Page 33 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

She shook her head emphatically. “No, Aaron. I couldn’t do that to you. Don’t you remember what happened to Ben? He sent Nate away. He sent Kurt away. Even Alex died.” She gave him a pleading look. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.” She took his hand with both of hers. “I need you too much.”

Aaron jutted out his chin and nodded. “Okay.” He sighed. “Then please stop pushing me away. And Jenna. And Travis. We care about you and want—‍” He stopped and looked over Anna’s head and narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”

Anna turned around to see Peter watching them with a suspicious expression on his face. She released Aaron’s hand and stepped away, clasping her hands in front of her hips.

“What are you two talking about?” Peter raised his eyebrows and walked closer. But it wasn’t a curious look. It was borderline menacing.

Anna’s lungs tightened in her chest, fearing what he would do to Aaron if he suspected anything was going on between them. “I was telling Aaron that I was glad he was my friend.”

Peter narrowed his eyes as he looked between the two of them. “He doesn’t look at you as just a friend.”

“Please, Peter...” She stepped closer and looked directly up into his eyes. “He’s just a friend,” she said in a slow, deliberate manner.

Peter looked back at Aaron and then at Anna. He nodded and strolled away.

Aaron stepped closer. “Is he also a spy?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” She watched Peter walk toward the dressing rooms and looked back at Aaron. “That’s why I stay away from you.”

Aaron clenched his jaw and sighed. “I don’t like that, Anna.”

“I’m sorry. I wish...” She sighed. “I wish so many things were different.” She turned and hurried away, praying he wouldn’t follow.

“May I drive you home?”

Anna jumped at the sound of Peter’s voice as she walked out of the dressing room after the Sunday evening performance finished. She opened her mouth to say no, but he raised his eyebrows and tilted his head.

She smoothed her face into her practiced smile. “Yes, thank you.” She just wanted to be left alone and Devin was forcing her into a relationship. Peter would probably tell Devin everything she did, too.

Peter held her hand as they headed toward the exit, but a few steps later, he abruptly stopped and pulled her close. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed her. She kissed him back without thinking about it, sliding her hands up his chest and over his shoulders.

His kiss was confident. He knew she wouldn’t pull away. Not like other first kisses she’d had, where the guy had been hesitant and gentle. Peter probed her lips with his tongue and demanded entry. He held her tight against his body, as if to prevent her from escaping.

“There. Now maybe those women will stop flirting with me,” he murmured against her lips.

Anna opened her eyes and looked up at him, then turned to see several dancers watching them. The girls all looked disappointed. She looked back at his chest. “I won’t avoid you anymore.”

His eyes were dark as he gazed down at her. “Good.” He backed away and took her hand again. They walked outside and made their way to his car in the parking garage.

He backed out of the parking space. “Your place or mine?”

“Place...” Anna stared at him, brows drawn together. Then she sucked in a sharp breath as she remembered. It was Sunday night. They were going to have sex. “I really should shower before anything happens.”

Peter nodded. “Alright. Your place.”

Anna twisted her fingers together as he drove to her apartment. He produced a parking card for her garage and found a spot a few minutes later. “Devin gave me the card so I wouldn’t have to worry about parking. He says it’s rather difficult sometimes.”

“Yeah...” How would she know anything about that? She didn’t have a car.

He walked around the car and opened her door, and they took the elevator up to her floor. The entire journey was silent.

Anna chewed her lip as she unlocked the door and walked into her apartment. It really was rather pathetic. A long hallway led to the back center of the apartment. To the left was a tiny kitchen. To the right, a tiny bathroom. Up ahead was the living area. Her mattress, covered by a fitted sheet with a blanket balled up in the middle, was in the area to the right. Her couch was on the other side, pushed up against the half-wall that separated the kitchen from the living area. The TV sat across from that, next to the only window in the place.

Peter stopped in the center of the living area, his lip curled in disgust. “Next time we’ll go to my place.” Peter turned in a circle. “You can keep whatever you need there until we move in together.” He looked at her. “Are you going to go shower?”

Anna blinked and scurried into the bathroom. Well, at least he hadn’t yelled or hit her. Yet.

After she had showered and washed her hair, she pulled on her pink satin robe and walked out to find Peter lounging on her couch watching TV. He had taken off his shirt and sat with one hand behind his head, his bicep flexed. His upper body was trim and well defined, with a thick carpet of black hair on his chest that tapered down below his navel to disappear under his jeans. He laughed at something on the TV and his mouth opened to reveal straight white teeth under full lips that looked almost too sensuous for a man. He glanced up at her and smiled. “You’re much prettier without all that stage makeup on.”

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