"Always."

He smiles victoriously and shifts, making me gasp.

"And now we can let everyone know, because you said yes." His voice is reverential, and he leans down, capturing my mouth with his, and starts to move ... slow and sweet. I close my eyes and tilt my head back as my body bows, my will submitting to his, slave to his intoxicating slow rhythm.

His teeth graze my jaw, my chin, and down my neck as he picks up the pace, pushing me onward, upward-away from this earthly plane, the teeming shower, the evening's chilling fright. It's just me and my man moving in unison, moving as one-each complete- ly absorbed in the other-our gasps and grunts mingling. I revel in the exquisite feeling of his possession as my body blooms and fowers around him.

I could have lost him . . . and I love him . . . I love him so much, and I'm suddenly overcome by the enormity of my love and the depth of my commitment to him. I will spend the rest of my life loving this man, and with that awe-inspiring thought, I detonate around him-a healing, cathartic o.r.g.a.s.m, crying out his name as tears fow down my cheeks.

He reaches his climax and pours himself into me. With his face buried in my neck, he sinks to the foor, holding me tightly, kissing my face, and kissing away my tears as the warm water spills down around us, washing us clean."My fngers are pruny," I murmur, postcoital and sated as I lean against his chest. He raises my fngers to his lips and kisses each in turn.

"We should really get out of this shower."

"I'm comfortable here." I'm sitting between his legs and he's holding me close. I don't want to move.

Christian murmurs his a.s.sent. But suddenly I'm bone tired, world-weary. So much has happened this last week-enough for a lifetime of drama-and now I'm getting married. A disbelieving giggle escapes my lips.

"Something amusing you, Miss Steele?" he asks fondly.

"It's been a busy week."

He grins. "That it has."

"I thank G.o.d you're back in one piece, Mr. Grey," I whisper, sobering at the thought of what might have been. He tenses and I immediately regret reminding him.

"I was scared," he confesses much to my surprise.

"Earlier?"

He nods, his expression serious.

Holy s.h.i.t. "So you made light of it to rea.s.sure your family?"

"Yes. I was too low to land well. But somehow I did."

c.r.a.p. My eyes sweep up to his, and he looks grave as the water cascades over us. "How close a call was it?" He gazes down at me.

"Close," he pauses. "For a few awful seconds, I thought I'd never see you again."

I hug him tightly. "I can't imagine my life without you, Christian. I love you so much it frightens me."

"Me, too," he breathes. "My life would be empty without you. I love you so much."

His arms tighten around me and he nuzzles my hair. "I won't ever let you go."

"I don't want to go, ever." I kiss his neck, and he leans down and kisses me gently.

After a moment, he shifts. "Come-let's get you dry and into bed. I'm exhausted and you look beat."

I lean back and arch an eyebrow at his choice of words. He c.o.c.ks his head to one side and smirks at me.

"You have something to say, Miss Steele?"

I shake my head and clamber unsteadily to my feet.

I am sitting up in bed. Christian insisted on drying my hair-he's quite skilled at it. How that happened is an unpleasant thought, so I dismiss it immediately. It's after two in the morning, and I am ready to sleep. Christian gazes down at me and reexamines the keychain before climbing into bed. He shakes his head, incredulous once more.

"This is so neat. The best birthday present I've ever had." He glances at me, his eyes soft and warm. "Better than my signed Guiseppe DeNatale poster."

"I would have told you earlier, but as it was your birthday ... What do you give the man who has everything? I thought I'd give you ... me."He puts the keychain down on the bedside table and snuggles in beside me, pulling me into his arms against his chest so that we're spooning.

"It's perfect. Like you."

I smirk, though he can't see my expression. "I am far from perfect, Christian."

"Are you smirking at me, Miss Steele?"

How does he know? "Maybe." I giggle. "Can I ask you something?

"Of course," he nuzzles my neck.

"You didn't call on your trip back from Portland. Was that really because of Jose? You were worried about me being here alone with him?"

Christian says nothing. I turn to face him, and his eyes are wide as I reproach him.

"Do you know how ridiculous that is? How much stress you put your family and me through? We all love you very much."

He blinks a couple of times and then gives me his shy smile. "I had no idea you'd all be so worried."

I purse my lips. "When are you going to get it through your thick skull that you are loved?"

"Thick skull?" His eyebrows widen in surprise.

I nod. "Yes. Thick skull."

"I don't think the bone density of my head is signifcantly higher than anywhere else in my body."

"I'm serious! Stop trying to make me laugh. I am still a little mad at you, though that's partially eclipsed by the fact that you're home safe and sound when I thought . . ." My voice fades as I recall those anxious few hours. "Well, you know what I thought."

His eyes soften and he reaches up to caress my face. "I'm sorry. Okay."

"Your poor mom, too. It was very moving, seeing you with her," I whisper.

He smiles shyly. "I've never seen her that way." He blinks at the memory. "Yes, that was really something. She's normally so self-possessed. It was quite a shock."

"See? Everyone loves you." I smile. "Perhaps now you'll start believing it." I lean down and kiss him gently.

"Happy birthday, Christian. I'm glad you're here to share your day with me. And you haven't seen what I've got for you tomorrow um ... today." I smirk.

"There's more?" he says, astounded, and his face erupts into a breathtaking grin.

"Oh yes, Mr. Grey, but you'll have to wait until then."

I wake suddenly from a dream or nightmare, and my pulse is thumping. I turn, panicked, and to my relief, Christian is fast asleep beside me. Because I've shifted, he stirs and reaches out in his sleep, draping his arm over me, and rests his head on my shoulder, sigh- ing softly.

The room is fooded with light. It's eight o'clock. Christian never sleeps this late. I lie back and let my racing heart calm. Why the anxiety? Is it the aftermath of last night? I turn and stare at him. He's here. He's safe. I take a deep steadying breath and gaze at his lovely face. A face that is now so familiar, all its dips and shadows eternally etched on my mind.

He looks much younger when he's asleep, and I grin because today he's a whole year older. I hug myself, thinking about my present. Oooh ... what will he do? Perhaps I should start by bringing him breakfast in bed. Besides, Jose may still be here.

I fnd Jose at the counter, eating a bowl of cereal. I can't help but fush when I see him.

He knows I've spent the night with Christian. Why do I suddenly feel so shy? It's not as if I'm naked or anything. I'm wearing my silk foor-length wrap.

"Morning, Jose," I smile, brazening it out.

"Hey, Ana!" His face lights up, genuinely pleased to see me. There's no hint of teasing or salacious contempt in his expression.

"Sleep well?" I ask.

"Sure. Some view from up here."

"Yeah. It's pretty special." Like the owner of this apartment. "Want a real man's break- fast?" I tease.

"Love some."

"It's Christian's birthday today-I'm making him breakfast in bed."

"He awake?"

"No, I think he's fried from yesterday." I quickly glance away from him and head to the fridge so he can't see my blush. Jeez, it's only Jose. When I take the eggs and bacon out of the fridge, Jose is grinning at me.

"You really like him, don't you?"

I purse my lips. "I love him, Jose."

His eyes widen momentarily then he grins. "What's not to love?" he asks gesturing round the great room.

I scowl at him. "Gee, thanks!"

"Hey, Ana, just kidding."

Hmm ... will I always have this leveled at me? That I'm marrying Christian for his money?

"Seriously, I'm kidding. You've never been that kind of girl."

"Omelet good for you?" I ask, changing the subject. I don't want to argue.

"Sure."

"And me," Christian says as he saunters into the great room. Holy f.u.c.k, he's wearing only pajama bottoms that hang in that totally hot way off his hips-Jeez!

"Jose." He nods.

"Christian." Jose returns his nod solemnly.

Christian turns to me and smirks as I stare. He's done this on purpose. I narrow my eyes at him, desperately trying to recover my equilibrium, and Christian's expression alters subtly. He knows that I know what he's up to, and he doesn't care.

"I was going to bring you breakfast in bed."

Swaggering over, he wraps his arm around me, tilts my chin up, and plants a loud wet kiss on my lips. Very unFifty!"Good morning, Anastasia," he says. I want to scowl at him and tell him to behave- but it's his birthday. I fush. Why is he so territorial?

"Good morning, Christian. Happy birthday." I give him a smile, and he smirks at me.

"I'm looking forward to my other present," he says and that's it. I fush the color of the Red Room of Pain and glance nervously at Jose, who looks like he's swallowed something unpleasant. I turn away and start preparing the food.

"So what are your plans today, Jose?" Christian asks, seemingly casual as he sits down on a barstool.

"I'm heading up to see my dad and Ray, Ana's dad."

Christian frowns.

"They know each other?"

"Yeah, they were in the army together. They lost contact until Ana and I were in college together. It's kinda cute. They're best buds now. We're going on a fshing trip."

"Fishing?" Christian is genuinely interested.

"Yeah-some great catches in these coastal waters. The steelheads can grow way big."

"True. My brother Elliot and I landed a thirty-four pound steelhead once."

They're talking fshing? What is it about fshing? I have never understood it.

"Thirty-four pounds? Not bad. Ana's father though, he holds the record. A forty-three pounder."

"You're kidding! He never said."

"Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thanks. So, where do you like to fsh?"

I zone out. This I do not need to know. But at the same time I'm relieved. See, Chris- tian? Jose's not so bad.

By the time Jose makes to leave, both of them are much more relaxed with each other.

Christian quickly changes into T-shirt and jeans and barefoot he accompanies Jose and me to the foyer.

"Thanks for letting me crash here," Jose says to Christian as they shake hands.