Page 253 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit, Kurt. I’ve probably fucked three times as many people as you have. I’m not sweet and innocent and you know it. Why are you making me pretend to be? Why the hell did you give me a ring this far from when we could actually get married? You could at least let me have some fun before crushing the life out of me again.”

“I am trying to keep you safe.”

“From what? Having a good time?”

“No. From getting hurt.”

“Ha!” She snorted. “You failed.” She shook her head in disbelief, lowering the volume of her voice. “You have hurt me far more than any other man ever has.” She glared at him. “I never expected much from men. I was born to be their plaything. But you spent years pretending to be nice, and I was stupid enough to expect more from you. God, I was so stupid!” She walked to the window. “You’re all the same,” she said bitterly. “Even Alex abandoned me.”

“How dare you speak about Alex that way! What happened was not his fault.”

“I told him I had a bad feeling about it. That he shouldn’t go.” She clenched her jaw. “But he went anyway.” A sob escaped from her throat. “He broke his promise to me. He didn’t come home.”

Kurt stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Anna... Look, I am sorry about coming here like this. I honestly came to apologize...”

She spun around. “Apologize?” She laughed bitterly and pushed him away. “I will play your game, Kurt. I will be your perfect fiancée. The one that all Elder-Sons need.” She softened her voice, tinging it with seduction. “I will keep you well pleased in bed and make you feel things you’ve never imagined.” Her eyes narrowed and her voice grew harsh again. “But I will never love you.”

His mouth dropped open and he stared at her. “Anna?—‍”

She stepped away. “Don’t. If you want sex, just tell me.” She lowered her voice once more. “I will make all your fantasies come true...” She tilted her head. “Are there any other indiscretions that you’re aware of that I need to be more careful about?”

His eyes widened, dilated as she ran her hand up his chest. “M-more indiscretions?”

She nodded sweetly. “Do you know about the other men I’ve slept with since you’ve been gone?” Not that there was anyone except Mr. J, but he didn’t need to know that.

“H-how many are there?”

“You said you didn’t care.”

He lifted his chin. “Maybe I do care.” He stepped closer, his eyes full of heat, reached his hand around her waist, and pulled her close. “I care, Anna,” he whispered before crushing his lips to hers.

She resisted for a moment before remembering that it was her duty to please him, and pushed him to the couch. He sat down heavily and she slowly kneeled between his legs.

She smiled up at him as she unfastened his jeans. “Just like when we met, huh?” She pulled his cock out to take it into her mouth. She sucked and licked it, running her tongue along the bottom and then swirling it around the head. He groaned and laced his hands through her hair, mumbling in German.

She put forth her best effort and his balls quickly tightened against his body. He groaned loudly as he came in her mouth. She swallowed everything he gave her, and he laid his head back on the couch as she fixed his jeans.

She sat back on her heels, lowered her gaze, and clasped her hands in her lap. “Is there anything else I can do for you, my lord?”

His head snapped up and she felt him staring at her. He cursed in German and jumped to his feet. He took two steps away and then turned back around, pointing a finger at her. “Do not make me come back and pull you out of another man’s bed, Anna. Use more discretion next time.” He huffed and spun around, storming out the apartment door.

She flinched at the slamming door and then curled into a ball on the floor and burst into tears.

Chapter 129

After she had exhausted her tears, Anna splashed cold water on her face and restlessly paced back and forth in the apartment. She needed to do something. Anything. Restlessness consumed her and she decided a walk would help calm her emotions.

She grabbed her backpack and headed to the library, taking the shorter route down Columbus Avenue and avoiding Rockefeller Center. When she finally reached her sanctuary, she sat down in the atrium, feeling numb. She wanted to forget everything that had happened, wanted to forget her troubles for a few moments inside a book.

She buried her face in her hands. How had things turned so bad so fast?

As she sucked in a deep breath and stood, a glimpse of pink on the floor by the staircase caught her eye. She tilted her head and crept across the marble floor, staring at the single pink rose along the wall. Just like the one Mr. J had given her. She looked around, wondering who had dropped the rose, but no one was around. Most people took the elevator, but Anna preferred the elaborately carved marble staircase. She stared at it as she started up the stairs, but didn’t touch it. The owner would return for it. The scent wafted into her nose as she stepped by, and she paused with her hand on the railing and closed her eyes.

The scent instantly transported her back to the magical evening spent with Mr. J. What was he doing now? What had brought him to New York? Why did he want to remain anonymous? His kindness was such a stark contrast to Kurt’s... tantrum.

She smelled the second rose before she saw it, on the landing between floors. It was propped on its end against the wall. No one had dropped this one. Anna frowned at it and looked around. Another rose lay on the wide handrail at the top of the next set of stairs.

What was going on? She hurried up the stairs and stared at a fourth rose propped up against the marble wall like the second one. Curiosity got the better of her when she saw another rose at the end of a table, and instead of going on up to the third floor as she normally did, she approached the table. She looked around, subtly searching for another rose, and her heart leaped when she spotted it at the end of a bookshelf a few yards away. Was this some sort of romantic trail left for someone to follow? And if so, why was she following it?

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