Пятьдесят оттенков серого
Chapter 23
“Anastasia—enough,”hesnapsbacksternly,hiseyesnarrowing.
I’mskatingonthinice,andI’mheadingintodanger.“OrI’llputyouacrossmyknee.Ihavenosexualorromanticinterestinherwhatsoever.She’sadear,valuedfriendandabusinesspartner.That’sall.Wehaveapast,asharedhistory,whichwasmonumentallybeneficialforme,thoughitfuckeduphermarriage—butthatsideofourrelationshipisover.”
Jeez—anotherpartIjustcan’tunderstand.Shewasmarriedaswell.Howdidtheygetawaywithitforsolong?
“Andyourparentsneverfoundout?”
“No,”hegrowls.“I’vetoldyouthis.”
AndIknowthat’sit.Icannotaskhimanyfurtherquestionsaboutherbecausehewillloseitwithme.
“Areyoudone?”hesnaps.
“Fornow.”
Hetakesadeepbreathandvisiblyrelaxesinfrontofme,likeagreatweighthasbeenliftedfromhisshouldersorsomething.
“Right—myturn,”hemutters,andhisglareturnssteely,speculative.“Youhaven’trespondedtomye-mail.”
Iflush.Oh,Ihatethespotlightonme,anditseemshe’sgoingtogetangryeverytimewehaveadiscussion.Ishakemyhead.Perhapsthat’showhefeelsaboutmyquestions;he’snotusedtobeingchallenged.Thethoughtisrevelatory,distracting,andunnerving.
“Iwasgoingtorespond.Butnowyou’rehere.”
“You’dratherIwasn’t?”hebreathes,hisexpressionimpassiveagain.
“No,I’mpleased,”Imurmur.
“Good.”Hegivesmeagenuine,relievedsmile.“I’mpleasedI’mhere,too—inspiteofyourinterrogation.
