Fifty Shades of Grey(165)

"UnprovokedYou kissed me." He tries his best to look wounded.

I purse my lips.

"It was attack as the best form of defense."

"Defense against what?"

"You and your twitchy palm."

He cocks his head to one side and smiles at me as Mia comes clattering up the stairs.

"But it was tolerable?" he asks softly.

I flush.

"Barely," I whisper, but I can't help my smirk.

"Oh, there you are." She beams at us.

"I was showing Anastasia around." Christian holds his hand out to me, his gray eyes intense.

I put my hand into his, and he gives it a soft squeeze.

"Kate and Elliot are about to leave. Can you believe those twoThey can't keep their hands off each other." Mia feigns disgust and looks from Christian to me. "What have you been doing in here?"

Jeez, she's forward. I blush scarlet.

"Showing Anastasia my rowing trophies," Christian says without missing a beat, completely poker-faced. "Let's go say goodbye to Kate and Elliot."

Rowing trophies He pulls me gently in front of him, and as Mia turns to go, he swats my behind. I gasp in surprise.

"I will do it again, Anastasia, and soon," he threatens quietly close to my ear, then he pulls me into an embrace, my back to his front, and kisses my hair.

Back in the house, Kate and Elliot are making their farewells to Grace and Mr. Grey. Kate hugs me hard.

"I need to speak to you about antagonizing Christian," I hiss quietly in her ear as she embraces me.

"He needs antagonizing, then you can see what he's really like. Be careful, Ana - he's so controlling," she whispers. "See you later."

I KNOW WHAT HE'S REALLY LIKE - YOU DON'T! - I scream at her in my head.

I'm fully aware that her actions come from a good place, but sometimes she just oversteps the mark, and right now so far that she's into the neighboring state. I scowl at her, and she pokes her tongue out at me, making me smile unwillingly. Playful Kate is novel, must be Elliot's influence. We wave them off at the doorway, and Christian turns to me.

"We should go too - you have interviews tomorrow."

Mia embraces me warmly as we say our goodbyes.

"We never thought he'd find anyone!" she gushes.

I flush, and Christian rolls his eyes again. I purse my lips. Why can he do that when I can'tI want to roll my eyes back at him, but I do not dare, not after his threat in the boathouse.

"Take care of yourself, Ana, dear," Grace says kindly.

Christian, embarrassed or frustrated by the lavish attention I'm receiving from the remaining Greys, grabs my hand and pulls me to his side.

"Let's not frighten her away or spoil her with too much affection," he grumbles.

"Christian, stop teasing." Grace scolds him indulgently, her eyes glowing with love and affection for him.

Somehow, I don't think he's teasing. I surreptitiously watch their interaction. It's obvious Grace adores him with a mother's unconditional love. He bends and kisses her stiffly.

"Mom," he says, and there's an undercurrent in his voice - reverence maybe?

"Mr. Grey - goodbye and thank you." I hold out my hand to him, and he hugs me too!

"Please, call me Carrick. I do hope we see you again, very soon, Ana."

Our farewells said, Christian leads me to the car where Taylor is waiting. Has he been waiting here the whole time Taylor opens my door, and I slide into the back of the Audi.