Page 36 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Kurt leaned over. “What is wrong, Engel?” he whispered.

Anna hesitated, not wanting to inconvenience him, but also not wanting to risk ordering something inappropriate and causing him embarrassment. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t remember the last time I was in a restaurant.”

“Do not be ashamed, Anna. I will help you order.” He explained the different sections of the menu and then helped her decide. “Do you want me to order for you?”

“Is that okay?”

“It is actually very courteous for a man to order for his date.” He grinned. “It would be my pleasure.”

Anna gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you. I would appreciate it.”

The waiter came and took their order. He returned a few minutes later with a bottle of wine. After letting Wilhelm sample it, the waiter began pouring the wine into everyone’s wine glasses.

When he reached Anna, she shook her head. “No, thank you.” The entire table looked at her and her cheeks burned. “I’m only twenty.”

Everyone gave understanding smiles. Except Kirsty.

“I am sorry, Anna,” Wilhelm said. “I had forgotten. In Germany, the drinking age is much younger. What would you like to drink?”

Anna glanced at Kurt, unsure of what would be appropriate. He asked what she usually drank. “Water. I had some ice tea yesterday. It was good.”

Kurt smiled and squeezed her knee. “An ice tea, bitte.”

Kirsty drew her brows together and narrowed her eyes as she took a sip of her wine.

The others conversed easily around Anna as they waited for their dinners to arrive. She did her best to listen and remember what was said. For Devin. Kurt kept his arm around her, kissing her cheek or temple often. Anna learned that Kirsty was a model and traveled a great deal. She was leaving after the ballet to go to Australia for a week.

Dinner arrived, and everyone focused their attention on their meals. Kurt had helped Anna pick out the salmon. She sighed as the first bite practically melted in her mouth.

“Like it?” Kurt asked. “You look post-orgasmic.”

“This is heavenly.” She took another bite. “I’ve never had such good food.”

“Don’t get out much, Anna?”

Anna froze and stared at the other woman, who arched a brow and sneered at her. “No.” She put her fork down and dropped her gaze to her lap.

Kurt put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “Do not worry about her, Engel. She is a Miststück... a bitch. I do not see what Alex sees in her. Except in bed. And even there, I am not convinced.”

“You’re . . . not convinced?”

He shrugged. “Ja. We have shared her.”

Terrible images flooded her mind of being shared, and her lungs tightened in her chest as she struggled to breathe. “Sh-shared her? Did she want that?”

He grinned with that mischievous look she was becoming familiar with. And had grown rather fond of. “You have not been shared before?”

Anna clenched her hands together, trying to contain her terror. “I have,” she whispered. Anna schooled her face into a pleasant smile and she forced her body to relax. “D-do you dislike her that much?” It was obvious Kurt disliked Kirsty, but enough to hurt her? Would he hurt Anna later?

“What?” His brows furrowed.

“Why would she want that?” She glanced over at Kirsty, who was leaning over and whispering in Alex’s ear. Had she been tricked into it? Her heart went out to the other woman. Maybe that’s why she was so bitter?

“I can show you sometime if you would like.” Kurt flashed a seductive smile.

Anna gave him her practiced seductive smile while her heart broke. She’d read him completely wrong. He did want to hurt her. “I...” My purpose in life is to please men sexually. “If that would please you,” she said in a soft voice, staring at her plate. She rubbed her tingling fingers hard.

“I imagine you would like it.” He trailed his finger down her neck.

---