Disclaimer: Most of the characters in this story are those from the Fifty Shades Trilogy. They remain the rightful property of E L James. Recognisable brands, places, music or films remain the property of their owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Epilogue...

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. I can't wait to return to canonical Christian and Ana in the future. But for now...

Much Love and Happy Readings,

Chelsea x

October 2012

Château de l'Amour et Bonheur, Paris.

Lavender scented bubbles curled around my body as I leaned back against the roll-top bathtub. I couldn't help but excite a groan, the warm water relaxing every muscle in my body. Rolling my head to the side, I looked over the flickering candles and out of the window. The bathroom overlooks the heart of Paris, the Eiffel Tower twinkling with the chime of nine o'clock. I smile as the lights flash and sparkle, bright against the inky night sky.

I still can't believe I'm here. Or that I've made it to 9pm without falling asleep. Now five months old, Teddy sleeps for ten hours straight most nights, sometimes only waking for a cuddle of reassurance. By nine-thirty, my son is fast asleep, usually either in my arms or Christian's. It depends on which of us has drawn the lucky straw. There is no better feeling than giving Ted one more kiss goodnight before laying him down, one final whiff of his unique smell. Christian took charge of easing Teddy out of jetlag, working his magic over our little boy. It's amazing how he can overturn any of Ted's moods – grumpy, sleepy, hungry. I gave birth to all seven dwarfs rolled into one!

We have been here for three weeks already, but it feels so much longer. I don't think I have ever felt so relaxed. So stress-free. Our days have been filled with sleeping, walking through the orchard and vineyard, curling up on the couch with a book. I gasped when I first walked inside the library downstairs, getting to see just how many books Grace and Carrick had left here. I could spend hours roaming the shelves, deciding between Austen, Dickens, Hardy and Woolf.

I was in absolute awe of Château de l'Amour et Bonheur as we pulled up onto the driveway. It was the house of my dreams. Cottage style exterior, faded grey brickwork and white shutters covering each window, ivy trailing around the sides of the house. A long gravelled path extended like an arm from the gates to the front door, lined with thickets of lavender and roses. The house sits on the hills just outside Paris, in a field of wild flowers and poppies. Secluded and perfection through and through. The ground floor boasts a banquet hall, two reception rooms, three bathrooms, a full working kitchen, library and drawing room. Upstairs is home to six bedrooms, four bathrooms, three closets and a newly added playroom. For Teddy, of course.

The house exceeded any expectations I had. It was clear that Grace and Carrick had poured their souls into restoring the property from ruins to the family home it is today. In the drawing room, the north facing wall is covered in photographs of the house throughout the ages. It was derelict before Carrick bought it when Christian was a child, buying the house for Grace as part of their wedding anniversary. Paris has always been a part of Christian's life, his favourite city in the world. And this house has always held a special place in his heart, as I realised on his birthday earlier this year.

Grace and Carrick waited until Christian had opened everyone else's gifts first, a mysterious grin lighting up both their faces. Christian frowned at them as he opened the small envelope and took out the silver key hanging from a loop of white ribbon. His eyes glistened as he read the card inside:

To our darling son,

Happy 29th Birthday, Christian.

Thank you for the last twenty-five years of happiness and unconditional love.

We love you so very much, forever and always.

The Château has brought all of us many years of fun and laughter, and now we want your family to enjoy it!

Construit avec amour, restauré avec amour, donné avec amour.

With all our love,

Mom and Dad x

I waited until we were alone to ask what the card meant.

"Built with love, restored with love, given with love," he translated, a gentle smile creeping across his lips. I thought for a second that he might well up. "Carrick bought the house when I was seven, maybe eight. We used to vacation there during the summer. I remember helping Grace choose paintings to hang in the hallway… I've always loved that house."

"I loved Paris," I told him in earnest but, thinking back, my words triggered something in his mind. "I'd like to go back there some day."

He just nodded back at me. A month after his birthday, on our first wedding anniversary, he treated me to a Parisian themed dinner at Bellevue. He admitted then that he had planned on whisking me off to Paris, but the timing was wrong – Teddy was still very small and we were in the middle of the Stephen Morton scandal. We needed to be at home and so we agreed to save Paris for our second wedding anniversary.

Or at least that's what I agreed to.

After Stephen was arrested and extradited back to New York, all I wanted was some downtime with my family. No more surprises. No more excitement. Just calm and peace and quiet.

But as always, my husband had other ideas. And it began with my birthday…

"I can't see where I'm going!" I whined, holding my arms out in front of me, probably resembling Frankenstein's monster.

"That's the point," Christian reminded me, his hands pressed into my hips.

My eyes were covered with a blindfold, our journey beginning in our bedroom. He sent me upstairs at midday, to change into the outfit he'd bought for me: a lemon and cream summer dress and a pair of white sandals. He didn't say why I needed to change, not even when he came upstairs to meet me, ready to slip the blindfold over my eyes. He escorted me downstairs and guided me through the house, my nerves building with each clumsy step.

"I don't think this," I mumbled. "I feel like I'm going to bump into something."

"Just trust me," he urged. "I won't let you fall, I promise. We just need to go a little further."

"Why?"

"Because your next present has just arrived."

"What? I said I didn't want any presents," I snapped my head to the side.

"I know."

"And you already went back on your word," I told him.

"I never said I wouldn't get you anything," he fired back, adjusting his grip on my sides. "Besides, a small bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates hardly count as a present."

"Pft," I snorted and pushed my feet into the floor, making us stop still. "Are you serious? Three dozen white roses and handmade chocolates, flown in from Paris, especially for me? Tad extravagant, don't you think?"

"No, I don't," he whispered close to my ear. "Now stop complaining, wench. It's your birthday. It's the one day I am allowed to spoil you, so I'm going to take full advantage of that."

"You spoil me every day," I shook my head.

"Because I love you," he said, nuzzling his face into the side of my neck. His fingers dug deep into my hips, his hands pulling me back to rest against him. "Come on, just a little further."

"I really hate surprises."

"You're going to love this one." I could feel his lips curling into a smile as he pecked a kiss behind my ear. "Trust. Me."

With a gentle push, he forced me to move on, my sandals clicking against the wooden floor.

We turned left and headed towards the end of the hall, taking a sharp right. The dining room? I could feel fresh air whipping around us, the breeze tinged with salt and charcoal. As my footsteps changed from heavy to hollow sounding, I knew we were heading outside.

I tried to tune my hearing to pick up any clues as to my surprise, but all I heard was the soft rustling of the grass. There have been many times when I've wanted nothing more than to crawl into Christian's head, simply to know what goes through his mind on a day-to-day basis, but now more so than ever.

"Okay, there we go." He positioned me in the right place, turning me 45 degrees to the right. His fingers left my sides and came up to my blindfold, brushing my cheeks as he began lifting it at the corners. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," I muttered under my breath.

I kept my eyes closed until he'd removed the blindfold, giving myself just a second longer. But just as my heart stopped racing, it jumped straight up into my throat as I heard a chorus of voices shouting at me.

"Surprise!"

My eyes snapped open, the sun burning my retinas as I focused on the scarily wide grins staring back at me. My family and friends were huddled together, standing in front of large white tables covered in food, drinks and gifts. A barbeque was warming in the background.

"Oh my god…" I gasped, my hands flying up to my mouth. They began singing a round of 'Happy Birthday', in totally imperfect harmony. Everyone was there…

Grace, Mom and Deb held hands and swayed as they sang, breaking into a giggle at the boys. Carrick, Ray and Bob were at the far end of the group, wearing brightly coloured aprons. In between all of them were Taylor, Gail and Sophie, as well as Mark and Hannah from my office, and the always delightful Theo and Frances – Grace's parents.

But taking centre stage was Mia, Kate, Ethan and Elliot. They were stood in the middle of the pack, holding balloons and party poppers. My son was in the mix too, being held up against Elliot's chest, his head snapping from side to side, confused by the sudden outburst of noise.

"Three cheers for the birthday girl!" Elliot chanted, whooping loudly over the group.

Both he even said hooray, Teddy's bottom lip wobbled and his cheeks turned bright red. His lips peeled back to reveal his gummy mouth, just as an ear-splitting cry exploded from his chest.

Elliot's eyes widened in confusion and horror. He peeled Teddy away from his chest and stared down at him, holding him out like a ticking time-bomb.

"Oh shit," he frowned. He shot a glance to Kate. "What did I do? He was fine."

"You were too loud, you doofus," she rolled her eyes and reached out with her hand, stroking her fingers down Ted's cheek.

I rushed forward and held out my hands for Ted, scooping him into my arms.

"Oh Teddy bear," I hummed, bouncing him on the spot. "Did Uncle Elliot scare you?"

"He scares me every morning," Kate snorted, stirring a laugh around the group. "His morning breath is enough to terrify anyone!"

Christian came around me, his hand pressed firmly into the middle of my back. He stared at Teddy, checking him over. I smiled up at him and shook my head.

"He definitely takes after me," I giggled. "He hates surprises too."

"Poor Teddy," Christian sighed. He dipped his head down and kissed Ted's crown, ruffling his light copper curls. "Come here, baby boy –"

Christian lifted Teddy from my arms, settling him high up on his chest. He distanced himself from the group, giving Ted some space to quieten down. I stared after him, in awe of the way he cradled and kissed our son.

I was given just a second's rest before I was jumped on by my guests, each of them demanding a nugget of attention. I hugged everyone in turn, thanking them for coming. I have seen all of them over the past few weeks, but not all at the same time. It's hard to pin everybody down. I have no idea how Christian has managed to get them all here today. Maybe with a few choice words?

I came to my mom last, enveloping her in a warm hug, squeezing her as if it has been years since I last saw her. She and Bob have been here since July, setting up camp in our guest bedroom. I have loved her being here, getting the opportunity to steal tips and tricks on how to navigate temper tantrums, teething and Teddy's first cold. I'm not fully prepared for her to leave next week, when she returns home to Georgia. It's been so much easier having her here, someone to help out with Teddy, giving me and Christian a chance to spend some time alone together. I know I am going to miss her when she's gone.

It might time to get Teddy accustomed to flying – cash in some of Christian's air miles for round-trips to Savannah.

Everyone dispersed, Carrick turning his attention to the barbeque and getting the first of many burgers grilled. I turned back to look at Christian and Ted, finding them sat down on the grass. Christian was holding Teddy up on his lap, making him stand on his thighs. Christian poked his tongue out at Ted, rousing a laugh from him.

I started to walk over to them but I stopped as something caught my eye. The shape moved quickly, appearing from nowhere. I froze and slowly turned my head to the side, facing it head-on.

I saw the pink balloon first, floating high in the air, secured by a piece of silver string. Then I saw him, his beaming smile stretched wide across his face.

"Oh my god," I shook my head, unable to move. "José?"

José walked across the lawn, carrying the balloon and a large purple gift bag. He came to a stop in front of me, his dark twinkling with his smile.

"You're here," I returned his smile. I reached up onto my toes and threw my arms around his shoulders. "I can't believe you're here."

"As if I'd pass up the invitation," he chuckled. He raised his balloon holding hand and hugged me close to his chest. "I cleared my schedule as soon as Christian called."

"Christian invited you?" I asked, leaning back from him.

"Yeah," he nodded. "He called a few weeks ago, said he was throwing you a party and he wanted me here… I think his exact words were 'be there or I'll kick your fucking ass, Rodriguez'."

"That definitely sounds like him," I smiled. "I had no idea… I didn't even think you'd still be in town."

"I changed my flights around," he explained. "I couldn't miss my best friend's birthday now, could I? The world can wait."

"I can't believe you're going travelling for three months," I shook my head. "You always said you would, but I guess I never saw you actually doing it."

"Me neither," he grinned. I can tell he's excited to spread his wings and see the world, more so at the fact that he'll be earning money at the same time. He's going to photographing the wonders of the world for his magazine. "You better remember to call me! I don't want to miss out on any milestones, okay? Make sure to send me video clips of Teddy."

"I will," I nodded.

José's eyes moved over to Teddy, his eyes lighting up at the mere sight of him. He's met Ted only a handful of times and he's always completely besotted with him.

Shaking his head, José looked down at his hands and held out the balloon and bag to me.

"Happy Birthday," he chirped, before leaning forward and kissing my cheek. "I know how much you hate presents, so I kept the cost down."

I smiled up at the balloon and the memories it stirs in me. Throughout college, José would come to mine and Kate's apartment on my birthday and tie a pink balloon around the door handle, leaving a basket full of goodies for when I woke up. He always made sure I started the day with a smile.

I peeked inside the gift bag and pushed aside the tissue paper, revealing the white picture frame inside. I pulled out the frame and felt my heart skip a beat as I saw the three photographs he'd chosen for me.

"It's beautiful," I sighed a heavy breath. "I forgot about these…"

The last time he came over, José brought his camera, wanting to snap some photographs of Teddy. He told me that Ray had asked for some professional shots, something he could hang in the hall and show off to people when they come over. I didn't think anything of it, happily posing with Teddy. Christian was out shopping when José came around, needing to collect some more cloth diapers for Ted, but he too joined in on the act when he returned. We were just messing around. I forgot to ask José for a copy of the pictures – it was a gift for Ray, not me. But now I know that wasn't the case at all.

The first photograph, on the left of the frame, is of me and Teddy. It was one of the last shots José took, just as I was about to change Ted into his pyjamas. José asked me to lay down with Teddy. He stood over us as he captured the moment, my head turned towards my son, Teddy's bright blue eyes staring up at the camera.

The photograph on the right is of Christian and Teddy, almost mirroring the picture of me and him. Teddy is curled up in Christian's arms, his eyes closed and his lips pursed. Christian is pecking a kiss to Ted's cheek. My baby looks so small in his daddy's arms. He looks just like Christian.

But it was the picture in the middle that warmed my heart the most. It's the only staged photograph, taken early in the evening when José was playing director, moving us around and testing Christian's patience. Christian and I were sat on the couch, Teddy cradled in my arms. The photo captures us from behind, mine and Christian's faces dark and inches away from each other. Through the gap between our shoulders, Teddy takes centre stage. He's bright and angelic, looking as if a ray of sun has just shone down on him.

"Do you like it?" José asked, my silence causing a slight frown to settle over his brows.

I nodded, blinking back the tears building in my eyes. "I love it," I replied. "Thank you so much… It's the best gift I could've gotten."

He blew out a relieved sigh, his shoulders dropping forward. "I printed out the rest of the pictures I took. There's an envelope in the bag, they're all in there. I can blow them up onto a canvas if you want, just let me know and I'll sort it out for you."

"I will," I nodded. "I know Christian will want some for his office."

"What will I want?"

I looked over my shoulder at the sound of Christian's voice. He had quietly stalked behind me, carrying Ted on his hip.

I held up the picture frame and his brows lifted at the sight of the photos. I didn't need to explain what we were talking about. He pointed to the middle picture.

"I want a copy of that," he nodded to José. "48 by 72."

"Sure, no problem." José held out his hand to Christian. "Thanks for inviting me over."

"I'm glad you came," Christian smiled and shook José's hand without hesitation. "Any friend of Ana's is a friend of mine."

I snapped my head up to him. He gave me a softened glance that said 'I'm trying'. I mouthed him a thank you.

"I appreciate all of the help you offered us, José," he continued.

"It was nothing, honestly," José shrugged, trying to brush it off.

"It meant a lot to Ana," Christian reaffirmed. "It meant a lot to both of us."

Teddy babbled a high pitched noise, drawing our eyes to him.

"And Teddy," Christian smiled, bouncing Ted on the spot.

"Can I hold him?" José asked, his hands already reaching out for the baby.

"Sure," Christian nodded. He kissed Ted's head once more before handing him over to José. His hands kept hold of Ted for a second too long. "Be careful with him," he ordered in a stern voice.

"I will," José gulped. Teddy settled easily into his honorary uncle's arms, his hand clinging onto José's t-shirt. "Hey, little man…"

José led Teddy away from us, walking slowly down towards Kate at the far end of the lawn. Christian stared after them, watching like a hawk, ready to swoop in if José makes one false move.

I smiled and leaned into his chest, sliding my hands up his arms to distract him.

"Hey," I whispered. After a few seconds he finally looked down at me. "Teddy's going to be fine, don't worry."

"Can I trust him?" he asked, throwing a final sideways glance to José.

"Yes," I nodded. "I trust him."

"Okay," he hummed back at me.

"Okay?"

"Okay," he repeated. "If you can trust him, I'll take a step back. I trust you so…"

"Thank you," I grinned. I lifted up onto my toes and kissed him hard, smacking my lips against his. "Thank you for all of this."

"I said you'd like this," he smirked and circled his hands around my back. "You said you wanted to get everyone together and have a barbeque. I'm just following your orders, Mrs Grey."

"Well, turns out there is a first time for everything," I winked. I looked him in the eyes and lowered my voice. "But please, tell me there's no more surprises up your sleeve?"

"Hmm?" he raised his brows, deterring his gaze.

"Christian…?" I leaned my head back.

"There's no surprises up my sleeve," he said, a smirk teetering over his lips again. "That much I can promise."

"Jesus, what have you done?" I sighed, shaking my head at him. "Oh god, you've bought me something expensive, haven't you?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "I'm a man of my word. I haven't bought you anything."

"Really?"

He nodded and peeled one of his hands from my back. He reached around himself and took out a white envelope from his pocket. He unfolded it and then passed it to me, setting me down on the ground.

I frowned at the envelope.

"I haven't bought you anything," he repeated, holding up both hands defensively. "I've just arranged something for us…"

I tore open the envelope and checked the inside, taking out the group of paper folded inside. Flight information and boarding tickets.

"We agreed to take a family vacation once everything calmed down," he reminded me of the commitment we made two months ago. "Your mother is returning to Savannah next week, so I figured now would be the perfect time to get away. Maybe we could check out the château my parents gave me for my birthday…"

"Paris?" I mouthed, my eyes open wide with shock. He nodded. "We're going back to Paris?"

"Château de l'Amour et Bonheur," he said. "You will love it there."

"What about Teddy?"

"He's coming with us too," he laughed. "I wasn't planning on leaving him at home."

"But it's such a long flight…"

"It'll be fine," he shook his head. "Trust me. I've got it all sorted. All you need to do is choose what clothes you want to take. Paris is waiting for us, baby."

I launched myself onto him, flinging my arms back around his neck. I smothered him with another kiss.

"I fucking love you," I panted, nuzzling my nose against his. "Paris…"

"Un lieu où les rêves se créent," he whispered. "You're really going to love the house."

"I love it when you speak French to me," I traced my tongue across his lower lip. "It's so sexy."

"Je vais baiser vous ce soir," he said in a deep, gruff voice. His tone vibrated straight through to my core, turning my knees to jelly.

"What does that mean?"

A familiar glint appeared in his eyes, wicked and fervent. My sex quivered in response.

"It's what I plan on doing to you later," he smirked. "When we're alone."

"You are a very bad man, Mr Grey."

"I know," he laughed. "But you wouldn't have me any other way."

"No, I wouldn't. You're perfect just the way you are."

I climbed out of the bath, sufficiently wrinkled, and dried off with a large cream towel. I moved a little slower now, the heat of the water making me feel sleepy and ready for bed. After changing into my pyjamas, I did a quick clear up of the bathroom before heading back out into the hallway. I know Christian hired a maid to come over each morning and tidy up, but I hate the idea of leaving the place a mess. Old habits die hard.

The bathroom is two doors away from our bedroom, the master suite only having a shower stall and not a tub. I needed to get some warmth into my spine. I won't be seeing my physiotherapist for another two weeks, so I'm keen not to undone the progress we've already made. My herniated disk is well on the road to recovery.

I padded down the brightly lit hall, taking a second to look at the various paintings on display. Grace, like Christian, has a keen eye for detail. The whole house is beautifully decorated, the furniture in keeping with the age of the property. It was like walking straight into a Jane Austen novel. I felt like I should have donned a bonnet and petticoat when we first arrived.

I headed toward the master suite, the room all three of us have slept in for the duration of our time here. Christian didn't want Teddy to be left alone in one of the other bedrooms, said it would be too much disruption for him. I prefer having Ted close to me anyway. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I want to be able to spot him in the room, know that he's okay. Christian arranged for a crib to be delivered before our arrival, the white woodwork and lace trim matching our four-poster bed perfectly.

I came to a stop at the bedroom door, hearing Christian whisper in a range of voices, switching between high and low, as if he was mimicking different people. I held back and listened to him, recognising his words in a heartbeat.

"But what about Bear?" he said in a high pitched tone. "He helped me all this way. Please, Mommy, can he stay?"

I leaned closer to the door and pressed against the frame, peeking my head through the gap. Christian was in the armchair next to the crib. Teddy was curled up on his chest, already fast asleep. The book lay open on Christian's thigh, one of his hands on Teddy and the other turning the pages.

"Mommy looked between Teddy and Bear and wondered what to do. The house is only big enough for one child, not two." He pecked a gentle kiss to the top of Teddy's head. "But she kneeled down and ruffled Teddy's head. Bear can stay, but only if he shares your bed."

He turned another page. "Jumping for joy, Teddy took Bear's hand and they went straight to his room. This is my bed, Bear. And it's yours now too. Bear was so happy he thought he might cry. He was so scared that he would have to say goodbye… because Bear didn't have a mommy or a daddy or even a Ted. He didn't have a home, let alone a bed… But now he had both and so much more. There was a bed, a lamp, and toys all over the floor."

Christian turned to the last page of the book, his cheek resting against Ted's.

"Bear had spent his whole life looking for a family. He searched the forest from tree to tree, thinking, Will anybody ever love me? Feeling tired from walking so far, the two little boys climbed into bed. Teddy's eyes closed first as he laid down his sweet head… He turned to Bear and kissed him goodnight, whispering quietly, Thank you, Bear. Sleep well and sleep tight."

Quietly closing the book and dropping it on the floor, Christian stood up from the chair and made the short journey to the crib. He leaned over the side rail and lowered Teddy down, tucking him in with his favourite white blanket.

"Sleep tight, Teddy bear," he hummed, before dipping into the crib to kiss Ted goodnight. "Daddy loves you. So very much."

He straightened up again and hovered by the crib, staring down at Teddy. With a grin over my lips, I shuffled into the room and came up behind him, wrapping my hands around his waist.

"He really loves that book, huh?" I said, pressing my cheek against his shoulder blade.

"He does," he nodded. "I think Carla has finally found her calling."

Teddy and Bear was published two weeks ago, written by my mom and one of the ghost writers at Grey Publishing. The book was scrambled together and finalised within just one week, the exact replica of the story Mom used to tell me as a child.

It's the story of a little boy who is looking for something more, only he doesn't know what 'more' is or where to find it. He goes out on a search one day, but as the sun sets he panics, fearing that he's lost forever. Until he stumbles across a grizzly bear who happens to be equally as scared and lost as the boy. The bear has no family of his own and is lonely. He has spent his life searching for someone to love him, now almost at the point of giving up completely. The chance meeting between them changes both their lives forever. The story has stuck with me since I was four years old and when I confessed to Mom that I recite it to Teddy, she told me that she always regretted not writing it down. It was Christian who suggested that we publish a copy of the story for ourselves, something to keep in the nursery for when Teddy is older. It kind of spiralled from there… Kate organised for some proof samples to be sent out for reviews, it was extremely well-received and gathered some heat on social media, orders flew in for copies. On the last count, sales had surpassed the half million mark. Mom's already thinking about future books…

"Let's go outside," Christian suggested, turning his chin to the side and revealing the smile on his lips. "Let the boy sleep."

I followed him through the double doors on the other side of the room. A small balcony is hidden from view, a secret garden just for us. Almost completely enclosed in a sea of ivy, the patio looks out over the countryside. The green railings were bent and curled into an intricate pattern, reminding me of waves lapping against the beach. The balcony is home to a small loveseat and a wooden coffee table, which is holding a bucket of ice and two champagne flutes.

"Come sit," Christian beckoned me over as he sat down on the bench. He reached for the bucket and pulled out the dark green bottle resting inside it.

"I –"

"You can have one glass," he interrupted, pre-empting what I was about to say. He popped the cork and poured me a glass. "It's not going to hurt."

"Just one glass," I warned, taking the flute from him. "You are such a bad influence."

"Always," he smirked as he poured his glass. He chinked it against mine before taking a sip. "How was your bath?"

"Excellent," I smiled and sat back on the bench, bringing my legs up underneath me. I took a sip of the champagne and let the strange taste settle on my tongue. It was odd and more acidic than I remember. I haven't had a drop of alcohol in over a year. "It's nice to have some Ana time," I admitted.

"I'm not surprised. You've been stuck to your cell phone all day," he sighed. His arm came around my shoulders, his hand gently pulling me into his side. "All you've done today is answer emails and take calls. I'm starting to feel jealous."

I glanced up at him and pursed my lips. "I'm sorry," I shook my head. "I was just wrapping up a few things, making sure everything is ready for Moninder's launch tomorrow."

He nodded back at me, already knowing this.

After reviewing her business proposal, I decided to invest in Moninder's lingerie line. I liked her ideas and designs, as well as the diversity she wants to establish – bras and panties that any woman can wear, irrespective of their size, age or skin colour. Each underwear set is named after real women - everyday women. I have my own set, even though I am a silent partner. The Anastasia comprises of matching laced panties and a nursing bra, available in seven different colours, aimed to be discreet, convenient, and sexy. That's the one thing I hated about all of my other nursing bras: they are boring, plain and look like something my grandmother would have worn. I wanted something practical that also made me feel good about myself. Since Moninder sent a sample box to me, I've only worn them, shunning all of my other bras. I love them.

Christian's quite fond of them too…

"I'm glad you decided to work with her in the end," he muttered, resting his glass on his knee.

"All she needed was a bit of extra support," I shrugged. "No pun intended."

He snorted a laugh.

"Once you gave her back the money Stephen stole from her, she was able to afford the first batch to be manufactured," I said. "All she needed from me was some moral support and a good PR team."

"See, I told you Grey Advertising would come in handy," he smirked. "I'm full of good ideas."

"You're full of something alright," I giggled. I took another sip of my champagne and sighed, looking out into the darkness. "I've really loved this."

"What?"

"All of this," I waved my hand between us. "Getting away from everything. Spending time alone, just the three of us. Having you all to myself again…"

"You just want me for my body?" he arched his brow.

"Yup," I nodded, flashing him a grin.

I reached over him and picked his glass out of his grip, placing both of ours down on the table. Lifting up onto my knees, I straddled his hips and sat down on his thighs. I dropped my hands over his shoulders and rubbed against his hardened body.

"Fuck the paperwork," I began, teasing the words off my tongue. "Fuck your money, your sense of humour, your big heart… I just want your body, baby."

"I knew it," he mouthed before lunging forward and merging his lips with mine. His hands slid over my hips, riding down to my butt. He squeezed my behind between his palms. "You know, one of these days someone is going to overhear us and think we're being serious."

"Fuck them," I grunted, sucking hard on his lower lip.

"Not literally," he retorted. "God, Ana… I don't think I could ever have my fill of you."

"Good." I rubbed the tip of my nose against his. "I want you always. Like this… Mine."

"I've been yours since you fell into my office," he groaned. His pants strained against me, his erection pressing into my inner thigh.

"I love you," I sighed. His lips moved from mine, skirting across my jaw and down my neck. "Christian…"

"Ana," he breathed, tickling my throat.

His left hand came around my front and sought out my crotch, his fingers sliding over my sex. I jerked as he touched me, already feeling sensitive and wet for him.

"Come for me, baby," he ordered as his fingers dipped under the waistband of my shorts.

His words triggered my climax, enough to push me over the edge. I came before he even circled my opening, the spasms tearing through my pelvis. It was as if I'd never been touched by him, like it was our first time all over again.

I am reborn with every kiss, every time his grey eyes meet mine. I gasp every time he holds me in his arms because I am safe in the knowledge that he is mine – that he will only ever be mine. He gave me his love, his heart, his vanilla. And in return I have given him unconditional love, trust, control. Happiness. A family.

He is my Bear and I am his Teddy.

THE END