CHAPTER 2

The characters belong to ELJ. I'm just taking them for a spin.

I don't know how many hours pass, but when I open my eyes, the room is completely dark. It's not quiet, though. I turn my head towards the loud snoring coming from the chair across from my bed and see him there.

He's sitting there, fully clothed but with his shoes and socks off. His legs are stretched out in front of him and his arms are crossed across his chest. It's too dark for me to see his facial features, which is just as well. I already know what he looks like. He looks like the damn snake that he is.

Why is his ass even still here? Ugh! I don't have time to deal with his bullshit right now. I stretch and take a deep breath, breathing deeply. Thankfully, my sore throat is damn near gone. I slip out of bed and go into my kitchen. My sore throat is gone, but my entire mouth is dry. I grab a bottle of water and drink the entire thing without any pain in my throat. I walk into the bathroom to empty my bladder. Once that's done, I take my temperature again and sigh in relief when I see that it's back to normal.

Whatever ailment I had seemed to have resolved itself. I blame Grey for this entire mess. If he hadn't messed with, set me up to see him and that bitch, I never would have gotten caught in the rain and got sick. This is all his fault!

But is it his fault that you agreed to meet up with him? Is it his fault you're a fool and fell for his lies again?

I shake those thoughts out of my head because it's much easier to blame him than myself.

I tiptoe back to the bedroom, grab a change of clothes and go to take a quick shower. The warm water is soothing to my skin and aching back. I lather my body with my body wash from Bath and Body works, and when I'm done with the shower, I take my time applying lotion on my skin and then slip on long pajama pants and a matching tank top.

As I'm approaching my room, I hear a particularly loud snore and I'm instantly annoyed. I go to the kitchen, grab my biggest cup and fill it with cold water before returning to my room.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn on the light and I through the entire contents of the cup in his face.

He immediately stands up, sputtering and wiping the water from his face. I can't help myself. I start to laugh hysterically, clutching my sides.

"What is your fucking problem?" He growls. I'm still laughing when he takes off his wet shirt and uses it to wipe his face. I don't know what I thought would happen after throwing the water at him, but the idea of him taking off his shirt and showing me his muscular upper body never entered my mind. I instinctively swallow and subconsciously lick my lips.

He catches me and gives me a smug smile before winking at me. I turn my back on him while he searches his bag for another shirt.

"You can leave now. I'm not sick anymore."

"Is that all you have to say? I don't get a thank you for getting you a doctor, food and medicine?"

"No. I didn't ask you to stay and it's your fault I got sick," I tell him.

"I injected you with a virus? How exactly did I get you sick? You know what? Never mind. I'm glad you're better but I'm not leaving. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen." Before I can give a response, he approaches, wraps one are around my waist to keep me from walking away and places his other hand on my forehead. He then starts to feel my glands as I try to wiggle out of his arms.

"Looks like your fever broke. Your glands feel fine," he says as he lets me go.

"You're a doctor now?"

"Get back in the bed. You can continue to rest while I talk."

"I've been in bed for over twenty four hours now, and I don't want to hear whatever you're going to say. I asked you to leave."

"I told you I'm not leaving. We've wasted six months. That's enough time. Get in bed before I put you there myself." I continue to stand in front of him with my arms crossed, daring him to touch me. In a flash, he has me scooped up in his arms and gently lays me on the bed. He grabs the comforter and covers me with it. He then gets in the bed next to me. I know why he does this. My bed is against the wall and I'd have to climb over him to get out. He's blocked me in, but I won't admit defeat. I turn my back to him without a word.

"You can stare at the wall all you want as long as you listen," he says. I take the pillow from under my head and cover my head and ears with it. He chuckles before he snatches it from me and throws it across the room.

"Now you have no pillow, stubborn ass." I don't reply.

I hear him clear his throat before he starts talking.

"Anastasia, I deserve all of your anger and your lack of faith in me. I've let you down and I'm so sorry for that. Before I get into a long explanation, I want to tell you again that Bambi being at Canlis on Friday night was just a coincidence. She was there on a date with someone else and she came over to say hello. That's all. You just walked in at the worst possible moment. Second, I meant what I said last night. I'm so in love with you that I can't even see straight. Every fucking waking moment, all I do is think of you. I'm totally and utterly obsessed with you. I have been for years, and I suspect since that first night Mia brought you over for one of mom's parties. You affected me so much, I had to pretend you didn't exist that night. I don't even remember my date's name, but I remember that little red cocktail dress you were wearing. It had a bow on the side and I wanted nothing more than to take that dress off of your body and kiss every inch of it. I love you, Ana. I've fought with my feelings, even convinced myself that what I felt for you was just a physical attraction, but that's all a lie. I'm done fighting with myself, but I know I've caused so much damage between us. I just want the chance to fix that. To make things right." My heart is beating against my chest at his words. He noticed me that first night and even remembers what I was wearing? I don't even remember what I was wearing that night. I don't respond. I wait for him to continue.

"I didn't see you often, but every time Mia would bring you around, I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I wanted nothing more than to go to you and be around you, but I stopped myself. I became aloof. Distant and dismissive. I had to pretend you didn't exist, but all I wanted to do was be close to you. I know you're probably thinking why I didn't just say something to you. And you want to know the answer, Ana?" I don't respond. He puts his hand on my bare shoulder, forcing his weight on me and causing me to turn around and face him.

"I didn't say anything because I was a fool. I was the biggest fool on the planet. I would just watch you interact with Mia from a distance. One time, Mia approached me while you were with her, and I looked into your eyes. It was just for two seconds, and for those two seconds, I lost myself. I was lost. Completely and utterly gone with just a look into those blue eyes. I got so scared of my feelings for you. I don't know if you remember that particular night, but I left soon after. I decided the best way to forget my feelings was to get into meaningless relationship after meaningless relationship. I didn't work, though. I never forgot about you. Not for a single minute. Do you know that I overheard Mia talking to you on the phone one night about you interest in SIP? That's what made me interested in buying them. I don't even know why I did that since I made it my life's mission to stay away from you, but it's almost like I didn't have a choice." He reaches over and gently strokes my hair. His gaze locks with mine as he moves his hand to my cheek, stroking it gently with the back of his hand.

"What you're saying doesn't make any sense, Christian. If you felt this way, why did you wait so long? And why did you treat me the way you did after you kissed me in your office?" I can't help but sound annoyed. If what he's saying is true, then I'm even more confused.

"Do you know that I saw you graduate? Yes, I went and watched with pride as you walked across that stage. I was going to approach you and pretend I was there to see someone else, but you left with your dad before I could approach you. Even though you were smiling that day, there was this sadness behind your eyes and I wanted to know why so I could fix it. Do you know that Andrea was never on medical leave? She went back to school to get an MBA, and I let her have the time off with pay during her last semester. The opportunity just presented itself and I used it to get you to fill in her for when your original job at SIP fell through. I wanted you close to me. I figured it would be in a professional capacity and that would be safe. I'd get to have you near me, but you'd still be off limits because you work for me. I'd get to learn everything about you. I thought if I did that, I would learn some about some flaw that would free me of these feelings, but it backfired. I fell more in love with you every fucking day. When you walked in that first day to fill in for Andrea, you were so nervous. I just wanted to kiss you, so you can relax. Over time, I learned how smart you are, and your strong work ethic. There was never a task that I gave you that you couldn't handle. I'd make you work late and you'd never complain. Part of that was selfish on my part because I just wanted to be around you, so I'd make you work until eight or later. I thought if I did that, you wouldn't have time for a social life and possibly meet someone. You never were upset by it and seemed to enjoy the work. Then I learned about all of your quirks, especially that damn lip biting. You love for all things lemon flavored. How you would put your hair up in a messy bun and hold it in place with two pens. The first time you did that, I wanted to pull the pens out and watch your beautiful hair cascade down your shoulders. I fought with myself so much that do. The urge to touch you was just too strong."

"If what you're saying is true, then I'm even more confused by your actions," I tell him. Is this man crazy or what?

"It doesn't make sense, Ana. I've learned that love is the most nonsensical thing in the world. When it was time for you to leave for Georgia, I was a desperate man. The last thing I wanted was for you to be out of my sight. I felt like that one week was going to be a lifetime. I had nightmares about you meeting some man in Savannah and deciding to stay there permanently. Those thoughts drove me nuts. When we were talking right before we kissed, something just took over me and I just had to feel you lips on mine. When I did, my entire world changed. I felt that kiss in my soul, Ana. If the phone didn't ring, I would have laid us on the couch and made love to you all night, and there would have been no way in hell you would have gone to Georgia without me. I decided then that I had to be with you, but you were going away and if I told you my feelings that night, I couldn't bear to let you go. So, I did what I thought was the unselfish thing and let you go visit your mother. I was going to tell you my feelings as soon as you got back, and I was going to ask you to be with me. To be my woman."

"And I would have said yes. That's what I kept thinking about the entire week that I was gone. What happened because when I got back you were kissing a slut named Bambi?" Just the thought of that made me want to get violent, but I kept my tempter in check.

"The Sunday after you left, I had brunch at the country club with my parents and siblings. An ex of mine was there and she came by the table to say hello. We had ended things on friendly terms, so it wasn't unusual that she would stop by. I don't know if she was trying to be funny or if she was masking her hurt feelings, but she made an off hand comment about how my relationships take less time than it does for a gallon of milk to expire, and how I was out the door before I can catch feelings. She said that I must find feelings as appealing as chicken pox or the flu. Everyone laughed and when my ex left, my entire family all nodded and said how right she was. Mia said how she would hate to be in a relationship with someone like me, and what I offered was never even a real relationship. I tried to defend myself by saying that I'm always honest and how I can't possibly hurt anyone after just a few weeks. Mia snorted and said I was blind because I've broken many hearts and I was just never cared to see it. It was all said in fun and jest, and I pretended that it didn't bother me, but it did."

"I still don't understand. Are you saying that what that woman said caused you to change your mind about me?"

"What she said bothered me. I pretended like it was nothing, but I spent the rest of my time with my family thinking about it. When I got home, I looked back on my life and realized what she said was true. Thirty days was it because it wasn't enough time for anyone to have really deep feelings for anyone, or so I thought. That's all I had ever offered anyone, and you deserved more. What if my idea of giving you more was giving sixty or ninety days? And after that I left you a broken mess? I didn't want to do that to you, and I didn't trust myself not to."

"Wow. Just wow. How arrogant. Did it ever occur to you that I would be the one leaving you a broken mess?"

"And that's exactly what you did," he tells me.

"What? How can you say that to me? You're the one who changed your mind about us, not me." Suddenly I'm upset and I try to pull out of his grasp. He's unfazed and manages to keep me still with just one arm around me.

"Well, you did but it was because of my own actions. I own everything that I did, Ana. Please, let me finish." I calm down and wait for him to continue speaking.

"I spent all of Sunday and Monday thinking about it. Don't be mad at me, but I had someone watching you in Savannah. I just wanted to make sure you were safe, but I got updates on you and the occasional picture. You were having a great time. You were so carefree and happy. There's one picture of you at the beach with your mom. You have your sunglasses resting on top of your head as you're looking towards the ocean. Your face is so beautiful. It's as if you didn't have a care in the world, and I felt that if I got involved with you, I would ruin the girl in that picture. I didn't think I had anything other than material things to offer a woman. I've had a good life, but when it came to intimate relationships, I felt empty inside. The girl I was looking at in the picture deserved more than I thought I could give her, so I made the biggest mistake of my life, Ana. I convinced myself that it was only one kiss and your feelings wouldn't be hurt. I convinced myself that I was doing the right thing for you. That even if you were a little upset, you wouldn't be hurt and that you'd come to agree that us going just beyond a kiss would have been a mistake."

I take a minute to think about what he said to me. As the words sink in, I become even more upset.

"Please let me go. I need to get out of this bed," I say as calmly as possible. He doesn't' respond or loosen his grip.

"It's still dark outside and I'm wearing pajamas. I'm not leaving, but I need to move away from you. I thought I couldn't be any more upset with you, but you just proved me wrong." He runs his free hand through his hair and clears his throat.

"I'm trying to explain, Ana."

"Explain how you take one comment, blow it out of proportion and decide for me who is right for me? What the hell kind of twisted logic is that? Are you telling me you called Bambi because you were scared of hurting me? What the hell do you think I felt when I walked in on you kissing her in your office? That should have been me you were kissing!" I don't give him a chance to respond. I shove him just enough for him to loosen his grip on me. I jump out of his grasp and off the bed. I'm so angry that I slam my bedroom door as I leave it to go into the kitchen. I really want to throw something, but I won't give him the satisfaction. Instead, I grab a bottle of water and drink it.

I hear his footsteps approaching. I turn towards the window, giving him my back. He's standing so close to me, I'm sure he can hear my heart beating. He gently puts one hand on my shoulder.

"I did. I called her. I didn't give a shit about her, but I needed a distraction from you. I told you I had convinced myself that our kiss was no big deal to you, and that you'd agree with me that getting involved was a mistake. I didn't mean for you to see us that day. She just showed up unannounced a few minutes before you walked in."

"Bullshit! You announced she was your girlfriend, for fucks sakes. I think a part of you wanted to hurt me." I try to shrug from his touch, but his hand doesn't budge.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I was trying to save you from getting hurt. I know how stupid and foolish I was. I made a horrible mistake, and I'm asking you to forgive me. I'm asking you to give me a chance to be the man for you. To be the man in your life."

"The man in my life? The one who makes unilateral decisions? The one who thinks he knows what's best for me? Tell me, Christian, did you ever really consider my feelings in all of this? Did you ever think that maybe that I was already in too deep to just shrug it off as a mistake? The feelings that I had for you that night were just as strong as yours, and you don't get to decide for me what's best." I turn around to face him so he can see the anger in my face.

"I noticed you that first time we met too. You were in a gray suit, white shirt with the top two buttons undone, and no tie. You were gorgeous. I watched you. Each time I saw you, I watched you, but you were always with someone and always out of my reach. And when I started to work for you, those feelings only got stronger. As gruff as you are to most people, you're also the kindest, most generous person I've ever met in my life. But I never crossed the line. I worked for you. I was your sister's friend. But, you came on to me. You kissed me, not the other way around. You told me you wanted to talk about us, leading me to believe that you wanted to be with me. I spent the entire week thinking about you and fooling myself into thinking how we were finally going to be a couple. Do you know that in my mind I was going to be your date at that launch party? You were going to walk into that ballroom with me on your arm. The one you took Bambi to? If your goal was to spare me from hurt, then you really fucked that up. I've felt nothing but hurt since the minute I walked into your office and saw you in the arms of someone else, so spare me your excuses and your good intentions." By the time I finish my speech, I'm yelling. I refuse to start to cry in front of this man, so I channel all that pain into anger.

"I made a fucking mistake, Ana! One I will regret for the rest of my life! I know how stupid my excuses sound. Yes, I was afraid of hurting you, but I was also afraid of being with you. I knew that I wouldn't be able to control my feelings for you. I'd be leaving myself open to you. You'd be able to see right through me, and I was afraid of that. What if you didn't like what you saw? What if after being with me, I fell more in love with you every minute only for you to realize I wasn't worth it? I didn't want to risk that. Look at me, Ana!" He yells the last but and I instinctively look up to meet his eyes.

"I was afraid, dammit. I never had those feelings before and they scared the shit out of me, ok? I did the only thing I could do. I sabotaged it. I sabotaged us before we could even be anything, and I've regretted it since. God, Ana. That look in your eyes when you walked in. I'd give away everything I own to go back in time and undo everything leading up to that look. That look of betrayal that I saw. All the hurt that I caused. I'm so sorry, Ana. I'm so fucking sorry." He pulls me into his arms and buries his head in my neck.

"I was afraid, too, but I was willing to try. I feel like such a fool because I was hopeful the entire week I was away. I just wanted to come back to you so we could talk. As scared as I was, I figured that it would be better to feel something for someone rather than being alone and afraid. I was open to being with you. I didn't care about your long line of thirty day girlfriends. I just wanted to be with you. I told myself I was different, and you'd fall for my charm. Looking back, I was either arrogant or naïve. Maybe both, but I got a good dose of reality when I opened your office door. I think it's too late for us, Christian." He removes his head from my neck and looks in my eyes.

"No, baby. It's not too late. We're both right here and I'm not giving up."

"Think about it. We had a chance six months ago and it didn't work out. We tried again Friday night and it didn't work out. Maybe the universe is trying to tell us something. Maybe there is someone else out there for you." He takes my hand and leads me to the couch.

"It wasn't the universe. Six months ago, it was me being an idiot. Friday night was just an awful coincidence. And there is no one else out there for me. Have you had other relationships, Ana?" He asks.

"Just one in high school, and a bunch of first dates that led to nowhere," I tell him.

"And I've had a bunch of relationships with expiration dates. Do you know why that is? Do you know why it never worked out with anybody else for either of us?" I shake my head and shrug my shoulders.

"Because we were made for each other. You were made for me, and I was made for you. Things would have never worked out with Bambi or anyone else because they are not you. You're the one. You. I just want you, and not for thirty days. No amount of time will ever be enough. Please, don't give up on us because I made some mistakes." He takes my face and holds it with both hands.

"Please," he says again while holding my gaze.

"You hurt me," I say to him.

"I did."

"You lied to me and led me on."

"I never lied, but I did lead you on."

"I don't know if I can trust you."

"Let me earn your trust. I'll never, ever lie to you. I'll never lead you on. I'll never make unilateral decisions. Just give me a chance."

"Why should I do that?"

"Because in all the time we've known each other, you've never had a relationship either. You haven't had a date since that bald asshole. You know why I think that is? I think that's because you love me too." My heart beats widely in my chest. I did love him. Maybe I always have, but there's no way I'm admitting it now. I break the gaze and look away from him. He turns my face back to his.

"How do I know you won't get scared and sabotage things again?"

"Because I know what it's like to be without you. There is nothing scarier than not having you in my life. I'll never push you away again. I'm asking you, Ana, to love me anyways. Just love me despite my fuck ups. Can you do that?"

"I never said that I loved you to begin with."

"Do you?" He asks.

"That's none of your business," I say testily.

"Don't do that, Ana. Be mad at me. Be annoyed by me. Yell at me. But don't ever hide your love from me. I need you. I need you to love me." All air leaves my body and before I can respond, he's kissing me. He continues to hold my face to keep in place as his warm lips touch mine. The kiss is gentle but full of desperation. Instead of pushing him away, I give in to his lips. I open my mouth so I can taste him fully.

I soon turn desperate for him, kissing him with everything in me. All the angst and longing that I've had for the past six months, I pour into that kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull myself closer to him. He lifts me from the couch and puts me on his lap. I hear myself moan as I straddle him without breaking the kiss. My hands find their way into his hair, eliciting a moan from him.

He bites my lip gently before delving his tongue back in my mouth. His hands start to roam my back, kneading the flesh there before they find their way onto my ass. He squeezed both cheeks with his large hands. The pressure forces me to grind into him, feeling his arousal underneath me. I grind again and he moans into my mouth.

Just like our first kiss, we're interrupted by the damn phone. I jump out of his lap and try to calm my racing heart.

"Sorry. I had set the alarm so I could check your temperature and give you more medicine, but I guess you don't need that anymore." I hear him get off the couch and approach me. He stands behind me and places both hands on my shoulders before kissing my neck gently.

"Can we try again, Ana? Will you give being with me a try?" He tries to sound calm, but I can hear the desperation in his voice. "If you say no, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to be in your face every day until you realize that I'm the man for you."

I close my eyes and lean my body into his. His arms go around my waist and he kisses the other side of my neck this time. Since I can't think straight with his hands and lips on me, I move out of his hold and turn around to face him.

He must sense I'm about to speak because he just stands there, looking at me. He clears his throat repeatedly, his telltale sign of being nervous.

"I've had these feelings for you for so long, Christian. They've just continued to build and grow over time. Maybe you're right. Maybe I've never really given anyone a chance because of you. These past few months have been really difficult for me because just when I thought I had you, I lost you. I've been dead inside since then, and I don't want to be like that anymore. I want to feel something, and I've only ever felt truly alive with you. Even before the kiss, those months working side by side with you were the best of my life. And then that kiss happened, and it awakened parts in me I didn't even know I had. So, yes. I want to be with you, too. I'm willing to try, but if for some reason things still don't work out-" He stops me before I can finish speaking by covering my mouth with his. We stand there in front of my window in my tiny living room, kissing for an unknown amount of time.

"There's no going back, Ana. There's no possibility of us not working out. We're it for each other. You're my love. And I sense you're not ready to say you love me yet, so I can wait until you are ready." He kisses me again, wrapping both arms around my body and pulling me to him fully. I can feel how much he wants me, and when he covers my ass with his hands and pushes me into his erection, I break the kiss.

"I want you, Christian, but I want to take things slow. I want you to show me that you want to be with me. I'm not talking about expensive gifts. I've seen you give extravagant gifts only to walk away after a month. I just want you. I want your time. I'm not ready to jump into bed with you yet. I want to date you first, ok?" He rests his forehead on mine and nods.

"Whatever you want, baby. I'm ready to make love to you, but we will go at your pace. Whatever you want, but know I'm not going anywhere."

"I like the sound of that," I tell him. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, baby. You have no idea. None. All these months apart have been torture." We stand there in each other's arms, our foreheads touching and just holding each other.

"And if I ever see Bambi again, I'm going to hurt her and you. Got it?"

"I'll never talk to her again, Ana. It's over between us. I ended it the night of the launch party, and nothing beyond a kiss ever happened between us." I'm relieved to hear that.

"Oh, I know you're never going to talk to her again. But what I'm saying is that if I ever see her again, even if you're not around, I'm going to kick her ass and then when I get my hands on you, I'm going to kick yours."

"That's not exactly fair, Ana, but – "

"Don't talk to me about fair, Christian Grey." He raises his hands in surrender.

"Fine. Go ahead and kick her ass. When I bail you out of jail for assault, you can kick mine. Deal?" I let out a chuckle at that, and he laughs too.

"Christian?"

"Yes, baby?" I'll never admit to him how much I love it when he calls me that.

"I'm tired."

"Let's get you back in bed." He scoops me up bridal style and carries me back to the bedroom. Instead of going back to the chair, he slides in next to me. I lay my head on his chest and the sound of his heartbeat lulls me back to sleep.

It's a beautiful fall morning as we walk from my apartment to a local breakfast place. We're both dressed casually in jeans and sweaters as we walk together with our fingers intertwined. Every few minutes, he'd stop walking, pull me into his arms and just kiss me. Because of that, it took us a bit longer to get to the restaurant.

We're seated immediately. Soon we've placed our orders. We sip coffee in silence as we give each other stolen glances.

"Ana, remember when I said that you didn't have to tell me how you feel about me and that I'd wait until you're ready to say those words?"

"Yup. You only said them a few hours ago, silly," I say with a smile. He reaches for my hand across the table and kisses my knuckles.

"Well, I thought I'd be able to wait, but I can't wait. I need to know now. I'm willing to wait to make love to you, but I need to hear how you feel about me. I already know, but I need to hear it from you." I raise my eyebrows at him.

"You already know? What do you think you know?"

"Ana, I know you love me, but it's killing me that you haven't said it yet."

"You know I love you? Arrogant much?"

"I love you, Ana," he says, looking at me in the eye, challenging me. He's giving me that smug smile, but I know behind it he is very vulnerable.

"I love you too, Christian." He lets out a huge sigh of relief and kisses my hand again, before going back to his coffee.

"I knew it," he says smugly.

6 weeks later – Thanksgiving night

We finally say goodbye to my dad and make our way back to Christian's SUV. This Thanksgiving has been the busiest of my life. The Greys eat pretty early and we were out of Christian's parent's house by three. We arrived in Montesano about ninety minutes later to join my dad and his guests for dessert and more football.

Every year one of dad's old army buddies takes turns hosting Thanksgiving dinner. This year it was Ray's turn so there was no way I could miss it. I spent all day with him on Wednesday helping him prep, only to turn around and go back to Seattle that night so I could have dinner with my boyfriend and his family.

My boyfriend.

My boyfriend of six weeks.

My boyfriend of forty three days.

My boyfriend who is the most attentive, loving, affectionate, handsome, protective, sweet, wonderful boyfriend a girl could dream about.

My boyfriend who plans picnic lunches for us in his office.

My boyfriend who has now made three attempts of cooking me dinner. All of these attempts ended up in disaster.

My boyfriend who will have me sit next to him in front of the piano as he plays me love song after love song.

My boyfriend who tells me he loves me multiple times a day.

My boyfriend who I've still not had sex with.

But that's all going to change tonight.

I know it's driving him crazy. Unless he's away on a business trip, we've spent every night together. We eat dinner together, watch movies, talk or just sit together in silence. Sometimes I'll just be in his apartment while he works. He wants me with him all the time. All the time. And I couldn't be happier.

Soon we'll spend most days together too because Sapphire Publishing will officially be Grey Publishing in the new year, and moving to the eighth floor of GEH. My crazy boyfriend wanted to put my desk in his office, but I made him see how ridiculous that would be.

"It was nice meeting your dad, baby. I was nervous, but he's a great guy," he says to me while he drives us back to Escala. All the while our fingers are intertwined. Did I mention he was romantic?

Dad has way too many people at his house, so I offered to give up my old bedroom. We planned on getting a hotel for the night, but Mr. Fancy Pants didn't like any of the options in Montesano. He couldn't get past the fact that there was no Ritz Carlton there.

"He's the best," I say while I lift his hand to my mouth and kiss it. He looks my way and gives me his special smile.

"I love you," I say to him. I can feel myself blush. I roll my eye at myself. It's not like I don't tell the man I love him every day, but he gives me butterflies.

"I love you more," he says back to me. Swoon.

We're quiet the rest of the hour and a half drive back to Seattle. We're both tired when we get back and go directly to his massive bedroom. He goes straight into his closet to change and I dash into the bathroom so I can get ready for him.

When I emerge, he's laying on top of the bed in nothing but his boxers, checking his phone. I clear my throat and he looks at me.

He drops the phone and throws his head back and groans.

"Baby, do you have a turtleneck or something else to sleep in? You're killing me here, Ana. I've been patient, baby, but it's getting harder every day." And harder it is. I can see it has already stiffened in those boxers.

I know how tough these past six weeks have been for him. I see the evidence of his desire for me every morning. I even walked in on him taking care of himself one morning in the shower. He didn't see me as I quickly walked out of the bathroom.

I walk slowly to him in the short, red nightie. It barely touches my thighs, and I know it hardly covers my ass. It has a demi cup top with black lace. The rest of it hugs my body, showing off my curves.

"I can see how hard it is, Mr. Grey," I say to him as I crawl towards him on the bed. I lay my hand on top of his hard dick as I look at him in the eye. "I'm ready, Christian. I don't want to wait anymore."

Before the words are out of my mouth, he reaches for me, throws me on my back and climbs on top of me. He kisses me deeply on the mouth, bruising my lips. He leaves my lips long enough to rain wet kisses on my neck, before capturing my mouth again.

"Thank god, Ana. I've been dying here. Sleeping next to you at night has been both pleasure and torture. Heaven and hell. I'm going to apologize now because the first time is going to be quick. I promise to slow it down and explore every inch of you the second time," he says huskily against my mouth. To torture him some more, I grind into his erection and he groans.

"We've got all night, Christian. And all day tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. And I'm on the pill," I say huskily before kissing him again. He moans into my mouth as his hand cups one of my breasts.

"I have to make sure you come first because when I get in you, I won't be able to control myself." He scrolls down my body and lifts the hem of my nightie, exposing my bare pussy. He inhales sharply.

"God damn," he says before he spreads my legs and strokes my wet flesh with his fingers. I moan at the sensation. He sticks a finger inside of me and when he removes it, he slowly licks the finger.

"Mhmmm. You taste even better than I've imagined." She spreads my legs even wider as he begins to feast on me.

THE NEXT MORNING

Christian rolls off of me, leaving us both panting for breath.

"God, why did I make us wait so long?" I pant.

"Because you like to torture me," he says as he pulls be against his body. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his rapid heart beat.

"I do not," I say as I swat his chest.

"I didn't mind the wait, Ana. It was hard because I've wanted you for so long, but if this was a test to prove that I wasn't going anywhere or to make sure this isn't just a thirty day thing, I understand. I would have waited as long as you wanted, but thank you for putting me out of my misery because I've been horny for you for so long."

"I've wanted you for a long time too. I don't know why I made us wait. I just wanted both of us to be sure, but now that I've had you, I'm kicking myself for making us take so long to get here."

"And I'm not going anywhere, Ana. This is not a fling. This is real, baby. I love you so fucking much." I feel tears pool in my eyes before I reach over and kiss him on the lips.

"I love you so fucking much more."

10 MONTHS LATER

He rolls his eyes at me. I huff, cross my arms and look away from him as we sit in the private waiting room, waiting for his plane to be ready for us to board.

"You act like it's my fault," he says.

"Well it certainly wasn't my fault, was it?" I huff again, refusing to make eye contact with him.

"How is it my fault that she was in the lobby of the same hotel we were staying in? Did I invite her? Do I own the fucking hotel?" He asks indignantly.

"You own half of fucking Seattle. Maybe you do own the hotel and I just don't know it." I know how ridiculous that sounds.

"Well, to be clear, Anastasia, I don't own the Ritz Carlton so get over it!"

"Get over it?"

"Yes! Get over it! I don't know why you're acting this way over a relationship that lasted two weeks and never even went beyond kissing. It meant nothing so get the fuck over it!" He practically yells the last part.

"Thank you for your sensitivity. I'll remember that next time you see me talking to Charlie. Remember how you threatened to fire him after you kicked his ass the last time he had the nerve to say good morning to me? That relationship wasn't even a relationship. I never called him my boyfriend like you did to Bambi the day I walked in on you two making out in your office," I argue back. Arguing with this man is the absolute last thing I expected to be doing today of all days.

"We were not making out, woman! Why must you act like this every time we see her, or whenever she's mentioned? It meant nothing! Not a god damn thing! I don't understand it because we've run into other women I've dated, and you don't act like this. What gives? I'm sick of this shit, Ana!"

"Don't act so innocent! You want to know what my problem is? My problem is that you chose her over me! I came back from Georgia expecting you to be mine, but you were hers! That's my problem, Christian!" I yell back at him.

"Excuse me? What the hell did you just say? Did you just accuse me of choosing another woman over you?"

"I sure did!"

"That's the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard. What the hell did we just do not sixteen hours ago?" I cross my arms and refuse to answer.

"No smart ass response now, huh? Of course not because not sixteen hours ago we pledged to love, honor and cherish each other for as long as we both shall live in front of our friends, family and God. Remember that? I was the one in the tux waiting for you at the altar. You were the beautiful one in the gorgeous white dress walking towards me on Ray's arm crying her eyes out because she was so overcome with emotion. That was you, right? I know for sure it wasn't fucking Bambi. Now, enough of this nonsense. I love you. I've only ever loved you. I will only ever love you. For as long as we both shall live. I don't just love you, baby. I crave you. I need you to like I need my next breath." He grabs my left hand, kisses my wedding ring and puts my hand on over his heart. "This heart only beats for you. I love you, and I love every word that comes out your mouth, but right now I'm going to have to tell you to shut up."

"Excuse me?" I say to him. "Did you just tell me to shut up?" We've argued before, but he's never told me to shut up.

"Yes, shut up and kiss your husband. Your husband. Yours and only yours." Before I know it, he's grabbed, picked me up and put me on his lap, kissing me with a fierce possessiveness. This is the type of kiss he gave me that day we argued because Charlie said good morning to me in the lobby. This is how he kisses me when another man checks me out or smiles at me. To prove a point, I kiss him back with the same amount of possessiveness. I match him bruise lips for bruised lips. I slide my hands in his hair and pull as hard as I can, eliciting a groan from my husband.

"Don't you ever accuse me of choosing anyone else over you again. Do you hear me, Mrs. Grey?" He's now using his bossy tone. I look down and pretend to look contrite.

"Yes, Mr. Grey. I'm sorry. She was the last person I was expecting to see after our wedding night and I lost my mind over it because the thought of you with anyone else drives me crazy, but I know I'm the only woman you love, just like you know you're the only man I love. Forgive me, please." I grab his left hand, kiss his wedding band and place his hand over my heart. "This heart only beats for you, husband."

"Well, that's more like it. Come here, my little jealous bride." He pulls me to him, hugging me against his chest. He just holds me to him, while stroking my hair.

"God, I love you so fucking much. Do you know that, baby? I love you so fucking much, I think I'm going to go insane. I just want to consume you," he confesses while his gray eyes penetrate mine.

"I love you even more," I say to him.

"Not fucking possible," he says before he grabs the back of my neck and pushes me towards him. I take his lips and kiss him slowly and thoroughly.

"Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey, the plane is now ready for you to board," Taylor informs us as he walks into the waiting room.

My husband stands up with me in his arms and sets me down.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" I ask him.

"You'll find out when we get on the plane. Now, it's time for our honeymoon and our happily ever after, Mrs. Grey. Are you ready?"

"I've been ready since the moment I laid eyes on you."

THE END

Just a quick two chapter story. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Until laters.