“Why?”

I stare at her, quirking an eyebrow with only one thought in my mind. Why do you think, Ana?

“Oh,” she says, and her teeth drill into her lower lip to suppress her smile, her cheeks flushing that shade of pink I love so much. “Okay. Yes. Takeout,” she blurts, and I have to laugh.

“This is the best damn pizza,” Ana says with her mouth full. I’m glad I doubled down on paper napkins.

“More?” I ask. And she holds the slice up for me to bite. As I open my mouth, she moves it away and takes another bite.

“Hey!”

She giggles. “My pizza!”

I pout. Because I’m driving and there’s nothing else I can do.

“Here,” she says, and this time lets me take a bite.

“You know I’ll get you back.”

“Uh-huh?” she taunts. “Bring it, Grey.”

“Oh, I will. I will…” And I start to contemplate various scenarios, which have an immediate impact on my body. I shift in my seat. “More pizza, please.”

Ana continues to feed me. And tease me. Much to her and my delight.

We should do this more often.

“All done,” Ana says, and pops the pizza box in her footwell.

I feel sated. I’m with my girl, in my favorite car, Radiohead on play, and we’re speeding through the majestic landscape beside the Columbia River toward the Vantage bridge. I’m overwhelmed by a sense of belonging.

Before Ana, how did I spend my weekends?

Soaring, Sailing, Fucking…

I laugh. It doesn’t sound like much has changed, but that’s simply not true—everything has changed, and all because of the young woman sitting next to me. I didn’t know I was lonely until I met her. I didn’t know I needed her, and here she is beside me. I glance at Ana, who’s sucking the tip of her index finger. The sight is stirring, and I recall her earlier remark about harnesses.

“You love doing that, don’t you?”

“More than you could ever know.”

“I think I have a clue. Maybe we should do it later.”

“Maybe we should…”

The thought drives me wild. Putting my foot down, I push the R8 to ninety. I want to get us home.

My anticipation is at DEFCON 1 when we finally arrive at the garage at Escala. “Home again,” Ana breathes when I switch off the ignition. Her voice is husky and quiet, drawing my attention. Her eyes meet mine and we stare at each other as the atmosphere within the R8 slowly simmers.

It’s here. Between us. Our desire.

It’s almost a separate entity, it’s so powerful.

Drawing us together.

Consuming me…us.

“Thank you,” she says.

“You’re most welcome.”

She’s looking at me through her lashes, her eyes smoky and full of sensual promise. Compelled, I can’t look away. I’m under her powerful spell. Beside us, Sawyer and Reynolds pull up, park, and disembark the Q7, locking it up behind them. They head to the service elevator, and I can’t tell if they’re waiting for us or not. I don’t know. I don’t care. Ana and I ignore them, our focus only on each other. The silence in the car is heady, ringing with unspoken thoughts.

“The new glider, that was mind-blowing.”

“I like blowing your mind.”

A slow, seductive smile tugs at her lips. “I like that, too.”

“I have a plan.”

“You do?”

I nod, holding my breath as myriad images of Ana harnessed in the playroom run through my head.

“Red Room?” she asks tentatively.

I nod.

Her pupils grow wide and dark, and her breasts rise as she inhales. “Bring it.”

And I am out of the car.

She’s out when I reach the passenger side. “Come.” I take her hand and trek briskly to the elevator. Fortunately, it’s waiting for us and we dart in. I squeeze her hand as we both stand against the back wall. She sidles closer to me and her intention is clear as she raises her face to mine.

“No. Wait.” I release her hand and step to the side as the elevator climbs.

“Christian,” she whispers, her look scorching.

I shake my head.

I’m gonna make you wait, baby.

She presses her lips together, her displeasure obvious, but there’s a flash of steel in her eyes. My girl does not back down from a challenge.

The game is on.

The doors of the elevator open and I step back, giving Ana a courtly wave. “Ladies first.”

She smirks, and with head held high, sashays out of the elevator into the foyer, where she stops.

Sawyer is waiting for us.

Well, this is inconvenient.

“Mr. Grey, is there anything else you require?” He’s aware that Taylor has gone to visit his daughter, and I think he’s trying to fill Taylor’s shoes. He looks expectantly from me to Ana, whose attention is suddenly concentrated on the floor as she tries not to laugh.

Hiding my amusement, I respond. “I’m good, thank you,” then, out of devilment, add, “Ana?”

“All good.” She shoots me a what-the-fuck look and it takes all my self-control not to burst out laughing in front of Sawyer. She scuttles out of the foyer.

“You and Reynolds can stand down. We’re not going out this evening. Anastasia is going out tomorrow. I’ll text you in the morning to let you know when.” Ana has a fitting for her wedding dress in the morning.