“Thank you. That was quick. She still asleep?”
“I think so.” And there’s that little smile again. I arch my brows and her smile broadens as she turns to leave my study. I put my work aside and head off with my coffee to take a shower and have a shave.
ANA IS STILL OUT for the count when I finish dressing.
You’ve exhausted her, Grey. And it was pleasurable, more than pleasurable. She looks serene, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.
Good.
From the chest I take my watch, and on an impulse open the top drawer and pocket my last condom.
You never know.
I amble back through the living room toward my study.
“Do you want your breakfast yet, sir?”
“I’ll have breakfast with Ana. Thanks.”
I pick up the phone and call Andrea from my desk. After we’ve exchanged a few words she puts me through to Ros.
“So when can we expect you?” Ros’s tone is sarcastic.
“Good morning, Ros. How are you?” I say sweetly.
“Pissed.”
“At me?”
“Yes, at you, and your hands-off work ethic.”
“I’ll be in later. The reason I’m calling is I’ve decided to liquidate Woods’s company.” I’ve told her this already, but she and Marco are taking too long. I want this done, now. I remind her that this was going to happen if the company’s P&L didn’t improve. And it hasn’t.
“He needs more time.”
“I’m not interested, Ros. We’re not carrying deadweight.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want any more lame excuses.” Enough, already. I’ve made up my mind.
“Christian—”
“Have Marco call me, it’s shit-or-bust time.”
“Okay. Okay. If that’s what you really want. Anything else?”
“Yes. Tell Barney that the prototype looks good, though I’m not sure about the interface.”
“I thought the interface worked well, once I figured it out. Not that I’m an expert.”
“No, it’s just missing something.”
“Talk to Barney.”
“I want to meet him this afternoon to discuss.”
“Face-to-face?”
Her sarcasm is irritating. But I ignore her tone and tell her that I want his whole team there to brainstorm.
“He’ll be pleased. So I’ll see you this afternoon?” She sounds hopeful.
“Okay,” I reassure her. “Transfer me back to Andrea.”
While I wait for her to pick up the phone I gaze out at the cloudless sky. It’s the same shade as Ana’s eyes.
Sappy, Grey.
“Andrea—”
A movement distracts me. Looking up, I’m pleased to see Ana standing in the doorway, dressed in nothing but my T-shirt. Her legs, long and shapely, are on display for my eyes only. She has great legs.
“Mr. Grey,” Andrea answers.
My eyes lock with Ana’s. They are the color of a summer sky and just as warm. Good Lord, I could bask in her warmth all day—every day.
Don’t be absurd, Grey.
“Clear my schedule this morning, but get Bill to call me. I’ll be in at two. I need to talk to Marco this afternoon, that will need at least half an hour.”
A soft smile tugs at Ana’s lips and I find myself mirroring her.
“Yes, sir,” Andrea says.
“Schedule Barney and his team in after Marco or maybe tomorrow, and find time for me to see Claude every day this week.”
“Sam wants to talk to you, this morning.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“It’s about Darfur.”
“Oh?”
“Apparently he sees the aid convoy as a great personal PR opportunity.”
Oh, God. He would, wouldn’t he?
“No, I don’t want publicity for Darfur.” My voice is gruff with exasperation.
“He says there’s a journalist from Forbes who wants to talk to you about it.”
How the hell do they know?
“Tell Sam to deal with it,” I snap. That’s what he’s paid to do.
“Do you want to speak to him directly?” she asks.
“No.”
“Will do. I also need to RSVP to the event on Saturday.”
“Which event?”
“Chamber of Commerce Gala.”
“That’s next Saturday?” I ask, as an idea pops into my head.
“Yes, sir.”
“Hold on—” I turn to Ana, who’s jiggling her left foot but not taking her sky-blue eyes off me. “When will you be back from Georgia?”
“Friday,” she says.
“I’ll need an extra ticket, because I have a date,” I inform Andrea.
“A date?” Andrea squeaks with incredulity.
I sigh. “Yes, Andrea, that’s what I said. A date. Miss Anastasia Steele will accompany me.”
“Yes, Mr. Grey.” She sounds as if I’ve made her day.
For fuck’s sake. What is it with my staff?
“That’s all.” I hang up. “Good morning, Miss Steele.”
“Mr. Grey,” Ana says in greeting. I walk around my desk until I’m in front of her, and caress her face.
“I didn’t want to wake you, you looked so peaceful. Did you sleep well?”
“I am very well rested, thank you. I just came to say hi before I had a shower.” She’s smiling and her eyes are shining with delight. It’s a pleasure to see her like this. Before I get back to work I lean down to give her a gentle kiss. Suddenly she wraps her arms around my neck and tangles her fingers in my hair, and presses her body along the length of mine.
Whoa.
Her lips are persistent, so I respond, kissing her back, surprised by the intensity of her ardor. With one hand I cup her head, with the other her naked, recently spanked ass, and my body ignites like dry tinder.
“Well, sleep seems to agree with you.” My voice is laced with sudden lust. “I suggest you go and have your shower, or shall I lay you across my desk now?”
“I choose the desk,” she whispers at the corner of my mouth, grinding her sex against my erection.
Well, this is a surprise.
Her eyes are dark and greedy with want. “You’ve really got a taste for this, haven’t you, Miss Steele? You’re becoming insatiable.”
“I think so.” And there’s that little smile again. I arch my brows and her smile broadens as she turns to leave my study. I put my work aside and head off with my coffee to take a shower and have a shave.
ANA IS STILL OUT for the count when I finish dressing.
You’ve exhausted her, Grey. And it was pleasurable, more than pleasurable. She looks serene, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.
Good.
From the chest I take my watch, and on an impulse open the top drawer and pocket my last condom.
You never know.
I amble back through the living room toward my study.
“Do you want your breakfast yet, sir?”
“I’ll have breakfast with Ana. Thanks.”
I pick up the phone and call Andrea from my desk. After we’ve exchanged a few words she puts me through to Ros.
“So when can we expect you?” Ros’s tone is sarcastic.
“Good morning, Ros. How are you?” I say sweetly.
“Pissed.”
“At me?”
“Yes, at you, and your hands-off work ethic.”
“I’ll be in later. The reason I’m calling is I’ve decided to liquidate Woods’s company.” I’ve told her this already, but she and Marco are taking too long. I want this done, now. I remind her that this was going to happen if the company’s P&L didn’t improve. And it hasn’t.
“He needs more time.”
“I’m not interested, Ros. We’re not carrying deadweight.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t want any more lame excuses.” Enough, already. I’ve made up my mind.
“Christian—”
“Have Marco call me, it’s shit-or-bust time.”
“Okay. Okay. If that’s what you really want. Anything else?”
“Yes. Tell Barney that the prototype looks good, though I’m not sure about the interface.”
“I thought the interface worked well, once I figured it out. Not that I’m an expert.”
“No, it’s just missing something.”
“Talk to Barney.”
“I want to meet him this afternoon to discuss.”
“Face-to-face?”
Her sarcasm is irritating. But I ignore her tone and tell her that I want his whole team there to brainstorm.
“He’ll be pleased. So I’ll see you this afternoon?” She sounds hopeful.
“Okay,” I reassure her. “Transfer me back to Andrea.”
While I wait for her to pick up the phone I gaze out at the cloudless sky. It’s the same shade as Ana’s eyes.
Sappy, Grey.
“Andrea—”
A movement distracts me. Looking up, I’m pleased to see Ana standing in the doorway, dressed in nothing but my T-shirt. Her legs, long and shapely, are on display for my eyes only. She has great legs.
“Mr. Grey,” Andrea answers.
My eyes lock with Ana’s. They are the color of a summer sky and just as warm. Good Lord, I could bask in her warmth all day—every day.
Don’t be absurd, Grey.
“Clear my schedule this morning, but get Bill to call me. I’ll be in at two. I need to talk to Marco this afternoon, that will need at least half an hour.”
A soft smile tugs at Ana’s lips and I find myself mirroring her.
“Yes, sir,” Andrea says.
“Schedule Barney and his team in after Marco or maybe tomorrow, and find time for me to see Claude every day this week.”
“Sam wants to talk to you, this morning.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“It’s about Darfur.”
“Oh?”
“Apparently he sees the aid convoy as a great personal PR opportunity.”
Oh, God. He would, wouldn’t he?
“No, I don’t want publicity for Darfur.” My voice is gruff with exasperation.
“He says there’s a journalist from Forbes who wants to talk to you about it.”
How the hell do they know?
“Tell Sam to deal with it,” I snap. That’s what he’s paid to do.
“Do you want to speak to him directly?” she asks.
“No.”
“Will do. I also need to RSVP to the event on Saturday.”
“Which event?”
“Chamber of Commerce Gala.”
“That’s next Saturday?” I ask, as an idea pops into my head.
“Yes, sir.”
“Hold on—” I turn to Ana, who’s jiggling her left foot but not taking her sky-blue eyes off me. “When will you be back from Georgia?”
“Friday,” she says.
“I’ll need an extra ticket, because I have a date,” I inform Andrea.
“A date?” Andrea squeaks with incredulity.
I sigh. “Yes, Andrea, that’s what I said. A date. Miss Anastasia Steele will accompany me.”
“Yes, Mr. Grey.” She sounds as if I’ve made her day.
For fuck’s sake. What is it with my staff?
“That’s all.” I hang up. “Good morning, Miss Steele.”
“Mr. Grey,” Ana says in greeting. I walk around my desk until I’m in front of her, and caress her face.
“I didn’t want to wake you, you looked so peaceful. Did you sleep well?”
“I am very well rested, thank you. I just came to say hi before I had a shower.” She’s smiling and her eyes are shining with delight. It’s a pleasure to see her like this. Before I get back to work I lean down to give her a gentle kiss. Suddenly she wraps her arms around my neck and tangles her fingers in my hair, and presses her body along the length of mine.
Whoa.
Her lips are persistent, so I respond, kissing her back, surprised by the intensity of her ardor. With one hand I cup her head, with the other her naked, recently spanked ass, and my body ignites like dry tinder.
“Well, sleep seems to agree with you.” My voice is laced with sudden lust. “I suggest you go and have your shower, or shall I lay you across my desk now?”
“I choose the desk,” she whispers at the corner of my mouth, grinding her sex against my erection.
Well, this is a surprise.
Her eyes are dark and greedy with want. “You’ve really got a taste for this, haven’t you, Miss Steele? You’re becoming insatiable.”
