Ana looks puzzled, so I brush my thumb across her lip.

“Trust me?”

“Implicitly,” she breathes.

“How was your wedding?”

“Fantastic. Yours?”

“Amazing.” And we’re grinning at each other like idiots.

We drive airside through the security gates at Sea-Tac and steer toward the GEH Gulfstream. “Don’t tell me you’re misusing company property again!” Ana blurts when she spots the plane. Her eyes shine and she grips my hand, radiating excitement.

“Oh, I hope so, Anastasia.” I give her my most wicked grin.

Taylor stops the car at the foot of the steps to the plane, climbs out, and opens my door. I exit. “Thanks again, Taylor. We’ll see you in London,” I murmur, so Ana doesn’t hear.

“I’m looking forward to it, sir. Safe travels.”

“You, too.”

“I’ll grab Mrs. Grey’s hand luggage,” he says, and my heart warms at Ana’s new honorific. I walk around to her door and open it wide. Leaning in, I lift her into my arms.

“What are you doing?” she squeals.

“Carrying you over the threshold.”

She giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck, and I carry her up the plane steps, where we’re met by Captain Stephan.

“Welcome aboard, sir. Mrs. Grey,” he greets us, with a bold grin. I set Ana down and shake his hand. “Congratulations to you both,” he continues.

“Thank you, Stephan. Anastasia, you know Stephan. He’s our captain today, and this is First Officer Beighley.”

“Delighted to meet you,” Beighley says to Ana.

Ana looks a little shell-shocked, but she responds in kind to them both.

“All preparations complete?” I ask Beighley.

“Yes, sir,” she replies with her usual confidence.

“We have the all clear,” Stephan informs us. “Weather is good from here to Boston.”

“Turbulence?”

“Not before Boston. There’s a weather front over Shannon that might give us a rough ride.”

“I see. Well, we hope to sleep through it all.”

“We’ll get underway, sir,” Stephan says. “We’ll leave you in the capable care of Natalia, your flight attendant.”

Natalia?

Where’s Sara?

Natalia looks vaguely familiar.

I ignore my misgivings. “Excellent,” I say to Stephan, and taking Ana’s hand, I guide her to one of the seats. “Sit.”

She does as she’s told, folding herself into the seat with surprising grace. I remove my jacket, undo the buttons on my vest, and sit down opposite her.

“Welcome aboard, sir, ma’am, and congratulations,” Natalia welcomes us, poised with two crystal flutes of pink champagne.

“Thank you.” I take both and offer one to Ana, while Natalia disappears into the galley.

“Here’s to a happy married life, Anastasia.” I raise my glass to Ana’s and we clink.

“Bollinger?” she asks.

“The same.” We’ve been drinking it for most of the afternoon.

“The first time I drank this it was out of teacups.” Her eyes have a faraway look.

“I remember that day well. Your graduation.”

What a day that was… I think spanking was involved. Hmm…and a discussion about soft and hard limits.

I shift in my seat.

“Where are we going?” Ana drags me back to the now.

“Shannon.”

“In Ireland?” she squeaks.

“To refuel.”

“Then?” Ana’s eyes are out on stalks; her excitement is contagious.

I grin at her and say nothing, tantalizing her.

“Christian!”

I put her out of her misery. “London.”

She gasps, looking shocked and awed at once. Then her light-up-Seattle smile is back.

“Then Paris. Then the South of France,” I continue.

I think Ana is going to combust.

“I know you’ve always dreamed of going to Europe. I want to make your dreams come true, Anastasia.”

“You are my dreams come true, Christian.”

“Back at you, Mrs. Grey.” Her words warm my soul, and I take another sip of champagne. “Buckle up.”

Ana grins. I think she’s pleased. And so am I. We’re flying through the sunset to chase the dawn on the other side of the Atlantic.

Once we’re airborne, Natalia serves us dinner. Again, I’m starving.

Why?

Getting married really takes it out of a man. Ana and I discuss our highlights of the wedding. Mine was seeing her for the first time in her beautiful dress.

“Mine was seeing you,” Ana confesses. “And that you were there!”

“There?”

“Part of me had wondered if this was all a dream and that maybe you wouldn’t show up.”

“Ana, wild horses couldn’t have dragged me away.”

“Dessert, Mr. Grey?” Natalia asks.

I decline, and turn to study my wife. Running my finger across my bottom lip, I watch Ana, waiting for her response.

“No, thank you,” she says to Natalia, gazing intently at me. Natalia leaves us.

Oh, sweet heaven. I’m going to claim my wife.