Fifty Shades of Secrets

Chapter Thirty-Six: Fifty Shades of Lemonade

Anastasia Steele,

"I was Kate's bridesmaid, for fuck's sake. And you're only letting me have lemonade?" I held up the offending drink, silently daring Christian to confirm, and without hesitating, he tapped his champagne against my glass.

"You're lucky you're not limited to water," Christian whispered in my ear, his voice barely overshadowing the 80s-themed playlist.

"You bring a date to a wedding to get them drunk and take them home," I mumbled, leaning further into my boyfriend as we observed. The further the night progressed, ironic dance moves shifted into sloppy funky-chickens and dangerous renditions of breakdancing. But while the partygoers focused on the open bars, I focused my interest on the only bar that wouldn't interfere with my meds- the dessert bar.

"Without Theodore's bed time as an excuse, we can't leave until the receptions ends," Christian threw this back in my face. After his lovely grandmother took our sleepy toddler home, I'd delved into Google's many articles on bridesmaid etiquette to find an out. We were sleep deprived and done with wedding talk, and I desperately wanted to peel off my lovely bridesmaids dress and go to bed. But in my research, I stumbled on countless wedding forums that insisted a bridesmaid finish out the reception.

The problem was that we had done all of the fun wedding things. We talked to other guests- which turned into a barrage of questioning from well-meaning family members who were desperate for another wedding. We spent time with the newlyweds and even gave dancing a try, and maybe that would have been sufficient on any other day.

But less than twenty-four hours ago, Christian proposed to me, and I didn't say yes. That changed the game.

Still, Christian held me close. We didn't have time to fully evaluate the state of our relationship, and we still hadn't had the discussions I deemed necessary to accept a proposal. But at least he still wanted to hold me. As easy as it was to love him, it was not easy to maintain faith that I wasn't fucking up everything we'd worked for.

"These shoes hurt," I eagerly changed the subject, and to illustrate my point, I lifted the pink tulle to admire my stilettos. They were perfect in wedding photos, but my feet begged for relief.

Christian nodded in silent agreement, and as he leaned closer, his warm breath tingled my skin.

"And this is too tight…" Christian's hand traced the curve of my back, leaving goosebumps as his touch settled on the bow that held my dress together. Gently, he tugged on the ribbon and loosened my dress as he pulled me closer.

The crowd faded to the background as Christian gripped my hip. His nails dug into the fabric, and I gasped at the pinch. With a glance over the shoulder, he deemed the party uninterested in us, or maybe he just didn't care. He abandoned his champagne flute and I my lemonade, and Christian lead me further and further from the wedding.

All the while, he tugged further at the ribbon, and my dress responded by slipping further and further off. Despite the lonely hallway, there was still the risk that someone would see, and my adrenaline spiked. What was Christian doing? Was this all some sort of tease to get even for me not answering his proposal? And was this really happening? My deprived inner goddess was desperate to know and ran while with questions.

Naturally, I wondered where we were going. Images of dark secluded closets and hotel rooms sprang to mind, and they offered a release from our miserable dry spell. I didn't allow myself to delve any further into these daydreams and quickly shut them down. He'd been teasing me all night, and he was the king of delayed gratification. Theodore could graduate high school when Christian finally got between my thighs again.

By the time we reached the end of the hall, I had to clamp my arms by my side to keep my dress from slipping to the ground. Christian stopped at a door in the middle of the wallpapered hallway, and he leaned into the dark wood frame to push the door open. I didn't move with him, leaving us parted by a few inches, and the ribbon to my dress stayed in his hand. It was nearly off now, and if I didn't follow him inside, it would slither out of the corset. Yet, I didn't immediately take the step.

Fuck, I wanted him.

I wanted him so bad that my sex practically throbbed his name in Morse code. I dreamed about ripping off his impeccable suit and getting reacquainted with my favorite body part of his. Any more teasing and I would have spontaneously combusted into a pile of sexually frustrated ash. Yet I wasn't sure if I could handle the delayed gratification that awaited me. I wasn't sure if I could handle his revenge.

Christian watched me with uncertainty, and I wondered if this invitation to sneak off and fool around had a deeper meaning than I realized. Cautiously, Christian dropped the ribbon, and it fluttered to my side. His strong hands gripped my waist and tugged me so close to his chest that we could have shared a heartbeat.

I expected words, but I got something far better. His passionate kiss banished my doubt just for a moment, and all I wanted was this. I wanted him, damn it. And I didn't fucking care if he teased me. Tease away. As long as I got something. Even if I could only ogle the print of his hard cock through his pants, I wanted it.

This time, I was the one to take the step towards his mystery door, and Christian grinned into my kiss. His teeth latched onto my lower lip, giving it a light tug that I felt deep between my legs. We stepped into the room, but I was far more concerned with tasting Christian to evaluate our new surroundings. He tasted like champagne and wedding cake and Christian. Fuck, he tasted like Christian. I wanted to bottle this taste up and savor it. I was convinced that the only thing that tasted better than his mouth was his cum…

When Christian finally pulled away from me, I let out an audible whine, and my eyes shot open to stare at him incredulously. He couldn't just pull away like that… Christian laughed at me warmly, putting his hand on my jaw as he briefly kissed me, "You make impatience look good, Miss Steele."

Miss Steele. Another reminder that I hadn't agreed to be his wife. Holy hell, I was in for a long night, and my stomach flipped in response. Christian took a few steps away from me, scoping out the room, and it was then that I realized where we were.

"Are we in…?" I glanced around the room, biting my lower lip as I finished, "In a bathroom?"

"Last time, the coat closet was a little tricky," Christian smirked, satisfied that the bathroom was empty, and I was entranced by his stride back to me. How did he even make walking sexy? Even more impressive, how did he make a bathroom hook up romantic?

Before I knew it, Christian shoved me against the bathroom door, and I gasped in delight. His lips brushed along mine just to taunt me, and I took personal enjoyment in hearing him lock the door.

"This is still too tight…" Christian's words were hot against my lips, and I instinctively moved my lips closer to his to initiate the kiss I wanted. But instead of obliging me, he just smirked and coiled the ribbon around his finger, "And this closure is precarious. The wrong move and the dress could come right off."

The beautiful, vintage gown suddenly felt like a prison, and my skin itched to be free of it. I could have torn apart every seam if I had to, but finally, Christian gave the hard yank, and the structured top came apart, revealing the strapless bra I now wish I hadn't worn. It was just another garment keeping me from him. With the dress hanging on me by my hips, I felt like it was time to repay the favor, and I pulled at Christian's jacket.

"Tsk, tsk. Impatience, Ana," Christian pressed a kiss to my collarbone and then another a bit lower. And then another. And another. My chest heaved as I waited for Christian's deliberate mouth to reach my bra, and when it finally did, I giggled in relief. His slow tongue traced the outline of my bra, but his eyes were full of mischief as he looked up at me.

Christian's hands gripped my hips again, before I could savor the feeling of his tongue and his strong grip, he pulled me away from the door and spun me around. Now facing the fall, I leaned on my other senses to know what my sexy, mercurial man was doing. His nails dug into my skin, leaving indentions as his kiss roamed my neck. He focused on my sweet spot, earning a thankful moan, and he shoved me against the door again. I felt his breath catch, and I knew he worried he hurt me.

"More," I whispered, dispelling his fears, and I lead his free hand to my panties. I felt Christian's smile in my skin, and he nipped at my neck before moving his hand away. Christian's index finger traced the curve of my spine, and my hips instinctively pushed back to his crotch.

"Good girl," Christian murmured, unhooking my strapless bra, and we both let out a sigh of relief as it fell to the ground, "Stay exactly where you are."

I followed orders and waited with baited breath as Christian shuffled behind me. Impatience plagued me. What was he doing? What was taking so long?

When I felt his touch again, it was heaven. As his hands traced the skin between my waist and my hips, I could feel the lack of his jacket and presumably his shirt, and my dress suddenly felt even heavier. Christian gently pulled away the layers of tulle, and once past my hips, the dress dropped to the floor and landed in a mess of tool and pink silk.

"I've always loved your skin," Christian whispered, and his hands started at my ankles and worked their way up my body. He carefully avoided my injuries, already fully aware of where they were, and I loved him all the more for it. He stopped just shy of my butt, and with renewed attention, his finger slipped beneath my panty line, and he tugged it until the cheek was sufficiently exposed, "You know, I'm starting to think you wear clothes too often…"

"You're such a suck-up," I laughed breathlessly as I continued to face the wall.

I gasped as he slapped my ass, the clap reverberating in the enclosed space, and his teeth firmly bit into my right cheek. I looked over my shoulder in surprize and saw the indention of his mouth, and he admired his handiwork as if he'd personally branded me. He was crouched on the floor, his hands now holding my thighs, and his eyes were full of conflict.

"This isn't fair, Anastasia."

"You just bit my ass, and it isn't fair for you?" I was so full of need that it consumed me. I could barely hold myself up as all of my energy converted to lust. Christian stood, pulling my body back against his, and I noted with disappointment that he was still clothes. He'd just rolled up his sleeves…

If he wasn't going to be fair, then I was determined to be unfair, too. I pressed my ass into his crotch, and I let out a small moan as I felt his hard cock in return. Fuck, I missed that… I pulled his hand from my hip and placed it on my breast, comforted by how it fit perfectly in his hand. He growled into my neck, pushing himself further against me, and I grinned at my achievement.

"Fuck waiting," Christian mumbled, spinning me around again, and I melted into his fervent kiss. With his help, I undressed Christian down to his boxers, and using them as leverage, I pulled his hips as close to mine as possible.

My hand slipped inside of his boxers, and Christian shuttered in pleasure as I finally felt his cock in my hand. "Let me taste it, please," I begged Christian, my words sloppy against his mouth, and Christian shook his head fervently.

He was saying no? To a blowjob? My disappointment left me startled, but I didn't have long to pout over my missed opportunity. Christian picked me up by my waist as carefully as a man that impassioned could, and he placed me on the bathroom counter. I jumped at the cold counter beneath my bare skin.

The lace of my panties didn't stand a chance against Christian's enthusiasm, and they came off my body in pink little pieces. Desperate to rid him of his boxers, I helped him push them to the ground, and as he stepped out of them, he stepped further into me. My eyes nearly crossed as I felt his cock against me, and all I could think about was getting him inside of me.

"Promise you'll stop me if I hurt you," Christian whispered desperately against my lips, and I nodded quickly.

"I promise," I assured him, and Christian quickly gauged my expression before accepting my agreement.

And then, after three long weeks of waiting, it finally happened. His rockhard length buried itself deep inside of me in one efficient pump, and I nearly had an orgasm right there. We both took a moment to revel in the pleasure of it all. We waited so long and had lusted after this moment, and it was here. And it lived up every fucking expectation.

I lost my breath as he delivered another thrust. And then another. And another. Christian picked up speed, and my limbs turned to mush. My head fell back in pleasure, and he took the opportunity to nip at my neck. With a sinister smirk, he placed one finger over his mouth to remind me to be quiet.

"You're trying to make me moan," I complained, the words hard to form as his cock continued to thrust inside me. Christian didn't deny it. If anything, his proud smile confirmed it. And while I pouted, I fucking loved it.

I buried my moans in his kiss, and tangling my fingers in his hair, I didn't let him go even after our lips parted. Even with him inside of me, I always wanted him closer. Bottled up love and lust released as I wrapped my legs around him, forcing him even deeper inside of me, and his mouth and hands roamed my body, leaving his mark on my skin.

"And you're trying not to cum," Christian whispered in my ear.

"What makes you think that?" I shrugged his accusation off, but I was barely holding on.

I just wanted the moment to last forever. With each pump, I was closer and closer to slipping off the edge, and Christian didn't cut me any slack. My muscled tightened as I climbed higher heights, and my nails scratched along his bicep, temporarily staining his perfect skin with red. A scream of pleasure built in my throat, and I channeled every bit of it into our kiss.

And I just kept going higher and higher and higher and-

Ahhh!

I couldn't contain it any longer. My orgasm gripped me, taking over my body as every nerve rewarded Christian's efforts. I was consumed with love and gratification, and through my hazy perspective, I watched him fall and savored his climax as my own.

Christian's head rested on my shoulder, and I kissed his unruly curls. I loved him so much that I was startled by it. He was everything to me. He was mine.

"I love you, Christian Grey," I murmured, beaming. Sex with Christian after an extended dry patch was everything I thought it would be and more, and I didn't even care that it was in a public bathroom at his brother's wedding. I didn't care that I didn't get to taste my "Christian Grey flavored Popsicle"- though I intended to remedy that as soon as possible. I finally got laid.

Christian's lips brushed across mine as he whispered, "I love you, too, Ana." I was shocked that he didn't throw out Steele just to remind me, and the whole thing made me giddy. "But those fucking shoes."

My face twisted in confusion. My shoes? What about my shoes?

"My grandmother was supposed to take Teddy because I'd planned on taking you home early," Christian wiped his hand across his face, "Roses were delivered. Everybody was out of the house. With lots of coaxing from my assistant, the doctor had finally given permission to have sex." Christian shook his head, tilting my chin up to look at him, "And you pointed out the shoes at my weak moment. You're becoming a very bad influence."

I was shocked. Thank God the doctor finally gave permission because Christian's stringent rules were driving me insane, but that wasn't even the half of it. Christian planned that for us?

"You got roses?" I stared up at him, "Like hearts and flowers?"

"Yes, Ana. Like hearts and flowers," Christian kissed my nose and offered his hand to help me off the cold counter.

My legs were mush, and Christian had to hold me up to keep me from tripping on my high heels. With his hands on my hips, I reflexively wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning on my tippy toes to lessen our height difference. His lips brushed across my forehead, and I actually giggled. For a moment, my post-orgasm haze tainted my thoughts. I considered ditching the wedding, stealing Christian's shirt, and trying to sneak out of a large party without underwear. But slowly, reality set in, and I remembered that all of Christian's family members were outside the door and were just starting to form a positive opinion about me.

"I really liked my underwear," I pouted, gazing at the ripped panties that had been hastily discarded earlier.

"I really liked it, too," Christian smirked as he helped me step back into my dress, "And the shoes."

He eyed the heels as I kicked them off. If I wasn't going to wear underwear, what was the point of wearing the heels?

Christian's expert fingers slowly pulled my dress back together, weaving the corset to its former glory. Every time he tightened the structure or inadvertently touched me, I wanted to tear the dress right back off, but Christian's resolve was much stronger than mine. He dressed me with minimal distractions. I didn't fare nearly as well when I helped him back into his clothes, and he wisely dressed himself.

"Are you sure you can go out to a party knowing that I'm only wearing this dress?" I raised my eyebrows as I tied Christian's bright pink bowtie, "Perhaps the temptation is too much. We could just go home. I really like roses, and I really like men who give them to me."

Christian hesitated by the door, his hand lingering on the lock, and when his gaze returned to me, my breath caught in my throat. "But not enough to marry one?"

As if all of the life had been sucked out of me, I fell back against the tile wall and watched Christian Grey. Maybe there was a magical answer that would satisfy both of us and put the subject to rest, and if there was, I sure as hell looked for it in his stormy grey gaze.

I contemplated giving in. We could leave here giddy and happy, and we could go home and have amazing newly-engaged sex without a toddler waking us up at six in the morning. We could tell our family and enjoy their excitement as they put to rest their not-so-secret fears of us living in sin. Knowing Christian, we could be married within the hour and end the whole debate.

But fear held me back. I loved Christian too much for that.

"I love you enough to not rush into it. We've got so much time, Christian. A lifetime together. A ring isn't going to change that," I reminded him carefully.

"That's a lie, Ana," Christian called me out, "It isn't a ring. It's a commitment. Is this more than pragmatism? Do you not see yourself married to me because you don't see yourself with me for the rest of your life?"

"Christian, no," I stepped closer, placing my hand on the no-go boarder, "I see myself with you for the rest of my life. I see myself with you when I'm a lunatic going through menopause. I see myself with you when I can't stop crying because our son is moving out for the first time. I see myself with you when the Christmas lights break and we have six hours to fix it before the kids wake up. There will never be- nor has there ever been- anyone but you, and if I fuck that up because we rushed into a marriage, I couldn't forgive myself. We haven't had the necessary conversations yet."

"The necessary conversations?" Christian repeated incredulously.

"You know, those basic conversations couples have. Like if we'll live in the suburbs or city. Or how we'll raise a family, or even how many times you intend to get me pregnant. Hell, are we getting a dog or a cat or forgoing the whole pet situation?" I squirmed, realizing how ridiculous it sounded out loud. We'd survived so much to be brought down by what kind of animals we'd have in the house.

"I'm allergic to cats," Christian retorted, giving me the perfectly sound yet ridiculous answer I deserved.

"See, exactly why we needed to talk about this. What if I'd given you a kitten for your birthday?" I replied.

"Were you going to give me a kitten for my birthday?" Christian asked.

"Well… No," I pursed my lips, "But it's still a valid suggestion."

"And asking you to marry me is a valid suggestion," Christian kissed my pursed lips before I could object.

"Letting me suck your cock was a valid suggestion, too," I raised an eyebrow, and Christian's eyes widened in shock. He took another step closer to me, placing his hands firmly on my ass, and he nipped at my neck.

"We have a very long night with a very empty apartment, Anastasia," Christian's eyes roamed over my body, "And there are lots of things I want to taste."

I wrote this lemon a few weeks ago and have been waiting to bring it out, and bam, here it is. I'm still working on making my lemons less vanilla, but I knew that Christian and Ana couldn't hold out any longer. Also, I love the pun in the title. I move in tomorrow, but I hope I won't be away for long! I am very excited to take Ana and Christian through this story.

As always, please review, favorite, and follow!

HAWTgeek