Anna couldn’t stop the small giggle that escaped. The delight she saw in Kurt’s eyes lightened her heart. She traced his cheekbone again and then his lips. “You’ve changed.”
“In a good way or a bad way?”
Anna blushed. “Good, I think.”
“You did not like me before?” He pouted, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Her blush deepened. “I think you know the answer to that.”
His eyes softened and he smiled. “I do.”
Wilhelm cleared his throat and they both jumped. Anna had forgotten he was in the room. She looked sheepishly over at him, but he was beaming at them.
“I think Anna needs to eat, Kurt,” Wilhelm said.
Kurt looked her up and down. “You have lost a lot of weight, Engel.”
Anna looked down at her body. “I’ve gained a bunch in the last few weeks. Devin makes me eat.”
Kurt grimaced. “I would hate to see how you looked a few weeks ago.”
“Devin said I was too skinny and not worth fucking.”
Both men’s jaws dropped open and Anna covered her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. Her cheeks burned as she realized what she’d said. It was true, but crudely stated.
Wilhelm recovered quicker than Kurt did. “It is fine, Anna. I am glad you are doing better.”
Anna smiled. “I think I am too,” she said sincerely. For some reason, she was feeling more like herself than she had in a very long time. Suddenly the idea of celebrating her birthday didn’t seem as ridiculous as it had an hour ago.
*****
They went to lunch at a little Italian restaurant around the corner from the hotel. Anna felt more lighthearted and content than she’d ever believed would be possible again. Both men were very attentive to her, but Wilhelm seemed to be content to let Kurt take the lead.
Anna decided she liked the attention from Kurt. No one would ever replace Alex. He was her soul mate...or at least she’d thought so at the time. But, unexpectedly, Anna found herself thinking about a future with Kurt. After all, he was now an Elder-Son, and an Elder-Son had rights to an Elder-Mistress.
Chapter Four
“Anna, please let me buy you a decent car,” Kurt pleaded for the third time that afternoon. “Or find you a better place to live. Vati says your place is hideous.”
They were walking around a park near the hotel. The rain had stopped and the sun had come out. It had turned out to be a nice day.
“I like my Prius. It’s cute. And my apartment isn’t hideous. Well, at least the complex isn’t. I just...didn’t put much effort into furnishing it.”
Wilhelm shook his head. “Do you even have a bed, Anna?”
“Of course I do.” It was a mattress on the floor, but it was her bed.
Wilhelm gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her.
“You don’t think Devin would let me not have a bed, do you?”
Kurt sighed. “Anna, why are you letting Devin run your life? Every time you talk about something, you always include his name in it.”
“Why am I...? Why wouldn’t I? He owns me. I am his.”
“Only half his, Anna,” Wilhelm corrected. “You belong to us as well.”
That was true. But they didn’t have that little syringe that made fingertips turn into razor blades. She shuddered at the thought of Devin punishing her again. “Devin’s made sure I’ve gotten healthy again.”
“After he let you destroy yourself,” Kurt muttered.
“He gave me a way to cope,” Anna protested.
“He bribed you with drugs into returning here with him and then doped you up so bad you could not think straight,” Kurt retorted.
Anna narrowed her eyes. “I couldn’t deal with what was going on.”
Kurt sighed. “We would have been there for you, Anna. If you would have let us. I would have been there for you every step of the grieving process. Do not forget that we were grieving too. You lost your husband. I lost my brother and a cousin. Vati lost a son. We all lost several friends that day.”
Anna’s chest heaved, feeling indignant and guilty at the same time. “I never asked you to come back here,” she huffed. “I explicitly told your father not to visit me.” She glared at Wilhelm. “And you still did. And now you’re angry at me? For finding a way to deal with my grief?”
“But you did not deal with it,” Kurt retorted. “You avoided it and nearly destroyed yourself.”
“It was my choice. You needn’t have cared what I did.”
“Of course I cared about what you did. We all did. We love you, Anna. We want what is best for you.”
“I don’t need your love,” Anna growled and turned to walk away, but Kurt grabbed her around her waist and pulled her close.
“You do, Anna,” he said softly in her ear. “You do need to be loved. You melted in my arms this morning. When was the last time you were held like that?”
Anna pushed at his chest. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Ja. It does. It matters because you are a woman that is meant to be loved and cherished. And as much as you try to deny it, you cannot. You are scared. I understand that. But avoiding people and feelings will not make things any better. You will just be miserable again.”
“I’m always miserable.”
Kurt cupped her chin and kissed her, long and passionately. She was breathless when he pulled away. “Does that make you miserable?”
Anna gasped for air. No, it made her feel alive. But that scared her to death. “Please let me go, Kurt. Go home. Leave me alone.”
“Nein.” He kissed her again. And again. And again, until she relented and relaxed in his arms.
She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. She couldn’t fight him anymore. She didn’t really want to.
Her phone rang, interrupting the serenity of the moment. It was Devin’s ring. She pulled away from Kurt and dug in her purse for her phone. “Hello Devin,” she said nervously.
“Where are you?”
Anna looked around. “I’m at a park...somewhere downtown.”
Devin didn’t reply.
“Devin?”
“It’s Friday, Anna. It’s four o’clock and you’re supposed to be here.” He kept his tone even, but she could feel the anger radiating through the phone.
Anna gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth as tears filled her eyes. “Oh, God! Devin, I’m so sorry. I’ll leave right now.” She started walking away, but Wilhelm grabbed her hand and took the phone from her.
“Hello, Devin. It’s Wilhelm....” Anna watched helplessly as he walked away with her phone.
“He’s going to punish me,” she said weakly, hanging her head and wincing. She’d been trying so hard to be good, and Kurt and Wilhelm came into town and ruined it all.
“Vati will not let that happen, Anna.”
Anna watched Wilhelm as he talked to Devin. His face remained impassive and he seemed to speak with confidence and firmness. At last, he nodded and ended the call.
“Your presence is not needed at the Schloss tonight, Anna,” Wilhelm declared as he walked back to where Anna and Kurt were standing and gave her back her phone. “What would you like to do tonight?”
Anna stood staring at Wilhelm. His ability to stand up to Devin amazed her.
“We had talked about going to the symphony, Vati.”
Wilhelm nodded. “That is true. How does that sound, Anna?”
Anna nodded. She had gone a few times with Alex and had enjoyed it, although it wasn’t as enjoyable as a ballet; there wasn’t much to look at. But she did enjoy the music. “I don’t have anything formal to wear. I don’t have much at all, actually.”
“Finally!” Kurt exclaimed with a grin. Anna looked at him, confused. “I can buy you something!” He took her hand and the three of them walked back to the hotel to get the car Wilhelm had rented.
*****
Anna stood in the shower, immersed in rose-scented body wash, and sighed. She felt...happy. Genuinely ha
ppy for the first time in forever. Maybe life didn’t suck as bad as she thought it did.
She liked being with Kurt. He was much calmer than he had been before. He didn’t look at other women and seemed completely devoted to making sure she was happy. Not that she wanted him to revolve his life around her, but she did like the attention. But what did that mean?
Devin surely wouldn’t approve of her getting involved with Kurt. But then again, maybe it wasn’t Devin’s call. After all, she belonged to Wilhelm just as much as she belonged to Devin.
Things just...felt right with Kurt. They’d always gotten along well. Maybe Alex hadn’t been her soul mate. After all, she’d met Kurt first...as long as you didn’t count all the dreams she’d had about Alex....
No. Alex was dead. And a monster like Jack. Kurt was here. And alive. And the son of her Master. A glimmer of hope for a relationship began to take hold.
After dinner, Wilhelm, Kurt and Anna were driven to the Opera House. Anna was having a fabulous evening with the two of them. Wilhelm doted on her like a father would, and beamed at her and Kurt together.
They walked into the Opera House and found the lobby crowded with patrons eager for the world premiere of a new symphony. Once again, she was drawn to the statue of her parents. Wilhelm spotted a couple he apparently knew and Kurt walked over to the statue with her.
He slipped his arm around her waist and nuzzled her ear. “I am glad you are dancing again, Anna,” he said in a soft voice.
Anna sighed. “I’m not sure if I’m glad or not. It’s frustrating when my body won’t do what it’s supposed to.”
“You will get there,” he said encouragingly. His thumb rubbed against her ribs and she inhaled sharply, surprised to find herself getting aroused. She smiled, remembering him pushing her up against the wall the first time he took her out and Alex getting angry at him.
“Anna? Anna Perkins?”
The unexpected voice from her past sent shivers through her body. She turned reluctantly and smiled politely at Zach. He stood with his arm around a blond pregnant woman. The same woman that he’d been with the first night they’d met.
“Hello, Zach,” she said nervously.
He looked her up and down and grinned. “You look good, Anna,” he said in an innocent tone, though his eyes betrayed his darker thoughts.
“Kunze,” Kurt said in a low voice.
“Excuse me?” Zach said, turning a bright smile to Kurt.
“Her last name is no longer Perkins. It is Kunze.” Kurt’s hand tightened on her waist as if to keep her by his side.
“Ah, yes. I’d heard you’d gotten married, but...I thought you were widowed?” Zach’s confusion as he looked at Kurt was evident.
“She was married to my brother, Mr...?”
“Senator, actually. Senator Zach Vail.” Zach extended his hand and Kurt shook it. “Brother, eh?” Zach grinned. “Nothing like keeping it in the family.”
Anna thought she heard a low growl come from Kurt, but he said nothing.
Zach turned back to Anna. “Devin said you were doing better in the last few weeks. I’m glad to hear it.” He looked at the woman. “Patty, do you remember Anna? She’s a friend of Devin’s. Anna, this is my wife, Patty.” He patted her protruding stomach and smiled. “And our little girl.”
The woman smiled brightly at her. “Of course. Anna. From the...CFO event, right? How are you?”
“Fine, thank you,” Anna responded quietly.
“You are a friend of Devin’s?” Kurt asked.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without him,” Zach answered with that politician’s smile of his. “You know him?”
“I do,” Kurt said stiffly. “And that is how you met Anna?”
Zach smiled. “It is. About...three years ago, I believe. We lived in the same apartment building as well.”
Kurt’s jaw clenched. “I see. Well, if you will excuse us....” Kurt steered Anna away from the couple and back towards Wilhelm. “He hurt you, ja?” he asked quietly.
Anna nodded. “He’s very cruel.”
“Anyone can see that if they look at him,” he growled. “I remember Alex mentioning his name. I cannot believe he is in political office.”
“Devin said he was grooming him for several years.”
Kurt rolled his eyes. “No wonder your country is the mess that it is. If that is the type of man Devin thinks should be running the country....”
They returned to Wilhelm and the three of them made their way into the theater. Anna couldn’t hide her smile as they passed by the doors Kurt had pulled her through the last time. She glanced up at Kurt, who watched her with sparkling eyes. He leaned down and kissed her and then caught up with Wilhelm. Wilhelm glanced back and gave an approving nod to his son.
Yes, Anna thought to herself, Kurt has definitely changed.
Their seats were in a box slightly to the right of center stage. Anna suppressed a whimper when she saw Zach and his wife sitting in the box next to their own. Kurt kissed her cheek and took the seat closer to Zach, shielding her from Zach’s view.
Kurt put his arm protectively around Anna’s shoulders and kissed her temple. She sighed contentedly and leaned against him, ready to enjoy a pleasant evening. Kurt wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
*****
“Anna, do you want to come back to the hotel with us...with me?” Kurt asked softly as they waited outside for their limo.
Anna looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Yes,” she whispered.
A grin spread across Kurt’s face. “Gut.”
Chapter Five
“You two go on up to the room,” Wilhelm said as they walked into the hotel lobby. “I think I will have a drink at the bar.”
“Wilhelm...,” Anna began, but he shook his head.
“Nein, Liebling, you go with Kurt,” he said gently.
She nodded slowly and then allowed Kurt to lead her to the elevators. Her heart pounded nervously as they rode upstairs and walked into the suite.
“Did you want something to drink, Engel?” Kurt asked softly, closing the door behind them.
Anna shook her head. Why was she nervous? She’d slept with hundreds of men. Why was he different?
Because he is different. He’s not “other men.” He’s Kurt.
Kurt took her hand and led her through the hotel suite to an adjacent bedroom. He closed the door softly behind him and gave her a tender look.
“Anna, I do not want you to feel obligated to do anything.”
“I...don’t feel obligated, Kurt. I want to.” She took a deep breath. “I want to be with you.”
Kurt grinned and stepped forward to take her into his arms and kiss her soundly.
*****
He stood at the window again, hair pulled back into a low ponytail. The breeze that snuck through the open window caught a few strands of loose hair caught in his neatly trimmed golden beard. He wore his blue denim shirt untucked from his jeans. The shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing the muscles in his forearms tightening and loosening as he grasped the windowsill with his big hands.
He sighed and ran his right hand through his hair. A ring on his finger caught the sunlight as he did so and the golden reflection made her blink. He mumbled to himself and turned away from the window. He froze when he saw her.
“Schatzi?” His eyes glistened with tears as he stepped toward her. “Anna....” He stopped a few feet away from her, clenching and unclenching his fists as if uncertain of what to do.
She stared at him, knowing he wasn’t real, but wishing with all her heart that he was. “Why did you leave me?” she whispered as tears spilled down her cheeks. “Why did you abandon me to him?”
“I’m so sorry, mein Schatzi. I didn’t mean to. I had no idea...it was a trap.” His eyes grew earnest and he spoke quickly, as if he only had a limited time to speak. “Anna, I’m real. I’m still here. I will return to you. Please, tell my father I’m here.”
“No!” she yelled sud
denly, pushing away the ache in her heart. “No! You’re dead! You abandoned me!” She shook her head and searched desperately for a way out.
“Anna....” His voice echoed in her ears.
She felt a brush against her shoulder and the vision faded.
*****
“No!” she screamed and sat up in bed. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath. Where am I?
“Anna. Engel.” Warm arms wrapped around her and held her as she began to sob.
She shook her head. “I don't want to dream about him!” she cried, pounding her fists on her legs.
The arms tightened around her. “Shh, it is okay, Anna.” He rocked her and held her head. “It is okay, Anna. Everything will be all right.”
“What happened? Is she all right?”
Anna heard footsteps and then the mattress moved next to her. She felt a hand on hers.
“She was talking in her sleep and then she yelled and woke up. It...sounded like she was dreaming about Alex.”
Anna’s sobs quieted and the room became quiet.
“Alex? Anna did you dream about Alex?”
She nodded. “I don’t want to dream about him,” she sobbed. “I don’t want to remember him.”
“What was your dream about?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to remember.”
“Please tell me, Liebling. I want to know.”
Anna began to tell him about the room and the man she saw. She didn’t want to say his name. “He said it was...a trap. That he was real and that he would return to me.” She started to cry again. “Why do I have such horrible dreams?” Alex would never return to her. Why did her mind play such tricks on her?
“Have you dreamed of him before?”
She nodded. “I always sleep with the TV on so the dreams stay away.”
“Did he say anything else, Liebling?”
Anna swallowed. “He said to tell you that he was there.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why I keep dreaming about him. I hate him.”
The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared Page 3