Just Breathe Chapter 29 – More Grand Tour

Saturday, October 15 – Day 14: Rome to Florence
Morning: Fly to Florence
Midmorning: Santa Croce, Pension Bartolini, tour Fiesole
Afternoon: siesta at hotel
Evening: five course meal with wine tastings

Ana's POV

It's dark when I wake…and I try to stretch….but I realize my hands are bound over my head…and the darkness is due to a blindfold. I feel Christian's hands sliding up and down my body, lingering in some places, a fast brush in others. I don't know how long he's been caressing me; but I feel very wet and wanton this morning.

He kisses me completely awake. "Good morning Mrs. Grey," he whispers, as he plunders my mouth. His stubbly cheeks and chin rasp across my sensitive breasts, making my nipples harden and reach for his mouth…but he tortures them a little more with scrapes and brushes before his soft lips kiss, suck and nibble at me. As he rubs his stubble over my ribs, his soft and silky hair teases my breasts. His brushes his stubble across my belly from hipbone to hipbone and then down to my sex… over my spread legs and up and down my slit. His hands excited me, but it's the soft, yet raspy stubble that makes me hot for him. He moves back to my breasts, running his cheeks and chin all over them. I feel his fingertips brush lightly against my sex and just as I'm about moan, his mouth finds a nipple, kissing, sucking, biting while his fingers find their way into my wetness and his thumb tortures me. He strokes his thumb up; pushes his thumb down, draws a lazy circle around my swollen bud with his thumbnail. Stroke up, push down, thumbnail circle…over and over and over. His stubbly chin brushes against the valley of my breasts and over my other nipple until his mouth greedily latches onto it; kissing, sucking, biting. My back arches off the bed as I gasp from my first orgasm of the day.

"That's one," he says with satisfaction. "While I would love to give you one orgasm this morning for every day we've been married Mrs. Grey, there is only so much time to play before we check out of the hotel."

I moan despite myself…the thought of fourteen orgasms today overwhelms me. When did I become such a sex addict? His mouth begins licking and sucking and nipping at me again…his talented fingers never losing their pace or their place. I feel my core tighten and my thighs begin to quiver…I know that I'm on the brink of another orgasm…and he stops. I whimper; feeling the emptiness where his fingers played…feeling the cool air against my sex where his warm wet tongue was driving me crazy. In seconds, he is sheathed in me, arching my back off the bed, resting my body on my upper torso and shoulder blades. He sits on his knees and leans forward and back; in and out of me. I think he called this position 'the lift' once before…but then, as now…I can't think.

Oh my god…he's so big…and it is so deep this way…and I can't think…my core tenses…my heart races…my blood pounds…but he keeps a slow and steady pace…wringing every breath from me…my body held tightly in his strong hands and arms so I cannot thrash…I cannot breathe…cannot think… my orgasm rips through me and takes him along in its wake.

"Oh god Ana…" He groans, his body covering mine, shaking, thrusting, trembling. The moment stretches…dragging us both into a body-shaking, mind-blowing, total abandonment in one another. This is my heaven…this is my eternity…Christian is the love of my life.

When we are alert, there is no time for breakfast. We get a quick shower...no sex...and security has us hustling from the hotel to the airport. We eat breakfast onboard the GEH jet as we fly from Rome to Florence, which only takes about an hour. Christian and I talk about Florence and its effect on English writers. George Eliot researched Romola while here. Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived here. Shelley composed Prometheus Unbound and Ode to the West Wind here.

I can't help myself; I have to buy a snow globe of Florence, remembering the one Jack gave Lucy in the movie, While You Were Sleeping. Our tour guide assures me she knows the exact shop where we should go. The tour guide loves Room with a View and we talk about Santa Croce, which is our first stop. We tour Santa Croce, where Lucy Honeychurch became lost. We see the model for the Pension Bartolini where George gave up his view of the Arno River to Cousin Charlotte and Lucy. We take a short drive to the hilltop town of Fiesole, which overlooks Florence and have a lunch at a sidewalk café; enjoying the view.

We return to Florence and shopping. I find a snow globe of Florence–large, about nine inches tall and about nine inches around. The base is a panorama of the city when you turn it all the way around. It even has the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River. Inside the globe part is a replica of Il Battistero, Il Duomo and Santa Croce. We look at antiques in shops on the Via Maggio. Christian sees a large oil painting of the Mediterranean Sea which he buys without haggling with the shop owner…she's too busy looking at his beautiful face to complete the transaction without starts, stops and overt hesitations. "Il volto di un angelo ..." she murmurs when we turn to leave. I look at the tour guide and she translates, "the face of an angel". I just roll my eyes. When we're done shopping, it's time for an afternoon siesta – which is more sex than siesta; but I catnap before dressing for dinner. The tour guide arranged a five-course meal with wine tastings at a local restaurant. Philippe and Gaston accompany us, as one of them speaks fluent Italian and is able to translate for us.

XX

October 14, Seattle – Taylor's POV

"What did the judge say?" Gail asked quietly.

"He asked Evette to explain her reason for demanding a change in our custody agreement. She claimed the recent attempt to kidnap Miss Steele and the shooting of Prescott are proof Sophie is in danger when she is with me. She demanded she chaperone my visits with my daughter if we attend a Grey-sponsored event. She demanded to be allowed to veto my custodial visits if I didn't allow her to chaperone. She demanded court supervised visits only or to have my parental rights revoked if she was denied the opportunity to chaperone." Taylor sighed. "The judge asked me what happened. I told him I didn't know; unless Evette was upset about not being invited to Mr. Grey's wedding where Sophie was a junior bridesmaid. When Evette nodded to indicate I guessed right – the judge denied her request."

"So, because she wasn't invited to the wedding, she's causing problems with you?" Gail asked. "Did you explain you weren't in charge of the guest list?"

"I didn't have to," Taylor admitted. "The judge understood Evette's issues and dismissed them."

"There's more?" Gail prodded gently.

"Evette asked the court to raise my child support to 30% of my net wages claimed on last year's income tax. The judge asked me to explain what I was contributing to Sophie's support. I told him I'm already paying 25% of my weekly income to child support. I showed him I've put 25% of every bonus I've received in a college fund for Sophie. I showed him I used the remainder of my bonuses to pay off the condo where Evette and Sophie live; rent free. I proved I pay the condo association fees. I proved I provide major medical, eye and dental insurance for Sophie. I proved I pay the tuition for Sophie's education. I proved I buy her school uniforms and her school supplies. I proved I paid for Sophie's laptop and internet provider. I proved I had a living will with Sophie as my beneficiary."

"I know there is more and I think you are a good man to not throw Evette under the bus." Gail said.

"I wanted to throw the bitch under a U.S. Army Tank; but there wasn't one handy. She tried to claim I wasn't paying my child support – that I owed her $10K in child support."

"She what?" Gail questioned in a quiet voice.

"She claimed I wasn't paying my child support. I showed the court the copies of the $1,000 monthly checks that I had given her for Sophie's child support this year. I proved the dates on the checks were prior to the date she was due child support. She told the court those weren't child support checks...but gifts to her." He grinned. "The judge asked if I was sleeping with her...and she snapped no. He informed her if I wasn't having a good time with her…then the checks were child support, not gifts. He ordered me to get an account with Child Services. I can pay my monthly child support payment to them online before the 20th of the month. They will transfer the funds to Evette between the first and fifth of the next month. He recommended I take a copy of the transcript from today along with a copy of my prior checks and have CS keep the information on file. He said an account with Child Services will save me from spurious claims that I'm a deadbeat father."

"He strongly explained to Evette that she could not move a boyfriend or husband into the condo. I'm not required to provide housing for her gentlemen friends. He reminded Evette that according to our original custody agreement – I get to claim Sophie when I claim my 2011, 2013, 2015, etc. taxes. I asked to have Sophie for the next two weekends – I explained since I had to leave my job to come home for the court hearing – I ought to be allowed to see my daughter. The judge agreed. He also changed my access to Sophie. On the weekends I don't have Sophie – I get to have a one hour Skype with her at 6:00 p.m. Seattle time on Sunday. I still get visitation one weekend a month and one overnight in the middle of the week with her per month."

"So, a satisfactory resolution?" Gail asked.

"No," Taylor said. "I didn't tell the court I was in love with the most wonderful woman in the world and when I marry her, I will fight for joint custody of my daughter. I also didn't announce I hired a P.I. to watch Evette and report when she has a man in her life. I'm going to run background checks on every man coming around my child." He paused. "I had a discussion with Grey before I came back. If I have to give up being his CPO so that I don't lose my daughter; I'll do it. He said if I had to make that decision; he would make me head of security at Grey Annex. I would have a nine to five job with open weekends for seeing Sophie. He said he didn't want to lose me as a CPO; but he wasn't standing in the way of my being with Sophie."

"She's a lucky little girl; Miss Sophia Celine Taylor." Gail kissed him.

"No, I got lucky the day Grey hired me. I met you." He kissed her fervently. "Let's go celebrate my win in court." He scooped her up and carried her into the staff quarters; locking the main door behind them.

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Sunday, October 16 – Day 15: Florence
Morning: Private driving tours: Piazza della Signoira and Palazzo Vecchio and the Boboli Garden and Pitti Palace, Fortezza da Basso, Ponte Veechio
Lunch: Osteria Vini e Veechi Sapori for lunch
Afternoon: Piazzale Michaelangelo, siesta at hotel; passeggiata
Dinner: balcony of hotel

Ana's POV

Our tour guide has a list of over 50 places for us to visit if we find ourselves with "extra time". I shake my head at Christian. No cathedrals or basilicas, no museums, no theatres, no libraries and no cemeteries. Any "extra time" is going to be spent in my husband's arms in our bed. End of discussion. Sawyer accompanies us to see the Fortezza da Basso, a fort built fourteenth century walls of Florence. It is huge, almost 100,000 square meters. Thank god it's a drive-by tour.

Up close we want to see the Fountain of Neptune, the Campanile Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio, the stone arch bridge over the Arno River. I turn down the tour guide's offer to show me Via dé Tornabuoni, the fashion center street. I email Kate and Mia that I've turned down three fashion expeditions. We see Piazzale Michelangelo, a famous square that has a panoramic view of Florence. I take one of my favourite pictures of Christian there, in a white shirt, black pants, the sun reflecting off his curls and the muted colors of the city showcased behind him. At Ponte Vecchio; Christian buys an etched antique 18K gold Italian bracelet for me. Sawyer seemed to enjoy the bridge and the fort along with us. Our tour guide takes us to Osteria Vini e Veechi Sapori for lunch. It is close to Ponte Vecchio and has a blackboard menu she reads out to us. The wood beamed ceilings remind me a little of the restaurant where we ate after The Mousetrap.

Christian seems eager to go back to the room for a "siesta:"…but our tour guide reminds us that we should experience the La Passeggiata (the stroll) at least once. She says that especially on Sunday, people in Italy turn out for a leisurely stroll; showing off their fashion sense; singles check out the single scene; families connect with one another; seniors catch up on the latest news. Tiny tots to senior citizens all go for a stroll. Christian recommends a little sidewalk café just down the street from our hotel for "people watching"; which was acceptable to our tour guide. He orders a bottle of red wine and a small antipasti platter for us to nibble on while we "people watch". Our tour guide knew people who passed and we were enchanted with the language. Philippe and Gaston accompany us and again, one of them is our translator when our tour guide is busy chatting with the local citizens. Sawyer and Marshall come along also, as we inflict La Passeggiata on them.

We turned down dozens of invitations to impromptu dinners at homes, restaurants and picnics on the grounds of a dozen different notable gardens or squares in town … all commencing around 9:00 p.m. Matchmaking mothers and grandmothers of single men and women invite our security staff to stroll, dinner, dessert, coffee or late night mass. LOL. We are treated to a spectacular sunset and beautiful night sky before we wander back to our hotel. Forget about ordering dinner…Christian's jealous of the looks the local men gave me…and I'm certainly jealous of the looks the local ladies gave him. What starts as a necking session on the double-sized chaise on the balcony in the dark becomes a full blown fast and furious fuck with each of us taking out our aggressions on one another's bodies. I'm glad there are no tall buildings that overlook our balcony. Somehow...laying there together in the afterglow of sex becomes a sexual marathon. "Mine," he says several times before midnight.

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Monday, October 17 – Day 16: Florence/Tuscany/Naples
Morning: Helicopter Tour of Florence and fly to Tuscany
Lunch: sidewalk cafe
Afternoon: Walking tour of Tuscany: return via helicopter to Florence, on GEH jet, bound for Naples
Evening: board Fair Lady at sunset, dinner on deck, sail to French Riviera

Ana's POV

Security packs for us and checks us out of the hotel. Christian and I are dropped at the local heliport with our tour guide. We have a morning helicopter tour of Florence, seeing all the sights of the city from the air. We then go by helicopter for a late morning/early afternoon tour of Tuscany to see art, history and landscapes. Our lunch of excellent Chianti, antipasti, salad and pasta dishes reminds us of our wedding. Christian and I enjoy the art and history at Tuscany. We popped into two art galleries, but don't purchase anything. We return to Florence via helicopter. The driver drops us at the GEH jet and we are bound for Naples. It is a four-hour flight. We eat dinner on the plane, because when we set down at the airport, we are in cars and on our way to the docks. It is an early night for all of us because we board the yacht, Fair Lady, at sunset for our four days on the Mediterranean. Stephan is taking the jet to Monaco, where he will meet us in four days.

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Tuesday, October 18 – Day 17: Naples to Cote d'Azur (French Riviera)
Meals on ship; jet skis; swimming; sunbathing

Ana's POV

In the morning we wake in the master's quarters. It is a lovely room with two portholes on both the starboard and port sides. It has been elegantly decorated in dark walnut furniture with cream walls and soft furnishings in gold and crimson. The king size bed is soft and I seriously don't want to get up. Christian finally coaxes me into the shower and we dress for breakfast. He leads me up the stairs and through the dining room through a plush, beautifully appointed main salon to the deck. The day is beautiful, the sea is tranquil and I can't wait to continue our tour.

We cruised toward the French Riviera and arrived before ten o'clock. The crew drops anchor in the sea. We have breakfast on deck of the Fair Lady. After breakfast, Christian asks me to put on one of my bikinis and soak up some sun. I open my suitcase to find half a dozen bikinis…and not a single sensible swimsuit in the bunch. Oh for god's sake…micro bikinis! I will feel naked…oh damn…not so bare! I try one of the suits on that has the most coverage… and it doesn't cover enough. I'm going to have to shave to wear this bloody thing! I shave as quickly as possible because I don't want Christian wondering what is taking me so long and come looking for me.

I wear a beach cover-up from the cabin to the chaise lounge on deck. I turn the chair toward the stern and lather on sunscreen, soaking up some sun while Christian has a good time piloting the boat up and down the Cote d'Azur. Eventually, he comes down to rub more sunscreen on me and feed me a light lunch on the deck. The Mediterranean is beautiful. After lunch he goes back to the pilothouse. I lay there, soaking up more sun and staring out at the bluest water I think I've ever seen. I fall asleep on deck; just barely waking when Christian carries me below.

"What the hell have you done?" He exclaims as he shreds my bikini taking it off me.

"I had to shave…the damn bikini shows too much of me. It WAS the only one providing the most cover and you've destroyed it!" I cannot believe he shredded it.

"No kidding!" He exclaimed.

"It's your fault!" I protested. "There's not a single modest swimsuit anywhere in my luggage." I cover my face with my hands. Why am I so embarrassed? "Don't you dare laugh at me! It's bloody embarrassing!"

"I think I should do a thorough inspection of your handiwork, Mrs. Grey." He tosses me onto the bed and examines the job I did. He kisses all over my sex; which makes me hot for him. "I'm not laughing; I'm delighted! However; you missed a couple spots." He tugs on a couple of errant pubes before he leaves the master cabin; leaving me naked on the bed.

"What do you think you're doing?" I call out to him…only to be shocked when he returns a minute later, carrying shaving items and a towel.

"Oh no you don't!" I protest scrambling at the covers; trying to cover myself.

"Ana, I love all my intimate moments with you – you know that. Especially considering some of the things we've done – like the most-of-the-night sex on the balcony in Italy. You had to be gagged so you didn't scream and bring the Polizia di Stato down on us. Don't get all squeamish on me now. Besides, I know this part of your body better than you do."

"Don't even think about it!" I warn him.

"Mrs. Grey; I am going to do this. Will you cooperate or am I putting you in a three-point restraint, gagging and blindfolding you?" He strokes me. "You kinky little girl," he says in amazement. "You are soaking wet – you want that!"

Suddenly he's on me…kissing me everywhere. I'm gagged the moment his mouth leaves mine…and shortly thereafter I'm blindfolded. My hands are tied together over my head. My legs are spread and tied to the corners of the bed. He starts music… choral pieces by Thomas Tallis…he's played them before but not during sex.

He slips the towel under my hips. "This is so hot," he murmurs kissing my breasts, kneading them.

I moan, but I can't wiggle.

He kisses my ankles, my knees, my thighs… "I love kinky firsts with you, Mrs. Grey," he murmurs as he lathers up my pubic bone and my outer lips.

The lather is so warm; the water must be hot. The brush tickles, but in a good way. I'm glad I'm immobile because I want to squirm and relieve some of the tension building in me.

Gently he runs the razor over my flesh…I'm so sensitive…it just feels so naughty and erotic. It is only a matter of a few minutes before he grabs the towel and wipes any missed lather off me. He disappears for a minute and comes back with a very warm washcloth which he uses to wash me all over. I'm so sensitive…

"There," he murmurs, "all better now." His hand roams all over my sex, making sure he did not miss a hair. His fingers begin stroking me. "You are so wet baby, always so wet for me." His mouth begins sucking, kissing, licking all over my sex and his fingers thrusts deeper and deeper into me. He does not let up on his oral onslaught until I explode.

He's loosened my leg restraints enough to gain easier entrance. Suddenly he's slid into me and he begins a slow but steady rhythm. His hands slide under me and clasp my ass, angling me to allow him deeper thrusts into me. His mouth is everywhere on my breasts, my neck. His hands caress my ass; making me hotter. I don't know if I can survive the climax building in me…then he picks up speed…his thrusts deeper, filling me over and over until I come so hard again and again. I'm screaming behind my gag…I'm so sensitive feeling him inside me…his groin against me…and I explode one more time. In the parlance of his kinky BDSM sex practices…I achieve subspace. I am barely aware of Christian's release… I'm barely aware when he withdraws from me and removes my restraints. He rolls me to my stomach and rubs my shoulders and back.

"Baby…" his voice sounds so far away. "I seriously fucked you senseless this time." He chuckles. "I love you so much. Sleep pretty girl." He puts his arms around me, kisses the nape of my neck and spoons. I am warm, safe, happy and so sexually sated.

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Wednesday, October 19 – Day 18: Mediterranean Cruise Nice and Cote d'Azur
Morning: Christian and Sawyer rock climbing; Marshall and Ana, swimming, jet skis
Lunch: Late lunch on deck, sunbathing on boat
Evening: picnic dinner on beach, concert on the beach, with a long romantic walk in the moonlight and dancing under the stars in Cote d'Azur

Ana's POV

We're anchored outside the Port de Plaisance de Saint-Claude-du-Var; the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is nestled in the distance. Sawyer and Christian go rock climbing this morning with Gaston. Marshall went shopping for me and brings back three modest swimsuits. I'm thrilled to be able to ride around on the jet skis while stressing out Philippe. We tie them up at the dock and go swimming. It's nice to lie out in the sun on the beach for a while and let the sun soak into my bones. When we become the subject of scrutiny from the paparazzi, Marshall and I take the jet skis back to the boat.

Marshall tells me we could go cycling, hiking, water sporting (canoeing, rafting, fishing) horseback riding or caving. None of them interest me. I put on sunscreen and layout on the deck with sunglasses, a cranberry spritzer and my tablet with the British Library collection. Christian and security come back from rock climbing. We have an excellent picnic lunch on deck of wine, several kinds of cheese, baguettes and fresh fruits. Christian and I go below for a "siesta"… LOL… and work off our lunch. The chef onboard the boat is excellent and we've been quite spoiled.

After our "siesta"; Christian and I spend time talking and soaking in the hot tub on deck. He approves of Marshall's purchases, since I'm more comfortable being covered up. Our tour guide arranged for us to attend a concert on the beach. We have a catered picnic dinner, a long romantic walk in the moonlight and dance under the stars for tonight's entertainment. I wear a floaty sundress with matching sweater and comfortable sandals. Christian is in a white linen shirt and jeans with loafers. Philippe and Gaston do their best to keep paparazzi from Le Parisien away from us. They explain it's like USA Today but concentrates on people. I remind them Le Parisien is more like People Magazine but they ignore me.

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Thursday, October 20 – Day 19: Saint Paul de Vence and Cannes
Morning: Drive to Saint Paul de Vence, 90-minute guided walking tour along the narrow cobblestone streets and explore art galleries and view outdoor exhibitions
Lunch: sidewalk café, return to boat
Afternoon: quiet afternoon
Evening dinner in Cannes, ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream

XX
*****VOICI*****

Anastasia Grey models a Bali Tank Swimsuit by Heidi Klein at Cote d'Azur. (Caption of Picture)

Christian and Anastasia Grey dancing on the beach at Cote d'Azur. (Caption of Picture)

*****VOICI*****

Ana's POV

Because we had a late night on the beach, it's nice to have a lie-in this morning. After breakfast on deck, we dress and take a water taxi to the shore. Philippe and Gaston act as driver and tour guide for this portion of our trip. We park in public parking and walk for fifteen minutes to visit the old quarter of the city. We take a 90-minute guided walking tour along the narrow cobblestone streets and explore art galleries and view outdoor exhibitions. We don't buy anything but Christian has a good time examining the artwork. The problem is…out in the open there are excessive numbers of people-watching my husband. He ignores all of them, not letting go of my hand the whole time we are out.

Philippe orders for us – soup of the day which is a ginger-spiced cream of squash soup with toasted almond slivers for garnish, Salade d' Epinards (which is spinach and romaine garnished with stuffed endive, grapes and walnuts, dressed in a champagne vinaigrette) and mini baguettes stuffed with ham and truffles. We have a fruit (grapes, apple slices and pear slices) and cheese (Bleu d'Auvergne, Cantal, Emmenthal) platter for dessert. Philippe passes the fruit and cheese platter a few times until we are stuffed. I like the grapes with the Bleu the best. Christian, pleased with the regional white wine, liberally pours glasses for us. He takes a picture of the label for ordering when we get back home. Philippe and Gaston stick to small cups of very dark and strong-smelling coffee.

After lunch we stroll past the art museums on our way to the car. We enjoy the sunshine of the water taxi on our way back to Fair Lady. Christian and I go below to the master cabin for a quiet "siesta" before we dress for dinner and go to the ballet in Cannes tonight.

"I have enjoyed our mornings when I make your toes curl and our sexy evenings under the stars," Christian murmured as he slipped off my dress. "But I think I like our siestas the best. How are we going to cope without siestas when we return to Seattle?"

"Do you know what I'm looking forward to, Mr. Grey?" I whisper to him.

"I don't know, Mrs. Grey, but when you ask me in that breathy, pouty way…I don't think I could deny your anticipation," he kisses across my shoulders as he unfastens my bra.

"Your suggestion regarding the flight home…lingerie all the way…" I say. "I'm pretty sure there is lingerie in your bag from Roz and Gwen that I haven't worn yet."

"I'm pretty sure I saved some of the best pieces for our last fourteen hours in the air," he says.

XX

Marshall helps me dress for the ballet in Cannes. Christian's tour guide arranged for tickets to see A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was originally performed by Balanchine. Christian recognizes the music behind the ballet, it's by Mendelssohn. It is a lovely ballet. He manages to hold my hand and rub this thumb across my knuckles in an attempt to not embarrass me in front of Marshall and Sawyer. At intermission he sends Sawyer for champagne and arranges for Marshall to guard the outside door to the box. He pulls me into the dark of the box and kisses me senseless, pushing his groin into my belly. The champagne brought back by Sawyer is almost as delicious as Christian's kisses.

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Friday, October 21 – Day 20: Mediterranean Cruise – Monte Carlo, Monaco
Morning: One hour helicopter tour of Monaco and French Riviera
Lunch: Casino and casino play
Afternoon: fly Monaco to London, GEH jet at Stansted. check in at Royal Horsemen

*****VOICI*****

Christian and Anastasia Grey attend ballet in Cannes. Anastasia wears Vera Wang; Christian wears Armani. (Caption of Picture)

*****VOICI*****

Ana's POV

We have a helicopter tour scheduled for this morning. It's slightly delayed by our passport review by the harbour master. I have four stamps in my passport now. We are assigned to a six-seat helicopter when we arrive at the helipad. Sawyer and Marshall accompany us, along with the pilot and our tour guide. My knowledge of Monaco and Monte Carlo is slim and none...I only know what I read in Rebecca where the young, unnamed woman meets Maxim de Winter and what I saw in To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

Our flight takes us over the Rock of Monaco and the Prince's Palace. We see the Monaco Gran Prix race circuit, the Jardin Exotique, the oceanographic museum, the Fontvieille Park and Princess Grace Memorial Rose Garden. We fly over the Monaco Cathedral and Casino Square. We see the Monte Carlo Cruise Port. As we see Port Hercules, our tour guide explains how it was used as a film location for the James Bond film Goldeneye.

After a flyover of Monaco, we are enthralled with a 30-minute helicopter tour of the French Riviera from Monaco. We see the Italian border, Cap Martin, Menton, Eze, Villefranche, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu and Cap d'Ail. When our helicopter tour is over, we are back in the car and on our way to the casino in Monte Carlo. Philippe and Gaston deliver our luggage to the GEH jet and will take Fair Lady back to Naples with the crew before they fly home to Paris.

XX

"I really don't care to gamble; unless you're keen on it," Christian said. "I already feel like I won the lottery…I married you."

"I won the lottery…I married you. Gambling doesn't do a thing for me; we have 45 minutes to burn before we have to be at the airport. We can linger over lunch… and give Sawyer and Marshall 100 Euros and see if they win their fortunes." I suggested.

"If they win their fortunes, they'll leave us," Christian predicted.

"C'est la vie…" I say.

"French, Mrs. Grey?" Christian smirked before he captured my mouth. "What am I going to do with you on our way to London? It is a two and a half hour trip from Monaco to Stansted."

"Strip poker," I suggest. "Roz and Gwen gave us a deck of cards to go with that lingerie."

"Suddenly I feel lucky," Christian smirked.

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Saturday, October 22, Day 21: London to New York. New York to Seattle
8:00 a.m. – Check out of hotel; to Stansted; customs check in
Depart London at 9:00 a.m. – arrive New York at Noon
Saturday, October 22, Day 21: NY to Seattle
Refuel plane 12-1 p.m.
Depart NY by 1 p.m. – arrive Sea-Tac 7 p.m.
Arrive Escala before 8 p.m.

XX

Christian loaded the master suite on the GEH jet with chocolates, strawberries, champagne, white roses and massage oils. I'm going to be pampered and dominated on the way home.

After each of our playtimes, Christian gives me a tiny box. Each one of them contains a different charm for my bracelet: a London black cab, Eiffel Tower, Italy, heart, rose, A and C and a key which could be to his heart…but he kink winks and suggests it's a key to the playroom.

I hope Roz doesn't ask, because there's not much left intact of the lingerie they gave me.

A/N:

Thank you for the reviews and viewers; thank you for the messages and questions; thank you for the favorites and follows!

I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters. They belong to E. L. James. My story is the interpretation of my thoughts about how the characters could have, should have, would have acted.