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fiftyshadesfreed

returningtotheaudi.insidethecabin,irecognizestephan,christian’spilot,

inhisuniform.

“welcomeaboard,sir,mrs.grey.”hegrinsatusboth.christianputsme

downandshakesstephan’shand.besidestephanstandsadark-haired

womaninherwhat?earlythirties?she’salsoinuniform.

“congratulationstoyouboth,”stephancontinues.

“thankyou,stephan.anastasia,youknowstephan.he’sourcaptaintoday,

andthisisfirstofficerbeighley.”

sheblushesaschristianintroducesherandblinksrapidly.iwanttorollmy

eyes.anotherfemalecompletelycaptivatedbymytoohandsome-for-hisown-

goodhusband.

“delightedtomeetyou,”gushesbeighley.ismilekindlyather.afterall—he

ismine.

“allpreparationscomplete?”christianasksthembothasiglancearoundthe

cabin.theinteriorisallpalemaplewoodandpalecreamleather.it’slovely.

anotheryoungwomaninuniformstandsattheotherendofthecabin—avery

prettybrunette.whothehellisthat?

“weha一vetheallclear.weatherisgoodfromheretoboston.”

boston?

“turbulence?”

“notbeforeboston.there’saweatherfrontovershannonthatmightgiveus

aroughride.”

shannon?ireland?

“isee.well,ihopetosleepthroughitall,”sayschristianmatter-offactly.

sleep?

“we’llgetunderway,sir,”stephansays.“we’lllea一veyouinthecapablecare

ofnatalia,yourflightattendant.”christianglancesinherdirectionand

frowns,butturnstostephanwithasmile.

“excellent,”hesays.takingmyhand,heleadsmetooneofthesumptuous

leatherseats.theremustbeabouttwelveofthemintotal.

“sit,”hesaysasheremoveshisjacketandundoeshisfinesliverbrocade

vest.wesitintwosingleseatsfacingeachotherwithasmall,highly

polishedtablebetweenus.

“welcomeaboard,sir,ma’am,andcongratulations.”nataliaisatourside,

offeringusbothaglassofpinkchampagne.

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eljames

“thankyou,”christiansays,andshesmilespolitelyatusandretreatstothe

galley.

“here’stoahappymarriedlife,anastasia.”christianraiseshisglassto

mine,andwechink.thechampagneisdelicious.

“bollinger?”iask.

“thesame.”

“thefirsttimeidrankthisitwasoutofteacups.”igrinathim.

“irememberthatdaywell.yourgraduation.”

“wherearewegoing?”i’munabletocontainmycuriosityanylonger.

“shannon,”christiansays,hiseyesalightwithexcitement.helookslikea

smallboy.

“inireland?”we’regoingtoireland!

“torefuel,”headds,teasing.

“then?”iprompt.

hisgrinbroadensandheshakeshishead.

“christian!”

“london,”hesays,gazingintentlyatme,tryingtogaugemyreaction.

igasp.holycow.ithoughtmaybewe’dbegoingtonewyorkoraspenor

maybethecaribbean.icanhardlybelieveit.mylifetimeambitionhasbeen

tovisitengland.i’mlitupfromwithin,incandescentwithhappiness.

“thenparis,”headds.

what?

“thenthesouthoffrance.”

whoa!

“iknowyou’vealwaysdreamedofgoingtoeurope,”hesayssoftly.

“iwanttomakeyourdreamscometrue,anastasia.”

“youaremydreamscometrue,christian.”

“backatyou,mrs.grey,”hewhispers.

ohmy...

“buckleup.”

igrinanddoasi’mtold.

astheplanetaxisoutontotherunway,wesipourchampagne,grinning

inanelyateachother.ican’tbelieveit.attwenty-twoyears

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fiftyshadesfreed

old,i’mfinallylea一vingtheunitedstatesandgoingtoeurope—tolondonof

allplaces

oncewe’reairborne,nataliaservesusyetmorechampagneandprepares

ourweddingfeast.andwhatafeastitis—smokedsalmon,followedbyroast

partridgewithagreenbeansaladanddauphinoisepotatoes,allcooked

andservedbytheever-efficientnatalia.

“dessert,mr.grey?”sheasks.

heshakeshisheadandrunshisfingeracrosshisbottomlipashelooks

questioninglyatme,hisexpressiondarkandunreadable.

“no,thankyou,”imurmur,unabletobreakeyecontactwithhim.hislipscurl

upinasmall,secretsmileandnataliaretreats.

“good,”hemurmurs.“i’dratherplannedonha一vingyoufordessert.”

oh...here?

“come,”hesays,risingfromthetableandofferingmehishand.heleads

metothebackofthecabin.

“there’sabathroomhere.”hepointstoasmalldoorthenleadsmeondown

ashortcorridorandthroughadoorattheend.jeez...abedroom.the

cabiniscreamandmaplewoodandthesmalldoublebediscoveredingold

andtaupecushions.itlooksverycomfortable.

christianturnsandpullsmeintohisarms,gazingdownatme.

“ithoughtwe’dspendourweddingnightatthirty-five-thousandfeet.it’s

somethingi’veneverdonebefore.”

holycow...anotherfirst.igapeathim,myheartpounding...themilehigh

club.i’veheardaboutthis.

“butfirstiha一vetogetyououtofthisfabulousdress.”hiseyesglowwithlove

andsomethingdarker,somethingilove...somethingthatcallstomyinner

goddess.hetakesmybreathaway.

“turnaround.”hisvoiceislow,authoritative,andsexyashell.howcanhe

infusesomuchpromiseintothosetwowords?willinglyicomplyandhis

handsmovetomyhair.gentlyhepullsouteachhairpinoneatatime,his

expertfingersmakingshortworkofthetask.myhairfallsinswathesovermy

shoulders,onelockatatime,coveringmybackanddowntomybreasts.itry

tostandstillandnotsquirm,buti’machingforhistouch.afterourlong,tiring

butexcitingday,iwanthim—allofhim.

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eljames

“youha一vesuchbeautifulhair,ana.”hismouthisclosetomyearandifeel

hisbreath,thoughhislipsdon’ttouchme.whenmyhairisfreeofpins,he

runshisfingersthroughit,gentlymassagingmyscalp...ohmy...iclose

myeyesandsa一vorthesensation.hisfingerstra一velondown,andhetugs,

tiltingmyheadbacktoexposemythroat.

tiltingmyheadbacktoexposemythroat.

“you’remine,”hebreathesandhisteethtugmyearlobe.igroan.

“hushnow,”headmonishes.hesweepsmyhairovermyshoulderandtrails

afingeracrossthetopofmybackfromshouldertoshoulderfollowingthe

laceedgeofmydress.ishiverinanticipation.heplantsatenderkissonmy

backabovethefirstbuttononmydress.

“sobeautiful,”hesaysashedeftlyundoesthefirstbutton.“youha一vemade

methehappiestmanalivetoday.”withinfiniteslowness,heunfastenseach

one,allthewaydownmyback.“iloveyousomuch.”trailingkissesfromthe

napeofmynecktotheedgeofmyshoulder.betweeneachkisshemurmurs,

“i.want.you.so.much.i.want.to.be.inside.you.you.are.mine.”

eachwordisintoxicating.iclosemyeyesandtiltmyhead,givinghimeasier

accesstomyneck,andifallfurtherunderthespellthatischristiangrey,my

husband.

“mine,”hewhispersoncemore.hepeelsmydressdownmyarmssothatit

poolsatmyfeetinacloudofivorysilkandlace.

“turnaround,”hewhispers,hisvoicesuddenlyhoarse.idosoandhegasps.

i’mdressedinatight,blush-pinksatincorsetwithgarterstraps,matching

lacybriefs,andwhitesilkstockings.christian’seyestra一velgreedilydownmy

body,buthesaysnothing.hejustgazesatme,hiseyeswidewithwant.

“youlike?”iwhisperawareoftheshyblushcreepingacrossmycheeks.

“morethanlike,baby.youlooksensational.here.”heholdsouthishandand

takingit,istepoutfrommydress.

“keepstill,”hemurmursandwithouttakinghisdarkeningeyesoffmine,he

runshismiddlefingerovermybreasts,followingthelineofmycorset.my

breathshallowsandherepeatsthejourneyovermybreastsoncemore,his

tantalizingfingersendingtinglesdownmy

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fiftyshadesfreed

spine.hestopsandtwirlshisindexfingerintheair,indicatingthathewants

metoturnaround.forhim,rightnow,i’ddoanything.

“stop,”hesays.i’mfacingthebed,awayfromhim.hisarmencirclesmy

waist,pullingmeagainsthim,andhenuzzlesmyneck.gentlyhecupsmy

breasts,toyingwiththem,whilehisthumbscircleovermynipplessothatthey

strainagainstthefabricofmycorset.

“mine,”hewhispers.

“yours,”ibreathe.

lea一vingmybreastsbereftherunshishandsdownmystomach,overmy

belly,anddowntomythighs,histhumbsskimmingmysex.istifleamoan.

hisfingersskatedowneachgarter,andwithhisusualdexterity,he

simultaneouslyunhookseachonefrommystockings.hishandstra一vel

aroundtomybehind.

“mine,”hebreathesashishandsspreadacrossmybackside,thetipsofhis

fingersbrushingmysex.

“ah.”

“hush.”hishandstra一veldownthebacksofmythighs,andoncemorehe

unclipsmygarters.

leaningdown,hepullsbackthecoveronthebed.“sitdown.”

idoasi’mtoldinhisthrall,andhekneelsatmyfeetandgentlytugsoffeach

ofmywhitebridaljimmychoos.hegraspsthetopofmyleftstockingand

slowlypeelsitoff,runninghisthumbsdownmyleg...ohmy.herepeatsthe

processwithmyotherstocking.

“thisislikeunwrappingmychristmaspresents.”hesmilesupatmethrough

hislongdarklashes.

“apresentyou’vehadalready...”

hefrownsinadmonishment.“ohno,baby.thistimeit’sreallymine.”

“christian,i’vebeenyourssinceisaidyes.”iscootforward,cuppinghis

belovedfaceinmyhands.“i’myours.iwillalwaysbeyours,husbandofmine.

now,ithinkyou’rewearingtoomanyclothes.”ibendtokisshim,and

suddenlyheleansup,kissesmylips,andgraspsmyheadwithhishands,his

fingersthreadingintomyhair.

“ana,”hebreathes.“myana.”hislipsclaimmineoncemore,histongue

invasivelypersuasive.

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eljames

“clothes,”iwhisper,ourbreathminglingasipushbackhisvestandhe

strugglesoutofit,releasingmeforamoment.hepauses,gazingatme,

eyeswide,eyeswanting.

“letme,please.”myvoiceissoftandcajoling.iwanttoundressmy

husband,myfifty.

hesitsbackonhisheels,andleaningforwardigrasphistie—hissliver-gray

tie,myfa一voritetie—andslowlyundoitandpullitfree.heraiseshischintolet

metacklethetopbuttonofhiswhiteshirt;thenonceit’sundone,imoveonto

hiscuffs.he’swearingplatinumcufflinks—engra一vedwithanentwinedaand

c—myweddingpresenttohim.wheni’veremovedthem,hetakesthe

cufflinksfrommeandfiststheminhishand.thenhekisseshisfistand

shovesthemintohispantspocket.

“mr.grey,soromantic.”

“foryoumrs.grey—heartsandflowers.always.”

itakehishand,andglancingupthroughmylashes,ikisshisplainplatinum

weddingring.hegroansandcloseshiseyes.

“ana,”hewhispersandmynameisaprayer.

reachinguptohissecondshirtbutton,andmirroringhimfromearlier,iplant

asoftkissonhischestasiundoeachofthemandwhisperbetweeneach

kiss,

“you.make.me.so.happy.i.love.you.”

hegroans,andinoneswiftmoveheclaspsmearoundthewaistandliftsme

ontothebed,followingmedownontoit.hislipsfindmine,hishandscurling

aroundmyhead,holdingme,stillingmeasourtonguesgloryineachother.

abruptlychristiankneelsup,lea一vingmebreathlessandwantingmore.

“youaresobeautiful...wife.”herunshishandsdownmylegsthengrasps

myleftfoot.“youha一vesuchlovelylegs.iwanttokisseveryinchofthem.

startinghere.”hepresseshislipsagainstmybigtoeandthengrazesthe

padwithhisteeth.everythingsouthofmywaistlineconvulses.histongue

glidesupmyinstepandhisteethskimmyheelanduptomyankle.hetrails

kissesuptheinsideofmycalf;softwetkisses.iwrigglebeneathhim.

“still,mrs.grey,”hewarns,andsuddenlyheflipsmeontomystomachand

continueshisleisurelyjourneywithhismouthupthebackofmylegs,tomy

thighs,mybehind,andthenhestops.igroan.

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fiftyshadesfreed

“please...”

“iwantyounaked,”hemurmursandslowlyunhooksmycorset,onehookata

time.whenit’sflatonthebedbeneathme,herunshistongueupthelength

ofmyspine.

“christian,please.”

“whatdoyouwant,mrs.grey.”hiswordsaresoftandclosetomyear.he’s

almostlyingontopofme...icanfeelhimhardagainstmybehind.

“you.”

“andiyou,mylove,mylife...,”hewhispers,andbeforeiknowit,he’s

flippedmeontomyback.hestandsswiftlyandinoneefficientmove

dispenseswithhispantsandboxerbriefssothathe’sgloriouslynakedand

loominglargeandreadyoverme.thesmallcabiniseclipsedbyhisdazzling

beautyandhiswantandneedofme.heleansdownandpeelsoffmy

pantiesthengazesdownatme.

“mine,”hemouths.

“please,”ibegandhegrins...asalacious,wicked,tempting,allfiftygrin.

hecrawlsbackontothebedandtrailskissesupmyrightlegthistime...

untilhereachestheapexofmythighs.hepushesmylegswiderapart.

“ah...wifeofmine,”hemurmursandthenhismouthisonme.iclosemy

eyesandsurrendertohisoh-so-adroittongue.myhandsfistinhishairasmy

hipsswingandsway,sla一vetohisrhythm,thenbuckoffthesmallbed.he

grabsmyhipstostillme...butdoesn’tstopthedelicioustorture.i’mclose,

soclose.

“christian,”imoan.

“notyet,”hebreathesandhemovesupmybody,histonguedippingintomy

na一vel.

“no!”damn!isensehissmileagainstmybellyashisjourneycontinues

north.

“soimpatient,mrs.grey.weha一veuntilwetouchdownontheemeraldisle.”

reverentiallyhekissesmybreastsandtugsmyleftnipplebetweenhislips.

gazingupatme,hiseyesaredarklikeatropicalstormasheteasesme.

ohmy...i’dforgotten.europe.

“husband,iwantyou.please.”

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eljames

heloomsupoverme,hisbodycoveringmine,restinghisweightonhis

elbows.herunshisnosedownmine,andirunmyhandsdownhisstrong,

supplebacktohisfine,finebackside.

“mrs.grey...wife.weaimtoplease.”hislipsbrush.“iloveyou.”

“iloveyou,too.”

“eyesopen.iwanttoseeyou.”

“christian...ah...,”icry,asheslowlysinksintome.

“ana,ohana,”hebreathesandhestartstomove.

“whatthehelldoyouthinkyou’redoing?”christianshouts,wakingmefrom

myverypleasantdream.he’sstandingallwetandbeautifulattheendofmy

sunloungerandglaringdownatme.

what?whatha一veidone?ohno...i’mlyingonmyback...crap,crap,

crapandhe’smad.shit.he’sreallymad.