swing.

He frowns.

“I can have mine come and see you at your apartment – Sunday morning before you

come and see me. Or he can see you at my place. Which would you prefer?”

No pressure then.Something else that he’s paying for… but actually this is for his

benefit.

“Your place.” That means I am guaranteed to see him Sunday.

“Okay. I’ll let you know the time.”

“Are you leaving?”

Don’t go… stay with me please.

“Yes.”

Why?

“How are you getting back?” I whisper.

“Taylor will pick me up.”

“I can drive you. I have a lovely new car.”

He gazes at me, his expression warm.

“That’s more like it. But I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

“Did you get me tipsy on purpose?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you over-think everything, and you’re reticent like your stepdad. A drop of

wine in you and you start talking, and I need you to communicate honestly with me. Oth-

erwise you clam up, and I have no idea what you’re thinking. In vino veritas, Anastasia.”

“And you think you’re always honest with me?”

“I endeavor to be.” He looks down at me warily. “This will only work if we’re honest

with each other.”

“I’d like you to stay and use this.” I hold up the second condom.

He smiles and his eyes glow with humor.

“Anastasia, I have crossed so many lines here tonight. I have to go. I’ll see you on

Sunday. I’ll have the revised contract ready for you, and then we can really start to play.”

“Play?” Holy shit.My heart leaps into my mouth.

“I’d like to do a scene with you. But I won’t until you’ve signed, so I know you’re

ready.”

“Oh. So I could stretch this out, if I don’t sign?”

He gazes at me assessing, and then his lips twitch into a smile.

“Well, I suppose you could, but I may crack under the strain.”

“Crack? How?” My inner goddess has woken and is paying attention.

He nods slowly, and then he grins, teasing.

“Could get really ugly.”

His grin is infectious.

“Ugly, how?”

“Oh you know, explosions, car chases, kidnapping, incarceration.”

“You’d kidnap me?”

“Oh yes,” he grins.

“Hold me against my will?” Jeez this is hot.

“Oh yes,” he nods. “And then we’re talking TPE 24/7.”

“You’ve lost me,” I breathe, my heart is pounding… is he serious?

“Total Power Exchange – round the clock.” His eyes are shining, and I can feel his

excitement from where I sit.

Holy shit.

“So you have no choice,” he says sardonically.

“Clearly.” I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice as my eyes reach for the heavens.

“Oh, Anastasia Steele, did you just roll your eyes at me?”

Crap.

“No,” I squeak.

“I think you did. What did I say I’d do to you if you rolled your eyes at me again?”

Shit.He sits down on the edge of the bed.

“Come here,” he says softly.

I blanch. Jeez… he’s serious. I sit staring at him completely immobile.

“I haven’t signed,” I whisper.

“I told you what I’d do. I’m a man of my word. I’m going to spank you, and then I’m

going to fuck you very quick and very hard. Looks like we’ll need that condom after all.”

His voice is so soft, menacing, and it’s damned hot. My insides practically contort with

potent, needy, liquid, desire. He gazes at me, waiting, eyes blazing. Tentatively, I uncurl

my legs. Should I run?This is it, our relationship hangs in the balance, right here, right

now. Do I let him do this or do I say no, and then that’s it? Because I know it will be over

if I say no. Do it!My inner goddess pleads with me, my subconscious is as paralyzed as

I am.“I’m waiting,” he says. “I’m not a patient man.”

Oh for the love of all that’s holy.I’m panting, afraid, turned on. Blood pounding

through my body, my legs are like jelly. Slowly, I crawl over to him until I am beside him.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. “Now stand up.”

Oh shit… can’t he just get this over with? I’m not sure if I can stand. Hesitantly, I

clamber to my feet. He holds his hand out, and I place the condom in his palm. Suddenly

he grabs me, tipping me across his lap. With one smooth movement, he angles his body so

my torso is resting on the bed beside him. He throws his right leg over both of mine and

plants his left forearm on the small of my back, holding me down so I cannot move. Oh

fuck.“Put your hands up on either side of your head,” he orders.

I obey immediately.

“Why am I doing this, Anastasia?” he asks.

“Because I rolled my eyes at you,” I can barely speak.

“Do you think that’s polite?”

“No.”

“Will you do it again?”

“No.”

“I will spank you each time you do it, do you understand?”

Very slowly, he pulls down my sweatpants. Oh, how demeaning is this, demeaning and

scary and hot. He’s making such a meal of this. My heart is in my mouth. I can barely

breathe. Shit, is this going to hurt?

He places his hand on my naked behind, softly fondling me, stroking round and round

with his flat palm. And then his hand is no longer there… and he hits me – hard. Ow!My

eyes spring open in response to the pain, and I try to rise, but his hand moves between my

shoulder blades keeping me down. He caresses me again where he’s hit me, and his breath-

ing’s changed – it’s louder, harsher. He hits me again and again, quickly in succession.

Holy fuck it hurts.I make no sound, my face screwed up against the pain. I try and wriggle

away from the blows – spurred on by adrenaline spiking and coursing through my body.

“Keep still,” he growls. “Or I’ll spank you for longer.”

He’s rubbing me now, and the blow follows. A rhythmic pattern emerges, caress,

fondle, slap hard. I have to concentrate to handle this pain. My mind empties as I endeavor

to absorb the grueling sensation. He doesn’t hit me in the same place twice in succession

– he’s spreading the pain.

“Aargh!” I cry out on the tenth slap – and I’m unaware that I have been mentally count-

ing the blows.

“I’m just getting warmed up.”

He hits me again then he strokes me softly. The combination of the hard stinging blow

and his gentle caress is so mind numbing. He hits me again… this is getting harder to take.

My face hurts, it’s screwed up so tight. He strokes me gently and then the blow comes. I

cry out again.

“No one to hear you, baby, just me.”

And he hits me again and again. From somewhere deep inside, I want to beg him to

stop. But I don’t. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. He continues the unrelenting

rhythm. I cry out six more times. Eighteen slaps in total. My body is singing, singing from

his merciless assault.

“Enough,” he breathes hoarsely. “Well done, Anastasia. Now I’m going to fuck you.”

He caresses my behind gently, and it burns as he strokes me round and round and

down. Suddenly, he inserts two fingers inside me, taking me completely by surprise. I

gasp, this new assault breaking through the numbness around my brain.

“Feel this. See how much your body likes this, Anastasia. You’re soaking just for me.”

There is awe in his voice. He moves his fingers, in and out in quick succession.

I groan, no surely not, and then his fingers are gone… and I’m left wanting.

“Next time, I will get you to count. Now where’s that condom?”

He reaches beside him for the condom and lifts me gently, pushing me face down onto

the bed. I hear the sound of his zipper and the rip of the foil. He drags my sweatpants off

and then guides me into a kneeling position, gently caressing my now very sore behind.