Fifty Shades Darker Part 17

"I'll leave you two to it," he mutters.

"Grazie, Mr. Grey." Franco turns to me. "Bene, Anastasia, what shall we do with you?"

Christian is sitting on his couch, plowing through what look like spreadsheets. Soft, mel- low cla.s.sical music drifts through the great room. A woman sings pa.s.sionately, pouring her soul into the song. It's breathtaking. Christian glances up and smiles, distracting me from the music.

"See! I tell you he like it," Franco enthuses.

"You look lovely, Ana," Christian says appreciatively."My work 'ere is done," Franco exclaims.

Christian rises and strolls toward us. "Thank you, Franco."

Franco turns, grasps me in an overwhelming bear hug, and kisses both my cheeks.

"Never let anyone else be cutting your hair, bellissima Anastasia!"

I laugh, slightly embarra.s.sed by his familiarity. Christian shows him to the foyer door and returns moments later.

"I'm glad you kept it long," he says as he walks toward me, his eyes bright. He takes a strand between his fngers.

"So soft," he murmurs, gazing down at me. "Are you still mad at me?"

I nod and he smiles.

"What precisely are you mad at me about?"

I roll my eyes. "You want the list?"

"There's a list?"

"A long one."

"Can we discuss it in bed?"

"No." I pout at him childishly.

"Over lunch, then. I'm hungry, and not just for food," he gives me a salacious smile.

"I am not going to let you dazzle me with your s.e.xpertise."

He stifes a smile. "What is bothering you specifcally, Miss Steele? Spit it out."

Okay.

"What's bothering me? Well, there's your gross invasion of my privacy, the fact that you took me to some place where your ex-mistress works and you used to take all your lov- ers to have their bits waxed, you manhandled me in the street like I was six years old-and to cap it all, you let your Mrs. Robinson touch you!" My voice has risen to a crescendo.

He raises his eyebrows, and his good humor vanishes.

"That's quite a list. But just to clarify once more-she's not my Mrs. Robinson."

"She can touch you," I repeat.

He purses his lips. "She knows where."

"What does that mean?"

He runs both hands through his hair and closes his eyes briefy, as if he's seeking divine guidance of some kind. He swallows.

"You and I don't have any rules. I have never had a relations.h.i.+p without rules, and I never know where you're going to touch me. It makes me nervous. Your touch complete- ly-" He stops, searching for the words. "It just means more ... so much more"

More? His answer's completely unexpected, throwing me, and there's that little word with the big meaning hanging between us again.

My touch means ... more. Holy cow. How am I supposed to resist when he says this stuff? Gray eyes search mine, watching, apprehensive.

Tentatively I reach out and apprehension s.h.i.+fts to alarm. Christian steps back and I drop my hand.

"Hard limit," he whispers urgently, a pained, panicked look on his face.

I can't help but feel a crus.h.i.+ng disappointment. "How would you feel if you couldn't touch me?"

"Devastated and deprived," he says immediately.Oh, my Fifty Shades. Shaking my head, I offer him a small, rea.s.suring smile and he relaxes.

"You'll have to tell me exactly why this is a hard limit, one day, please."

"One day," he murmurs and seems to snap out of his vulnerability in a nanosecond.

How can he switch so quickly? He's the most capricious person I know.

"So, the rest of your list. Invading your privacy." His mouth twists as he contemplates this. "Because I know your bank account number?"

"Yes, that's outrageous."

"I do background checks on all my submissives. I'll show you." He turns and heads for his study.

I dutifully follow him, dazed. From a locked fling cabinet, he pulls a manila folder.

Typed on the tab: anastasia rose steele.

Holy f.u.c.king s.h.i.+t. I glare at him.

He shrugs apologetically. "You can keep it," he says quietly.

"Well, gee, thanks," I snap. I fick through the contents. He has a copy of my birth certifcate, for heaven's sake, my hard limits, the NDA, the contract-Jeez-my social security number, resume, employment records.

"So you knew I worked at Clayton's?"

"Yes."

"It wasn't a coincidence. You didn't just drop by?"

"No."

I don't know whether to be angry or fattered.

"This is f.u.c.ked-up. You know that?"

"I don't see it that way. What I do, I have to be careful."

"But this is private."

"I don't misuse the information. Anyone can get hold of it if they have half a mind to, Anastasia. To have control-I need information. It's how I've always operated." He gazes at me, his expression guarded and unreadable.

"You do misuse the information. You deposited twenty-four thousand dollars that I didn't want into my account."

His mouth presses in a hard line. "I told you. That's what Taylor managed to get for your car. Unbelievable, I know, but there you go."

"But the Audi ..."

"Anastasia, do you have any idea how much money I make?"

I fush, of course not. "Why should I? I don't need to know the bottom line of your bank account, Christian."

His eyes soften. "I know. That's one of the things I love about you."

I gaze at him, shocked. Love about me?

"Anastasia, I earn roughly one hundred thousand dollars an hour."

My mouth drops open. That is an obscene amount of money.

"Twenty-four thousand dollars is nothing. The car, the Tess books, the clothes, they're nothing." His voice is soft.

I gaze at him. He really has no idea. Extraordinary."If you were me, how would you feel about all this ... largesse coming your way?" I ask.

He stares at me blankly, and there it is, his problem in a nutsh.e.l.l-empathy or the lack thereof. The silence stretches between us.

Finally, he shrugs. "I don't know," he says, and he looks genuinely bemused.

My heart swells. This is it, the crux of his Fifty Shades, surely. He can't put himself in my shoes. Well, now I know.

"It doesn't feel great. I mean, you're very generous, but it makes me uncomfortable. I have told you this enough times."

He sighs. "I want to give you the world, Anastasia."

"I just want you, Christian. Not all the add-ons."

"They're part of the deal. Part of what I am."

Oh, this is going nowhere.

"Shall we eat?" I ask. This tension between us is draining.

He frowns. "Sure."

"I'll cook."

"Good. Otherwise there's food in the fridge."

"Mrs. Jones is off on the weekends? So you eat cold cuts most weekends?"

"No."

"Oh?"

He sighs. "My submissives cook, Anastasia."

"Oh, of course." I fush. How could I be so stupid? I smile sweetly at him. "What would Sir like to eat?"

He smirks. "Whatever Madam can fnd," he says darkly.

Inspecting the impressive contents of the fridge, I decide on Spanish omelet. There are even cold potatoes-perfect. It's quick and easy. Christian is still in his study, no doubt invading some poor, unsuspecting fool's privacy and compiling information. The thought is unpleasant and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. My mind is reeling. He really knows no bounds.

I need music if I'm going to cook, and I'm going to cook unsubmissively! I wander over to the iPod dock beside the freplace and pick up Christian's iPod. I bet there are more of Leila's choices on here,-I dread the very idea.

Where is she? I wonder. What does she want?

I shudder. What a legacy. I can't wrap my head around it.

I scroll through the extensive list. I want something upbeat. Hmm, Beyonce-doesn't sound like Christian's taste. Crazy in Love. Oh yes! How apt. I hit the repeat b.u.t.ton and put it on loud.

I sashay back to the kitchen and fnd a bowl, open the fridge, and take out the eggs. I crack them open and begin to whisk, dancing the whole time.Raiding the fridge once more, I gather potatoes, ham, and-Yes!-peas from the freez- er. All of these will do. Finding a pan, I place it on the stove, put in a little olive oil, and go back to whisking.

No empathy, I muse. Is this unique to Christian? Maybe all men are like this, baffed by women. I just don't know. Perhaps it's not such a revelation.

I wish Kate were home; she would know. She's been in Barbados far too long. She should be back at the end of the week after her additional vacation with Elliot. I wonder if it's still l.u.s.t at frst sight for them.

One of the things I love about you.

I stop whisking. He said it. Does that mean there are other things? I smile for the frst time since seeing Mrs. Robinson-a genuine, heartfelt, face-splitting smile.

Christian slips his arms around me, making me jump.

"Interesting choice of music," he purrs as he kisses me below my ear. "Your hair smells good." He nuzzles my hair and inhales deeply.

Desire uncurls in my belly. No. I shrug out of his embrace.

"I'm still mad at you."

He frowns. "How long are you going to keep this up?" he asks, dragging a hand through his hair.