Chapter 18: Anniversaries
AKA: The Grace

I hope you stay around for a long, long time.

I think I want you in my life forever.

The week that followed was tranquil. Anastasia joined me for dinner on Wednesday, in what had become our new routine. On Thursday, Taylor and Reynolds set aside a couple of hours for Anastasia, Mia and Katherine, to refresh their self-defence techniques in Escala's gym, while I was not so kindly asked to make myself scarce. Then, on Friday, we went out to have dinner with my siblings and the Kavanaghs.

Saturday morning, I woke up slowly and lazily, naked and with an equally bare Anastasia in my arms. I smiled as I watched her sleep, her face peaceful with sweet dreams.

I could hardly believe it had been three months since we'd met. So much had changed in my life ever since that night I'd sat next to her at the bar in the BDSM club. Anastasia had stubbornly refused to let me continue in my path of isolation—and, quite frankly, haughtiness—and had meticulously torn apart the walls I'd built around my heart. She had both frowned at my worst habits and accepted my faults and insecurities, carefully removing the rotten layers that made me an ogre or soothing my aches and scars accordingly, somehow knowing when to push me to be better and when to embrace my flaws.

I could hardly believe it had been two months since she'd walked into my office and looked at me in the eyes for the first time. So much had changed in my life ever since that afternoon. She had gone from refusing my advances to sleeping in my bed, between my arms. She had learnt to trust me—and I, her—and she had let me lead her to highs she'd never seen before. Most importantly, she had let me hold her hand was we leant together what it's like to fall in love.

Unable to help myself, with her sweet face so close to mine, I reached down to kiss her: her forehead, her nose, her cheekbones, her soft lips. She woke up from my ministrations and returned my caresses and my affection. We made love slowly and as if we'd known each other's bodies and hearts form much more than a few months, our hands intertwined and our eyes fixed on each other's.

"What brought that on?" Anastasia asked a few minutes after she'd come chanting my name.

"Three months ago, you walked into my life wearing sexy underwear, blindfolded and trusting, not knowing all the wicked things I wanted to do to you," I said. "And exactly a month after that, you walked into GEH, unaware you'd be seeing me for the first time. You agreed to go to dinner with me, not knowing everything would change for both of us. So today we'll celebrate by fucking and making love on every available surface!"

She chuckled. "So long as it includes the playroom…"

Of course it did. Love and kinky sex weren't mutually exclusive. If anything, the connection and trust only deepened, making the experience all the headier and more pleasurable in ways I couldn't have predicted. First, though, we had breakfast—Anastasia's blueberry pancakes—and celebrated on the kitchen counter. Then we made love in the shower, and once we were clean we got each other sweaty in the playroom to the sound and tempo of classical music, as I teased Anastasia, slowly building her orgasm until she couldn't hold on anymore and came spectacularly in my arms. A power nap was followed by sex in the TV room and then my office, lunch and more sleep. Finally, we christened every bedroom upstairs, including the old Sub room.

We tapped out shortly before sunset, had quick separate showers, and met again on the living room's couch. While I dealt with some work that needed to be done before Monday, Anastasia relaxed by my side as she read a book in the eReader I'd gifted her—and that, as usual, she'd accepted reluctantly but was now enjoying.

We'd been sitting in my living room in pleasant silence for roughly an hour when Anastasia asked out of thin air, "Have you ever thought of getting a mirror on the playroom's ceiling?"

I couldn't say I had. I'd, of course, come across the concept several times, but it was not a playroom design I'd chosen to pursue for several reasons: I liked the room as it was, and I had no wish to refurbish my domain—it had been enough of a change to get rid of the punishment instruments Anastasia didn't tolerate—; it seemed pointless, as I preferred my Subs blindfolded—something else that had changed with Anastasia, as I loved staring at her blue eyes as I pleasured her body, not that I didn't still blindfold her for her enjoyment as much as mine—; lastly and most importantly, I didn't wish for my Subs to get distracted with the scars on my back as I fucked them—something which I was much less self-conscious about around Anastasia.

In short, all of the reasons I'd had for not getting a mirror on my playroom's ceiling were moot when it came to my Kitty.

Which got me back to the matter at hand.

"What? What are you reading?" I asked her, surprised, as I tried to peek at Anastasia's eBook.

"Erotica," she answered unashamed, shrugging as nonchalantly as if she'd answered any other possible fucking genre.

"Erotica," I repeated slowly, hardly believing she'd been shamelessly reading porn without blushing while I worked just a few centimetres away from her.

"We've been through this," she answered as if I were the one acting unfamiliarly. "That's how I got interested in BDSM, remember?"

"Right. I just cannot believe I'm here working, and you're reading porn next to me."

"It's not—! That's not what it is! It's caller erotica. Sounds fancier." She smirked. "And you can keep working. You're not touching me until tomorrow at the earliest. I'm sore."

"I've got great plans for tomorrow," I informed her with a smile as I thought about what I had planned. "You're going to love it."

The next morning, after having stayed in bed for half an hour longer than planned, Reynolds drove us to the marina. We walked hand-in-hand through the promenade as Anastasia stared at the clear sky, the sparkling blue water and the rocking boats docked along the waterfront.

As we headed down the marina and approached my ship, The Grace, the boats got progressively larger. We eventually reached my catamaran's berth.

"I thought we'd go sailing today. This is my boat," I told Anastasia as we stood in front of The Grace.

"Wow…" Anastasia muttered as her eyes roamed over my catamaran in wonder. It was one of my prides and joys, and I was glad that, as usual, my sunshine was happy to share one of my hobbies with me.

"Built by my company," I shared proudly, making Anastasia beam with me. "She's been designed from the ground up by the very best naval architects in the world and constructed here in Seattle at my yard. She has hybrid electric drives, asymmetric dagger boards, a square-topped mainsail—"

"Okay... you've lost me, Christian."

I grinned. "She's a great boat."

"She looks mighty fine, Mr Grey. Like her owner."

"That she does, Miss Steele."

"What's her name?"

I pulled her by the hand and guided her to the side of the ship, where my mother's name was displayed proudly in silver.

"You named her after your mum," she whispered with awe.

"How else?" I answered softly, letting my love and appreciation for my mother fill my chest.

Anastasia smiled up at me. "It must have made her very happy."

Indeed.

"You know her. She cried a bit. I think Dad's upset I didn't name the helicopter after him. Maybe the next one…"

My father and I hadn't always had the best relationship but I didn't love him any less than the rest of my family.

Anastasia chuckled and joked, "Carrick the Chopper."

It did rhythm, but Christian Grey flew no chopper.

"Helicopter, Anastasia."

"Whatever you say, love. So, are we staying here on the ground, or what?"

"Sometimes I think you annoy me just for the sake of it."

"Sometimes I do," she replayed with a cheeky smile. "I miss making your eye twitch."

"You're terrible. Come on. Let's go aboard."

I guided her towards the stern (rear) of the ship and up the stairs, to the canopied deck. It was comfortable and warm, with a wooden table, white chairs, a beige leather couch and a large white sun pad.

I stared at Anastasia as her eyes roamed the ship, taking it all in. When she caught sight of Mac coming from the interior of the cabin, she jumped, startled.

"Mac," I greeted him.

"Mr Grey! Welcome back," he greeted me as we shook hands.

"Baby, do you remember Liam McConnell?" He had been invited to my birthday party. "Liam, my girlfriend, Anastasia."

Girlfriend. I liked the sound of that.

They shook hands too.

"Call me Mac," he said. "Welcome aboard."

"Ana, please," she muttered.

"How's she shaping up, Mac?"

"She's ready to rock and roll, sir," Mac beamed.

"Let's get underway, then." I turned to look at my girl. "Quick tour, Anastasia?"

"Yes, please."

I guided her inside the cabin. On the starboard side—that is to say, on our right—there was another table, this one surrounded by square ottomans and a grey sofa. On the port side, there was a large white kitchen equipped to my mother's and sister's satisfaction.

"This is the main saloon," I said as Anastasia looked around the room and the windows covering all sides of the cabin, offering a panoramic view of the marina.

We walked down the middle of the main cabin and towards the two sets of stairs that led to the hulls.

I pointed to our left towards the stairs on the port side and said, "That one leads towards two guest cabins with a bathroom each. And this one," I continued as we walked towards the starboard side, between the dining table and the navigation station, "leads to the main cabin."

I gestured for her to go ahead and I walked down the stairs behind her. She took in the desk and wardrobe that stood at our left, by the ship's bow. "A small office and a bathroom over there," I said as I gestured at the closed door, before guiding Anastasia to the aft side. "And here…" I added as we walked into the small master cabin.

Most of the room's space was taken by a queen-size cabin bed, covered with light grey linen. The walls were cream-coloured and the floor was made of pale wood, like most of the boat.

"This is the master cabin," I said as I watched her take in the bedroom. She turned to look at me and I added, "You're the first girl in here, apart from my family. They don't count," I said with a smirk.

Anastasia blushed and bit her lip.

What she did to me!

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her passionately, looking forwards to christening my ship.

I didn't pull away until my lungs were screaming for air.

"Might have to christen this bed," I whispered against her lips. "But not right now. Come, Mac will be casting off."

"So how many can sleep on board?" she asked me once we were back in the saloon.

"It's a six-berth cat." Each of the three cabins had a queen-sized bed and thus fit two people. "I've only ever had the family on board, though."

"We need to come back with Mia, Elliot, Kate and Ethan before the summer is over and spend the night," she suggested.

"There are only three bedrooms here," I answered.

"So? Is this about Mia and Ethan? Do you really think they haven't slept together yet?"

I looked at her wide-eyed, horrified by her words.

"How do you know? Did she tell you so? Or is it some kind of womanly instinct?"

She snorted.

"You and Elliot are a couple of hypocrites. And I would never share with you something Mia reveals to me in private."

Did she know something for sure, or not?

"I can't deal with this right now."

I grabbed her hand once again and guided her back to the aft deck, and then up the set of stairs that led to the terrace and the yacht's cockpit. From there, we could see Mac working on the main helm.

"Is this where you learned all your rope tricks?" asked Anastasia with fake innocence, distracting me from my thoughts about Mia and what she may or may not be doing with Kavanagh in private.

"Clove hitches have come in handy," I answered as I looked at her appraisingly. This was the first time she'd brought up the topic of ropes. "Miss Steele, you sound curious. I like you curious, baby. I'd be more than happy to demonstrate what I can do with a rope."

"What? Are you entering a knot-tying competition?" she asked, sounding clueless and tilting her head to a side. Her eyes were full of mirth. Her lips twitched for a second before she started to giggle. I joined her, mostly laughing at her goofiness rather than her joke.

"What I was planning on doing doesn't involve public," I promised her huskily then. "Now let's go. I've got a boat to drive."

"Is there anything you can't do?"

I had the feeling answering wasn't in my best interest. Anastasia enjoyed destroying my ego.

I sat down in front of the controls and turned on the engines.

As soon as Mac was done with the ropes, he called up that we were set to go, so I picked up the receiver and radioed the coastguard.

With the OK to go, I eased my catamaran out of her berth slowly and carefully as Anastasia took in the scenery. She waved, looking towards the dockside, and I noticed the children staring and waving at her. As soon as she was done entertaining the kids, I guided Anastasia to stand in front of the cockpit, between my legs.

"See this? That's our radio. Our GPS, our AIS, the radar," I said as I pointed at the respective gadgets in the panel.

"What's the AIS?"

"That identifies us to shipping. This is our depth gauge. Grab the wheel."

"Aye, aye, Captain," she answered, giggling.

I was ecstatic to see her so happy. She usually only giggled when she was tipsy.

I liked to think she was drunk in me and the blue water, just like I was lost in her smile and her eyes.

She did as told and I placed my hands over hers. I piloted us slowly out of the marina and into open water, where we swept across the Sound in a large arc until we were heading northwest toward the Olympic Peninsula and Bainbridge Island.

Away from the shelter of the marina's protective wall, the wind was stronger. I was looking forward to the moment we could get the sheets up and let The Grace fly. I'd always loved challenging myself against the elements in a boat I've helped design and using the skills I've spent a lifetime perfecting, but it was all the more exhilarating with Anastasia between my arms. She grinned as we navigated northwest, her hands beneath mine on the wheel.

"Sail time. Here: you take her. Keep her on this course."

She turned to look at me behind her shoulder, horrified, making me grin.

"You're telling me your father never took you sailing?"

"Not only older brothers are overprotective." Smartass. "Dad never let me touch anything."

"It's really easy, baby. Hold the wheel and keep your eyes on the horizon over the bow. You'll do great; you always do. When the sails go up, you'll feel the drag. Just hold her steady. I'll signal like this"—I made a slashing motion across my throat— "and you can cut the engines. This button here." I pointed to the engines' kill button. "Understand?"

"Yes," she nodded frantically.

I gave her a quick kiss and joined Mac so we could prep and hoist the main sail together. Mac and I cranked in unison, making light work of it. When the wind caught the sheet, we lurched forward. I looked up at Anastasia, who was doing an excellent job at holding us steady. Mac and I worked on the headsail and it flew up the mast, welcoming the wind and harnessing its power.

"Hold her steady, baby, and cut the engines!" I shouted over the roar of the wind and the waves as I motioned to Anastasia. She nodded and pressed the button and the roar of the engines ceased as we whipped across the sea, flying northwest.

I hurried back towards my girl, stood behind her and placed my hands on top of hers so we could man the wheel together.

The wind was lashing her dark hair around her face. She was exhilarated, her cheeks flushed with joy and her eyes sparkling like the water around us.

"What do you think?" I shouted.

She beamed.

"Christian! This is fantastic."

I smiled back at her.

"You wait until the spinney's up," I said as I pointed with my chin toward Mac, who was unfurling the red spinnaker that matched the walls of my playroom.

"Interesting colour," she shouted above the wind.

I smirked and winked at her. She blushed, probably thinking about the Red Room of Pleasure.

The wind pumped up the spinney and The Grace charged ahead, unleashing her power and giving us a thrilling ride.

She looked from the spinnaker to me with inquiring eyes.

"Asymmetrical sail. For speed," I explained.

"It's amazing."

Her smile didn't abandon her face as we whipped through the water, enjoying the speed and the view. I loved the freedom of sailing almost as much as the one of soaring, and it was all the better with Anastasia between my arms. There was nothing like living in the moment with her, and in that instant, I didn't need to wish or hope: I just knew she'd be with me for every adventure—that she'd hold my hand and walk by my side as we enjoyed life. It had been weeks ever since I'd known I wanted to keep her in my life forever—how could I not, with the way she'd changed my life for the better? —but right then and there, in the middle of the Sound, with the wind blowing through our hair and peace running through our veins, I decided I was ready to take the next step forward into ensuring she'd be by my side forever and that she understood just how much I loved her. I was going to make her mine in a whole new way.

"How fast are we going?" asked Anastasia, ironically enough. I wanted to go faster than society dictated—I always had, graduating as fast as possible and founding my own company in my early twenties before becoming one of the richest people under thirty—and hopefully, Anastasia would be up to that ride too.

"She's doing 15 knots," I answered.

"I have no idea what that means."

"It's about 28 Km (17 miles) an hour."

"Is that all? It feels much faster."

I squeezed her hands, smiling at the wonder in her eyes. "You look lovely, Anastasia. All flushed… and not from blushing."

She turned her head around and kissed me.

"You know how to show a girl a good time, Mr Grey."

"We aim to please, Miss Steele."

"And for all you know I had a dirty thought and I am blushing." She smiled cheekily before turning to look forward again.

I snorted at her words and scooped her hair out of the way as I bent to kiss the back of her neck.

"I like seeing you happy," I murmured and tightened my arms around her. I was learning to love and to be in a relationship, but I swore to myself I'd always do my damn best to make her happy.

"You make me happy," she answered. "Always. Even when you piss me off."

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm one of the very few people allowed to be mad at you," she answered and I smiled shyly at her.

She was right, of course. Not many people would dare to be mad at me—to actually show it—and those few who did, were important to me.

An hour later, we anchored in the cove near Hedley Spit on Bainbridge Island. Together, Mac and I lowered the dinghy so he could go ashore and visit a friend in Point Monroe—and give Anastasia and me some privacy. "I'll see you in about three hours, Mr Grey."

With Mac gone, Anastasia took off her blouse and shorts, revealing the pink two-piece she'd been wearing underneath.

She looked good enough to eat, but first I wanted to feed her with the lunch Gail had packed for us. When I took off my shirt and Anastasia's eyes roamed over my muscles, I knew I wasn't the only one taken over by desire.

As soon as we were done eating, I offered to give Anastasia a more thorough tour of my ship. Her pupils dilated as she agreed. We hurried through the salon and down the stairs, to the main cabin.

As soon as the door was closed behind us, I took her in my arms and kissed her lovingly—softly, wanting to take my time with her and worship every part of her body. I caressed her soft cheek, her chin, the column of her throat and her sternum as her skin flushed with my attention. I could feel her accelerated breathing and her beating heart under my fingertips.

"I want to see you," I whispered as I reached for the back of her bikini and untied it. I made quick work of it and threw it aside as I took a short step back. My eyes took over her full breasts, her lean body, her strong legs...

"You are a goddess, Anastasia. My Goddess."

I caressed the side of her breasts with the tip of my fingers and she shuddered. My digits travelled down her ribs and her hips before moving to her back so I could hold her butt. I kneaded her soft cheeks as I pressed her body against mine, showing her how much I desired her—how hard I was for her.

Needing more, I took out both of our underwear before sitting on the bed and guiding Anastasia to stand between my legs. My lips found her breasts and explored her belly as I held onto her hips.

"I need to lie down," she breathed out after a minute.

I guided her to the bed so she was lying on her front. I climbed in between her legs and continued with my ministrations on her back, caressing her skin with my hands and my lips from her neck downwards. I took my time and made her squirm as I travelled south slowly and teasingly.

Eventually, I reached her butt. I brushed my lips against her right cheek for a second before biting her carefully, making her gasp and wriggle. Then I kissed her skin, going from right to left and then downwards as my fingers found the incredibly soft skin of her inner thighs.

I looked at her engorged pink lips and slid a finger inside her, feeling the wet warm skin of her most private area.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as my finger slid inside her opening.

I teased her with a single digit a couple of times before adding a second finger. Meanwhile, my free hand caressed her upper legs and my mouth returned to the skin of her butt and lower back.

"Oh, fuck!" Anastasia shouted when I found her g-spot. I chuckled against her warm skin.

I kept fucking her with two fingers and caressing her inner walls.

"I need more," Anastasia muttered after several minutes.

"Touch yourself, baby."

She didn't hesitate. Her right hand slid under her hip and joined me in her pussy. I couldn't see her hand, of course, but I could tell her fingers were playing with her clit. She was so hot and stimulating and perfect for me.

"Christian!" she shouted less than a minute later as she came all over both of our fingers.

Slowly, I removed my digits from inside her and turned Anastasia around so I could look at her flushed face.

"Are you ready for round two?" I needed to come inside her.

"Oh, yes!"

I carefully lay on top of her and made love to her slowly, cherishing her body and christening my ship properly.

"On Wednesday, it'll be two months ever since our first date at the Heathman," I brought up while Reynolds drove us back to Escala.

"Two months? You're not going all high maintenance on me, are you?"

Well, that didn't sound promising.

"I'm not, but I'm on a roll after this weekend, and seeing as how we usually dine together on Wednesdays…"

Maybe I was moving too fast and Anastasia would refuse a proposal. We had not been together for long. Once again, I needed to show her how amazing we could be together, and that we belonged with each other. Maybe… hopefully, I could convince her to move in with me, so she'd see how good life could be by my side. Even more so, I needed to sweep her off her feet: candlelit dinner, romantic weekend getaway, a walk during sunset… Something out of a romance novel.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," she said.

"You didn't."

"Nonetheless, I'll be happy to have dinner with you. If you promise you won't gift me something over the top."

"Deal. I had something sexy in mind, anyway."

"Sexy? Hmm… I can work with that. But then no gifts until the six-months anniversary!"

"You forgot your birthday."

"That doesn't count. And speaking of birthdays, when's Elliot's?"

"In about a month—August 5th. Why?"

"I know what we're getting him," she said with a wicked smile. I had the feeling Elliot would be paying for embarrassing us on my birthday.

I had much to do that Monday, and I didn't only mean my work as a CEO.

I wanted to romance Anastasia. I wanted to live with her. I wanted to marry her. In that order—more for her sake than mine, because if it were up to me I'd happily do all of those before Sunday.

First, I had Taylor make arrangements for Anastasia and me to fly to New York that weekend. Then, I researched what was currently playing on Broadway, and once I'd found out about Beauty and the Beast—hadn't Anastasia said she'd felt like Belle when she'd first seen my library? —I called Andrea to my office and instructed her to buy tickets for Anastasia and me for the play, as well as for the Empire State and Top of the Rock. While she took care of that, I spent a few minutes looking for the promised sexy anniversary gift, coming across some promising lingerie soon enough. Once I'd ordered it, I set to work, but I kept getting distracted by the thought of wooing Anastasia and asking her to move in with me—to live with me.

I could easily picture her by my side in Escala, but I also wanted… more. A place that hadn't been mine first, but always ours. A beautiful home with a backyard large enough for a dog or two, with a view of the waterside. As I let my imagination get the better of me, I found myself on real-state webpages, looking for options in Madison Park, Denny-Blaine and Madrona, wondering what it'd be like to spend the rest of my life in those rooms with Anastasia by my side.

I was a powerful self-made man. I had a lot to offer—and not just my looks and money as I used to think. Or at the very least, I had a lot more to offer Anastasia. I had every reason to feel confident, yet all I felt was dread.

I was a powerful self-made man and I didn't feel dread—I caused it—yet tonight I had every reason to worry Anastasia would put on the brakes. We hadn't known each other for long, and we'd been in a relationship for an even shorter time. We disagreed often. Furthermore, even if Anastasia loved romance in books and movies, she hardly believed in it in real life.

My worries lessened slightly when she walked into my living room that Wednesday night. Sawyer had left to pick her up a few minutes earlier, and I'd been waiting anxiously for her at the end of the aisle.

Laying my eyes on her was always a pleasure, but especially so that night, when the thought of not being around her had made me so anxious. Of course, it didn't hurt she looked gorgeous in a burgundy dress that hugged her waist, displayed her breasts and ended just above her knees.

I noticed she held a dark blue envelope in her hands.

Her eyes roamed over my body before settling in my silver tie and looking at it speculatively, as if remembering the pattern it had left behind in her wrists in the past.

"Hi," she whispered as she stepped closer. I drew her into my arms and she hugged me back as we kissed.

"Hello, beautiful. How was your day?"

"Great. I'm working on this new romantic comedy… It's aimed at teenagers, really, but it's interesting enough."

I led her further inside. She looked around as she took in the candles Gail had lightened while I'd waited anxiously for Sawyer to return with Anastasia, and which I had painstakingly placed around the room a few hours earlier.

I wanted to show Anastasia I could be romantic—that I could make her want to stay and make her happy.

"This looks beautiful, Christian," she whispered as she placed the blue envelope on the coffee table.

"Thank you, baby. Not as beautiful as you, though."

"That was sappy, Grey," she teased me with a smile.

We sat to have dinner then, which Gail had also served right before Anastasia's arrival when I'd been distracted. Naturally, dinner was delicious. In commemoration of our first 'date,' we had oysters, followed by black cod, asparagus and crushed potatoes with hollandaise sauce.

As we ate, we talked, bickered and laughed.

"I've been thinking about the weekend…" I approached during a lull in our conversation.

"Yes?"

"How would you like to go to New York with me? I did promise to take you there. We can leave in my jet Friday evening, right after work."

"I would love to! It sounds brilliant, handsome. We need to go to the Empire State! And Central Park, of course! I want to visit the library, and…"

The romantic getaway on a weekend was a go. Anastasia looked dreamy as she spoke about everything she wanted to do and I listened attentively, mentally planning a schedule. I already had some plans that had been settled on Monday, of course, but I was open to ideas that would please my girl.

Once we'd demolished dinner, I led Anastasia to the couch, where I'd left her gift. I smirked as I thought of the present I'd ordered for her on Monday morning. When Anastasia peeked into the bag and noticed the black lace, she smirked too. She took the baby doll from the bag and looked at it appreciatively, taking in the halter neck and large oval-shaped hole in the front that had three stripes crisscrossed in the middle.

"I promise to take it to New York if you take the spreader bar."

"Deal."

"Here," she said as she gave me the blue envelope she'd left on the coffee table.

I opened it happily. Unlike Anastasia, I wasn't wary of gifts—unless they came from Elliot and sometimes Ros. Plus, during my birthday, she'd proved to be excellent at choosing presents.

Inside, there was a pile of white paper rectangles.

'Good for one sensual lap dance,' I read to myself, realizing they were naughty coupons.

'All-nighter.'

'Pick a fantasy – Roleplay.'

'Strip poker.'

I loved this gift.

I smirked.

"I'm taking this too."

"This one got me thinking…" she said as she picked the 'Pick a fantasy – Roleplay' coupon, "that we've played a fantasy of mine, but not one of yours. I mean, I know you're the boss in the Playroom, but it's not Roleplay per se."

"Playing the Headmaster that got to seduce a virgin was fun," I answered huskily. "But I guess that if I had to pick a fantasy, it'd be to re-enact that day of the interview, and take you in my office."

How I'd wanted to bend her over the desk and shut her brave smart mouth as I took her from behind.

Wanting to feel her, I took her head in my hands and kissed her passionately.

After several seconds, I felt her hands make their way to my chest, right under my neck, and I realized she wanted to remove my tie. Before undressing each other, there was one more thing I needed to discuss with her.

"Wait!" I exclaimed as I grabbed her wrist.

She frowned and the corners of her lips lowered sadly as she looked at my chest, and I realised she'd misunderstood my reaction.

"I didn't mean it like that," I assured her as I placed both of her palms against my chest. My heart was beating strongly and quickly under her hands. "There's something I wanted to ask you today." I looked down at my chest, where my hands were holding hers, and hoped she wouldn't refuse me right away. "We've come so far in the last two months… We used to argue all the time, remember? It was like we were in two completely different books, and I wanted us so bad to be on the same page."

"And you convinced me to give us a chance. I'll be forever grateful for that," she commented with a smile.

I shook my head, daring to look up at her eyes.

"I did it for all the wrong reasons. I wanted both of us on my page, in my book. But you refused to comply, and I'll be forever grateful for that. We tried to find a happy middle, and we found ourselves together in a completely new and different book, one we didn't know existed but made us incredibly happy. And I'm hoping we can move together to the next chapter."

She looked at me wide-eyed, and I was glad I'd changed my mind and decided against proposing so soon, because she was clearly dreading my question as much as I was her answer.

"Will you move in with me, Anastasia?" I asked instead.

Her shoulders relaxed for a second before she tensed up again and gaped at me.

She stared into my eyes as she thought, and I looked at her with love transparent in my eyes, willing her to say yes.

After what felt like an eternity, she smiled and whispered firmly, "Yes."

"Yes?" I asked, hardly believing my ears.

"Yes. I'd love to move in with you, Christian."

I jumped her then, kissing her with passion and love, thankful she'd agreed to move in with me—to be by my side every single night and wake up next to me every single morning. Hopefully, soon she'd agree to continue that arrangement for the rest of our lives.

Christian has exciting plans!

Hopefully Ana doesn't run for the hills

Non-spoiler alert: she won't