Fifty Shades Trilogy 01 - Fifty Shades of Grey

take it, but that’s not the whole reason. It’s the fact that you are mine to do with as I see fit – ultimate control over someone else. And it turns me on. Big time, Anastasia. Look, I’m not explaining myself very well… I’ve never had to before. I’ve not really thought about this in any great depth. I’ve always been with like-minded people,” he shrugs apologetically. “And you still haven’t answered my question – how did you feel afterwards?”
    “Confused.”
    “You were sexually aroused by it, Anastasia,” he closes his eyes briefly, and when he reopens them and gazes at me they are smoldering smoky embers.
    His expression pulls at that dark part of me, buried in the depths of my belly – my libido, woken and tamed by him, but even now, insatiable.
    “Don’t look at me like that,” he murmurs.
    I frown. Jeez what have I done now?
    “I don’t have any condoms, Anastasia, and you know, you’re upset. Contrary to what your roommate believes, I’m not a priapic monster. So, you felt confused?”
    I squirm under his intense gaze.
    “You have no problem being honest with me in print. Your e-mails always tell me exactly how you feel. Why can’t you do that in conversation? Do I intimidate you that much?”
    I pick at an imaginary spot on my mother’s blue and cream quilt.
    “You beguile me, Christian. Completely overwhelm me. I feel like Icarus flying too close to the Sun,” I whisper.
    He gasps.
    “Well, I think you’ve got that the wrong way around,” he whispers.
    “What?”
    “Oh, Anastasia, you’ve bewitched me. Isn’t it obvious?”
    No, not to me. Bewitched … my inner goddess is staring open-mouthed. Even she doesn’t believe this.
    “You’ve still not answered my question. Write me an e-mail, please. But right now, I’d really like to sleep. Can I stay?”
    “Do you want to stay?” I can’t hide the hope in my voice.
    “You wanted me here.”
    “You haven’t answered my question.”
    “I’ll write you an e-mail,” he mutters petulantly.
    Standing, he empties his jeans pockets of BlackBerry, keys, wallet, and money. Holy cow, men carry a lot of crap in their pockets. He strips off his watch, his shoes, socks, and jeans and places his jacket over my chair. He walks round to the other side of the bed and slides in.
    “Lie down,” he orders.
    I slip slowly under the covers, wincing slightly, staring at him. Jeez… he’s staying. I think I’m numb with elated shock. He leans up on one elbow, staring down at me.
    “If you are going to cry, cry in front of me. I need to know.”
    “Do you want me to cry?”
    “Not particularly. I just want to know how you’re feeling. I don’t want you slipping through my fingers. Switch the light off. It’s late, and we both have to work tomorrow.”
    So here… and still so bossy , but I can’t complain; he’s in my bed. I don’t quite understand why… maybe I should weep more often in front of him. I switch off the bedside light.
    “Lie on your side, facing away from me,” he murmurs in the darkness.
    I roll my eyes in the full knowledge that he cannot see me, but I do as I’m told. Gingerly, he moves over and puts his arms around me and pulls me to his chest… oh my.
    “Sleep, baby,” he whispers, and I feel his nose in my hair as he inhales deeply.
    Holy cow. Christian Grey is sleeping with me, and in the comfort and solace of his arms, I drift into a peaceful sleep.

The candle flame is too hot. It flickers and dances in the over-warm breeze, a breeze that brings no respite from the heat. Soft gossamer wings flutter to and fro in the dark, sprinkling dusty scales in the circle of light. I’m struggling to resist, but I’m drawn. And then it’s so bright, and I am flying too close to the sun, dazzled by the light, fried and melting from the heat, weary in my endeavors to stay airborne. I am so warm. The heat… it’s stifling, overpowering. It wakes me.
    I open my eyes, and I’m draped in Christian Grey. He’s wrapped around me like a victory flag. He’s fast asleep with his head on my chest, his arm over me, holding me close, one of his legs thrown over and hooked around both of mine. He’s suffocating me with his body heat, and he’s heavy. I take a moment to absorb that he’s still in my bed and fast asleep, and it’s light outside – morning. He has spent the whole night with me.
    My right arm is stretched, no doubt in search of a cool spot, and as I process the fact that he’s still