Page 43 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

She frowned. “Okay... Well, I’ll give you my number.” She found a pen and wrote on Anna’s program. “Call me. If you want.” She hugged Anna and gave her a sad smile. “I really want to spend time with you. I miss you.” She turned and hurried away.

Anna watched her walk away, blinking back tears. She didn’t want to hurt her friend, but she really had no idea what was going on past tomorrow afternoon. She didn’t know if Devin would let her have friends. Friends would get in the way of pleasing Devin.

“She’s just worried about you, Anna,” Aaron said. “Has been for years.”

Anna tilted her head. “What? How do you know?”

“Our mutual concern about you kinda bonded us together. She’s the little sister I never had.” He smiled. “You disappeared after that last performance and she couldn’t talk to you about it, so she came to me. We’ve been friends ever since.” He grimaced. “I still don’t understand why you pulled back from dancing.”

Anna bit her lip. “It’s a long story.”

He studied her for a while, then sighed. “Listen, if you are ‘back from the beyond’ and allowed to socialize again, I’m having a party next Sunday night at my house to celebrate the end of Sleeping Beauty. I’d love for you to come if you can.”

Anna glanced at Kurt. He was her only reason for being out of the Manor. “Oh, Aaron, thank you. But I don’t know if?—‍”

Kurt smiled at her. “I will be gone by then. We are leaving that morning to go back to Germany. You should go to the party.”

“Oh.” She chewed the inside of her cheek. “I don’t know. My life is rather... confusing right now.” Anna had no idea if Devin would let her go to a party thrown by an old dance partner. She had a feeling he would say no.

Aaron smiled and wrote his number on the program next to Jenna’s. “I live out in Lake Street. I can pick you up if you need a ride. Call me.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s really good to see you. I gotta run. I’ll see ya later, I hope.” He shook hands with Wilhelm and Kurt, then disappeared into a dressing room after giving her one last smile.

Anna glanced back at Wilhelm and Kurt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would take so long.”

Wilhelm smiled. “There is nothing to apologize for. I am glad you were able to see some old friends.”

Chapter 18

Anna, Kurt, and Wilhelm took the town car back to Alex’s house. Anna clasped her hands together, dreading being alone with Kurt. Who would he share her with? How would he hurt her? He was a big man with big, strong hands. He could do so much to her with such little effort.

When they arrived, Kurt said goodnight to his father and took her hand to pull her upstairs. Anna glanced back at Wilhelm as they hurried up the stairs. He chuckled and shook his head as he walked into the living room.

As soon as the door closed, Kurt swung her around and kissed her hard. “It has been a long day,” he murmured against her lips. “A very good day, but long.”

He ran his thumb gently across her cheekbone. “I am so happy Devin introduced us and that you are here with me.” Leaning down, he kissed her softly. He caressed her cheek and then trailed his fingers down her neck and across her collarbone. He unfastened her necklace and let it fall to the floor. She removed her earrings and leaned over to put them on the nightstand.

Anna tilted her head back as he kissed her neck and internally winced, wondering what he would do to her. Would he bite her? Hit her? Use things inside of her to rip her apart? Does it matter? I am here to please him. She tugged at his bowtie until it loosened and then Kurt watched as she unbuttoned his coat and pushed it off his shoulders. “Where would you like me to put this?”

“Just throw it to the side. It will get cleaned up later.”

Letting his jacket fall to the floor, she unbuttoned his vest and dropped it on top. She pushed the straps of his suspenders off his shoulders, then moved her hands expertly down the buttons on his shirt, unbuttoning them and the heavy gold and diamond cuffs at his wrists. She ran her hands up through his chest hair and over his muscular shoulders, shoving the shirt off and onto the floor.

Anna gave her practiced smile as she trailed her hand down his firm chest and over his nipples. They tightened as she ran her fingers in circles around them. “You are a very handsome man, Kurt.” She leaned forward and licked his left nipple. He groaned and put his hands on her hips. She sucked gently and he groaned again.

Her body was not awakening like it should. Why?

“Would you like me to undress?” She straightened and looked directly into his lust-filled eyes.

“Ja,” he said, his voice husky.

She kicked her shoes to the side and turned around, pulling her hair over her shoulders to expose her back. “Would you help me?”

Kurt pulled at the ties of her dress and unzipped the short zipper, then she turned back around to let him watch as the dress slid down her body and into a puddle of green taffeta at her feet.

Kurt’s gaze slowly moved down her body, a smile growing steadily on his face. “I like your stockings,” he said with a seductive smile. “Perhaps we should leave them on.”

“Whatever you would like, Kurt.” She trailed a finger across his chest.

He smiled again and shook his head. “Nein. I want to see you fully undressed. I did not have that pleasure last night.”

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