Page 117 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna shook her head. “Hardly.” She was not lucky. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Chapter 47

Jenna jumped back into the pool and Anna sat down on the edge. Her feet dangled in the water and she watched the ripples created by the movements of her legs. She was tired and wanted to go home. What a unique idea: the ability to go home and be alone. Too bad Seth had left with Alex, though.

Aaron sat down next to her, legs also dangling into the water. “Hey. Having a good time?”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, unsure of how to answer without offending him. “It’s... a lot of people.”

He nodded. “That’s understandable.” He grinned suddenly. “C’mon. I have somewhere quiet we can go.” He stood and held out his hand to her.

Anna stared at his hand, then looked up into his eyes. What did he want from her?

Aaron grinned. “Trust me.”

Trust him? Anna bit her lip. Aaron had always been kind to her. And nothing in his demeanor told her differently. Anna placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her to her feet. She followed him around the side of the house to a private garden with lots of vines and flowers.

“My parents bought this place while I was in high school. When they moved to L.A., about three years ago, they sold it to me for a good price. This was my mom’s garden.”

Anna squinted, trying to distinguish different plants in the faint glow of the string-lights above her head, then inhaled. It smelled delicious. Roses and jasmine and other flowers she didn’t know. As Anna sighed, she could feel her body surrender to the surrounding tranquility.

She meandered along the dirt pathway, leaning over to smell a beautiful pink rose. “It’s lovely.”

Aaron took her hand and pulled her close. “I want to dance with you.”

“Aaron...” But she didn’t put her hand away. “There’s no music.”

Aaron smiled and started humming the pas de deux from the second act of Giselle.

Anna shook her head and pulled away. “No, Aaron. I haven’t danced that since we?—‍”

“So what?” He grabbed her hand again. “I know you can still do it. Your dancing is from your heart. I knew that eight years ago. I want to see it again.” He turned her away from him and lifted her arm into the opening movement. “Please,” he whispered. “Close your eyes and dance with me.”

He stepped away and began humming again. Powerful memories she’d pushed away long ago forced themselves into the front of her mind and she was helpless to resist.

She closed her eyes and Aaron’s humming faded, replaced by the orchestra’s strings calling her to dance. Almost of their own accord, her arms and legs moved to the music in her mind. Aaron joined her at the appointed moment and they moved as one, limbs moving in sync to the unheard music. Aaron lifted her as if she was a feather, all grace and beauty.

They danced only for themselves. The harshness of Anna’s life released its hold on her heart for just a moment and she and Aaron were of one mind and body. A cocoon of intimacy wrapped in music bound them together and didn’t release its grip until the last notes faded in their minds.

Anna slowly opened her eyes and blinked, trying to remember why she smelled roses and why the ground beneath her feet was soft and cool. The final pose of the dance left her upper body draped across Aaron’s back as he kneeled in front of her. Her chest heaved against him as she worked to catch her breath. Oh, how long it had been since she had let herself go so completely. She closed her eyes again, not wanting the moment to end, but Aaron stirred, and she pulled away.

He stood and turned around, wrapping his arms around her waist before she could escape. His denim-blue eyes met hers as she gazed up at him, and she felt the connection that had been planted in her heart years before. Aaron slowly leaned down and caressed her lips with his own. She closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace.

Their kiss was a continuation of their dance. Aaron’s tongue was as graceful as the rest of him, stroking, coaxing, cajoling Anna to open herself up to him. She moaned softly and allowed him into both her mouth and her heart.

No one had kissed her like this before, not even Kurt or Wilhelm, though she was fond of both of them. The only one who’d come close was Alex, but he didn’t care for her other than as a good Master.

Aaron pulled away and she opened her eyes again. His eyes met hers and, before the fear could set in, his warm gaze settled her heart.

He gently cupped her cheek. “Anna . . .”

Her heart leaped at the sound of her name on his tongue.

He brushed his lips against hers again, but a male voice came from behind him and they jumped apart.

Aaron turned and glared over his shoulder, and Anna rose on her toes to see Garret, Aaron’s roommate, standing just inside the garden, an amused smile on his face. “Sorry, dude. We’re out of beer. Where’d you put the extra keg?”

Aaron sighed. “Hang on.” He turned back to Anna and brushed her hair away from her face. “I’m sorry, hon.”

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