Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as told by Christian novel Chapter 93

Ana takes a photograph, with the flash on, surprising me. I blink the blur of the bright lights out of my eyes and watch as she switches the flash off.

“How are you, Mrs. Grey?” I ask.

“Sad to be going home.” She pouts. “I like having you to myself.”

I take her hand and kiss her knuckles in turn. “Me, too,” I whisper.

“But?” she asks.

Damn. She heard my unspoken doubt. Her eyes narrow, shrewd and interrogative. She’s not going to let this go until I tell her. I sigh. “I want this arsonist caught and out of our lives.”

“Oh.”

Exactly.

“I’ll have Welch’s balls on a platter if he lets anything like that happen again.” My tone sounds cold and sinister, even to me.

But this has gone on too long. We need to catch the fucker.

Ana gapes at me, then raises the camera and takes a quick shot. “Gotcha.”

I smile, relieved that she’s lightened the mood. “I think it’s time to board our flight. Come.”

“Sawyer, can we go through the front?” I ask, and he pulls the Audi up to the curb outside Escala. Taylor climbs out and opens my door. Ana is fast asleep.

“Thanks, Taylor,” I say as I stretch my legs. “It’s good to be back.”

“It is, sir.”

“I’ll wake Ana.” Opening her door, I lean over her. “Hey, sleepyhead, we’re home.” I unbuckle her seat belt.

“Hmm,” she hums, and I lift her into my arms. “Hey, I can walk,” she grumbles sleepily.

Oh, no, baby. “I need to carry you over the threshold.”

She puts her arms around my neck. “Up all thirty floors?”

“Mrs. Grey, I am very pleased to announce that you’ve put on some weight.”

“What?”

“So, if you don’t mind, we’ll use the elevator.”

Taylor opens the doors to the Escala lobby and smiles. “Welcome home, Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey.”

“Thanks, Taylor,” I answer.

We head into the lobby. “What do you mean I’ve put on weight?” Ana glares at me.

She’s pissed.

“Not much.” I grin to reassure her. Tightening my hold on her as I walk to the elevator, I recall how she looked when I picked her up from SIP, after we split up. How thin and sad she was. The memory is sobering.

“What is it?” she asks.

“You’ve put on some of the weight you lost when you left me.” My answer is quiet. That was me. I was responsible for her sadness.

I never want to see her like that again.

I press the call button.

“Hey.” Ana caresses my face and her fingers entwine in my hair. “If I hadn’t gone, would you be standing here, like this, now?”

And just like that, she pours oil on my troubled waters.

“No.” I smile. Because it’s true. I step into the elevator, holding my wife, and lightly brush my lips over hers. “No, Mrs. Grey, I wouldn’t. But I would know I could keep you safe, because you wouldn’t defy me.”

“I like defying you,” she says with her coquettish smile.

I chuckle. “I know. And it’s made me so happy.”

“Even though I’m fat?” She pouts.

I laugh. “Even though you’re fat.” My lips capture hers once more, and she tightens her hold on my hair as we lose ourselves in each other.

The elevator pings, and we are back at Escala for the first time as husband and wife. “Very happy,” I whisper, my body stirring. I carry her into the foyer and I want to bypass everything and everyone and take her to bed. “Welcome home, Mrs. Grey.” I kiss her once more.

“Welcome home, Mr. Grey.” Her face is alight with joy.