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Fifty Shades Darker

by E.L. James · 2011

Fifty Shades Darker is the second novel in E.L. James's erotic romance trilogy, picking up after Anastasia Steele has broken off her relationship with the tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey and started a new job at… more

First published 2011 · 532 pages · English

28 quotes ★ 3.83 (985,370) Fiction

Quotes from the Book

This is me, Ana. All of me...and I'm all yours. What do I have to do to make you realize that? To make you see that I want you any way I can get you. That I love you.
Don’t leave me,” he whispers. “Oh, for crying out loud—no! I am not going to go!” I shout and it’s cathartic. There, I’ve said it. I am not leaving. “Really?” His eyes widen. “What can I do to make you understand I will not run? What can I say?” He gazes at me, revealing his fear and anguish again. He swallows. “There is one thing you can do.” “What?” I snap. “Marry me,” he whispers.
You wanted hearts and flowers,” he murmurs. I blink at him, not quite believing what I’m seeing. “You have my heart.” And he waves toward the room. “And here are the flowers,” I whisper, completing his sentence. “Christian, it’s lovely.
You love me,” I whisper. His eyes widen further and his mouth opens. He takes a huge breath as if winded. He looks tortured—vulnerable. “Yes,” he whispers. “I do.
Are you on your own?" "No. There are six people staring at me right now wondering who the hell i'm talking to." shit..."Really?" I gasp, panicked. "Yes. Really. My girlfriend," he announces away from the phone. holy cow! "They probably all thought you were gay, you know.
No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t go. Ana, I love you!” “I love you, too, Christian, it’s just—” “No . . . no!” he says in desperation and puts both hands on his head. “Christian . . .” “No,” he breathes, his eyes wide with panic, and suddenly he drops to his knees in front of me, head bowed, long-fingered hands spread out on his thighs. He takes a deep breath and doesn’t move. What? “Christian, what are you doing?” He continues to stare down, not looking at me. “Christian! What are you doing?” My voice is high-pitched. He doesn’t move. “Christian, look at me!” I command in panic. His head sweeps up without hesitation, and he regards me passively with his cool gray gaze—he’s almost serene . . . expectant. Holy Fuck . . . Christian. The submissive.
I don't know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you.
I wasn't aware we were fighting. I thought we were communicating,
You’re the only person I’d fly three thousand miles to see.
I thought I'd broken you." "Broken? Me? Oh no, Ana. Just the opposite." He reaches out and takes my hand. "You're my lifeline'" he whispers.
From his inside jacket pocket he produces a ring and gazes up at me, his eyes bright gray and raw, full of emotion. "Anastasia Steele, I love you. I want to love, cherish and protect you for the rest of my life. Be mine. Always. Share my life with me. Marry me".
Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fuckery at all?" My mouth drops open. "Kinky fuckery?" I squeak. "Kinky fuckery." "I can't believe you said that.' "Well, I did. Answer me," he says calmly. I flush. My inner goddess is down on bended knee with her hands clasped in supplication begging me. "I like your kinky fuckery," I whisper.
I hug him tightly. “I can’t imagine my life without you, Christian. I love you so much it frightens me.” “Me, too,” he breathes. “My life would be empty without you. I love you so much.
I'm anything but fine. I feel like the sun has set and not risen for five days, Ana. I'm in perpetual night here".
So you're my boss now," I snap. "Technically, I'm you're boss's boss's boss." "And technically, it's gross moral turpitude- the fact that i am fucking my boss's boss's boss." "At the moment, you're arguing with him." Christian scowls.
Let me love you," he says hoarsely. "Yes," I answer, and turning, he hauls me into his arms, his lips seeking mine, beseeching me, worshipping me, cherishing me...loving me.
There's something about you Anastasia, that calls to me on some deep level I don't understand. It's a siren's call. I can't resist you, and I don't want to lose you.... don't run, please - have a little faith in me and a little patience please
I lay awake for hours and watched you sleep," he murmurs. "I might have loved you even then.
But I'm a selfish man. I've wanted you since you fell into my office. You are exquisite, honest, warm, strong, witty, beguilingly innocent; the list is endless. I'm in awe of you. I want you, and the thought of anyone else having you is like a knife twisting in my dark soul.
Why, oh why have I fallen for someone who is plain crazy—beautiful, sexy as fuck, richer than Croesus, and crazy with a capital K?
We have to learn to walk before we can run
Anastasia Steele. I love you. I want to love, cherish, and protect you for the rest of my life. Be mine. Always, Share my life with me. Marry me.
I would have told you earlier, but as it was your birthday . . . What do you give the man who has everything? I thought I’d give you . . . me.” He puts the keychain down on the bedside table and snuggles in beside me, pulling me into his arms against his chest so that we’re spooning. “It’s perfect. Like you.
There's a joy in my helplessness, joy in my surrender to him, and to know that he can lose himself in me the way he wants to. I can do this. He takes me to these dark places, places I didn't know existed, and together we fill them with blinding light. Oh yes...blazing, blinding light." -Anastasia Steele
You love strapping me in, don’t you?” “In any form,” he says, a wicked grin playing on his lips. “You are a pervert.” “I know.” He raises his eyebrows and his grin broadens. “My pervert,” I whisper. “Yes, yours.
P.S. I also note that you included the Stalker's Anthem "Every Breath You Take" I do enjoy our sense of humor, but does Dr. Flynn know?
We’ve chased the dawn, Anastasia, now the dusk.
I want you, Anastasia,” he murmurs. “I love and I hate, and I love arguing with you. It’s very new. I need to know that we’re okay. It’s the only way I know how.” “My feelings for you haven’t changed,” I whisper. His proximity is overwhelming, exhilarating. The familiar pull is there, all my synapses goading me toward him, my inner goddess at her most libidinous. Staring at the patch of hair in the V of his shirt, I bite my lip, helpless, driven by desire—I want to taste him there. He’s so close, but he doesn’t touch me. His heat is warming my skin. “I’m not going to touch you until you say yes,” he says softly. “But right now, after a really shitty morning, I want to bury myself in you and just forget everything but us.

Did you know?

  • It is the second book in E.L. James's Fifty Shades trilogy, following Fifty Shades of Grey.
  • The novel was first published in 2011 by The Writer's Coffee Shop before its mainstream release by Vintage Books.
  • The Fifty Shades series originated as Twilight-inspired fan fiction.
  • The trilogy has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
  • E.L. James later retold the story from Christian's perspective in the 2017 novel Darker.
  • A film adaptation of Fifty Shades Darker was released in 2017.

About E.L. James

E.L. James is a British author who began writing in 2009 after reading the Twilight saga. She created the Fifty Shades trilogy, which grew from online fan fiction into one of the best-selling series of all time, and in 2013 she topped Forbes' list of highest-earning authors.

More about the author →

About the book

Fifty Shades Darker is the second novel in E.L. James's erotic romance trilogy, picking up after Anastasia Steele has broken off her relationship with the tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey and started a new job at a Seattle publishing house. When Christian proposes a new arrangement, Ana cannot resist, and the two rekindle their intense affair while she learns more about his damaged past. As their bond deepens, Ana must confront jealousy over the women in Christian's history and reckon with threats that intrude on their fragile happiness.

At its core the book explores control, trust, and healing, tracing how two wounded people negotiate intimacy on new terms. Where the first novel centered on the couple's unconventional dynamic, Darker turns toward Christian's inner demons and the possibility of a more conventional commitment, culminating in a marriage proposal. Themes of desire, vulnerability, and the pull between independence and devotion run throughout.

The Fifty Shades series began as fan fiction and grew into a global publishing phenomenon, with the trilogy selling well over 100 million copies worldwide despite sharp critical divisions. Fifty Shades Darker was first released in 2011 by The Writer's Coffee Shop before its mainstream reissue by Vintage Books, and it was later adapted into a feature film. Its runaway success helped make E.L. James one of the best-selling and highest-earning authors of her era.

Key characters

  • Anastasia "Ana" SteeleCollege graduate starting a publishing career and Christian's love interest
  • Christian GreyWealthy young CEO with a troubled past
  • Elena LincolnChristian's former lover and business associate
  • Jack HydePublishing editor and antagonist

Book details

First published
2011
Length
532 pages
Reading time
10 hours
Genre
Fiction
Goodreads rating
3.83 (985k ratings)

Series & reading order

  1. 1 Fifty Shades of Grey
  2. 2 Fifty Shades Darker
  3. 3 Fifty Shades Freed

Movie & TV adaptations

  • IMDb
    Fifty Shades Darker 2017

    Feature film directed by James Foley.

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