--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But we were at your parents' dining…" description: "\"“But we were at your parents' dining table.\" I stare up at him, completely bewildered. \"No one's ever said no to me before. And it's so - hot.”\" — E.L...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png" --- # But we were at your parents' dining table." I stare up at… ![“But we were at your parents' dining table." I stare up at him, completely bewildered. "No one's ever said no to me before. And it's so - hot.” quote by E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png) > ““But we were at your parents' dining table." I stare up at him, completely bewildered. "No one's ever said no to me before. And it's so - hot.”” [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character experiences unprecedented freedom and discomfort at a family dinner, highlighting personal boundaries and social expectations. **In simple terms:** Feeling both free and uneasy. Key Takeaway Recognize personal limits. Themes family social dynamics personal freedom discomfort boundaries Mood reflective introspective Type literary conversational When to use this quote - family gatherings - first dates - new experiences - social anxiety Key Concepts Self-awareness boundary setting social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries are you testing? - How does discomfort signal growth? A Different Perspective The scene may romanticize discomfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anastasia/) [Bewildered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewildered/) [Christian-grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-grey/) [Fifty shades of grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifty-shades-of-grey/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“And the baby?" The words are anguished, breathless. "The baby's fine, Mr. Grey." "Oh, thank God." The words are litany... a prayer, "Oh, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-the-baby-the-words-are-anguished-breathless-the-baby-s-fine-mr/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Coveralls," I reply, and I know I'm no longer screening what's coming out of my mouth. He raises a eyebrow, amused yet again. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/coveralls-i-reply-and-i-know-i-m-no-longer-screening-what-s-coming/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“We didn’t-?” I whisper, my mouth drying in mortified horror as I can’t complete the question. I stare at my hands. “Anastasia, you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/we-didn-t-i-whisper-my-mouth-drying-in-mortified-horror-as-i-can-t/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“You've brushed your teeth," He says, staring at me. "I used your toothbrush." His lips quirk up in a half smile. "Oh Anastasia Steele,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-ve-brushed-your-teeth-he-says-staring-at-me-i-used-your/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“You are one brave woman," he whispers, "I am in awe of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-are-one-brave-woman-he-whispers-i-am-in-awe-of-you/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“This is all I know, too. Perhaps together we can chart a new course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/this-is-all-i-know-too-perhaps-together-we-can-chart-a-new-course/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“And so a pattern develops: wake, work cry. sleep. I can't even escape him in my dreams. Gray burning eyes, his lost look, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-so-a-pattern-develops-wake-work-cry-sleep-i-can-t-even-escape-him/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I feel the color in my cheeks rising again. I must be the color of The Communist Manifesto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-feel-the-color-in-my-cheeks-rising-again-i-must-be-the-color-of-the/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“You're not celibate, then?" I breathe. Amusement lights up his eyes. "No, Anastasia, I'm not celibate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-re-not-celibate-then-i-breathe-amusement-lights-up-his-eyes-no/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Subject: Sundown Date: June 14 2011 09:35 To: Christian Grey Dear Completely & Utterly Smitten I love waking up with you, too. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/subject-sundown-date-june-14-2011-09-35-to-christian-grey-dear/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Abruptly, Elliot startles us all by standing and pulling his chair back so it scrapes across the tile floor. All eyes turn to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/abruptly-elliot-startles-us-all-by-standing-and-pulling-his-chair/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“From: Christian Grey Subject: &\*%$&\*&\* Date: August 23 2011 11:23 To: Anastasia Grey Believe me when I say there are a great many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/from-christian-grey-subject-date-august-23-2011-11-23-to-anastasia/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“My favorite sound in the whole world is your giggle, Anastasia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-favorite-sound-in-the-whole-world-is-your-giggle-anastasia/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Goodbye, Christian," I murmur. "Ana, goodbye," he says softly, and he looks utterly, utterly broken,a man in agonizing pain, reflecting how I feel inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/goodbye-christian-i-murmur-ana-goodbye-he-says-softly-and-he-looks/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I've never wanted more, until I met you." I gasp, reeling. Oh my. Isn't this what I want? He wants more. He wants it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-never-wanted-more-until-i-met-you-i-gasp-reeling-oh-my-isn-t/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) ## More by E.L. James > [“Don’t,” he murmurs, then kisses me lightly. “Why don’t you like to be touched?” I whisper, staring up into soft gray eyes. “Because I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/don-t-he-murmurs-then-kisses-me-lightly-why-don-t-you-like-to-be/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Are you crazy?" "Crazy for you," he whispers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-crazy-crazy-for-you-he-whispers/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“If he touches me, I will succumb. I know the power he wields over me and my traitorous body. I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/if-he-touches-me-i-will-succumb-i-know-the-power-he-wields-over-me/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I’ve been so busy I haven’t managed to contact her since this morning, but she’s been hovering at the edge of my consciousness all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-so-busy-i-haven-t-managed-to-contact-her-since-this-morning/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fu\*kery at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/let-me-ask-you-something-first-do-you-want-a-regular-vanilla/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“And the baby?" The words are anguished, breathless. "The baby's fine, Mr. Grey." "Oh, thank God." The words are litany... a prayer, "Oh, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-the-baby-the-words-are-anguished-breathless-the-baby-s-fine-mr/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Anastasia You Are My More My Love, My Life Christian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/anastasia-you-are-my-more-my-love-my-life-christian/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/no-no-he-says-i-he-looks-wildly-around-the-room-for-inspiration-for/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“‎"His grin widens, and leaning down, he undoes the tie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-grin-widens-and-leaning-down-he-undoes-the-tie/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I can't even escape him in my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-can-t-even-escape-him-in-my-dreams/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Because we're getting to know each other, and you're stubborn and cantankerous and moody and difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/because-we-re-getting-to-know-each-other-and-you-re-stubborn-and/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“«Si no puedes vencerles, únete a ellos».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/si-no-puedes-vencerles-nete-a-ellos/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“His magic is powerful, intoxicating. I'm a butterfly caught in his net, unable and unwilling to escape. I'm his … totally his". (Ana to Christian)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-magic-is-powerful-intoxicating-i-m-a-butterfly-caught-in-his-net/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“My world was ordered, calm, and controlled, then you came into my life with your smart mouth, your innocence, your beauty, and your quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-world-was-ordered-calm-and-controlled-then-you-came-into-my-life/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I've been burned already, and yet here I am again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-burned-already-and-yet-here-i-am-again/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) [Explore all 503 E.L. James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) ## More Anastasia quotes > [“And the baby?" The words are anguished, breathless. "The baby's fine, Mr. Grey." "Oh, thank God." The words are litany... a prayer, "Oh, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-the-baby-the-words-are-anguished-breathless-the-baby-s-fine-mr/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Mother knocked once on my door and walked in my room to see me on my bed with the book tight in my grasp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-doyle/mother-knocked-once-on-my-door-and-walked-in-my-room-to-see-me-on-my/) [B.C. Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-doyle/) > [“Abruptly, Elliot startles us all by standing and pulling his chair back so it scrapes across the tile floor. All eyes turn to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/abruptly-elliot-startles-us-all-by-standing-and-pulling-his-chair/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Subject: Sundown Date: June 14 2011 09:35 To: Christian Grey Dear Completely & Utterly Smitten I love waking up with you, too. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/subject-sundown-date-june-14-2011-09-35-to-christian-grey-dear/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Goodbye, Christian," I murmur. "Ana, goodbye," he says softly, and he looks utterly, utterly broken,a man in agonizing pain, reflecting how I feel inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/goodbye-christian-i-murmur-ana-goodbye-he-says-softly-and-he-looks/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“She began to realize some decisions cannot be undone no matter how hard you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/she-began-to-realize-some-decisions-cannot-be-undone-no-matter-how/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) > [“The pair of us are like salt and sugar: such different flavors, but so close in every other way you could never sort us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/the-pair-of-us-are-like-salt-and-sugar-such-different-flavors-but-so/) [Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/) > [“You're not celibate, then?" I breathe. Amusement lights up his eyes. "No, Anastasia, I'm not celibate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-re-not-celibate-then-i-breathe-amusement-lights-up-his-eyes-no/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I feel the color in my cheeks rising again. I must be the color of The Communist Manifesto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-feel-the-color-in-my-cheeks-rising-again-i-must-be-the-color-of-the/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“My favorite sound in the whole world is your giggle, Anastasia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-favorite-sound-in-the-whole-world-is-your-giggle-anastasia/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“And so a pattern develops: wake, work cry. sleep. I can't even escape him in my dreams. Gray burning eyes, his lost look, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-so-a-pattern-develops-wake-work-cry-sleep-i-can-t-even-escape-him/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“I wish I wasn't an imperial highness or an ex-grand duchess. I'm sick of people doing things to me because of what I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/i-wish-i-wasn-t-an-imperial-highness-or-an-ex-grand-duchess-i-m-sick/) [Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/) > [“A strikingly beautiful shit-storm of trouble––Ana attracted trouble like no one else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/a-strikingly-beautiful-shit-storm-of-trouble-ana-attracted-trouble/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) > [“It's different now, like pushing the stop lever on my camera until nothing except the war can squeeze through the lens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/it-s-different-now-like-pushing-the-stop-lever-on-my-camera-until/) [Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/) > [“Ana was a perpetual victim in a never-ending search for a victimizer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/ana-was-a-perpetual-victim-in-a-never-ending-search-for-a-victimizer/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) [Browse all 33 Anastasia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anastasia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But we were at your parents' dining table.\" I stare up at him, completely bewildered. \"No one's ever said no to me before. And it's so - hot.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.L. James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table-i-stare-up-at-him-completely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anastasia" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table-i-stare-up-at-him-completely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/e-l-james-470_anastasia_but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table_806361.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But we were at your parents' dining table.\" I stare up at him, completely bewildered. \"No one's ever said no…” — E.L. James", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "E.L. James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But we were at your parents'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table-i-stare-up-at-him-completely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/but-we-were-at-your-parents-dining-table-i-stare-up-at-him-completely/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```