he
says unconvincingly.
I frown at him, and he sighs. “Ana. Orgasm denial is a standard tool in––You
never—” He stops. I shift in his lap, and he winces. Oh. I flush. “Sorry,” I
mutter.
He rolls his eyes, then leans back suddenly, taking me with him, so that we’re
both lying on the bed, me in his arms. My bra is uncomfortable, and I adjust it.
“Need a hand?” he asks quietly.
I shake my head. I don’t want him to touch my breasts. He shifts so he’s
looking down at me, and tentatively raising his hand, he strokes his fingers
gently down my face. Tears pool in my eyes again. How can he be so callous
one minute and so tender the next?
“Please don’t cry,” he whispers.
I’m dazed and confused by this man. My anger has deserted me in my hour
of need . . . I feel numb. I want to curl up in a ball and withdraw. I blink, trying
to hold back my tears as I gaze into his harrowed eyes. I take a shuddering
breath, my eyes not lea一ving his. What am I going to do with this controlling
man? Learn to be controlled? I don’t think so . . .
“I never what?” I ask
232 | P a g e
E L JAMES
“Do as you’re told. You changed your mind; you didn’t tell me where you
were. Ana, I was in New York, powerless and livid. If I’d been in Seattle I’d
ha一ve brought you home.”
“So you are punishing me?”
He swallows, then closes his eyes. He doesn’t ha一ve to answer, and I know
that punishing me was his exact intention.
“You ha一ve to stop doing this,” I murmur.
His brow furrows.
“For a start, you only end up feeling shittier about yourself.”
He snorts. “That’s true,” he mutters. “I don’t like to see you like this.”
“And I don’t like feeling like this. You said on the Fair Lady that you hadn’t
married a submissive.”
“I know. I know.” His voice is soft and raw.
“Well stop treating me like one. I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I won’t be so selfish
again. I know you worry about me.”
He gazes at me, scrutinizing me closely, his eyes bleak and anxious.
“Okay. Good,” he says eventually. He leans down, but pauses before
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