Chapter 36

CPOV

I really hope Ana likes what I have planned for the weekend. She is bouncing with excitement as the plane starts to take off. "So, Anastasia, shall I put you out of your misery and tell you where we are going?" I love teasing her.

"Yes, please!" She looks at me wide-eyed and smiling.

"We're going to stay at my house in Aspen for the weekend." I know she's going to have a ton of questions. She wouldn't be Ana if she didn't.

"You have a house in Aspen?"

"Yes."

"How long have you had it?"

"A few years now."

"Do you stay there often?"

"Not really. My family uses it more than I do."

"Why not?"

"Not sure. I guess because I don't really take vacations."

"Never?"

"Not really."

"Hmm…" I can tell she's thinking of something.

"Yes, Ana?" I can't hide my smile.

"I just think it's strange you have a house in Aspen but you don't take vacations. How do you relax?"

"I think you know how I relax."

"Oh." She blushes and gets a grin on her face. I give her a heated stare. "Christian, no. We can't."

"I have a bedroom in the back of the plane. Who says we can't?" She turns red and I know I've embarrassed her. It's easy to forget everything sexual is a new experience for her. "That's OK. We'll have plenty of time for that this weekend." I pick up her feet and slip off her shoes. She turns in her seat so she is facing me as I begin to massage her feet.

Finally, we land at the airport and there is a car waiting for us. The driver loads the luggage into the trunk and whisks us off to my house. We pull up to the house and Ana gets her first look at it "Wow! I think house is an understatement, Christian."

"Come on, let me show you the place." I'm excited to show her the house and everything in it. I want to share these things with her. I bring her in through the front door, past the kitchen to the great room. The fire is lit and it's romantic and cozy. Ana looks out the french doors to the deck and view of Ajax Mountain.

"Christian, the view is amazing! It's beautiful. Can we go outside?"

"Of course." I open the door so we can step out on the wood deck. While she is looking at the view I wrap my arms around her and give her a tender kiss on her temple. We don't say anything or move for a few minutes; we are absorbed in the scenery.

"Are you hungry, baby?" Just then her stomach growls loudly giving her away. Her blue eyes get wide and she starts to laugh. "I am going to take that as a yes." I lead her into the kitchen where I have takeout from Rustique Bistro set up.

"Christian, this looks delicious. How did you do it all?"

"I had help from Mrs. Bentley who is the housekeeper here. She did this for us before she and Mr. Bentley went away for the weekend."

"Oh. Do they live here?"

"Yes. I rarely stay here so they usually have the house to themselves."

"Where are they going this weekend then?"

"They are going away to a bed and breakfast. I wanted you and me to have some privacy." I raise my eyebrows at her and she does her signature blush.

We sit in front of the fireplace on the living room floor enjoying the food and some wine. Being here with Ana, talking and laughing feels right to me.

After we've finished eating, we relax on the floor. I'm leaning against the sofa and Ana is laying with her back against me.

Ana sighs contently, "Today has been wonderful, Christian. Thank you."

"Well, I have a way you can make it even better." I take the box out of my pocket, open it, and hold it in front of her. "Marry me."

"What? Are you joking?" Ana's voice goes up a few octaves from shock.

"No, Anastasia. I am not joking. I want to marry you."

"You don't think it's too soon?" Now her voice is just a whisper.

"Ana, I love you and will always love you. When we were broken up, it was a wake-up call that I never want to be without you for as long as I live."

Her eyes start to fill with tears. "I love you too, Christian Trevelyan Grey. And, yes, I will marry you." She wraps her arms around her neck and kisses me earnestly.

I slip the ring on her finger and it fits perfectly. "How did you know my ring size?" I smile at my little secret.

"When you were sleeping I measured your finger with a piece of string. I had it custom made for you. It's a one of a kind ring for my one of a kind girl." Ana looks down at the ring with the 5 carat perfect round cut diamond atop of a ribbon of platinum decked with more diamonds crossed over a ribbon of rose gold giving it a twisted look for the band.

"Christian I love it. I like the rose gold in it too." She can't take her eyes off the ring but won't stop smiling.

"Well, you were wearing rose gold when I realized how I felt about you so I thought it was fitting." I smile at the memory of Ana after my brother's wedding reception.

"You're very romantic." She kisses me once more.

"Actually, I was trying to be romantic and I was going to propose to you during a sunrise hot air balloon ride tomorrow morning but I couldn't wait."

"How long have you been walking around with this in your pocket?"

I smirk at her. "A few days now. Having you stay with me for the last couple of weeks solidified my feelings for you."

She kisses me again but this time more fervently. I hold her in my arms as we kiss. Without breaking our kiss I move so she is underneath me and we make love in front of the fire. We don't stop until we both fall asleep in each other's arms.