After she put her makeup on, she pinned a golden circlet in her hair and went out to warm-up backstage. The backstage was busy between acts and somewhat noisy. Aaron and Lucy warmed up along the back wall. Anna saw Travis in the corner talking with a couple of the dancers from the Waltz of the Flowers. Travis gave a bright smile to one of the girls and she blushed. Anna felt certain he didn’t sleep alone most nights. Being raised in the Manor gave him a certain advantage over other men when it came to flirting. He knew exactly how women ticked and how to get them to do pretty much anything he wanted.
Travis saw her and grinned. He said something to the girls, and then walked over to greet her. “Damn, you look sexy. Thank God for dance belts.”
Anna smiled. Dance belts kept guys where they needed to be and prevented injury while jumping halfway across the stage. She noticed his costume was a bit higher on his hips than it had been the last time they’d performed. Anna looked at him curiously.
“Preparing for arousal,” he whispered with a grin. “Don’t want to be popping out to say hi in the middle of the show. I think Isaak would be upset if the show turned R-rated.”
Anna giggled and then shook her head. “Oh, I shouldn’t be laughing,” she said with a pained expression and sighed.
Chapter Sixteen
The second act music began and the backstage quieted. Anna and Travis did some pirouettes and lifts to get ready and then moved into position shortly before their cue.
“Make me want you, Anna,” Travis whispered in a seductive voice as the Spanish dancers took their bows. “Make me want you and I will make you feel incredible when we’re done.”
Anna glanced back at him, surprised, but shivered at the dark, seductive look in his eyes. She felt a thrill run through her body and the pain in her heart disappeared. Their music started and she stepped on stage into the bright lights.
She moved with grace and sensuality, flirting, seducing, as Travis chased after her for the first part of the dance. Twirling and teasing until he caught her up in the air above his head. He lowered her to the ground, her body sliding down against his, lips almost touching as her toe touched the stage. She bent backwards as his fingers trailed down to her hips and he walked around her, turning her as she stood en pointe. She straightened, his hand on the back of her head, eyes locked until she spun around again to escape into an arabesque. But he held her hand firmly in his grasp and he pulled her back to him. She submitted to his desire and they danced, spinning, lifting, seducing, until she lay back on his bent knee, surrendered and submitted to his will.
The music stopped, echoing through the silent theater. Anna’s chest heaved as her mind cleared. The auditorium was silent.
Oh, God, had they been terrible? She didn’t even remember dancing. She only felt desire for Travis coursing through her veins.
Suddenly, the room erupted in applause and shouts. Anna lifted her head and stared, stunned, at Travis, who grinned at her. He helped her to her feet and they took their bows. First, to the audience, then to the Nutcracker Prince and Clara, and then to the audience again. They glided off stage and the applause continued.
Isaak stood there with a big grin on his face. “Great job, you two. I think you need to go out for another bow.”
Anna shook her head. “No…I can’t….” But Travis pushed her out and followed close behind.
She curtsied low, humbled by the experience and overwhelmed by the noise. They glided off stage again, the applause subsided, and the ballet continued.
She looked at Travis, shaking and with wide eyes. The pain was threatening to return. Sex. Sex would make her feel better. Anything to keep the pain at bay.
Travis’ brows rose as she looked at him. She gave him a pleading look and he nodded.
“C’mon,” Travis said, dragging her backstage and into his dressing room.
He closed the door and pushed her against it, kissing her passionately. “God, you are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met,” he murmured against her lips, then crushed his mouth against hers again.
Desire ran rampant through Anna’s body, pushing the pain away, and she kissed him back, running her hands up and down his bare chest, damp beneath his gold vest. She pushed it off his shoulders and he reached behind and unclasped her top. He caressed her breasts and she moaned softly. She reached down and caressed his cock over his pants. He was hard. And long and thick. Just like his dad. She groaned and rubbed him harder.
“I need you,” she groaned. “I don’t know how these things work,” she said, trying to pull at his costume.
“I’ll do it. This time.” He grinned and pulled at her belt and pushed her pants down off her hips. He knelt before her and buried his tongue in her pussy.
She shoved the gold turban off his head and tangled her hands in his hair as he lapped at her and sucked on her clit. “Oh, Travis,” she moaned.
He unbuttoned the cuffs of her pants and pulled them off, tossing them on the growing pile of green and gold. He tugged at his pants and pulled them off along with his dance belt, then picked Anna up and laid her on the couch. He positioned himself between her legs and she glanced down at his throbbing cock.
“Yes, please,” she begged.
He leaned down and thrust into her with one long thrust, making her moan and grasp his shoulders.
“Oh, God, Travis!” she cried.
“Shhh,” he said, then covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue in and out of her mouth as he did the same with his cock. She met his thrusts with enthusiasm and soon they both spiraled up into the stars and cried out against each other’s mouths.
Travis rested on his elbows with his head on her shoulder as they both gasped for breath. “Holy shit, Anna. You’re fucking incredible.”
Anna smiled. “So are you.” She moved her hips against him and clenched her muscles, making him shudder.
“Fuck,” he said softly, then lifted his head and looked down at her with a smile. “Can we do that again sometime?”
She nodded. “Yes. Definitely.” She was feeling good. Pain-free.
He grinned and stood. “I’m not one to fuck and run, but I know we don’t have long before the finale, and it would be really embarrassing if we missed that.”
They stood to get their costumes. Anna looked down and realized she still had her pointe shoes on.
“That is definitely a first,” she said, wiggling her feet. “I’ve never had sex while wearing my pointe shoes.”
Travis chuckled. “Kinda sexy, if you ask me.”
They dressed quickly and fixed their makeup, then sat on the couch for a few minutes. Travis put his arm around her and she rested her head against his chest. They could hear the music through an overhead speaker and knew they still had a few minutes before they had to be backstage.
“Do you want to stay at my place tonight?” he asked softly.
The offer tempted her. More opportunity to dull the pain. “I’d love to, Travis. I really would. But Jenna moved in with me and I gave her a ride. And Ben’s family is in town. If I came home tomorrow morning…they might not like it. I don’t want to disrespect them.”
Travis nodded. “I understand. Maybe some other time.”
Anna turned to look at him. “I’d love to stay in your arms all night long, Travis,” she said softly. She caressed his cheek. “Really. Maybe next week when they’re gone.”
“I’d like that. Or I could stay at your place too. I don’t mind. Whatever you’d be more comfortable with. I live with two of my brothers, but they won’t bother us.” He grinned. “Unless you want them to.” He looked toward the ceiling as they heard the last song of the Sugar Plum pas de deux began. “We should go.”
He stood and dragged her to her feet. She had gotten so relaxed she didn’t want to move, but did anyways, not wanting to miss the finale. They glanced in the mirror one last time to make sure they didn’t look like they’d just fucked on the dressing room couch, then walked calmly out to the backstage area.
Aaron
came off stage for a few moments and glanced at the two of them with a raised brow, then shook his head and moved back into position for his next cue.
Travis stood next to Anna with his hand on her hip, stroking the skin above her pants and making her heart pound.
“Travis…,” she whispered. “Your hand is…very enticing.”
He rubbed his thumb in a circle. “You like it?” he murmured near her ear.
Anna shivered and nodded. The pain disappeared at his touch.
The music for the finale started and they moved into their position, waiting for their cue. They did their short dance and were applauded loudly. Clara was sent back to her home. They waited for the end of the music and then it was time for their bows. When they walked back out onto the stage, the applause rose to almost deafening levels and Anna saw with shock that much of the audience stood for them. They had received a standing ovation!
Anna gaped at Travis, who grinned at her. She curtsied again, then they moved back into their line and waited with smiles on their face for the rest of the cast to take their bows.
The curtain closed and the stage erupted into excited chatter. Aaron walked up to Anna and Travis with a grin. “I don’t think the Arabian dance has ever garnered so much attention before.” Aaron hugged Anna. “It was spectacular,” he said to her. “And incredibly arousing,” he added in a whisper in her ear. “I know I shouldn’t be thinking about you that way right now…but I can't help it.”
Anna stared wide-eyed at Aaron, who grinned sheepishly at her.
Isaak came up to them. “Excellent job, you two.”
“Thanks, Isaak,” Anna said. She asked him about tickets for Ben’s family.
“Absolutely, Anna. Just let me know what night.”
She nodded. The remembrance of Ben’s family subdued her mood abruptly. Tears filled her eyes and her face scrunched up as tried not to cry.
“C’mon, Anna,” Travis said. “I’ll take her back to her dressing room,” he told Isaak.
Anna managed to keep herself under control until she stepped into her dressing room and then she collapsed onto the floor and sobbed. Travis sat behind her and held her while she cried.
Jenna knocked on the door a few minutes later and came inside.
“Oh, Anna,” she said, sitting on the other side of her.
Chapter Seventeen
Being held and hugged by her two friends comforted Anna and her tears eventually subsided.
“Thank you,” she sniffed.
She heard a faint ringing from her bag. It sounded like Devin’s ring. Her eyes hardened and her sadness was replaced with anger as she crawled to her bag and pressed the answer button.
“What?” she snapped.
“That’s no way to answer your phone, Anna,” Devin said with a tinge of warning in his voice.
“What do you want Devin?” she asked coldly. Anna saw the shocked expressions on Travis and Jenna’s faces.
“I heard that you did an excellent job tonight,” he said. “That it was quite mesmerizing.”
“So? Are you going to punish me for it?”
“Anna, I’m warning you. Change your attitude.” His voice was low and threatening. Part of her didn’t care. The other part of her was terrified.
Anna trembled and clenched her jaw. She was so angry at him she wanted to hit him. But she shouldn’t anger him. His anger was dangerous. She inhaled deeply. “Who told you?” she asked in a calmer voice.
“I know everything you do, Anna. I hope Travis doesn’t become another distraction.”
Anna looked at Travis, fear for him filling her heart. “Please don’t hurt him, Devin.”
Devin chuckled. “Is he becoming one already?”
Terror rose in Anna’s heart. “No, Devin. He’s just a friend. Please don’t—”
“I won’t. As long as you behave properly.”
Anna slumped against the couch. “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to do as you always have. Obey me and be happy about it.”
“I can’t be happy about it, Devin,” she whimpered. “You wounded me.”
“You wounded yourself Anna,” he spat. “Don’t blame me for your distractions. I only removed it for you.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Please don’t hurt my friends.”
Devin laughed cruelly. “You have vulnerabilities now, Anna. Don’t you see how dangerous that is?”
“I thought you wanted me to go out and have a life.”
“I don’t know how good of a decision that was, Anna. You don’t seem to be able to handle it.” He paused. “Will Jenna interfere if someone comes over to your apartment and you start screaming?”
Anna blinked. “I’ll tell her not to,” she assured him.
“Maybe we should test that tonight. Go home and I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.” He hung up without another word.
She looked at Jenna. “We have to go,” she said as she scrambled out of her costume.
“Anna what’s going on?” Travis asked.
“Devin’s coming over. I have to get home.” She looked at Jenna. “Are you ready?”
“Let me go get my stuff.” Jenna left the room.
“Travis you should go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Anna, let me help you,” he said, looking hurt.
“Please,” she implored in a whisper. “Just go.”
He frowned and turned to go.
“Travis?” she said.
“Yeah, Anna?” He turned back around.
Anna hesitated. “Be careful.”
“Did he threaten me?”
Anna nodded.
He looked thoughtful for a moment. “You too.” He gave her a sad smile and then left.
Anna dressed in her street clothes and impatiently waited for Jenna in the hallway. “C’mon,” Anna said when she came around the corner. “Let’s go.”
They walked quickly to Anna’s car.
“Jenna…when you’re there…,” Anna began. “I…maybe you should stay with Matt tonight.”
“Why?”
Anna gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove to their building. “Because Devin’s angry at me…and I don’t want you to hear what he does to me.”
“Anna, I can handle it. I want to be there for you when he leaves.”
“If he leaves. Sometimes he stays all night.” Anna sighed. “He’s testing to see what you do if you…hear me screaming. You have to stay away. You can’t interfere. And whatever you do, do not tell Greg. I don’t want to have anything to do with him.”
“Anna, he’s a nice guy.”
“He has something to do with Alex, and I don’t want anything to do with Alex.”
Jenna gave her a strange look. “Why?”
“Because I hate him. And he hates me. I hope he stays in Germany forever.” Anna was feeling it more now than ever. Alex certainly didn’t care about her. He hadn’t even called after Ben died.
“I highly doubt he hates you, Anna. He wants you to go see him in Germany.”
Anna snorted. “He probably just wants to make me miserable. Besides, I’m not going.”
“You’re not going? How are you going to manage that?”
“He’s certainly not going to bother to come out here and get me. I’ll just ‘accidentally’ miss the flight and then I can stay here.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “He’s not an idiot, Anna. He’ll make sure you get on that plane.”
“Fat chance,” Anna growled. “I won’t pack. I won’t open the door.”
“I think you should go. It will be good for you to get away.” Jenna smiled. “Don’t think of it as going to see Alex. Think of it as…getting away from Devin for two weeks.”
Anna opened her mouth, but her smart remark stuck in her throat. Getting away from Devin for two weeks? That was appealing. “I suppose I could think of it that way,” she said slowly. “But I’m not going to talk to Alex. I’ll sit in my room and lock the door.” She snorted. “
Or maybe he’ll just stick me in the Manor and leave me there. He says his dad’s Manor is nicer than Devin’s. That the girls are happy there and stuff.”
Anna pulled into her parking spot a few minutes later. She was exhausted. This emotional roller coaster she’d been on for the last week was taking its toll.
They walked up to their apartment in silence and Anna unlocked the door. “Please, Jenna,” she pleaded as they walked in. “Don’t stay. I don’t want you to hear me.”
Jenna frowned. “Then put your phone by your bed and text me when he leaves so I can come check on you.”
“I can't guarantee you I’ll be conscious.”
Jenna’s frown deepened. “Then I’m staying.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m here because you need someone to be here with you, Anna. You need someone to watch over you.”
“I’ll be fine. Devin won’t do anything to permanently hurt me.”
“That’s not very comforting.”
Anna sighed. “I have to go shower. Do whatever you want.” She turned and walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Once inside her room, Anna started trembling. Devin was right. She had vulnerabilities now. Her friends were targets. Any time she angered Devin, he might go after them instead of her. It would be better if she stayed away from them. But how?
She contemplated avoiding people as she sat on her bed and waited for Devin to come. She didn’t know if Jenna was still here and hoped she wasn’t.
The knock at the apartment door startled her out of her thoughts. She jumped up and quickly walked to the door to answer it. Both Devin and Ian stood in the doorway. She stared at them, trembling and clenching her fists at the same time.
“You gonna stand there all night, Baby?” Devin asked with a seductive smile.
Anna blinked in confusion. He didn’t sound angry. She stepped back to let them inside.
Devin looked around. “Is Jenna here?”
“I don't know,” Anna whispered, fear and loathing fighting inside of her at the sight of the two men.
Devin wandered out into the living room. “Hello, Jenna,” she heard him say. “And you must be her boyfriend Matt.”
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced Page 8