Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as told by Christian (Fifty Shades 6)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Ana is still asleep when I step out of the en suite. Frankly, I’m not surprised; she was persistent last night.

Sex-mad and insatiable indeed.

I’m not complaining.

That delectable memory fresh in my mind, I gather my clothes together and step into the living room to get dressed. The remnants from last night’s tryst are still all over the sofa. I untie the bathrobe belts and grab the towel, wondering what housekeeping would have made of this scenario if they’d come in early to clean. Folding the items, I place them on the console beside the bedroom door.

I order breakfast—it will take half an hour and I’m hungry. To distract myself, I sit down at the desk and open my laptop. Today, I want to arrange moving Ray to Northwest Hospital, where my mother can watch over him. I fire up my e-mails, and to my surprise there’s one from Detective Clark. He has questions for Ana about that asshole Hyde.

What the hell?

I send a brief reply to let him know we’re in Portland and he’ll have to wait until we return to Seattle. I call my mom and leave a message about moving Ray, then breeze through my other e-mails. There’s one from Ros: the Hwangs are inviting us to visit later this week.

That will depend on Ray.

I guess.

I e-mail Ros to say that it’s likely that I’ll be able to go, but I can’t confirm yet, as we’re not sure what’s happening with my father-in-law.

I don’t want to leave Ana to deal with this on her own.

As I press send, I receive a reply from Clark.

He’s coming to Portland.

Shit.

What can be that important?

“Good morning.” Ana’s sweet tone interrupts my thoughts. When I turn around she’s standing in the bedroom doorway, wearing nothing but a sheet and a shy smile. Her hair is a tousled mess that falls to her breasts, her bright eyes intent on me.

She looks like a Greek goddess.

“Mrs. Grey. You’re up early.” I hold out my arms, and in spite of the sheet, she bolts across the room, offering me a welcome flash of legs, and lands in my lap.

“As are you,” she says.

I cradle her against me and kiss her hair. “I was just working.”

“What?” she asks, leaning back to scrutinize me. She knows something is off.

I blow out a breath. “I got an e-mail from Detective Clark. He wants to talk to you about that fucker Hyde.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I told him you’re in Portland for the time being, so he’ll have to wait. But he says he’d like to interview you here.”

“He’s coming here?”

“Apparently so.”

She frowns. “What’s so important that it can’t wait?”

“Exactly.”

“When’s he coming?”

“Today. I’ll e-mail him back.”

“I have nothing to hide. I wonder what he wants to know?”

“We’ll find out when he gets here. I’m intrigued, too.” I move in my chair. “Breakfast will be here shortly. Let’s eat, then we can go see your dad.”

“You can stay here if you want. I can see you’re busy.”

“No, I want to come with you.”

“Okay.” She grins, pleased, I think, that I want to accompany her. She kisses me, then waltzes back toward the bedroom and, with a suggestive glance at me, lets the sheet drop as she crosses the doorway.

Damn. Goddess indeed.

That’s my cue. E-mails and breakfast can wait.

I follow her into the bedroom to make good on her invitation.

Ray is awake, but it would appear that he’s not in the best of tempers. After saying good morning, I leave Ana to deal with him and head to the waiting room—my new office, or so it seems. I’ve already received tentative approval from Dr. Sluder to move Ray to Seattle, and I’m waiting for my mother to confirm that there’s a bed for him at Northwest before I organize the helicopter transfer. Dr. Sluder thinks we can relocate him as early as tomorrow, but she’ll confirm that later today, once she’s run more tests.

I call Andrea.

“Good morning, Mr. Grey.”

“Andrea, hello. I’m hoping we can move Raymond Steele tomorrow. Can you find an air ambulance service, please? Portland OHSU to Northwest Hospital. My mother should know a reliable company. I’ll ask Ray’s doctor if there’s any specific medical equipment that should be on board. Either she or I will send that through.”

“I’ll call Dr. Grey.”

“Do. I’m waiting to hear from her if there’s a room available.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of it.”

“Taiwan. Ros and I may fly out on Thursday evening. We’ll need the jet.”

“You’re at WSU on Thursday morning.”

“I know. But get Stephan and the crew prepped. It’s still tentative.”

“Yes, sir. Actually, Ros wants a word.”

“Okay. Thanks. Put me through.”

Ros and I have a quick catch-up and decide that signatures on the Heads of Agreement for the Taiwan shipyard can wait until tomorrow, when I’m hopefully back in Seattle. As soon as I hang up, my phone buzzes. It’s Clark.