She sighed. She wouldn’t come up with any answers until she knew him better. If she got to know him better. Part of the thrill was not knowing who he was. She grinned as she gathered her things. Maybe she’d check out a mystery novel at the library tomorrow.
*****
“Okay, spill the beans, missy!” Cameron demanded.
They sat at an organic restaurant a few blocks from their apartment building and Anna said she wouldn’t tell him until they’d ordered. The tortured look on Cameron’s face when she told him that was priceless.
They’d walked past the condo where Mr. J. lived and she’d looked up, wondering which floor was his. It wasn’t a very tall building; eleven or twelve stories at the most. Too bad her apartment faced the opposite direction so she couldn’t spy on him.
Anna giggled and began telling him all that had transpired. She left out the part about the rings. Cameron had promised he wouldn’t tell anyone and she trusted him. Of course, she would tell Aaron when he got home tomorrow though.
They had their entrees and were halfway through them before he’d asked his last question.
He stared at her in awe. “That is so awesome. I’m so happy for you.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “It’s not like anything is going to come from it.”
“Fantastic sex is nothing to sneeze at, girlfriend,” he said, jabbing a piece of lettuce at her. “Maybe it’ll wake Kurt up if he knows you have a...what’s a male mistress called?”
She laughed and shrugged. “A lover?” Mr. J. was European. Maybe he was even German. That would please Kurt. “Maybe Kurt will let me keep him.” After all, even Kurt’s mother had a lover.
They both giggled at the thought.
*****
Later that afternoon, Anna had finished her trashy romance novels and decided to go to the library today rather than tomorrow. Aaron would be home tomorrow and she wanted to spend time with him. Besides, she wanted to read something new. She put her books in her backpack and headed out.
As she passed Mr. J.’s building, she looked up, again wondering who he was. She shrugged her shoulders and crossed the street to the park. She glanced back again and looked up at the top of the building. She could see the tops of trees. Was it a terrace of some sort?
A shiver ran through her body as she felt someone watching her. Someone from up there. Was it Mr. J.? She squinted and could just make out the outline of two people standing between two trees. The sky was overcast, making a gray background and she could just see them moving. Was it him?
She waved and then blushed, feeling foolish. But her heart skipped a beat when she could have sworn he waved back. Anna covered her mouth in shock, and turned and walked away quickly.
She berated herself all the way through the park. What if it wasn’t Mr. J.? What if she’d just waved to a complete stranger and looked foolish? What if she’d just waved to a statue?
Anna stopped at Rockefeller Center as usual and went to buy a soda from Levi. He gave her a big grin. “Hey Katrina. I was gonna call you when I got off. Wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight.”
Anna blushed. “Really?”
“Yeah. I meant to call you Thursday, but I got called into work and had a double shift yesterday too.” He shook his head. “If you have plans already, I understand.”
“No. I was just heading to the library.”
“Today’s Saturday.”
Anna gave him a mischievous grin. “I’m daring to do something different.”
“Different is good.” Levi laughed. “Anyway, a buddy of mine is doing a show at a comedy club and got me tickets. I wanted to ask if you were interested in coming with me.”
“That sounds like fun. What time?”
“It starts at ten-thirty. I get off at seven and we could have dinner first.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Cool.” He grinned. “I’ll pick you up at....” He looked at his watch. “How about eight?”
Anna nodded. She took a napkin and wrote down her address and apartment number. He raised his eyebrow when he saw the address. “Nice place.”
“It’s near the studio.”
Levi leaned his hip against the bar. “Ya know, I’ve actually never found out what you do.”
“I never told you?” She was surprised. She certainly didn’t hide it.
He shook his head. “Studio would imply some sort of artist....” He stroked his chin mockingly and laughed. “Singer?”
Anna laughed and shook her head.
“Painter?”
She shook her head again, giggling.
He peered at her over the bar. “Dancer,” he said firmly.
She nodded. “Ah, but what kind?”
He grinned. “Exotic?” he said hopefully.
Anna laughed again. “Sorry, no.”
“Darn,” he said laughing. “Okay. What kind of dancer are you?”
“Ballet.”
His eyes widened. “Wait. Is your last name Engel?”
“You didn’t know?”
He rolled his eyes. “This is the longest conversation we’ve had.”
“True. Yes, that’s my last name.”
“I read about you in the paper. You’re really good.”
Anna blushed. “Thanks.”
“Well, see, now I have to take you out. I have a thing for dancers.” He grinned.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. Eight?”
He nodded.
“What does one wear to a comedy club?”
“Whatever you want.” He gave her a mischievous look. “Less is always better.”
Anna laughed. “I’ll see you tonight.” She picked up her soda and walked towards the exit.
“Looking forward to it,” he called.
She glanced back with a saucy smile and then walked out into the sunshine.
She turned to head to the library and stopped. Did she really want to go to the library right now? She had a date tonight. “I’ll go shopping instead,” she told herself.
She wandered down Fifth Avenue, looking in windows and sipping her soda. She spotted a flowered sundress in one of the windows and wondered if that would be appropriate for a comedy club. It was cute but not very sophisticated. She walked past another shop and saw something that might work. A black satin strapless top and a short pink skirt. It wasn’t a micro-mini like she’d worn the night before, but it was short. She matched some pink-heeled sandals with it and headed home.
*****
Levi arrived a little before eight wearing nicely fitted jeans and a red button-down shirt. Anna had known he was good looking but hadn’t seen him in anything other than the light blue t-shirt he wore tending bar. Yum-my!
They had dinner in the West Village and then headed to the club nearby. As they waited in line, Levi stood behind her and put his arms around her waist. When he kissed her neck gently, electricity shot through her veins and down to her pussy.
“Is that okay?” he whispered in her ear and nipped the lobe gently. “How long has it been since he visited you?”
“Months,” she said, tilting her head slightly. He brushed her hair away from her neck and she shivered.
“Stupid man,” he said quietly, nuzzling behind her ear. “You smell delicious.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, pressing back against him. Her hardened nipples strained against her strapless bra.
He chuckled. “I like the view.”
Anna looked up to see him looking down her top and giggled. “Glad you like it.”
“I’m glad that you’re glad.” He sucked gently on her neck and she let out a shaky breath.
The line began to move suddenly and he released her, but held her hand as they showed their IDs and walked inside.
*****
After many drinks and a whole lot of laughing, they emerged two hours later, Anna clinging to Levi’s arm.
He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. “Come back to my place with me,” he murmured.
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Anna gave him a lazy smile and nodded. He flagged down a taxi and kissed her one last time before helping her in.
She giggled and stumbled slightly as he led her into his apartment that he shared with two other guys; one of them was the comedian they’d seen tonight. They were alone and Levi pulled her to himself and kissed her deeply.
“God, you are so beautiful, Katrina. I’ve wanted to do this since the first day I saw you.”
Anna was pretty sure she was tipsy, if not drunk, and was feeling very good. “Then you should do it.”
He grinned and kissed her again as he walked her backwards into his bedroom.
Chapter Eighteen
The pounding in her head wouldn’t stop. Anna groaned and opened her eyes. Levi opened his eyes a second after hers.
“I’ve got a hellava hangover,” he mumbled, but smiled at her.
There was that pounding again. Anna looked up and realized it wasn’t her head, even though there was definite pounding going on in there too.
Levi frowned. “Fucking roommate.” He kissed her. “Probably forgot his key. I’ll be right back.”
He stood and pulled on his jeans and walked out holding his head.
Anna laughed and rolled to her back and then winced. Oh, she didn’t remember ever feeling like this before. She rubbed her face and then heard loud voices from the living room. What had happened?
“Where is she?” came a familiar voice.
Anna’s heart dropped. Kurt.
“You’re the fiancé?”
“You know about me?”
“Why do you think I took her out, you fucker?”
Anna didn’t hear Kurt’s response as she quickly reached for her clothes. But it was too late and Kurt slammed open the door and took in the sight of her naked, in another man’s bed, and probably with just-fucked hair. His eyes narrowed and he threw something at her.
“Get dressed.”
Anna looked down and saw it was a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She narrowed her eyes at him. “How dare you barge in here on me like this!”
Kurt’s eyes flashed. “How dare I?” he growled. “What the fuck were you doing going out with him anyway?” Between his anger and his accent it was difficult to understand what he was saying, but Anna got the picture. He was angry. It was quite frightening.
Levi appeared behind Kurt. “I’m not going to let you take her and hurt her,” he said calmly.
“I will not hurt her,” Kurt mumbled, glaring at Anna. “Get dressed,” he ordered.
Anna pulled on the clothes before standing nervously by the bed. She glanced at Levi and gave him an apologetic smile. “He won’t hurt me.” She hoped.
There was a pair of flat sandals in the bundle Kurt had thrown and she slipped those on before trying to comb out her hair with her hands.
“You are fine.” He growled and pulled at her hand.
“Let me get my things,” she said pulling her hand away. She picked up her rumpled clothes and purse and stalked out of the room. “I’m sorry, Levi,” she whispered as she walked past him, giving him a sad smile.
“If you ever touch her again, hell will rain down on you,” Kurt threatened, jabbing his finger at Levi’s chest.
Kurt was slightly taller than Levi, and much broader, but Levi refused to shrink beneath his glare. “If I find out you hurt her, I will rain hell down on you,” he retorted.
Kurt looked taken aback, blinked, and then turned with a growl and pulled Anna out of the apartment.
It was a silent ride through the city to Anna’s apartment. When they finally walked into her place, she walked away from him, went to her room and got into the shower without a word.
She was so angry. He hadn’t shown up for two and a half months, even when she was sick, and then showed up the one night she went out and did something “wrong?” Was he having someone follow her? The thought riled her to the core. How dare he!
When she was dressed, she stalked out to the living room where he was pacing. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked, turning to face her.
“Me? What the hell is wrong with you?” she shouted. “You don’t even bother to call me when I’m sick, but decide that today is a great day to come visit me? Or did you know I went out last night?”
“Of course I knew you went out last night. Why else would I be here?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you actually cared about me? That you had recovered from whatever bug had gotten up your ass that turned you into a fucking bastard?”
Kurt’s eyes widened at her words. He was clearly shocked at her attitude. Gone was sweet, docile Anna. Present was Katrina, strong woman of New York. She smiled a little at the image of her standing in the middle of Times Square with her hands on her hips with a red cape streaming out behind her.
“I told you to be discreet.”
“Oh, like you were discreet, meeting up with Jasmine after you threw my engagement ring at me?” Through Stef, Anna had learned that it was her fellow principal dancer, Jasmine, that had met Kurt at his hotel after the Gala. “You fucking asshole,” she shouted as the anger welled up inside her.
“How did you know?” he asked, having the decency to look a little ashamed.
“It’s a fucking dance company, Kurt. I think everyone knows. No wonder I was getting sympathetic looks a week later.”
“There are different standards for men—”
“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 have 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. “You have hurt me far more than any other man ever has,” she said quietly, glaring at him. “I never had expectations for men to treat me other than as a plaything. But you spent years pretending to be nice, and I had expectations 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,” he said gently. “I know I have been an asshole. But I can explain—”
She turned and pushed him away, shooting daggers with her eyes. “I will play your game, Kurt,” she said evenly. “I will be your perfect fiancé. The one that all the Elder-Sons need. I will keep you well pleased in bed and make you feel things you’ve never imagined.” Her eyes turned ice cold. “But I will never love you.”
Anna was surprised at the pained look in his eyes when she looked up into them. “Anna....”
She stepped away. “Don’t. If you want sex, just tell me. I will make all your fantasies come true,” she added in a seductive voice. “Are there any other indiscretions that you are aware of that I need to be more careful about?”
“M-more indiscretions?”
She nodded sweetly. “Do you know about the other men I’ve fucked since you’ve been gone?” Not that there was anyone except Mr. J., but he didn’t need to know that.
“How many are there?”
“You said you didn’t care.”
“Maybe I do care.” He stepped closer with a heated look, reached his hand around her waist and pulled her close. “I care, Anna,” he whispered before crushing her lips to his. She resisted for a moment before remembering that it was her duty to please him and pushed him to the co
uch. He sat down heavily and she knelt between his legs.
She smiled up at him as she unfastened his jeans. “Just like when we met, huh?” she said bitterly and 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 were quickly tightening against his body and he groaned loudly as he came in her mouth. She swallowed everything he gave her and he lay his head back on the couch as she put him back in his pants.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, my lord?” she asked quietly.
He raised his head and looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what she’d just done. He cursed in German and stood quickly. He took two steps away and then turned back around. “Do not make me have to come back and pull you out of another man’s bed, Anna. Use more discretion next time.” He huffed as he turned around and walked out the door.
She stared at the door and then curled up in a ball on the floor and burst into tears.
*****
After she’d calmed down, Anna decided to return her library books and get some new ones to get her mind off of what had happened> She took the shorter route down Columbus Avenue, avoiding Rockefeller Center entirely. When she finally reached the library, she sat down in the atrium, feeling numb. She wanted to forget everything that had happened and bury herself in a book. She buried her face in her hands. How had things turned so bad so fast?
She caught a glimpse of pink on the floor by the staircase as she approached. She walked slowly over and confirmed what she thought it was: a single pink rose. Much like the one Mr. J. had left her. She looked around, wondering who had dropped the rose, but there was no one around. Most people took the elevator, but Anna preferred the carved marble staircase. She looked at it as she walked by, but didn’t touch it. The owner would return for it, but she caught its scent as she stepped by.
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 16
