He got a mischievous look in his eyes. “Just practice?”
Anna bit her lip. “Hugo....”
Hugo smiled. “I was kidding, Anna. When do you have to be holed up?”
“Starting tomorrow.”
“Okay. How about Thursday and Friday?”
Anna nodded. “Okay.”
*****
Wednesday and Thursday dragged on and on. Simon called her on Wednesday and told her that Mr. J. was unavailable this weekend, but assured her that he had plans for her for the next weekend. Part of her was relieved. At least she didn’t have to say she couldn’t go, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. J. was losing interest in her.
Hugo came over on Thursday afternoon. They moved the furniture to the side of the room and went through the parts of his ballet that they could manage in the small space.
“Too bad we can’t go onto the terrace,” Anna said, catching her breath. “There’s more room out there.” Tom had put the same restrictions on her as before.
“We’ll just do what we can,” Hugo said, taking a drink of water. He walked over to the stereo. “Ready to try again?”
Anna nodded. She moved into position and they began the dance again. She loved dancing with him. She loved also that he asked for suggestions when something wasn’t working quite right, and even used some of them. They worked together to make the dance as beautiful as it could be.
“Do you think this pose?” Hugo asked, holding her wrists as she extended them behind her back. “Or this?” He turned her around and put his hands on her waist, holding her close.
Anna’s heart pounded as she stared into his kind eyes, rapidly darkening with passion. He brought his hand to her cheek and leaned in his head towards her. “Hugo....” she whispered, lifting her face to his. She shouldn’t kiss him. She shouldn’t....
His lips brushed against hers for a moment before he captured her lips with his own. Anna ran her hands up his damp t-shirt and over his shoulders. His tongue probed her mouth and she moaned softly. She was feeling lonely and his attention was very welcome. She didn’t know if she could resist him tonight. She didn’t know if she wanted to resist him tonight.
*****
Aaron was looking forward to getting home and calling Cameron. He never expected to be in a relationship with a guy, but it had happened and he liked it. He liked Cameron. A lot. Sometimes he missed the softness of a woman, but Cameron was so loving and accepting...he really couldn’t complain.
He walked out into the lobby and stopped short. “Wilhelm?” he exclaimed. “Kurt?”
The distinguished Germans turned and smiled kindly at him. “Hello, Aaron,” Wilhelm said. “How are you doing?”
“Good.” He went and shook hands in greetings with both men. Why were they here? He thought they were supposed to be in Philadelphia.
“We thought we would catch you after rehearsal and walk over to your apartment with you. Anna....” He sighed. “Anna is ignoring our calls again.”
Aaron pressed his lips together. He knew exactly why she was doing that. Kurt was an ass and Wilhelm wasn’t acting very sympathetic towards her. But, Aaron knew better than to rebuke his Elder. “All right.” They walked outside and headed to his apartment. “I thought you guys were going to Philly.”
“We do not have to be there until tomorrow and thought we would stop by and visit,” Wilhelm said. “I have not seen Anna since she got here.”
Aaron didn’t need to be reminded of that fact, but grunted in reply.
“How is she doing?” Kurt asked.
“Okay. I think she gets lonely when she has to stay in the apartment all day. But Hugo went over this afternoon, so at least she has some company.”
“Hugo?” Kurt asked. “I thought they broke up.”
Aaron frowned. He knew how hard that had been on Anna. “Yeah, but they still dance together. Hugo’s having her dance in his new ballet.”
“Oh.”
They arrived at the apartment a few minutes later. Aaron unlocked the door and was surprised to not hear music playing. He looked in the living room and didn’t see Anna. Where was she?
Wilhelm and Kurt looked around the room. “Where is she?” Wilhelm asked.
Aaron shrugged. “Probably in her room. Must have finished early. I’ll go get her.” And warn her that they were here. Aaron invited Wilhelm and Kurt to sit down and went to go get Anna.
He lifted his hand to knock on her door and heard something...unexpected. A moan. A moan from a man...and then Anna moaned, too. Who was she with? And how did he keep the Germans from finding out?
He winced as he knocked loudly. He hated interrupting something like that, but he really didn’t have a choice. Anna didn’t answer and he knocked again, cursing to himself.
“What do you want?” Anna called, her voice impatient and annoyed.
“Anna...I....” Aaron cursed again. “Can I open the door?”
“No!” she yelled and then giggled.
Aaron took a deep breath and opened the door and then gasped. Hugo was in bed with Anna, naked and on top of her. Anna’s pale legs and arms wrapped around his dark body tightly. He closed the door quickly and Anna looked over Hugo’s shoulder at him.
“Aaron!” she shrieked.
Hugo jumped and reached for the blanket, but not before Aaron found out that what they said about black men was true. Wow. Suddenly he wished Hugo was gay.
“What the fuck are you doing, Aaron?” Hugo exclaimed, covering both himself and Anna with the blanket.
“Wilhelm and Kurt are here,” Aaron said, closing his eyes.
*****
Anna gasped at Aaron’s words. She had thoroughly been enjoying Hugo’s attentions when Aaron barged in. She was furious, until Aaron told her that her father-in-law and fiancé were here.
“Oh, no!” she exclaimed and looked at Hugo with frightened eyes.
Hugo grimaced. “The Germans, right?”
Anna nodded and looked over at Aaron. “Why are they here?”
“Because you’ve been ignoring their calls.”
Anna rubbed her face. “Oh, this is not what I need right now.” What would they say when they found out that she had been in bed with Hugo? She was afraid and then her fear turned into anger. They had no right to be upset. She was being discreet. If they had a problem with her being with Hugo, then...well, that was their problem. She looked at Aaron. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Aaron gave her a sad look and then nodded and left.
She looked at Hugo. Ending up in bed with him had not been planned. At all. But, oh, was he an amazing lover!
“You okay?” he asked, running his fingers down her neck.
Anna grimaced. “Yeah. Irritated.”
Hugo leaned down and sucked on her neck. “We can finish later.”
She slid her hand around the back of his head. “I want to finish now.”
Hugo kissed down to her breast and licked her nipple. “Mmm.” He sucked the taut peak, making Anna moan again. “Do you think it wise to leave them waiting?” he murmured.
“I want you back inside me,” she whispered, reaching down for his very impressive cock that was slick from being inside her just moments ago. “I didn’t invite them over,” she said, pulling him until he moved back over her. “They can wait.”
Hugo grinned and kissed her as he pressed himself back inside her. “God, I’ve wanted you for so long, Kittycat,” he moaned.
Anna wrapped her arms around him, loving the feel of him inside her. “Me too.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Wilhelm sighed and looked out the window. Would Anna avoid coming out here? He knew she was upset with him. He hadn’t been as attentive as he should have been, but he had his reasons.
“Hello, Wilhelm. Hello, Kurt.”
Wilhelm spun around to see his precious Anna and was shocked to see her wearing a robe and a frown on her face. What was more surprising was to see a man standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder. He assumed thi
s was Hugo.
Kurt stood, looking upset. Wilhelm stared in disbelief. It was quite obvious what they had been doing. His jaw clenched, and he took a deep breath to calm his anger. How could she stand there so defiantly with Kurt in the same room? Had she grown that cold? He knew Kurt had told her that they couldn’t be together until they were married and that Kurt hadn’t exactly been nice to her the last few times he’d seen her. But to continue seeing her ex-boyfriend? That didn’t seem like her at all.
“Hello, Anna,” Wilhelm said in a strained voice.
“I thought you were going to Philadelphia,” she said softly.
“We do not have to be there until tomorrow morning. You have been asking when I was going to come visit you....” He shrugged. “This was a good opportunity.”
Anna grimaced and looked at Kurt. “I thought you were going to call me when you were coming out.”
Her attitude worried Wilhelm. And irritated him. He took another deep breath and walked over to where she was standing. “Hello,” he said to the man. “I am Wilhelm Kunze Herzogin von Hesse.”
The man smiled and extended his hand. “I’m Hugo Sintzenich. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Wilhelm thought he detected a hint of a German accent. “You are German?” he asked.
Hugo nodded and glanced at Kurt. “Yes,” he responded in German. “I grew up in Dusseldorf.”
Wilhelm chuckled. Anna certainly liked her Germans.
*****
Anna frowned as Wilhelm and Hugo spoke in German above her. She hated not knowing what they were saying. She was also irritated that Wilhelm was here. She huffed and turned to leave the room. “Let me know when you want to talk to me,” she snapped and began walking away.
“Anna.” Wilhelm’s voice was low and full of warning. Crap. But she wouldn’t back down. She and Hugo were finally together the way they wanted to be. She wasn’t going to let anything change that. She turned back around and her eyes widened slightly at the sternness in Wilhelm’s eyes.
“Would you mind excusing us, Hugo?” Wilhelm said politely. “I need to speak with Anna for a bit.”
Hugo glanced at Anna and then back at Wilhelm. “Of course.” He turned to Anna. “I will see you tomorrow afternoon?” he said, affection in his eyes.
Anna smiled softly at him. Oh, how her heart swelled at his affection. “I’ll walk you to the door.” She stopped at the door, just out of view of Wilhelm and Kurt. She reached up and caressed his cheek. “I really enjoyed this afternoon.”
He pulled her close. “I did too.” He bent down and kissed her deeply. “Call me if you want me to come back over tonight,” he said softly.
A thrill ran through her body at the idea of him staying the night with her. Of being with him again. “I might do that,” she said with a smile.
He grinned and kissed her again. “I will await your call,” he murmured, and then left.
Anna returned to the living room and raised her eyebrows at Wilhelm. “What did you want to talk about?”
Wilhelm frowned. “I thought you two broke up.”
Anna shrugged. “We did.”
“And yet you are sleeping with him still?” Kurt asked, his voice accusing.
She glanced at Kurt and rolled her eyes. “Still? It was our first time together, Wilhelm.”
Wilhelm’s frown deepened, as if he didn’t believe her. “So you admit to cheating on Kurt?”
Anna’s mouth dropped open in shock and then her eyes narrowed. “Cheating? Really?” She glared at Kurt. “What would you call fucking Jasmine?”
Wilhelm’s brow raised and he looked at Kurt. “What is she talking about?”
Kurt’s eyes narrowed. “I have not been with her since the first time I came out.”
“Yeah, you just did it the same night you threw my engagement ring at me. Why the hell do you care what I do? You told me if I was discreet, you didn’t care what I did.”
“So, you hook up with your ex?” Kurt snapped. “How can I trust that it is not just physical?”
“Why does it matter what I feel about him?”
Kurt sighed and got a pained look on his face. “Look, Anna. I know I have not handled things well, but—”
“Handled things well? You flew all the way here from Germany to yell at me!”
“I found you in another man’s bed!”
“You said I could do what I wanted to!”
“You were not being discreet!”
Anna growled. “I was this time. It’s not my fault you came uninvited.”
“Enough!” Wilhelm's deep voice filled the room as he stared, unbelieving, at Anna. “What has gotten into you, Anna?”
“Me?” she exclaimed. “Kurt’s the one who’s turned into an asshole.”
“I told y—” Kurt began.
“He is your fiancé, Anna,” Wilhelm said. “He deserves your respect.”
“I didn’t ask for him to be my fiancé. In fact....” She glared at Kurt. “...he didn’t even ask me. He just told me and threw the ring at me.”
Wilhelm frowned at Kurt.
“I did not throw it,” he muttered.
“Regardless of how it happened, Anna, you are still engaged to him and you need to act accordingly.”
“I don’t want to be engaged to him!” She threw her hands up in disgust. “I was told that I was free! You told me, and Tom told me, that I was free. Then Kurt shows up and tells me I have to marry him? Not ask. Tell.”
“Anna, things have changed,” Wilhelm said softly. “I need you to trust me.”
“Why?” she huffed. “So you can ignore me again?”
“Anna, that is enough.” Wilhelm gave her a warning look. “You have no idea what is going on, and I need you to trust me.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “No.”
Wilhelm’s jaw clenched and he took a very deep breath. She knew she’d made him mad. Good. Then he’d know how she felt.
She put every ounce of her anger and frustration into the look she gave him, then turned on her heel and stalked toward her bedroom.
“Anna, come back!” Wilhelm commanded in a loud voice.
Anna froze. She had to obey. She didn’t want to obey. She trembled as she fought within herself. “No!” she yelled, and took another step away and then screeched and fell to her knees as her head exploded in blinding pain.
*****
Aaron ran out into the living room to see Anna curled up in a ball, holding her head. He’d heard the shouting and had been rather impressed at Anna holding her own, but the scream had concerned him.
“What the hell did you do?” he asked, running to Anna to comfort her.
“Aaron, stay away from her,” Wilhelm ordered sharply. “She has been disobedient.”
Aaron gave Wilhelm an exasperated look. “You can’t be serious.”
“Aaron, back off,” he growled, and picked up Anna and carried her to the couch.
Her face was screwed up like she was in a tremendous amount of pain and tears ran down her cheeks. Aaron looked at Kurt, who watched her with pained eyes.
Wilhelm stroked her hair back from her face. “Anna, will you stop rebelling?”
She didn’t answer right away. She started to shake her head and she shrieked again and grabbed her head.
“What the fuck is going on?” Aaron growled. “What are you doing to her?”
“He is not doing anything, Aaron,” Kurt said softly. “She is doing it to herself.”
Aaron could hardly bear to watch her and turned around. “What is she doing?”
“She ignored a command from her Master,” Kurt said. “The pain will not stop until she stops rebelling.” He gave Aaron a small smile. “I never knew she could be so stubborn.”
Aaron frowned. “I did.” Anna shrieked again and Aaron winced. “I suppose I never imagined her acting out to your father, though.”
Kurt sighed and pressed his lips together. “Aaron, please believe me. I never wanted to hur
t her.”
“Then why did you?”
“I did not mean to...I just....” He shook his head. “I cannot explain it right now.” He gave Aaron a pleading look. “Please encourage her to trust us. I promise everything will make sense soon.” He turned back to look at Anna with such longing on his face, Aaron hurt for him.
“All right,” Aaron said after a few minutes. “But can you stop being such a jerk?”
Kurt nodded. “I never wanted to be a jerk.”
*****
Wilhelm stroked Anna’s hair back from her face as she slowly calmed down. He was truly amazed at the amount of stubbornness in this little girl. Well, she wasn’t a girl anymore. She was twenty-five. Oh, how time flies.
“Are you going to punish me?” she asked in a raspy voice, eyes full of fear.
“Do I need to?” he asked gently.
She swallowed nervously. “You are my Master,” she said softly.
He pulled her up into his lap and cradled her head against his chest. “I think you have learned your lesson.” He kissed her forehead and held her until she was completely calm, and then set her on the couch next to him.
Kurt and Aaron had disappeared a while ago, and he was alone with Anna in the apartment.
“Do you love him?” he asked quietly.
“Hugo?”
Wilhelm nodded.
She didn’t answer right away, instead twisting her hands in the tie of her robe. “I don’t know. I might. I care for him immensely.”
Wilhelm was fairly certain that Hugo cared for her just as much.
“We broke up because of what you told me about marrying Kurt. That was the only reason.”
“Ah.” He hoped she would forgive him for what he was about to say. “Anna, I must forbid you from having sex with him anymore. It is not a good idea for you to become attached to him, or anyone for that matter.”
She stared at her hands. “Yes, Wilhelm,” she said after a moment.
He saw something hit the side of her hand resting in her lap and realized it was a tear.
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 21
