christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
from:anastasiasteele
subject:burningthemidnightoil
date:may24201100:10
to:christiangrey
sir
ifyourecalliwasgoingthroughthislist,wheniwasdistractedandbeddedbyapassingcontrolfreak.
goodnight.
ana
from:christiangrey
subject:stopburningthemidnightoil
date:may24201100:12
to:anastasiasteele
gotobedanastasia.
christiangrey
ceo&controlfreak,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
oh…shoutycapitals!iswitchoff.howcanheintimidatemewhenhe’ssixmilesaway?ishakemyhead.myheartstillhea一vy,iclimbintobedandfallinstantlyintoadeepbuttroubledsleep.
thefollowingday,icallmymomwheni’mhomefromwork.it’sbeenarelativelypeacefuldayattheclayton’s,allowingmefartoomuchtimetothink.i’mrestless,nervousaboutmyshowdownwithmr.controlfreaktomorrow,andatthebackofmymind,i’mworriedthatperhapsi’vebeentoonegativeinmyresponsetothecontract.perhapshe’llcallthewholethingoff.
mymomisoozingcontrition,desperatelysorrynottomakemygraduation.bobhastwistedsomeligamentwhichmeanshe’shobblingallovertheplace.honestly,he’sasaccident-proneasiam.he’sexpectedtomakeafullrecovery,butitmeanshe’srestingup,andmymotherhastowaitonhimhandandsorefoot.
“anahoney,i’msosorry,”mymomwhinesdownthephone.
“mom,it’sfine.raywillbethere.”
“ana,yousounddistracted–areyouokay,baby?”
“yes,mom,”ohifonlyyouknew.there’sanobscenelyrichguyi’vemetandhewantssomekindofstrangekinkysexualrelationship,inwhichidon’tgetasayinthings.
“ha一veyoumetsomeone?”
“no,mom.”iamsonotgoingthererightnow.
“well,darling,i’llbethinkingofyouonthursday.iloveyou…youknowthathoney?”
iclosemyeyes,herpreciouswordsgivemeawarmglowinside.
“loveyoutoo,mom.sayhitobob,andihopehegetsbetterfast.”
“willdo,honey.bye.”
“bye.”
iha一vestrayedintomybedroomwiththephone.idly,iswitchthemeanmachineonandfireuptheemailprogram.there’sanemailfromchristianfromlatelastnightorveryearlythismorning,dependingonyourpointofview.myheartratespikesinstantly,andihearthebloodpumpinginmyears.holycrap…perhapshe’ssaidno–that’sit–maybehe’scancelingdinner.thethoughtissopainful.idismissitquicklyandopentheemail.
from:christiangrey
subject:yourissues
date:may24201101:27
to:anastasiasteele
dearmisssteele
followingmymorethoroughexaminationofyourissues,mayibringtoyourattentionthedefinitionofsubmissive.
submissive[suhb-mis-iv]–adjective1.inclinedorreadytosubmit;unresistinglyorhumblyobedient:submissiveservants.2.markedbyorindicatingsubmission:asubmissiverigin:1580–90;submiss+-ivesynonyms:1.tractable,compliant,pliant,amenable.2.passive,resigned,patient,docile,tame,subdued.antonyms:1.rebellious,disobedient.pleasebearthisinmindforourmeetingonwednesday.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
myinitialfeelingisoneofrelief.he’swillingtodiscussmyissuesatleast,andhestillwantstomeettomorrow.aftersomethought,ireply.
from:anastasiasteele
subject:myissues…whataboutyourissues?
date:may24201118:29
to:christiangrey
sirpleasenotethedateoforigin:1580-90.iwouldrespectfullyremindsirthattheyearis2011.weha一vecomealongwaysincethen.
mayiofferadefinitionforyoutoconsiderforourmeeting:
compromise[kom-pruh-mahyz]-noun1.asettlementofdifferencesbymutualconcessions;anagreementreachedbyadjustmentofconflictingoropposingclaims,principles,etc.,byreciprocalmodificationofdemands.2.theresultofsuchasettlement.3.somethingintermediatebetweendifferentthings:thesplit-levelisacompromisebetweenaranchhouseandamultistoriedhouse.4.anendangering,esp.ofreputation;exposuretodanger,suspicion,etc.:acompromise
ofone’s
from:christiangrey
subject:whataboutmyissues?
date:may24201118:32
to:anastasiasteele
goodpoint,wellmade,asever,misssteele.iwillcollectyoufromyourapartmentat7:00tomorrow.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
from:anastasiasteele
subject:2011–womencandrive
date:may24201118:40
to:christiangrey
sir
iha一veacar.icandrive.
iwouldprefertomeetyousomewhere.
whereshallimeetyou?
atyourhotelat7:00?
ana
from:christiangrey
subject:stubbornyoungwomen
date:may24201118:43
to:anastasiasteele
dearmisssteele
irefertomyemaildatedmay24,2011sentat1:27andthedefinitioncontainedtherein.
doyoueverthinkyou’llbeabletodowhatyou’retold?
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
from:anastasiasteele
subject:intractablemen
date:may24201118:49
to:christiangrey
mr.grey
iwouldliketodrive.
please.
ana
from:christiangrey
subject:exasperatedmen
date:may24201118:52
to:anastasiasteele
fine.
myhotelat7:00.
i’llmeetyouinthemarblebar.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
he’sevengrumpybyemail.doesn’theunderstandthatimayneedtomakeaquickgetaway?notthatmybeetleisquick…butstill–ineedameansofescape.
from:anastasiasteele
subject:notsointractablemen
date:may24201118:55
to:christiangrey
thankyou.
anax
from:christiangrey
subject:exasperatingwomen
date:may24201118:59
to:anastasiasteele
you’rewelcome.
christiangrey
ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.
icallray,whoisjustabouttowatchthesoundersplaysomesoccerteamfromsaltlakecity,soourconversationismercifullybrief.he’sdrivingdownonthursdayforgraduation.hewantstotakemeoutafterwardforameal.myheartswellstalkingtoray,andahugelumpknotsinmythroat.hehasbeenmyconstantthroughallmom’sromanticupsanddowns.weha一veaspecialbondthatitreasure.eventhoughhe’smystepdad,he’salwaystreatedmeashisown,andican’twaittoseehim.it’sbeentoolong.hisquietfortitudeiswhatineednow,whatimiss.maybeicanchannelmyinnerrayformymeetingtomorrow.
kateandiconcentrateonpacking,sharingabottleofcheapredwineaswedo.whenifinallygotobed,ha一vingalmostfinishedpackingmyroom,ifeelcalmer.thephysicalactivityofboxingeverythinguphasbeenawelcomedistraction,andi’mtired.iwantagoodnight’ssleep.isnuggleintomybedandamsoonasleep.
paulisbackfromprincetonbeforehesetsofffornewyorktostartaninternshipwithafinancingcompany.hefollowsmeroundthestorealldayaskingmeforadate.it’sannoying.
“paul,forthehundredthtime,iha一veadatethisevening.”
“no,youdon’t,you’rejustsayingthattoa一voidme.you’realwaysa一voidingme.”
yes…you’dthinkyou’dtakethehint.
“paul,ineverthoughtitwasagoodideatodatetheboss’sbrother.”
“you’refinishinghereonfriday.you’renotworkingtomorrow.”
“andi’llbeinseattleasofsaturdayandyou’llbeinnewyorksoon.wecouldn’tgetmuchfurtherapartifwetried.besides,idoha一veadatethisevening.”
“withjosé?”
“no.”
“whothen?”
“paul…oh.”mysighisexasperated.he’snotgoingtoletthisgo.“christiangrey.”icannothelptheannoyanceinmyvoice.butitdoesthetrick.paul’smouthfallsopen,andhegapesatme,struckdumb.humph–evenhisnamerenderspeoplespeechless.
“youha一veadatewithchristiangrey,”hesaysfinally,oncehe’sovertheshock.disbeliefisevidentinhisvoice.
“yes.”
“isee.”paullookspositivelycrestfallen,stunnedeven,andaverysmallpartresentsthatheshouldfindthisasurprise.myinnergoddessdoestoo.shemakesaveryvulgarandunattractivegestureathimwithherfingers.
afterthat,heignoresme,andatfiveiamoutofthedoor,pronto.
katehaslentmetwodressesandtwopairsofshoesfortonightandforgraduationtomorrow.iwishicouldfeelmoreenthusedaboutclothesandmakeanextraeffort,butclothesarejustnotmything.whatisyourthing,anastasia?christian’ssoftlyspokenquestionhauntsme.shakingmyheadandendea一voringtoquellmynerves,idecideontheplum-coloredsheathdressforthisevening.it’sdemureandvaguelybusiness-like–afterall,iamnegotiatingacontract.
ishower,sha一vemylegsandunderarms,washmyhair,andthenspendagoodhalf-hourdryingitsothatitfallsinsoftwa一vestomybreastsanddownmyback.islipacombintokeeponesideoffmyfaceandapplymascaraandsomelip-gloss.irarelywearmake-up–itintimidatesme.noneofmyliteraryheroineshadtodealwithmake-up–maybei’dknowmoreaboutitiftheyhad.islipontheplum-coloredstilettosthatmatchthedress,andi’mreadybysix-thirty.
“well?”iaskkate.
shegrins.
“boy,youscrubupwell,ana.”shenodswithapproval.“youlookhot.”
“hot!i’maimingfordemureandbusiness-like.”
“thattoo,butmostofall,hot.thedressreallysuitsyouandyourcoloring.thewayitclings.”shesmirks.
“kate!”iscold.
“justkeepingitreal,ana.thewholepackage–looksgood.keepthedress.you’llha一vehimeatingoutofyourhand.”
mymouthpressesinahardline.oh,yousoha一vethatthewrongwayround.
“wishmeluck.”
“youneedluckforadate?”herbrowfurrows,puzzled.
“yes,kate.”
“wellthen–goodluck.”shehugsme,andiamoutthefrontdoor.
iha一vetodriveinmybarefeet–wanda,mysea-bluebeetle,wasn’tbuilttobedrivenbystiletto-wearers.ipullupoutsidetheheathmanatsix-fifty-eightpreciselyandhandmycarkeystothevaletforparking.helooksaskanceatmybeetle,butiignorehim.takingadeepbreathandmentallygirdingmyloins,iheadintothehotel.
christianisleaningcasuallyagainstthebar,drinkingaglassofwhitewine.he’sdressedinhiscustomarywhitelinenshirt,blackjeans,blacktie,andblackjacket.hishairisastousledasever.isigh.ofcoursehelooksgorgeous.istandforafewsecondsintheentranceofthebar,gazingathim,admiringtheview.heisbeyondbeautiful.heglances,nervouslyithink,towardtheentranceandstillswhenheseesme.blinkingacoupleoftimes,hethensmilesaslow,lazy,sexysmilethatrendersmespeechlessandallmolteninside.makingasupremeeffortnottobitemylip,imoveforwardawarethati,anastasiasteeleofclumsyville,aminhighstilettos.hewalksgracefullyovertomeetme.
“youlookstunning,”hemurmursasheleansdowntobrieflykissmycheek.“adress,misssteele.iapprove.”takingmyarm,heleadsmetoasecludedboothandsignalsforthewaiter.
“whatwouldyouliketodrink?”
mylipsquirkupinaquick,slysmileasisitandslideintothebooth–well,atleasthe’saskingme.
“i’llha一vewhatyou’reha一ving,please.”see!icanplayniceandbeha一vemyself.amused,heordersanotherglassofsancerreandslidesinoppositeme.
“theyha一veanexcellentwinecellarhere,”hesays,cockinghisheadtooneside.
puttinghiselbowsonthetable,hesteepleshisfingersinfrontofhisbeautifulmouth,hisgrayeyesalivewithsomeunreadableemotion.andthereitis…thatfamiliarpullandchargefromhim,itconnectssomewheredeepinsideme.ishiftuncomfortablyunderhisscrutiny,myheartpalpitating.imustkeepmycool.
“areyounervous?”heaskssoftly.
“yes.”
heleansforward.
“metoo,”hewhispersconspiratorially.myeyesshootuptomeethis.him.nervous.never.iblinkathim,andhesmileshisadorablelopsidedsmileatme.thewaiterarriveswithmywine,asmalldishofmixednuts,andanotherofolives.
“so,howarewegoingtodothis?”iask.“runthroughmypointsonebyone?”
“impatientasever,misssteele.”
“well,icouldaskyouwhatyouthoughtoftheweathertoday?”
hesmiles,andhislongfingersreachdowntocollectanolive.hepopsitinhismouth,andmyeyeslingeronhismouth,thatmouth,that’sbeenonme…allpartsofme.iflush.
“ithoughttheweatherwasparticularlyunexceptionaltoday,”hesmirks.
“areyousmirkingatme,mr.grey?”
“iam,misssteele.”
“youknowthiscontractislegallyunenforceable.”
“iamfullyawareofthat,misssteele.”
“wereyougoingtotellmethatatanypoint?”
hefrownsatme.
“you’dthinki’dcoerceyouintosomethingyoudon’twanttodo,andthenpretendthatiha一vealegalholdoveryou?”
“well…yes.”
“youdon’tthinkveryhighlyofmeatall,doyou?”
“youha一ven’tansweredmyquestion.”
“anastasia,itdoesn’tmatterifit’slegalornot.itrepresentsanarrangementthatiwouldliketomakewithyou–whatiwouldlikefromyouandwhatyoucanexpectfromme.ifyoudon’tlikeit,thendon’tsign.ifyoudosign,andthendecideyoudon’tlikeit,thereareenoughget-outclausessoyoucanwalkaway.evenifitwerelegallybinding,doyouthinki’ddragyouthroughthecourtsifyoudiddecidetorun?”
itakealongdraftofmywine.mysubconscioustapsmehardontheshoulder.youmustkeepyourwitsaboutyou.don’tdrinktoomuch.
“relationshipslikethisarebuiltonhonestyandtrust,”hecontinues.“ifyoudon’ttrustme–trustmetoknowhowi’maffectingyou,howfaricangowithyou,howfaricantakeyou–ifyoucan’tbehonestwithme,thenwereallycan’tdothis.”
ohmy,we’vecuttothechasequickly.howfarhecantakeme.holyshit.whatdoesthatmean?
“soit’squitesimple,anastasia.doyoutrustmeornot?”hiseyesareburning,fervent.
“didyouha一vesimilardiscussionswithum…thefifteen?”
“no.”
“whynot?”
“becausetheywereallestablishedsubmissives.theyknewwhattheywantedoutofarelationshipwithmeandgenerallywhatiexpected.withthem,itwasjustaquestionoffine-tuningthesoftlimits,detailslikethat.”
“isthereastoreyougoto?submissivesrus?”
helaughs.
“notexactly.”
“thenhow?”
“isthatwhatyouwanttodiscuss?orshallwegetdowntothenitty-gritty?yourissues,asyousay.”
iswallow.doitrusthim?isthatwhatthisallcomesdownto–trust?surelythatshouldbeatwo-waything.irememberhissnitwheniphonedjosé.
“areyouhungry?”heasks,distractingmefrommythoughts.
ohno…food.
“no.”
“ha一veyoueatentoday?”
istareathim.honesty…holycrap,he’snotgoingtolikemyanswer.
“no.”myvoiceissmall.
henarrowshiseyes.
“youha一vetoeat,anastasia.wecaneatdownhereorinmysuite.whatwouldyouprefer?”
“ithinkweshouldstayinpublic,onneutralground.”
hesmilessardonically.
“doyouthinkthatwouldstopme?”hesayssoftly,asensualwarning.
myeyeswiden,andiswallowagain.
“ihopeso.”
“come,iha一veaprivatediningroombooked.nopublic.”hesmilesatmeenigmaticallyandclimbsoutofthebooth,holdinghishandouttome.
“bringyourwine,”hemurmurs.
placingmyhandinhis,islideoutandstandupbesidehim.hereleasesme,andhishandreachesformyelbow.heleadsmebackthroughthebarandupthegrandstairstoamezzaninefloor.ayoungmaninfullheathmanliveryapproachesus.
“mr.grey,thiswaysir.”
wefollowhimthroughaplushseatingareatoanintimatediningroom.justonesecludedtable.theroomissmallbutsumptuous.beneathashimmeringchandelier,thetableisallstarchedlinen,crystalglasses,silvercutlery,andwhiterosebouquet.anold-world,sophisticatedcharmpervadesthewood-paneledroom.thewaiterpullsoutmychair,andisit.heplacesmynapkininmylap.christiansitsoppositeme.ipeekupathim.
“don’tbiteyourlip,”hewhispers.
ifrown.damnit.idon’tevenknowthati’mdoingit.
“i’veorderedalready.ihopeyoudon’tmind.”
frankly,i’mrelieved,i’mnotsureicanmakeanyfurtherdecisions.
“no,that’sfine,”iacquiesce.
“it’sgoodtoknowthatyoucanbeamenable.now,wherewerewe?”
“thenitty-gritty.”itakeanotherlargesipofwine.itreallyisdelicious.christiangreydoeswinewell.irememberthelastsipofwinehega一veme,inmybed.iblushattheintrusivethought.
“yes,yourissues.”hefishesintohisinsidejacketpocketandpullsoutapieceofpaper.myemail.
“clause2.agreed.thisisforthebenefitofusboth.ishallredraft.”
iblinkathim.holyshit…wearegoingtogothrougheachofthesepointsoneatatime.ijustdon’tfeelsobra一vefacetoface.helookssoearnest.isteelmyselfwithanothersipofmywine.christiancontinues.
“mysexualhealth.well,allofmypreviouspartnersha一vehadbloodtests,andiha一veregulartestseverysixmonthsforallthehealthrisksyoumention.allmyrecenttestsare
clear.iha一venevertakendrugs.infact,i’mvehementlyanti-drugs.iha一veastrictno-tolerancepolicywithregardstodrugsforallmyemployees,andiinsistonrandomdrugtesting.”
wow…controlfreakerygonemad.iblinkathimshocked.
“iha一veneverhadanybloodtransfusions.doesthatansweryourquestion?”
inod,impassive.
“yournextpointimentionedearlier.youcanwalkawayanytime,anastasia.iwon’tstopyou.ifyougo,however–that’sit.justsoyouknow.”
“okay,”ianswersoftly.ifigo,that’sit.thethoughtissurprisinglypainful.
thewaiterarriveswithourfirstcourse.howcanipossiblyeat?holymoses–he’sorderedoystersonabedofice.
“ihopeyoulikeoysters,”christian’svoiceissoft.
“i’veneverhadone.”ever.
“really?well.”hereachesforone.“allyoudoistipandswallow.ithinkyoucanmanagethat.”hegazesatme,andiknowwhathe’sreferringto.iblushscarlet.hegrinsatme,squirtssomelemonjuiceontohisoyster,andthentipsitintohismouth.
“hmm,delicious.tastesofthesea,”hegrinsatme.“goon,”heencourages.
“so,idon’tchewit?”
“no,anastasia,youdon’t.”hiseyesarealightwithhumor.helookssoyounglikethis.
ibitemylip,andhisexpressionchangesinstantly.helookssternlyatme.ireachacrossandpickupmyfirsteveroyster.okay…heregoesnothing.isquirtsomelemonjuiceonitandtipitup.itslipsdownmythroat,allseawater,salt,thesharptangofcitrus,andfleshiness…ooh.ilickmylips,andhe’swatchingmeintently,hiseyeshooded.
“well?”
“i’llha一veanother,”isaydryly.
“goodgirl,”hesaysproudly.
“didyouchoosethesedeliberately?aren’ttheyknownfortheiraphrodisiacqualities?”
“no,theyarethefirstitemonthemenu.idon’tneedanaphrodisiacnearyou.ithinkyouknowthat,andithinkyoureactthesamewaynearme,”hesayssimply.“sowherewerewe?”heglancesatmyemailasireachforanotheroyster.
hereactsthesameway.iaffecthim…wow.
“obeymeinallthings.yes,iwantyoutodothat.ineedyoutodothat.thinkofitasrole-playanastasia.”
“buti’mworriedyou’llhurtme.”
“hurtyouhow?”
“physically.”andemotionally.
“doyoureallythinkiwoulddothat?gobeyondanylimityoucan’ttake?”
“you’vesaidyou’vehurtsomeonebefore.”
“yes,iha一ve.itwasalongtimeago.”
“howdidyouhurtthem?”
“isuspendedthemfrommyplayroomceiling.infact,that’soneofyourquestions.suspension–that’swhatthekarabinersareforintheplayroom.ropeplay.oneoftheropeswastiedtootightly.”
iholdmyhandupbegginghimtostop.
“idon’tneedtoknowanymore.soyouwon’tsuspendmethen?”