Fifty Shades Trilogy 02 - Fifty Shades Darker

my face heats under his steady gaze.
    “Hi,” I murmur, grateful that I am lying on my front. “How long have you been watching me?”
    “I could watch you sleep for hours, Anastasia. But I’ve only been here about five minutes.” He leans over and kisses me gently. “Dr. Greene will be here shortly.”
    “Oh.” I’d forgotten about Christian’s inappropriate intervention.
    “Did you sleep well?” he inquires mildly. “Certainly seemed like it to me, with all that snoring.”
    Oh, playful teasing Fifty.
    “I do not snore!” I pout petulantly.
    “No. You don’t.” He grins at me. The faint line of red lipstick is still visible around his neck.
    “Did you shower?”
    “No. Waiting for you.”
    “Oh . . . okay.”
    “What time is it?”
    “Ten fifteen. I didn’t have the heart to wake you earlier.”
    “You told me you didn’t have a heart at all.”
    He smiles, sadly but doesn’t answer. “Breakfast is here—pancakes and bacon for you. Come, get up, I’m getting lonely out here.” He swats me sharply on my behind, making me jump, and rises from the bed.
    Hmm . . . Christian’s version of warm affection.  
    As I stretch, I’m aware I ache all over . . . no doubt a result of all the sex, dancing, and teetering in expensive high-heeled shoes. I stagger out of bed and make my way into the sumptuously appointed bathroom while going over the events of the previous day in my mind. When I come out, I don one of the over-fluffy bathrobes that hang on a brass peg in the bathroom.
    Leila—the girl who looks like me—that’s the most startling image my brain conjures for conjecture, that and her eerie presence in Christian’s bedroom. What did she want? Me? Christian? To do what? And why the fuck has she wrecked my car?  
    Christian said I would have another Audi, like all his submissives. The thought is unwelcome. Since I was so generous with the money he gave me, there’s not a lot I can do.  
    I wander into the main room of the suite—no sign of Christian. I finally locate him in the dining room. I take a seat, grateful for the impressive breakfast laid before me. Christian is reading the Sunday papers and drinking coffee, his breakfast finished. He smiles at me.
    “Eat up. You’re going to need your strength today,” he teases.
    “And why is that? You going to lock me in the bedroom?” My inner goddess jerks awake suddenly, all disheveled with a just-fucked look.
    “Appealing as that idea is, I thought we’d go out today. Get some fresh air.”
    “Is it safe?” I ask innocently, trying and failing to keep the irony from my voice.
    Christian’s face falls, and his mouth presses in a line. “Where we’re going, it is. And it’s not a joking matter,” he adds sternly, narrowing his eyes.
    I flush and stare down at my breakfast. I don’t feel like being scolded after all the drama and such a late night. I eat my breakfast in silence, feeling petulant.  
    My subconscious is shaking her head at me. Fifty doesn’t joke about my safety—I should know this by now. I want to roll my eyes at him, but I refrain.  
    Okay, I’m tired and testy. I had a long day yesterday and not enough sleep. Why, oh why does he get to look as fresh as a daisy? Life is not fair.
    There’s a knock at the door.
    “That’ll be the good doctor,” Christian grumbles, obviously still smarting from my irony. He stalks from the table.
    Can’t we just have a calm, normal morning? I sigh heavily, leaving half my breakfast, and get up to greet Doctor Depo-Provera.

    We’re in the bedroom, and Dr. Greene is staring at me open-mouthed. She’s dressed more casually than last time in a pale pink cashmere twin set and black pants, and her fine blond hair is loose.
    “And you just stopped taking it? Just like that?”
    I flush, feeling beyond foolish.
    “Yes.” Could my voice be any smaller?
    “You could be pregnant,” she says matter-of-factly.
    What! The world falls away at my feet. My subconscious collapses on the floor retching, and I think I’m going to be sick, too. No !
    “Here, go pee in this.” She’s all business today—taking no prisoners.
    Meekly, I accept the small plastic container she’s offered and wander in a daze into the bathroom. No. No. No . No way . . . No way . . . Please no. No.  
    What will Fifty do? I go pale. He’ll freak.  
    No, please ! I whisper a silent prayer.
    I hand Dr. Greene my sample, and she carefully places a small white stick in