Vati's eyes twinkled. “Perhaps a spanking. Then you should make love to her.”
Alex frowned again. “Vati, Kirsty is downstairs.”
Vati's eyes turned from mischievous to angry in a flash. “That is not my problem, nor is it Anna's. You should have made love to her already. It will bond her to you.”
Alex closed his eyes. He couldn't. Not while he was with Kirsty. Not for Kirsty's consideration, though. He didn't want Anna to think he was fucking her then leaving her to make love to Kirsty. When he made love to Anna, he wanted it to be the beginning of his commitment and love for her.
“Vati, I can't. I can't hit her. She'll never forgive me.” He looked at his father and shook his head.
Vati gritted his teeth. “Sometimes we have to do what we don't want to do,” he snapped. “Both as Elders and as parents.” He looked pointedly at Anna then at Alex. “If you don't discipline her, things will be much more difficult for you and her.” He turned and walked out of the room.
Alex ran his hand through his hair. As often as he got frustrated and repeated this motion, he wondered how he still had a thick head of hair.
He looked back at Anna, who was cowering in front of him. His father was right; she was like a child. He hadn't given her any boundaries and she had been disrespectful. If he didn't discipline her, she wouldn't respect him, and she needed to respect him.
Alex sighed and picked her up off the floor before sitting down on the bed. The undisturbed comforter reminded him of the fact that she’d been with Vati last night and not him. He pushed aside the remorse and lay Anna across his lap.
He lifted up her shirt and rested his hand on her smooth, bare ass. She jumped slightly. Any other time he would have enjoyed her in this position, sexy ass up in the air. He imagined all the things he could do to her, making her feel incredible pleasure.
But now was not the time to be thinking about that. He needed to correct her behavior and this was the gentlest way he could. He'd never considered spankings in the same category as hitting other places on the body. He hoped she felt the same way. He took a deep breath and smacked her bare ass. The sound of his hand hitting her flesh made him wince.
She cried out in surprise. Perhaps this wasn't as bad as she'd expected?
“Count, Anna,” he instructed softly.
“One, Master.”
He smacked her again.
“Two, Master.”
Again.
“Three, Master.” Her ass was turning a bright pink. He wanted to delve his fingers into her pussy to ease the pain, but this wasn't for pleasure. This was real discipline, not playtime.
He continued spanking her until she reached twelve. Aside from her counts, she made no noise past the first cry. Her voice began cracking at four and by the end he could tell she was crying.
As soon as he made the last stroke and she announced the count, he pulled her up to cradle her in his arms. She sat stiffly in his embrace, making him wonder if anyone had ever held her after a discipline session before. Perhaps he was showing himself different. He rocked her and spoke words of encouragement, telling her how brave and strong she was. After a few minutes she was completely relaxed in his arms and had stopped crying.
Alex kissed the top of her head, amazed. His father had been right. She had completely relaxed into his embrace.
Vati walked in a few minutes later with a small bottle of oil. Alex nodded to his father and gave him a grateful smile. Vati nodded back with a small smile and left them alone.
He laid her gently on her stomach, pushing the shirt back up to expose her now very red ass and debated the appropriateness of kissing the inflamed skin. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on each side and she gasped softly.
Alex couldn't understand the depth of his feelings for her at this moment. He wanted nothing more than to turn her over and make love to her. But he'd promised himself....
He uncapped the bottle and began to apply the oil gently. It was sheer torture, running his hands over her silky skin and listening to her soft sighs as his hands moved. His cock throbbed against his jeans. He wanted her so badly it hurt.
He promised himself he'd allow the luxury of jerking off to thoughts of her as soon as he made sure she was okay.
Alex picked her back up when he had finished and cradled her in his arms again. It would be impossible for her not to feel his erection pressing into her hip and the fact that she didn’t say anything about it humbled him. Perhaps his father was right. By rejecting her advances, she felt rejected personally.
He shook his head again. He'd think about that later. Right now Anna trembled in his arms and he didn't understand why.
“Does it feel better?” Alex asked softly as he rocked her.
“Y-yes, Master,” she answered warily.
“Are you cold?”
“No, Master.”
“Then why are you shaking? The discipline is over.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I don't understand why you're being nice to me now.”
He stopped rocking her and tipped up her chin to look at her face. “Why wouldn't I be nice to you?”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “Because you had to punish me.”
Alex felt the sadness in her words and cupped her cheek. “Anna, just because I had to discipline you doesn't mean I dislike you.” His eyes filled with emotion. “Quite the contrary...,” he whispered. He loved her. But he couldn’t tell her that now. It wasn't the time. He stroked her cheek and looked at her intently, hoping she could see how much he cared about her.
Gazing into her eyes made him lose himself. He found himself moving his head closer to hers, then stopped. He blinked several times and pulled away slowly, lowering his hand at the same time.
He sat her up and pressed her head against his shoulder. He should give her his expectations so they didn’t have to go through this again. “Anna, from now on, I don't want you to worry about what I think of your behavior, except when we're at the Manor. If you want to smirk at...someone, then smirk.” Kirsty deserved to be smirked at. “I prefer you to be kind and polite to people, but I want you to be free in your emotions.” He sighed. “I want you to learn to be your own person and not worry about what other people think.”
“But I want to please you, Master,” she protested softly. “That is my duty.”
He sighed. How could he get through to her? “Then please me by learning to enjoy yourself and have fun,” he suggested gently. “You should come to Aaron’s party tonight.”
“I called Aaron yesterday and let him know I would be there.”
Alex blinked. “You did?” This jealousy thing was becoming quite annoying; one of the most miserable feelings he’d ever experienced.
Fear filled her eyes. “Should I not have?” She gasped. “Oh, Master. I’m sorry. Devin said I could go, but I didn’t ask you.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She winced.
Devin had said she could go? “Anna, it’s fine. Devin and I both agree that you need to have some freedom. You don’t need to ask permission to do anything, as long as you don’t have previous obligations.” He smiled. “I’m pleased to see you took the initiative.”
Suddenly the text from Aaron last night made sense. He’d just gotten a “She’s coming to the party!” and nothing else. He hadn’t had a chance to text him back because Kirsty had been with him.
She smiled back timidly. “I had called Jenna and she said that I should call him myself.”
“I believe he’s glad you’re coming.”
“Are you going?”
Alex nodded. “So, when you’re there, remember that you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Don't think of yourself as a slave. Think of yourself as a beautiful young woman that is going to be the most popular girl there.”
She frowned. “I don't know if I know how to be my own person, Master. I've never done so.”
“You were doing a wonderful job when you were with my brother.” He didn't want her thi
nking about Kurt, but it made the point.
“But I was told to do that.”
“You don't like my brother?” He frowned and looked down at her. Was she that good of an actress? Was she totally incapable of emotion? Had they broken her that much?
Her eyes widened. “No, Master, I do.”
Alex sighed internally.
“I am very fond of him. But that came after I was told to...treat him well.”
Alex thought about that for a moment, then smiled. “Then consider this my...instructions for you. Enjoy yourself unless told otherwise. That way you know that by enjoying yourself, you are pleasing me.” He winked at her.
She giggled and he grinned. He'd made her understand at last! This might actually work.
“I like hearing you giggle,” he said softly, and he meant it. Her giggles were like music to the ear. Like her smiles were beauty to the eyes. “I like seeing you enjoy yourself. Can you do that for me?”
She looked up at him with bright eyes and nodded. “Yes, Master.”
He raised his eyebrows in mock rebuke. “No more 'Master' unless we're at the Manor, remember?”
“I'm sorry,” she said quickly.
He smiled reassuringly at her. “In this case, it was appropriate, Anna. I suppose if I have to discipline you, you should call me Master. But we're done with that. Now you will call me Alex.”
She smiled shyly. “Yes, Alex.”
“Good girl,” he said, pushing her to her feet gently. “Now, let’s go find your clothes so you can get dressed.” And he could go get some relief in private.
“Alex?”
“Yes, Schatzi?”
She looked nervous again. “Did Seth...approaching me this morning upset you?” She was watching his face carefully.
Alex kept his face impassive as he thought. God, he hated the idea of her being with someone else. Knowing she'd spent the night with his father nearly killed him. But, he'd rather see her with someone who would treat her well than someone that would hurt her. After spending years having sex multiple times daily, she certainly had a strong, active sex drive. Better Seth than some random man.
“Seth is a good man, Anna. I trust him with my life. I would entrust your life to him.” He hoped it would never come to that. He didn’t want to think of her in danger. “It wouldn’t be a good idea for you to publicly date him,” he said, looking up at her after a long moment of silence. “But if you have...needs, I don't mind you being with him.” He spoke slowly and carefully. He'd rather she be with him than his friend, but he'd already decided he wouldn’t make love to her until she knew it was more than just sex.
She looked at him questioningly, but accepted his answer. “Yes, Alex,” she said softly.
Alex located Anna’s clothes in Kurt’s room and then went into his own bathroom. He opened his jeans and lost himself in thoughts of Anna naked in his bed.
After an awkward breakfast, Wilhelm headed off to the airport and Alex said a terse goodbye to Kirsty so he could take Anna to her new apartment.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Anna hated that she seemed to be getting in between Alex and his girlfriend. She hated that Alex had needed to discipline her too. She never would have acted in such a way if Devin or Jack had been around. Why did she do it around Alex?
She craned her neck to look out at the tall buildings as Alex drove through the streets of downtown San Francisco. They’d hardly spoken during the drive. Alex seemed deep in thought, and Anna didn’t want to interrupt him.
He drove into a parking garage and circled around until he parked in a spot near a bank of elevators. “This is a spot for guests,” he said quietly and then motioned to his left. “That’s the car we picked out for you. If you don’t like it, we can go pick out something else.”
Anna glanced at Alex before getting out and walking around the car. She gasped at the cute little car sitting there. The white, two-door coupe looked like the top might be retractable. She felt a grin spreading across her face and she glanced up at Alex, who watched her with a nervous expression on her face.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, drawing her hand gently across the trunk lid. “You didn’t have to do this, Alex.”
Alex chewed his lip for a moment. “I wanted to,” he said quietly. His eyes bored into hers and she could feel his intense emotions, and then he looked away. He opened the car door and showed her how everything worked, and then handed Anna the key fob.
“The building has a valet service, so you just call the concierge desk and they’ll have it waiting for you out front when you need it.”
“Do I have to use the service?” The concept sounded weird.
“No, of course not. Just...know it’s an option.” He ran his hands through his hair. He shook his head slightly and then smiled. His mood seemed to have lightened. “Shall we go see your apartment?”
Anna nodded and her heart leapt slightly when he took her hand and led her to the elevator. He pushed the button with a 26 on it and the elevator sped upwards.
When they arrived at the door at the end of the hallway, Alex handed Anna the key. “Go ahead and unlock it.”
Anna did so and walked into the apartment that Alex had found for her.
“Two bedrooms, two baths,” Alex explained as she walked inside.
Anna walked into the master bedroom to see it decorated in soft purple and cream. The guest bedroom next to it had been decorated in a blue that matched Alex’s eyes. Alex was waiting in the furnished living room, which had two walls of windows, allowing her to see an amazing view of the bay. It too had been decorated in shades of purple and cream. The adjoining kitchen had a breakfast bar that Anna imagined using every morning.
“Oh, Alex, it’s beautiful.” She turned and hugged him around the waist. She didn’t deserve such a beautiful place to live.
*****
Alex hugged Anna back, savoring her soft form against him. Kirsty had said some rude things about Anna before she left and it had been bothering him the entire way here. He’d never thought Kirsty a petty person, but apparently he’d been wrong. He didn’t know how much more he’d be able to put up with.
Anna seemed thrilled with both the car and the apartment. He’d had the apartment decorated with her in mind. Her smile made his heart swell in his chest.
“Anna, I need your driver’s license number so I can register the car in your name.”
She stiffened. “My license?”
Alex wondered at her reaction. “I want the car in your name, not mine. But I need your number to do that.”
“I don’t have it.”
Was her face turning pale?
“You don’t carry it with you?”
“I rarely drive. It’s at Jack’s house.”
“Anna, are you all right?” Her face was definitely pale now.
She looked up at him with fear-filled eyes. “I need to go get it,” she whispered, and then looked down at his chest. She nodded. “Okay.”
“Anna, what’s wrong?”
She forced a smile onto her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s all right. I’ll go get it and call you with the number?”
Her expression bothered him. He knew she’d been abused and couldn’t blame her for not wanting to go back to her guardian’s house. “I’ll take you, Anna. You don’t have to go alone.”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
He cradled her cheek. “You’re never a bother, Schatzi.”
*****
Anna’s stomach started jumping around as they drew closer to the hell-house she spent the last eight years of her life in. By the time Alex pulled up in front of the light-gray two-story townhouse, she was ready to throw up her breakfast.
Maybe I can get my memories box while I’m here.
It would likely be her only chance to retrieve the box she’d kept hidden under her bed. It contained the things of her parents she’d managed to salvage before Jack destroyed everything else.
“Do you want me to
come with you, Anna?” Alex asked.
Anna shook her head, not wanting her voice to betray her fear. She opened the car door with a shaky hand, and took a breath before slowly walking up the steps to the front door.
Please don’t let Jack be home, she begged silently as she rang the doorbell. She trembled more as the seconds ticked by. No one answered, and Anna finally breathed a sigh of relief. She could go in the garage side door, which was always open.
She walked down the stairs. Alex opened his window. “Did you get it?”
Anna shook her head. “Jack isn’t home. I’ll go in the garage. My room was down there anyways.” She smiled, trying to look braver than she felt, and walked to the black-painted door. A dark door to a dark place. She took a deep breath and turned the knob, pausing in the doorway as it opened. The familiar scent flooded her mind with memories. Bad memories.
“Anna?”
Anna jumped at the sound of her name. But it wasn’t Jack’s voice. She turned and saw Alex behind her.
“W-what are you doing?” She frowned at him.
“You haven’t moved in a few minutes. Are you all right?”
“I haven’t...?” Anna realized she was still standing with her hand on the knob. She was petrified to go through the door, but she knew she needed to. She needed her license. “I’m sorry. I’ll only be a minute.”
“I’ll come with you,” he said, pushing open the door and walking in.
The front of the garage, where Jack parked his car, was empty as Anna expected. She walked quickly through to the back room where her bedroom and the “lessons room” were.
The room was well soundproofed. Anna opened the door and heard muffled groans and cries. The twins. Jack’s new girls. Anna hesitated and looked back at Alex. His father’s an Elder. He knows how we’re trained.
“What’s that noise?” Alex asked, pushing past her and into the room. He stopped with one foot in the room, mouth open and shock in his wide blue eyes. Anna stepped in behind him and saw one of the twins on the “machine.”
The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined Page 9