When we left Ana and Christian, Ana was just drifting off to sleep on a pillow of sloppy narration.
"And I slip into a dazed and exhausted sleep, dreaming of a four-year-old gray-eyed boy in a dark scary, miserable place." -- sure.
It's morning now, and Ana is reluctantly "succumbing to wakefulness". She's upset because the sun is shining in through the window, and sun was not what she had in mind when she decided to fall in love with a man from Seattle, dammit.
Sorry, Ana. You must be at least this cute to whine this much.
She lies in bed and ponders Christian's apartment. She considers the art he hangs, and the fact that it's so high up, and then frowns because none of that explains why she can't touch him. Because he's not allowed to just say 'no.' Good job, ELJ. At least you're treating them equally. She then considers how the apartment makes her feel.
"I shudder to think what he went through as a small child, and I understand why he lives here, isolated, surrounded by beautiful, precious works of art - so far removed from where he started . . . mission statement indeed. I frown because it still doesn't explain why I can't touch him.
Ironically, I feel the same up here in his lofty tower. I'm adrift from reality. I'm in this fantasy apartment, having fantasy sex with my fantasy boyfriend, when the grim reality is he wants a special arrangement, though he's said he'll try more. What does that actually mean? This is what I need to clarify between us to see if we are still at opposite ends on the seesaw or if we are inching closer together." -- I really hate you.
She gets out of bed to go in search of Christian, and finds she's sore. Guess she'll be needing that personal trainer after all. She runs into Mrs. Jones, Christian's housekeeper, and inquires as to his whereabouts. He's in his study. He's having a very important business call but blows it off as soon as he sees Ana. He also cancels all of his appointments for the morning and tells his secretary he won't be in until 2. As he hangs up the phone, Ana walks into the study. They kiss, and because ELJ really likes writing boring and inaccurate erotica, they have sex again - but this time it's different.
"This is not making love, this fucking - a I love it. I groan. It's so raw, so carnal, making me so wanton. I revel in his possession, his lust slaking mine. He moves with ease, luxuriating in me, enjoying me, his lips slightly parted as his breathing increases. He twists his hips from side to side, and the feeling is exquisite."
"And he picks up the pace, thrusting faster . . . harder . . . and my whole body is moving to his rhythm, and I can feel my legs stiffening, and my insides quivering and quickening." -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
Sex ends in yet another incredible orgasm ("I cry out a wordless, passionate plea as I touch the sun and burn, falling around him, falling down, back to a breathless, bright summit on Earth." - literally, what?), and Christian is beguiled.
"You completely beguile me, Ana. (see?) You weave some powerful magic." -- never mind that she's actually the most vapid woman walking this fictional planet.
He asks her if she has to go to Georgia and she says yes, prompting a mood shift in Christian. He's be, as Ana so eloquently puts it, more weird than usual. He tells her he's surprised by her, that's all. I don't know why. And as Ana goes to have a shower, she is left to contemplate his strange reaction.
"He seemed confused. Why? I have to say as physical experiences go, that was very satisfying. But emotionally - well, I'm rattled by his reaction, and that was about as emotionally enriching as cotton candy is nutritious." -- WHAT
Frowny face courtesy of yours truly.
While in the shower, Ana consults her other personalities to see if they have an opinion about Christian's mood.
"I look to my subconscious. She's whistling with her hands behind her back and looking anywhere but at me. She hasn't got a glue, and my inner goddess is still basking in a remnant of postcoital glow. No - we're all clueless." -- YOU'RE ALL THE SAME PERSON
"I towel-dry my hair, comb it through with Christian's one and only hair implement, and put my hair up in a bun." -- If you cut out the useless and ridiculous 'comb it through with Christian's only hair implement', you literally have "I towel-dry my hair and put my hair up in a bun." This is not how writing is supposed to work.
She exits the bathroom, marvels at Christian's housekeeper's adept use of the laundry room, and gets dressed. Once in the kitchen, she tries to only drink tea and not eat anything, but Christian, kind soul that he is, tells Mrs. Jones to make two completely separate breakfasts for the two of them. Pancakes, bacon, and eggs for Ana, and an omelette with fruit for himself. Talk turns to Ana's impending trip to Georgia.
"'Have you bought your air ticket?' (her what?)
'No, I'll buy it when I get home - over the Internet.'
He leans on his elbow, rubbing his chin.
'Do you have the money?'
Oh no.
'Yes,' I say with mock patience as if I'm talking to a small child." -- We've already been over why you absolutely do not have the money to fund this last minute, cross country trip, but in case you've forgotten, at the end of spring, flight prices go up due to the increase in travel. You are a recent college graduate and have lamented your lack of funding on numerous occasions. I seriously doubt you have $1000+ lying around to pay for this.
Christian offers her the use of his private jet, which she declines. He asks if she needs to do much preparation for her interview (she doesn't), and once again brings up that he doesn't know for which publishing house she's interviewing. She says she still won't tell him and he delivers a thinly veiled threat to track her phone - again. Then, breakfast is over.
"After clearing the pans, tactfully, [Mrs. Jones] heads out of the living area. I peek up at him.
'What is it, Anastasia?'
'You know, you never did tell me why you don't like to be touched.'"
Again??
He tells her he's confided more in her than in anyone else, and she is shocked to learn that he apparently doesn't have any close friends. He asks that she think about their arrangement while she's away, and tells her he'll miss her. Her heart warms and the scene changes abruptly.
Ana is now waiting on her second interview of the day, and is sitting on a leather couch. She flushes at her wayward and inappropriate thoughts (Christian has a similar couch in his playroom...) and returns a smile from the receptionist. She's booked her flight, packed, alerted her mother, and arranged her transportation to the airport (Kate).
"Christian has ordered me to take my BlackBerry and the Mac. I roll my eyes at the memory of his overbearing bossiness, but I realize now that's just the way he is. He likes control over everything, including me. Yet he's so unpredictably and disarmingly agreeable, too. He can be tender, good-humored, even sweet. And when he is, it's so left field and unexpected." -- these are not traits you should covet in a relationship.
We get about a page and a half detailing her interview, mostly concerning the interviewer and how certain things he says or does remind her of Christian. She arrives home, and is greeted by Kate, who also, somehow, does something that reminds her of "my favorite Fifty Shades." Kate asks Ana if she's okay, finally filling the 'best friend' role into which she's been cast, and they talk for a bit about Ana's feelings and how she hasn't revealed them to Christian. Kate leaves to get Chinese food, and Ana sends an email to Christian. They go back and forth for a time about all the great sex they have, and then, mercifully, Kate is back. They eat, and she drops Ana off at the airport.
"'Ticket, please?' The bored young man behind the desk holds up his hand without looking at me.
Mirroring his boredom, I handover my ticket and my driver's license as ID. I am hoping for a window seat if at all possible.
'Okay, Miss Steele. You've been upgraded to first class.'
.........
'Surely there's some mistake.'
'No, no.' He checks his computer screen again. 'Anastasia Steele - upgrade.' He simpers.
Ugh. I narrow my eyes. He hands me my boarding pass, and I head toward the first class lounge muttering under my breath. Damn Christian Grey, interfering control freak - he just can't leave well enough alone." -- of ALL the things Christian does, a first class upgrade is not the thing I'd choose to complain about.
No comments:
Post a Comment