Fifty Shades of Grey, Chp. 5

This chapter is packed full of good stuff...

Ana awakes in Christian's suite at the Heathman Hotel. She's mortified as the memories of the previous night slowly come back to her:  the drinking, the phone call -- the vomiting... She can barely believe what's transpired. Even worse, she finds herself dressed in only her t-shirt, bra and panties.  How did THAT happen?

She's grateful for the OJ and Advil left at the bedside. Someone thinks of everything.  And now that someone is knocking at the door...

I love how Ana describes feeling like a two-year-old -- that by just closing her eyes everything will go away like she's not even there. Oh but she is...

Ana's humiliation grows when she discovers it was Christian who undressed her, but relieved to learn nothing "happened" between them. "I like my women sentient and receptive" he explains.  Ana is suddenly defensive, scolding him for his James Bond-like ways of tracking her.  Grey points out that she should would very likely be waking up in the photographer, Jose's, bed if he hadn't. Something she didn't seem to keen on when he'd arrived. "from what I can remember, you weren't overly enthused about him pressing his suit," he says acidly.  He's scolding her but his old world vernacular makes her giggle and she can't help but tease, "Which medieval chronicle did you escape from? You sound like a courtly knight."   His mood visibly shifts. His eyes soften and his expression warms, and there's a trace of a smile on his lips. "Anastasia, I don't think so. Dark knight, maybe." <--- this makes me SO sad!

Christian really does think of everything -- not only has he ordered breakfast, he's sent her clothes to the hotel laundry and sent his man, Taylor, out to buy her some new ones. He's rich. He can do that.

"Why should you buy these for me?"

"Because I can." His eyes flash with a wicked gleam. 

When asked, Christian explains his gift of the books were, in part, a warning to stay away from him.  "Anastasia, I'm not the hearts and flowers kind of man ... I don't do romance."  He warns her she should stay away, but admits he's finding it difficult to do so.

Over the course of conversation Ana returns to her nervous habit of chewing her bottom lip. A habit Mr. Grey finds extremely erotic. "I'd like to bite that lip," he whispers darkly.  Just his tone - his look, leaves her a quivering mess.  She surprises herself with her challenge, "Why don't you?"

But he vows not to touch her...not until she's signed on the dotted line. Literally. (That's for you X!) He's quite certain she'll run for the hills once he fully enlightens her, and, not wanting to have her leave just yet, prolongs the inevitable by inviting Ana to his home in Seattle.  There he can show her fully what she's in for if she enters into a relationship with him.

It finally dawns on Ana to ask Christian where he slept. "In my bed." And she learns this is quite a novelty for him...seems our Mr. Grey has never shared his bed, sleeping or otherwise, with anyone.

Leaving the hotel, they once again find themselves in an elevator -- alone this time -- and the electricity between them is palpable.  Ana's breath hitches and she bites her lip.  "Oh, fuck the paperwork," he growls. Before she knows it he's got her pinned and helpless against the wall, kissing her like she's never been been kissed before...

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EL's chapters are a delight to read - she doesn't skimp on detail and it so well shapes her characters over the course of the series. I just love the little quirks and mannerisms she's given to these two...the way they look at each other, the way they tease -- the way they are so easily confounded by the other.

Side note: Anyone else as fascinated by EL James' use of words throughout this series. For the flack she gets about her writing, I've never had to use a Thesaurus (made easy with eBook format!) more than with these books. And I'm not talking the sex stuff!!  Profilgate from this chapter comes to mind, that was new for me. I'd like to know what she uses in her writing so I can use it with mine.