A/N: I wanted to explore the missing week between book 1 and 2 from Christian's perspective. I feel I must warn that I will be exploring his 'fifty shades' in full technicolor and it's not always going to be pretty. I do want to explore how he came to have a shift in worldview and be willing to explore a more equal relationship with Ana, but he's not going to be 100% hearts and flowers. Especially not right away. There will be mature content on par with what was in the books. You will see some Dom!Christian in the prologue. Fair warning.

Please let me know if this something you'd be interested in reading more of.

Prologue

I drop the belt and pull Ana's quaking form into my arms, offering her my comfort, my affection. Her body yields perfectly against mine and I allow her to cry against my bare chest and wrap her arms around me as she weeps. At the moment her touch does not frighten me.

"Why is that?" the voice inside me whispers cruelly. "Could it be it's because you've finally beaten her into submission?"

I hate that damned voice. It never used to torment me when I was with other subs, but since Anastasia has come into my life, it rarely shuts up. Well, that voice can go fuck itself. Everything is fine. It is pure perfection, actually. If I'd truly hurt Ana, she would have safe-worded. That's how this works. She is fine.

"Hush now," I whisper against the top of her head as I gently rub small circles between her shoulder blades. "You're okay, baby. I am so very proud of you."

"I'm sorry I ran from you, Sir," she replies in a small, muffled voice.

I push her back so that I can see her lovely face. The tears have stopped now and her eyes are red-rimmed, but her lips are swollen, pouty… just begging to be kissed.

"You won't do it again, will you Anastasia?" I ask in a low voice.

She shakes her head slightly and whispers, "No, Sir."

Her gaze is cast downward. She's been thoroughly chastened. I can feel myself growing harder for her. With one small tug to the sash, her robe falls open and I reach between us, slipping a hand between her legs. I can't contain the gasp of pleasure that almost drowns out her needy, answering whimper. She's soaking wet, coating my fingers. Her body knows it is mine.

"You're so wet for me, Anastasia," I whisper, cupping her chin with my free hand and bringing her gaze up to meet mine. "You want me to fuck you, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir… please." She blushes and tries to look away, but I'm still holding her chin trapped between my fingers.

"Don't be ashamed of that, baby," I tell her gently. I remove my other hand from between her thighs and press my fingers against her full lips. "Look at me while you taste how badly your body needs me."

When those incredible blue eyes shyly meet mine, I nearly come undone. She does exactly as I've asked and sucks her arousal from my fingers. If she were any other sub, I'd order her to her knees for a more thorough demonstration of her sucking abilities. But she's not and I want to be fully inside of her… need to be fully inside of her. Now.

"You taste so sweet, don't you baby?" I say as I replace my fingers with my lips and kiss her slowly and thoroughly. I push the robe from her shoulders and take a moment to drink in her stunning body once again before ordering softly, "On the bed. Kneel on your hands and knees. I am going to fuck you now."

Once again, she does exactly as she is told and somehow I feel myself growing even harder, almost painfully so. I rip off my pajama bottoms and leave them lying on the floor before I climb up on the bed and position myself behind her.

She's ready – more than ready – and waiting for me breathlessly. Her ass is a glorious color. God, this girl is perfection and she is all mine. Only mine. I want to cover her in diamonds. I'll give her anything, everything I own. This one little girl has no idea of the power she wields over me and that, I decide, is a good thing. She doesn't need to know. It's better this way. If she knew, I would be the truly powerless one – I would be her sub, body and soul. This is how it should be. Anastasia Rose Steel - under my control, my protection.

"Protection?" the voice hisses bitterly, intruding once again. "Are these marks on her perfect flesh supposed to represent your protection?"

I push the unwelcome thoughts aside. She IS protected. Precious. She is everything. I would never actually harm her or allow anyone or anything else to do so, ever. I'd kill anyone who dared harm a hair on her head.

I ease myself into her, reveling in the fact that there is no longer the barrier of a condom between us. Just skin on skin. The feeling is incredible. She's so soft, so tight, so warm. All mine. Once fully inside I pull back suddenly and slam myself back inside of her. She utters a sharp cry and I feel her inner walls begin to spasm around me.

"Oh Ana," I groan as I begin to thrust hard, prolonging her peak. "You're coming already? I don't remember saying that you could," I scold, although I am beyond delighted by her response.

"I'm… sor - sorry, Sir," she gasps.

"Now you're so deliciously slippery. I think I shall have to take you very, very hard, Miss Steele."

She moans and I feel her body clench around me in response. It's so very sweet. Yes, baby. That's right. Give yourself to me.

I begin a pounding rhythm. Once again I am losing myself in her. I won't last much longer.

"Give it to me again, Anastasia," I order gruffly.

"No! Get away from me!" she screams.

Suddenly I am no longer inside of her. We are standing and she is now wearing her robe and once again in tears. I reach for her, but she shrinks from me.

"Stay away from me. Don't you dare touch me," she hisses. She's so angry, so cold.

"Ana, please," I plead.

But she is gone. She's no longer here with me.

"Ana! Anastasia!" I scream.

And I wake alone, covered in a cold sweat. Oh God… Ana.