in right when you said and I really only had one problem."
"What's that?"
I lower my voice as I pass an elderly couple on the sidewalk. "Well, I put her hands above her head like you said,"
"Yes?" He sounds… excited. Somehow that's making me even more aroused.
"And she tried to," I smile to the boy I pass. "Press her hips into me."
"It figures. How did you respond, Miss Steele?"
"I held her wrists with one hand and pushed her stomach against the wall with my other."
"Did you stop kissing at any point during this?"
"No, sir."
There's a long pause. I walk by three teenage girls giggling on a bench.
"Good. Good, Ana. Do you think you can make her sign the NDA?"
I nod, though I know he can't see me. "Yes, sir, I do."
"Excellent. The messenger should be at your front door now."
And sure enough, as I round the corner, I see a young, besuited man with a thin manila envelope and a large garment bag standing uncomfortably on the front step of my apartment.
"He is," I say.
"Now listen carefully," Christian says.
Kate walks into the apartment a few minutes later and I immediately hear her drop her bag onto the table.
"Steele?" she calls.
"In here," I call back nervously from my bedroom.
She comes in and freezes. I turn slowly over on the bed and smile at her. This is hopefully going to be the hardest part.
"What," she starts, pausing for a breath, "are you wearing?"
Innocently as I can, I say, "Oh this? It's a gift from Christian."
The tiny mesh bra and thong set are not what I'd call practical. The straps are too thin to be comfortable, the fabric too flimsy to be supportive. But are they ever sexy. I am aware of the skinny strapping running between my ass cheeks and under my breasts. Every time I move, the silk mesh tickles my skin slightly. Just as Christian said, I flip the tiny ruffle along the neckline. "Do you like it?"
She says nothing for a long while, but makes herself a bit more comfortable, leaning against the doorframe.
"You look good," she says finally. Cool as a cucumber. "So what are you doing in here so comfy in your skivvies?"
I turn the computer so she can see the screen. Christian's face smiles back at her. "Hi Katie," he says from the computer.
"Hey, Chris," she says back. She stands up straight. "Well, I'll leave you alone then."
"Wait," I say. I reach across the bed to grab the envelope, exposing my backside to her. I stand up and try to look far more confident than I am as I saunter over to her. "This came for you," I say, holding the envelope up.
She reaches to take it and I pull it just out of her reach. She seems a little antsy about this. She has to lean toward me to reach it. While she's this close I feel my nipples perk, my skin tingle, my mouth go dry, my panties slick. I can tell she feels it too because her breath is raspy when she whispers, "Ana, Christian can see us."
I whisper right back, "I know."
I lean in ever so slightly like I'm going to kiss her. Just when our lips are about to touch, both of us on edge, I bite my lip and breathe, "Why do you think we're not exclusive, Kate? Christian knows. He's okay with it." Then I let my tongue run along her bottom lip then turn to look at the laptop. The expression on Christian's face is dangerous.
"But he's all worried about what you might think if this moves forward. So he said you're cut off until you sign the non-disclosure, okay? Can you please sign it?" She looks surprised. Again. And it is hard to surprise Katherine Kavanagh. I press my body into hers, crumpling the envelope she holds between us. "Please?"
She nods almost imperceptibly and steps around me to open the envelope at my desk. I follow her and read over her shoulder.
It seems mostly the same as mine. Except… that it isn't. Phrases like, "Any interactions that may occur directly or indirectly between Miss Kavanagh and Mr. Grey and/or Miss Steele," jump out at me. How does an interaction occur indirectly? Others like, "Including, but not limited to, sensual and sexual exchanges, including forms of address," and, "Extant arrangements between Miss Steele and Mr. Grey are to be kept strictly confidential," do make me sound a bit like a hooker.
After a moment, Kate wheels on me. "The fuck, Grey?!" she nearly screams, spinning the laptop to face her.
Calm as ever, Christian says, "Just covering my bases, Katie."
She considers this for a moment. "Exactly how kinky are you, Chris?"
Christian simply smirks in reply.
"Well, what about your brother?"
"I do not particularly care to know how kinky he is, thank you."
She huffs. "This seems to imply that I can't talk to him about either of you at all. That's ludicrous. I'm still seeing him. We're going to talk. What am I supposed to say?" That's a good point.
"Specificity is the heart and soul of an NDA, Katherine. Obviously, you can say we're well, that Anastasia and I invited you to a restaurant for dinner, that we all are having an after-dinner drink at my apartment. But you are not to tell him what we will discuss at dinner tonight, about the kiss you and Anastasia will share over drinks, about what might happen after the drinks."
I feel my panties nearly disintegrate under the heat coming form my body.
Christian leans forward at his desk towards the camera, his look serious.
"Katherine, it is my intention to help Anastasia explore her fantasies. We spend quite a bit of our relationship exploring mine, but this one – you. You are hers. I want to facilitate that in a way that doesn't threaten my relationship with her. It was this or risk losing her to you I'm afraid." I blush at the admission. "If you are willing, and I believe that you are, we can discuss ways of going about this which I believe will be mutually beneficial to all involved. However, I am a very thorough man, especially when it comes to all things sexual. I won't do anything half-assed. We will not have this discussion until you sign the NDA. Anastasia gave me my ultimatum last night. I give you yours today: Sign the NDA or I won't let Anastasia see you."
Now I take issue with that! "You can't do that," I start, but Kate stops me.
"I'll sign," she says quietly. I start to protest, but she turns, grabbing a pen, leaning against the desk. And it's done. She's signed the NDA. I'm dumbfounded. This seems like such an un-Kate-like thing to do.
"It would have been that or he'd stop seeing you, Ana, and I don't want you to be unhappy." And with that, she wraps her hands around my waist, pulling me towards her, and kisses me deeply. I completely forget what I was going to say as I lose myself in her. When I come back to the land of the living, it's because Christian has cleared his throat loudly. Kate's hand has crept around my ass and is dangerously close to Christian Territory. I pull myself away slightly and turn to the computer.
"Sorry, Mr. Grey," I say demurely if not a bit self-consciously.
Kate looks at me. "'Mr. Grey'?" She looks at the screen. "The fuck?" Understanding dawns on her face. "This is some kinky shit, isn't it?"
Christian smiles indulgently at her. "We will explain everything at dinner. I'm picking you both up in fifteen minutes. You are not to touch each other until I arrive, is that understood?" I nod submissively but Kate crosses her arms over her chest.
"Or else?"
Christian growls. "You do not want to disobey me, Miss Kavanagh. Not this early. Do not push me." He laughs to himself briefly. "You definitely have a type, Miss Steele," he says then ends the call.
I walk past Kate to get dressed. Christian said something about going dancing. I open my closet, the contents of the garment bag that was delivered taking up 2/3 of the tiny space. There were two pairs of shoes, three skirts, four blouses, and six dresses in the one bag, not to mention an unmentionable number of unmentionables, all tucked safely in my underwear drawer where they can't make me blush.
As I contemplate the choices, I feel Kate's arms wrap around my torso from behind. I spin on the spot. "What are you doing?" I ask her, panicked.
"What does it look like I'm doing," she breathes, kissing that spot where my neck meets my shoulder. Oh god!
"But Christian said no," I gasp. I can't think straight when she runs her tongue up my neck, pausing at the corner of my jaw to nibble.
"Do you always do what Christian says?" She bites my earlobe making me sigh.
No. I summon all my willpower and push her away. "Yes, Kate, I do."
She looks genuinely hurt.
I open my mouth, not knowing what I'm going to say, but am interrupted by a knock at the door. I nearly jump out of my skin. At least this gives me a second to think. I give her an apologetic glance as I run into the living room. "He must be early," I call to her.
"Thank god you're here," I say, posing as sexily as I can (not hard when you're hardly wearing anything) before throwing the front door open.
Elliot Grey looks me up and down. "Well, that's a greeting," he says as I slam the door in his face.
