Page 44 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

Aaron and Peter looked at each other. Peter shrugged. “It’s not really for Devin to decide, is it? Wilhelm is your Master and your father-in-law.”

A chill ran through her body as she stared at Peter. Was he setting her up for failure so Devin would punish her?

Peter turned to Aaron. “I wanted to thank you for speaking to me last night, Aaron. I appreciate your candor.”

Anna looked between the two men, thoroughly confused. Peter hated Aaron. Aaron hated Peter. Why had they talked?

She shoved the papers and cards back into the envelope and shoved it back into Aaron’s hands. “Send it back. Tell Wilhelm I don’t need them.” She hurried away as fast as she could and gingerly sat down in her normal spot to get ready for class.

Peter stood between Anna and his dance partner, Erin, during classes. They’d been cast as Snow King and Queen, and Erin was ecstatic. She gazed at him with wide eyes whenever he spoke to her, and he usually would flirt lightly with her, and some of the other women as well. Not enough to be thought of as cheating, but enough to keep them interested in him. Though when he was near Anna, he held her hand or put his arm around her waist.

He didn’t flirt that morning. He was friendly, but offered no sensuous smiles and backed away when she touched him. Even he and Aaron were acting like friends.

At lunch, Peter paid for her meal, which he’d never done before. He asked her several times if she was okay, to which she always responded with a “yes,” even though her body ached.

When they got home that evening, Peter handed her the envelope that Aaron had tried to give her. “You should read the letter again.” He gave her a pointed look and then went to take a shower.

She dumped everything out on the table and picked up the letter again. A line was underlined at the bottom she hadn’t noticed earlier. Purchases made on these cards will be monitored by the Herzog. What did that mean? Was it a warning not to use them? Then why did Peter give them to her? She sighed and rubbed her forehead. This was one of the most confusing days she’d had in a long while, and she was getting a headache.

She heard the water from Peter’s shower turn off and stood to take her own shower, but a knock at the door made her stop and turn back around. She went to answer it, her stomach churning, and praying it wasn’t Zach.

Jayce Corbin, one of Devin’s deacons, stood there. Jayce could be rough, but nothing compared to Zach. She sighed in relief. “Hi, Jayce. Won’t you come in?” She stepped aside and he walked in.

“Nice place.”

“Thanks.” She looked around nervously. “I, um, just got home and haven’t showered yet. Do you... mind waiting a few minutes?” She winced as she waited for his answer.

Jayce frowned, then shrugged. “Yeah. Just hurry.”

She gave him a small smile and hurried into the bedroom, where Peter was getting dressed. She glanced back at the door. “Someone’s... here to see me. He’s one of Devin’s deacons.”

Peter frowned and muttered something in Russian. “Does he hurt you too?”

Anna drew her brows together. “Sometimes.” She hurried into the bathroom and took the fastest shower she could. When she was done, she braided her hair and pulled on her robe before going out to get Jayce.

Peter was gone when she walked out to the living room and Jayce sat on the couch, playing with his phone. He raised his eyebrow at her and for a minute, she couldn’t figure out why. Then she remembered that he liked her submissive and dropped to her knees by the bedroom door.

“Robe,” Jayce said, walking past her into the bedroom.

She quickly untied her robe and dropped it to the floor.

“It hasn’t been that long, Anna. Is your memory going?”

“No, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

He tugged on her braid, and she stood and followed him into the bedroom. “Do you still have the toys?”

“Yes, sir.” She went to the closet and pulled out a bag of the things Jayce liked to play with and handed it to him, then went back to her knees.

“Naughty girl. I think you need a spanking and a reminder of what I like.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chapter 24

Anna walked Jayce to the door and then returned to the bedroom to change the sheets. Peter was nowhere to be seen and she struggled to get the fitted sheet into place. She was exhausted and sore and just wanted to go to sleep, but the sheet wouldn’t cooperate.

Crying out in frustration, she tugged again, and the two corners she’d managed to get into place snapped off and landed in the middle of the bed. She collapsed on the floor in a heap of tears, pulling the sheet down over herself. Peter would be angry, she was sure of it.

---