igroan,andhesmiles.

“youarenotamorningperson,”hemurmurs.

throughthehazeoflight,isquintandseechristianleaningoverme,smiling.amused.amusedatme.dressed!inblack.

“ithoughtyouwantedsex,”igrumble.

“anastasia,ialwayswantsexwithyou.it’sheartwarmingtoknowthatyoufeelthesame,”hesaysdryly.

igazeathimasmyeyesadjusttothelight,buthestilllooksamused…thankhea一vens.

“ofcourseido,justnotwhenit’ssolate.”

“it’snotlate,it’searly.comeon–upyougo.we’regoingout.i’lltakearaincheckonthesex.”

“iwasha一vingsuchanicedream,”iwhine.

“dreamaboutwhat?”heaskspatiently.

“you.”iblush.

“whatwasidoingthistime?”

“tryingtofeedmestrawberries.”

hislipstwitchwithatraceofasmile.

“dr.flynncouldha一veafielddaywiththat.up–getdressed.don’tbothertoshower,wecandothatlater.”

we!

isitup,andthesheetpoolsatmywaist,revealingmybody.hestandstogivemeroom,hiseyesdark.

“whattimeisit?”

“5:30inthemorning.”

“feelslike3:00”

“wedon’tha一vemuchtime.iletyousleepaslongaspossible.come.”

“can’tiha一veashower?”

hesighs.

“ifyouha一veashower,i’llwantonewithyou,andyouandiknowwhatwillhappenthen–thedaywilljustgo.come.”

he’sexcited.likeasmallboy,he’siridescentwithanticipationandexcitement.itmakesmesmile.

“whatarewedoing?’

“it’sasurprise.itoldyou.”

ican’thelpbutgrinupathim.

“okay.”iclamberoffthebedandsearchformyclothes.ofcoursetheyareneatlyfoldedonthechairbesidemybed.he’slaidoutapairofhisjerseyboxerbriefstoo,ralphlauren,noless.islipthemon,andhegrinsatme.hmm,anotherpieceofchristiangrey’sunderwear–atrophytoaddtomycollection–alongwiththecar,theblackberry,themac,hisblackjacket,andasetofoldvaluablefirsteditions.ishakemyheadathislargesse,andifrownasascenefromtesscrossesmymind:thestrawberryscene.itevokesmydream.tohellwithdr.flynn–freudwouldha一veafieldday–andthenhe’dprobablyexpiretryingtodealwithfiftyshades.

“i’llgiveyousomeroomnowthatyou’reup.”christianexitstowardthelivingarea,andiwanderintothebathroom.iha一veneedstoattendto,andiwantaquickwash.sevenminuteslater,iaminthelivingarea,scrubbed,brushedanddressedinjeans,mycamisole,andchristiangrey’sunderwear.christianglancesupfromthesmalldiningtablewherehe’seatingbreakfast.breakfast!jeez,atthistime.

“eat,”hesays.

holymoses…mydream.igapeathim,thinkingabouthistongueonhispalate.hmm,hisexperttongue.

“anastasia,”hesayssternly,pullingmeoutofmyreverie.

itreallyistooearlyforme.howtohandlethis?

“i’llha一vesometea.canitakeacroissantforlater?”

heeyesmesuspiciously,andismileverysweetly.

“don’trainonmyparade,anastasia,”hewarnssoftly.

“iwilleatlaterwhenmystomach’swokenup.about7:30…okay?”

“okay.”hepeersdownatme.

honestly.iha一vetoconcentratehardonnotmakingafaceathim.

“iwanttorollmyeyesatyou.”

“byallmeans,do,andyouwillmakemyday,”hesayssternly.

igazeupattheceiling.

“wellaspankingwouldwakemeup,isuppose.”ipursemylipsinquietcontemplation.

christian’smouthdropsopen.

“ontheotherhand,idon’twantyoutobeallhotandbothered,theclimatehereiswarmenough.”ishrugnonchalantly.

christiancloseshismouthandtriesveryhardtolookdispleased,butfailshopelessly.icanseethehumorlurkinginthebackofhiseyes.

“youare,asever,challenging,misssteele.drinkyourtea.”

inoticethetwiningslabel,andinside,myheartsings.see,hedoescare,mysubconsciousmouthsatme.isitandfacehim,drinkinginhisbeauty.willievergetenoughofthisman?

aswelea一vetheroom,christianthrowsasweatshirtatme.

“you’llneedthis.”

ilookathim,puzzled.

“trustme.”hegrins,leansoverandkissesmequicklyonthelips,thengrabsmyhandandweheadout.

outside,intherelativecoolofthehalf-lightofpre-dawn,thevalethandschristianasetofkeystoaflashsportscarwithasofttop.iraiseaneyebrowatchristian,whosmirksbackatme.

“youknow,sometimesit’sgreatbeingme,”hesayswithaconspiratorialbutsmuggrinthatisimplycan’thelpemulating.he’ssolovablewhenhe’splayfulandcarefree.heopensmycardoorwithanexaggeratedbow,andiniclimb.heisinsuchagoodmood.

“wherearewegoing?”

“you’llsee.”hegrinsasheslipsthecarintodrive,andweheadoutonsa一vannahparkway.heprogramsthegpsandpressesaswitchonthesteeringwheelandaclassicalorchestralpiecefillsthecar.

“what’sthis?”iaskasthesweet,sweetsoundofahundredviolinstringsassailsus.

“it’sfromlatra一viata.anoperabyverdi.”

oh,my…it’slovely.

“latra一viata?i’veheadrofthat.ican’tthinkwhere.whatdoesitmean?”

christianglancesatmeandsmirks.

“well,literally,thewomanledastray.it’sbasedonalexanderdumas’sbook,ladameauxcamelias.”

“ah.i’vereadit.”

“ithoughtyoumight.”

“thedoomedcourtesan.”isquirmuncomfortablyintheplushleatherseat.ishetryingtotellmesomething?“hmm,it’sadepressingstory,”imutter.

“toodepressing?doyouwanttochoosesomemusic?thisisonmyipod.”christianhasthatsecretsmileagain.

ican’tseehisipodanywhere.hetapsthescreenontheconsolebetweenus,andbehold-thereisaplaylist.

“youchoose.”hislipstwitchupintoasmile,andiknowit’sachallenge.

christiangrey’sipod,thisshouldbeinteresting.iscrollthroughthetouchscreen,andfindtheperfectsong.ipressplay.iwouldn’tha一vefiguredhimforabritneyfan.theclub-mix,technobeatassaultsusboth,andchristianturnsthevolumedown.maybeit’stooearlyforthis:britney’sathermostsultry.

“toxic,eh?”christiangrins.

“idon’tknowwhatyoumean.”ifeigninnocence.

heturnsthemusicdownalittlemore,andinsideiamhuggingmyself.myinnergoddessisstandingonthepodiumawaitinghergoldmedal.heturnedthemusicdown.victory!

“ididn’tputthatsongonmyipod,”hesayscasually,andputshisfootdownsothatiamthrownbackintomyseatasthecaracceleratesalongthefreeway.

what?heknowswhathe’sdoing,thebastard.whodid?andiha一vetolistentobritneygoingonandon.who…who?

thesongendsandtheipodshufflestodamienricebeingmournful.who?who?istareoutofthewindow,mystomachchurning.who?

“itwasleila,”heanswersmyunspokenthoughts.howdoeshedothat?

“leila?”

“anex,whoputthesongonmyipod.”

damienwarblesawayinthebackgroundasisitstunned.anex…ex-submissive?anex–

“oneofthefifteen?”iask.

“yes.”

“whathappenedtoher?”

“wefinished.”

“why?”

ohjeez.it’stooearlyforthiskindofconversation.buthelooksrelaxed,happyeven,andwhat’smore,talkative.

“shewantedmore.”hisvoiceislow,introspectiveeven,andhelea一vesthesentencehangingbetweenus,endingitwiththatpowerfullittlewordagain.

“andyoudidn’t?”iaskbeforeicanemploymybraintomouthfilter.shit,doiwanttoknow?

heshakeshishead.

“i’veneverwantedmore,untilimetyou.”

igasp,reeling.ohmy.isn’tthiswhatiwant?hewantsmore.hewantsit,too!myinnergoddesshasbackflippedoffthepodiumandisdoingcartwheelsaroundthestadium.it’snotjustme.

“whathappenedtotheotherfourteen?”iask.

jeezhe’stalking–takeadvantage.

“youwantalist?porced,beheaded,died?”

“you’renothenryviii.”

“okay.innoparticularorder,i’veonlyhadlongtermrelationshipswithfourwomen,apartfromelena.”

“elena?”

“mrs.robinsontoyou.”hehalfsmileshissecretprivatejokesmile.

elena!holyfuck.theevilonehasanameanditsall-foreignsounding.avisionofaglorious,pale-skinnedvampwithra一venhairandruby-redlipscomestomind,andiknowthatshe’sbeautiful.imustnotdwell.imustnotdwell.

“whathappenedtothefour?”iasktodistractmyself.

“soinquisitive,soeagerforinformation,misssteele,”hescoldsplayfully.

“oh,mr.whenisyourperioddue?”

“anastasia–amanneedstoknowthesethings.”

“doeshe?”

“ido.”

“why?”

“becauseidon’twantyoutogetpregnant.”

“neitherdoi!well,notforafewyearsyet.”

christianblinksstartled,thenvisiblyrelaxes.okay.christiandoesn’twantchildren.nowornever?iamreelingfromhissudden,unprecedentedattackofcandor.perhapsit’stheearlymorning?somethinginthegeorgiawater?thegeorgiaair?whatelsedoiwanttoknow?carpediem.

“sotheotherfour,whathappened?”iask.

“onemetsomeoneelse.theotherthreewanted–more.iwasn’tinthemarketformorethen.”

“andtheothers?”ipress.

heglancesatmebrieflyandjustshakeshishead.

“justdidn’tworkout.”

whoa,abucket-loadofinformationtoprocess.iglanceinthesidemirrorofthecar,andinoticethesoftswellofpinkandaquamarineintheskybehind.dawnisfollowingus.

“whereareweheaded?”iask,perplexed,gazingoutatthei-95.we’reheadingsouth,that’salliknow.

“anairfield.”

“we’renotgoingbacktoseattlearewe?”igasp,alarmed.iha一ven’tsaidgoodbyetomymom.jeez,she’sexpectingusfordinner.

helaughs.

“no,anastasia,we’regoingtoindulgeinmysecondfa一voritepastime.”

“second?”ifrownathim.

“yep.itoldyoumyfa一voritethismorning.”

iglanceathisgloriousprofile,frowning,rackingmybrain.

“indulginginyou,misssteele,that’sgottobetopofmylist.anywayicangetyou.”

oh,

“wellthat’squitehighuponmylistofperting,kinkyprioritiestoo.”imutter,blushing.

“i’mpleasedtohearit,”hemuttersdryly.

“so,airfield?”

hegrinsatme.

“soaring.”

thetermringsavaguebell.he’smentioneditbefore.

“we’regoingtochasethedawn,anastasia.”heturnsandgrinsatmeasthegpsurgeshimtoturnrightintowhatlookslikeanindustrialcomplex.hepullsupoutsidealargewhitebuildingwithasignreadingbrunswicksoaringassociation.

gliding!we’regoinggliding?

heswitchesofftheengine.

“youupforthis?”heasks.

“you’reflying?”

“yes.”

“yes,please!”idon’thesitate.hegrinsandleansforwardandkissesme.

“anotherfirst,misssteele,”hesaysasheclimbsoutofthecar.

first?whatsortoffirst?firsttimeflyingaglider…shit!no–hesaidthathe’sdoneitbefore.irelax.hewalksroundandopensmydoor.theskyhasturnedtoasub一tleopal,shimmeringandglowingsoftlybehindthesporadicchildlikeclouds.dawnisuponus.

takingmyhand,christianleadsmeroundthebuildingtoalargestretchoftarmacwhereseveralplanesareparked.waitingbesidethemisamanwithasha一vedheadandawildlookinhiseye,accompaniedbytaylor.

taylor!doeschristiangoanywherewithoutthatman?ibeamathim,andhesmileskindlybackatme.

“mr.grey,thisisyourtow-pilot,mr.markbenson,”saystaylor.christianandbensonshakehandsandstrikeupaconversation,whichsoundsverytechnicalaboutwindspeed,directions,andthelike.

“hello,taylor,”imurmurshyly.

“misssteele.”henodsagreetingatme,andifrown.“ana,”hecorrectshimself.“he’sbeenhellonwheelsthelastfewdays.gladwe’rehere,”hesaysconspiratorially.

oh,thisisnews–why?surelynotbecauseofme!revelationthursday!mustbesomethinginthesa一vannahwaterthatmakesthesemenloosenupabit.

“anastasia,”christiansummonsme.“come.”heholdsouthishand.

“seeyoulater.”ismileattaylor,andgivingmeaquicksalute,heheadsbacktotheparkinglot.

“mr.benson,thisismygirlfriendanastasiasteele.”

“pleasedtomeetyou,”imurmurasweshakehands.

bensongivesmeadazzlingsmile.

“likewise,”hesays,andicantellfromhisaccentthathe’sbritish.

asitakechristian’shand,there’samountingexcitementinmybelly.wow…gliding!wefollowmarkbensonoutacrossthetarmactowardstherunway.heandchristiankeepuparunningconversation.icatchthegist.wewillbeinablanikl-23,whichisapparentlybetterthanthel-13,althoughthisisopentodebate.bensonwillbeflyingapiperpawnee.he’sbeenflyingtaildraggersforaboutfiveyearsnow.itallmeansnothingtome,butglancingupatchristian,heissoanimated,soinhiselement,it’sapleasuretowatchhim.

theplaneitselfislong,sleek,andwhitewithorangestripes.ithasasmallcockpitwithtwoseatsoneinfrontoftheother.it’sattachedbyalongwhitecabletoasmall,conventionalsingle-propellerplane.bensonopensthelarge,clearperspexdomethatframesthecockpit,allowingustoclimbin.

“firstweneedtostraponyourparachute.”

parachute!

“i’lldothat,”christianinterruptshimandtakestheharnessoffbenson,whosmilesamenablyathim.

“i’llfetchsomeballast,”bensonsaysandheadstowardtheplane.

“youlikestrappingmeintothings.”iobservedryly.

“misssteele,youha一venoidea.here,stepintothestraps.”

idoasi’mtold,placingmyarmonhisshoulder.christianstiffensslightlybutdoesn’tmove.oncemyfeetareintheloops,hepullstheparachuteup,andiplacemyarmsthroughtheshoulderstraps.deftlyhefastenstheharnessandtightensallthestraps.

“there,you’lldo,”hesaysmildly,buthiseyesaregleaming.“doyouha一veyourhairtiefromyesterday?”

inod.

“youwantmetoputmyhairup?”

“yes.”

iquicklydoasi’masked.

“inyougo,”christiancommands.he’sstillsobossy.igotoclimbintotheback.

“no,front.pilotsitsattheback.”

“butwon’tyoubeabletosee.”

“i’llseeplenty.”hegrins.

idon’tthinkiha一veeverseenhimsohappy,bossy,buthappy.iclamberin,settlingdownintotheleatherseat.itissurprisinglycomfortable.christianleansover,pullstheharnessovermyshoulders,reachesbetweenmylegsforthelowerbelt,andslotsitintothefastenerthatrestsagainstmybelly.hetightensalltherestrainingstraps.

“hmm,twiceinonemorning,iamaluckyman,”hewhispersandkissesmequickly.“thiswon’ttakelong–twenty,thirtyminutesatmost.thermalsaren’tgreatthistimeofthemorning,butit’ssobreathtakingupthereatthishour.ihopeyou’renotnervous.”

“excited.”ibeam.

wheredidthisridiculousgrincomefrom?actually,partofmeisterrified.myinnergoddess–she’sunderablanketbehindthesofa.

“good.”hegrinsback,strokingmyface,thendisappearsfromview.

ihearandfeelhismovementsasheclimbsinbehindme.ofcoursehe’sstrappedmeinsotightlyican’tmoveroundtoseehim…typical!weareverylowontheground.infrontofmeisapanelofdialsandleversandabigstickthing.ilea一vewellalone.

markbensonappearswithacheerfulgrinashechecksmystrapsandleansinandchecksthecockpitfloor.ithinkit’stheballast.

“yep,that’ssecure.firsttime?”heasksme.

“yes.”

“you’llloveit.”

“thanks,mr.benson.”

“callmemark.”heturnstochristian.“okay?”

“yep.let’sgo.”

iamsogladiha一ven’teatenanything.iambeyondexcited,andidon’tthinkmystomachwouldbegameforfood,excitement,andlea一vingtheground.onceagain,iamputtingmyselfintothisbeautifulman’sskilledhands.markshutsthecockpitlid,strollsovertotheplaneinfront,andclimbsin.

thepiper’ssinglepropellerstarts,andmynervousstomachrelocatesitselftomythroat.jeez…i’mreallydoingthis.marktaxisslowlydowntherunway,andasthecabletakesthestrain,wesuddenlyjoltforward.we’reoff.ihearchatterovertheradiosetbehindme.ithinkit’smarktalkingtothetower–butican’tmakeoutwhathe’ssaying.asthepiperpicksupspeed,sodowe.it’sverybumpy,andinfrontofus,thesinglepropplaneisstillontheground.jeez,willweevergetup?andsuddenly,mystomachdisappearsfrommythroatandfree-fallsthroughmybodytotheground–we’reairborne.

“herewego,baby!”christianshoutsfrombehindme.andweareinourownbubble,justustwo.allihearisthesoundofthewindrippingpastandthedistanthumofthepiper’sengine.

i’mgrippingtheedgeofmyseatwithbothhands,sotightlymyknucklesarewhite.weheadwest,inlandawayfromtherisingsun,gainingheight,crossingoverfieldsandwoodsandhomesandi-95.ohmy.thisisamazing,aboveusonlysky.thelightisextraordinary,diffuseandwarminhue,andirememberjoséramblingonabout‘magichour’,atimeofdaythatphotographersadore–thisisit…justafterdawn,andi’minit,withchristian.

abruptly,i’mremindedofjosé’sshow.hmm.ineedtotellchristian.iwonderbrieflyhowhe’llreact.butiwon’tworryaboutthat,notnow–i’menjoyingtheride.myearspopaswegainheight,andthegroundslipsfurtherandfurtheraway.itissopeaceful.icompletelygetwhyhelikestobeuphere.awayfromhisblackberryandallthepressuresofhisjob.

theradiocracklesintolife,andmarkmentions3,000feet.jeez,thatsoundshigh,.ichecktheground,andicannolongerclearlydistinguishanythingdownthere.

“release,”christiansaysintotheradio,andsuddenlythepiperdisappears,andthepullingsensationprovidedbythesmallplaneceases.we’refloating,floatingovergeorgia.

holyfuck–it’sexciting.theplanebanksandturnsasthewingdips,andwespiraltowardthesun.icarus.thisisit.iamflyingclosetothesun,buthe’swithme,leadingme.igaspattherealization.wespiralandspiraland,theviewinthismorninglightisspectacular.

“holdontight!”heshouts,andwedipagain–onlythistimehedoesn’tstop.suddenly,iamupsidedown,lookingatthegroundthroughthetopofthecockpitcanopy.

isquealloudly,myarmsautomaticallylashingout,myhandssplayedontheperspextostopmefalling.icanhearhimlaughing.bastard!buthisjoyisinfectious,andiamlaughingtooasherightstheplane.

“i’mgladididn’tha一vebreakfast!”ishoutathim.

“yes,inhindsight,it’sgoodyoudidn’t,becausei’mgoingtodothatagain.”

hedipstheplaneoncemoreuntilweareupsidedown.thistime,becausei’mprepared,ihangontotheharness,butitmakesmegrinandgigglelikeafool.helevelstheplaneoncemore.

“beautiful,isn’tit?”hecalls.

“yes.”

wefly,swoopingmajesticallythroughtheair,listeningtothewindandthesilence,intheearlymorninglight.whocouldaskformore?

“seethejoy-stickinfrontofyou?”heshoutsagain.

ilookatthestickthatismovingslightlybetweenmylegs.ohno,where’shegoingwiththis?

“grabhold.”

ohshit.he’sgoingtomakemeflytheplane.no!

“goon,anastasia.grabit,”heurgesmorevehemently.

tentatively,igraspitandfeelthepitchandyawofwhatiassumeareruddersandpaddlesorwhateverkeepsthisthingintheair.

“holdtight…keepitsteady.seethemiddledialinfront?keeptheneedledeadcenter.”

myheartisinmymouth.holyshit.iamflyingaglider…i’msoaring.

“goodgirl.”christiansoundsdelighted.

“iamamazedyouletmetakecontrol,”ishout.

“you’dbeamazedwhati’dletyoudo,misssteele.backtomenow.”

ifeelthejoystickmovesuddenly,andiletgoaswespiraldownseveralfeet,myearsstartingtopopagain.thegroundisgettingcloser,anditfeelslikewecouldbehittingitshortly.jeez,that’sscary.

“bma,thisisbgnpapa3alpha,enteringleftdownwindrunwayseventothegrass,bma.”christiansoundshisusualauthoritativeself.thetowersquawksbackathimovertheradio,butidon’tunderstandwhattheysay.wesailroundagaininawidecircle,sinkingslowlytotheground.icanseetheairport,thelandingstrips,andwe’reflyingbackoveri-95.

“hangon,baby.thiscangetbumpy.”

afteranothercirclewedip,andsuddenlyweareonthegroundwithabriefthump,racingalongthegrass–holyshit.myteethchatteraswebumpatanalarmingspeedalongtheground,untilwefinallycometoastop.theplaneswaysslightlythendipstotheright.itakeadeeplungfulofairwhilechristianleansoverandopensthecockpitlid,clamberingoutandstretching.

“howwasthat?”heasks,andhiseyesareashining,dazzlingsilvergray.heleansdowntounbuckleme.

“thatwasextraordinary.thankyou,”iwhisper.

“wasitmore?”heasks,hisvoicetingedwithhope.

“muchmore,”ibreathe,andhegrins.

“come.”heholdsouthishandforme,andiclamberoutofthecockpit.

assoonasi’mout,hegrabsmeandholdsmeflushagainsthisbody.suddenlyhishandisinmyhair,tuggingitsomyheadtipsback,andhisotherhandtra一velsdowntothebaseofmyspine.hekissesme,long,hard,andpassionately,histongueinmymouth.hisbreathingismounting,hisardor…holycow–hiserection…we’reinafield.butidon’tcare.myhandstwistinhishair,anchoringhimtome.iwanthim,here,now,ontheground.hebreaksawayandgazesdownatme,hiseyesnowdarkandluminousintheearlymorninglight,fullofraw,arrogantsensuality.wow.hetakesmybreathaway.

“breakfast,”hewhispers,makingitsounddeliciouslyerotic.

howcanhemakebaconandeggssoundlikeforbiddenfruit?it’sanextraordinaryskill.heturns,claspingmyhand,andweheadbacktowardthecar.

“whatabouttheglider?”

“someonewilltakecareofthat?”,hesaysdismissively.“we’lleatnow.”histoneisunequivocal.

food!he’stalkingfood,whenreallyalliwantishim.

“come.”hesmiles.

iha一veneverseenhimlikethis,andit’sajoytobehold.ifindmyselfwalkingbesidehim,handinhand,withastupid,goofygrinplasteredonmyface.itremindsmeofwheniwastenandspendingthedayindisneylandwithray.itwasaperfectday,andthisissureshapingouttobethesame.

backinthecar,asweheadbackalongi-95towardssa一vannah,myphonealarmgoesoff.ohyes…mypill.

“what’sthat?”christianasks,curious,glancingatme.

ifumbleinmypurseforthepacket.

“alarmformypill,”imutterasmycheeksflush.

hislipsquirkup.

“good,welldone.ihatecondoms.”

iflushsomemore.he’saspatronizingasever.

“ilikethatyouintroducedmetomarkasyourgirlfriend,”imurmur.

“isn’tthatwhatyouare?”heraisesaneyebrow.

“ami?ithoughtyouwantedasubmissive.”

“sodidi,anastasia,andido.buti’vetoldyou,iwantmore,too.”

ohmy.he’scominground,andhopesurgesthroughme,lea一vingmebreathless.

“i’mveryhappythatyouwantmore,”iwhisper.

“weaimtoplease,misssteele.”hesmirksaswepullintotheinternationalhouseofpancakes.

“ihop.”igrinbackathim.idon’tbelieveit.whowouldha一vethought…christiangreyatihop.

it’s8:30butquietintherestaurant.itsmellsofsweetbatter,friedfood,anddisinfectant.hmm…notsuchanenticingaroma.christianleadsmetoabooth.

“iwouldneverha一vepicturedyouhere,”isayasweslideintoabooth.

“mydadusedtobringustooneofthesewhenevermymomwentawayatamedicalconference.itwasoursecret.”hesmilesatme,grayeyesdancing,thenpicksupamenu,runningahandthroughhiswaywardhairashestaresdownatit.

oh,iwanttorunmyhandsthroughthathair.ipickupamenuandexamineit.irealizei’mstarving.

“iknowwhatiwant,”hebreathes,hisvoicelowandhusky.

iglanceupathim,andhe’sstaringatmeinthatwaythattightensallthemusclesinmybellyandtakesmybreathaway,hiseyesdarkandsmoldering.holyshit.igazeathim,mybloodsinginginmyveinsansweringhiscall.

“iwantwhatyouwant,”iwhisper.

heinhalessharply.

“here?”heaskssuggestively,raisinganeyebrowatme,smilingwickedly,histeethtrappingthetipofhistongue.

ohmy…sexinihop.hisexpressionchanges,growingdarker.