A/N: Ok, awesome readers. I need a little bit of help. Who do you think that Mia hooks up with on Barabai? Ethan or Sawyer? She and Ethan are the only ones still sleeping at the beach house. Mia and Ethan have been friends for a while. Sawyer is more of a naughty choice. I am sure that Christian puts a "no fraternization with my sister" clause in the staff's contracts. Leave me your choice in the reviews and make the case for your pick.
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Chapter 24
The Ring-a-Ding-Ding
Kate and I lounge in the shade of the palms for our post-lunch rest period.
"Lay-dies!" Mia sings, approaching from the beach house trail. "I come bearing gifts."
Mia appears with two gifts wrapped in Turkish hand towels and secured with hair elastics. Kate, always one for receiving treats and baubles, dives into unwrapping hers.
"Huh? I don't get it. I don't have a laptop here to use this," she says holding up a non-descript thumb drive.
Mia claps her hands in delight. "You don't need a laptop, Boo. Remember when you told us how much you missed binge watching stuff on Netflix? Well, Dax got his wife to download some binge-worthy stuff from Netflix for you. We can have a girl's night and watch it on the movie screen. I already checked with Louisa and Archie. The projector has a USB port that supports these files."
Kate squeals and bounces, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She throws her arms around Mia and lays a sloppy, wet kiss on her cheek.
"Good, I was hoping this would make you happy. Although we can't throw you the wedding of your dreams or even take you to Vegas for an epic bachelorette party, we can put on comfie pajamas, pig out on snacks, and stay up all night watching whatever it is Kristen put on this drive."
"Aww, Mimi, you are the bestest. I am so glad that we get to socially distance together." More hugs abound.
"Open yours," Mia prompts me.
"You know you don't have to give me anything…"
"Shut your mouth, Banana, and open the present," Mia laughs.
I remove the Turkish towel to reveal a slightly used pair of flip-flops. I get a little verklempt and do my own thanking and squealing and kissing of Mia.
"Good bye Converse, hello heaven," I say as I toss my stinky canvas sneakers over my shoulder and don my new, island-appropriate footwear. I sigh in delight and model my new shoes like they are Louboutin's. My girlfriends laugh and ooh and ah like it's a fashion show.
"Ok, Meems, how did you get Dax and Kristen to send us such great presents? Spill the beans!" Cue the Kavanaugh inquisition.
"Easy, condoms!"
"What the hell?! Why did you bring so many condoms? Are you and my brother secretly boning?"
"No, no," Mia insists through a fit of giggles. "I just came prepared to do business."
"Do business as what? Some kind of isolation hooker?" Kate says through laughter so voracious tears stream down her cheeks.
Once Mia gets her own giggles under control and catches her breath, she explains.
"So, I wasn't sure what to pack when we were getting ready to leave Seattle so I tried googling what to bring for a global pandemic. Only, there weren't really any Pinterest boards to help me out on that."
"You don't say," I interject.
"Hush, Banana! I ended up falling down a rabbit hole on all of these end-of-the-world, survivalist websites that popped up. One of the sites recommended that I pack some sort of commodity in case we needed to barter."
"So, you chose condoms for your commodity?"
"Shut up!" Mia swats Kate. "The websites suggested condoms. It had a whole list of things people would want if the banking system collapses. Condoms were the easiest item to get. I knew none of you fools would think to bring a stash of them."
"You were right," I tell Mia. "I mean, pink condoms are kind of becoming the new currency on Barabai."
"So what other items did your website suggest for currency?" More Kavanaugh inquisition.
"All kinds of stuff," Mia starts ticking off items on her fingers. "Antibiotics, precious metals, de-salinators, water filters, booze, ammo, weed...really any of these items have value if we need to barter. "
"Weed and ammo? Really Mia?" Kate raises aa judgey eyebrow.
"I know, right? I figured Christian would have the gold and alcohol covered. I'm guessing that Taylor and the guys took care of bullets and emergency meds. I knew the resort would supply us with drinking water. I've seen Brokedown Palace enough times that I wasn't about to pack any drugs. Condoms just made the most sense. They are cheap, small and lightweight, easy to buy, legal - all very desirable qualities when trying to pack for the end of the world at 1 am on a Wednesday."
"I'm proud of you, Mimi. You really put a lot of thought into your packing. I mean, if you didn't bring all those condoms, I never would have gotten these," I model my flip-flop clad feet.
"Yeah, plus you and Christian would already be preggers," Kate teases me.
I blush and nod in agreement.
Later, as soon as dinner is done, our band of merrymakers gathers to binge watch Bridgerton on the beach font movie screen. Kate, Mia, and I snuggle together for some girl time while Elliott, Christian, and the guys play beer pong by the Tiki bar. For the first time since we arrived, things feel normal. At this point in our adventure, I would say that Mia's condoms are more valuable than gold.
I wake to find the sun streaming brightly in through the panoramic windows of Christian's master-of-the-universe suite. I hide my eyes from the daylight and reach over to find coldness where Christian fell asleep. I yawn and sit up. I roll my neck and scrunch my eyes closed. It is too bright in this waterside oasis.
A familiar chuckle resonates from the balcony. I smell my sex god before I see him. My nose flares like a hound dog tracking a convict. The familiar scent fills my lungs like a balm for the soul. Even sweaty and oceans away from his billionaire toiletries, the undercurrents of Christian's elixir remain unchanged. Today, I detect notes of strength, dominance, and power. Yum!
"Good morning, baby." The tender tones roll from his tongue like honey. Before I can blink the day into focus, a shadow bends down for a kiss. I tilt my head back to receive the warm, soft velvet of his lips. He lingers for just a spot. I savor the taste of my favorite dish – Christian Trevelyan Grey. I need this man more than I need food, air, or water.
I squint Christian into focus. The first thing I see clearly is his playful grin. I hum in approval.
"I love you," I whisper as the rest of his face begins to transform from hazy shapes into the familiar lines of my lover. He leans forward to meet my lips with another kiss. De-freaking-licious!
Christian breaks away to grab my hands. He pulls me to my knees with our bodies just centimeters apart.
"Come, baby," he commands before swooping me up bride-over-the threshold style. My head falls back with giggles of delight. I love my playful beau. Our laughter echoes in synchrony as Christian carries me into his amazing bathroom.
Like all of the other master baths on Barabai, Christian's is more of a concept than a room defined by four walls. Stepping through the doorway, Christian carries me down into a sunken porch with an opening to the lush green foliage of the inner island. The floor of this outdoor oasis is covered with tiles in shades of turquoise that create a stunning mosaic around a large oval tub. The bath melds into tropical plants that form a privacy screen. Beyond the tub is a waterfall shower that blends with the natural surroundings so well that I swear it must be naturally occurring.
Christian whisks me over to the porcelain tub which is already filled with water and topped with floating purple flowers. Steam from the hot water diffuses the intoxicating tropical smells coming from the bath. Christian holds my hand to as I step into the water. Having only bathed in water warmed by the sun since arriving to Barabai, the heat surprises me. I reflexively inhale the floral vapors.
Christian chuckles, "The tub structure is heated." I hum in appreciation.
When I am comfortably immersed in what must be the dew of the heavens, Christian releases my hand. He peels down his muscle hugging black boxer briefs and climbs in to join me. When we bath at home, Christian sits behind me and I rest against his chest. Today he sits facing me. We both rest against our opposing sides with our legs intertwined like mating crabs. His long legs snake around so that his feet rest behind my bum. Christian massages my toes as we relax together in this unexpected nirvanna.
"Are you happy, Ana?"
"Yes," I hum leaning back against a fluffy neck roll. Closed eyes allow for my other senses to get lost in this soul-filling experience.
"Are you?" I ask.
"Whenever we are together, I am happy," he purrs. Have I mentioned how well Christian Grey does seduction?
I open my eyes and watch this god of a man work his fingers into the deepest parts of my feet. His only focus is my care. His muscles flex as he channels his strength into the foot rub. Everything in me relaxes. I fight the beckoning subspace and remain present in this moment. I know that if I do not speak now, I will regret this missed opportunity. I lift my head to look at this beautiful creature in front of me.
"I'm all in," I say.
Christian's eyes switch focus from my feet to my face. He cocks his head and arches an eyebrow encouraging me to elaborate.
I take a deep breath and continue, "I'm all in with this." I motion back and forth between the two of us. "I am done running, Christian. I am done denying my feelings. I love you without reservation. I am yours…always."
"Always?" he questions giving me his full attention. He makes his way over to me. With one hand on the edge of the tub, his other hand cups my cheek. Our faces are just hairs apart.
I bite my lower lip and look deep into those grey eyes of his. "I'm all yours, Christian." I nod.
"All mine, Ana?" he whispers back like he is having trouble accepting what I am saying. "Say that you are mine forever."
"Yours…forever…" I confirm, barely recognizing the my husky voice. I have never felt such equal parts vulnerable and indestructible. His thumb strokes my cheek. His eyes bore into my soul.
"I am yours and only yours, Christian. You are it for me."
His grey eyes lighten. In this moment I know that he believes me. He knows that I will never run again.
Christian reaches over to the soap dish by the faucet. He picks up a small brown loop. It looks like leather lacing braided into a ring. Picking up my left hand, Christian slides it onto my soapy ring finger. Holding my hand in his, his eyes bore into mine. He speaks with a tremble.
"Anastasia Rose Steele, will you marry me?" Oh, Snap! This is happening.
I nod vigorously through tears. "Yes, Christian Trevelyan Grey. I will marry you." His lips smash into mine.
We break apart long enough for me to admire the DIY leather ring.
"I wish that this ring was made of platinum and diamonds. You deserve only the finest things. I promise that I will replace it with so much more when we get back home to Seattle."
"Wherever you are, that is my home…I love this ring. It is perfect."
I put my hands on his shoulders and lean in to give him a kiss. Christian leans back. I wrap my legs around his waist. Our kisses grow from tender to frantic as water begins sloshing about. Christian's arms wrap around my waist and his hands press into my back.
He pulls his mouth back just long enough to pant, "Oh god, Ana. I love you so fucking much. I am never going to let you go."
I feel him grow harder. My apex bores into him searching for friction. We are pressing and grinding into each other desperate to meld together.
Christian reaches over the side of the tub and produces a familiar pink foil packet. Praise Mia! He raises up long enough for me to roll it down his steel length. I position myself and slide down onto him. Christian leans back against the side of the tub with my legs wrapped around his waist. He holds onto my hips and slowly rocks me up and down. I grab onto the edge of the tub and allow him to control our pace.
At some point, I allow my mind to enter a world filled with only body heat, slick skin, and the heady smells of Barabai. I surrender to our lovemaking that is both focused and frenzied. Wave after wave of pleasure crashes into us. I am unable to tell when one orgasm ends and another begins. They continue to roll over me, one after another. I hear myself scream meaningless sounds. We are soaring through the twinkling heavens, surrounded by exploding rockets showering us in fire and light.
Christian tenses and relaxes in synchrony with my own pleasure. He roars loud enough to wake the sleeping gods. At some point, our screams come together creating the symphony of this moment. I tilt my head back long enough to bellow out one final surrender. These are my last bits of coherency before I detonate through our final orgasm and collapse into the arms of my fiancé. HOLY SHIT, WE ARE ENGAGED!
A/N: Creating a Pinterest board for Chapter 24 was so much fun. Check out the link on my profile page to see all of the yummy eye candy – Christian's bathroom, Ana's ring, and the super luxe beach front cinema are just a few of the inspirations on the board. If you are like me and love a good spoiler, you can jump ahead and check out the board for Chapter 25. Be warned – the Chap 25 board will leave you wanting more! If you do check out the Chap 25 board, I'd love to hear what you think might happen next.