Fifty Shades Trilogy 03 - Fifty Shades Freed

Him sulking? I shudder as I recall his subsequent nightmare. Will that happen again? We really need to talk. I need to know about Jack and about the increased security for the Greys—all the details that have been kept from me, but not from Kate. Obviously Elliot talks to her.
    I glance at my watch. It’s eight fifty—I’m late for work. I finish brushing my teeth, apply a little lip gloss, grab my lightweight black jacket, and head back to the great room. I am relieved to see Christian there, eating his breakfast.
    “You’re going?” he says when he sees me.
    “To work? Yes, of course.” Bravely, I walk toward him and rest my hands on the edge of the breakfast bar. He gazes at me blankly.
    “Christian, we’ve hardly been back a week. I have to go to work.”
    “But—” He stops, and rakes his hand through his hair. Mrs. Jones walks quietly out of the room. Discreet, Gail, discreet .
    “I know we have a great deal to talk about. Perhaps if you’ve calmed down, we can do it this evening.”
    His mouth pops open with dismay. “Calmed down?” His voice is eerily soft.
    I flush. “You know what I mean.”
    “No, Anastasia, I don’t know what you mean.”
    “I don’t want a fight. I was coming to ask you if I could take my car.”
    “No. You can’t,” he snaps.
    “Okay.” I acquiesce immediately.
    He blinks. He was obviously expecting a fight. “Prescott will accompany you.” His tone is slightly less belligerent.
    Dammit, not Prescott. I want to pout and protest but decide against it. Surely now Jack has been caught we can cut back on our security.
    I remember my mom’s “words of wisdom” talk the day before my wedding. Ana, honey, you really have to choose your battles. It’ll be the same with your kids when you have them . Well, at least he’s letting me go to work.
    “Okay,” I mutter. And because I don’t want to leave him like this with so much unresolved and so much tension between us, I step tentatively toward him. He stiffens, his eyes widening, and for a moment he looks so vulnerable it pulls at some deep, dark place in my heart. Oh, Christian, I’m so sorry. I kiss him chastely on the side of his mouth. He closes his eyes as if relishing my touch.
    “Don’t hate me,” I whisper.
    He grabs my hand. “I don’t hate you.”
    “You haven’t kissed me,” I whisper.
    He eyes me suspiciously. “I know,” he mutters.
    I’m desperate to ask him why, but I’m not sure I want to know the answer. Abruptly he stands and grabs my face between his hands, and in a flash his lips are hard on mine. I gasp with surprise, inadvertently granting his tongue access. He takes full advantage, invading my mouth, claiming me, and just as I’m beginning to respond he releases me, his breathing quickening.
    “Taylor will take you and Prescott to SIP,” he says, his eyes flaring with need. “Taylor!” he calls. I flush, trying to recover some composure.
    “Sir.” Taylor is standing in the doorway.
    “Tell Prescott Mrs. Grey is going to work. Can you drive them, please?”
    “Certainly.” Turning on his heel, Taylor disappears.
    “If you could try to stay out of trouble today, I would appreciate it,” Christian mutters.
    “I’ll see what I can do.” I smile sweetly. A reluctant half smile tugs at Christian’s lips, but he doesn’t give in to it.
    “I’ll see you later, then,” he says coolly.
    “Laters,” I whisper.
    Prescott and I take the service elevator down to the basement garage in order to avoid the media outside. Jack’s arrest and the fact he was apprehended in our apartment are now public knowledge. As I settle into the Audi, I wonder if there will be more paparazzi waiting at SIP like the day our engagement was announced.
    We drive a while in silence until I remember to call first Ray and then my mom to reassure them that Christian and I are safe. Mercifully, both calls are short, and I hang up just as we arrive outside SIP. As I feared, there’s a small crowd of reporters and photographers lying in wait. They turn as one, looking expectantly at the Audi.
    “Are you sure you want to do this, Mrs. Grey?” Taylor asks. Part of me just wants to go home, but that means spending the day with Mr. Burning Rage. I hope that with a little time, he will gain some perspective. Jack is in police custody, so Fifty should be happy, but he’s not. Part of me understands why; too much of this is out of his control including me, but I don’t have time to think about