"My pervert," I whisper.

"Yes, yours."

Once secured, he grabs the sides of the jacket and kisses me. "Always," he breathes, then releases me before I have a chance to respond.

Always! Holy s.h.i.t.

"Come." He grabs my hand and leads me outside, up some steps, and onto the upper deck to a small c.o.c.kpit that houses a big steering wheel and a raised seat. At the prow of the boat, Mac is doing something with ropes.

"Is this where you learned all your rope tricks?" I ask Christian innocently.

"Clove hitches have come in handy," he says, looking at me appraisingly. "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." He smirks at me, and I gaze back impa.s.sively as if he's upset me. His face falls.

"Gotcha." I grin.

His mouth twists and he narrows his eyes. "I may have to deal with you later, but right now, I've got to drive my boat." He sits at the controls, presses a b.u.t.ton, and the engines roar into life.

Mac comes scooting back down the side of the boat, grinning at me, and jumps down to the deck below where he starts to unfasten a rope. Maybe he knows some rope tricks, too. The idea pops unwelcome into my head and I fush. My subconscious glares at me. Mentally I shrug at her and glance at Christian-I blame Fifty. He picks up the receiver and radios the coastguard as Mac calls up that we are set to go.

Once more, I am dazzled by Christian's expertise. He's so competent. Is there nothing that this man can't do? Then I remember his earnest attempt to chop and dice a pepper in my apartment on Friday. The thought makes me smile.

Slowly, Christian eases The Grace out of her berth and toward the marina entrance. Be- hind us, a small crowd has gathered on the dockside to watch our departure. Small children are waving, and I wave back.

Christian glances over his shoulder, then pulls me between his legs and points out vari- ous dials and gadgets in the c.o.c.kpit. "Grab the wheel," he orders, bossy as ever, but I do as I'm told.

"Aye, aye, captain!" I giggle.

Placing his hands snugly over mine, he continues to steer our course out of the marina, and within a few minutes, we are out on the open sea, slap into the cold blue waters of Puget Sound. Away from the shelter of the marina's protective wall, the wind is stronger, and the sea pitches and rolls beneath us.

I can't help but grin, feeling Christian's excitement-this is such fun. We make a large curve until we are heading west toward the Olympic Peninsula, the wind behind us.

"Sail time," Christian says, excited. "Here-you take her. Keep her on this course."

What? He grins, reacting to the horror in my face.

"Baby, it's really easy. Hold the wheel and keep your eye 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"-he makes a slashing motion across his throat-"and you can cut the engines. This b.u.t.ton here." He points to a large black b.u.t.ton. "Understand?"

"Yes." I nod frantically, feeling panicky. Jeez-I hadn't expected to do anything!

He kisses me quickly, then he steps off his captain's chair and bounds up to the front of the boat to join Mac where he starts unfurling sails, untying ropes, and operating winches and pulleys. They work well together in a team, shouting various nautical terms to each other, and it's warming to see Fifty interacting with someone else in such a carefree man- ner.

Perhaps Mac is Fifty's friend. He doesn't seem to have many, as far as I can tell, but then, I don't have many either. Well, not here in Seattle. The only friend I have is on vaca- tion sunning herself in St. James on the west coast of Barbados.

I have a sudden pang for Kate. I miss my roommate more than I thought I would when she left. I hope she changes her mind and comes home with her brother Ethan, rather than prolong her stay with Christian's brother Elliot.

Christian and Mac hoist the mainsail. It flls and billows out as the wind seizes it hun- grily, and the boat lurches suddenly, zipping forward. I feel it through the wheel. Whoa!

They get to work on the headsail, and I watch fascinated as it fies up the mast. The wind catches it, stretching it taut.

"Hold her steady, baby, and cut the engines!" Christian cries out to me over the wind, motioning me to switch off the engines. I can only just hear his voice, but I nod enthusiasti-cally, gazing at the man I love, all windswept, exhilarated, and bracing himself against the pitch and yaw of the boat.

I press the b.u.t.ton, the roar of the engines ceases, and The Grace soars toward the Olympic Peninsula, skimming across the water as if she's fying. I want to yell and scream and cheer-this has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life-except per- haps the glider, and maybe the Red Room of Pain.

Holy cow, this boat can move! I stand frm, grasping the wheel, fghting the rudder, and Christian is behind me once more, his hands on mine.

"What do you think?" he shouts above the sound of the wind and the sea.

"Christian! This is fantastic."

He beams, grinning from ear to ear. "You wait until the spinney's up." He points with his chin toward Mac, who is unfurling the spinnaker-a sail that's a dark, rich red. It re- minds me of the walls in the playroom.

"Interesting color," I shout.

He gives me a wolfsh grin and winks. Oh, it's deliberate.

The spinney balloons out-a large, odd elliptical shape-putting The Grace in over- drive. Finding her head, she speeds over the Sound.

"Asymmetrical sail. For speed." Christian answers my unasked question.

"It's amazing." I can think of nothing better to say. I have the most ridiculous grin on my face as we whip through the water, heading for the majesty of the Olympic Mountains and Bainbridge Island. Glancing back, I see Seattle shrinking behind us, Mount Rainier in the far distance.

I had not really appreciated how beautiful and rugged Seattle's surrounding landscape is-verdant, lush, and temperate, tall evergreens and cliff faces jutting out here and there.

It has a wild but serene beauty on this glorious sunny afternoon that takes my breath away.

The stillness is stunning compared to our speed as we whip across the water.

"How fast are we going?"

"She's doing 15 knots."

"I have no idea what that means."

"It's about 17 miles an hour."

"Is that all? It feels much faster."

He squeezes my hands, smiling. "You look lovely, Anastasia. It's good to see some color in your cheeks ... and not from blushing. You look like you do in Jose's photos."

I turn and kiss him.

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

"We aim to please, Miss Steele." He scoops my hair out of the way and kisses the back of my neck, sending delicious tingles down my spine. "I like seeing you happy," he mur- murs and tightens his arms around me.

I gaze out over the wide blue water, wondering what I could possibly have done in the past to have fortune smile and deliver this beautiful man to me.

Yes, you're a lucky b.i.t.c.h, my subconscious snaps. But you have your work cut out with him. He's not going to want this vanilla c.r.a.p forever ... you're going to have to compro- mise. I glare mentally at her snarky, insolent face and rest my head against Christian's chest. But deep down I know my subconscious is right, but I banish the thoughts. I don't want to spoil my day.

An hour later, we are anch.o.r.ed in a small, secluded cove off Bainbridge Island. Mac has gone ash.o.r.e in the infatable-for what, I don't know-but I have my suspicions because as soon as Mac starts the outboard engine, Christian grabs my hand and practically drags me into his cabin, a man with a mission.

Now he stands before me, exuding his intoxicating sensuality as his deft fngers make quick work of the straps on my lifejacket. He tosses it to one side and gazes intently down at me, eyes dark, dilated.

I'm already lost and he's barely touched me. He raises his hand to my face, and his fngers move down my chin, the column of my throat, my sternum, searing me with his touch, to the frst b.u.t.ton of my blue blouse.

"I want to see you," he breathes and dexterously undoes the b.u.t.ton. Bending, he plants a soft kiss on my parted lips. I am panting and eager, aroused by the potent combination of his captivating beauty, his raw s.e.xuality in the confnes of this cabin, and the gentle sway of the boat. He stands back.

"Strip for me," he whispers, eyes burning.

Oh my. I'm only too happy to comply. Not taking my eyes off his, I slowly undo each b.u.t.ton, savoring his scorching gaze. Oh, this is heady stuff. I can see his desire-it's evi- dent on his face ... and elsewhere.

I let my shirt fall to the foor and reach for the b.u.t.ton on my jeans.

"Stop," he orders. "Sit."

I sit down on the edge of the bed, and in one fuid movement he's on his knees in front of me, undoing the laces of frst one and then the other sneaker, pulling each off, followed by my socks. He picks up my left foot and raising it, plants a soft kiss on the pad of my big toe, then grazes his teeth against it.

"Ah!" I moan as I feel the effect in my groin. He stands in one smooth move, holds his hand out to me, and pulls me up off the bed.

"Continue," he says and stands back to watch me.

I ease the zipper of my jeans down and hook my thumbs in the waistband as I sashay then slide the denim down my legs. A soft smile plays on his lips, but his eyes remain dark.

And I don't know if it's because he made love to me this morning, and I mean really made love to me, gently, sweetly, or if it was his impa.s.sioned declaration-yes ... I do- but I don't feel embarra.s.sed at all. I want to be s.e.xy for this man. He deserves s.e.xy-he makes me feel s.e.xy.

Okay, it's new to me, but I'm learning under his expert tutelage. And then again, so much is new to him, too. It balances the seesaw between us, a little, I think.

I am wearing some of my new underwear-a white lacy thong and matching bra-a designer brand with a price tag to match. I step out of my jeans and stand there for him in the lingerie he's paid for, but I no longer feel cheap. I feel his. Reaching behind I unhook my bra, sliding the straps down my arms, and drop it on top of my blouse. Slowly, I slip my panties off, letting them fall to my ankles, and step out of them, surprised by my grace.

Standing before him, I am naked and unashamed, and I know it's because he loves me. I no longer have to hide. He says nothing, just gazes at me. All I see is his desire, his adoration even, and something else, the depth of his need-the depth of his love for me.

He reaches down, lifts the hem of his cream-colored sweater, and pulls it over his head, followed by his T-shirt, revealing his chest, never taking his bold gray eyes off mine. His shoes and socks follow before he grasps the b.u.t.ton of his jeans.

Reaching over, I whisper, "Let me."

His lips purse briefy into an ooh shape, and he smiles. "Be my guest."

I step toward him, slip my fearless fngers inside the waistband of his jeans, and tug so he's forced to take a step closer to me. He gasps involuntarily at my unexpected audacity then smiles down at me. I undo the b.u.t.ton, but before I unzip him I let my fngers wander, tracing his erection through the soft denim. He fexes his hips into my palm and closes his eyes briefy, relishing my touch.

"You're getting so bold, Ana, so brave," he whispers and clasps my face with both hands, bending to kiss me deeply.

I put my hands on his hips-half on his cool skin and half on the low-slung waistband of his jeans. "So are you," I murmur against his lips as my thumbs rub slow circles on his skin, and he smiles.

"Getting there."

I move my hands to the front of his jeans and pull down the zipper. My intrepid fngers move through his pubic hair to his erection, and I grasp him tightly.

He makes a low sound in his throat, his sweet breath washing over me, and he kisses me again, lovingly. As my hand moves over him, around him, stroking him, squeezing him tightly, he puts his arms around me, his right hand fat against the middle of my back and his fngers spread. His left hand is in my hair, holding me to his mouth.

"Oh, I want you so much, baby," he breathes, and steps back suddenly to remove his jeans and boxers in one swift, agile move. He is a fne, fne sight in or out of clothes, every single inch of him.

He is perfect. His beauty desecrated only by his scars, I think sadly. And they run so much deeper than his skin.

"What's wrong, Ana?" he murmurs and gently strokes my cheek with his knuckles.

"Nothing. Love me, now."

He pulls me into his arms, kissing me, twisting his hands into my hair. Our tongues entwined, he walks me backward to the bed and gently lowers me onto it, following me down so that he's lying by my side.

He runs his nose along my jawline as my hands move to his hair.

"Do you have any idea how exquisite your scent is, Ana? It's irresistible."

His words do what they always do-fame my blood, quicken my pulse-and he trails his nose down my throat, across my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, kissing me reverentially as he does.

"You are so beautiful," he murmurs, as he takes one of my nipples in his mouth and softly suckles.I moan as my body bows off the bed.

"Let me hear you, baby."

His hand trails down to my waist, and I glory in the feel of his touch, skin to skin-his hungry mouth at my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and his skilled long fngers caressing and stroking me, cherish- ing me. Moving over my hips, over my behind, and down my leg to my knee, and all this time he's kissing and sucking my b.r.e.a.s.t.s-oh my.

Grasping my knee, he suddenly hitches my leg up, curling it over his hips, making me gasp, and I feel rather than see his responding grin against my skin. He rolls over so that I am astride him and hands me a foil packet.

I shift back, taking him in my hands, and I just can't resist him in all his glory. I bend and kiss him, taking him in my mouth, swirling my tongue around him, then sucking hard.

He groans and fexes his hips so that he's deeper in my mouth.

Mmm ... he tastes good. I want him inside me. I sit up and gaze at him; he's breathless, mouth open, watching me intently.

Hurriedly I tear open the condom and unroll it over him. He holds out his hands for me. I take one and with my other hand, position myself over him, then slowly claim him as mine.

He groans low in his throat, closing his eyes.

The feel of him in me ... stretching ... flling me-I moan softly-it's divine. He places his hands on my hips and moves me up, down, and pushes into me. Oh ... it's so good.

"Oh, baby," he whispers, and suddenly he sits up so we're nose to nose, and the sensa- tion is extraordinary-so full. I gasp, grabbing his upper arms as he clasps my head in his hands and gazes into my eyes-his intense and gray, burning with desire.

"Oh, Ana. What you make me feel," he murmurs and kisses me pa.s.sionately with fer- vent ardor. I kiss him back, dizzy with the delicious feeling of him buried deep inside me.

"Oh, I love you," I murmur. He groans as if pained to hear my whispered words and rolls over, taking me with him without breaking our precious contact, so that I'm lying beneath him. I wrap my legs around his waist.

He stares down at me with adoring wonder, and I am sure I mirror his expression as I reach up to caress his beautiful face. Very slowly, he starts to move, closing his eyes as he does and moaning softly.

The gentle sway of the boat and the peace and quiet tranquility of the cabin are broken only by our mingled breaths as he moves slowly in and out of me, so controlled and so good-it's heavenly. He puts his arm over my head, his hand on my hair, and he caresses my face with the other as he bends to kiss me.

I'm coc.o.o.ned by him, as he loves me, slowly moving in and out, savoring me. I touch him-sticking to the boundaries-his arms, his hair, his lower back, his beautiful behind- and my breathing accelerates as his steady rhythm pushes me higher and higher. He's kiss- ing my mouth, my chin, my jaw, then nibbling my ear. I can hear his staccato breaths with each gentle thrust of his body.