“don’tbiteyourlip,”heorders.“nothere,notnow.”hiseyeshardenmomentarily,andforamoment,helookssodeliciouslydangerous.“ifican’tha一veyouhere,don’ttemptme.”

“hi,myname’sleandra,whatcanigetforyou…er…folks…er…today,thismornin…?”hervoicetrailsoff,stumblingoverherwordsasshegetsaneyefullofmr.beautifuloppositeme.sheflushesscarlet,andasmallounceofsympathyforherbubbles

unwelcomeintomyconsciousnessbecausehestilldoesthattome.herpresenceallowsmetoescapebrieflyfromhissensualglare.

“anastasia?”hepromptsme,ignoringher,andidon’tthinkanyonecouldsqueezeasmuchcarnalityintomynameashedoesatthatmoment.

iswallow,prayingthatidon’tgothesamecoloraspoorleandra.

“itoldyou,iwantwhatyouwant.”ikeepmyvoicesoft,low,andhelooksatmehungrily.jeez,myinnergoddessswoons.amiuptothisgame?

leandralooksfrommetohimandbackagain.she’spracticallythesamecolorashershinyredhair.

“shalligiveyoufolksanotherminutetodecide?”

“no.weknowwhatwewant.”christian’smouthtwitcheswithasmall,sexysmile.

“we’llha一vetwoportionsoftheoriginalbuttermilkpancakeswithmaplesyrupandbaconontheside,twoglassesoforangejuice,oneblackcoffeewithskimmilk,andoneenglishbreakfasttea,ifyouha一veit,”sayschristian,nottakinghiseyesoffme.

“thankyousir.willthatbeall?”leandrawhispers,lookinganywherebutatthetwoofus.webothturntostareather,andsheflushescrimsonagainandscuttlesaway.

“youknowit’sreallynotfair.”iglancedownattheformicatabletop,tracingapatterninitwithmyindexfinger,tryingtosoundnonchalant.

“what’snotfair?”

“howyoudisarmpeople.women.me.”

“doidisarmyou?”

isnort.

“allthetime.”

“it’sjustlooks,anastasia,”hesaysmildly.

“no,christian,it’smuchmorethanthat.”

hisbrowcreases.

“youdisarmmetotally,misssteele.yourinnocence.itcutsthroughallthecrap.”

“isthatwhyyou’vechangedyourmind?”

“changedmymind?”

“yes–about…err…us?”

hestrokeshischinthoughtfullywithhislong,skilledfingers.

“idon’tthinki’vechangedmymindperse.wejustneedtore-defineourparameters,re-drawourbattlelines,ifyouwill.wecanmakethiswork,i’msure.iwantyousubmissiveinmyplayroom.iwillpunishyouifyoudigressfromtherules.otherthanthat…well,ithinkit’sallupfordiscussion.thosearemyrequirements,misssteele.whatsayyoutothat?”

“soigettosleepwithyou?inyourbed?”

“isthatwhatyouwant?”

“yes.”

“iagreethen.besides,isleepverywellwhenyou’reinmybed.ihadnoidea.”hisbrowcreasesashisvoicefades.

“iwasfrightenedyou’dlea一vemeifididn’tagreetoallofit,”iwhisper.

“i’mnotgoinganywhere,anastasia.besides…”hetrailsoff,andaftersomethought,headds.“we’refollowingyouradvice,yourdefinition:compromise.youemailedittome.andsofar,it’sworkingforme.”

“ilovethatyouwantmore,”imurmurshyly.

“iknow.”

“howdoyouknow?”

“trustme.ijustdo.”hesmirksatme.he’shidingsomething.what?

atthatmoment,leandraarriveswithbreakfastandourconversationceases.mystomachrumbles,remindingmehowra一venousiam.christianwatcheswithannoyingapprovalasidevoureverythingonmyplate.

“canitreatyou?”iaskchristian.

“treatmehow?”

“payforthismeal.”

christiansnorts.

“idon’tthinkso.”hescoffs.

“please.iwantto.”

hefrownsatme.

“areyoutryingtocompletelyemasculateme?”

“thisisprobablytheonlyplacethati’llbeabletoaffordtopay.”

“anastasia,iappreciatethethought.ido.butno.”

ipursemylips.

“don’tscowl,”hethreatens,hiseyesglintingominously.

ofcoursehedoesn’taskmeformymother’saddress.heknowsitalready,stalkerthatheis.whenhepullsupoutsidethehouse,idon’tcomment.what’sthepoint?

“doyouwanttocomein?”iaskshyly.

“ineedtowork,anastasia,buti’llbebackthisevening.whattime?”

iignoretheunwelcomestabofdisappointment.whydoiwanttospendeverysingleminutewiththiscontrollingsexgod?ohyes,i’vefalleninlovewithhim,andhecanfly.

“thankyou…forthemore.”

“mypleasure,anastasia.”hekissesme,andiinhalehissexychristiansmell.

“i’llseeyoulater.”

“tryandstopme,”hewhispers.

iwa一vegoodbyeashedrivesoffintothegeorgiasunshine.i’mstillwearinghissweatshirtandhisunderwear,andi’mtoowarm.

inthekitchen,mymomisinacompleteflap.it’snoteverydayshehastoentertainamulti-zillionaire,andit’sstressingherout.

“howareyou,darling?”sheasks,andiflushbecauseshemustknowwhatiwasdoinglastnight.

“i’mgood.christiantookmeglidingthismorning.”ihopethenewinformationwilldistracther.

“gliding?asinasmallplanewithnoengine?thatsortofgliding?”

inod.

“wow.”

she’sspeechless–anovelconceptformymother.shegapesatme,buteventuallyrecoversherselfandresumesheroriginallineofquestioning.

“howwaslastnight?didyoutalk?”

jeez.iflushbrightscarlet.

“wetalked–lastnightandtoday.it’sgettingbetter.”

“good.”sheturnsherattentionbacktothefourcookerybooksshehasopenonthekitchentable.

“mom…ifyoulike,i’llcookthisevening.”

“oh,honey,that’skindofyou,butiwanttodoit.”

“okay.”igrimace,knowingfullwellthatmymother’scookingisprettyhitormiss.perhapsshe’simprovedsinceshemovedtosa一vannahwithbob.therewasatimeiwouldn’tsubjectanyonetohercooking…even–whodoihate?ohyes–mrs.robinson–elena.well,maybeher.willievermeetthisdamnedwoman?

idecidetosendaquickthank-youtochristian.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:soaringasopposedtosore-ing

date:june2201110:20est

to:christiangrey

sometimes,youreallyknowhowtoshowagirlagoodtime.

thankyou

anax

from:christiangrey

subject:soaringvssore-ing

date:june2201110:24est

to:anastasiasteele

i’lltakeeitherofthoseoveryoursnoring.ihadagoodtimetoo.

butialwaysdowheni’mwithyou.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:snoring

date:june2201110:26est

to:christiangrey

idonotsnore.andifido,it’sveryungallantofyoutopointitout.

youarenogentlemanmr.grey!andyouareinthedeepsouthtoo!

ana

from:christiangrey

subject:somniloquy

date:june2201110:28est

to:anastasiasteele

iha一veneverclaimedtobeagentleman,anastasia,andithinkiha一vedemonstratedthatpointtoyouonnumerousoccasions.iamnotintimidatedbyyourshoutycapitals.butiwillconfesstoasmallwhitelie:no–youdon’tsnore,butyoudotalk.andit’s

fascinating.

whathappenedtomykiss?

christiangrey

cad&ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

holyshit.iknowitalkinmysleep.katehastoldmeenoughtimes.whatthehellha一veisaid?ohno.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:spillthebeans

date:june2201110:32est

to:christiangrey

youareacadandascoundrel–definitelynogentleman.

so,whatdidisay?nokissesforyouuntilyoutalk!

from:christiangrey

subject:sleepingtalkingbeauty

date:june2201110:35est

to:anastasiasteele

itwouldbemostungallantofmetosay,andiha一vealreadybeenchastisedforthat.

butifyoubeha一veyourself,imaytellyouthisevening.idoha一vetogointoameetingnow.

laters,baby.

christiangrey

ceo,cad&scoundrel,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

right!ishallmaintainradiosilenceuntilthisevening.ifume.jeez.supposingi’vesaidihatehim,orworsestill,thatilovehim,inmysleep.oh,ihopenot.iamnotreadyto

tellhimthat,andi’msurehe’snotreadytohearit,ifheeverwantstohearit.iscowlatmycomputeranddecidethatwhatevericook,iwillmakebread.

mymomhasdecidedongazpachosoupandabarbecuewithsteaksmarinatedinoliveoil,garlic,andlemon.christianlikesmeat,andit’ssimpletodo.bobhasvolunteeredtomanthebbqgrill.whatisitaboutmenandfire,iponderasitrailaftermymotherthroughthesupermarketwiththeshoppingcart?

aswebrowsetherawmeatcabinet,myphonerings.iscrambleforit,thinkingitmaybechristian.idon’trecognizethenumber.

“hello?”ianswerbreathlessly.

“anastasiasteele?”

“yes.”

“it’selizabethmorganfromsip.”

“oh–hi.”

“i’mcallingtoofferyouthejobofassistanttomr.jackhyde.we’dlikeyoutostartonmonday.”

“wow.that’sgreat.thankyou!”

“youknowthesalarydetails?”

“yes.yes…that’s–imean,iacceptyouroffer.i’dlovetocomeandworkforyou.”

“excellent.we’llseeyoumondayat8:30?”

“seeyouthen.goodbye.andthankyou.”

ibeamatmymom.

“youha一veajob?”

inodgleefully,andshesquealsandhugsmeinthemiddleofpublixsupermarket.

“congratulations,darling!weha一vetobuysomechampagne!”she’sclappingherhandsandjumpingupanddown.issheforty-twoortwelve?

iglancedownatmyphoneandfrown,there’samissedcallfromchristian.heneverphonesme.icallhimstraightback.

“anastasia,”heanswersimmediately.

“hi,”imurmurshyly.

“iha一vetoreturntoseattle.something’scomeup.iamonmywaytohiltonheadnow.pleaseapologizetoyourmother–ican’tmakedinner.”hesoundsverybusinesslike.

“nothingserious,ihope?”

“iha一veasituationwhichiha一vetodealwith.i’llseeyoufriday.i’llsendtaylortocollectyoufromtheairportifican’tcomemyself.”hesoundscold.angryeven.butforthefirsttime,idon’timmediatelythinkit’sme.

“okay.ihopeyousortoutyoursituation.ha一veasafeflight.”

“youtoo,baby,”hebreathes,andwiththosewords,mychristianisbackbriefly.thenhehangsup.

ohno.thelast‘situation’hehadwasmyvirginity.jeez,ihopeit’snothinglikethat.igazeatmymom.herearlierjubilationhasmetamorphosedintoconcern.

“it’schristian,he’shadtogobacktoseattle.heapologizes.”

“oh!that’sashame,darling.wecanstillha一veourbarbecue,andnowweha一vesomethingtocelebrate–yournewjob!youha一vetotellmeallaboutit.”

it’slateafternoon,andmomandiarelyingbesidethepool.mymotherhasrelaxedtothepointwheresheisliterallyhorizontalnowthatmr.megabucksisnotcomingtodinner.asilieinthesun,endea一voringtolosethepale,ithinkaboutyesterdayeveningandbreakfasttoday.ithinkaboutchristian,andmyridiculousgrinrefusestosubside.itkeepscreepingacrossmyface,unbiddenanddisconcerting,asirecallourvariousconversationsandwhatwedid…whathedid.

thereseemstobetidalshiftinchristian’sattitude.hedeniesitbut–headmitshe’stryingformore.whatcouldha一vechanged?whathasalteredsincehesenthislongemailandwhenisawhimyesterday?whathashedone?isitupsuddenly,almostspillingmydr.pepper.hehaddinnerwith…her.elena.

holyfuck!

myscalppricklesattherealization.didshesaysomethingtohim?oh…toha一vebeenaflyonthewallduringtheirdinner.icouldha一velandedinhersouporonherwineglassandchokedher.

“whatisit,ana,honey?”momasks,startledfromhertorpor.

“i’mjustha一vingamoment,mom.whattimeisit?”

“about6:30,darling.”

hmm…hewon’tha一velandedyet.caniaskhim?shouldiaskhim?orperhapsshehasnothingtodowithit.iferventlyhopeso.whatdidisayinmysleep?crap…someunguardedremarkwhiledreamingabouthim,ibet?whateveritis,orwas,ihopetheseaofchangeiscomingfromwithinhimandnotbecauseofher.

iamswelteringinthisdamnedheat.ineedanotherdipinthepool.

asigetreadyforbed,iswitchonmycomputer.iha一veheardnothingfromchristian.notevenawordthathe’sarrivedsafely.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:safearrival?

date:june2201122:32est

to:christiangrey

dearsir

pleaseletmeknowthatyouha一vearrivedsafely.iamstartingtoworry.thinkingofyou.

yourana.x

threeminuteslater,ihearthepingfrommyemailin-box.

from:christiangrey

subject:sorry

date:june2201119:36

to:anastasiasteele

dearmisssteele

iha一vearrivedsafely,andpleaseacceptmyapologiesfornotlettingyouknow.idon’twanttocauseyouanyworry,it’sheartwarmingtoknowthatyoucareforme.iamthinkingofyoutooandaseverlookingforwardtoseeingyoutomorrow.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

isigh,christianisbacktoformality.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:thesituation

date:june2201122:40est

to:christiangrey

dearmr.grey

ithinkitisveryevidentthaticareforyoudeeply.howcouldyoudoub一tthat?

ihopeyour‘situation’isinhand.

youranaxps:areyougoingtotellmewhatisaidinmysleep?

from:christiangrey

subject:pleadingthefifth

date:june2201119:45

to:anastasiasteele

dearmisssteele

ilikeverymuchthatyoucareforme.the‘situation’hereisnotyetresolved.

withregardtoyourps:theansweris-no.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:pleadinginsanity

date:june2201122:48est

to:christiangrey

ihopeitwasamusing.butyoushouldknowicannotacceptanyresponsibilityforwhatcomesoutofmymouthwheniamunconscious.infact–youprobablymisheardme.

amanofyouradvancedyearsissurelyalittledeaf.

from:christiangrey

subject:pleadingguilty

date:june2201119:52

to:anastasiasteele

dearmisssteele

sorry,couldyouspeakup?ican’thearyou.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:pleadinginsanityagain

date:june2201122:54est

to:christiangrey

youaredrivingmecrazy.

from:christiangrey

subject:ihopeso…

date:june2201119:59

to:anastasiasteele

dearmisssteele

iintendtodoexactlythatonfridayevening.lookingforwardtoit

;)

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

from:anastasiasteele

subject:grrrrrr

date:june2201123:02est

to:christiangrey

iamofficiallypissedatyou.

goodnight.

missa.r.steele

from:christiangrey

subject:wildcat

date:june2201120:05

to:anastasiasteele

areyougrowlingatmemisssteele?

ipossessacatofmyownforgrowlers.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

catofhisown?i’veneverseenacatinhisapartment.no,iamnotgoingtoanswerhim.oh,hecanbesoexasperatingsometimes.fiftyshadesofexasperating.iclamberintobedandlieglaringattheceilingasmyeyesadjusttothedark.ihearanotherpingfrommycomputer.iamnotgoingtolook.nodefinitelynot.no,iamnotgoingtolook.gah!likethefooliam,icannotresistthelureofchristiangrey’swords.

from:christiangrey

subject:whatyousaidinyoursleep

date:june2201120:20

to:anastasiasteele

anastasia

i’dratherhearyousaythewordsthatyouutteredinyoursleepwhenyou’reconscious,that’swhyiwon’ttellyou.gotosleep.you’llneedtoberestedwithwhatiha一veinmindforyoutomorrow.

christiangrey

ceo,greyenterprisesholdingsinc.

ohno…whatha一veisaid?it’sasbadasithink,i’msure.

mymotherhugsmetightly.

“followyourheart,darling,andplease,please–trynottoover-thinkthings.relaxandenjoyyourself.youaresoyoung,sweetheart.youha一vesomuchoflifetoexperienceyet,justletithappen.youdeservethebestofeverything.”herheartfeltwordsarecomfortingwhisperedinmyear.shekissesmyhair.

“oh,mom.”hot,unwelcometearsprickmyeyesasiclingtoher.

“darling,youknowwhattheysay.youha一vetokissalotoffrogsbeforeyoufindyourprince.”