Book 1 - Page 21 (1/2)
It's thirst quenching and refres.h.i.+ng. Nothing beats freshly squeezed orange juice for reviv-ing an arid mouth.
There's a knock on the door. My heart leaps into my mouth, and I can't seem to find my voice. He opens the door anyway and strolls in.
Holy h.e.l.l, he's been working out. He's in gray sweat pants that hang, in that way, off his hips and a gray singlet, which is dark with sweat, like his hair. Christian Grey's sweat, the notion does odd things to me. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I feel like a two-year old, if I close my eyes then I'm not really here.
”Good morning Anastasia. How are you feeling?”
Oh no.
”Better than I deserve,” I mumble.
I peek up at him. He places a large shopping bag on a chair and grasps each end of the towel that he has around his neck. He's staring at me, gray eyes dark, and as usual, I have no idea what he's thinking. He hides his thoughts and feelings so well.
”How did I get here?” My voice is small, contrite.
He comes and sits down on the edge of the bed. He's close enough for me to touch, for me to smell. Oh my... sweat and body wash and Christian, it's a heady c.o.c.ktail - so much better than a margarita, and now I can speak from experience.
”After you pa.s.sed out, I didn't want to risk the leather upholstery in my car taking you all the way to your apartment. So I brought you here,” he says phlegmatically.
”Did you put me to bed?”
”Yes.” His face is impa.s.sive.
”Did I throw up again?” My voice is quieter.
”No.”
”Did you undress me?” I whisper.
”Yes.” He quirks an eyebrow at me as I blush furiously.
”We didn't,” I whisper, my mouth drying in mortified horror as I can't complete the question. I stare at my hands.
”Anastasia, you were comatose. Necrophilia is not my thing. I like my women sentient and receptive,” he says dryly.
”I'm so sorry.”
His mouth lifts slightly in a wry smile.
”It was a very diverting evening. Not one that I'll forget in a while.”
Me neither - oh he's laughing at me, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I didn't ask him to come and get me.
Somehow I've been made to feel like the villain of the piece.
”You didn't have to track me down with whatever James Bond stuff you're developing for the highest bidder,” I snap at him. He stares at me, surprised, and if I'm not mistaken, a little wounded.
”Firstly, the technology to track cell phones is available over the Internet. Secondly, my company does not invest or manufacture any kind of surveillance devices, and thirdly, if I hadn't come to get you, you'd probably be waking up in the photographer's bed, and from what I can remember, you weren't overly enthused about him pressing his suit,” he says acidly.