Anna’s heart fluttered at his touch. And his understanding. “I’d like that.”
They said their good-byes and headed towards the exit. Alex had promised Aaron he’d not have her out too late, to which Aaron told him that maybe he should.
*****
Anna curled up next to Alex in the back of the town car, resting her head on his chest and sighing. She traced his fingers on his right hand, running her finger over his wedding ring. “You still wear it,” she commented, feeling guilty that she’d taken hers off.
“Hugo is a good man, Anna. I understand why you removed yours. But,” he took a deep breath. “I hope you will be willing to put it back on someday in the near future.” He cupped her chin and brought her face up. “But only when you are ready. I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Your father told me that if I...didn’t want to be with you, that he would permit a divorce.”
“Ja, I know. I asked him to.”
Anna gasped. “You did?”
“Schatzi, love forced is not love at all. I spoke to him and told him that you needed to know that you were totally free to choose me. To choose us. You needed to know you could walk away. Then, and only then, would I know that you truly wanted to be with me.”
“But you are still my Master,” Anna said softly.
“Ja, Anna. I am. But, unless your life is in danger, I will not command you to do anything. I give you my word.”
Silence filled the car for a few minutes as Anna continued to trace his ring. “Did you...I mean, is there a way for me to be free?”
She heard his heartbeat increase and he took a deep breath. “I believe so,” he said softly. “It’s never been done before, but Sebastian believes it will work.”
“What is it?” She tensed, afraid of what it involved.
“To simply not perform the final ritual. I could perform it, but then you would be permanently bonded as a slave to me. You would be my mindless slave instead of Devin’s. I don’t want that. I want you free.”
“But your father said I would always belong to him.”
Alex sighed. “It’s true, to an extent. Your father gave you to him. But that is a different gift. Devin forced you to be his slave, and I did as well. To prevent him from totally controlling you. Those bonds, we believe, will dissolve once your birthday passes and no final ritual is performed. You were given to Vati as an Elder-Mistress, not as a slave.”
“Can that be undone?”
Alex hesitated. “Nein, but Vati and I spoke extensively, and agreed that if you do not want to continue to be an Elder-Mistress, we would not use you as such. Technically, you still would be, but just...unused in that manner.”
“So you just hide me away until after my birthday?”
“Nein. I must confront Devin. I must...demonstrate before the Elders that I am more powerful than he so that my decisions are not contested.”
“You’re really going to confront him?”
“I must.”
“He’s so powerful, though.”
“Not as he was when you were with him. And I have the element of surprise in my favor. He believes I am still in St. Petersburg. Neither Vlad nor Peter will tell him different.”
“So...when do you have to confront him?”
“It can be done any time before your birthday, but we have chosen a time.” His voice lowered and he became very somber.
“When?” she whispered.
“At Tyler’s funeral.”
“Tyler?” Anna exclaimed. “But Tyler’s not....” She trailed off. “You’re going to kill him?”
“He is my last target.”
“Oh.” Anna shuddered. “When?”
“The first week in November.”
“And sometime between now and then, you’re going to...take care of Oscar?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“Ja.”
“Oh.” Anna’s mind felt a little numb. To hear him speak of killing people was so...he was so dangerous. It was a little frightening.
“Anna, I know what Oscar did to you. The night Devin killed you.”
She inhaled a shaky breath, horrible memories flooding her mind.
“I know what the Sons did to you, that’s why they’re included on my list.”
Anna blinked back tears, emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Alex was the only person who could truly protect her. Could truly avenge her. Could truly confront Devin and win.
“Devin will suffer, Schatzi, for what he did to you. I promise you. If Jack were alive, he would be right there next to him.” Alex gave a small smile. “But you already avenged yourself on him.” He cradled her cheek and kissed her gently. “You are a strong woman Anna. A woman worthy of an Elder.”
“I’ve never felt strong before,” she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
“That’s because Devin never wanted you to. He beat you down so that you would not know the strength inside you. I admire your strength.” He grinned. “I liked that you stood up to me tonight.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “You did?”
He nodded. “It was very sexy.”
Anna let out a giggle and Alex’s grin broadened. “My favorite sound.” He brought his face close to hers. “I love you, Schatzi. I loved you when you were young and scared. I love you still, now that you are older and strong. You are the most beautiful woman in the world. Both inside and out.”
His lips caressed hers lightly and Anna slid her hand up his hard chest and around his neck. He traced the outline of her lips with his tongue before slipping between her parted teeth. She let out a soft moan and his kiss deepened. He held her tightly against him and she could feel his desire; it matched her own. When he pulled away, as the car stopped in front of his building, her lips were swollen.
She traced his cheekbones and ran her fingertips over his smooth cheeks with a smile. “I like that you shaved.”
“I thought you might,” he kissed her gently and then stepped out through the open door, extending his hand to assist her. “Kom mit mir, mein Liebe.”
They rode in the elevator up to the top floor. Anna looked at him for a moment in the reflection of the elevator doors and then reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Kiss me again,” she whispered.
He grinned and did so. She barely heard the elevator ding and didn't register it had stopped until he picked her up and carried her to a door set in an angled wall. “Is it all right if I carry you in?” he murmured against her lips.
She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and nodded. She didn’t want to be put down, she didn’t want to leave his arms. She wanted...she wanted him to make love to her. She looked up into his face as he opened the door and walked into a circular entry hall.
He smiled and moved to put her onto her feet but she shook her head. He raised his brows, questions in his eyes.
She cradled his cheek and leaned up to kiss him. “Make love to me,” she whispered.
He stared at her for a moment, studying her eyes, and then nodded. She saw in his eyes that he understood. She needed to be with him. Needed to reestablish their bond. She was his wife, and there was no one in the world who could take his place. She may have loved other men while he was gone, but he had her heart and always would.
*****
Their lovemaking was long and sweet and earth shattering. Alex gazed into her eyes as he joined his body with hers. The sensation of him inside her, filling her, without the barrier of the condom he’d used as Mr. J. brought tears to her eyes.
“You are mine,” he whispered. “I have taken your body as you have given it to me.” He wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks and smiled gently. “We are husband and wife. Nothing can separate us.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he began to move. His piercings rubbed her in just the right way and she moaned loudly. He kissed her deeply and then murmured in German. Her head spun as a powerful orgasm began deep inside her.
Her eyes closed as she felt herself melding
with him, as they had on their wedding day. Their souls touched once more, renewing the bond between them, stronger now because Anna was a stronger woman than before. She felt his strength wrap around her like a shield and it was a welcome sensation.
They were one once again.
Chapter Thirty Five
Alex gazed tenderly at his beloved wife, his treasure, sleeping peacefully in his bed. He ran his hand down her exposed arm, marveling at how soft her skin was. He caressed her flushed cheek and smoothed her hair back from her face.
Making love to her had not been expected, but had been oh-so welcome. He felt whole again. For the first time in a long time, he felt like himself. His whole self. They completed each other. It was as simple as that.
She’d fallen asleep over a half hour ago and all he could do was lay there and watch her sleep, his heart full of love and gratefulness that they were together again. He knew she’d felt the bond restored as he had. He smiled, anticipating seeing her wedding ring back in its proper place soon.
A soft knock sounded on the door. “Come,” he called softly, hoping he wouldn’t wake Anna.
The door opened and Tony peeked his head in. He saw Anna lying there and grinned. Not in lust, but in happiness that she was back where she belonged.
“Are you going to deal with Jasmine?” Tony asked in a quiet voice.
Fuck. He’d forgotten about that woman. He grinned at the idea that she’d heard Anna scream out in passion as she came, and then shivered in blissful memory of the sensation of being inside her body. Oh, he would do that every day for the rest of his life and still not get enough.
“Yes. Is Sebastian here?”
Tony nodded. “He seems pleased.”
“He better be.” Alex grinned and sat up. “I’ll be out in a moment.”
Tony nodded and closed the door behind him softly. Alex stood and walked to his closet to get dressed in something other than the wrinkled dress clothes that had been tossed aside earlier. He glanced back at Anna’s small form in his large bed and sighed in contentment.
Only a few more weeks and she would be safe from Devin forever.
*****
Alex walked into the family room and saw Jasmine sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV that his men were watching and laughing at. She looked up as he walked into the room and started to give him a flirtatious smile, but he frowned and she bit her lip instead.
Sebastian, standing in the back of the room, gave him an amused smile when he walked in. “Feeling better?” he asked.
Alex couldn’t suppress his grin and nodded. Having Anna back in his life made him feel like he could take on the world. “Is that a bad thing?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Not at all. She seemed to enjoy herself.”
“These walls aren’t as soundproof as my last house, eh?” Alex chuckled.
“No. And she’s quite an enthusiastic lover.”
Alex frowned at his friend. “You didn’t...while I was gone, did you?”
“Alex, I wasn’t here, remember? If I could have been here, you would have been freed long before you were.”
“I hate those rules.”
Sebastian shrugged. “I didn’t make them.”
“You slept with his wife?” Jasmine asked, turning around on the couch.
Alex smiled. “Yes. In fact,” he motioned around the room. “All of my men have. Granted, it was before we were married.” He smiled, knowing Jasmine wouldn’t remember any of it in the morning.
“She really is a slut,” Jasmine spat.
“And what makes you any better?” Alex retorted.
She opened her mouth and then closed it, clearly uncertain on how to respond. “I’m not a cock tease.”
Alex stared at the woman in disbelief. “You do realize you’re speaking of my wife, right?”
Jasmine shrugged and stood, a seductive glint in her eye. “C’mon, Alex. She can’t be that good.”
Alex stared at her for a moment and then looked around the room. The other men were suppressing laughs and the amusement struck him and he laughed. “She could make your legs turn weak, and she doesn’t even like being with women all that much.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “I doubt it.”
In a shallow moment, Alex wished Anna was awake so he could prove her wrong. “You can’t have been that good, otherwise my brother would have mentioned you.”
“She couldn’t be that good, or else Kurt wouldn’t have come to me.”
“If my brother had slept with her, I would have kicked his ass.” His eyes narrowed. “If I’d known he was so desperate that he slept with you, I would have allowed him to be with Anna.”
“You would have let your brother sleep with your wife?” Jasmine’s eyes were wide.
“I know my brother cares deeply for her, despite his behavior these last few months. He’d asked her to marry him before, but—”
“Alex, why are you justifying yourself to her?” Sebastian asked quietly in German. “You don’t need to prove anything to her.”
Alex sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Sebastian was right. He was acting shallow and foolish. “How should we do this?” he asked in English, wanting to frighten Jasmine before making her forget everything.
Sebastian shrugged and walked towards Jasmine, studying her. “How far do you want to go?”
“What are you talking about?” she asked in a nervous voice.
“You are a threat to the woman I love,” Alex said in a menacing voice. “I will not allow any harm to come to Anna.”
Jasmine’s face turned pale. “I wouldn’t really do anything to her,” she squeaked.
“I won’t take your word for it,” Alex growled, making Jasmine jump.
“Please don’t kill me,” she whispered.
Alex gave a wicked smile. “You haven’t done anything to deserve that. Yet.” He felt his anger bubbling to the surface. “And you won’t be allowed to get to that point.”
He glanced at Sebastian. They were going to erase all memories of Devin and hopefully, make her into a more pleasant person to be around. He was glad Sebastian was here. The last thing he wanted to do was fry her mind.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Warmth surrounded Anna like sunlight on a warm day. She stretched and then smiled at the sound of a deep chuckle next to her. Alex! He was alive! She was with him, snuggled up close in bed.
She slowly opened her eyes, wanting to cherish every second of waking up next to her beloved husband for the first time in years. The smile on his face and the love in his eyes made her heart pound.
“Guten Morgen,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her gently on the lips. His arm was bent at the elbow, head resting on his hand and his hand rested heavily on her ribs. A good heavy.
“Good morning,” she responded. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her and she noticed a round scar on his right side, just under his clavicle near his shoulder. Her hand ran up his chest to trace the light spot with her finger. “What happened?”
He looked down and frowned for a moment. “I pissed someone off and they shot me.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh, Alex.” She leaned up and kissed the spot. “Did it hurt?”
Alex chuckled. “Hurt like hell, but no permanent damage.”
Anna’s body tingled as she ran her tongue over the slightly raised skin and pressed her body to his, sliding her hand around his back.
“Mmm,” he rumbled and rolled to his back, bringing her with him.
His cock teased her pussy and she squirmed and tried to lower herself on his body to take him inside her. Grasping her hips, he obliged, pushing her down; her wet, swollen folds separated and allowed him in.
They both sighed as he filled her completely and lay there for a few minutes, feeling each other in the most intimate fashion. Anna’s head lay on his chest and she heard his heart pounding. She shifted her hips slightly and the pounding got louder and quicker.
She grinned and lifted her
head to look at him with mischief in her eyes.
“You did that on purpose,” he accused with a smile. She shrugged innocently and his smile turned into a grin. He mumbled something in German and grasped her hips, holding her still as he slammed up into her.
“Oh!” she exclaimed in surprised passion and sat up slightly, hands on his smooth, hard chest. She tried to move with him, but his strong hands held her firm as he repeatedly pounded his full length inside her. His abdominals contracted with every thrust and the muscles in his upper body flexed as he held her immobile. Her head fell backwards and she moaned loudly as he took her with loving force. “Oh, God, Alex!” she screamed as she came with such force it nearly blinded her. The colors exploded inside her like fireworks, consuming her every thought and nerve. His hands tightened on her waist, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he exploded inside her, shouting, “Oh, mein Anna!”
She slumped forward onto his chest, her muscles unable to hold her body upright. Alex stroked her back slowly and she listened as his heartbeat slowed. “I think that’s my favorite sound,” she murmured, tracing a finger around his nipple in front of her face.
“What is?”
“Your heartbeat. The most wonderful sound in the world.”
“Schatzi...,” he murmured, squeezing his arms around her.
“Can we stay here forever?”
His chest rumbled as he chuckled. “I would love to, but you have class this morning and, as much money as I donated to the Company, I don’t think Vincent would appreciate me keeping his favorite dancer in bed all day.”
“You really donated a lot?”
He chuckled again. “I wanted to make sure I could have as much access to see you as I could. Vincent offered to rename the theater after me, but that’s not why I did it.”
“Does he know who you are? I mean, that you’re my husband?”
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 29
