chapterthirteen

welandsmoothlyatsardyfieldat12:25(mst).stephanbringsthe

planetoahaltalittlewayfromthemainterminal,andthroughthewindowsi

spotalargevwminivanwaitingforus.

“goodlanding.”christiangrinsandshakesstephan’shandaswegetready

tofileoutofthejet.

“it’sallaboutthedensityaltitude,sir.”stephansmilesback.

“beighleyhereisgoodatmath.”

christiannodsatstephan’sfirstofficer.“younailedit,beighley,smooth

landing.”

“thankyou,sir.”shegrinssmugly.

“enjoyyourweekend,mr.grey,mrs.grey.we’llseeyoutomorrow.”stephan

stepsasidetoletusdisembarkandtakingmyhand,christianleadsme

downtheaircraftstepstowheretayloriswaitingbythevehicle.

“minivan?”sayschristianinsurpriseastaylorslidesopenthedoor.

taylorgiveshimatight,contritesmileandaslightshrug.

“lastminute,iknow,”christiansays,immediatelyplacated.taylorreturnsto

theplanetoretrieveourluggage.

“wanttomakeoutinthebackofthevan?”christianmurmurstome,a

mischievousgleaminhiseye.

igiggle.whoisthisman,andwhathashedonewithmr.unbelievablyangry

ofthelastcoupleofdays?

“comeon,youtwo.getin,”miasaysfrombehindus,oozingimpatience

besideethan.weclimbin,staggertothedoubleseatattheback,andsit

down.isnuggleagainstchristian,andheputshisarmaroundthebackofmy

seat.“comfortable?”hemurmursasmiaandethantaketheseatinfrontof

us.

“yes.”ismileandhekissesmyforehead.andforsomeunfathomable

reasonifeelshywithhimtoday.why?lastnight?beingwithcompany?i

can’tputmyfingeronit.

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fiftyshadesfreed

elliotandkatejoinuslastastayloropenstheliftgatetoloadtheluggage.

fiveminuteslater,weareonourway.

igazeoutthewindowasweheadtowardaspen.thetreesaregreen,buta

whisperofthecomingfallisevidenthereandthereintheyellowingtipsofthe

lea一ves.theskyisaclearcrystalblue,thoughtherearedarkeningcloudsto

thewest.allaroundusinthedistanceloomtherockies,thehighestpeak

directlyahead.they’relushandgreen,andthehighestarecappedwith

snowandlooklikeachild’sdrawingofmountains.

we’reinthewinterplaygroundoftherichandfamous.andiownahouse

here.icanbarelybelieveit.andfromdeepwithinmypsyche,thefamiliar

uneasethat’salwayspresentwhenitrytowrapmyheadaroundchristian’s

wealthloomsandtauntsme,makingmefeelguilty.whatha一veidoneto

deservethislifestyle...?i’vedonenothing;nothing,exceptfallinlove.

“ha一veyoubeentoaspenbefore,ana?”ethanturnsandasksdraggingme

outofmyreverie.

“no,firsttime.you?”

“kateandiusedtocomeherealotwhenwewereteens.dad’sakeen

skier.momlessso.”

“i’mhopingmyhusbandwillteachmehowtoski.”iglanceupatmyman.

“don’tbetonit,”christianmutters.

“iwon’tbethatbad!”

“youmightbreakyourneck.”hisgringone.

oh.idon’twanttoargueandsourhisgoodmood,soichangethesubject.

“howlongha一veyouhadthisplace?”

“nearlytwoyears.it’syoursnow,too,mrs.grey,”hesayssoftly.

“iknow,”iwhisper.butsomehowidon’tfeelthecourageofmyconvictions.

leaningup,ikisshisjawandnestleoncemoreathissidelisteningtohim

laughandjokewithethanandelliot.miachimesinoccasionally,butkateis

quiet,andiwonderifshe’sbroodingaboutjackhyde—orsomethingelse.

theniremember.aspen...christian’shouseherewasredesigned—or

rebuilt,ican’trememberwhich—bygiamatteo.iwonderifthat’swhat’s

preoccupyingkate.ican’taskherinfrontofelliot,givenhishistorywithgia.

doeskateevenknowaboutgia’sconnectiontothehouse?ifrown

wondering256|page

eljames

whatcouldbebotheringherandresolvetoaskherwhenwe’reonourown.

wedrivethroughthecenterofaspenandmymoodbrightensasitakeinthe

town.therearesquatbuildingsofmostlyredbrick,swissstylechalets,and

numerouslittleturnofthecenturyhousespaintedinfuncolors.plentyof

banksanddesignershops,too,betrayingtheaffluenceofthelocalpopulace.

ofcoursechristianfitsinhere.

“whydidyouchooseaspen?”iaskhim.

“what?”heregardsmequizzically.

“tobuyaplace.”

“momanddadusedtobringusherewhenwewerekids.ilearnedtoski

here,andiliketheplace.ihopeyoudo,too—otherwisewe’llsellthehouse

andchoosesomewhereelse.”

oh!simpleasthat.hetucksaloosestrandofmyhairbehindmyear.

“youlooklovelytoday,”hemurmurs.

mycheeksheat.i’mjustwearingmytra一vellinggear;jeansandatshirtwitha

lightweightna一vybluejacket.damnit?whydoeshemakemefeelshy?

heleansdownandkissesme,atender,sweet,lovingkiss.taylordrivesus

onoutoftown,andwestarttoclimbtheothersideofthevalley,twisting

alongamountainroad.thehigherwego,themoreexcitediget,and

christiantensesbesideme.

“what’swrong?”iaskasweroundabend.

“ihopeyoulikeit,”hesaysquietly.“we’rehere.”

taylorslowsandturnsthroughagatewaymadeofgray,beige,andred

stones.heheadsdownthedrivewayandfinallypullsupoutsidethe

impressivehouse.doublefrontedwithhigh-pitchedroofsandbuiltofdark

woodandthesamemixedstoneasthegateway—it’sstunning.modernand

stark,verymuchchristian’sstyle.

“home,”hemouthsatmeasourguestsstartpilingoutofthevan.

“looksgood.”

“come.see,”hesays,anexcited,thoughanxious,gleaminhiseyes—like

he’sabouttoshowmehisscienceproject,orsomething.miarunsupthe

stepstowhereawomanstandsinthedoorway.she’stinyandherra一vencolored

hairisdustedwithgray.miaflingsherarmsaroundherneckand

hugshertightly.

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fiftyshadesfreed

“who’sthat?”iaskaschristianhelpsmeoutofthevan.

“mrs.bentley.shelivesherewithherhusband.theylookaftertheplace.”

holycow...morestaff?

miaismakingintroductions—ethan,thenkate.elliot,too,hugsmrs.bentley.

astaylorunloadsthevan,christiantakesmyhandandleadsmetothefront

door.

“welcomeback,mr.grey.”mrs.bentleysmiles.

“carmella,thisismywife,anastasia,”christiansaysproudly.histongue

caressesmyname,makingmyheartstutter.

“mrs.grey,”mrs.bentleynodsarespectfulgreeting.iholdoutmyhandand

weshake.it’snosurprisetomethatshe’smuchmoreformalwithchristian

thantherestofthefamily.

“ihopeyou’vehadapleasantflight.theweatherissupposedtobefineall

weekend,thoughi’mnotsure.”sheeyesthegrayingcloudsbehindus.

“lunchisreadywheneveryouwant.”shesmilesagain,herdarkeyes

twinkling,andiwarmtoherimmediately.

“here.”christiangrabsmeandliftsmeoffmyfeet.

“whatareyoudoing?”isqueal.

“carryingyouoveryetanotherthreshold,mrs.grey.”

igrinathimashecarriesmeintothewidehallway,andafterabriefkiss,he

setsmegentlydownontothehardwoodfloor.theinteriordécorisstarkand

remindsmeofthegreatroomatescala—allwhitewalls,darkwood,and

contemporaryabstractart.thehallwayopensupintoalargesittingarea

wherethreeoff-whiteleathercouchessurroundastonefireplacethat

dominatestheroom.theonlycolorisfromthesoftcushionsscatteredonthe

couches.miagrabsethan’shandanddragshimfartherintothehouse.

christiannarrowshiseyesattheirdepartingfigures,hismouththinning.he

shakeshisheadthenturnstome.

katewhistlesloudly.“niceplace.”

iglancearoundtoseeelliothelpingtaylorwithourluggage.iwonderagain

ifsheknowsthatgiahadahandinthisplace.

“tour?”christianasksme,andwhateverwasgoingthroughhismindabout

miaandethanhasgone.he’sradiatingexcitement—orisitanxiety?it’s

difficulttotell.

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eljames

“sure.”onceagaini’moverwhelmedbythewealth.howmuchdidthisplace

cost...?andiha一vecontributednothingtoit.brieflyi’mtransportedbackto

thefirsttimechristiantookmetoescala...iwasoverwhelmedthen.you

gotusedtoit,mysubconscioushissesatme.christianfrownsbuttakesmy

hand,leadingmethroughthevariousrooms.thestate-of-the-artkitchenis

allpalemarblecountertopsandblackcupboards.there’sanimpressive

winecellar,andanexpansivedendownstairs,completewithlargeplasma

screen,softcouches...andabilliardtable.igapeatit,andblushwhen

christiancatchesme.

“fancyagame?”heasks,awickedgleaminhiseye.ishakemyhead,and

hisbrowfurrowsoncemore.takingmyhandagain,heleadsmeuptothe

firstfloor.therearefourbedroomsupstairs,eachwithanensuitebathroom.

themastersuiteissomethingelse—thebedishuge,biggerthanthebedat

home,andfacesanenormouspicturewindowlookingoutoveraspenand

towardtheverdantmountains.

“that’sajaxmountain...oraspenmountain,ifyoulike,”

christiansays,eyeingmewarily.he’sstandinginthedoorway,histhumbs

hookedthroughthebeltloopsonhisblackjeans.inod.

“you’reveryquiet,”hemurmurs.

“it’slovely,christian.”andsuddenlyi’machingtobebackatescala.

infivelongstrideshe’sstandinginfrontofme,reachingupandtuggingatmy

chin,releasingmylowerlipfromthegripofmyteeth.

“whatisit?”heasks,hiseyessearchingmine.

“you’reveryrich.”

“yes.”

“sometimes,itjusttakesmebysurprise,howwealthyyouare.”

“weare.”

“weare,”imutterautomatically.

“don’tstressaboutthis,ana,please.it’sjustahouse.”

“andwhatdidgiadohere,exactly?”

“gia?”heraiseshiseyebrowsinsurprise.

“yes.sheremodeledthisplace?”

“shedid.sheputthedenindownstairs.”herakeshishandthroughhishair

andfrownsatme.“whyarewetalkingaboutgia?”

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fiftyshadesfreed

“didyouknowshehadaflingwithelliot?”

christiangazesatmeforamoment,grayeyesunreadable.“elliot’sfucked

mostofseattle,ana.”

igasp.

“mainlywomen,iunderstand,”christianjokes.ithinkhe’samusedbymy

expression.

“no!”

christiannods.“it’snoneofmybusiness.”heholdshispalmsup.

“idon’tthinkkateknows.”

“i’mnotsurehebroadcaststhatinformation.kateseemstobeholdingher

own.”

i’mshocked.sweet,unassuming,blond,blue-eyedelliot?istareindisbelief.

christiantiltshisheadtooneside,scrutinizingme.“thiscan’tjustbeabout

giaorelliot’spromiscuity.”

“iknow.i’msorry.afterallthat’shappenedthisweek,it’sjust...”

ishrug,feelingtearfulallofasudden.christianseemstosagwithrelief.

pullingmeintohisarms,heholdsmetightly,hisnoseinmyhair.

“iknow.i’msorry,too.let’srelaxandenjoyourselves,okay?youcanstay

hereandread,watchgod-awfultv,shop,comehiking—

fishingeven.whateveryouwanttodo.andforgetwhatisaidaboutelliot.

thatwasindiscreetofme.”

“goessomewaytoexplainwhyhe’salwaysteasingyou,”imurmur,nuzzling

hischest.

“hereallyhasnoideaaboutmypast.itoldyou,myfamilyassumediwas

gay.celibate,butgay.”

igiggleandbegintorelaxinhisarms.“ithoughtyouwerecelibate.how

wrongiwas.”iwrapmyarmsaroundhim,marvelingattheridiculousnessof

christianbeinggay.

“mrs.grey,areyousmirkingatme?”

“maybealittle,”iacquiesce.“youknow,whatidon’tunderstandiswhyyou

ha一vethisplace?”

“whatdoyoumean?”hekissesmyhair.

“youha一vetheboat,whichiget,youha一vetheplaceinnewyorkforbusiness

—butwhyhere?it’snotlikeyoushareditwithanyone.”

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eljames

christianstills,andissilentforseveralbeats.“iwaswaitingforyou,”hesays

softly,hiseyesdarkgrayandluminous.

“that’s...that’ssuchalovelythingtosay.”

“it’strue.ididn’tknowitatthetime.”hesmileshisshysmile.

“i’mgladyouwaited.”

“youareworthwaitingfor,mrs.grey.”hetipsmychinupwithhisfinger,

leansdown,andkissesmetenderly.

“soareyou.”ismile.“thoughifeelilikeicheated.ididn’tha一vetowaitlong

foryouatall.”

hegrins.“amithatmuchofaprize?”

“christian,youarethestatelottery,thecureforcancer,andthethreewishes

fromaladdin’slampallrolledintoone.”

heraisesabrow.

“whenwillyourealizethis?”iscoldhim.“youwereaveryeligiblebachelor.

andidon’tmeanallthis.”iwa一vedismissinglyatourplushsurroundings.“i

meaninhere.”iplacemyhandoverhisheart,andhiseyeswiden.my

confident,sexyhusbandhasgone,andi’mfacingmylostboy.“believeme,

christian,please,”iwhisperandreachuptoclasphisface,pullinghislipsto

mine.hegroans,andidon’tknowifit’sthepainofhearingwhatiha一vetosay

orhisusualprimalresponse.iclaimhim,mylipsmovingagainsthis,my

tongueinvadinghismouth.

whenwe’rebothbreathless,hepullsaway,eyeingmedoub一tfully.

“whenareyougoingtogetitthroughyourexceptionallythickskullthatilove

you?”iask,exasperated.

heswallows.“oneday,”hesays.

thisisprogress.ismileandamrewardedwithhisansweringshysmile.

“come.let’sha一vesomelunch—theotherswillbewonderingwhereweare.

wecandiscusswhatweallwanttodo.”

“ohno!”katesayssuddenly.

alleyesturntoher.

“look,”shesays,pointingtothepicturewindow.outside,rainhasstarted

pouringdown.wearesittingaroundthedarkwoodtableinthekitchen

ha一vingconsumedanitalianfeastofamixedantipasto,prepared261|pag

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fiftyshadesfreed

bymrs.bentley,andabottleortwooffrascati.i’mrepleteandalittlebuzzy

fromthealcohol.

“theregoesourhike,”elliotmutters,soundingvaguelyrelieved.katescowls

athim.somethingisdefinitelyupwiththem...theyha一vebeenrelaxedwith

allofusbutnotwitheachother.

“wecouldgointotown,”miapipesup.ethansmirksather.

“perfectweatherforfishing,”christiansuggests.

“i’llgofish,”ethansays.

“let’ssplitup.”miaclapsherhands.“girls,shopping—boys,outdoorboring

stuff.”

iglanceatkate,whoregardsmiaindulgently.fishingorshopping?

jeez,whatachoice.

“ana,whatdoyouwanttodo?”christianasks.

“idon’tmind,”ilie.

katecatchesmyeyeandmouths“shopping”atme,perhapsshewantsto

talk.

“buti’mmorethanhappytogoshopping.”iadd,smilingwrylyatkateand

mia.christiansmirks.heknowsihateshopping.

“icanstayherewithyou,ifyou’dlike,”hemurmurs,andsomethingdark

unfurlsinmybellyathistone.

“no,yougofish,”ianswer.christianneedsboytime.

“soundslikeaplan,”katesays,risingfromthetable.

“taylorwillaccompanyyou,”christiansays,andit’sagiven—notupfor

discussion.

“wedon’tneedbabysitting,”kateretortsbluntly,directasever.iputmyhand

onkate’sarm.“kate,taylorshouldcome.”

shefrowns,thenshrugs,andforonceinherlifeholdshertongue.ismile

timidlyatchristian.hisexpressionremainsimpassive.oh,ihopehe’snot

madatkate.

elliotfrowns.“ineedtopickupabatteryformywatchintown.”

heglancesquicklyatkate,andispothisslightblush.shedoesn’tnotice

becausesheispointedlyignoringhim.

“taketheaudi,elliot.whenyoucomebackwecangofishing,”

christiansays.

“yeah!”elliotmutters,butheseemsdistracted.“goodplan.”

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eljames

“inhere.”grabbingmyhand,miahaulsmeintoadesignerboutiquethat’sall

pinksilkandfaux-frenchdistressedrusticfurniture.katefollowsuswhile

taylorwaitsoutside,shelteringundertheawningfromtherain.arethais

beltingout“sayalittleprayer”overthestore’shi-fisystem.ilovethissong.i

shouldputitonchristian’sipod.

“thiswilllookwonderfulonyou,ana.”miaholdsupascrapofsilvermaterial.

“here,tryiton.”

“um...it’sabitshort.”

“you’lllookfantasticinit.christianwillloveit.”

“youthink?”

miabeamsatme.“ana,youha一velegstodiefor,andifwegoclubbing

tonight”—shesmiles,sensinganeasykill—“you’lllookhotforyourhusband.”

iblinkather,slightlyshocked.we’regoingclubbing?idon’tdoclubbing.

katelaughsatmyexpression.sheseemsmorerelaxednowthatshe’saway

fromelliot.“weshouldthrowsomeshapesthisevening,”

shesays.

“gotryiton,”miaorders,andreluctantlyiheadforthechangingroom.

whileiwaitforkateandmiatoemergefromthedressingroom,istrolltothe

shopwindowandlookout,unseeing,acrossthemainstreet.thesoul

compilationcontinues:dionnewarwickissinging

“walkonby.”anothergreatsong—oneofmymother’sfa一vorites.iglance

downatthedressinmyhand.dressisperhapsanoverstatement.it’s

backlessandveryshort,butmiahasdeclareditawinner,perfectfordancing

thenightaway.apparently,ineedshoes,too,andalargechunkynecklace,

whichwe’llsourcenext.rollingmyeyes,ireflectoncemoreonhowluckyi

amtoha一vecarolineacton,myownpersonalshopper.

throughtheboutiquewindowi’mdistractedbythesightofelliot.hehas

appearedontheothersideoftheleafymainstreet,climbingoutofalarge

audi.elliotpesintoastoreasiftoduckoutoftherain.lookslikeajewelry

store...maybehe’slookingforthatwatchbattery.heemergesafew

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fiftyshadesfreed

fuck!he’stalkingtogia!whatthehellisshedoinghere?

asiwatch,theyhugbrieflyandsheholdsherheadback,laughing

animatedlyatsomethinghesays.hekisseshercheekthenrunstothe

waitingcar.sheturnsandheadsdownthestreet,andigapeafterher.what

wasthatabout?iturnanxiouslytowardthedressingrooms,butthere’sstillno

signofkateormia.

iglanceattaylor,wherehe’swaitingoutsidethestore.hecatchesmyeye

thenshrugs.he’switnessedelliot’slittleencounter,too.iblush,

embarrassedtoha一vebeencaughtsnooping.turningback,miaandkate

emerge,bothofthemlaughing.katelooksatmequizzically.

“what’swrong,ana?”sheasks.“yougonecoldonthedress?youlook

sensationalinit.”

“um,no.”

“areyouokay?”kate’seyeswiden.

“i’mfine.shallwepay?”iheadtothecashierjoiningmiawhohaschosen

twoskirts.

“goodafternoon,ma’am.”theyoungsalesassistant—whohasmoregloss

coatingherlipsthaniha一veeverseeninoneplace—smilesatme.“that’llbe

eighthundredandfiftydollars.”

what?forthisscrapofmaterial!iblinkatherandmeeklyhandovermy

blackamex.

“mrs.grey,”ms.lipglosspurrs.