Chapter 232


    Whoa! “Mind yournguage,” I exim. “Calm down and eat.”


    She res at me, eyes zing with anger.


    “Ana.”


    “That hurt me more than anything, Christian,” she whispers. “Almost as much as you seeing that


    woman.”


    Shit. I close my eyes, as my remorse returns full-blown. “I know.” I sigh. “And I’m sorry. More than you


    know. Please, eat. While your soup is still hot.” My tone is contrite and gentle. I owe her that.


    She picks up her spoon, and l blow out a breath of relief.


    “Go on,” Ana encourages me, between bites of soft bread roll.


    “We didn’t know Mia was missing. I thought maybe he was ckmailing you or something. I called you


    back, but you didn’t answer.” I scowl, remembering how impotent I felt. “I left you a message and then


    called Sawyer. Taylor started tracking your cell. I knew you were at the bank, so we headed straight


    there.”


    “I don’t know how Sawyer found me. Was he tracking my cell, too?”


    “The Saab is fitted with a tracking device. All our cars are. By the time we got near the bank, you were


    already on the move, and we followed. Why are you smiling?”


    “On some level I knew you’d be stalking me.”


    “And that is amusing because?”


    “Jack had instructed me to get rid of my cell. So I borrowed Whn’s cell, and that’s the one I threw


    away. I put mine into one of the duffel bags so you could track your money.”


    I sigh. “Our money, Ana. Eat.”


    Once again, I’m amazed by her cool head and quick thinking, but I merely watch as she wipes thest


    piece of bread around the bowl and pops it into her mouth. “Finished.”


    “Good girl.”


    There’s a knock on the door and Nurse Nora enters once more, carrying a small paper cup. “Pain


    relief,” Nora announces, while I pack the detritus from Ana’s meal back into the box from the Olympic.


    “Is this okay to take? You know, with the baby?”


    “Yes, Mrs. Grey.” She hands Ana the pills and a fresh ss of water. “It’s Tylenol—it’s fine; it won’t


    affect the baby.”


    Ana swallows the tablet, yawns, and blinks sleepily.


    “You ought to rest, Mrs. Grey.” Nurse Nora looks pointedly at me.


    I nod. Yes. She should.


    “You’re going?” Ana exims with a look of rm.


    I snort. “If you think for one moment I’m going to let you out of my sight, Mrs. Grey, you are very much


    mistaken.”


    Nora gives me a withering look as she adjusts Ana’s pillows so Ana can lie down. “Good night, Mrs.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Grey,” she says, and with onest censorious nce at me she leaves.


    “I don’t think Nurse Nora approves of me.” I look down at my wife. Awake. Present. Fed. And my relief


    is overwhelming, but I’m utterly drained and bone-weary. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so tired in my life.


    “You need rest, too, Christian. Go home. You look exhausted.”


    “I’m not leaving you. I’ll doze in this armchair.” I can ease up on my vigil for a little while.


    She scowls, then smiles as if she’s had a mischievous idea and shifts over. “Sleep with me.”


    What! No way! “No. I can’t.”


    “Why not?”


    “I don’t want to hurt you.”


    “You won’t hurt me. Please, Christian.”


    “You have an IV.”


    “Christian. Please.”


    It’s so tempting. I shouldn’t…but I can hold her, and my urge to hold her supersedes mymon


    sense.


    “Please.” She lifts the nkets, inviting me into her bed.


    “Fuck it.” I slip out of my shoes and socks and climb into my wife’s bed, facing her. Gently, I put an arm


    around her, and sheys her head on my chest.


    Oh. The. Feel. Of. Her.


    Ana.


    I kiss her hair. “I don’t think Nurse Nora will be very happy with this arrangement.”


    Ana giggles and stops abruptly. “Don’t make meugh. It hurts.”


    “Oh, but I love that sound.” And I love you, Ana. With all my heart. “I’m sorry, baby. So, so sorry.” I kiss


    her once more and inhale her scent. I catch a trace of my Ana. She’s there, beneath the chemicals.


    My wife. My beautiful wife.


    She rests her hand on my heart, and I ce my hand on hers and close my eyes.


    “Why did you go see that woman?”


    “Oh, Ana,” I groan. “You want to discuss that now? Can’t we drop this? I regret it, okay?”


    “I need to know.”


    “I’ll tell you tomorrow,” I mutter, too tired to be pissed about her question. “Oh, and Detective rk


    wants to talk to you. Just routine. Now go to sleep.” I kiss her hair again.


    “Do we know why Jack was doing all this?”


    “Hmm…” I murmur as sleep beckons, hard and fast. And after hours and hours of worry, regret, and


    exhaustion, I submit, and fall into a deep, dreamless slumber.


    Saturday, September 17, 2011


    Ana is out cold. I can’t wake her. Wake up, Ana. Wake up. Elena struts over to sit down beside me.


    She’s naked but for long, tight leather gloves that stop just above her elbows. And her ck stilettos


    with red soles. She takes my hand. No. Her fingers sp my thigh. No. Don’t touch me. No more. Only


    Ana. Her eyes ze in anger, but the fire in them dies. Defeated, she stands. Clothed now in ck.


    Good-bye, Christian. She flips her hair to the side and stalks to the door without looking back. I turn.


    Ana is awake, smiling at me. Join me. Sleep with me. Stay with me. My heart soars. Her words bring


    me joy. She caresses my cheek. Stay with me. Please. She begs. How can I resist? She loves me. She


    does. And I love her.


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