laugh!
laugh!
“yes.”istruggletomaintainmylookofmoraloutrage.
“anarse?”christiansaysagain.thistimehislips
twitchwitharepressedsmile.
“don’tmakemelaughwheniammadatyou!”i
shout.
andhesmiles,adazzling,full-toothed,all-americanboy
smile,andican’thelpit.iamgrinningandlaughing,
too.howcouldinotbeaffectedbythejoyiseeinhis
smile?
“justbecauseiha一veastupiddamngrinonmyface
doesn’tmeani’mnotmadashellatyou,”imutter
breathlessly,tryingtosuppressmyhigh-schoolcheerleader
giggling.thoughiwasnevercheerleader—
thebitterthoughtcrossesmymind.
heleansin,andithinkhe’sgoingtokissmebuthe
doesn’t.henuzzlesmyhairandinhalesdeeply.
“asever,misssteele,youareunexpected.”heleans
backandgazesatme,hiseyesdancingwithhumor.“so
areyougoingtoinvitemein,oramitobesentpacking
forexercisingmydemocraticrightasanamericancitizen,
entrepreneur,andconsumertopurchasewhateveridamn
wellplease?”
“ha一veyouspokentodr.flynnaboutthis?”
helaughs.“areyougoingtoletmeinornot,
anastasia?”
itryforagrudginglook—bitingmyliphelps—buti’m
smilingasiopenthedoor.christianturnsandwa一vesto
taylor,andtheaudipullsaway.
it’soddha一vingchristiangreyintheapartment.theplace
feelstoosmallforhim.
iamstillmadathim—hisstalkingknowsnobounds,
anditdawnsonmethatthisishowheknewabouttheemail
beingmonitoredatsip.heprobablyknowsmore
aboutsipthanido.thethoughtisunsa一vory.
whatcanido?whydoesheha一vethisneedtokeep
mesafe?iamagrown-up—sortof—forhea一ven’ssake.
whatcanidotoreassurehim?
igazeathisbeautifulfaceashepacestheroomlikea
cagedpredator,andmyangersubsides.seeinghimherein
myspacewhenithoughtwewereoverisheartwarming.
morethanheartwarming,ilovehim,andmyheartswells
withanervous,headyelation.heglancesaround,
assessinghissurroundings.
“niceplace,”hesays.
“kate’sparentsboughtitforher.”
henodsdistractedly,andhisboldgrayeyescometo
restonmine,staringatme.
“er...wouldyoulikeadrink?”imutter,flushingwith
nerves.
“no,thankyou,anastasia.”hiseyesdarken.
ohcrap.whyamisonervous?
“whatwouldyouliketodo,anastasia?”heaskssoftly
ashewalkstowardme,allferalandhot.“iknowwhati
wanttodo,”headdsinalowvoice.
ibackupuntilibumpagainsttheconcretekitchen
island.
“i’mstillmadatyou.”
“iknow.”hesmilesalopsidedapologeticsmileandi
melt...well,maybenotsomad.
“wouldyoulikesomethingtoeat?”iask.
henodsslowly.“yes.you,”hemurmurs.everything
southofmywaistlineclenches.i’mseducedbyhisvoice
alone,butthatlook,thathungryi-want-you-nowlook—
ohmy.
he’sstandinginfrontofme,notquitetouching,staring
downintomyeyesandbathingmeintheheatthat’s
radiatingoffhisbody.i’mstiflinglyhot,flustered,andmy
legsarelikejellyasdarkdesirecoursesthroughme.i
wanthim.
“ha一veyoueatentoday?”hemurmurs.
“ihadasandwichatlunch,”iwhisper.idon’twantto
talkfood.
henarrowshiseyes.“youneedtoeat.”
“i’mreallynothungryrightnow...forfood.”
“whatareyouhungryfor,misssteele?”
“ithinkyouknow,mr.grey.”
heleansdown,andagainithinkhe’sgoingtokissme,
buthedoesn’t.
“doyouwantmetokissyou,anastasia?”hewhispers
softlyinmyear.
“yes,”ibreathe.
“where?”
“everywhere.”
“you’regoingtoha一vetobeabitmorespecificthan
that.itoldyouiamnotgoingtotouchyouuntilyoubeg
meandtellmewhattodo.”
myinnergoddessiswrithingonherchaiselongue.i
amlost;he’snotplayingfair.
“please,”iwhisper.
“pleasewhat?”
“touchme.”
“where,baby?”
heissotantalizinglyclose,hisscentintoxicating.i
reachup,andimmediatelyhestepsback.
“no,no,”hechides,hiseyessuddenlywideand
alarmed.
“what?”no...comeback.
“no.”heshakeshishead.
“notatall?”ican’tkeepthelongingoutofmyvoice.
helooksatmeuncertainly,andi’memboldenedby
hishesitation.isteptowardhim,andhestepsback,
holdinguphishandsindefense,butsmiling.
“look,ana.”it’sawarning,andherunshishand
throughhishair,exasperated.
“sometimesyoudon’tmind,”iobserveplaintively.
“perhapsishouldfindamarkerpen,andwecouldmap
outtheno-goareas.”
heraisesaneyebrow.“that’snotabadidea.
where’syourbedroom?”
inodinthedirection.ishedeliberatelychangingthe
subject?
“ha一veyoubeentakingyourpill?”
ohshit.mypill.
hisfacefallsatmyexpression.
“no,”isqueak.
“isee,”hesays,andhislipspressintoathinline.
“come,let’sha一vesomethingtoeat.”
ohno!
“ithoughtweweregoingtobed!iwanttogotobed
withyou.”
“iknow,baby.”hesmiles,andsuddenlydarting
towardme,hegrabsmywristsandpullsmeintohisarms
sothathisbodyispressedagainstmine.
“youneedtoeatandsodoi,”hemurmurs,burning
grayeyesgazingdownatme.“besides...anticipationis
thekeytoseduction,andrightnow,i’mreallyintodelayed
gratification.”
huh,sincewhen?
“i’mseducedandiwantmygratificationnow.i’llbeg,
please.”isoundwhiney.myinnergoddessisbeside
herself.
hesmilesatmetenderly.“eat.you’retooslender.”
hekissesmyforeheadandreleasesme.
thisisagame,partofsomeevilplan.iscowlathim.
“i’mstillmadthatyouboughtsip,andnowiammad
atyoubecauseyou’remakingmewait.”ipout.
“youareoneangrylittlemadam,aren’tyou?you’ll
feelbetterafteragoodmeal.”
“iknowwhati’llfeelbetterafter.”
“anastasiasteele,i’mshocked.”histoneisgently
mocking.
“stopteasingme.youdon’tfightfair.”
“stopteasingme.youdon’tfightfair.”
hestifleshisgrinbybitinghislowerlip.helooks
simplyadorable...playfulchristiantoyingwithmylibido.
ifonlymyseductionskillswerebetter,i’dknowwhatto
do,butnotbeingabletotouchhimdoeshamperme.
myinnergoddessnarrowshereyesandlooks
thoughtful.weneedtoworkonthis.
aschristianandigazeateachother—mehot,
botheredandyearningandhim,relaxedandamusedatmy
expense—irealizeiha一venofoodintheapartment.
“icouldcooksomething—exceptwe’llha一vetogo
shopping.”
“shopping?”
“forgroceries.”
“youha一venofoodhere?”hisexpressionhardens.
ishakemyhead.crap,helooksquiteangry.
“let’sgoshopping,then,”hesayssternlyasheturns
onhisheelandheadsforthedoor,openingitwideforme.
“whenwasthelasttimeyouwereinasupermarket?”
christianlooksoutofplace,buthefollowsme
dutifully,holdingashoppingbasket.
“ican’tremember.”
“doesmrs.jonesdoalltheshopping?”
“ithinktaylorhelpsher.i’mnotsure.”
“areyouhappywithastir-fry?it’squick.”
“stir-frysoundsgood.”christiangrins,nodoub一t
figuringoutmyulteriormotiveforaspeedymeal.
“ha一vetheyworkedforyoulong?”
“ha一vetheyworkedforyoulong?”
“taylor,fouryears,ithink.mrs.jonesaboutthe
same.whydidn’tyouha一veanyfoodintheapartment?”
“youknowwhy,”imurmur,flushing.
“itwasyouwholeftme,”hemuttersdisapprovingly.
“iknow,”ireplyinasmallvoice,notwantingthat
reminder.
wereachthecheckoutandsilentlystandinline.
ifihadn’tleft,wouldheha一veofferedthevanilla
alternative?iwonderidly.
“doyouha一veanythingtodrink?”hepullsmebackto
thepresent.
“beer...ithink.”
“i’llgetsomewine.”
ohdear.i’mnotsurewhatsortofwineisa一vailablein
ernie’ssupermarket.christianremergesemptyhanded,
grimacingwithalookofdisgust.
“there’sagoodliquorstorenextdoor,”isayquickly.
“i’llseewhattheyha一ve.”
maybeweshouldjustgotohisplace,thenwe
wouldn’tha一veallthishassle.iwatchashestrolls
purposefullyandwitheasygraceoutofthedoor.two
womencominginstopandstare.ohyes,eyemyfifty
shades,ithinkdespondently.
iwantthememoryofhiminmybed,buthe’splaying
hardtoget.maybeishould,too.myinnergoddessnods
franticallyinagreement.andasistandinline,wecomeup
withaplan.hmm...
christiancarriesthegrocerybagsintotheapartment.he’s
carriedthemaswe’vewalkedbacktotheapartmentfrom
thestore.helooksodd.nothisusualceodemeanorat
all.
“youlookvery—domestic.”
“noonehaseveraccusedmeofthatbefore,”hesays
dryly.heplacesthebagsonthekitchenisland.asistart
tounloadthem,hetakesoutabottleofwhitewineand
searchesforacorkscrew.
“thisplaceisstillnewtome.ithinktheopenerisin
thatdrawerthere.”ipointwithmychin.
thisfeelsso...normal.twopeople,gettingtoknow
eachother,ha一vingameal.yetit’ssostrange.thefearthat
i’dalwaysfeltinhispresencehasgone.we’vealready
donesomuchtogether,iblushjustthinkingaboutit,and
yetihardlyknowhim.
“whatareyouthinkingabout?”christianinterruptsmy
reverieasheshrugsoutofhispinstripejacketandplacesit
onthecouch.
“howlittleiknowyou,really.”
hegazesatmeandhiseyessoften.“youknowme
betterthananyone.”
“idon’tthinkthat’strue.”mrs.robinsoncomes
unbidden,andveryunwelcome,intomymind.
“itis,anastasia.iamavery,veryprivateperson.”
hehandsmeaglassofwhitewine.
“cheers,”hesays.
“cheers,”irespondtakingasipasheputsthebottlein
thefridge.
thefridge.
“canihelpyouwiththat?”heasks.
“noit’sfine...sit.”
“i’dliketohelp.”hisexpressionissincere.
“youcanchopthevegetables.”
“idon’tcook,”hesays,regardingtheknifeihandhim
withsuspicion.
“iimagineyoudon’tneedto.”iplaceachopping
boardandsomeredpeppersinfrontofhim.hestares
downattheminconfusion.
“you’veneverchoppedavegetable?”
“no.”
ismirkathim.
“areyousmirkingatme?”
“itappearsthisissomethingthaticandoandyou
can’t.let’sfaceit,christian,ithinkthisisafirst.here,i’ll
showyou.”
ibrushupagainsthimandhestepsback.myinner
goddesssitsupandtakesnotice.
“likethis.”islicetheredpepper,carefultoremove
theseeds.
“lookssimpleenough.”
“youshouldn’tha一veanytroublewithit,”imutter
ironically.
hegazesatmeimpassivelyforamomentthensets
abouthistaskasicontinuetopreparethedicedchicken.
hestartstoslice,carefully,slowly.ohmy,we’llbehere
allday.
iwashmyhandsandhuntforthewok,theoil,andthe
otheringredientsineed,repeatedlybrushingagainsthim—
myhip,myarm,myback,myhands.small,seemingly
innocenttouches.hestillseachtimeido.
“iknowwhatyou’redoing,anastasia,”hemurmurs
darkly,stillpreparingthefirstpepper.
“ithinkit’scalledcooking,”isay,flutteringmy
eyelashes.grabbinganotherknife,ijoinhimatthe
choppingboardpeelingandslicinggarlic,shallots,and
frenchbeans,continuallybumpingagainsthim.
“you’requitegoodatthis,”hemuttersashestartson
hissecondredpepper.
“chopping?”ibatmyeyelashesathim.“yearsof
practice.”ibrushagainsthimagain,thistimewithmy
behind.hestillsoncemore.
“ifyoudothatagain,anastasia,iamgoingtotakeyou
onthekitchenfloor.”
oh,wow.it’sworking.“you’llha一vetobegmefirst.”
“isthatachallenge?”
“maybe.”
heputsdownhisknifeandsauntersslowlyoverto
me,hiseyesburning.leaningpastme,heswitchesthegas
off.theoilinthewokquietsalmostimmediately.
“ithinkwe’lleatlater,”hesays.“putthechickeninthe
fridge.”
thisisnotasentenceihadeverexpectedtohearfrom
christiangrey,andonlyhecanmakeitsoundhot,really
hot.ipickupthebowlofdicedchicken,rathershakily
placeaplateontopofit,andstowitinthefridge.wheni
turnback,he’sbesideme.
“soyou’regoingtobeg?”iwhisper,bra一velygazing
intohisdarkeningeyes.
“no,anastasia.”heshakeshishead.“nobegging.”
hisvoiceissoft,seductive.
andwestandstaringateachother,drinkingeach
otherin—theatmospherechargingbetweenus,almost
crackling,neithersayinganything,justlooking.ibitemylip
asdesireforthisbeautifulmanseizesmewithavengeance,
ignitingmyblood,shallowingmybreath,poolingbelowmy
waist.iseemyreactionsreflectedinhisstance,inhis
eyes.
inabeat,hegrabsmebymyhipsandpullsmetohim
asmyhandsreachforhishairandhismouthclaimsme.
hepushesmeagainstthefridge,andihearthevague
protestingrattleofbottlesandjarsfromwithinashis
tonguefindsmine.imoanintohismouth,andoneofhis
handsmovesintomyhair,pullingmyheadbackaswe
kiss,sa一vagely.
“whatdoyouwant,anastasia?”hebreathes.
“you.”igasp.
“where?”
“bed.”
hebreaksfree,scoopsmeintohisarms,andcarries
mequicklyandseeminglywithoutanystrainintomy
bedroom.settingmeonmyfeetbesidemybed,heleans
downandswitchesonmybedsidelamp.heglances
quicklyroundtheroomandhastilyclosesthepalecream
curtains.
“nowwhat?”hesayssoftly.
“makelovetome.”
“how?”
jeez.
“youha一vegottotellme,baby.”
holycrap.“undressme.”iampantingalready.
hesmilesandhookshisindexfingerintomyopen
shirt,pullingmetowardhim.
“goodgirl,”hemurmurs,andwithouttakinghisblazing
eyesoffmine,slowlystartstounbuttonmyshirt.
tentativelyiputmyhandsonhisarmstosteady
myself.hedoesn’tcomplain.hisarmsareasafearea.
whenhe’sfinishedwiththebuttons,hepullsmyshirtover
myshoulders,andiletgoofhimtolettheshirtfalltothe
floor.hereachesdowntothewaistbandofmyjeans,
popsthebutton,andpullsdownthezipper.
“tellmewhatyouwant,anastasia.”hiseyessmolder
andhislipspartashetakesquickshallowbreaths.
“kissmefromheretohere,”iwhispertrailingmy
fingerfromthebaseofmyear,downmythroat.he
smoothesmyhairoutofthelineoffireandbends,lea一ving
sweetsoftkissesalongthepathmyfingertookandthen
backagain.
“myjeansandpanties,”imurmur,andhesmiles
againstmythroatbeforehedropstohiskneesinfrontof
me.oh,ifeelsopowerful.hookinghisthumbsintomy
jeans,hegentlypullsthemandmypantiesdownmylegs.i
stepoutofmypumpsandmyclothessothati’mleft
wearingonlymybra.hestopsandlooksupatme
expectantly,buthedoesn’tgetup.
expectantly,buthedoesn’tgetup.
“whatnow,anastasia?”
“kissme,”iwhisper.
“where?”
“youknowwhere.”
“where?”
oh,he’stakingnoprisoners.embarrassediquickly
pointattheapexofmythighs,andhegrinswickedly.i
closemyeyes,mortified,butatthesametimebeyond
aroused.
“oh,withpleasure,”hechuckles.hekissesmeand
unleasheshistongue,hisjoy-inspiringexperttongue.i
groanandfistmyhandsintohishair.hedoesn’tstop,his
tonguecirclingmyclitoris,drivingmeinsane,onandon,
roundandround.ahhh...it’sonlybeen...how
long...?oh...
“christian,please,”ibeg.idon’twanttocome
standingup.idon’tha一vethestrength.
“pleasewhat,anastasia?”
“makelovetome.”
“iam,”hemurmurs,gentlyblowingagainstme.
“no.iwantyouinsideme.”
“areyousure?”
“please.”
hedoesn’tstophissweet,exquisitetorture.imoan
loudly.
“christian...please.”
hestandsandgazesdownatme,andhislipsglisten
withtheevidenceofmyarousal.
holycow...
holycow...
“well?”heasks.
“wellwhat?”ipant,staringupathiminfranticneed.
“i’mstilldressed.”
igapeathiminconfusion.
undresshim?yes,icandothis.ireachforhisshirt
andhestepsback.
“ohno,”headmonishes.shit,hemeanshisjeans.
oh,andthisgivesmeanidea.myinnergoddess
cheersloudlytotherafters,andidroptomykneesin
frontofhim.ratherclumsilyandwithshakingfingers,i
undohiswaistbandandfly,thenyankdownhisjeansand
boxers,andhespringsfree.wow.
ipeekupathimthroughmylashes,andhe’sgazingat
mewith...what?trepidation?awe?surprise?
hestepsoutofhisjeansandpullsoffhissocks,andi
takeholdofhiminmyhandandsqueezetightly,pushing
myhandbacklikehe’sshownmebefore.hegroansand
tenses,andhisbreathhissesthroughclenchedteeth.very
tentatively,iputhiminmymouthandsuck—hard.mmm,
hetastesgood.
“ahh.ana...whoa,gently.”
hecupsmyheadtenderly,andipushhimdeeperinto
mymouth,pressingmylipstogetherastightlyasican,
sheathingmyteeth,andsuckinghard.
“fuck,”hehisses.
oh,that’sagood,inspiring,sexysound,soidoit
again,pullinghislengthdeeper,swirlingmytonguearound
theend.hmm...ifeellikeaphrodite.
“ana,that’senough.nomore.”
“ana,that’senough.nomore.”
idoitagain—beg,grey,beg—andagain.
“ana,you’vemadeyourpoint,”hegruntsthrough
grittedteeth.“idonotwanttocomeinyourmouth.”
idoitoncemore,andhebendsdown,graspsmeby
myshoulders,haulsmetomyfeet,andtossesmeonthe
bed.dragginghisshirtoverhishead,hethenreaches
downtohisdiscardedjeans,andlikeagoodboyscout,
producesafoilpacket.he’spanting,likeme.
“takeyourbraoff,”heorders.
isitupanddoasi’mtold.
“liedown.iwanttolookatyou.”
iliedown,gazingupathimasheslowlyrollsthe
condomon.iwanthimsobadly.hestaresdownatme
andlickshislips.
“youareafinesight,anastasiasteele.”hebends
overthebedandslowlycrawlsupandoverme,kissing
meashegoes.hekisseseachofmybreastsandteases
mynipplesinturn,whileigroanandwrithebeneathhim,
andhedoesn’tstop.
no...stop.iwantyou.
“christian,please.”
“pleasewhat?”hemurmursbetweenmybreasts.
“iwantyouinsideme.”
“doyounow?”
“please.”
gazingatme,hepushesmylegsapartwithhisand
movessothathe’shoveringaboveme.withouttakinghis
eyesoffmine,hesinksintomeatadeliciouslyslowpace.
iclosemyeyes,relishingthefullness,theexquisite
iclosemyeyes,relishingthefullness,theexquisite
feelingofhispossession,instinctivelytiltingmypelvisupto
meethim,tojoinwithhim,groaningloudly.heeasesback
andveryslowlyfillsmeagain.myfingersfindtheirway
intohissilkenunrulyhair,andheoh-so-slowlymovesin
andoutagain.
“faster,christian,faster...please.”
hegazesdownatmeintriumphandkissesmehard,
thenreallystartstomove—holycow,apunishing,
relentless...ohfuck—andiknowitwillnotbelong.he
setsapoundingrhythm.istarttoquicken,mylegstensing
beneathhim.
“comeon,baby,”hegasps.“giveittome.”
hiswordsaremyundoing,andiexplode,
magnificently,mind-numbingly,intoamillionpiecesaround
him,andhefollowscallingoutmyname.
“ana!ohfuck,ana!”hecollapsesontopofme,his
headburiedinmyneck.
assanityreturns,iopenmyeyesandgazeupintotheface
ofthemanilove.christian’sexpressionissoft,tender.he
strokeshisnoseagainstmine,bearinghisweightonhis
elbows,hishandsholdingminebythesideofmyhead.
sadly,isuspectthat’ssoidon’ttouchhim.heplantsa
gentlekissonmylipsasheeaseshimselfoutofme.
“i’vemissedthis,”hebreathes.
“metoo,”iwhisper.
hetakesholdofmychinandkissesmehard.a
passionate,beseechingkiss,askingforwhat?idon’t
passionate,beseechingkiss,askingforwhat?idon’t
know.itlea一vesmebreathless.
“don’tlea一vemeagain,”heimplores,lookingdeepinto
myeyes,hisfaceserious.
“okay,”iwhisperandsmileathim.hisanswering
smileisdazzling;relief,elation,andboyishdelight
combinedintooneenchantinglookthatwouldmeltthe
coldestofhearts.“thankyoufortheipad.”
“youaremostwelcome,anastasia.”
“what’syourfa一voritesongonthere?”
“nowthatwouldbetelling.”hegrins.“comecook
mesomefood,wench.i’mfamished,”headds,sittingup
suddenlyanddraggingmewithhim.
“wench?”igiggle.
“wench.food,now,please.”
“sinceyouasksonicely,sire,i’llgetrightontoit.”
asiscrambleoutofbed,idislodgemypillow,
revealingthedeflatedhelicopterballoonunderneath.
christianreachesforitandgazesupatme,puzzled.
“that’smyballoon,”isay,feelingproprietaryasi
“that’smyballoon,”isay,feelingproprietaryasi
reachformyrobeandwrapitroundmyself.ohjeez...
whydidheha一vetofindthat?
“inyourbed?”hemurmurs.
“yes,”iflush.“it’sbeenkeepingmecompany.”
“luckycharlietango,”hesays,insurprise.
yes,i’msentimental,grey,becauseiloveyou.
“myballoon,”isayagainandturnonmyheeland
headouttothekitchen,lea一vinghimgrinningfromearto
ear.
christianandisitonkate’spersianrug,eatingstir-fry
chickenandnoodlesfromwhitechinabowlswith
chopsticksandsippingchilledwhitepinotgrigio.christian
leansagainstthecouch,hislonglegsstretchedoutinfront
ofhim.he’swearinghisjeansandhisshirtwithhisjustfucked
hair,andthat’sall.thebuenavistasocialclub
croonssoftlyinthebackgroundfromchristian’sipod.
“thisisgood,”hesaysappreciativelyashedigsinto
hisfood.