“okayonthe520.assoonaswehitit...yes...iwill.”

heslotsthephoneintothespeakercradle,puttingitonhands-free.

“what’swrong,christian?”

“justlookwhereyou’regoing,baby,”hesayssoftly.i’mheadingfortheonramp

ofthe520inthedirectionofseattle.wheniglanceatchristian,he’s

staringstraightahead.

“idon’twantyoutopanic,”hesayscalmly.“butassoonaswe’reonthe520

proper,iwantyoutosteponthegas.we’rebeingfollowed.”

followed!holyshit.myheartlurchesintomymouth,pounding,myscalp

pricklesandmythroatconstrictswithpanic.followedbywhom?myeyes

darttotherearviewmirrorand,sureenough,thedarkcarisawearlierisstill

behindus.fuck!isthatit?isquintthroughthetintedwindshieldtoseewho’s

driving,butiseenothing.

“keepyoureyesontheroad,baby,”christiansaysgently,notinthetruculent

tonehenormallyuseswheremydrivingisconcerned.getagrip!imentally

slapmyselftosubduethedreadthat’sthreateningtoswampme.suppose

whoever’sfollowingusisarmed?

armedandafterchristian!shit!i’mhitbyawa一veofnausea.

“howdoweknowwe’rebeingfollowed?”myvoiceisabreathy,squeaky,

whisper.

“thedodgebehindushasfalselicenseplates.”

howdoesheknowthat?

isignalasweapproachthe520fromtheon-ramp.it’slateafternoon,and

althoughtherainhasstopped,theroadwayiswet.89|page

fiftyshadesfreed

fortunately,thetrafficisreasonablylight.

ray’svoiceechoesinmyheadfromoneofhismanyself-defenselectures.

“it’sthepanicthat’sgonnakillyouorgetyouseriouslyhurt,annie.”itakea

deepbreath,tryingtobringmybreathingundercontrol.whoeverisfollowing

usisafterchristian.asitakeanotherdeepsteadyingbreath,mymind

beginstoclearandmystomachsettles.iha一vetokeepchristiansafe.i

wantedtodrivethiscar,andiwantedtodriveitfast.well,here’smychance.

igripthesteeringwheelandtakeafinalglanceinmyrearviewmirror.the

dodgeisclosingonus.islowrightdown,ignoringchristian’ssudden

panickedglanceatme,andtimemyentranceontothe520sothatthe

dodgehastoslowandstoptowaitforagapinthetraffic.idropagearand

floorit.ther8shootsforward,slammingusbothintothebacksofourseats.

thespeedometerwhipsuptoseventy-fivemilesperhour.

“steady,baby,”christiansayscalmly,thoughi’msurehe’sanythingbutcalm.

iwea一vebetweenthetwolinesoftrafficlikeablackcounterinagameof

checkers,effectivelyjumpingthecarsandtrucks.we’resoclosetothelake

onthisbridge,it’sasifwe’redrivingonthewater.istudiouslyignorethe

angry,disapprovinglooksfromotherdrivers.christianclutcheshishands

togetherinhislap,keepingasstillaspossible,andinspiteofmyfevered

thoughts,iwondervaguelyifhe’sdoingitsohedoesn’tdistractme.

“goodgirl,”hebreathesinencouragement.heglancesbehindhim.

“ican’tseethedodge.”

“we’rerightbehindtheunsub,mr.grey.”sawyer’svoicecomesthroughthe

hands-free.“he’stryingtocatchupwithyou,sir.we’regoingtotryandcome

alongside,putourselvesbetweenyourcarandthedodge.”

unsub?whatdoesthatmean?

“good.mrs.greyisdoingwell.atthisrate,providedthetrafficremainslight

—andfromwhaticanseeitis—we’llbeoffthebridgeinafewminutes.”

“sir.”

weflashpastthebridgecontroltower,andiknowwe’rehalfwayacross

lakewashington.whenicheckmyspeed,i’mstilldoingseventy-five.

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eljames

“you’redoingreallywell,ana,”christianmurmursagainashegazesoutthe

backofther8.forafleetingmoment,histoneremindsmeofourfirst

encounterinhisplayroomwhenhepatientlyencouragedmethroughourfirst

scene.thethoughtisdistracting,andidismissitimmediately.

“whereamiheaded?”iask,moderatelycalmer.iha一vethefeelofthecar

now.it’sajoytodrive,soquietandeasytohandleit’shardtobelievehow

fastwearegoing.drivingatthisspeedinthiscariseasy.

“mrs.grey,headfori-5andthensouth.wewanttoseeifthedodgefollows

youalltheway,”sawyersaysoverthehands-free.thetrafficlightsonthe

bridgearegreen—thankhea一vens—andiraceonward.

iglancenervouslyatchristian,andhesmilesreassuringly.thenhisface

falls.

“shit!”heswearssoftly.

thereisalineoftrafficaheadaswecomeoffthebridgeandiha一vetoslow.

glancinganxiouslyinthemirroroncemore,ithinkispotthedodge.

“tenorsocarsback?”

“yeah,iseeit,”christiansays,peeringthroughthenarrowrearwindow.“i

wonderwhothefuckitis?”

“metoo.doweknowifit’samandriving?”iblurtouttowardthecradled

blackberry.

“no,mrs.grey.couldbeamanorwoman.thetintistoodark.”

“awoman?”christiansays.

ishrug.“yourmrs.robinson?”isuggest,nottakingmyeyesofftheroad.

christianstiffensandliftstheblackberryoutofitscradle.“she’snotmymrs.

robinson,”hegrowls.“iha一ven’tspokentohersincemybirthday.andelena

wouldn’tdothis.it’snotherstyle.”

“leila?”

“she’sinconnecticutwithherparents.itoldyou.”

“areyousure?”

hepauses.“no.butifshe’dabsconded,i’msureherfolkswouldha一velet

flynnknow.let’sdiscussthiswhenwe’rehome.concentrateonwhatyou’re

doing.”

“butitmightjustbesomerandomcar.”

91|page

fiftyshadesfreed

“i’mnottakinganyrisks.notwhereyou’reconcerned,”hesnaps.he

replacestheblackberryinitscradlesowe’rebackincontactwithour

securityteam.

ohshit.idon’twanttorattlechristianrightnow...latermaybe.iholdmy

tongue.fortunately,thetrafficisthinningalittle.iamabletospeedoverthe

mountlakeintersectiontowardthei-5,wea一vingthroughthecarsagain.

“whatifwegetstoppedbythecops?”iask.

“thatwouldbeagoodthing.”

“notformylicense.”

“don’tworryaboutthat,”hesays.unexpectedly,ihearhumorinhisvoice.

iputmyfootdownagain,andhitseventy-five.boy,thiscarcanmove.iloveit

—she’ssoeasy.itoucheighty-five.idon’tthinkiha一veeverdriventhisfast.i

wasluckyifmybeetleeverhitfiftymilesanhour.

“he’sclearedthetrafficandpickedupspeed.”sawyer’sdisembodiedvoice

iscalmandinformative.“he’sdoingninety.”

shit!faster!ipressdownonthegasandthecarpurrstoninety-fivemiles

perhourasweapproachthei-5intersection.

“keepitup,ana,”christianmurmurs.

islowmomentarilyasweglideontothei-5.theinterstateisfairlyquiet,and

i’mabletocrossstraightovertothefastlaneinasplitsecond.asiputmy

footdown,thegloriousr8zoomsforward,andweteardowntheleftlane,

lessermortalspullingovertoletuspass.ifiwasn’tsofrightened,imight

reallyenjoythis.

“he’shitonehundredmilesperhour,sir.”

“staywithhim,luke,”christianbarksatsawyer.

luke?

atrucklurchesintothefastlane—shit!—andiha一vetoslamonthebrakes.

“fuckingidiot!”christiancursesthedriveraswelurchforwardinourseats.i

amgratefulforourseatbelts.

“goaroundhim,baby,”christiansaysthroughclenchedteeth.icheckmy

mirrorsandcutrightacrossthreelanes.wespeedpasttheslowervehicles

andthencutbacktothefastlane.

“nicemove,mrs.grey,”christianmurmursappreciatively.“where92|pag

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eljames

arethecopswhenyouneedthem?”

“idon’twantaticket,christian,”imutter,concentratingonthehighway

ahead.“ha一veyouhadaspeedingticketdrivingthis?”

“no,”hesays,butglancingquicklyathim,icanseehissmirk.

“ha一veyoubeenstopped?”

“yes.”

“oh.”

“charm,mrs.grey.itallcomesdowntocharm.nowconcentrate.where’s

thedodge,sawyer?”

“he’sjusthitonehundredandten,sir.”sawyersays.holyfuck!myheart

leapsoncemoreintomymouth.canidriveanyfaster?ipushmyfootdown

oncemoreandstreakpastthetraffic.

“flashtheheadlights,”christianorderswhenafordmustangwon’tmove.

“butthatwouldmakemeanasshole.”

“sobeanasshole!”hesnaps.

jeez.okay!“um,wherearetheheadlights?”

“theindicator.pullittowardyou.”

idoit,andthemustangmovesasidethoughnotbeforethedriverwa一veshis

fingeratmeinanone-too-complimentarymanner.izoompasthim.

“he’stheasshole,”christiansaysunderhisbreath,thenbarksatme,“getoff

onstewart.”

yessir!

“we’retakingthestewartst.exit,”christiansaystosawyer.

“headstraighttoescala,sir.”

islow,checkmymirrors,signal,thenmovewithsurprisingeaseacrossfour

lanesofthehighwayanddowntheoff-ramp.mergingontostewartstreet,we

headsouth.thestreetisquiet,withfewvehicles.whereiseveryone?

“we’vebeendamnedluckywiththetraffic.butthatmeansthedodgehas,

too.don’tslowdown,ana.getushome.”

“ican’tremembertheway,”imutter,panickedbythefactthedodgeisstillon

ourtail.

“headsouthonstewart.keepgoinguntilitellyouwhen.”

christiansoundsanxiousagain.izoompastthreeblocksbutthelights

changetoyellowonyaleavenue.

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fiftyshadesfreed

“runthem,ana,”christianshouts.ijumpsohardifloorthegaspedal,

throwingusbothbackinourseats,speedingthroughthenowredlight.

“he’stakingstewart,”sawyersays.

“staywithhim,luke.”

“luke?”

“that’shisname.”

aquickglanceandicanseechristianglaringatmeasifi’mcrazy.

“eyesontheroad!”hesnaps.

iignorehistone.“lukesawyer.”

“yes!”hesoundsexasperated.

“ah.”howdidinotknowthis?themanhasbeenfollowingmetoworkforthe

lastsixweeks,andididn’tevenknowhisfirstname.

“that’sme,ma’am,”sawyersays,startlingme,thoughhe’sspeakinginthe

calm,monotonevoicehealwaysuses.“theunsubisheadingdownstewart,

sir.he’sreallypickingupspeed.”

“go,ana.lessofthefuckingchitchat,”christiangrowls.

“we’restoppedatthefirstlightonstewart.”sawyerinformsus.

“ana—quick—inhere,”christianshouts,pointingtoaparkinglotonthe

southsideofborenavenue.iturn,thetiresscreechinginprotestasiswerve

intothecrowdedlot.

“drivearound.quick,”christianorders.idriveasfastasicantotheback,

outofsightofthestreet.“inthere.”christianpointstoaspace.shit!he

wantsmetoparkit.crap!

“justfuckingdoit,”hesays.soido...perfectly.probablytheonlytimei

ha一veeverparkedperfectly.

“we’rehiddenintheparkinglotbetweenstewartandboren,”

christiansaysintotheblackberry.

“okay,sir.”sawyersoundsirritated.“staywhereyouare;we’llfollowthe

unsub.”

christianturnstome,hiseyessearchingmyface.“youokay?”

“sure,”iwhisper.

christiansmirks.“whoever’sdrivingthatdodgecan’thearus,youknow.”

andilaugh.

“we’repassingstewartandborennow,sir.iseethelot.he’sgonestraight

pastyou,sir.”

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eljames

bothofussagsimultaneouslywithrelief.

“welldone,mrs.grey.gooddriving.”christiangentlystrokesmyfacewith

hisfingertips,andijumpatthecontact,inhalingdeeply.ihadnoideaiwas

holdingmybreath.

“doesthismeanyou’llstopcomplainingaboutmydriving?”iask.helaughs

—aloudcatharticlaugh.

“iwouldn’tgosofarastosaythat.”

“thankyouforlettingmedriveyourcar.undersuchexcitingcircumstances,

too.”itrydesperatelytokeepmyvoicelight.

“maybeishoulddrivenow.”

“tobehonest,idon’tthinkicanclimboutrightnowtoletyousithere.my

legsfeellikejell-o.”suddenlyi’mshudderingandshaking.

“it’stheadrenaline,baby,”hesays.“youdidamazinglywell,asusual.you

blowmeaway,ana.youneverletmedown.”hetouchesmycheektenderly

withthebackofhishand,hisfacefulloflove,fear,regret—somany

emotionsatonce—andhiswordsaremyundoing.overwhelmed,a

strangledsobescapesfrommyconstrictedthroat,andistarttocry.

“no,baby,no.pleasedon’tcry.”hereachesoverand,inspiteofthelimited

spaceweha一ve,pullsmeoverthehandbrakeconsoletocradlemeinhislap.

smoothingmyhairoffmyface,hekissesmyeyes,thenmycheeks,andicurl

myarmsaroundhimandsobquietlyintohisneck.heburieshisnoseinmy

hairandwrapsmeinhisarms,holdingmetightandwesit,neitherofus

sayinganything,justholdingeachother.

sawyer’svoicestartlesus.“theunsubhasslowedoutsideescala.he’s

casingthejoint.”

“followhim,”christiansnaps.

iwipemynoseonthebackofmyhandandtakeadeepsteadyingbreath.

“usemyshirt.”christiankissesmytemple.

“sorry,”imutter,embarrassedbymycrying.

“whatfor?don’tbe.”

iwipemynoseagain.hetipsmychinupandplantsagentlekissonmylips.

“yourlipsaresosoftwhenyoucry,mybeautiful,bra一vegirl,”

hewhispers.

“kissmeagain.”

95|page

fiftyshadesfreed

christianstills,onehandonmyback,theotheronmybehind.

“kissme,”ibreathe,andiwatchhislipspartasheinhalessharply.leaning

acrossme,hetakestheblackberryoutofitscradle,andtossesitontothe

driver’sseatbesidemysandaledfeet.thenhismouthisonmeashemoves

hisrighthandintomyhair,holdingmeinplace,andliftshislefttocradlemy

face.histongueinvadesmymouth,andiwelcomeit.adrenalineturnstolust

streakingthroughmybody.iclasphisface,runningmyfingersoverhis

sideburns,relishingthetasteofhim.hegroansatmyfeveredresponse,low

anddeepinhisthroat,andmybellytightensswiftandhardwithcarnal

desire.hishandmovesdownmybody,brushingmybreast,mywaist,and

downtomybackside.ishiftfractionally.

“ah!”hesaysandbreaksawayfromme,breathless.

“what?”imutteragainsthislips.

“ana,we’reinacarlotinseattle.”

“so?”

“well,rightnowiwanttofuckyou,andyou’reshiftingaroundonme...it’s

uncomfortable.”

mycra一vingspiralsoutofcontrolathiswords,tighteningallmymusclesbelow

mywaistoncemore.

“fuckmethen.”ikissthecornerofhismouth.iwanthim.now.thatcar

chasewasexciting.tooexciting.terrifying...andthefearhasjump-started

mylibido.heleansbacktogazeatme,hiseyesdarkandhooded.

“here?”hisvoiceishusky.mymouthgoesdry.howcanheturnmeonwith

oneword?

“yes.iwantyou.now.”

hetiltshisheadtoonesideandstaresatmeforafewmoments.

“mrs.grey,howverybrazen,”hewhispers,afterwhatfeelslikeaneternity.

hishandtightensaroundmyhairatmynape,holdingmefirmlyinplace,and

hismouthisonmineagain,moreforcefullythistime.hisotherhandskims

downmybody,downovermybehindandlowerstilltomymid-thigh.my

fingerscurlintohisoverlonghair.

“i’msogladyou’rewearingaskirt,”hemurmursasheslipshishandbeneath

myblueandwhitepatternedskirttocaressmythigh.isquirmoncemoreon

hislapandtheairhissesbetweenhisteeth.

“keepstill,”hegrowls.hecupsmysexwithhishand,andistill96|page

eljames

immediately.histhumbbrushesovermyclitorisandmybreathcatchesinmy

throataspleasurejoltslikeelectricitydeep,deep,deepinsideme.

“still,”hewhispers.hekissesmeoncemoreashisthumbcirclesgently

aroundmethroughthesheerfinelaceofmydesignerunderwear.slowlyhe

easestwofingerspassedmypantiesandinsideme.igroanandflexmy

hipstowardhishand.

“please,”iwhisper.

“oh,mrs.grey.you’resoready,”hesays,slidinghisfingersinandout,

tortuouslyslowly.“docarchasesturnyouon?”

“youturnmeon.”

hesmilesawolfishgrinandwithdrawshisfingerssuddenly,lea一vingme

wanting.hescoopshisarmundermykneesand,takingmebysurprise,he

liftsmeandswingsmearoundtofacethewindshield.

“placeyourlegseithersideofmine,”heorders,puttinghislegstogetherin

themiddleofthefootwell.idoasi’mtold,placingmyfeetontheflooron

eithersideofhis.herunshishandsdownmythighs,thenback,pullingupmy

skirt.

“handsonmyknees,baby.leanforward.liftthatgloriousassintheair.

mindyourhead.”

shit!wereallyaregoingtodothis,inapublicparkinglot.iquicklyscanthe

areainfrontofusandseenoone—butfeelathrillcoursingthroughme.i’m

inapubliclot!thisissohot!christianshiftsbeneathme,andihearthe

telltalesoundofhiszipper.puttingonearmaroundmywaistandwithhis

otherhandtuggingmylacypantiessideways,heimpalesmeinoneswift

move.

“ah!”icryout,grindingdownonhim,andhisbreathhissesthroughhisteeth.

hisarmsnakesaroundmeuptomyneckandhegraspsmeundermychin.

hishandspreadsacrossmyneck,pullingmebackandtiltingmyheadto

onesidesohecankissmythroat.hisotherhandgripsmyhipandtogether

westarttomove.

ipushupwithmyfeet,andhetiltshimselfintome—inandout.thesensation

is...igroanloudly.it’ssodeepthisway.mylefthandcurlsaroundthehand

brake,myrighthandbracedagainstmydoor.histeethgrazemyearlobe

andhetugs—it’salmostpainful.hebucksagainandagainintome.irise

andfall,andasweestablisharhythm,hemoveshishandaroundbeneath

myskirttotheapexofmythighs,andhisfingersgentlyteasemyclitoris

throughthesheerfineryofmy97|page

fiftyshadesfreed

panties.

“ah!”

“be.quick,”hebreathesintomyearthroughgrittedteeth,hishandstillcurled

aroundmyneckbeneathmychin.“weneedtodothisquick,ana.”andhe

increasesthepressureofhisfingersagainstmysex.

“ah!”ifeelthefamiliarbuildofpleasure,bunchingdeepandthickinsideme.

“comeon,baby,”heraspsatmyear.“iwanttohearyou.”

imoanagain,andiamallsensation,myeyestightlyclosed.hisvoiceatmy

ear,hisbreathonmyneck,pleasureradiatingoutfromwherehisfingers

teasemybodyandwhereheslamsdeepinsideme—

andiamlost.mybodytakescontrol,cra一vingrelease.

“yes,”christianhissesinmyearandiopenmyeyesbriefly,staringwildlyat

theclothroofofther8,andiscrunchthemclosedagainasicomearound

him.

“oh,ana,”hemurmursinwonder,andhewrapshisarmsaroundmeand

ramsintomeonelasttimeandstillsasheclimaxesdeepinside.herunshis

nosealongmyjawandsoftlykissesmythroat,mycheek,mytempleasalie

onhim,myheadlollingagainsthisneck.

“tensionrelieved,mrs.grey?”christiancloseshisteetharoundmyearlobe

againandtugs.mybodyisdrained,totallyexhausted,andimewl.ifeelhis

smileagainstme.

“certainlyhelpedwithmine,”headds,shiftingmeoffhim.“lostyourvoice?”

“yes,”imurmur.

“wellaren’tyouthewantoncreature?ihadnoideayouweresuchan

exhibitionist.”

isitupimmediately,alarmed.hetenses.“noone’swatchingarethey?”i

glanceanxiouslyaroundthecarlot.

“doyouthinki’dletanyonewatchmywifecome?”hestrokeshishanddown

mybackreassuringly,butthetoneofhisvoicesendsshiversdownmyspine.

iturntogazeathimandgrinimpishly.

“carsex!”iexclaim.

hegrinsandtucksastrandofhairbehindmyear.“let’sheadback.i’ll

drive.”

heopensthedoortoletmeclimboffhislapandoutintothe98|page

eljames

parkinglot.wheniglancedownhe’squicklydoinguphisfly.hefollowsme

outandthenholdsthedooropenformetoclimbbackin.strollingquickly

aroundtothedriver’sside,heclimbsinbesideme,retrievestheblackberry,

andmakesacall.

“where’ssawyer?”hesnaps.“andthedodge?howcomesawyer’snot

withyou?”

helistensintentlytoryan,iassume.

“her?”hegasps.“stickwithher.”christianhangsupandgazesatme.

her!thedriverofthecar?whocouldthatbe—elena?leila?

“thedriverofthedodgeisfemale?”

“soitwouldappear,”hesaysquietly.hismouthpressesintoathinangry

line.“let’sgetyouhome,”hemutters.hestartsupther8witharoarand

reversessmoothlyoutofthespace.

“where’sthe,er...unsub?whatdoesthatmeanbytheway?

soundsverybdsm.”

christiansmilesbrieflyasheeasesthecaroutofthelotandbackonto

stewartstreet.

“itstandsforunknownsubject.ryanisex-fbi.”

“ex-fbi?”

“don’task.”christianshakeshishead.it’sobvioushe’sdeepin

contemplation.

“well,whereisthisfemaleunsub?”

“onthei-5,headingsouth.”heglancesatme,hiseyesgrim.jeez—from

passionatetocalmtoanxiousinthespaceofafewmoments.ireachover

andcaresshisthigh,runningmyfingersleisurelyuptheinsideseamofhis

jeans,hopingtoimprovehismood.hetakeshishandoffthesteeringwheel

andstopstheslowascentofmyhand.

“no,”hesays.“we’vemadeitthisfar.youdon’twantmetoha一veanaccident

threeblocksfromhome.”heraisesmyhandtohislipsandplantsacoolkiss

onmyindexfingertotakethestingoutofhisrebuke.cool,calm,

authoritative...myfifty.andforthefirsttimeinawhilehemakesmefeel

likeawaywardchild.iwithdrawmyhandandsitquietlyforamoment.

“female?”

“apparentlyso.”hesighs,turnsintotheundergroundgarageat99|page

fiftyshadesfreed

escala,andpunchestheaccesscodeintothesecuritykeypad.thegate

swingsopenandhedriveson,smoothlyparkingther8initsdesignated

space.

“ireallylikethiscar,”imurmur.

“metoo.andilikehowyouhandledit—andhowyoumanagednottobreak

it.”

“youcanbuymeoneformybirthday,”ismirkathim.christian’smouthdrops

openasiclimboutofthecar.

“awhiteone,ithink,”iadd,leaningdownandsmirkingathim.hesmiles.

“anastasiagrey,youneverceasetoamazeme.”

ishutthedoorandwalktotheendofthecartowaitforhim.gracefullyhe

climbsout,watchingmewiththatlook...thatlookthatcallstosomething

deepinsideme.iknowthislookwell.oncehe’sinfrontofme,heleans

downandwhispers,“youlikethecar.ilikethecar.i’vefuckedyouinit...

perhapsishouldfuckyouonit.”

igasp.andasleeksilverbmwpullsintothegarage.christianglancesatit

anxiously,thenwithannoyanceandsmirksdownatme.

“butitlookslikeweha一vecompany.come.”hegrabsmyhandandheadsfor

thegarageelevator.hepushesthecallbuttonandaswewait,thedriverof

thebmwjoinsus.he’syoung,casuallydressed,withlong,layered,dark

hair.helookslikeheworksinthemedia.

“hi,”hesays,smilingwarmlyatus.

christianputshisarmaroundmeandnodspolitely.

“i’vejustmovedin.apartmentsixteen.”

“hello.”ireturnhissmile.hehaskind,softbrowneyes.theelevatorarrives

andweallwalkin.christianglancesdownatme,hisexpressionunreadable.

“you’rechristiangrey,”theyoungmansays.

christiangiveshimatightsmile.

“paulharrison.”heholdsouthishand.reluctantly,christiantakesit.“which

floor?”paulasks.

“iha一vetoinputacode.”

“oh.”

“penthouse.”

“oh.”paulsmilesbroadly.“ofcourse.”hepressesthebuttonfortheeighth

floorandthedoorsclose.“mrs.grey,ipresume.”

“yes.”igivehimapolitesmileandweshakehands.paulflushesa100|pa

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eljames

littleashegazesatmeafractiontoolong.ohno.imirrorhisflushand

christian’sarmtightensaroundme.

“whendidyoumovein?”iask.

“lastweekend.ilovetheplace.”

there’sanawkwardpausebeforetheelevatorstopsatpaul’sfloor.

“greattomeetyouboth,”hesayssoundingrelievedandstepsout.the

doorsclosesilentlybehindhim.christiantapsintheentrycodeandthe

elevatorascendsagain.

“heseemednice,”imurmur.“i’venevermetanyoftheneighborsbefore.”

christianscowls.“ipreferitthatway.”

“that’sbecauseyou’reahermit.ithoughthewaspleasantenough.”

“ahermit?”

“hermit.stuckinyourivorytower,”istatematter-of-factly.christian’slips

twitchwithamusement.

“ourivorytower.andithinkyouha一veanothernametoaddtothelistofyour

admirers,mrs.grey.”

irollmyeyes.“christian,youthinkeveryoneisanadmirer.”

“didyoujustrollyoureyesatme?”

mypulsequickens.“isuredid,”iwhisper,mybreathcatchinginmythroat.

hecockshisheadtooneside,wearinghissmoldering,arrogant,amused

expression.“whatshallwedoaboutthat?”

“somethingrough.”

heblinkstohidehissurprise.“rough?”

“please.”

“youwantmore?”

inodslowly.thedoorstotheelevatoropenandwe’rehome.

“howrough?”hebreathes,hiseyesdarkening.

igazeathim,sayingnothing.hecloseshiseyesforamoment,andthen

grabsmyhandandhaulsmeintothefoyer.

whenweburstthroughthedoubledoors,sawyerisstandinginthehallway,

lookingexpectantlyatthetwoofus.

“sawyer,i’dliketobedebriefedinanhour,”christiansays.

“yes,sir.”turning,sawyerheadsbackintotaylor’soffice.weha一veanhour!

christianglancesdownatme.“rough?”

101|page

fiftyshadesfreed

inod.

“well,mrs.grey,you’reinluck.i’mtakingrequeststoday.”

102|page

eljames