The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced

by Marissa Honeycutt

  “Is that okay?” Her eyes filled with apprehension.

  “Anna, it is the best thing I have ever heard or known.” He kissed her again, his heart soaring in his chest. “I will see you in the morning.”

  Anna nodded and walked into her room, closing the door behind her.

  Alex sighed in contentment. She was here at last. Safe and sound in his family home. She would be safe here. The hard part would be getting into the city undetected. But that’s why his men were here, and others that he trusted implicitly. He turned and walked back to Sebastian.

  “Is the guard set?” he asked in German.

  “Yes. Up on the roof and foot patrols outside. I also sent a few out to the main road.”

  “Do you think he suspects anything?” Alex’s biggest fear was Devin finding out and stopping the wedding. If Devin knew, Alex was certain that he would do anything to stop it. Devin’s control over Anna would be minimized once she and Alex were married.

  “I honestly don’t know, Alex. Her anger and hostility at coming was a good thing, though. She begged Devin not to make her go, so he may assume that she’s still feeling that way.” Sebastian frowned. “Your kiss at the airport wasn’t the wisest of moves, though.”

  “I couldn’t help it,” Alex smiled in spite of himself. “You try not kissing her,” he chuckled.

  “I’m trying to keep my mind in a fatherly disposition,” Sebastian said wryly. “It is difficult. She’s very desirable.”

  Alex looked back at the closed door. “She is. Perhaps it’s a good thing that I’ll be at the Schloss tonight.”

  Sebastian laughed. “There are multiple reasons why a groom spends the night at the Manor before his wedding. Temptation is one of them.”

  “Gretchen hasn’t been opening her mouth, has she? Or Liesl?”

  “Surprisingly, they’ve been rather cooperative. Even Gretchen. Liesl may listen to Gretchen about certain things, but she’s still your sister and loves you. Gretchen’s barely left the house since the baby was born and she hasn’t said anything on any calls that I know of. She’s jealous and bitter, but she’s behaving.”

  “Good.”

  “You need to go to your father. I will take care of Anna.”

  Alex looked longingly at the door Anna had disappeared through minutes before.

  Sebastian laughed and pushed Alex away. “Go. Your father is in the sitting room waiting for you.”

  Alex turned and made his way back down to the sitting room. His father stared out the window into the dark night. Greta and his mother were nowhere to be seen.

  Gretchen sat on the couch nursing Otto. She gave him a sweet smile as he walked by. “She’s very young, Alex. How old is she?”

  “Twenty.”

  “Eight years is quite an age difference.”

  “Anna is more mature than most thirty-year-olds,” Kurt said.

  “And you would know?” Gretchen snapped.

  Kurt gave her a wicked smiled. “Do you really want me to answer that question, wife?”

  Liesl narrowed her eyes at Kurt. “You’re mean, Kurt.”

  “I was just offering her a choice,” Kurt said innocently.

  “Why is the house guarded so carefully, Alex?” Gretchen asked in a way that made Alex suspicious. “Are you afraid someone will come and steal that girl away from you?”

  Alex narrowed his eyes at Gretchen. “If anything happens to Anna overnight, I will find out who is responsible and tear them apart, limb from limb,” he growled.

  Gretchen’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard you speak in such a way.” Her tone was light and she laughed, but he could see the fright in her eyes.

  “I will do anything to keep Anna safe and happy. You would do well to keep that in mind, Gretchen.”

  “Alex, that’s enough,” his father said softly, walking up next to him. “You needn’t pick a fight out of your stress.”

  Alex took a deep breath.

  “It’s almost over,” Vati said calmly. “She will be safe in less than twelve hours.”

  Alex nodded to himself. “Yes, Vati. I know.”

  “Are you ready?”

  Alex nodded and followed his father out of the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Alex walked into the Schloss less than an hour later. He was thankful that he was marrying the right way this time, but was apprehensive about the marriage piercings. Whoever came up with the idea that it was a good thing to stick a bunch of metal balls under the skin of a guy’s cock was insane. He wondered if it really made a difference. Logically, he supposed it would, but he still didn’t like the idea.

  He sighed. But he was too old not to have them. An Elder-Son was supposed to be married in his early twenties. His father refusing to let him have them when he married Mina had been humiliating, but Alex understood now. Poor Mina. He should have never married her. She deserved better than he’d been able to give her. They had never connected on the level that he connected with Anna.

  He didn’t know why he’d felt a connection to Anna until a few months ago when Vati had told him about the conversation he’d had with Anna’s father before he “died.”

  Trevor had gone against every Immortal and Brotherhood rule to come to Wilhelm with a desperate plea to help his eleven-year-old daughter. Trevor had feared that the Elder of the city he lived in, which they now knew was San Francisco, would try and take Anna away from him. He had asked Wilhelm for permission to tie his daughter’s heart to Alex’s.

  “I give my daughter to your son, Elder,” Trevor had said as he stood over Alex’s sleeping form. “Their hearts are tied, though not yet bound. He will know her when he sees her. I cannot offer more information than this. If you know too much, the others will grow suspicious and she will be in even more danger.” He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again. “I must go. Use discretion when telling your son what I have told you.”

  Alex and Anna were meant to be together. Her father had given her to Alex, and Alex had failed them both. He was determined to be everything Anna wanted and needed. He would not fail her again.

  “Vati, why are we going down here?” Alex asked as they walked down the steps into the Dirne’s living area. He had no desire to be with anyone except Anna.

  “You must choose which women will help you tonight.”

  “Help me?”

  “To arouse you.”

  “Vati, I don’t want to have sex with anyone other than Anna.”

  Vati smiled. “I appreciate that, Alex. I’m glad. Don’t worry. You’re not having sex. You cannot climax. The Dirne’s job is to arouse you. To...make you ready for Anna tomorrow.”

  Alex looked at him warily. “I’m going to be teased all night?”

  “Not all night. And, you need to be as aroused as you possibly can be before you are pierced.”

  Alex groaned. “Will I be able to have sex tomorrow?”

  Vati laughed. “Alex, this has been done for hundreds of years and I’m not aware of any man not being able to consummate his marriage the next day.” He put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “I had the same thoughts when I went through this. It will be all right, I promise. Now, choose.”

  Alex looked around the room at women who looked at him with seductive smiles. “Is it better to choose ones who remind me of Anna, or who are the exact opposite?”

  “Choose someone who you are attracted to. It will go better.”

  Alex sighed and continued looking around. He only wanted Anna. But the more attracted he was to the girl, the faster it would go...hopefully. He finally settled on a blonde named Lea, and a brunette named Emily. They had a sweetness about them that reminded him of his beloved. He had briefly considered a redhead, but it reminded him too much of Kirsty.

  The Dirne followed behind Vati and Alex to his bedroom upstairs. Vati gave the girls instructions, to arouse him, but not allow him to orgasm, and then he left, saying he would be back later.

  Lea began to unbutton his shirt while Emil
y kissed him. They ooh-ed and ahh-ed as they undressed him, then removed their short dresses.

  Their breasts were round and full, their pussies bare. Lea knelt between his legs and took his cock into her pink mouth, sucking and stroking him and making him groan. Emily moved back up to his mouth and kissed him, stroking his chest.

  Alex kissed her back, reaching for her breasts and caressing the firm globes. Emily moaned as he pulled on her nipples and then took one into his mouth. His fingers trailed down to her pussy and he slid his finger inside her wet folds. She gasped as he began thrusting in and out of her.

  Lea pulled on his balls and then sucked one into her mouth. “Oh, God....” he groaned.

  She stroked him as she sucked and he could feel himself throbbing. He knew he couldn’t come, but he wanted release. It had been a while since he’d had sex. He had been so busy it hadn’t really crossed his mind all that much. When he needed release, he came to the Schloss and had one of the girls give him a blowjob. But having his fingers inside a woman’s body made him realize how much he’d missed it.

  He scooted to lay down and picked up Emily, bringing her pussy to his mouth. He lost himself in her taste, his tongue delving deeper and deeper, her pussy blossoming like a flower around him. She wiggled and moaned above him.

  Lea continued to suck on his cock and he reached down and petted her hair.

  Emily’s thighs clenched. “Oh, my lord. Please may I come?”

  “Yes,” was all he said before he sucked hard on her clit. She screamed and arched her back, her juices dripping into his mouth. He lapped at them eagerly. When she had calmed down, he released her, and she moved to his cock. He pulled at Lea’s hair and she traded places with Emily.

  Alex finger fucked her as he played with her breast and kissed her. Emily took him in deeper than Lea had and he groaned as she took him down her throat.

  “Yes, oh, yes,” he groaned against Lea’s mouth. He felt like he was going to explode. When he was on the cusp, Emily backed off and squeezed the base of his cock, not allowing him to climax.

  He looked down and glared at her. “What are you doing?”

  Her eyes grew large. “I’m sorry, my lord. Master said you weren’t allowed to finish.”

  Alex’s head fell back on the pillow as he cursed at himself. He’d forgotten why he was here. He’d forgotten Anna. Guilt spread through his chest like fire.

  “Please, my lord. Did I do something to upset you?” Emily asked in a nervous tone.

  “No, you didn’t. I forgot myself. You are doing very well. Continue.” He moved Lea above his mouth and ate her until she came, screaming and writhing above him.

  When she had finished, he told them both to work his cock. He closed his eyes and thought about Anna. When he was denied his orgasm, he gritted his teeth and reminded himself that this was for her.

  *****

  Anna sat in her room, unsure what she should do. She was tired, but too nervous to sleep. She went into the closet and found her pajamas folded neatly on top of a small dresser, with a pair of slippers on the floor. After she changed clothes, she walked over to one of the windows and pulled aside the curtain to look outside.

  The ground was white and sparkled in the full moonlight. A long flat yard stretched out in front of the house, covered in sparkling snow. A dark line, which she thought was the road, made a rectangular border around the snowy ground. Anna hoped that Alex would take her out to explore tomorrow. Or maybe the next day.

  A firm knock sounded at her door.

  “Come in,” she called.

  The door opened and Sebastian walked in. “Hello, Anna. How are you doing?”

  She gave him a shy smile. “Okay. Trying to not think about tomorrow.”

  Sebastian smiled. “I hope that’s because you’re excited and not dreading it.”

  “Oh! Of course I’m not dreading it. Who would dread their wedding day?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “You’d be surprised.” He walked over and pulled Anna gently away from the window, closing the curtain. “It’s better to stay away from the windows. Just for tonight. After you’re married, you’ll be safe. Until then, it’s better if you stay out of sight.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “I’m certain Alex will take you out to explore soon. The grounds are beautiful, even in the winter.”

  “They look like they are.” She looked wistfully at the curtain then turned and walked to her bed and sat down. She glanced up at Sebastian. “Did you want me to please you, Sebastian?”

  He smiled kindly. “That’s not why I came in here, Anna. I wanted to talk to you.”

  Anna blushed. “Oh.”

  “I will take you to Alex and the Elders. Your wedding at the government office is the legal part of getting married. But what bonds you, what gives Alex the ability to protect you, is what happens at the Schloss. As an Elder-Mistress, you need to be given to Alex. By an Immortal. It would ideally be your father, but he can’t be here. So he asked me to stand in for him.”

  “Will I ever see my father again?”

  “Yes. But not on Earth.”

  “Oh.”

  “Getting married for an Elder-Son is a big deal. It shows that the Son is able to be responsible for more than himself. There are things that the Son does in preparation for taking a wife. That’s why Alex is at the Manor tonight. The only time a wife, or bride rather, goes to the Manor is on their wedding day. You, being an Elder-Mistress, of course will be there more than just those times.”

  Anna felt ashamed that she couldn’t be a better wife for Alex. A normal wife.

  “Anna, your circumstances are different than anything that has been seen in a long time. And none of them are your fault. You needn’t feel ashamed. The Elders have approved your marriage, with no reservations.”

  “Elders have to approve marriages?” It sounded so old fashioned.

  “Yes. There are high standards for the potential brides. It used to be that it was required for them to be virgins. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to find a woman who is a virgin, and accommodations have been made accordingly. But they still must be respectable members of society, not having a poor reputation. They must be strong, but willing to submit to the will of their husbands. Of course, the man has to be strong enough to stand up to their wife when needed as well. Men these days are so weak. It’s sad.”

  “Sebastian, I am so far from a virgin it’s not even funny.”

  “Anna, that’s not your fault. The Elders know what happened to you. They also know that Alex is whom you are meant to be with. They wholeheartedly approve your marriage. But, there are a few things we need to do tonight to prepare you.”

  “Like what?”

  He held out his hand. “Come with me.”

  Anna looked down. “I’m in my pajamas.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “It doesn’t matter. Take my hand. You’ll be appropriately dressed when you arrive.”

  Anna looked at his hand nervously. “Does Alex know I’m leaving?”

  “I told him I would have you prepared for him. He trusts me.”

  Anna searched his eyes, but they revealed nothing except sincerity. She reached for his hand and he grasped it tightly.

  “Close your eyes and hold tight.”

  *****

  Alex groaned loudly as he was denied an orgasm for the umpteenth time. Lea squeezed him so he wouldn’t finish and it was painful. He grasped the headboard and squeezed, needing release so badly, but knowing he couldn’t have it. They’d been at it for at least an hour and a half. His cock was harder than it had ever been before. His balls felt like they were the size of grapefruits.

  When the girls moved, he could see their pink pussies, wet and swollen from the orgasms he’d given them. Somehow watching them come gave him a sense of release. He could see both of them now and wanted so badly to bury his cock deep inside one of them. He reached out and ran his fingers through the silken folds of Emily’s pussy. She squealed and giggled when he pinched her cli
t.

  The door opened abruptly and Vati walked in. Alex was both relieved and embarrassed at the same time. Not that his father hadn’t seen him naked before, even as an adult. And when he was twenty, he had gotten his initial piercing, which came after he showed his submission to his father....

  God, he did not need to be thinking about any kind of sex right now. His cock was engorged and painful and he was willing to do almost anything to make it stop hurting.

  Wilhelm looked at him and nodded. “Girls, you may go.”

  They looked disappointed, but obeyed and left the room. After they did, six other men walked into the room. The German Elders. They were dressed in white tunics and pants, as was his father. Alex was beyond caring who saw him at this point.

  “Stand, Alex,” Vati commanded.

  Alex stood, his bobbing cock throbbing with every movement. He groaned, but stood tall as the Elders examined him.

  Vati stood in front of him and snapped a leather ring around the base of his cock.

  Alex felt sweat break out on his forehead and he groaned. He clenched his hands, tightening the muscles in his arms as the blood pounded through his body. He looked down and could have sworn that his cock was bigger than he’d ever seen it before. Oh, just a few strokes and he could have relief.

  But no, for Anna he would keep himself under control. He was a strong man. This was nothing compared to the years of abuse she’d been through. He could do this. For her.

  “Alexander Johannes Kunze Herzog von Hesse, you desire to be married tomorrow,” Vati said in a solemn voice. “Is this true?”

  “Yes, it is true,” Alex answered, his voice strained.

  “Marriage is not something to be entered into lightly. Although in our society and world, marriage is a throwaway relationship, as an Elder, it is a sacred commitment. A permanent bond that cannot be dissolved by either party. Once you take this step and make this commitment, there is no changing it. Do you accept this?”

  “Yes.”

  His cock was throbbing even more now. The ring prevented his erection from dying. In fact, he could have sworn that it was getting even larger. God, it hurt!