Page 75 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Chapter 31

Anna didn’t understand why Alex wouldn’t let her please him. He didn’t act like men were supposed to act.

A sharp knock on the door made her jump. “Come in,” she called.

As the door swung open, Maggie walked in, balancing a sizable silver tray with two silver domes and two glasses filled with what appeared to be orange juice. “Good morning, my lord. Good morning, Mistress.”

Alex turned. “Guten Morgen, Fräulein.”

Maggie smiled shyly and placed the tray on the table. “I’ve brought your breakfast. Sarah will be up shortly with your clothing, my lord. Mistress, would you like me to help you dress? Master would like to see you after you’ve finished eating.”

Anna glanced at Alex. It didn’t seem right for her to be dressed before her Master.

Alex waved his hand toward the other girl. “Go ahead and get dressed. My clothes will be here in a minute.”

Anna gave Maggie an uncertain smile as she scooted toward the edge of the bed. “Okay. Thank you.”

Maggie went to the closet and retrieved a green dress and held it out for Anna. As Maggie zipped up the dress, the door opened and Sarah entered carrying several hangers of men’s clothing. “Good morning, my lord. Good morning, Mistress.”

Alex stood and accepted his clothes from Sarah. He looked magnificent standing next to the bed in gray boxer-briefs and nothing else. “Guten Morgen, Fräulein.”

Anna couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, and her knees trembled. His towering figure matched the height of her bed’s canopy, while his perfectly chiseled chest, shoulders, and arms made her yearn to be an artist in order to capture the beauty of his physique.

Alex flashed a boyish grin as he raked his fingers through his sleep-mussed hair, then turned toward the bathroom. Anna’s eyes followed him as he walked across the room, body erect and straight. He was as graceful as a ballet dancer.

After he disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door, Anna sighed and turned back to Sarah and Maggie. Their expressions matched her own awe of Alex’s appearance.

Maggie shook her head and cleared her throat. She looked down at the ground. “Forgive me, Mistress. I shouldn’t have stared like that.”

The thought of Maggie feeling ashamed for staring made Anna’s heart ache, especially since she had been doing the same. Sarah hung her head as well. Anna desperately tried to think of a way to take away their shame. She grinned as a thought struck her. “It’s hard not to be overcome by a beautiful work of art, isn’t it?”

They both snapped their heads up and opened their mouths. Anna giggled and shrugged. They glanced at each other before small smiles appeared on their faces and they visibly relaxed.

“Hasn’t he ever come to the Gatherings before?” Anna asked.

They shook their heads.

“He comes other times with his friends, but not to the Gatherings.” A dreamy look passed over Sarah’s face as she paused. “Those would be memorable nights if he did so.”

The three girls giggled for several seconds, until Maggie sighed. “Is there anything else you need, Mistress?”

Anna shook her head, and Sarah and Maggie headed to the door. Before they knocked to be let out, they both took deep breaths and wiped any trace of playful demeanor from their expressions.

Anna walked over to the French door and pulled back the sheer curtain to peer outside at the small grassy yard. She rested her forehead on the cool glass. If Alex was telling the truth about what had happened last night, and about The Brotherhood, there was so much more going on than she could have imagined. It didn’t explain why Devin wanted to control her so thoroughly, though. How could she possibly help someone so charismatic and powerful as Devin? She was a silly girl who hadn’t finished high school and had minimal experience of life outside of sex and ballet. The only thing she knew for certain was she again had two Masters: Devin and Alex.

She shuddered, remembering Devin’s anger after the ritual. Was he still angry this morning? She wrapped her arms around herself and sucked in a shaky breath. Devin’s fury was something to both fear and avoid. If for no other reason, she obeyed to avoid his wrath.

Anna blew out and her breath fogged the window. Please don’t let Devin still be angry at me.

The bathroom door opened a few minutes later and Alex emerged wearing a long-sleeved blue dress shirt and black dress pants. The color of his shirt matched his eyes, and she found herself captivated by both the kindness and confidence they held. She longed to run into his embrace and become lost in his powerful, yet gentle, presence.

But he was her Master, and there would be no comfort in his arms.

“Shall we eat?” Alex motioned toward the table where Maggie had put the tray of food.

Anna nodded and followed him to the table.

They each took a plate and ate in silence. Alex was pensive and Anna didn’t dare break the mood by speaking. She looked up at him surreptitiously every few minutes, and he appeared to be deep in thought.

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