This is so hard to process. Here I was foolishly thinking that I’d spend a night of un-

paralleled passion in this man’s bed, and we’re negotiating this weird arrangement.

I follow him into his study, a spacious room with another floor-to-ceiling window that

opens out on to the balcony. He sits on the desk, motions for me to sit on a leather chair in

front of him, and hands me a piece of paper.

“These are the rules. They may be subject to change. They form part of the contract,

which you can also have. Read these rules and let’s discuss.”

RULES

Obedience:

The Submissive will obey any instructions given by the Dominant immediately without

hesitation or reservation and in an expeditious manner. The Submissive will agree to any

sexual activity deemed fit and pleasurable by the Dominant excepting those activities which

are outlined in hard limits (Appendix 2). She will do so eagerly and without hesitation.

Sleep:

The Submissive will ensure she achieves a minimum of seven hours sleep a night when she

is not with the Dominant.

Food:

The Submissive will eat regularly to maintain her health and wellbeing from a prescribed

list of foods (Appendix 4). The Submissive will not snack between meals, with the excep-

tion of fruit.

Clothes:

During the Term, the Submissive will wear clothing only approved by the Dominant. The

Dominant will provide a clothing budget for the Submissive, which the Submissive shall

utilize. The Dominant shall accompany the Submissive to purchase clothing on an ad hoc

basis. If the Dominant so requires, the Submissive shall during the Term any adornments

the Dominant shall require, in the presence of the Dominant and any other time the Domi-

nant deems fit.

Exercise:

The Dominant shall provide the Submissive with a personal trainer four times a week in

hour-long sessions at times to be mutually agreed between the personal trainer and the Sub-

missive. The personal trainer will report to the Dominant on the Submissive’s progress.

Personal Hygiene/Beauty:

The Submissive will keep herself clean and shaved and/or waxed at all times. The Sub-

missive will visit a beauty salon of the Dominant’s choosing at times to be decided by the

Dominant, and undergo whatever treatments the Dominant sees fit.

Personal Safety:

The Submissive will not drink to excess, smoke, take recreational drugs, or put herself in

any unnecessary danger.

Personal Qualities:

The Submissive will not enter into any sexual relations with anyone other than the Domi-

nant. The Submissive will conduct herself in a respectful and modest manner at all times.

She must recognize that her behavior is a direct reflection on the Dominant. She shall be

held accountable for any misdeeds, wrongdoings, and misbehavior committed when not in

the presence of the Dominant.

Failure to comply with any of the above will result in immediate punishment, the nature of

which shall be determined by the Dominant.

Holy fuck.

“Hard limits?” I ask.

“Yes. What you won’t do, what I won’t do, we need to specify in our agreement.”

“I’m not sure about accepting money for clothes. It feels wrong.” I shift uncomfort-

ably, the word ‘ho’ rattling round my head.

“I want to lavish money on you, let me buy you some clothes. I may need you to ac-

company me to functions, and I want you dressed well. I’m sure your salary, when you do

get a job, won’t cover the kind of clothes I’d like you to wear.”

“I don’t have to wear them when I’m not with you?”

“No.”

“Okay.” Think of them as uniform.

“I don’t want to exercise four times a week.”

“Anastasia, I need you supple, strong, and with stamina. Trust me, you need to exer-

cise.”“But surely not four times a week, how about three?”

“I want you to do four.”

“I thought this was a negotiation?”

He purses his lips at me.

“Okay, Miss Steele, another point well made. How about an hour on three days and

one day half an hour?”

“Three days, three hours. I get the impression you’re going to keep me exercised when

I’m here.”

He smiles wickedly, and his eyes glow as if relieved. “Yes, I am. Okay, agreed. Are

you sure you don’t want to intern at my company? You’re a good negotiator.”

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I stare down at his rules. Waxing! Waxing what?

Everything? Ugh.

“So, limits. These are mine.” He hands me another piece of paper.

Hard Limits

No acts involving fire play

No acts involving urination or defecation and the products thereof

No acts involving needles, knives, piercing, or blood

No acts involving gynecological medical instruments

No acts involving children or animals

No acts that will leave any permanent marks on the skin

No acts involving breath control

Ugh. He has to write these down!Of course – they all look very sensible, and frankly,

necessary… any sane person wouldn’t want to be involved in this sort of thing surely?

Though I now feel a little queasy.

“Is there anything you’d like to add?” he asks kindly.

Crap.I’ve no idea. I am completely stumped. He gazes at me and furrows his brow.

“Is there anything you won’t do?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

I squirm uncomfortably and bite my lip.

“I’ve never done anything like this.”

“Well, when you’ve had sex, was there anything that you didn’t like doing?”

For the first time in what seems to be ages, I blush.

“You can tell me, Anastasia. We have to be honest with each other or this isn’t going

to work.”

I squirm uncomfortably again and stare at my knotted fingers.

“Tell me,” he commands.

“Well… I’ve not had sex before, so I don’t know.” My voice is small. I peek up at him,

and he’s staring at me, mouth-open, frozen, and pale - really pale.

“Never?” he whispers. I shake my head.

“You’re a virgin?” he breathes. I nod, flushing again. He closes his eyes and looks to

be counting to ten. When he opens them again, he’s angry, glaring at me.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” he growls.

Christian is running both his hands through his hair and pacing up and down his study.

Two hands – that’s double exasperation. His usual concrete control seems to have slipped

a notch.

“I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me,” he castigates me.

“The subject never came up. I’m not in the habit of revealing my sexual status to ev-

eryone I meet. I mean, we hardly know each other.” I’m staring at my hands. Why am I

feeling guilty? Why is he so mad? I peek up at him.

“Well, you know a lot more about me now,” he snaps, his mouth presses into a hard

line. “I knew you were inexperienced, but a virgin!” He says it like it’s a really dirty word.

“Hell, Ana, I just showed you,” he groans. “May God forgive me. Have you ever been

kissed, apart from by me?”

“Of course I have.” I try my best to look affronted. Okay… maybe twice.

“And a nice young man hasn’t swept you off your feet? I just don’t understand. You’re

twenty-one, nearly twenty-two. You’re beautiful.” He runs his hand through his hair again.

Beautiful.I flush with pleasure. Christian Grey thinks I’m beautiful. I knot my fingers

together, staring at them hard, trying to conceal my goofy grin. Perhaps he’s near-sighted,

my subconscious has reared her somnambulant head. Where was she when I needed her?