Chapter 39


    “She is.” Ana looks ahead at the horizon. “We are floating on air,” she says, her voice soft and dreamy.


    “That we are, baby…that we are.”


    We touch down an hourter, anding that’s as smooth as the takeoff. I’m thrilled with the new ne.


    She’s everything I knew she would be and more. I’d really like to take her up one day to see how far


    she’ll take us. Perhapster this summer.


    Darius rushes toward us as I unlock the canopy.


    “How was it?” he gushes when he reaches us.


    “Amazing. She’s one helluva ne.” Adrenaline is still coursing through my body.


    “Ana?” Darius turns his attention to her.


    “I agree with Christian. She’s amazing.”


    I undo my straps, mber out, and stretch. Then lean in to unbuckle Ana’s straps.


    “This has been inspiring,” I whisper, and give her a swift kiss as I make short work of the seat belt.


    Her lips part in surprise but I turn to Darius who is still with us. “Let’s put her in the hangar.”


    I’m behind Ana as we walk back to the cars with Sawyer and Reynolds. Her ponytail swings jauntily


    behind her. She’s still wearing the cap, and beneath the short navy baseball jacket her ass is shielded


    in tight blue jeans. Her hips sway back and forth, a metronome as she walks, and the rhythm is


    hypnotizing. She looks so damned hot. I stride around to her side of the car and open the door. “You


    look great. I don’t think I told you that this morning.”


    “I think you did,” she answers with a sweet smile.


    “Well, I’d like to tell you again.”


    “Back at you, Christian Grey.” She runs her fingers over my white T-shirt, and the feeling echoes


    through my chest and the rest of my body.


    I need to get her home.


    But first. Lunch. Ate lunch. I close her door and head to the driver’s side.


    We stop in Ephrata for pizza.


    “Do you mind if we get takeout?” I ask as we enter the small restaurant.


    “Eat in your car?”


    “Yes.”


    “Your immacte R8?”


    “The very same.”


    “Sure.” Ana looks puzzled.


    “I’m anxious to get home.”


    “Why?”


    I stare at her, quirking an eyebrow with only one thought in my mind. Why do you think, Ana?


    “Oh,” she says, and her teeth drill into her lower lip to suppress her smile, her cheeks flushing that


    shade of pink I love so much. “Okay. Yes. Takeout,” she blurts, and I have tough.


    “This is the best damn pizza,” Ana says with her mouth full. I’m d I doubled down on paper napkins.


    “More?” I ask. And she holds the slice up for me to bite. As I open my mouth, she moves it away and


    takes another bite.


    “Hey!”


    She giggles. “My pizza!”


    I pout. Because I’m driving and there’s nothing else I can do.


    “Here,” she says, and this time lets me take a bite.


    “You know I’ll get you back.”


    “Uh-huh?” she taunts. “Bring it, Grey.”


    “Oh, I will. I will…” And I start to contemte various scenarios, which have an immediate impact on


    my body. I shift in my seat. “More pizza, please.”


    Ana continues to feed me. And tease me. Much to her and my delight.


    We should do this more often.


    “All done,” Ana says, and pops the pizza box in her footwell.


    I feel sated. I’m with my girl, in my favorite car, Radiohead on y, and we’re speeding through the


    majestdscape beside the Columbia River toward the Vantage bridge. I’m overwhelmed by a sense


    of belonging.


    Before Ana, how did I spend my weekends?


    Soaring, Sailing, Fucking…


    Iugh. It doesn’t sound like much has changed, but that’s simply not true—everything has changed,


    and all because of the young woman sitting next to me. I didn’t know I was lonely until I met her. I didn’t


    know I needed her, and here she is beside me. I nce at Ana, who’s sucking the tip of her index


    finger. The sight is stirring, and I recall her earlier remark about harnesses.


    “You love doing that, don’t you?”


    “More than you could ever know.”


    “I think I have a clue. Maybe we should do itter.”


    “Maybe we should…”


    The thought drives me wild. Putting my foot down, I push the R8 to ny. I want to get us home.


    My anticipation is at DEFCON 1 when we finally arrive at the garage at Esc. “Home again,” Ana


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    breathes when I switch off the ignition. Her voice is husky and quiet, drawing my attention. Her eyes


    meet mine and we stare at each other as the atmosphere within the R8 slowly simmers.


    It’s here. Between us. Our desire.


    It’s almost a separate entity, it’s so powerful.


    Drawing us together.


    Consuming me…us.


    “Thank you,” she says.


    “You’re most wee.”


    She’s looking at me through hershes, her eyes smoky and full of sensual promise. Compelled, I can’t


    look away. I’m under her powerful spell. Beside us, Sawyer and Reynolds pull up, park, and disembark


    the Q7, locking it up behind them. They head to the service elevator, and I can’t tell if they’re waiting for


    us or not. I don’t know. I don’t care. Ana and I ignore them, our focus only on each other. The silence in


    the car is heady, ringing with unspoken thoughts.


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