Chapter 9

Taylor and Christian stood on the hospital helipad watching Charlie Tango approach. The wind was ripping through them chilling them to the bone. When the helicopter touched down Taylor duck his head and sprinted out to it.

The hospital had been very reluctant to allow the use of the helipad, but a nice donation had cleared the way for the brief hot touch down. Taylor assisted Mr. Steele from the helicopter taking his bag from him before both men ducked their heads and raced back toward Christian. Christian turned toward to the entrance which would take them back into to the warmth of the hospital.

Once the three men were inside Christian extended his hand to Mr. Steele. "Hello Mr. Steele, I hope the flight was okay. Do you need something to eat or drink before we make our way to the surgical waiting room?"

"A cup of coffee wouldn't be unwelcome. But more important how is Annie?" He asked as they made their way down the hall toward the bank of elevators.

"We received an update from the surgical team about ten minutes before we came down to meet you. Dr. Zou had finished repairing her shoulder and was preforming the closing while Dr. Zou moved on to address the abdominal bleeding. Everything was going well, and we anticipate another update in an hour or so."

The elevator arrived and as the men stepped in Christian continued. "Let's go to the waiting room and we'll send one of the team out to get us some decent coffee and food"

After the three men had finished their food. Raymond Steel straighten his back, squared his shoulders and spoken in voice of authority he had not used since his days in the military.

"Okay Grey, it's time for you and me to have a come to Jesus moment. I have never bought the 'friends' line of bull shit you and Annie have been trying to sell me."

Christian tried to interrupt him saying, "Mr. Steele we…"

Mr. Steele raised his hand and Christian stopped mid-sentence. "No Grey, now is not the time for you to talk. It's time for you to sit there and listen while I have my say."

Christian nodded and Mr. Steele continued. "First off, I am not blinded. You and Annie do not look at each other like you are only friends. The sparks the two of you give off could start a forest fire."

A muffled chuckle escaped from Taylor before he could suppress it and Christian turned and glared at him.

"Secondly, if you were only friends you would have not have paid all of the medical expenses related to my car accident. Don't think for one minute that it has escaped my notice that I have not received one medical bill related to my accident."

Christian swallowed deeply and slouched down into his chair.

"Thirdly, since the hospital did not contract me for permission to operate on Annie the permission had to come from you with the use of a medical power of attorney. What the hell! A medical power of attorney is not something one gives to just a friend."

Mr. Steel paused his rant, picked up a bottle and took a drink before continuing to rake Christian over the coals. "Now here's what is going to happen. You are going to look me in the eye and give me the full story behind your relationship with my daughter. How you meet, the status of your relationship and how in the hell she came to give you a medical power of attorney. Don't think for one minute you can give me a line of bull. You may dominant the business world but I can read you like a book so start talking."

Christian turned to Taylor saying, "Taylor please give Mr. Steele and me some privacy. Stay outside the door and make sure one enters accept the medical staff with an update on Anastasia's condition."

Taylor starts to object. "Sir, I don't think…."

Christian interrupted him, "Taylor this is not up for discussion. If Mr. Steele feels the desire to deck me I deserve it."

Taylor nodded his understanding, stood and left the room. After the door closed Christian sat up straighter and looked his girlfriend's father in the eye. The only way he had a chance to come out of this meeting without any injury was a full-on confession and it scared the shit out of him.

"Sir, to explain how our relationship started you need to know where my head was at the beginning of our relationship." Mr. Steele nodded for him to continue and Christian took a deep breath.

"As you may know, I am adopted, and my birth mother was a drug addict and a prostitute. Her pimp was abusive to both of us. He would put his cigarettes out on my chest and back which left me with both physical and emotional scars."

"Christian I'm…" Mr. Steele started to apologize.

"No Mr. Steele, Please don't. You need hear about my past, so you can understand where my head was when I met Anastasia."

When Mr. Steele nodded his head and remained quite Christian continued. "My early childhood left me with haphephobia. I would react violently if anyone touch my back or chest. So fast forward to my teenage years. I'm a fifteen-year-old boy with raging hormones and afraid to allow a girl anywhere near him. I was thrown out of multiple schools for fighting because I could not tolerate being touched."

"Over the years my parents sent me to numerous therapists of varying psychological disciplines. They were about ready to send me to military school when a neighbor suggested all I need was hard physical work. The Lincoln's had added an addition to their house and their yard needed major work. So, my parents sent me there to help. What they never knew was in addition to the physical labor of the yard work Mrs. Lincoln seduced me."

"Son of a bitch." Came out of Mr. Steele before he could stop himself.

Christian raised his eyebrows at him then continued. "Unfortunately, it was not a normal sexual relationship. She was into BDSM and convinced me it was the only way I was going to gain control of my temper and have sex without risking being touched. I wish I could say I wasn't drawn in to the lifestyle, but I was. I lived it as Ms. Lincoln's submissive for five years before training to become a dominant."

Mr. Steele bolted to his feet grabbed Christian by his collar and pulled him to his feet.

"What the hell have you done to my little girl you bastard?"

"Nothing she didn't consent to I promise." Christian replied leaving his arms at his side as Mr. Steele shoved Christian back into the chair he had pulled he from.

"Consent!" He yelled.

"Yes, I would never do anything to anyone without their agreement and advance consent. Despite some the bad actors that have given the lifestyle a bad reputation a true BDSM relationship it is all about consent."

A knock on the door caused both men to turn toward it as Taylor entered the room.

"The medical staff has another update for you."