Page 61 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna stuck her lip out. “Me, too. Can’t you stay here with me? You run the company.”

He laughed. “True, but I have a lot of work to get done today, and I have to leave early to be back for the Gathering tonight. I’m sorry.” He kissed her and caressed her breasts. Nothing hurt anymore. “In August, you are coming on a long trip with me. We’ll have plenty of time together then.” He kissed her nose.

“Where are we going?”

“Washington, D.C.”

“Really? Oh, Devin! How wonderful!”

He grinned at her. “I thought you might like that.” He rolled out of bed. “But I need to get moving.”

“Okay.” Anna stuck her lip out again. “I’m going to miss you.”

He kissed her head. “I’ll miss you, too, Baby.” He cupped her chin. “Tonight, at the Gathering, I’m going to show everyone you are all mine.” He kissed her lips. “That you belong only to me.”

Her heart swelled at the thought. All his. All Devin’s.

“I love you, Baby. I’ll see you tonight. Ian will bring your necklace to you later.”

He gave her one last smile and disappeared through the door.

Anna rolled onto her back and smiled up at the canopy above her head. How had he made her feel so amazing? And somehow, he’d healed her during it all. Maybe that’s why he’d told her to give him her pain. She’d given it to him and he’d turned it into ecstasy. If only Master Jack had known how to do that. Then her training wouldn’t have been so bad.

Devin loved her. He wanted her. Basking in his love and being in his presence was the only thing she craved in the world.

Chapter 26

That evening, Devin came in while Anna was eating dinner. “Hello, Baby.” He kissed her on the cheek and sat down at the table across from her.

Anna gave him her brightest smile as her heart swelled with love. Throughout the morning and afternoon, her thoughts had been filled with him. How he’d made her feel that morning, how much he loved her, how much she wanted to please him. She hadn’t read or done much of anything except lie in bed and think about him. “Hi, Devin.”

“I wanted to talk to you about tonight.”

Anna’s breath hitched as fear coursed through her body.

He tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... I just—‍” She swallowed. “Did I do something wrong?”

He laughed gently. “Of course not.” He smiled. “I just wanted to prepare you for what’s going to happen.”

“Oh.”

“Anna, tonight is the night you receive your piercings.”

“Piercings?” Anna’s eyes widened. “What piercings?”

He smiled. “Your slave piercings, Anna. Slaves must be marked.”

As her heart plummeted into her stomach, a chilling sensation spread throughout her body. “You mean... I really am a slave? But... I thought...” Kurt and Wilhelm had insisted she wasn’t a slave.

“Of course you are, Anna. What made you think you weren’t?” He tilted his head, but his expression was soft.

“I guess I thought...” She twisted her fingers together and hung her head. “I thought I was your mistress,” she whispered.

Devin lifted her chin and kissed her on the lips. His eyes filled with sadness. “It must be this way, Anna. You are my slave, though like Ian, I don’t think of you as such. I love you. Very much. I don’t love the other girls like I love you.”

Anna looked away, tears filling her eyes. She knew his words should bring comfort, but somehow, they only made her feel worse.

---