Freed (Fifty Shades as Told by Christian #3) - E.L. James Page 0,97

whole. She meets me stroke for stroke. Encouraging me with her soft cries of need. Her passion, loud and hot in my ear.

I feel her. She’s close. So close. Reaching. With me. As I drive her higher. As she drives me higher.

“Come with me,” I rasp, and rear up over her. “Open your eyes. I need to see you.” She peers up at me, eyes dazed with longing, and she lets go, tipping her head back and screaming her orgasm for all to hear.

It pushes me over the edge and I climax, driving myself into her and calling out her name. I collapse to the side, bringing her with me, and turn us both so that she’s sprawled on top of me. I drag precious air into my lungs while still inside her, holding her tightly.

My beacon. My dream catcher. My love. My life.

Someone wants to kill us. Damn them.

She kisses my chest, soft, sweet kisses. “Tell me, Christian, what’s wrong?”

I tighten my hold on her and close my eyes.

I don’t want to lose you.

“I give you my solemn vow,” she whispers, “to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, to stand by your side in good times and in bad, to share your joy as well as your sorrow.”

I still. She’s reciting her vows. I open my eyes. Her face is a picture of sincerity and her love-light shines so bright from her beautiful face. “I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals and dreams, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, to share my hopes and dreams with you, and bring you solace in times of need. And to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.” She sighs, gazing at me and willing me to speak.

“Oh, Ana,” I murmur, and move, easing out of her, so that we’re lying side by side, lost in each other’s eyes. I stroke her face with my knuckles and thumb. From memory, I recite my vows, my voice hoarse as I try to contain my emotion. “I solemnly vow that I will safeguard and hold dear and deep in my heart our union and you. I promise to love you faithfully, forsaking all others, through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, regardless of where life takes us. I will protect you, trust you, and respect you. I will share your joys and sorrows and comfort you in times of need. I promise to cherish you and uphold your hopes and dreams and keep you safe at my side. All that is mine is now yours. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this moment on for as long as we both shall live.”

Tears well in her eyes.

“Don’t cry,” I whisper, brushing away a stray tear with my thumb.

“Why won’t you talk to me? Please, Christian.”

I close my eyes.

Talking about it makes it real, Ana.

“I vowed I would bring you solace in times of need. Please don’t make me break my vows,” she pleads.

I have no defenses against her.

I love her.

Before Ana, I didn’t feel anything. And now, I feel everything. Every emotion is so heightened. It’s hard to process. Hard to understand.

Her expression hasn’t changed. She’s begging me.

I sigh, defeated. “It’s arson,” I whisper, as if this is a huge failing on my part. “And my biggest worry is that they are after me. And if they are after me—” The next thought is unbearable.

“They might get me,” Ana finishes the sentence in a whisper and caresses my face as her eyes soften. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For telling me.”

I shake my head. “You can be very persuasive, Mrs. Grey.”

“And you can brood and internalize all your feelings and worry yourself to death. You’ll probably die of a heart attack before you’re forty, and I want you around far longer than that.”

“You’ll be the death of me. The sight of you on the Jet Ski—I nearly did have a coronary.” I flop back on the bed and cover my eyes with the back of my hand to blot out the memory. But it doesn’t work. In my mind, she’s lying on the cold, hard floor. I shudder.

“Christian, it’s a Jet Ski. Even kids ride Jet Skis. Can you imagine what you’ll be like when we visit your place in Aspen and I go skiing for the first time?”

I gasp and turn to look at her, alarmed. Skiing. No!

“Our place,” I