black?it’sdifficulttotell.
inmybefuddledstate,ireachacrossandswitchon
thebedsidelight,thenturnbacktolookbutthere’snoone
there.ishakemyhead.didiimagineit?dreamit?
isitupandlookaroundtheroom,avague,insidious
uneasegrippingme—butiamquitealone.
irubmyface.whattimeisit?where’schristian?the
alarmsaysit’stwofifteeninthemorning.
climbinggroggilyoutofbed,isetofftohunthim
down,disconcertedbymyoveractiveimagination.iam
seeingthingsnow.itmustbeareactiontothedramatic
eventsoftheevening.
themainroomisempty,theonlylightemanatingfrom
thethreependulumlampsabovethebreakfastbar.buthis
studydoorisajar,andihearhimonthephone.
“idon’tknowwhyyou’recallingatthishour.iha一ve
nothingtosaytoyou...well,youcantellmenow.you
don’tha一vetolea一veamessage.”
istandmotionlessbythedoor,ea一vesdroppingguiltily.
whoishetalkingto?
“no,youlisten.iaskedyou,andnowiamtellingyou.
lea一veheralone.she’snothingtodowithyou.doyou
understand?”
hesoundsbelligerentandangry.ihesitatetoknock.
“iknowyoudo.butimeanit,elena.lea一veherthe
fuckalone.doineedtoputitintriplicateforyou?are
youhearingme?...good.goodnight.”heslamsthe
phonedownonthedesk.
phonedownonthedesk.
ohshit.iknocktentativelyonthedoor.
“what?”hesnarls,andialmostwanttorunandhide.
hesitsathisdeskwithhisheadinhishands.he
glancesup,hisexpressionferocious,buthisfacesoftens
immediatelywhenheseesme.hiseyesarewideand
cautious.suddenly,helookssotiredandmyheart
constricts.
heblinks,andhiseyessweepdownmylegsandback
again.iamwearingoneofhist-shirts.
“youshouldbeinsatinorsilk,anastasia,”he
breathes.“buteveninmyt-shirtyoulookbeautiful.”
oh,anunexpectedcompliment.“imissedyou.come
tobed.”
herisesslowlyoutofthechairstillinhiswhiteshirt
andblackdresspants.butnowhiseyesareshiningand
fullofpromise...butthere’satraceofsadness,too.he
standsinfrontofme,staringintentlybutnottouchingme.
“doyouknowwhatyoumeantome?”hemurmurs.
“ifsomethinghappenedtoyou,becauseofme...”his
“ifsomethinghappenedtoyou,becauseofme...”his
voicetrailsoff,hisbrowcreasing,andthepainthatflashes
acrosshisfaceisalmostpalpable.helookssovulnerable
—hisfearverymuchapparent.
“nothing’sgoingtohappentome,”ireassurehim,my
voicesoothing.ireachupandstrokehisface,runningmy
fingersthroughthestubbleonhischeek.it’sunexpectedly
soft.“yourbeardgrowsquickly,”iwhisper,unableto
hidethewonderinmyvoiceatthisbeautiful,fucked-up
manwhostandsbeforeme.
itracethelineofhisbottomlipthentrailmyfingers
downhisthroat,tothefaintsmudgeoflipstickatthebase
ofhisneck.hegazesdownatme,stillnottouchingme,his
lipsparted.irunmyindexfingeralongtheline,andhe
closeshiseyes.hissoftbreathingquickens.myfingers
reachtheedgeofhisshirt,andirunthemdowntothenext
fastenedbutton.
“i’mnotgoingtotouchyou.ijustwanttoundoyour
shirt,”iwhisper.
hiseyesopenwide,regardingmewithalarm.buthe
doesn’tmove,andhedoesn’tstopme.veryslowlyi
unfastenthebutton,holdingthematerialawayfromhis
skin,andmovetentativelydowntothenextbutton,
repeatingtheprocess—slowly,concentratingonwhatiam
doing.
idon’twanttotouchhim.well,ido...butiwon’t.
onthefourthbutton,theredlinereappears,andismile
shylyupathim.
“backonhometerritory.”itracethelinewithmy
fingersbeforeundoingthefinalbutton.ipullhisshirtopen
andmovetohiscuffs,removinghisblackpolishedstone
cufflinksoneatatime.
“canitakeyourshirtoff?”iask,myvoicelow.
henods,eyesstillwide,asireachupandpullhisshirt
overhisshoulders.hefreeshishandssohe’sstandingin
frontofmenakedfromthewaistup.withhisshirtoff,he
seemstorecoverhisequilibrium.hesmirksdownatme.
“whataboutmypants,misssteele?”heasks,raising
aneyebrow.
“inthebedroom.iwantyouinyourbed.”
“inthebedroom.iwantyouinyourbed.”
“doyounow?misssteele,youareinsatiable.”
“ican’tthinkwhy.”igrabhishand,pullhimfromhis
study,andleadhimtohisbedroom.theroomischilly.
“youopenedthebalconydoor?”heasks,frowning
downatmeaswearriveinhisroom.
“no.”idon’trememberdoingthat.irecallscanning
theroomwheniwoke.thedoorwasdefinitelyclosed.
ohshit...allthebloodrushesfrommyface,andi
stareatchristianasmymouthfallsopen.
“what?”hesnaps,glaringatme.
“wheniwoke...therewassomeoneinhere,”i
whisper.“ithoughtitwasmyimagination.”
“what?”helookshorrifiedanddashestothebalcony
door,peersout,thenstepsbackintotheroomandlocks
thedoorbehindhim.“areyousure?who?”heaskshis
voicetight.
“awoman,ithink.itwasdark.i’donlyjustwoken
up.”
“getdressed,”hesnarlsatmeonhiswaybackin.
“getdressed,”hesnarlsatmeonhiswaybackin.
“now!”
“myclothesareupstairs,”iwhimper.
hepullsopenoneofthedrawersinhischestof
drawersandfishesoutapairofsweatpants.
“puttheseon.”theyarefartoobig,butheisnottobe
arguedwith.
heswipesat-shirt,too,andquicklypullsitoverhis
head.grabbingthebedsidephone,hepressestwo
buttons.
“she’sstillfuckinghere,”hehissesdownthephone.
approximatelythreesecondslater,taylorandoneof
theothersecurityguys,burstintochristian’sbedroom.
christiangivesthemaprécisofwhathashappened.
“howlongago?”taylordemands,staringatmeall
businesslike.he’sstillwearinghisjacket.doesthisman
eversleep?
“abouttenminutes,”imutter,forsomereasonfeeling
guilty.
“sheknowstheapartmentlikethebackofherhand,”
sayschristian.“iamtakinganastasiaawaynow.she’s
hidingheresomewhere.findher.whenisgailback?
“tomorrowevening,sir.”
“she’snottoreturnuntilthisplaceissecure.
understand?”christiansnaps.
“yes,sir.willyoubegoingtobellevue?”
“i’mnotleadingthisproblemtomyparents.bookme
somewhere.”
“yes.i’llcallyou.”
“aren’twealloverreactingslightly?”iask.
christianglowersatme.“shemayha一veagun,”he
growls.
“christian,shewasstandingattheendofthebed.she
couldha一veshotmethen,ifthat’swhatshewantedtodo.”
christianpausesforamomenttoreininhistemper,i
think.inamenacinglysoftvoicehesays,“i’mnot
preparedtotaketherisk.taylor,anastasianeedsshoes.”
christiandisappearsintohisclosetwhilethesecurity
guywatchesme.ican’trememberhisname,ryanmaybe.
helooksalternatelydownthehallandtothebalcony
helooksalternatelydownthehallandtothebalcony
windows.christianemergesacoupleofminuteslaterwith
aleathermessengerbag,wearingjeansandhispinstriped
blazer.hedrapesadenimjacketaroundmyshoulders.
“come.”heclaspsmyhandtightly,andiha一veto
practicallyruntokeepupwithhislongstridesintothe
greatroom.
“ican’tbelieveshecouldhidesomewhereinhere,”i
mutter,staringoutthebalconydoors.
“it’sabigplace.youha一ven’tseenitallyet.”
“whydon’tyoujustcallher...tellheryouwantto
talktoher?”
“anastasia,she’sunstable,andshemaybearmed,”he
saysirritably.
“sowejustrun?”
“fornow—yes.”
“supposingshetriestoshoottaylor?”
“taylorknowsandunderstandsguns,”hesayswith
distaste.“he’llbequickerwithagunthansheis.”
“raywasinthearmy.he’staughtmetoshoot.”
“raywasinthearmy.he’staughtmetoshoot.”
christianraiseshiseyebrowsandforamomentlooks
utterlybemused.“you,withagun?”hesaysincredulously.
“yes.”iamaffronted.“icanshoot,mr.grey,so
you’dbetterbeware.it’snotjustcrazyex-subsyouneed
toworryabout.”
“i’llbearthatinmind,misssteele,”heanswersdryly,
amused,anditfeelsgoodtoknowthateveninthis
ridiculouslytensesituation,icanmakehimsmile.
taylormeetsusinthefoyerandhandsmemysmall
suitcaseandmyblackconverse.iamstunnedthathe’s
packedmesomeclothes.ismileshylyathimwith
gratitude,andhisreturningsmileisswiftandreassuring.
beforeicanstopmyself—ihughim,hard.he’stakenby
surprise,andwhenireleasehim,he’spinkinbothcheeks.
“becareful,”imurmur.
“yes,misssteele,”hemutters.
christianfrownsatmeandthenlooksquestioninglyat
taylor,whosmilesveryslightlyandadjustshistie.
“letmeknowwherei’mgoing.”christiansays.
taylorreachesintohisjacket,pullsouthiswallet,and
handschristianacreditcard.
“youmightwanttousethiswhenyougetthere.”
christiannods.“goodthinking.”
ryanjoinsus.“sawyerandreynoldsfoundnothing,”
hesaystotaylor.
“accompanymr.greyandmisssteeletothe
garage,”taylororders.
thegarageisdeserted.well,itisnearlythreeinthe
morning.christianushersmeintothepassengerseatofthe
r8andputsmycaseandhisbaginthetrunkatthefront
ofthecar.theaudibesideusisacompletemess—every
tireslashed,whitepaintsplatteredalloverit.it’schilling
andmakesmegratefulthatchristianistakingme
somewhereelse.
“areplacementwillarriveonmonday,”christiansays
bleaklywhenhe’sseatedbesideme.
“howcouldsheha一veknownitwasmycar?”
heglancesanxiouslyatmeandsighs.“shehadan
audia3.ibuyoneforallmysubmissives—it’soneofthe
audia3.ibuyoneforallmysubmissives—it’soneofthe
safestcarsinitsclass.”
oh.“so,notsomuchagraduationpresent,then.”
“anastasia,despitewhatihoped,youha一veneverbeen
mysubmissive,sotechnicallyitisagraduationpresent.”
hepullsoutoftheparkingspaceandspeedstotheexit.
despitewhathehoped.ohno...mysubconscious
shakesherheadsadly.thisiswhatwecomebacktoall
thetime.
“areyoustillhoping?”iwhisper.
thein-carphonebuzzes.“grey,”christiansnaps.
“fairmontolympic.inmyname.”
“thankyou,taylor.and,taylor,becareful.”
taylorpauses.“yes,sir,”hesaysquietly,and
christianhangsup.
thestreetsofseattlearedeserted,andchristianroars
upfifthavenuetowardthei-5.onceontheinterstate,he
floorsthegaspedal,headingnorth.heacceleratesso
quicklyi’mmomentarilythrownbackinmyseat.
ipeekathim.he’sdeepinthought,radiatingadeadly
ipeekathim.he’sdeepinthought,radiatingadeadly
broodingsilence.hehasn’tansweredmyquestion.he
glancesfrequentlyattherearviewmirror,andirealizehe’s
checkingthatwe’renotbeingfollowed.perhapsthat’s
whywe’reonthei-5.ithoughtthefairmontwasin
seattle.
igazeoutofthewindow,tryingtorationalizemy
exhausted,overactivemind.ifshe’dwantedtohurtme,
shehadampleopportunityinthebedroom.
“no.it’snotwhatihopefor,notanymore.ithought
thatwasobvious.”christianinterruptsmyintrospection,
hisvoicesoft.
iblinkathim,pullinghisdenimjackettighteraround
me,andidon’tknowifthechillisemanatingfromwithin
meorfromoutside.
“iworrythat,youknow...thati’mnotenough.”
“you’remorethanenough.fortheloveofgod,
anastasia,whatdoiha一vetodo?”
tellmeaboutyourself.tellmeyouloveme.
“whydidyouthinki’dlea一vewhenitoldyoudr.
flynnhadtoldmealltherewastoknowaboutyou?”
hesighshea一vily,closinghiseyesforamoment,andfor
thelongesttimehedoesn’tanswer.“youcannotbeginto
understandthedepthsofmydepra一vity,anastasia.andit’s
notsomethingiwanttosharewithyou.”
“andyoureallythinki’dlea一ve,ifiknew?”myvoice
ishigh,incredulous.doesn’theunderstandthatilovehim?
“doyouthinksolittleofme?”
“iknowyou’lllea一ve,”hesayssadly.
“christian...ithinkthat’sveryunlikely.ican’t
imaginebeingwithoutyou.”ever...
“youleftmeonce—idon’twanttogothereagain.”
“elenasaidshesawyoulastsaturday,”iwhisper
quietly.
“shedidn’t.”hefrowns.
“youdidn’tgotoseeher,whenileft?”
“no,”hesnaps,irritated.“ijusttoldyouididn’t—and
idon’tliketobedoub一ted,”hescolds.“ididn’tgo
anywherelastweekend.isatandmadetheglideryou
ga一veme.tookmeforever,”headdsquietly.
ga一veme.tookmeforever,”headdsquietly.
myheartclenchesagain.mrs.robinsonsaidshesaw
him.
didsheordidn’tshe?she’slying.why?
“contrarytowhatelenathinks,idon’trushtoherwith
allmyproblems,anastasia.idon’trushtoanybody.you
mayha一venoticed—i’mnotmuchofatalker.”hetightens
hisholdonthesteeringwheel.
“carricktoldmeyoudidn’ttalkfortwoyears.”
“didhenow?”christian’smouthpressesintoahard
line.
“ikindofpumpedhimforinformation.”embarrassed,
istareatmyfingers.
“sowhatelsediddaddysay?”
“hesaidyourmomwasthedoctorwhoexaminedyou
whenyouwerebroughtintothehospital.afteryouwere
discoveredinyourapartment.”
christian’sexpressionremainsblank...careful.
“hesaidlearningthepianohelped.andmia.”
hislipscurlinafondsmileatthementionofhername.
hislipscurlinafondsmileatthementionofhername.
afteramomenthesays,“shewasaboutsixmonthsold
whenshearrived.iwasthrilled,elliotlessso.he’d
alreadyhadtocontendwithmyarrival.shewasperfect.”
thesweet,sadaweinhisvoiceisaffecting.“lessso
now,ofcourse,”hemutters,andirecallhersuccessful
attemptsattheballtothwartourlasciviousintentions.it
makesmegiggle.
christiangivesmeasidewaysglance.“youfindthat
amusing,misssteele?”
“sheseemeddeterminedtokeepusapart.”
helaughsmirthlessly.“yes,she’squiteaccomplished.”
hereachesacrossandsqueezesmyknee.“butwegot
thereintheend.”hesmilesthenglancesintherearview
mirroroncemore.“idon’tthinkwe’vebeenfollowed.”
heturnsoffthei-5andheadsbacktocentralseattle.
“caniaskyousomethingaboutelena?”weare
stoppedatsometrafficlights.
hegazesatmewarily.“ifyoumust,”hemutters
sullenly,butidon’tlethisirritabilitydeterme.
“youtoldmeagesagothatshelovedyouinawayyou
foundacceptable.whatdidthatmean?”
“isn’titobvious?”heasks.
“nottome.”
“iwasoutofcontrol.icouldn’tbeartobetouched.i
can’tbearitnow.forafourteen,fifteen-year-old
adolescentboywithhormonesraging,itwasadifficult
time.sheshowedmeawaytoletoffsteam.”
oh.“miasaidyouwereabrawler.”
“christ,whatisitwithmyloquaciousfamily?actually
—it’syou.”we’vestoppedatmorelights,andhenarrows
hiseyesatme.“youinveigleinformationoutofpeople.”
heshakeshisheadinmockdisgust.
“miavolunteeredthatinformation.infact,shewas
veryforthcoming.shewasworriedyou’dstartabrawlin
themarqueeifyoudidn’twinmeattheauction,”imutter
indignantly.
“oh,baby,therewasnodangerofthat.therewasno
wayiwouldletanyoneelsedancewithyou.”
“youletdr.flynn.”
“youletdr.flynn.”
“he’salwaystheexceptiontotherule.”
christianpullsintotheimpressive,leafydrivewayof
thefairmontolympichotelandparksnearthefrontdoor,
besideaquaintstonefountain.
“come.”heclimbsoutofthecarandretrievesour
luggage.avaletrushestowardus,lookingsurprised—no
doub一tatourlatearrival.christiantosseshimthecarkeys.
“nameoftaylor,”hesays.thevaletnodsandcan’t
containhisgleeasheleapsintother8anddrivesoff.
christiantakesmyhandandstridesintothelobby.
asistandbesidehimatthereceptiondesk,ifeel
utterly,utterlyridiculous.hereiam,inseattle’smost
prestigioushotel,dressedinanoversizeddenimjacket,
oversizedsweatpants,andanoldt-shirtnexttothis
elegant,beautiful,greekgod.nowonderthereceptionist
islookingfromonetotheotherasiftheequationdoesn’t
addup.ofcourse,she’sover-awedbychristian.irollmy
eyesassheflushescrimsonandstutters.jeez,evenher
handsareshaking.
handsareshaking.
“do...youneedahand...withyourbags,mr.
taylor?”sheasks,goingscarletagain.
“no,mrs.taylorandicanmanage.”
mrs.taylor!buti’mnotwearingaring.iputmy
handsbehindmyback.
“you’reinthecascadesuite,mr.taylor,eleventh
floor.ourbellboywillhelpwithyourbags.”
“we’refine,”christiansayscurtly.“wherearethe
elevators?”
missflushingcrimsonexplains,andchristiangrasps
myhandoncemore.iglancebrieflyroundtheimpressive,
sumptuouslobbyfullofoverstuffedchairs,desertedsa一ve
foradark-hairedwomansittingonacozysofa,feeding
tidbitstoherwestie.sheglancesupandsmilesatusaswe
makeourwaytotheelevators.sothehotelallowspets?
oddforaplacesogrand!
thesuitehastwobedrooms,aformaldiningroom,
andcomescompletewithgrandpiano.alogfireblazesin
themassivemainroom.jeez...thissuiteisbiggerthan
myapartment.
“well,mrs.taylor,idon’tknowaboutyou,buti’d
reallylikeadrink,”christianmutters,lockingthefront
doorsecurely.
inthebedroom,heputsmycaseandhissatchelonthe
ottomanatthefootoftheking-sizefour-posterbedand
leadsmebythehandintothemainroomwherethefireis
burningbrightly.it’sawelcomesight.istandandwarm
myhandswhilechristianfixesusbothadrink.
“armagnac?”
“please.”
afteramoment,hejoinsmebythefireandhandsme
acrystalbrandyglass.
“it’sbeenquiteaday,huh?”
inodandhisgrayeyesgazeatmesearchingly,
concerned.
“i’mokay,”iwhisperreassuringly.“howaboutyou?”
“well,rightnowi’dliketodrinkthisandthen,if
you’renottootired,takeyoutobedandlosemyselfin
you.”
you.”
“ithinkthatcanbearranged,mr.taylor.”ismile
shylyathimasheshufflesoutofhisshoesandpeelsoffhis
socks.
“mrs.taylor,stopbitingyourlip,”hewhispers.
iblushintomyglass.thearmagnacisdelicious,
lea一vingaburningwarmthinitswakeasitglidessilkily
downmythroat.wheniglanceupatchristian,he’s
sippinghisbrandy,watchingme,hiseyesdark—hungry.
“youneverceasetoamazeme,anastasia.afteraday
liketoday—oryesterday,rather—you’renotwhiningor
runningoffintothehillsscreaming.iaminaweofyou.
you’reverystrong.”
“you’reaverygoodreasontostay,”imurmur.“itold
you,christian,i’mnotgoinganywhere,nomatterwhat
you’vedone.youknowhowifeelaboutyou.”
hismouthtwistsasifhedoub一tsmywords,andhis
browcreasesasifwhati’msayingispainfulforhimto
hear.oh,christian,whatdoiha一vetodotomakeyou
realizehowifeel?
realizehowifeel?
lethimbeatyou,mysubconscioussneersatme.i
scowlinwardlyather.
“whereareyougoingtohangjosé’sportraitsofme?”
itrytolightenthemood.
“thatdepends.”hislipstwitch.thisisobviouslya
muchmorepalatabletopicofconversationforhim.
“onwhat?”
“circumstances,”hesaysmysteriously.“hisshow’s
notoveryet,soidon’tha一vetodecidestraightaway.”
icockmyheadtoonesideandnarrowmyeyes.
“youcanlookassternlyasyoulike,mrs.taylor.i’m
sayingnothing,”heteases.
“imaytorturethetruthfromyou.”
heraisesaneyebrow.“really,anastasia,idon’tthink
youshouldmakepromisesyoucan’tfulfill.”
ohmy,isthatwhathethinks?iplacemyglassonthe
mantelpiece,reachover,andmuchtochristian’ssurprise,
takehisglassandplaceitbesidemine.
“we’lljustha一vetoseeaboutthat,”imurmur.very
bra一vely—emboldenedbythebrandy,nodoub一t—itake
christian’shandandpullhimtowardthebedroom.atthe
footofthebedistop.christianistryingtohidehis
amusement.
“nowyouha一vemeinhere,anastasia,whatareyou
goingtodowithme?”heteases,hisvoicelow.
“i’mgoingtostartbyundressingyou.iwanttofinish
whatistartedearlier.”ireachforthelapelsonhisjacket,
carefulnottotouchhim,andhedoesn’tflinchbuthe’s
holdinghisbreath.
gently,ipushhisjacketoverhisshoulders,andhis
eyesstayonmine,alltracesofhumorgone,astheygrow
larger,burningintome,waryandneedful?thereareso
manyinterpretationsofhislook.whatishethinking?i
placehisjacketontheottoman.
“nowyourt-shirt,”iwhisperandliftitbythehem.
hecooperates,raisinghisarmsandbackingaway,making
iteasierformetopullitoff.onceoff,hegazesdownat
me,intently,wearingjusthisjeansthathangso
provocativelyfromhiships.thebandofhisboxerbriefsis
provocativelyfromhiships.thebandofhisboxerbriefsis
visible.
myeyesmovehungrilyupacrosshistautstomachto
theremainsofthelipstickline,fadedandsmudged,then
uptohischest.iwantnothingmorethantorunmytongue
throughhischesthairtosa一vorhistaste.
“nowwhat?”hewhispers,eyesblazing.
“iwanttokissyouhere.”irunmyfingerfromhipbone
tohipboneacrosshisbelly.
hislipspartasheinhalessharply.“i’mnotstopping
you,”hebreathes.
itakehishand.“you’dbetterliedownthen,”i
murmurandleadhimtothesideofthefour-posterbed.
heseemsbewildered,anditoccurstomethatperhapsno
onehastakentheleadwithhimsince...her.no,don’t
gothere.
liftingthecovers,hesitsontheedgeofthebed,
gazingupatme,waiting,hisexpressionwaryandserious.
istandbeforehimandslipoffhisdenimjacketandletit
droptothefloor,thenishuffleoutofhissweatpants.
droptothefloor,thenishuffleoutofhissweatpants.
herubshisthumboverthetipsofhisfingers.he’s
itchingtotouchme,icantell,buthesuppressestheurge.
takingadeepbreathandbeyondcourageous,ireachfor
thehemofmyt-shirtandliftitovermyheadsoiam
nakedbeforehim.hiseyesdon’tlea一vemine,buthe
swallowsandhislipspart.
“youareaphrodite,anastasia,”hemurmurs.
iclasphisfaceinmyhands,tiphisheadup,andbend
tokisshim.hegroanslowinhisthroat.
asiplacemymouthonhis,hegrabsmyhips,and
beforeiknowit,iampinnedbeneathhim,hislegsforcing
mineapartsothathe’scradledagainstmybodybetween
mylegs.he’skissingme,ra一vagingmymouth,ourtongues
entwined.hishandtrailsfrommythigh,overmyhip,along
mybellytomybreast,squeezing,kneading,andpulling
enticinglyonmynipple.
igroanandtiltmypelvisinvoluntarilyagainsthim,
findingadeliciousfrictionagainsttheseamofhisflyandhis
growingerection.hestopskissingmeandgazesdownat
mebemusedandbreathless.heflexeshishipssohis
erectionpushesagainstme....yes.rightthere.
iclosemyeyesandmoan,andhedoesitagain,but
thistimeipushback,relishinghisansweringmoanashe
kissesmeagain.hecontinuestheslowdelicioustorture—
rubbingme,rubbinghim.andhe’sright—gettinglostin
him—it’sintoxicatingtotheexclusionofeverythingelse.
allmyworriesareobliterated.
iamhereinthismomentwithhim—mybloodsinging
inmyveins,thrummingloudlythroughmyears,mixedwith
thesoundofourpantingbreaths.iburymyhandsinhis
hair,holdinghimtomymouth,consuminghim,mytongue
asa一variciousashis.itrailmyfingersdownhisarms,down
hislowerbacktothewaistbandofhisjeansandpushmy
intrepid,greedyhandsinside,urginghimonandon—
forgettingeverything,exceptus.