ATTENTION : I received a PM two days ago. I would like to share it with you guys.

We are writing to you to let you know that your story "The Brooke" has been nominated in the Fifty Shades Of Grey Top Five Favorite recs for the month of September! Voting is open now! Link will be found in the Top Five Favorite Completed Fifty Shades of Grey Fan Fiction Stories Group on Facebook.
Congratulations and good luck!

First of all, thank you so much to all of you who have supported me this far. Couldn't have done it without you guys. This is really pretty huge for me. So PLEASE VOTE as much as you all can. I'm totally going to bribe you all with promising two more updates in the upcoming two weeks, one for each week. (Which is much faster than my actual updating schedule, just so you know :P)

HERE IS THE LINK FOR VOTING - .me/11130783

Now coming back to the Cinder, this chapter is probably the last light-happy chapter (if you could call Ana and Christian's intensity in this chapter light) of this book and probably the whole The Brooke Trilogy. Things are going to downspiral without any warnings from this point onwards.

Revelations are going to shocking.

Unimagined truths will be learnt.

Those who were trusted the most will betray.

Secrets, when opened, will be daunting.

Hearts will be broken to the point where there is no fixing.

Are you ready for this roller coaster ride? It will only go up before it shatters down, leaving you all breathless.

Do you dare to step inside the world of The Brooke with Ana and Christian?

If so then enjoy this chapter. It is the calm before the storm.

4.

Christian

When I was younger I wanted to be an astronaut.

Like any other kid, I had been fascinated with stars and the moon, wanting to go there.

Back then I hadn't known how the moon really looked like.

It was Christopher who brought the pictures of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.

Christopher was the one with rock star dreams.

He wanted to show me how cool he would be as a performer while I'll be researching upon ugly things.

But when I actually saw the surface of the moon, got to know how it appeared so shiny, there was no stopping me.

Earlier I was fascinated with its beauty, now I was obsessed with its flaw and moreover its ability to reflect the sunlight.

In my mind, Sun had been the scary gangster while Moon had been a fragile damaged lady.

I used to think the sunlight was the anger of Sun that it sent towards the Moon to scare her away.

But she hadn't. Despite her flaws, her tainted beauty, she still fed on his light, his anger and reflected it back.

As if to throw his threats back onto his face.

"You can't scare me away. No matter how dark I am, I will still fight your evil light."

That bravado has called out to me like nothing else.

I had converted my dream into my passion of being an astronaut.

Until I reached high school and got distracted by... uh, certain activities.

No longer was I interested in going to space where there'd be no fun like the one my body was starting to crave.

But every often so I'd wonder what would have happened if I'd ever got to the Moon.

The journey wouldn't have been an easy one, I'd have to fight in my way a lot, go through numerous obstacles.

But would the end result prove to be worthy?

Leaving the illusion of outer beauty, the false bravado of reflection and finally looking at the darkness.

Would that be really worth it?

Now I knew my answer.

One look at Anastasia lying vulnerably beneath me with all her secrets exposed and at my mercy, I knew it was all worth it.

Those fights, all her ways to push me away, barriers created by the Brooke and Christopher.

Finding and fighting my way through all that to finally reach her was all worth it.

Yes, she has flaws. She had done things she wasn't proud of, no matter the circumstances.

Her soul was darkened at some areas.

But all those things only made her more beautiful, more exquisite.

Moreover, despite the damage done to her, she didn't lose her ability to reflect back.

To throw the light back on those evil bastards.

There was something else I realized while looking at her as she looked at me with such a soft intensity that I was melting from within.

I realized that the bravado was always false.

Those who were said to be brave because they did not fear were actually stupid idiots, not brave.

Because they did not have the of sense fear then how could they be really brave?

Bravado was like being fearless.

Having fear, being scared the shit out of your mind and yet having the courage to stand up. To fight back.

Just exactly like Anastasia.

Yes, she was scared, but she still was willing to fight back.

She had been burnt, yet she was willing to burn them back.

She was still combustible.

And I would make it sure that she is combusted in all the right ways.

Leaning ahead, so that my lips were brushing against her ear, I gave her a new name.

"You're my cinder. I am yours."

I looked her in the eye as I spoke those words, willing her to understand what I had meant.

Ana was a smart woman. Her eyes glimmered with understanding. She nodded her head.

Her lips twitched in a way that gave me the hint she was too overwhelmed to speak.

That was good. She didn't need to speak anymore.

Only scream when I will make her so.

Bending down I took her mouth with mine.

The kiss was different than all the other ones.

There was a certain taste of freedom in this.

Like a burden has been lifted away.

Whether it was the guilt for Christopher or getting out the worst of her story, or maybe a combination of both.

But now as she kissed me, she seemed at ease.

Like kissing me was the most natural thing to do. It came as easy as breathing.

Even before, when she hadn't remembered all of this, she hadn't kissed me like this.

It was soothing and soft, like a caress made in the first meeting.

The first gesture.

This should've been our first kiss.

I decided to enjoy this first touch and let her lead me this time.

Though I had been the one to initiate the kiss, I let her be the guide. Following her, like I always would.

I'd follow her anywhere she went. Be it back to that horror-land or fiery pits of hell.

I'd always be there to break her fall, to protect her, to make her stronger.

She was this world's cinder and I was hers.

Her cinder, to burn only for her.

At her command.

And so she did burn me.

Her kisses got bolder along with her touch, leaving behind the initial hesitancy.

She was back in her blunt and fierce form, even in the bed.

Her tiny hands made their way down to my abs, my pelvic bone, to my hips and finally settling on the base of my cock.

Most women would begin holding from the head, but not Ana.

She was prominent in her approach. Clear as crystal in what she wanted.

And she wanted me.

Fuck if that wasn't ecstatic enough to spurt my load right then and there.

Her thumb circled around my base, making my cock jerk in her hand.

She couldn't even form a fist around half of its length. It was too thick for her small hands.

Yet the way she looked me in the eye while rubbing me, there was no doubt in them. No dithering. No temporizing.

Her look said she wanted me and she would get me. End of the story.

So who the bloody fuck was I to flout her?

I obliged.

Spreading her thighs open almost forcefully, I obliged by positioning myself at her entrance.

Not once waving my gaze away from hers.

"I said I would make you forget, but I won't." I said, rubbing the tip of my cock against her swollen clit.

My mouth watered just at the feel of it pressed against me.

The urge to capture her puffy pink flesh in my mouth was too strapping, it was almost impossible to ignore it.

Ana bucked her hips, urging my cock against her hot wet pussy, but not making any attempts to go on further.

Not because she was hesitant. She knew me so well; she knew I had yet to explain what my words meant.

Though that didn't stop her from rocking against me.

This made it harder for me to actually speak. It also made me harder in the place where it was bordering the edge on painful.

I needed to finish my speech. Quick.

"You have been through the worst Ana, you don't get to forget it. You get to live through it. And I'm going to help you in making that bearable. I am going to give you that strength."

At that, she stopped rocking. She stilled completely.

I feared I might have said the wrong thing but I knew I hadn't. So instead of doubting myself, I owned what I said.

I knew Anastasia.

She didn't want to be treated like a fragile princess. She was the motherfucking queen.

I wouldn't worry about not being sensitive with her. Instead, I would push her until she caught up with me.

Because I was damn sure she will. She was Ana. My Ana.

It took her mere seconds to prove me right. She nodded her head with her eyes glimmering like a waterfall.

"You know just the perfect things to say, Christian. Thank you."

The sincerity in her voice broke me.

Without anymore wait, I pushed myself inside her, inside my home.

Ana gasped my name repeatedly.

My chest felt with pride and awe.

Her warmth clenched and suffocated me rather than surrounding me.

Not that I was complaining.

She was so damn tight I had to refrain myself from thrusting inside her in one single motion.

"Jesus, Ana."

I felt as if I was already in heaven and I haven't even fully entered her.

"You feel so goddamn good." I groaned.

My muscles ticked, wanting to give in at what my body demanded.

But this wasn't for me. This wasn't about me.

It was for her. Ana.

She was my first priority. Not my body or my needs.

But fuck in the fucking hell of heaven! She felt so incredible.

So snug, so tight.

I pushed her thigh back, widening her, as I slid the rest of my way in.

At last, I was fully inside her.

I could feel fine drops of sweat forming at my temples.

Letting her get used to me while not doing anything was a battle on its own.

She felt goddamn amazing—snug and clamped down around me.

"You okay?" I asked with my teeth grated.

"So good." Ana mumbled. Indicating she was adjusted to me now.

I pulled out all the way slowly and slid back in.

Ana bucked under me.

"Oh shit…Christian…"

"You feel…so good." I shut my eyes so and grit my teeth as I guided more of my dick into her almost painful tightness.

I could feel Anastasia's legs shaking.

"It's okay, more than okay." She murmured, rocking her hips back against me.

Jesus Christ, she felt like a fucking Aphrodite.

Sweat began dripping down my throat and my cock was throbbing so hard I was worried I'd come right then and there.

My hand lingered from her thigh up towards her hip. I gripped her there gently and push myself in, balls deep.

She moaned loudly and started panting.

Fuck. She was so perfect.

"You're so hot…and tight." My voice cracked.

I felt Anastasia clench around me as I gripped her hips harder, pushing further still, till I could feel her dripping against my balls.

My cock was enslaved by her plump pussy.

I've wanted her for so long. I've never felt this desire, this… hunger before.

Dammit, what is she doing to me?

"I'm going to move now, babe. Okay?" My voice sounded strained as I warned her.

Her eyes were struggling to look into mine steadily when she attempted to nod at me.

I went gently at first. Keeping my pace steady and slow. Wanting to make her at ease.

"C, more. Please." She whimpered.

I stopped. "More?"

"Yes," Ana breathed out after a long agonizing second.

I understood what she wanted. My body wept with joy at what she was possibly asking.

But I had to be sure.

Increasing my rhythm I slammed harder into her.

"Oh yes. Chris... oh my god."

Thank fucking god she wanted rough. It was really difficult for me to go slow but if she had wanted that, I would have done it.

Like I had said, this was her.

But now as I realized our needs were similar, darkness slammed into me.

Leaving nothing in my vision but her. Anastasia lying gloriously naked beneath me with my cock inside her.

Damn if that didn't make me feel like flying.

I felt so familiar with her body. Like she had always been my true home that I had been missing forever.

Never with anyone else had I ever felt like that.

This was all Ana. I didn't know what she was doing to me but I didn't want her to stop.

Not. Now. Not. Ever.

I leaned down to kiss her hard and bad, my tongue possessing her mouth and marking my claim there.

One of my hands cupped her breast roughly.

She shivered and I was euphoric.

Increasing my speed I fucked her harder. Harder than I've ever fucked before, angling myself so I could rub her G-spot with every thrust.

She cried out, her face twisted in pleasure.

I continued to kiss her, fucking her mouth with my tongue as I continued to pound into her pussy.

Soon she was rocking against me, writhing to meet each plunge. I needed to get her where she wanted to be.

I wanted her to come. I wouldn't- couldn't stop until she came.

I wanted to own this ravishing woman, body and soul.

I wanted her clenching around me.

Fuck—she started meeting every thrust rapidly, matching my rhythm.

My gaze fell down to where we were joint, watching myself move in and out of her.

See how well we fit together, Ana?

Without slowing my barrage, I directed her to wrap her legs around me.

She did, the new position opening her up even further.

"Oh God!" Ana screamed.

Her legs wounding around me harder, cradling me in her. The heels of her feet were digging into my ass.

Holy fuck! I was so deep inside her.

And it was then that I realized something.

As my balls slapped against her with each drive, as her body tightened and contracted against my cock, as I was reaching the peak of my own release.

It was then I realized that I was completely lost in Anastasia Steele.

Figuratively and literally, completely and inescapably lost.

I was a goner.

She stiffened beneath me… fuck yes. She was close.

"Come for me, Ana" I demanded.

She trembled underneath me.

Her orgasm crashed through her as she cried out my name.

"Christian!"

She was consumed, tipping her head back, mouth hung open, eyes closed.

I felt like a blind person seeing the Garden of Eden for the first time.

Just the sight of her in bliss was enough.

"Babe…arghh, Ana—"

I heard myself, from somewhere far off, moaning, until I felt the tension tightening my balls and thickening my cock.

"I'm gonna come…"

I exploded in her, losing all sense and reasoning, as I called out her name and came violently inside her.

I filled her up, holding there deep inside her body. Warm and spent; her chest pounding against my own heartbeat.

For a few minutes, I just lied there, feeling light and empty.

Empty in a good way. In a delicious way.

When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself panting, trying to catch my breath.

We were forehead to forehead, my weight resting on her while she was staring up at me.

Fuck. I became undone.

Planting a swift kiss on her head, I gently pulled out of her and rolled away.

"You okay, babe?" I asked as I settled next to her. My hand brushing her hair away from her face.

At first, she didn't say anything. Just kept looking at me like I had asked the dumbest question ever.
"Are you serious? How can be anyone okay after that? I am doomed!" She said and giggled lightly at her own words.

Her sweet chirpy giggle made me feel even lighter.

I was pretty sure if I jumped off from the terrace right now, I'd float rather than fall.

Yeah, I was feeling that awesome.
"Seriously, though, I didn't hurt you did I?"

She threw another amused look at me. "If this is how you hurt, I'd love you to keep beating the hell out of me."

She giggled again.

I doubted she was feeling high.

It made me soar higher to realize I had given her that high.

She was drunk on me. And I fucking loved it.

"Can't I get a straight answer from you, Steele?" I asked, pretending to be irritated while working my best to not smile.

"You, Christian Grey", she pointed at me, "blew the brains out of me. No, what is the usual term? Yes! Fucked my brains out. And you asking me if I'm okay?"

My lips twitched to let out the laugh bubbling in my throat. "I guess I am. What is your answer, Steele?"

She grinned in a way that made me think of the lightings on a Christmas tree. She was those lightings and I was the tree.

She lightened my whole world up like no one else.

And now I was using lines from a One Direction song.

Fucking hell! What was wrong with me? I was so pussy-whipped.

You're gone, Grey. Just gone.

"Well, to answer your question I ain't okay. I feel awesome, amazing, astonished, astounded, awe-inspiring and... amazeballs and... I'm running out of words starting with A."

She pouted as she said she last line. Making it impossible for me to keep my laugh buried any further.

She was so cute like this.

"That's okay, you can use words starting with another letter also." I told her.

"You know how I feel? I feel.. uhh supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

What the what?

"Are you seriously okay Ana?"

She pouted again. "That is a word you know, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is a word. It means extraordinarily wonderful."

I stared at her for an immensely long moment. "What century you are from Anastasia?"

She shot me a look. "Shut up! You're ruining my giddy mood."

I couldn't help but laugh as I shook my head.

If that was how she was after sex, so free and light with her worries forgotten, I'd gladly keep her sedated all the time with my special tricks.

Tugging her closer, I pulled her move forward until she was right next to me.

My arm slid under her head and she eagerly pillowed it, snuggling closer to me.

A calm, peaceful pleasure washed over me.

And it had everything to do with this petite woman curling herself around me.

I felt like the luckiest basted alive.

Someone who has been mistakenly blessed with such a precious gift and would be an idiot not to cherish it.

I had been that idiot for so long.

All this while I had been too deep into my insecurities, my fucked-up jealousy.

I was fighting against her when I should have been for her.

Jose was right. I just had to fight for her.

Didn't even took a day and I got her.

Now she was here with me, after being amazingly fucked by me.

She was looking with those wide gray eyes and heart-stopping smile at me.

She was mine.

And I would do everything and anything to make her not regret her decision.

"Christian..." Ana called out.

I turned my head towards her.

Her head was now resting on my chest, one of her arms and legs wrapped around my torso and my hips.

If only I could stay like this my whole life.

"Yeah, babe?"

She opened her mouth but hesitated, seeming to contemplate her words.

"I- I just realized something. Don't freak out, okay?"

That only led me to prepare myself for a freakout.

She was blushing furiously which only piqued my interest further. I wondered what was it she would feel so sheepish about to say.

Nothing came to my mind but then I wasn't in the best state to think from 'fucking the brains out of Anastasia' (as she liked to put it) just a few minutes ago.

I waited in suspense while she continued to grow impossibly red.

"Ana?"

"Yacamesideme." She blurted out.

My brows narrowed. "What? Is that another weird word, like the one you used before? What was that super something?"

She gave me a stoic serious look before frowning at me.

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. And no I didn't say another weird word. By the way, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is not a weird word either. It's just that you're vocabulary is so poor."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Can we just get to the point here? What is it you don't want me to freak about that's making you flushed like a tomato?"

As if somehow my mentioning had made her skin aware of it, she became redder.

Normally I would love to see her blushing like that but right now being in suspense was making me irritated.

Who was I kidding? I still loved her red blossoming skin.

Several ideas launched into my mind regarding how I can make her blush like that and much harder than that with some voluptuous tricks.

Get your mind out of the gutter, Grey.

"C.. you- you came inside me."

I smirked at her. "That I did."

I still couldn't understand that what about it, she thought could possibly freak me -

Oh shit.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

I came inside Ana.

I came inside her while fucking without a condom.

My gaze darted towards her legs.

Sure enough, I could see my seeds spilling down her thighs and inner legs.

Not that I needed any confirmation. I knew I had come inside her.

Still seeing the off-white liquid spreading out of her made my heart race for two completely different reasons.

As joyful as that site was, it was also a horrific one.

I sat up straight in a blink. Taking Ana with me too whose back made a crunch sound at getting up so fast.

I cringed at the sound. Anastasia whimpered.

"Sorry about that." I apologized to her. Not only for getting up too quick but also for not using protection.

As if sorry could fix it? How irresponsible could you be Grey?

"Shit!" I growled. Taking my head in my hands.

I ruined up our perfect moment.

Damn me to the damnest part of the damnest damn place where anyone doesn't give a damn.

"Jesus, C. I told you not to freak out. You got up so fast, you could've snapped my spine."

My eyes landed at Ana to see she was only half serious.

How could she be joking at such a serious time?

My question must have been clear on my face because she took a deep breath and told me to calm down.

Her face turning more serious now as she asked me, "Okay so tell me this are you clean?"

I nodded frantically. "Yes, I am. I got checked three months back. I haven't with anyone since then. I could show you the reports if you want or get checked again."

"It's okay. I said calm down. I trust you, C. I am clean too. I was last checked when I was in the hospital due to that amnesia-attack. And you know very well I haven't been with anyone either."

I nodded again. Calming down a bit.

Just a bit only, though.

Ana understood my apprehension. "Also I am on the pill. Have been since I was sixteen, thanks to Mia. So you can relax now."

I huffed. Feeling a bit relieved. "I'm sorry Ana. I didn't realize. I got carried away, not that it should be an excuse. It was so careless of me-"

"Enough C. It's okay. I didn't realize that either. Anyway, now we've established that it's safe. So chill out. Just relax."

Before I could respond, she threw a mischievous look at my direction.

Then she proceeded to climb upon to strangle me while we were both dressed in our birthday suits.

"Or maybe I could help you relax a bit." She suggested and kissed me to confirm where she was going with this.

Her distraction worked. Of course, it worked.

Her hips bucked against mine, making my cock twitch and rise up to salute at her again.

"You sure about another round Miss Steele?" I asked her, my tone sounding husky to my own years.

"What do you think Mr. Grey, do you have it in you to go once more?" She taunted me back.

I pressed her breast with my hand and twisted her nipple sharply, successfully getting a soundless cry out of her.

"Only one way to find it out." I replied to her previous question.

"And what's that?"

I captured her by her hips as I scooted backwards on the bed, with her straddling me before replying her.

"By making, you feel supercalifragilisticexpialidocious again."

This time, I didn't forget to use the protection.

Trust me it wasn't up to me to write such intensity between them. I hadn't even planned then getting laid together. IT was Christian who told me he wanted a real moment with Ana before things go all thunder-stormy.

So how did you like this chapter? PLEASE REVIEW and let me know. You guys HAVEN'T been reviewing it much :(

Also, do tell me Song Suggestions for this chapter.

Oh, and last but not the least - PLEASE DO VOTE FOR ME. The link is provided at the start of this chapter.

Love ya all,

KAishi Springs xoxo