Fifty Shades Trilogy 02 - Fifty Shades Darker

“Perhaps I should find a marker pen, and we could map out the no-go areas.”
    He raises an eyebrow. “That’s not a bad idea. Where’s your bedroom?”
    I nod in the direction. Is he deliberately changing the subject?
    “Have you been taking your pill?”
    Oh shit. My pill.
    His face falls at my expression.
    “No,” I squeak.
    “I see,” he says, and his lips press into a thin line. “Come, let’s have something to eat.”
    Oh no !
    “I thought we were going to bed! I want to go to bed with you.”
    “I know, baby.” He smiles, and suddenly darting toward me, he grabs my wrists and pulls me into his arms so that his body is pressed against mine.
    “You need to eat and so do I,” he murmurs, burning gray eyes gazing down at me. “Besides . . . anticipation is the key to seduction, and right now, I’m really into delayed gratification.”
    Huh, since when ?
    “I’m seduced and I want my gratification now. I’ll beg, please.” I sound whiney. My inner goddess is beside herself.
    He smiles at me tenderly. “Eat. You’re too slender.” He kisses my forehead and releases me.
    This is a game, part of some evil plan. I scowl at him.
    “I’m still mad that you bought SIP, and now I am mad at you because you’re making me wait.” I pout.
    “You are one angry little madam, aren’t you? You’ll feel better after a good meal.”
    “I know what I’ll feel better after.”
    “Anastasia Steele, I’m shocked.” His tone is gently mocking.
    “Stop teasing me. You don’t fight fair.”
    He stifles his grin by biting his lower lip. He looks simply adorable . . . playful Christian toying with my libido. If only my seduction skills were better, I’d know what to do, but not being able to touch him does hamper me.  
    My inner goddess narrows her eyes and looks thoughtful. We need to work on this.  
    As Christian and I gaze at each other—me hot, bothered and yearning and him, relaxed and amused at my expense—I realize I have no food in the apartment.
    “I could cook something—except we’ll have to go shopping.”
    “Shopping?”
    “For groceries.”
    “You have no food here?” His expression hardens.
    I shake my head. Crap, he looks quite angry.
    “Let’s go shopping, then,” he says sternly as he turns on his heel and heads for the door, opening it wide for me.

    “When was the last time you were in a supermarket?”
    Christian looks out of place, but he follows me dutifully, holding a shopping basket.
    “I can’t remember.”
    “Does Mrs. Jones do all the shopping?”
    “I think Taylor helps her. I’m not sure.”
    “Are you happy with a stir-fry? It’s quick.”
    “Stir-fry sounds good.” Christian grins, no doubt figuring out my ulterior motive for a speedy meal.
    “Have they worked for you long?”
    “Taylor, four years, I think. Mrs. Jones about the same. Why didn’t you have any food in the apartment?”
    “You know why,” I murmur, flushing.
    “It was you who left me,” he mutters disapprovingly.
    “I know,” I reply in a small voice, not wanting that reminder.
    We reach the checkout and silently stand in line.
    If I hadn’t left, would he have offered the vanilla alternative ? I wonder idly.
    “Do you have anything to drink?” He pulls me back to the present.
    “Beer . . . I think.”
    “I’ll get some wine.”
    Oh dear. I’m not sure what sort of wine is available in Ernie’s Supermarket. Christian remerges empty handed, grimacing with a look of disgust.
    “There’s a good liquor store next door,” I say quickly.
    “I’ll see what they have.”
    Maybe we should just go to his place, then we wouldn’t have all this hassle. I watch as he strolls purposefully and with easy grace out of the door. Two women coming in stop and stare. Oh yes, eye my Fifty Shades , I think despondently.  
    I want the memory of him in my bed, but he’s playing hard to get. Maybe I should, too. My inner goddess nods frantically in agreement. And as I stand in line, we come up with a plan. Hmm . . .

    Christian carries the grocery bags into the apartment. He’s carried them as we’ve walked back to the apartment from the store. He looks odd. Not his usual CEO demeanor at all.
    “You look very—domestic.”
    “No one has ever accused me of that before,” he says dryly. He places the bags on the kitchen island. As I start to unload them, he takes out a bottle of white wine and searches for a corkscrew.
    “This place is still new to me. I think the