“doyoudothistopeopleordotheydoittoyou?”

hismouthquirksup,eitheramusedorrelieved.

“people?”heblinksacoupleoftimesasheconsidershisanswer.“idothistowomenwhowantmeto.”

idon’tunderstand.

“ifyouha一vewillingvolunteers,whyamihere?”

“becauseiwanttodothiswithyou,verymuch.”

“oh,”igasp.why?

iwandertothefarcorneroftheroomandpatthewaisthighpaddedbenchandrunmyfingersovertheleather.helikestohurtwomen.thethoughtdepressesme.

“you’reasadist?”

“i’madominant.”hiseyesareascorchinggray,intense.

“whatdoesthatmean?”iwhisper.

“itmeansiwantyoutowillinglysurrenderyourselftome,inallthings.”

ifrownathimasitrytoassimilatethisidea.

“whywouldidothat?”

“topleaseme,”hewhispersashecockshisheadtooneside,andiseeaghostofasmile.

pleasehim!hewantsmetopleasehim!ithinkmymouthdropsopen.pleasechristiangrey.andirealize,inthatmoment,thatyes,that’sexactlywhatiwanttodo.iwanthimtobedamneddelightedwithme.it’sarevelation.

“inverysimpleterms,iwantyoutowanttopleaseme,”hesayssoftly.hisvoiceishypnotic.

“howdoidothat?”mymouthisdry,andiwishihadmorewine.okay,iunderstandthepleasingbit,butiampuzzledbythesoft-boudoir-elizabethan-torturesetup.doiwanttoknowtheanswer?

“iha一verules,andiwantyoutocomplywiththem.theyareforyourbenefitandformypleasure.ifyoufollowtheserulestomysatisfaction,ishallrewardyou.ifyoudon’t,ishallpunishyou,andyouwilllearn,”hewhispers.iglanceattherackofcanesashesaysthis.

“andwheredoesallthisfitin?”iwa一vemyhandinthegeneraldirectionoftheroom.

“it’sallpartoftheincentivepackage.bothrewardandpunishment.”

“soyou’llgetyourkicksbyexertingyourwilloverme.”

“it’saboutgainingyourtrustandyourrespect,soyou’llletmeexertmywilloveryou.iwillgainagreatdealofpleasure,joy,eveninyoursubmission.themoreyousubmit,thegreatermyjoy–it’saverysimpleequation.”

“okay,andwhatdoigetoutofthis?”

heshrugsandlooksalmostapologetic.

“me,”hesayssimply.

ohmy.christianrakeshishandthroughhishairashegazesatme.

“you’renotgivinganythingaway,anastasia,”hemurmurs,exasperated.“let’sgobackdownstairswhereicanconcentratebetter.it’sverydistractingha一vingyouinhere.”heholdshishandouttome,andnowi’mhesitanttotakeit.

katehadsaidhewasdangerous,shewassoright.howdidsheknow?he’sdangeroustomyhealth,becauseiknowi’mgoingtosayyes.andpartofmedoesn’twantto.partofmewantstorunscreamingfromthisroomandallitrepresents.iamsooutofmydepthhere.

“i’mnotgoingtohurtyou,anastasia.”hisgrayeyesimplore,andiknowhespeaksthetruth.itakehishand,andheleadsmeoutofthedoor.

“ifyoudothis,letmeshowyou.”ratherthangoingbackdownstairs,heturnsrightoutoftheplayroom,ashecallsit,anddownacorridor.wepassseveraldoorsuntilwereachtheoneattheend.beyonditisabedroomwithalargedoublebed,allinwhite…everything,furniture,walls,bedding.it’ssterileandcoldbutwiththemostgloriousviewofseattlethroughtheglasswall.

“thiswillbeyourroom.youcandecorateithowyoulike,ha一vewhateveryoulikeinhere.”

“myroom?you’reexpectingmetomovein?”ican’thidethehorrorinmyvoice.

“notfulltime.justsay,fridayeveningthroughsunday.weha一vetotalkaboutallthat,negotiate.ifyouwanttodothis,”headds,hisvoicequietandhesitant.

“i’llsleephere?”

“yes.”

“notwithyou.”

“no.itoldyou,idon’tsleepwithanyone,exceptyou,whenyou’restupefiedwithdrink.”hiseyesarereprimanding.

mymouthpressesinahardline.thisiswhaticannotreconcile.kind,caringchristian,whorescuesmefrominebriationandholdsmegentlywhilei’mthrowingupintotheazaleas,andthemonsterwhopossesseswhipsandchainsinaspecialroom.

“wheredoyousleep?”

“myroomisdownstairs.come,youmustbehungry.”

“weirdly,iseemtoha一velostmyappetite,”imurmurpetulantly.

“youmusteat,anastasia,”headmonishesand,takingmyhand,leadsmebackdownstairs.

backintheimpossiblybigroom,iamfilledwithdeeptrepidation.iamontheedgeofaprecipice,andiha一vetodecidewhetherornottojump.

“i’mfullyawarethatthisisadarkpathi’mleadingyoudown,anastasia,whichiswhyireallywantyoutothinkaboutthis.youmustha一vesomequestions,”hesaysashewandersintothekitchenarea,releasingmyhand.

ido.butwheretostart?

“you’vesignedyournda,youcanaskmeanythingyouwant,andi’llanswer.”

istandatthebreakfastbarwatchinghimasheopenstherefrigeratorandpullsoutaplateofdifferentcheeseswithtwolargebunchesofgreenandredgrapes.hesetstheplatedownontheworktopandproceedstocutupafrenchbaguette.

“sit.”hepointstooneofthebarstoolsatthebreakfastbar,andiobeyhiscommand.ifi’mgoingtodothis,i’mgoingtoha一vetogetusedtoit.irealizehe’sbeenthisbossysinceimethim.

“youmentionedpaperwork.”

“yes.”

“whatpaperwork?”

“well,apartfromthenda,acontractsayingwhatwewillandwon’tdo.ineedtoknowyourlimits,andyouneedtoknowmine.thisisconsensual,anastasia.”

“andifidon’twanttodothis?”

“that’sfine,”hesayscarefully.

“butwewon’tha一veanysortofrelationship?”iask.

“no.”

“why?”

“thisistheonlysortofrelationshipi’minterestingin.”

“why?”

heshrugs.

“it’sthewayiam.”

“howdidyoubecomethisway?”

“whyisanyonethewaytheyare?that’skindofhardtoanswer.whydosomepeoplelikecheeseandotherpeoplehateit?doyoulikecheese?mrs.jones–myhousekeeper–hasleftthisforsupper.”hetakessomelarge,whiteplatesfromacupboardandplacesoneinfrontofme.

we’retalkingaboutcheese…holycrap.

“whatareyourrulesthatiha一vetofollow?”

“iha一vethemwrittendown.we’llgothroughthemoncewe’veeaten.”

food.howcanieatnow?

“i’mreallynothungry,”iwhisper.

“youwilleat,”hesayssimply.dominatingchristian,itallbecomesclear.“wouldyoulikeanotherglassofwine?”

“yes,please.”

hepourswineintomyglassandcomestositbesideme.itakeahastysip.

“helpyourselftofood,anastasia.”

itakeasmallbunchofgrapes.thisicanmanage.henarrowshiseyes.

“ha一veyoubeenlikethisforawhile?”iask.

“yes.”

“isiteasytofindwomenwhowanttodothis?”

heraisesaneyebrowatme.

“you’dbeamazed,”hesaysdryly.

“thenwhyme?ireallydon’tunderstand.”

“anastasia,i’vetoldyou.there’ssomethingaboutyou.ican’tlea一veyoualone.”hesmilesironically.“i’mlikeamothtoaflame.”hisvoicedarkens.“iwantyouverybadly,especiallynow,whenyou’rebitingyourlipagain.”hetakesadeepbreathandswallows.

mystomachsomersaults–hewantsme…inaweirdway,true,butthisbeautiful,strange,kinkymanwantsme.

“ithinkyouha一vethatclichéthewrongwayround.”igrumble.iamthemothandheistheflame,andi’mgoingtogetburnt.iknow.

“eat!”

“no.iha一ven’tsignedanythingyet,soithinki’llhangontomyfreewillforabitlonger,ifthat’sokaywithyou.”

hiseyessoften,andhislipsturnupinasmile.

“asyouwish,misssteele.”

“howmanywomen?”iblurtoutthequestion,buti’msocurious.

“fifteen.”

oh…notasmanyasithought.

“forlongperiodsoftime?”

“someofthem,yes.”

“ha一veyoueverhurtanyone?”

“yes.”

holyshit.

“badly?”

“no.”

“willyouhurtme?”

“whatdoyoumean?”

“physically,willyouhurtme?”

“iwillpunishyouwhenyourequireit,anditwillbepainful.”

ithinkifeelalittlefaint.itakeanothersipofwine.alcohol-thiswillmakemebra一ve.

“ha一veyoueverbeenbeaten?”iask.

“yes.”

oh…thatsurprisesme.beforeicanquestionhimonthisrevelationfurther,heinterruptsmytrainofthought.

“let’sdiscussthisinmystudy.iwanttoshowyousomething.”

thisissohardtoprocess.hereiwasfoolishlythinkingthati’dspendanightofunparalleledpassioninthisman’sbed,andwe’renegotiatingthisweirdarrangement.

ifollowhimintohisstudy,aspaciousroomwithanotherfloor-to-ceilingwindowthatopensoutontothebalcony.hesitsonthedesk,motionsformetositonaleatherchairinfrontofhim,andhandsmeapieceofpaper.

“thesearetherules.theymaybesubjecttochange.theyformpartofthecontract,whichyoucanalsoha一ve.readtheserulesandlet’sdiscuss.”

rules

obedience:

thesubmissivewillobeyanyinstructionsgivenbythedominantimmediatelywithouthesitationorreservationandinanexpeditiousmanner.thesubmissivewillagreetoanysexualactivitydeemedfitandpleasurablebythedominantexceptingthoseactivitieswhichareoutlinedinhardlimits(appendix2).shewilldosoeagerlyandwithouthesitation.

sleep:

thesubmissivewillensuresheachievesaminimumofsevenhourssleepanightwhensheisnotwiththedominant.

food:

thesubmissivewilleatregularlytomaintainherhealthandwellbeingfromaprescribedlistoffoods(appendix4).thesubmissivewillnotsnackbetweenmeals,withtheexceptionoffruit.

clothes:

duringtheterm,thesubmissivewillwearclothingonlyapprovedbythedominant.thedominantwillprovideaclothingbudgetforthesubmissive,whichthesubmissiveshallutilize.thedominantshallaccompanythesubmissivetopurchaseclothingonanadhocbasis.ifthedominantsorequires,thesubmissiveshallduringthetermanyadornmentsthedominantshallrequire,inthepresenceofthedominantandanyothertimethedominantdeemsfit.

exercise:

thedominantshallprovidethesubmissivewithapersonaltrainerfourtimesaweekinhour-longsessionsattimestobemutuallyagreedbetweenthepersonaltrainerandthesubmissive.thepersonaltrainerwillreporttothedominantonthesubmissive’sprogress.

personalhygiene/beauty:

thesubmissivewillkeepherselfcleanandsha一vedand/orwaxedatalltimes.thesubmissivewillvisitabeautysalonofthedominant’schoosingattimestobedecidedbythedominant,andundergowhatevertreatmentsthedominantseesfit.

personalsafety:

thesubmissivewillnotdrinktoexcess,smoke,takerecreationaldrugs,orputherselfinanyunnecessarydanger.

personalqualities:

thesubmissivewillnotenterintoanysexualrelationswithanyoneotherthanthedominant.thesubmissivewillconductherselfinarespectfulandmodestmanneratalltimes.shemustrecognizethatherbeha一viorisadirectreflectiononthedominant.sheshallbeheldaccountableforanymisdeeds,wrongdoings,andmisbeha一viorcommittedwhennotinthepresenceofthedominant.

failuretocomplywithanyoftheabovewillresultinimmediatepunishment,thenatureofwhichshallbedeterminedbythedominant.

holyfuck.

“hardlimits?”iask.

“yes.whatyouwon’tdo,whatiwon’tdo,weneedtospecifyinouragreement.”

“i’mnotsureaboutacceptingmoneyforclothes.itfeelswrong.”ishiftuncomfortably,theword‘ho’rattlingroundmyhead.

“iwanttola一vishmoneyonyou,letmebuyyousomeclothes.imayneedyoutoaccompanymetofunctions,andiwantyoudressedwell.i’msureyoursalary,whenyoudogetajob,won’tcoverthekindofclothesi’dlikeyoutowear.”

“idon’tha一vetowearthemwheni’mnotwithyou?”

“no.”

“okay.”thinkofthemasuniform.

“idon’twanttoexercisefourtimesaweek.”

“anastasia,ineedyousupple,strong,andwithstamina.trustme,youneedtoexercise.”

“butsurelynotfourtimesaweek,howaboutthree?”

“iwantyoutodofour.”

“ithoughtthiswasanegotiation?”

hepurseshislipsatme.

“okay,misssteele,anotherpointwellmade.howaboutanhouronthreedaysandonedayhalfanhour?”

“threedays,threehours.igettheimpressionyou’regoingtokeepmeexercisedwheni’mhere.”

hesmileswickedly,andhiseyesglowasifrelieved.“yes,iam.okay,agreed.areyousureyoudon’twanttointernatmycompany?you’reagoodnegotiator.”

“no,idon’tthinkthat’sagoodidea.”istaredownathisrules.waxing!waxingwhat?everything?ugh.

“so,limits.thesearemine.”hehandsmeanotherpieceofpaper.

hardlimits

noactsinvolvingfireplay

noactsinvolvingurinationordefecationandtheproductsthereof

noactsinvolvingneedles,knives,piercing,orblood

noactsinvolvinggynecologicalmedicalinstruments

noactsinvolvingchildrenoranimals

noactsthatwilllea一veanypermanentmarksontheskin

noactsinvolvingbreathcontrol

ugh.hehastowritethesedown!ofcourse–theyalllookverysensible,andfrankly,necessary…anysanepersonwouldn’twanttobeinvolvedinthissortofthingsurely?thoughinowfeelalittlequeasy.

“isthereanythingyou’dliketoadd?”heaskskindly.

crap.i’venoidea.iamcompletelystumped.hegazesatmeandfurrowshisbrow.

“isthereanythingyouwon’tdo?”

“idon’tknow.”

“whatdoyoumeanyoudon’tknow?”

isquirmuncomfortablyandbitemylip.

“i’veneverdoneanythinglikethis.”

“well,whenyou’vehadsex,wasthereanythingthatyoudidn’tlikedoing?”

forthefirsttimeinwhatseemstobeages,iblush.

“youcantellme,anastasia.weha一vetobehonestwitheachotherorthisisn’tgoingtowork.”

isquirmuncomfortablyagainandstareatmyknottedfingers.

“tellme,”hecommands.

“well…i’venothadsexbefore,soidon’tknow.”myvoiceissmall.ipeekupathim,andhe’sstaringatme,mouth-open,frozen,andpale-reallypale.

“never?”hewhispers.ishakemyhead.

“you’reavirgin?”hebreathes.inod,flushingagain.hecloseshiseyesandlookstobecountingtoten.whenheopensthemagain,he’sangry,glaringatme.

“whythefuckdidn’tyoutellme?”hegrowls.

christianisrunningbothhishandsthroughhishairandpacingupanddownhisstudy.twohands–that’sdoubleexasperation.hisusualconcretecontrolseemstoha一veslippedanotch.

“idon’tunderstandwhyyoudidn’ttellme,”hecastigatesme.

“thesubjectnevercameup.i’mnotinthehabitofrevealingmysexualstatustoeveryoneimeet.imean,wehardlyknoweachother.”i’mstaringatmyhands.whyamifeelingguilty?whyishesomad?ipeekupathim.

“well,youknowalotmoreaboutmenow,”hesnaps,hismouthpressesintoahardline.“iknewyouwereinexperienced,butavirgin!”hesaysitlikeit’sareallydirtyword.“hell,ana,ijustshowedyou,”hegroans.“maygodforgiveme.ha一veyoueverbeenkissed,apartfrombyme?”

“ofcourseiha一ve.”itrymybesttolookaffronted.okay…maybetwice.

“andaniceyoungmanhasn’tsweptyouoffyourfeet?ijustdon’tunderstand.you’retwenty-one,nearlytwenty-two.you’rebeautiful.”herunshishandthroughhishairagain.

beautiful.iflushwithpleasure.christiangreythinksi’mbeautiful.iknotmyfingerstogether,staringatthemhard,tryingtoconcealmygoofygrin.perhapshe’snear-sighted,mysubconscioushasrearedhersomnambulanthead.wherewasshewhenineededher?

“andyou’reseriouslydiscussingwhatiwanttodo,whenyouha一venoexperience.”hisbrowsknittogether.“howha一veyoua一voidedsex?tellme,please.”

ishrug.

“noone’sreally,youknow.”comeuptoscratch,onlyyou.andyouturnouttobesomekindofmonster.“whyareyousoangrywithme?”iwhisper.

“i’mnotangrywithyou,i’mangrywithmyself.ijustassumed…”hesighs.heregardsmeshrewdlyandthenshakeshishead.“doyouwanttogo?”heasks,hisvoicegentle.

“no,unlessyouwantmetogo,”imurmur.ohno…idon’twanttolea一ve.

“ofcoursenot.ilikeha一vingyouhere.”hefrownsashesaysthisandthenglancesathiswatch.“it’slate.”andheturnstolookatme.“you’rebitingyourlip.”hisvoiceishusky,andhe’seyeingmespeculatively.

“sorry.”

“don’tapologize.it’sjustthatiwanttobiteittoo,hard.”

igasp…howcanhesaythingslikethattomeandnotexpectmetobeaffected.

“come,”hemurmurs.”

“what?”

“we’regoingtorectifythesituationrightnow.”

“whatdoyoumean?whatsituation?”

“yoursituation.ana,i’mgoingtomakelovetoyou,now.”

“oh.”thefloorhasfallenaway.i’masituation.i’mholdingmybreath.

“that’sifyouwantto,imean,idon’twanttopushmyluck.”

“ithoughtyoudidn’tmakelove.ithoughtyoufuckedhard.”iswallow,mymouthsuddenlydry.

hegivesmeawickedgrin,theeffectsofwhichtra一velallthewaydownthere.

“icanmakeanexception,ormaybecombinethetwo,we’llsee.ireallywanttomakelovetoyou.please,cometobedwithme.iwantourarrangementtowork,butyoureallyneedtoha一vesomeideawhatyou’regettingyourselfinto.wecanstartyourtrainingtonight–withthebasics.thisdoesn’tmeani’vecomeoverallheartsandflowers,it’sameanstoanend,butonethatiwant,andhopefullyyoudotoo.”hisgraygazeisintense.

iflush…ohmy…wishesdocometrue.

“butiha一ven’tdoneallthethingsyourequirefromyourlistofrules.”myvoiceisallbreathy,hesitant.

“forgetabouttherules.forgetaboutallthosedetailsfortonight.iwantyou.i’vewantedyousinceyoufellintomyoffice,andiknowyouwantme.youwouldn’tbesittingherecalmlydiscussingpunishmentandhardlimitsifyoudidn’t.please,ana,spendthenightwithme.”heholdshishandouttome,hiseyesarebright,fervent…excited,andiputmyhandinhis.hepullsmeupandintohisarmssoicanfeelthelengthofhisbodyagainstmine,thisswiftactiontakingmebysurprise.herunshisfingersroundthenapeofmyneck,windsmyponytailaroundhiswrist,andgentlypullssoi’mforcedtolookupathim.hegazesdownatme.

“youareonebra一veyoungwoman,”hewhispers.“iaminaweofyou.”

hiswordsarelikesomekindofincendiarydevice;mybloodflames.heleansdownandkissesmylipsgently,andhesucksatmylowerlip.

“iwanttobitethislip,”hemurmursagainstmymouth,andcarefullyhetugsatitwithhisteeth.imoan,andhesmiles.

“pleaseana,letmemakelovetoyou.”

“yes,”iwhisper,becausethat’swhyi’mhere.hissmileistriumphantashereleasesmeandtakesmyhandandleadsmethroughtheapartment.

hisbedroomisvast.theceilingheightwindowslookoutonalitup,high-riseseattle.thewallsarewhite,andthefurnishingsarepaleblue.theenormousbedisultra-modern,madeofrough,greywood,likedriftwood,fourposts,butnocanopy.onthewallaboveitisastunningpaintingofthesea.

iamquakinglikealeaf.thisisit.finally,afterallthistime,i’mgoingtodoit,withnoneotherthanchristiangrey.mybreathisshallow,andican’ttakemyeyesoffhim.heremoveshiswatchandplacesitontopofachestofdrawersthatmatchesthebed,andremoveshisjacket,placingitonachair.he’sdressedinhiswhitelinenshirtandjeans.heisheart-stoppinglybeautiful.hisdarkcopperhairisamess,hisshirthangingout–hisgrayeyesboldanddazzling.hestepsoutofhisconverseshoesandreachesdownandtakeshissocksoffinpidually.christiangrey’sfeet…wow…whatisitaboutnakedfeet?turning,hegazesatme,hisexpressionsoft.

“iassumeyou’renotonthepill.”

what!shit.

“ididn’tthinkso.”heopensthetopdrawerofthechestandremovesapacketofcondoms.hegazesatmeintently.

“beprepared,”hemurmurs.“doyouwanttheblindsdrawn?”

“idon’tmind.”iwhisper.“ithoughtyoudidn’tletanyonesleepinyourbed.”

“whosayswe’regoingtosleep?”hemurmurssoftly.

“oh.”holyhell.

hestrollsslowlytowardme.confident,sexy,eyesblazing,andmyheartbeginstopound.myblood’spumpingaroundmybody.desire,thickandhot,poolsinmybelly.hestandsinfrontofme,staringdownintomyeyes.he’ssofreakinghot.

“let’sgetthisjacketoff,shallwe?”hesayssoftly,andtakesholdofthelapelsandgentlyslidesmyjacketoffmyshoulders.heplacesitonthechair.

“doyouha一veanyideahowmuchiwantyou,anasteele?”hewhispers.mybreathhitches.icannottakemyeyesoffhis.hereachesupandgentlyrunshisfingersdownmycheektomychin.

“doyouha一veanyideawhati’mgoingtodotoyou?”headds,caressingmychin.

themusclesinsidethedeepest,darkestpartofmeclenchinthemostdeliciousfashion.thepainissosweetandsharpiwanttoclosemyeyes,buti’mhypnotizedbyhisgrayeyesstaringferventlyintomine.leaningdown,hekissesme.hislipsaredemanding,firmandslow,moldingmine.hestartsunbuttoningmyshirtwhileheplacesfeather-likekissesacrossmyjaw,mychin,andthecornersofmymouth.slowlyhepeelsitoffmeandletsitfalltothefloor.hestandsbackandgazesatme.i’minthepalebluelacyperfect-fitbra.thankhea一vens.

“oh,ana,”hebreathes.“youha一vethemostbeautifulskin,paleandflawless.iwanttokisseverysingleinchofit.”

iflush.ohmy…whydidhesayhecouldn’tmakelove?iwilldoanythinghewants.hegraspsmyhairtie,pullsitfree,andgaspsasmyhaircascadesdownaroundmyshoulders.

“ilikebrunettes,”hemurmurs,andbothofhishandsareinmyhair,graspingeachsideofmyhead.hiskissisdemanding,histongueandlipscoaxingmine.imoan,andmytonguetentativelymeetshis.heputshisarmsaroundmeandhaulsmeagainsthisbody,squeezingmetightly.onehandremainsinmyhair,theothertra一velsdownmyspinetomywaistanddowntomybehind.hishandflexesovermybacksideandsqueezesgently.heholdsmeagainsthiships,andifeelhiserection,whichhelanguidlypushesintome.

imoanoncemoreintohismouth.icanhardlycontaintheriotousfeelingsorisithormonesthatrampagethroughmybody.iwanthimsobadly.grippinghisupperarms,ifeelhisbiceps,he’ssurprisinglystrong…muscular.tentatively,imovemyhandsuptohisfaceandintohishair.holymoses.it’ssosoft,unruly.ituggently,andhegroans.heeasesmetowardthebed,untilifeelitbehindmyknees.ithinkhe’sgoingtopushmedownontoit,buthedoesn’t.releasingme,hesuddenlydropstohisknees.hegrabsmyhipswithbothhishandsandrunshistonguearoundmyna一vel,thengentlynipshiswaytomyhipbone,thenacrossmybellytomyotherhipbone.

“ah,”igroan.

seeinghimonhiskneesinfrontofme,feelinghismouthonme,it’ssounexpected,,andhot.myhandsstayinhishair,pullinggentlyasitrytoquietmytoo-loudbreathing.hegazesupatmethroughimpossiblylonglashes,hiseyesascorchingsmokygray.hishandsreachupandundothebuttononmyjeans,andheleisurelypullsdownthezipper.withouttakinghiseyesoffmine,hishandsmovebeneaththewaistband,skimmingmeandmovingtomybehind.hishandsglideslowlydownmybacksidetomythighs,removingmyjeansastheygo.icannotlookaway.hestopsandlickshislips,neverbreakingeyecontact.heleansforward,runninghisnoseuptheapexbetweenmythighs.ifeelhim.there.

“yousmellsogood,”hemurmursandcloseshiseyes,alookofpurepleasureonhisface,andipracticallyconvulse.hereachesupandtugstheduvetoffthebed,thenpushesmegentlysoifallontothemattress.

stillkneeling,hegraspsmyfootandundoesmyconverse,pullingoffmyshoeandsock.iraisemyselfuponmyelbowstoseewhathe’sdoing.i’mpanting…wanting.heliftsmyfootbytheheelandrunshisthumbnailupmyinstep.it’salmostpainful,butifeelthemovementechoedinmygroin.igasp.nottakinghiseyesoffmine,againherunshistonguealongmyinstepandthenhisteeth.shit.igroan…howcanifeelthis,there.ifallbackontothebed,moaning.ihearhissoftchuckle.

“oh,ana,whaticoulddotoyou,”hewhispers.heremovesmyothershoeandsock,thenstandsandremovesmyjeans.i’mlyingonhisbeddressedonlyinmybraandpanties,andhe’sstaringdownatme.

“you’reverybeautiful,anastasiasteele.ican’twaittobeinsideyou.”

holyshit.hiswords.he’ssoseductive.hetakesmybreathaway.

“showmehowyoupleasureyourself.”

what?ifrown.

“don’tbecoy,ana,showme,”hewhispers.

ishakemyhead.

“idon’tknowwhatyoumean.”myvoiceishoarse.ihardlyrecognizeit,lacedwithdesire.

“howdoyoumakeyourselfcome?iwanttosee.”

ishakemyhead.

“idon’t,”imumble.heraiseshiseyebrows,astonishedforamoment,andhiseyesdarken,andheshakeshisheadindisbelief.

“well,we’llha一vetoseewhatwecandoaboutthat.”hisvoiceissoft,challenging,adelicioussensualthreat.heundoesthebuttonsofhisjeansandslowlypullshisjeansdown,hiseyesonminethewholetime.heleansdownovermeand,graspingeachofmyankles,quicklyjerksmylegsapartandcrawlsontothebedbetweenmylegs.hehoversoverme.iamsquirmingwithneed.

“keepstill,”hemurmurs,andthenheleansdownandkissestheinsideofmythigh,trailingkissesup,overthethinlacymaterialofmypanties,kissingme.

oh…ican’tkeepstill.howcaninotmove?iwrigglebeneathhim.

“we’regoingtoha一vetoworkonkeepingyoustill,baby.”hetrailskissesupmybelly,andhistonguedipsintomyna一vel.stillhe’sheadingnorth,kissingmeacrossmytorso.myskinisburning.i’mflushed,toohot,toocold,andi’mclawingatthesheetbeneathme.helaydownbesideme,andhishandtrailsupfrommyhip,tomywaist,anduptomybreast.hegazesdownatme,hisexpressionunreadable,andgentlycupsmybreast.

“youfitmyhandperfectly,anastasia,”hemurmursanddipshisindexfingerintothecupofmybraandgentlyyanksitdownfreeingmybreast,buttheunderwireandfabricofthecupforceitupward.hisfingermovestomyotherbreastandrepeatstheprocess.mybreastsswell,andmynippleshardenunderhissteadygaze.iamtrussed-upbymyownbra.

“verynice,”hewhispersappreciatively,andmynippleshardenevenmore.

heblowsverygentlyononeashishandmovestomyotherbreast,andhisthumbslowlyrollstheendofmynipple,elongatingit.igroan,feelingthesweetsensationallthewaytomygroin.iamsowet.ohplease,ibeginternallyasmyfingersclaspthesheettighter.hislipsclosearoundmyothernippleandhetugs,inearlyconvulse.

“let’sseeifwecanmakeyoucomelikethis,”hewhispers,continuinghisslow,sensualassault.mynipplesbearthedeliciousbruntofhisdeftfingersandlips,settingalighteverysinglenerveendinginmybodysothatmywholebodysingswiththesweetagony.hejustdoesn’tstop.

“oh…please,”ibeg,andipullmyheadback,mymouthopenasigroan,mylegsstiffening.holyhell,what’shappeningtome?

“letgo,baby,”hemurmurs.histeethcloseroundmynipple,andhisthumbandfingerpullhard,andifallapartinhishands,mybodyconvulsingandshatteringintoathousandpieces.hekissesme,deeply,histongueinmymouthabsorbingmycries.

ohmy.thatwasextraordinary.nowiknowwhatallthefussisabout.hegazesdownatme,asatisfiedsmileonhisface,whilei’msurethere’snothingbutgratitudeandaweonmine.

“youareveryresponsive,”hebreathes.“you’regoingtoha一vetolearntocontrolthat,andit’sgoingtobesomuchfunteachingyouhow.”hekissesmeagain.