The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared Page 7

  She began to get ready and soon heard the other girls coming in. She was putting her dress on when the other girls began to enter the room. Anna looked in the mirror and hated how she looked. What would Devin do to her in a red dress?

  “Damn, you clean up good,” Cindy, one of the dancers, commented.

  Anna didn’t reply and made her way out to the lobby where the party was in full swing.

  She felt awkward and self-conscious as she made her way through the crowd. She recognized many of the men, and didn’t like the smiles they gave her. Finally, she spotted Devin near one of the tables of food and walked over to him.

  “Anna,” he said, kissing her cheek. “You danced well tonight.” He handed her a glass of wine.

  “Thank you, Ma...Devin,” she corrected herself.

  He pulled her close. “You look delicious in red, Baby,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve noticed many of the men admiring you.”

  Anna smiled nervously and looked at the floor. She hated to think about what they were thinking. Jack walked up to them a few minutes later.

  “Look how pretty my little Anna is,” Jack said with a grin. “I think we should have put her in red sooner, Devin.”

  Anna blinked back the tears of fear as they talked about her with subtle innuendoes at what the color meant.

  Devin introduced her to several men, some who looked familiar. He even sent her off with a few of them to find a dark corner where they could push her up against the wall and fuck her ruthlessly. One even went in her ass and she dug her fingernails into her palms to keep from crying out. When he was finished, she walked slowly back to Devin and told him the man had been satisfied.

  “Good girl,” he said with a smile.

  She’d noticed a few of the dancers giving her strange looks when she was walking with the various men and saw them looking at her as she stood next to Devin. She flushed and stared at the floor as Devin put his hand on her hip and kiss the side of her head.

  Why did it bother her what other people thought? She was Devin’s slave and that was that. But at the same time, she had to pretend she was respectable and she felt ashamed that she wasn’t. She had felt respectable when she’d been married to Alex, but those days were long gone.

  “Ah, there you are Peter,” Devin said and Anna’s head snapped up. “Anna, you remember Peter, right?”

  Peter smiled at her and moved his eyes over her entire body.

  “Yes, Devin, I remember,” she said softly.

  “We were reacquainted this morning, Devin,” Peter explained. “Anna’s been playing hard to get,” he added with a smile.

  Anna looked between Peter and Devin. “You knew he was here?” Anna asked Devin.

  “I invited him to come,” Devin grinned. “Anna, I’ve come to realize that you are much more...pleasant to be around if you are in some sort of relationship. Therefore,” he motioned to Peter. “I am providing you with a relationship. Peter knows me, knows what I want from you, and has agreed to ‘date’ you and provide you with companionship that I approve of.”

  “Devin, you can’t—”

  “I am perfectly serious, Anna,” Devin growled. “You will give the appearance that the two of you like each other and all that is involved when two people meet. He will become your boyfriend and eventually you will move in with him. He won’t interfere with any of my needs for you, but will give you some stability and, as I said, companionship.”

  Tears of frustration filled her eyes. “Devin, I don’t want a boyfriend,” she pleaded quietly. “Especially not him.”

  “It’s not for you to choose, Anna. You are lonely, even though you won't admit it. You need someone to be with.” He motioned to Peter. “I have provided you with someone I trust.”

  Anna’s shoulders slumped. Arguing would just anger him. “Yes, Devin,” she said softly.

  “Now, why don’t you two run along and let people think someone has broken through your icy exterior.” He took hold of her arm and pinched it. “You will treat him with respect, Anna.”

  Anna winced and nodded quickly, rubbing her arm when he released it.

  Peter smiled and reached for her hand. It took every ounce of willpower to not run away, but this is what Devin wanted. He would punish her if she didn’t do as he wanted her to.

  Peter led her to a bench near the wall and they sat and talked. If she didn’t despise him so much, she would have admitted that he was very handsome. She guessed him to be about twenty-five years old. His thick dark-brown hair hung over his forehead and he had eyes the color of cognac. He was well built and tall and looked incredibly sexy in his dark suit and tie...if she would let herself admit it, which she wouldn’t. She listened politely and was as respectful as she could manage. He explained how he had arrived yesterday from St. Petersburg after receiving a call Monday morning from Devin.

  “So, you left the Kirov because Devin asked you to?” Anna asked, coming to fully understand why he was here. There would be no other reason to leave such an amazing dance company.

  “I did. My grandfather respects Devin immensely and your ballet company is very good. Plus, an opportunity to date the famous Mistress Anna.... Well, I couldn’t resist.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

  A shiver ran through her body, and it wasn’t a good one. She liked his grandfather even less now that she knew he respected Devin.

  “You can join me when I look for an apartment if you’d like, since you’ll be living there soon.”

  “Don’t you want to really date someone? I mean, don’t you need to get married soon?”

  “Ah, I don’t need to get married until my uncle becomes Starshiy.”

  “Your uncle?”

  “Da, Vlad is my dyadya. My uncle. He had five daughters. My father is next oldest and I am his oldest son. Therefore, I am next in line for leadership after Vlad.”

  “Oh.”

  “Besides, I have a girlfriend at home. When it is time, I will marry her.”

  “She doesn’t mind you coming over here and...becoming my boyfriend?”

  He shrugged. “She doesn’t really have a choice. She will make a good wife. We’ve been friends since childhood. She knows there are things that I must do in life. This is certainly one of the more pleasant ones, I must say.” He gave her that megawatt smile again.

  Anna looked away. “Well, I guess that it’s good that neither of us are looking to have a real relationship.”

  When the party was winding down, Peter offered to take her home.

  “You have a car, but not an apartment yet?”

  “It’s a rental. I’ll get my own soon.”

  Anna sighed, resolving herself to the inevitable. “I suppose I should let you take me home?”

  Peter smiled. “I would like to, if that is all right with you.”

  She shrugged. “All right.”

  They went through the backstage so she could get her things and then to the garage to his car.

  “A Mustang?”

  “I’ve always wanted one, and I couldn’t resist. They’re so...American. Though I don’t know if I would buy one. I think I like some other cars better.” He opened her door to let her in and then closed it before walking around to his side and settling into the driver’s seat.

  Anna gave him her address and he plugged it into his GPS system. “You live very close.”

  Anna nodded. “Devin didn’t want to pay for a car for me.”

  “Ah.”

  He made his way out of the parking garage and headed towards Anna’s apartment.

  “So, what do you do for fun around here?”

  Anna sighed. “Devin told you I was doped up for two years, didn’t he?”

  “Well, yes. So, what did you do before you got ‘doped up’?”

  Anna clenched her fists. “I spent time with my husband.”

  “Ah. Yes. Of course.” He glanced at her. “What did you do with him?”

  “Nothing that I want to do with you,” she snapped. Maybe b
eing disciplined would be better than having to spend time with him.

  Peter didn’t respond, but tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel as he drove through the narrow streets.

  Anna looked out the window and leaned her head on the headrest. She knew better than to ask Devin to change his mind. She was stuck with Peter.

  He pulled in front of her building a few minutes later and stopped the car. Anna swallowed nervously. She had to invite him up. She hoped he’d say no. “Did you want to come up?”

  Peter grinned. “Do you want me to come up?”

  No, I don’t want you anywhere near me. “If you’d like to,” she answered softly.

  Peter chuckled. “You’re a good liar, Anna. No. I’ll let you sleep tonight. Nothing’s worse than being tired for a performance. Maybe Sunday night.”

  “Okay.” She opened the car door.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.

  “Yeah.” She turned and went inside her building without looking back.

  *****

  He wasn’t looking out the window this time. He was sitting in the chair reading. Oh, how often she saw him like that when he was alive. No wonder she dreamed about it.

  She shifted on her feet and he looked up.

  “Anna.”

  He said it with such love that it brought tears to her eyes. He walked over to her and knelt in front of her. His eyes were so blue. So kind and full of love. His hair was still long and he still had his beard.

  “I don’t want to dream about you,” she whimpered.

  “Oh, Schatzi, I know,” he said gently. “But it’s not a dream. I’m real.”

  She shook her head. “You’re dead.” She reached for his ring around her neck, but it wasn’t there. Where was it? What happened to it? “I lost your ring,” she whispered.

  His eyes filled with tears. “We’ll get a new one when we’re together again.”

  “Devin took my other rings. All I have is this.” She held up her right hand where her gold ring was.

  He smiled and held up his right hand, showing her his ring. “I still have mine. You’re still my wife, Anna. Nothing will ever change that.”

  Tears started running down her cheeks. “The baby...it wasn’t Ben’s. Devin...he....”

  “I know, Schatzi. I know. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.” Tears fell from his eyes and caught in his beard. He reached out to her but stopped short of touching her. “I miss you,” he whispered.

  “I miss you, too,” she admitted. She hesitantly reached her hand out to touch his cheek, but when she touched him, the room faded to darkness and she found herself reaching out into the dark in her apartment.

  *****

  She had been so upset about Peter she’d forgotten to turn the TV on and Alex had invaded her dreams again. She stared up at the ceiling. The mini blinds made weird line patterns on her ceiling.

  Why did her mind insist on giving her false hope about Alex? He was dead. Her mind needed to accept that. But, the dreams did give her hope, and she hated it. She didn’t want to hope that maybe it had all been a misunderstanding and that Alex was still alive somewhere. That he stared out the window in the direction of San Francisco and thought about her. That he trimmed his beard in case she showed up in his room in her dreams.

  NO! It was just a dream. Alex was dead and that’s all there was to it.

  She pushed the button on the remote to turn on the TV. She flipped onto her side and fell asleep crying.

  Chapter Eleven

  Anna tried to avoid Peter all weekend, but inevitably he would find her. When he wasn’t with her, Anna saw other girls shamelessly flirting with him. Even some of the guys tried, but Peter made it very clear he wasn’t interested in them.

  “He likes you, Anna,” Aaron said as they were standing backstage Sunday night, waiting for the overture to finish.

  Anna looked up at his face, made up to look like a clown puppet. “No, he doesn’t.”

  “He watches you constantly. He’s always trying to talk to you. Of course he does.”

  “Devin brought him here to ‘date’ me. He’s acting that way because he’s supposed to.”

  “Why would Devin do that?”

  “He thinks I need a boyfriend.”

  Aaron frowned. “Well, hell, Anna. I’d gladly take the job.” He looked at her with all the love he had for her years ago. “And I wouldn’t be faking it,” he added softly.

  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 bit her lip and reached out for his hand with both of hers. “I need you too much, Aaron,” she whispered.

  She saw tears in his eyes but he nodded. “Okay, Anna.” He sighed. “Then please stop pushing me away. And Jenna. And Travis. We care about you Anna and want—” He stopped and looked behind Anna.

  Anna turned around to see Peter looking at Aaron suspiciously. “What are you two talking about?” Peter said in a low voice. He had a threatening aura about him, which made Anna worry about Aaron.

  “I was telling Aaron that I was glad he was my friend.”

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

  Would Peter tell Devin? “Please, Peter,” she whispered, stepping to him and looking up into his eyes. “He’s just a friend.” Anna looked around at the other dancers who were watching them now and blushed.

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

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

  “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Anna said softly, watching Peter walk in the direction of the dressing rooms. She 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, Aaron. I wish...I wish things were different.” She turned and walked 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. She looked at him and was about to say no when he gave her a look that indicated she better say yes.

  “Yes, thank you,” she said, her cheeks reddening with shame, knowing she was being watched. 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 took her hand and they walked outside and across the street to the parking garage. They got to his black rental car and suddenly he stopped and pulled her towards him. 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 chest, 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 resist you anymore,” she said, hoping he’d loosen his embrace.

  His eyes were dark as he gazed down at her. “Good.” He backed away slightly and opened the passenger side door for her. He certainly gave the appearance of being polite. Would he be as demanding in other areas as he was with his kiss?

  “Your place or mine?” he asked, backing out of the parking space.

  “Place...?” Anna repeated softly. “Oh!” she exclaimed as she remembered he said he’d stay with her Sunday night. “I...really should shower before...anything happens.”

  Pet
er nodded. “All right. Your place.”

  Anna fidgeted as he drove to her place. 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.”

  He walked around the car and opened her door and they walked to the elevators. They rode and walked to her apartment in silence

  It really was a pathetic little apartment. There was a long hallway that 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 where her coffee table, couch and bed were. Her mattress sat on the floor along one wall with a fitted sheet and a blanket balled up in the middle. Her couch sat perpendicular from the wall facing the TV, which sat next to the window.

  Peter looked around with a look of disdain on his face. Well, if he didn’t like it, he could leave, Anna thought to herself.

  “Next time we’ll go to my place,” Peter said turning in a circle. “You can keep whatever you need there until we move in together.” He stopped and looked at her. “Are you going to go shower?”

  Anna blinked and walked away quickly. Well, at least he didn’t yell or hit her. Yet.

  After she had showered and washed her hair, she put her pink satin robe on and walked out to find Peter on her couch watching TV. He had taken off his shirt and was sitting 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 pants. 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 looked up at her and smiled. “You’re much prettier without all that stage makeup on.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly. She glanced at her bed. “I’m sorry it’s...like that. I don’t have overnight guests often. They...usually just leave after.”