This story is nowt like fifty shades; I just purloined E.L. James's characters, buildings and some of her other stuff...
Dreaming of Chocolate and Grey:
SORRY FOR DELAY IN POSTING, REAL LIFE IS SUCH A PAIN...
Chapter 55:
Into Africa:
Christian and I had a pleasant flight, with cuddles a plenty, which for me were much needed, as we'd had a tense couple of hours when we had to refuel at a stopover in Zambia, Taylor and Sawyer had guns drawn on the private airstrip we landed on, the whole time we were there. Talk about butt clenching! Apparently, we were a kidnap threat, being as we are a bunch of rich foreigners, and the rebels running the country are cash strapped! Had I known this we would have not come, because I would have quite easily watched the pride of lions my lion belongs to, on the camera feed they have, rather than risk being taken. But such was his need to give me what I wanted, that Christian had Taylor working on this for weeks, had we not been shot at, we were to have been here for our honeymoon much sooner, it had its good point, the shooting, if there was a good point to being shot, Taylor was thankful he had the extra time and was able to get people in the know on the ground he trusted. Needless to say, we are not flying back that bloody way.
When my butt had stopped clenching, Christian and I had a couple of hours of soothing away my bad temper. It seems sex is a fine way of distracting me, my hu-hu is happy and I am sated and relaxed, when Holly knocks on the cabin door.
"Get your asses back to your seats, we are coming into land, and you have missed some really small ant-like wild animals out of the windows. I bloody love you Mr Grey. I mean in in great brother sort of way, this is nothing like the safari park at home. Awesome is the damned word, frigging awesome. I feel like singing whim away… The lion sleeps tonight. I could and would probably scare the crap out of the wildlife though. Get up, get dressed and get out of there." She is an utter nutter.
"Okay Holly thanks, we are just finishing up." She laughs. "Christian, if I can hear her as clear as a bell, can she hear us, you know, doing married stuff?" Christian is dressed in some super-hot safari type khakis, a white tee shirt and rugged looking man shoes. Hot, is an understatement! I am in a plain cotton dress and sandals, flat sandals, my feet are bloody sore and dratted puffy. I am underdressed, and if anything, I look frumpy!
"Wow, you look pretty in pink Baby. As to her hearing us, she has opened the door a touch, so the seal is not airtight."
"Okay, so how do you know if the bloody door opens, you know for future reference?"
"The red light up there," he points to the tiny down light thing, "it is an intercom and it alerts me that the door is open and allows the staff to wake me via a com button on the security table and from the cockpit. Holly wouldn't know that, or she did and she is being her usual charming self?"
"Okay, she would be being her charming self, but don't worry, she grows on you, like ivy and is as annoying as poison ivy sometimes too. So, are we landing in another trouble hot spot, Mr Hot Stuff?"
"No, we are at the airport nearest the reserve. Skukuza Airport. It is a short drive to our holiday destination. Lion Sands, Mrs Cute." Cute? I am cute, I will take that, he smiles and readies his things.
"The Lion Sands, please tell me are we stopping in the Ivory Lodge?" I ask. "Only Nonno had plans to hire the place for my birthday treat?" Alas I am doing the trip without him, but thankfully I have Christian to travel with, lucky me.
"Yes, we are the only ones there for the week, I hired the treehouses and the smaller Ivory Lodges for the others, there are a few other lodges, but the Ivory lodges were the easiest to secure and are the nicest they had, but if you don't like it, I have hired their entire rental stock for the week, I wanted to give Taylor less to worry about, and I want only the best and safest place for you to rest that head of yours, Ana."
"How very decadent of you, but very nice indeed and so it should be a restful time, if all Taylor has to do is watch us?"
"I wouldn't tell him that, he wanted to hire people here. I said that was like announcing that money people were arriving!" For god's sake, my life never had these sort of threats in it before.
"It kind of is, but hiring the whole reserve, is that not like doing the same thing?" I ask.
"No, I hired all the other lodges in other people's names, as it happens none of them will be able to make it, but the owners have been paid well for our taking over the whole place, and we will stop in the tree houses for a night too, but again have paid for the week, as we won't know which night would suit us better, though I don't think I will like camping up a tree, albeit in the branches of a luxury treehouse, people may be able to hear and see you and I enjoying the open air views, and as it tends to be very echoic at night, the bush. I don't really want anyone hearing us as we make out under the African sky." He says as he stares, do I have lipstick on my teeth?
"Oh, okay. I guess? We did struggle with the silent thing, nice as it was, our hushed love making, but, I love the passion and the loud and excitable bumping uglies thing we do." He smiles and I laugh. I am new to this hide and seek malarkey, so I will bow to their better knowledge in this field. "Let's go in before Holly drags us out of our cocoon. I love you so frigging much right now"
"Ditto Mrs Grey. Holly, she is very persistent, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she can be and annoying, fingers crossed she has enough going on to keep her entertained. She gets fed-up easily, she is like a petulant and annoying child and most of the time she is in need of being constantly entertained, I was sure she had A.D.H.D. I still think she has this constant sugar rush thing."
"Does she have a medical condition?"
"Nope, she has just mastered being a pain in the ass." He laughs. We go and sit down and I look out of the window, she is right, everything apart from the expanse of the African plains, is tiny. I am going to have a great time on this holiday. "Oh god, Christian look at that, there are thousands of antlike creatures. How big is it, I mean it looks so huge, oh god I sound like a lune, I mean to say it looks big on the damned maps, but I am useless at putting what I see on a map into a real life dimension thing? I mean, I knew it was massive, but down there is huge, bloody huge." I stare at the expanse of land we are flying over, and for as far as the eye can see there is the same view for miles and miles.
"Kruger Park has a lot of small, and not so small reserves and private parks within its boundaries and so we have to be careful where we go. The view is amazing from up here, we will also have a few hours following game from a helicopter too. If that's okay Ana?"
"Yea, that sounds amazing, but, and this is a big but, I wouldn't want to get lost near a bullet shooting game reserve. There are no fences up to differentiate between the differing reserves, apart from the natural ones they have for the once captive animals at the little reserve where my lion is, it is a small part of a bigger one and though it is safe it has a risk factor about it too. I asked already, I didn't want him, my lion Christian, letting loose only to get shot. They told me he has on a collar thing and they know when he strays near to the boundaries of other parts of neighbouring game reserves. These people are the best, the preservation team I worked with assured me they are good at keeping the more tame animals safe!"
"I know. I made a few enquires of my own, you know, when I made the arrangements Ana?"
"You did?"
"I didn't like to sleep before you steamed into my life. So, on the odd occasion I was not working, when we were not together, I researched everything you told me."
"Steamed? I steamed into your life? Interesting!" I ponder who steamed into whose life, and that would be him, when I first realised he was the boy for me, so many years ago. I laugh. "Steamed as in drunk? Because that would be you Mr Grey!"
"No, as in like a train. Though I guess I was steaming drunk a lot of the time on Otter Island as I got older, especially the last visit we shared. But you were a hellion who ran rough shod into my life from the moment we met." He smiles.
"I did, did I?"
"Yes, and I am happy you did. Now, where do you want to go first? Do you want to unpack, eat, or what?"
"Unpack, its bloody hot here. Too damned hot."
"You are part Italian, do you not like it hot?"
"Umm, it's a different heat, dry, arid almost. I guess I will acclimatise."
"You could always wander around naked Baby?"
"Yeah, and we both know why that will never happen, actually even if you were not overly possessive of me, that is never going to happen, not in a strange place, because I am not an exhibitionist Grey, and though I love walking around naked as naked is, it will never happen here? Nope, here it will only be in your dreams sweet cheeks, though I will reserve naked for the bedroom and in our own private rooms. I can assure you nobody but you will see this body naked! I doubt you are as inclined to let my bits and bobs be out for all to see anyway, at least I hope you were kidding me Grey?"
"Yes, I was joking, as if anyone is seeing my wife naked, except me. We can draw the blinds when we do fuck naked on every surface of the villa, and as everyone has their own places to stop in, we will not be disturbed. Though I doubt Holly will be stopping alone in her lodge, or will she?"
"I am being fucked, am I? I will see that thought and raise it with one of my own, I will be searching out an outside space for me to fuck you in, on, or whatever? As to Holly? That was never going to happen Mr Grey, she sneaks in his room now and visa-versa. So, are the flight crew stopping here too?"
"Yes, I accept your challenge, I do like a naked challenge, and I happen to know our accommodation is not overlooked Baby, and it has a private pool and plenty of outdoor space were you can fuck me. As to my crew stopping here, it is something they always do, unless I am somewhere for any length of time, if that is the case, then they fly back and come for me when I need them, doing that this time is not very good for my eco footprint, so they are stopping with us and using the other lodges, they too can take their pick."
"My oh my, what a challenge to look forward to, your body being mine on an African Safari, do they do badges for that?" He laughs loudly. "Christian, stop laughing, we are being stared at by your employees, and Mr Grey, you are a very nice man to work for."
"I am told I am a tyrant too, depending who you ask, as for a badge, what do you suggest, an open-air-fucker badge Ana?"
"I have my mile high one, which was a nice one to get, so I doubt any badge can beat that one, but an open-air badge sounds good. Hold my hand, the plane dipped." I doubt I will ever get used to this flying thing? I clench his offered hand and I see him grimace. "That grip is nothing, wait till I have these three, you will not be able to use your hands for a week."
"Why?" He looks worried. "Ana, why?"
"Death grip and cussing, and wishing you were dead will be part and parcel of the wonderful birthing experience you get to endure from the easy seat sunshine."
"Great… I think?" He looks worried.
"No, it hurts like holy hell. I was thinking all sorts last time in my crowded head, but was very quiet and reserved when I had Christian, I am not looking forward to doing that three times in one day, once was bad enough, three times Christian, three?" I look at his face and he smiles.
"Okay, so we are down and you are still in one piece and I am now not looking forward to the birth either. I wish I could do it for you Baby, but alas I cannot. Now, let's get to the lodge, I am in desperate need of food."
"Oh, and all I wanted was your body too, I guess I could eat something, if you are off the menu?" He smiles that sexy smile of his.
"I am an all you can eat buffet Baby, and I am open 24/7…"
"Yummy…"
A Piece of Paradise:
Ana is very silent as the cars come for us. She is taking everything in and is smiling, she and Holly are pointing at the wildlife as we make our way to the lodge. I have been on a couple of African safaris, with my parents when I was a young boy, so this to me is nothing new. I always saw the holidays I went on as interesting and educational, but seeing it with Ana by my side is different. It is like I am seeing the world through happy childlike eyes, I am far more interested in this world personally, now I have Ana in it with me to share all this with. What will it be like having my own children with me, thrilling and wonderful I would hope? I watch her, and listen and smile as she laughs and she holds her breath and then lets it out and suddenly says 'wow'. Wow indeed.
She is excited and keeps grabbing my hand and pointing at things she sees. She has yet to see anything really exciting, buffalo and wildebeest, zebras and monkeys are all we have seen so far and seeing them here, is like seeing deer in a forest back home, however she is still amazing to watch, childlike and sweet. We have a short half an hour drive before we pull up to the lodges that will be home for the week we are here, her face and that of Gail and Holly are a sight to see. I am glad Ana insisted Gail came, I am only sorry Taylor could not bring his daughter, Ana asked if it were possible, but her mother said no, maybe next time perhaps her mother will allow it? After a bumpy half an hour, of more "oh gods and look Christian's," we arrive at our home for the next week.
"Welcome, welcome to Lion Sands. I am Kemi, your house manager, my colleagues will show your party to the other lodges you have reserved." He shakes Taylors hand warmly. I smile, and let the poor man off with his presumption that Taylor is the leader of the pack. He looks uncomfortable.
"Mr Grey, have I offended you?"
"No, you have not, but the man stood there is the lead member of the party, he is Mr Christian Grey, I am Taylor, I am the one who your security expert has been speaking to,"
"Mr Taylor, I am sorry. Forgive me Mr Grey."
"You are forgiven, it is an easy mistake to make." He shuffles and I see Ana smile. "My wife and I are stopping in the villa and the rest of our party will be in the other Ivory Lodges, is that so?"
"Yes, yes, sorry. Your party has the whole of the Ivory compound. Do you have any questions which I can answer?"
"Please Kemi, there is no need to be sorry, it is an easy mistake to make, Taylor here is the head of security for us. This looks very nice, now can you please show me around?" My wife the peace keeper. He shows Ana and I to our villa and the rest of our group are shown to their lodges by the house managers assigned to them, Taylor wants to inspect the villa first, so he stays with Ana and I.
"Taylor, thank you."
"Sir."
"Please Mr Taylor, we have top security as requested, it, the villa has been checked thoroughly." They head off together, Ana and I, we stand and take in the amazing view.
"Wow, can you feel the energy here Christian, can you smell the difference in the air?"
"It something else Baby, something spectacular." We are admiring the view when Taylor gives us the all clear. "Thank you. Go and see to Gail. We will be fine for the evening. Kemi, here will see to our evening meal. Enjoy being waited on for a change." He nods his head and heads off.
"Mr and Mrs Grey, your valet will unpack for you, your refreshments are laid out for your enjoyment. Will you require a guided tour through the villa?"
"No, we will be fine thank you Kemi. My wife and I will be fine on our own for the moment thank you."
"Ring the house phone, which is here should you need anything, we understand you need for privacy, nobody will disturb you unless you require assistance." He nods his head and leaves, Ana and I are alone.
"Well?"
"Wowsers… I feel like we have landed on a film set. This is beautiful, thank you."
"I think wow is an understatement Ana, look out of the window, over there the animals are gathering by the river. Look…" I can see a herd of elephants coming in for water, I stare at my wife and watch as the tears fall. "Hormones?"
"No, these are tears of pure joy. Look, real wildlife, look, look the baby elephant is holding his mother's tail." I stare and laugh.
"I think that's his father, well judging by the things at the back of his legs Darling." She looks and starts laughing loudly, I hold her in my arms and we watch as the evening's entertainment fill the river bank. I see the food the cook has lain out and we take a seat and watch the show.
"Bliss, this is pure uninterrupted bliss, thank you, thank you, it's amazing."
"I know. Please stop thanking me, seeing that smile is more than thanks. Look Ana, more elephants, I wonder if one of them is Nonno?" I pour Ana another juice and watch as she eats and stares at the amazing site of the animals coming for their nightly trip to cool down at the river, and for water and I have to admit, the elephants are a sight to see, and they dominate the river's edge.
"I don't know, they all look the same from here. He is a part of a big herd, and to be honest with you unless he has a name badge on I wouldn't know him from Adam. Oh look, there are three more babies, are they cute or what? Oh god, taste this, it's amazing." She offers me a piece of red meat and I stare as she multi tasks. "I think the beef is very succulent."
"Thank you. So, what do you want to do later?"
"Umm, nothing, I want to sit here and watch the live show. You can cuddle me and we can make out."
"That sounds like a damned fine plan. We are going on a jeep safari in the morning."
"All of us?"
"I think so."
"Oh, okay."
"Ana?"
"Christian?"
"You sounded like that wasn't a good idea?"
"It is, but are you okay with your staff coming too, I mean I don't see them as staff, but you do?"
"I am learning that. No, I am 'cool' as Elliot keeps saying, about being more relaxed. It's Taylor who has the problem."
"Really? I would have guessed it was your problem?"
"He likes the boundaries we had in place."
"Until I steam rolled into your life, you mean?"
"Yes, now eat. These I think are plantains?"
"Umm, I had them in St Bart's, I didn't care for them then and I doubt they have got any nicer?" She turns her cute nose up at the offered forkful of food. "I have plenty of other things to eat on my plate. Please do not worry about me starving myself, you will find I love food." I smile as her head turns towards the sound of an elephant trumpeting. "Oh heck if I live to a hundred and one, that is the cutest thing I will ever see." The elephants are holding each other's tails and the mothers are caring for their off spring.
"It is cute, but in a few months' time I bet there will be something even cuter catching your eye."
"You in a bunny suit?"
"Ana."
"Oh, Phewy and I was so hoping to see you as an Easter bunny too. I mean you will have three Grey babies to entertain, is that the cute you meant?"
"I live to put on a rabbit suit."
"I can't wait."
"For a glimpse of me in a rabbit suit?"
"I was thinking of the babies dressed in little rabbit onesies, with their Daddy collecting Easter Eggs... Can you imagine that Christian?" I sigh.
"Yes, and I can't wait for the real thing either." I sip the chilled wine and we eat and watch as other animals join the show, our butler takes away the dishes and brings dessert. Ana is silent as she sees what she thinks is her lion. Her mouth is open and she slowly gets up and heads to the glass rail.
"Christian, it's Christian… Look, he's right there. He is so big, he is a grown up lion."
"How do you know?"
"He has a collar on, look." I stand behind Ana and we stare at Christian's lion. He is amazing. We are so mesmerised, that we don't hear Kemi come onto the veranda.
"That is indeed your lion Mrs Grey, he usually comes alone to drink water, about this time nightly."
"He comes here alone, is he alright?"
"He is the tamest of the lions on the reserve, he is too used to humans to leave the safe area. He has on a collar, but he is never too far away, and as he cannot hunt for himself and is fed by his keeper, he knows where is safe and where there is danger. Sadly, he did not take to being free and living wild. He has no claws and his teeth were filed, so he is not able to kill his own food. He is a favourite of all the staff. He comes and goes like he owns the place."
"He is in good health though?" Ana asks.
"Yes, if anything he is a little lazy. He may one day find a mate, but for now he likes his own company." Ana smiles at me.
"He is like you Christian, he needs to find his mate and be happy." She giggles.
"If you say so dear."
"Mr Grey, the others are stopping in their lodges for the evening, will you be requiring the jeep to take you anywhere?"
"No thank you Kemi, we too are stopping in for the night thank you." He nods his head and the staff take away the food. Ana stares into the night and sighs.
"Christian, did I do the right thing, he is a prisoner here. He is about as wild as a zoo animal."
"He is safer than a zoo animal and well looked after, he would have gone mad in the zoo which had him before you rescued him. He is in a better place. I think he is as Kemi says, lazy, why hunt when food is dropped at his doorstep?"
"If you say so, listen he is roaring and there are others calling out too, this is the best thing ever. Oh god I love it here. Look, look a giraffe and her baby. Oh hell this is too cute!" I watch as Ana stares out and watches the wild show. "How come they don't eat each other?"
"I think you will find the only meat eater there is Christian, the others are bush eating wildlife." I tell her and then she suddenly screams and it chills me to the bone,
"Move Christian, that's a gator, it will eat you for dinner. Move you dumb ass." She has startled all the animals who were peacefully grazing the water's edge. "They didn't say there was alligators in here! They are horrid, but thank god for that big elephant, he has chased him away. He was going for the baby elephant calf."
"It is the circle of life Baby, this is what it is to be wild."
"Okay, I get that, but I don't like alligators."
"I think they are crocodiles Ana, and they have to eat too. It looks like you scared the crap out of Christian, because he's gone."
"I guess so. So now that I have interrupted the live show, what are we going to do for entertainment?"
"I could think of a few things?"
"Really, I wonder what sort of things you are thinking about?"
"There is a pool table, how about a game of pool?"
"Nope… Try again sunshine."
"There is a shelf full of books?"
"Nope, you are really cold now."
"How about sitting by the fire and watching a movie?"
"Really, you want to watch TV?" She is playing the game well.
"I don't watch television at the best of times, and then it is only usually the news and finance channels. What do you want to do then?"
"The hot tub is calling my name, how about we watch the wildlife from there? Ouch, what the bloody hell was that?" She slaps her arm again.
"Mosquitoes, would be my guess?" She dances around with her shoe in her hand swotting the flying beasties. "Hungry mosquitoes by the look of it."
"If I am to be bitten I would prefer it was by my husband. They are nasty little feckers." We head in and the doors are closed behind us. The aircon is on and they do not like the chill. Ana inspects the bite and I go and fetch the first aid kit. What does one put on a bite?
"I have a stick thing in my bag, it smells horrid, but stops it hurting or itching, I never leave home without it. It acts as a deterrent for would be muggers too. It smells of something wicked. Pee…"
"Okay, pee, are you sure?"
"It's a weak ammonia thing. They usually go for Holly, not me." She squirts the fowl odder on her arm and cusses. "It stings like Billy O…"
"I won't ask what or who Billy O is."
"I never asked Mimi who he was either, so your guess is as good as mine. There I am all yours, so, can we be safe in the hot tub?"
"Yes, it's covered and the citrus smelling lantern things, they usually keep them at bay. You must have found a brave couple."
"Yeah that's me, an easy mark. So, if you are sure we are not overlooked, then I suggest we go and get hot in the tub, yes?"
"Like you have to ask…"
Sorry I am really unreliable at the moment, I am suffering with the shoulder and finger pains and I am in a funk… It is quite the task to get up in the morning. Not good, especially as we are on holiday in Bulgaria. I swear I am such a boring bitch and a whining one too. I also have a crap internet connection, so I am uploading this at a bar. And like Ana I am being bitten to buggery. I will try to update before I go back home. WIFI permitting and bad mood and cranky knickers permitting…
