N i n e-1

Disorientated and confused, I gaze around the room. I see the note on Four Season's notepaper on the bedside next to my watch - which tells me it's just before 10 am. I haven't slept this late in years. Had an early morning appointment and didn't want to wake you - you looked so peaceful! Thanks for last night. And thanks for not snoring! See you later - Cx Guess I was destined never to wake up with Charlie. Suddenly my cell rings loud, vibrating on the bedside. I reach over to pick it up even though I don't recognise the number. "Grey," I croak. "You're awake," her voice is different over the phone. Huskier. My groin vibrates. "I am now," I smile. "It's almost ten. Late night was it?' I can hear her smile. "You could say that..." I rub my hand over my eyes to dislodge the sleep. "Anyway. Good morning," I smile. "Hi," She says sounding shy. "I feel guilty for abandoning you." "You should." She laughs softly. "I'm sorry, I forgot to mention I was meeting a client this morning for breakfast. I got a little distracted last night." I hear her smile again. "You did? With what?" "Are you fishing?" "I've always been terrible at fishing. I never catch anything." She giggles. "Ahh, so you aren't good at everything? What a relief. So... I wanted to ask you something..." She pauses and I hear her take a deep breath. "Go on," I say tentatively. "What you said last night, about wanting to cancel your plans for the rest of the month. Did you mean it?" she sounds nervous, uncertain. "I did mean it. I do want to." "But..." She fills in. "But I don't think you'd want me around for an entire month Charlie. I'm hard work. Controlling, unreasonable, dominant." I smirk. "Good self-awareness. I'm impressed. But don't deflect. If you can't or you won't or it was something you said in the spur of the moment then just say that please." Her tone is a little colder. "I just need to know." "I wish I could." I turn my head to see the outline of where she slept next to me last night. I actually slept next to her. And it was nice. How did that happen? "I understand." She says. "I just wanted to make sure. Ok, I have to go. I'll see you later ok? I'll be there around 6." "Ok. Charlie, I'm sorry..." "Don't be. I totally get it." She says goodbye and hangs up. I sit in bed for a moment and play over her words, and mine. Spend a month with her. Here in New York. I couldn't. I'd love to but I couldn't. Yes, I had competent people who could carry out the daily tasks required to run it properly until I got back but abandon my company for a whole month. Impossible. Yet last night, in the quiet darkness I'd worked through how I could do it. It wasn't impossible. Last night it hadn't been impossible. I stare at Charlie's side of the bed a moment longer before throwing the sheets back and climbing out of bed. In the bathroom, I reach in and turn on the shower before catching a glimpse of it in the large mirror over the sink. My ass. Just as I'd thought, there across both cheeks were three red lines, about 5 centimetres in length. They were faint and fading. They'd be gone in a few hours. Yet she'd marked me. Not even Elena had done that. Elena had always been far too good at it to leave evidence. The sight of Charlie's marks makes me smile though, and I climb under the powerful hot spray with a stupid grin on my face. As the water washes over me I play over the events of last night in my head. The scent of her skin, the feel of her body wrapped around mine, the feel of myself inside her, the sound of her moans as she came. I'd enjoyed last night. The desire for her to submit to me, and for me to dominate her in my playroom hadn't subsided, in fact, quite the opposite, but doing it her way had been surprising... enlightening. By the time I step out of the shower ten minutes later, I've made my decision. Walking back into the bedroom, I lift my cell phone from the bedside table and hit #2 on the speed dial. She answers straight away. "Mr Grey, Good morning." Her voice is light and professional as always. "Andrea, I want you to cancel my appointments for the next week. I have some urgent personal business that I need to attend to here in New York. Re-arrange anything pressing if you can." I couldn't give Charlie a month, but this I could do. If she wanted more we could re-negotiate. Maybe if I gave her this she could repay me by coming to Seattle. "Of course Sir. Is everything all right?" "Perfectly fine. There's nothing particularly urgent is there? I can't recall." I rub the towel over my head and across my body as I hear her tap away at the keyboard. Andrea comes into the office 7-1pm on Saturdays by choice so she could spend Mondays with her son, which was more than fine with me. She was a dedicated and competent assistant. And a dedicated mother too as it happened. "Nothing that I'm sure I can't reschedule Mr Grey. Although you do have the interview with Ms Kavanagh from WSU on Monday morning. It may be a little short notice to cancel that one, but I can certainly try and get in touch with her right away." Who? Then I remember. The bloody college student. The one I'd put off for the last month. The interview for a piece for the graduation edition of the college newspaper. I was giving the ceremonial address. When the hell was that again?