Blame it on the Christmas Tree

by

Ava LeBeau

Chapter 8 – Ski Bum

Staring up at the ceiling, Anastasia lay in her bed for quite a while, wondering why he had been so reluctant.

Hadn't Kate mentioned that he was most certainly simply playing the field anyway?

She wondered if Kate would believe her if she told her that the notorious Christian Grey had chosen their sofa over her bed after everything seemed to have flourished so nicely. Anastasia bit back a chuckle.

What a strange situation.

In the living room, Christian was tossing and turning on the couch.

It was even more uncomfortable than he had feared it to be.

At least the pillow smelled like her.

Frowning, he turned once more, now staring at the Christmas tree by the sofa.

"Nuh-uh. Nooo."

Anastasia stirred and opened her eyes drowsily. Blinking several times, she stifled a yawn, wondering what had woken her.

The apartment was dark and quiet now and so she decided that she must have dreamed. Drawing in a deep breath she rolled onto her side, sinking into her pillow while her eyelids fluttered shut again. Warmth and calmness engulfed her and it was only so long before she dozed off.

But only moments later she woke with a start. There it was again.

"No."

Anastasia held her breath, her forehead creased now.

Christian, she thought and sat up. When she heard his voice again she slipped out of her bed and tiptoed into the living room.

Christian was tossing and turning, his legs tangled in the blanket, while he mumbled something about wanting somebody to go away.

Just leave him be, her mother had always said when Ray had had a bad dream.

It's best not to wake him, she had insisted.

At home they had never really talked about Ray's recurrent bad dreams and while Anastasia had worried for him, her mother had always maintained that Ray was fine.

Ana folded her arms in front of her chest, looking at Christian who lay on the couch by the Christmas tree. True, it would indeed be awkward to wake up to somebody standing there, staring down at you as you jolt from a nightmare. But then again she was somewhat worried, wondering if all this had been the reason for his reluctance to sleep over.

Another distraught "No" from Christian pulled her out of her musings about what was the right thing to do. On tiptoes again she inched closer, careful not to startle him. She knelt down beside the sofa, legs folded under. Christian stirred again, mumbling "No" before he opened his eyes, his gaze a dark, terrifying abyss for the blink of an eye.

Ana could see that his pupils were huge, he looked confused, as if he didn't know where he was, having been pulled back forcefully into reality from what seemed to have been a rather horrendous dream world.

There was that line again, etched in between his brows and while Christian let out a harsh breath, Anastasia wondered if he was shivering. Slowly, she reached out to caress his cheek.

"Hey," she whispered softly, managing a small smile while she studied Christian's tense features in the twilight of the lit-up Christmas tree.

Her thumb brushed across his jaw in a tender caress. Christian was holding her gaze, his breathing steadied and he reached up to cup her hand in his before he guided it to his lips to gently kiss her palm.

"Are you okay?" she asked and he nodded, blinking sleepily.

"Come," she whispered, getting up from the floor, interlacing her fingers with his while she reached for one of the pillows that had fallen to the floor with her free hand.

Holding his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, Anastasia led the way to her bedroom. She was looking back up at Christian when she opened the door, the crease between his brows had softened and he looked calmer, his eyes not as wild as they had been before.

Anastasia was quick to fluff up the pillow before she placed it beside hers, smiling as if she wanted to encourage him to just lay down and relax. Christian stood by the door, watching her while he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Come," she said again. "I'll go and get you some water."

"Thank you," Christian rasped and made his way to the right side of her bed while she slipped out of the room again, whispering a quick "Be right back," convinced that a glass of cold water was exactly what he needed right now to calm down.

When she came back with his drink, she found Christian lying prone in her bed, his right arm hanging over the edge of the bed, his breathing low and steady.

"Night night," Anastasia mumbled, more to herself than him while she left the glass on the nightstand for him before she walked around the bed to slip under her sheets again.

There he lay... Christian Grey. Right beside her. Sprawled out in her bed. Anastasia decided that she would probably have to blame all this on the Christmas tree.

Shifting gently so as not to rouse him from his slumber, Anastasia tugged the sheets up to her chin, listening to his breathing. And while the warmth he was radiating was unfamiliar but comforting, his sheer presence, although fast asleep, made her feel intimidated, unworthy even, made it hard for her to breathe in a strange way while on the other hand tender hope blossomed inside of her, growing so intense that it scared her even more.

Anastasia willed her searching hand to grasp the sheets instead of his strong hand.

One should never push one's luck.

And maybe, yes maybe tomorrow they'd wake up and he would act as if nothing had happened.

Better play it safe, she calmed herself.

But her heart was throbbing in her chest. Throbbing with happiness and desire and bliss.

Blame it on the Christmas tree.

If it wasn't for the fight over that tree they would never have met.

"Morning, bed hog," she said, her voice still heavy with sleep. Turned away from him, she lay curled up on her right side, grinning to herself when he grumbled.

The sun was already drenching the bedroom in a warm glow.

"Quite untrue, that," Christian's voice was a profound basso while his strong arm snaked its way around Ana's waist, eagerly pulling her to him, up against his torso.

Anastasia giggled when he nuzzled into her neck, leaving several soft kisses there.

"Sleep well?" she asked, smiling to herself as she closed her eyes.

Oh yes, she could get used to being held like this every morning. Being held like this and so much more, she corrected herself. Waking up in his strong arms, feeling safe and at home, right there, with him.

"Mhmm. You?" Christian mumbled, his soft lips brushed against her outer ear, sending a small shiver down her spine.

"Same," Anastasia said nonchalantly and ran her fingertips over his forearm, "Are you hungry?"

"Ravenous," he nipped her earlobe, eliciting a giggle from her.

"Well, let me see what I can do about it," Ana stirred, moving closer, truly surprised by his self-control.

"I could think of quite a few things," another trail of kisses down the side of her neck.

"You bet," Anastasia chuckled, "Well, eggs or pancakes?"

"Seriously?" Christian uttered against her skin and she bit her lip, "Well, whatever you like better," his fingertips drew small idle circles against her stomach, she moved her hand to interlace her fingers with his. No need to let him know she was ticklish.

"All right then," she turned to look at him, craning her neck to kiss his cheek before she slipped out of his embrace.

"Towels and a toothbrush," she piped and left the items on her side of the bed for him. "Toothpaste is in the bathroom. Rise and shine, Mister," she added while she left for the kitchen.

"You look cute," Christian said when he joined her in the kitchen.

"You're such a flirt," Ana teased.

"I guess I can be, yes," he'd stepped closer to kiss her cheek while his hand came to rest on her hip, watching her cutting up some fruit, Anastasia could smell that he had used her shower gel – mango with a hint of floral - and grinned to herself.

"Did you want to stay?" she asked casually.

"I wasn't planning on it."

"So... you had a one night stand in mind?"

"What?" Christian looked surprised, "Listen, Ana, this is a serious matter for me. One night stands aren't really my thing. So, what's your point?"

Christian took the cup of coffee she was handing him.

"I was wondering if you thought I would throw myself at you, Christian."

He laughed, his brow creased now.

"You... Playin' the field, you know," Anastasia glanced at him while she portioned the fruit salad into two bowls for them.

"I mean, women must throw themselves at you. Why me?"

"Women don't throw themselves at me. At least not for who I am, Anastasia. They don't throw themselves at Christian. Most of them are in it for the money and only the money."

Ana chewed on her lower lip, "And..."

"Nothing, that's the way it is and I'm fully aware of it."

"So that means that you're surprised that I didn't go for it last night?"

Christian let out a husky laugh, "Ana... What are you playin' at?"

"I was only asking," she shrugged.

"You're different."

"I see," now Ana laughed.

"It's your eyes," he sipped his coffee.

"My eyes?" Ana arched her eyebrow.

"Mhmm, this... and the way you smile. It does something to me."

"Bullshit, Christian," Anastasia took a bite of her toast.

He reached out to take her hand, looking down at it he brushed his thumb across the back of her hand and said, "All right, Ana, listen. I only sleep with a woman if I'm into her. And if I do I'd rather it is leading somewhere. Trust me when I say I never make promises lightly. Is that enough of an answer to all of your questions, hm?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't... Sorry," Anastasia bit her lower lip again, her cheeks had blushed. But, and that she had to admit, his admission had also raised her spirits tremendously.

Why did he always have to be so blatantly honest?

"Last night, I... I didn't mean to..."

"Your nightmare? I'm sorry, Christian, I know the sofa is horrible to sleep on."

"It wasn't the sofa, really. As for the nightmares... I'd rather not... if you don't mind... Not now."

"Oh, okay, I'm sorry," she smiled.

"Can I have more coffee?"

"Sure," Ana nodded and got up to refill his cup.

When she turned around she noticed what looked like a small turquoise jewelry box on the counter.

"Christian, what...?"

"Merry Christmas, Ana."

She had totally forgotten.

"Oh my, merry Christmas, Christian. I-"

"Open it," he smiled and his eyes lit up.

She sat down opposite of him, opening the box, inside was a necklace with a pendant.

"A key?" Anastasia looked at him, "Oh my god, it's beautiful, Christian," she looked down at the tiny key in the box.

"I'm glad you like it. Come, let me help you put it on," he got up and held out his hand.

"Christian, I can't... this is far too expensive...," she took his hand anyway and followed him to the mirror by the door.

Standing behind her, Christian gently stroked her hair to one side, moved to open the necklace to place it around her neck, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Christian, it's gorgeous. You shouldn't have...," she beamed at him, her fingertips brushing across the delicate jewel.

"It's as precious as you are," he leaned in and kissed her cheek, his arms wrapped around her waist now.

Anastasia ran her hands over his bare forearms looking into the mirror and back at him.

"Thank you, Christian."

"Promise me to wear it every day."

"I will," Ana smiled and turned around.

Flinging her arms around his neck, up on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against his only to open up into a tentative kiss. When Christian nipped her lower lip playfully, she let out a soft moan against his eager mouth, her eyes shut, she was intoxicated with joy.

"What about Aspen, Ana?" Christian had pulled away, looking into her eyes, "I really want you there with me. And no more lies about your dad," he grinned mischievously.

"You knew that I wasn't there so... so it wasn't really a lie in the first place," Ana retorted.

"True. Anyway, Aspen, Ana," Christian urged.

"I don't know, Christian."

"Why?"

"I'm not really a ski bum, you know."

"We could go for a walk instead. Stay in and watch a movie, drink wine in front of the fireplace, do whatever you like."

His smile was really winning, "All right, I'll tell you what we're gonna do. I'm gonna go and try to survive dinner with my family today and will call you when I'm back home. Deal?"

Anastasia nodded.

Christian leaned closer to steal another kiss, whispering against her lips, "I won't take no for an answer."

Anastasia slapped his arm playfully.

"Please, Ana."

"I promise I'll think about it," she kissed him again.

"Good," he mumbled, losing himself in their kiss.

A/N: Thank you again, dear readers, for all your lovely and encouraging reviews, all the favs and follows. Your feedback has really keeps me going. Thank you for taking the time to tell me what you think about my story. I hope you like the new chapter. As always, I am looking forward to your reviews, concrit and questions. Have a wonderful day, lovelies. x