Page 286 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

The last chords of the music echoed against the walls of the theater. Her mind slowly cleared. The audience didn’t applaud and all Anna could hear was the sound of her and Travis’ heavy breathing. Oh, God, had they been terrible? She didn’t even remember dancing. She only felt desire for Travis coursing through her veins.

Suddenly, the room erupted in applause and shouts. Anna lifted her head and stared, stunned, at Travis, who grinned at her. He helped her to her feet and they took their bows. First, to the audience, then to the Nutcracker Prince and Clara, and then to the audience again. They glided off stage and the applause continued.

Isaak stood there with a big grin on his face. “Great job. I think you need to go out for another bow.”

Anna shook her head. “No... I can’t—‍” But Travis pushed her out and followed close behind.

She curtsied low, humbled and overwhelmed by the standing ovation. They glided off stage again, the applause subsided, and the ballet continued.

Her whole body shook and she stared at Travis, not knowing what to do. Pain pounded at the door of her heart and she sucked in a shaky breath. Sex. Sex would make her feel better. Anything to keep the pain at bay.

Travis’ brows rose. She gave him a pleading look and he nodded. “C’mon.” Travis dragged her backstage and into his dressing room.

He closed the door and pushed her against it, kissing her passionately. “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met,” he murmured against her lips, then crushed his mouth against hers again.

Desire ran rampant through Anna’s body, pushing the pain away, and she kissed him back, running her hands up and down his bare chest, damp beneath his gold vest. She pushed it off his shoulders, and he reached behind and unclasped her top. He caressed her breasts and she moaned softly. She reached down and caressed his cock over his pants. He was hard. And long and thick. Just like his dad. She groaned and rubbed him harder. “I need you.” She pulled at his costume, trying to free him from his pants. “I don’t know how these things work.”

“I’ll do it. This time.” He grinned and pulled at her belt and pushed her pants down off her hips. He kneeled before her and buried his tongue in her pussy.

She shoved the gold turban off his head and tangled her hands in his hair as he lapped at her and sucked on her clit. “Oh, Travis...”

Unbuttoning the cuffs of her pants, he pulled them off and tossed them on the growing pile of green and gold. He tugged at his pants and pulled them off along with his dance belt, then picked Anna up and laid her on the couch. He positioned himself between her legs, and she glanced down at his throbbing cock. “Yes, please,” she begged.

He leaned down and thrust into her with one long movement, making her moan and grasp his shoulders.

“Oh, God, Travis!”

“Shh.” He covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue in and out of her mouth as he did the same thing with his cock. She met his thrusts with enthusiasm and soon they both spiraled up into the stars and cried out against each other’s mouths.

Travis rested on his elbows with his head on her shoulder while they both gasped for breath. “Holy shit. You’re fucking incredible.”

Anna smiled. “So are you.” She moved her hips against him and clenched her muscles, making him shudder.

“Fuck...” He lifted his head and looked down at her with a smile. “Can we do that again sometime?”

She nodded. “Definitely.” She was feeling good. Pain-free.

He grinned and stood. “I’m not one to fuck and run, but we don’t have long before the finale and it would be really embarrassing to explain why we missed that.”

They stood to gather their costumes. Anna looked down and realized she still had her pointe shoes on. “That’s definitely a first.” She wiggled her feet. “I’ve never had sex while wearing pointe shoes.”

Travis chuckled. “Kinda sexy, if you ask me.”

They dressed quickly, fixed their hair and makeup, then sat on the couch to catch their breath. Travis put his arm around her and she rested her head against his chest. Nutcracker music played through an overhead speaker. They had a few minutes before they had to get backstage again.

“Do you want to stay at my place tonight?” he asked softly.

The offer was tempting. More opportunity to dull the pain. “I’d love to. I really would. But Jenna just moved in with me and I gave her a ride. And Ben’s family is in town. If I came home tomorrow morning... they might not like it. I don’t want to disrespect them.”

Travis nodded. “I understand. Maybe some other time.”

Anna turned to him. “I’d love to stay in your arms all night long,” she said softly. She caressed his cheek. “Really. Maybe next week when they’re gone.”

“I’d like that. Or I could stay at your place too. I don’t mind. Wherever you’d be most comfortable. I live with two of my brothers, but they won’t bother us.” He grinned. “Unless you want them to.” He looked toward the ceiling as they heard the last song of the Sugar Plum pas de deux began. “We should go.”

He stood and dragged her to her feet with both hands. She had gotten so relaxed she didn’t want to move. But she didn’t want to miss the finale, either. They glanced in the mirror one last time to make sure they didn’t look like they’d just fucked on the dressing room couch, then walked calmly out to the backstage area.

Aaron appeared in front of them, chest heaving, hands on his hips. He and Lily traded times on and off stage in the last movement of the pas de deux. He glanced between the two of them, pressed his lips together, shook his head, then moved into position for his next cue.

---