Fifty Shades Freed (Christian & Ana)(185)
"Always hungry for more information, Mrs. Grey."
"Tell me." I urge him as I snuggle up against his chest again.
"Tell you what?"
"Why you do it."
"Do what?"
"Work the way you do."
"A guy's got to earn a living." He's amused.
"Christian, you earn more than a living." My voice is full of irony. He frowns and is quiet for a moment. I think he's not going to divulge any secrets, but he surprises me.
"I don't want to be poor," he says, his voice low. "I've done that. I'm not going back there again. Besides . . . it's a game," he murmurs. "It's about winning.
A game I've always found very easy."
"Unlike life," I murmur to myself. Then I realize I said the words out loud.
"Yes, I suppose." He frowns. "Though it's easier with you."
Easier with me? I hug him tightly. "It can't all be a game. You're very philanthropic."
He shrugs, and I know he's growing uncomfortable. "About some things, maybe," he says quietly.
"I love philanthropic Christian," I murmur.
"Just him?"
"Oh, I love megalomaniac Christian, too, and control-freak Christian, sexpertise Christian, kinky Christian, romantic Christian, shy Christian . . . the list is endless."
"That's a whole lot of Christians."
"I'd say at least fifty."
He laughs. "Fifty Shades," he murmurs into my hair.
"My Fifty Shades."
He shifts, tipping my head back, and kisses me. "Well, Mrs. Shades, let's see how your dad is doing."
"Okay."
"Can we go for a drive?"
Christian and I are back in the R8, and I'm feeling giddily buoyant. Ray's brain is back to normal—all swelling gone. Dr. Sluder has decided to wake him from his coma tomorrow. She says she's pleased with his progress.
"Sure." Christian grins at me. "It's your birthday—we can do anything you want."
Oh! His tone makes me turn and gaze at him. His eyes are dark.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
How much promise can he load into one word? "Well, I want to drive."
"Then drive, baby." He grins, and I grin back.
My car handles like a dream, and as we hit the I-5, I subtly put my foot down, forcing us both back in our seats.
"Steady, baby," Christian warns.
As we drive back into Portland, an idea occurs to me.
"Have you planned lunch?" I ask Christian tentatively.
"No. You're hungry?" He sounds hopeful.
"Yes."
"Where do you want to go? It's your day, Ana."
"I know just the place."
I pull up near the gallery where José exhibited his work and park right outside the Le Picotin restaurant where we went after José's show.
Christian grins. "For one minute I thought you were going to take me to that dreadful bar you drunk dialed me from."
"Why would I do that?"
"To check the azaleas are still alive." He arches a sardonic brow.
I blush. "Don't remind me! Besides . . . you still took me to your hotel room."
I smirk.
"Best decision I ever made," he says, his eyes soft and warm.
"Yes. It was." I lean over and kiss him.
E.L. James's Books
- Where Shadows Meet
- Destiny Mine (Tormentor Mine #3)
- A Covert Affair (Deadly Ops #5)
- Save the Date
- Part-Time Lover (Part-Time Lover #1)
- My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies #2)
- Getting Schooled (Getting Some #1)
- Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)
- Speakeasy (True North #5)
- The Good Luck Sister (Wildstone #1.5)