Fifty Shades After

Chapter 11: Troubled Heir

"Hey, hey, hey!" Sophie is chasing after me. She's holding the hems of her short dress down so that it doesn't float up. "Teddy, slow down!" She huffs. "Heels aren't exactly for running!" We're long gone from the west wing. We turned the corner to the east wing, go down a couple steps, turn more corners- we were far gone into the house. She's trying to catch her breath as she tries to catch up to me too. But I'm just too upset to stop. "Teddy Ray, what is the matter with you!" Teddy Ray? Deja vu. We're about to go down a couple more steps. "I just want to be alone, Sophie." I say. "Ted, I swear! If you don't-" and she squeals.

One false step down the stairs.

"Shit, Sophie!" I react almost too quickly and tug on her forearm.

I must've tugged too hard.

Because she is suddenly wrapped around my arms.

I'm staring into her eyes, and she back. Her breath hitches, and I don't know if it's because she almost fell, or because of... something else.

"Are you okay?" I trace my fingers across her delicate features. Her now bright pink cheeks, her small thin lips- My God, she's beautiful. A goddess walking amongst humans. I stand her up right, but I don't let go. I don't want to. I realize that she is clutching onto my shoulders. I look around and notice a wooden bench against the wall. With one arm snaked around her waist, I direct her towards it. I can feel her slightly limping.

"Sit." I order her. Whoa, pipe down Ted, it's not her fault. She sits, looking down at her manicured fingers, like a scolded puppy. I sit next to her and take her by surprise when I pull her foot up. She gasps and pulls the hems of her dress down, but to no avail. I can clearly see her white laced panties. Clearly.

Oh my God.

"What are you doing!" She squeaks. I pretend not to notice the sweet, distracting revelation as I remove her brown wedge heel. "I'm captain of my school's track and field team. I know an injured foot when I see one." I also know lingerie when I see it. Ted, for fuck's sake, focus! I dispose of the incredibly hazardous shoe and observe her foot. My hands travel from her small, pedicured toes, to her extensor tendons. They don't seem bruised, but I gently probe them to see if she winces. I look up to see her face. She's marvelling at my performance. My index and thumb fingers slide up to her ankle and massage her achilles tendon.

"Does it hurt?" I ask looking at her. Her nose is crinkled. That's clearly a yes. She nods and I sigh. "You shouldn't have followed me." I shake my head as I continue massaging. "If you wouldn't have stormed off, I wouldn't have followed you." She grumbles with her arms crossed. "I didn't storm off, I excused myself." and she scoffs. "And why is that?"

- "I lost my appetite."

- "You lost your appetite? You?"

- "Yes, I lost my appetite, believe it or not." I gently push her leg away. "Are we done?" I exhale.

Sophie glares at me. I can't lie to her, even if I tried. She puts her foot down and scoots closer to me. "Tell me."

- "Sophie, can you drop it? I'm just in a bad mood!" I yell in frustration but she doesn't flinch. "Duh." She rolls her eyes. "You were okay before we brought out breakfast."

Jesus. She is nosy. But- the cute kind.

I give up.

"I don't know. I just-" I drag my fingers through my hair and she softly smiles. "The food was just-"

- "Did you not like the food?" She frowns. "No, it's not that. I pretty much eat anything. It's just, this isn't for me. I don't deserve it." She groans and rolls her eyes. "If I had a penny for every time I heard that from you Greys!" Me? A Grey? I arch a brow. "Is it because your mom made gourmet food? Something she's never done before? Are you serious, Ted?" She chuckles in relief. Is she making fun of me? "It's going to be weird at first, okay? It'll all seem so foreign, but you'll get used to it!"