Previously, Christian roughed Jack Hyde up after he made a move on Ana. Christian is, of course, furious…with Ana?
Darker Chapter 7 (Part 2):
“Christian, why are you so mad at me?”
“You know why.”
REASONS!
As we enter the elevator, I punch the code into the keypad. “God, if something had happened to you, he’d be dead by now. As it is, I’m going to ruin his career so he can’t take advantage of young women anymore…”
Is the book honestly trying to position Christian as a champion for young women? Yep. Christian Grey is the hero we women needed all along.
Ana bites her lower lip, and Christian is consumed by lust and fury. He pushes Ana up against the elevator wall–if I don’t specify setting, just assume that 50% of the time they’re in an elevator–and begins violently making out with her. I can’t wait for these two to get married and continue to healthily resolve their issues for the rest of their lives.
Later, Christian gets a phone call from one of his security bros. Security bro informs him that after looking through Jack Hyde’s computer, he’s found something strange:
“Well, sir, it was a little unsettling. There are articles and photographs of you, your mom and dad, and your brother and sister, all stored in one folder called ‘Greys.’”
“That’s odd.”
Christian doesn’t even react to this! He just asks his security guy to keep it between them for now. As opposed to…what? Who else is this man going to tell? But seriously for a book where Christian will meticulously detail to us how furious he is when an employee spills her coffee, his reaction to this incredibly creepy piece of information is TO THINK ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF IT! Christian, this is what an under-reaction looks like. You gotta find a middle ground, buddy.
Christian starts looking through the files and wonders what Hyde would want with all of these photos. Probably to fucking kill you. I mean there can’t be a good answer here. I can’t even think of a jokey positive reason!
Christian resolves to call his…other security bro to talk about this tomorrow. He goes to find Ana, and they have a glass of wine together. Ana is sad because she’s worried she’ll be out of a job. Silly, Ana! Christian owns the company, so of course there are no consequences for your actions (or his!) Assault away, everyone! Violence and murder are often the answers in these stories.
“What did Jack have on his computer?”
“Nothing important.”
Ana needn’t worry her pretty little head about such affairs! Leave those for Christian Grey: Champion of Young Women Everywhere.
To Christian’s dismay, Ana has an even bigger bomb to drop on him. Jose wants to drop off the photographs that Christian bought–and stay for a drink with Ana! And then spend the night!
“He made a pass at you.”
“Christian, that was weeks ago. He was drunk, I was drunk, you saved the day— it won’t happen again. He’s no Jack, for heaven’s sake.”
He’s so much less rapey than Jack, can’t you see?? Also regular reminder that it has only been weeks.
She’s already endured Hyde— what if Rodriguez gets drunk and tries his luck again with Ana? “I don’t like it.”
Pretty sure Ana can decide that for herself. And if he stays at Christian’s with them, doesn’t that kind of solve the problem? Ana rightfully points out that Christian has a grand total of zero friends besides Elena, and he hasn’t stopped seeing her (and she’s actually his ex.)
It dawns on Christian that if Ana moves in, she’ll want to have friends over. This is apparently shocking to him.
Yes. She’ll need to invite her friends here. Jesus. I hadn’t thought about that.
This is all super normal and fine, carry on.
Later that night, Christian finds Ana poking around in the playroom. She finds a butt plug that he’d bought for her when he thought she was going to be his sub.
“You buy new, er … toys … for each submissive?”
“Some things. Yes.”
“Butt plugs?”
Definitely. “Yes
Well thank fuck for that! I don’t remember this from the first time around, but I have to say, I’m relieved to have this re-confirmed.
“Next drawer down holds a selection of vibrators.”
She shuts it quickly. “And the next?”
WHAT? No, Ana! Go back to that drawer. What are you doing!!
Christian runs Ana through a bunch of the toys and their purposes–it kind of reads like one of those parties where a bunch of gal pals gather and someone tries to sell you products. Like I wouldn’t have been surprised if this chapter was full of sponsored links.
They grab the spreader bar from the playroom and go to have sex in the bedroom (Christian isn’t ready to stay in the playroom yet…because there’s too much temptation in there…and he’s worried he could hurt Ana again and make her leave.)
Ana goes down on Christian, but don’t worry, he’s not out for the count yet:
My cock recovers, growing and growing as I appreciate every inch of my girl.
What a way to describe getting a second boner.
I ease back and then slowly forward, filling her. She groans and I ease back and ease forward. Again.
And again.
And again.
Boy E L James sure likes to describe sex that way. “In and out. In and out.” “And again. And again.” Just in case you didn’t get the picture!
The chapter ends with Christian thinking about how much he wants to marry Ana and her falling asleep. Sounds about right.
I just wanted to say I’m pretty sure no one Ana’s age uses the phrase “for heaven’s sake” but I could be wrong
“My cock recovers, growing and growing” Christian’s cock is now a giant cock?
To counterbalance the giant asshole?
“My girlfriend was nearly sexually assaulted moments ago. I should definitely restrain her and make out with her in an enclosed space, such as an elevator!”
In a related vein: his objection to Jose is “He made a pass at you.” Not, like, “he assaulted you”, just “he indicated an interest in you”. Which…is already bad, and then also, like, you guys weren’t even dating when this happened! Even if it were just “making a pass” she was literally single at the time. But no, Christian’s ownership of Ana extends forever in all temporal directions. Next he will systematically hunt down every man she may have smiled at as a baby.
Well, callmeIndigo, he does grill her about her high school kissing experiences and threaten to find the “fuckers” and “beat them to a pulp,” so you’re not far from wrong. So romantic, right? SO HEALTHY!
Oh man I forgot about that. If only I could have continued to live in ignorance
For some reason, the fact that Hyde kept the photos in a folder literally named “Greys” is cracking me up, especially when followed by Christian’s comment of “That’s odd.” Well, what should he have named the folder, Christian? That’s the least odd thing he could have named it!