“Schatzi...,” he breathed.
His precious treasure. Here. Before him. Dressed for their wedding. He felt a little lightheaded and realized he’d been holding his breath. He took two steps to stand before her and swept her up in his arms. She weighed practically nothing and he spun her around and kissed her cheek.
“Oh, Alex, don’t spin her around!” his mother exclaimed. “She’ll get sick again.”
Alex cradled her cheek and gazed into her bright green eyes. “Were you sick this morning again, Anna?”
She looked apologetic as she nodded. “I’m so sorry, Alex. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
He studied her face. Why would she be getting sick? Had he done something? He stepped back and looked her over. His eyes caught at her breasts. Were they larger than they’d been when he last saw her? Yes. They definitely were. She glowed. She was sick. She had said she’d barely eaten though.
Oh, God! It couldn’t be, could it?
Anna searched his eyes. “Did I displease you, Alex?”
He saw her starting to pull away and cursed himself.
“No, no, Anna. I’m just concerned about you.” He gave her a gentle smile and kissed her gently on the lips. “You are the most beautiful vision I’ve ever seen.” His voice cracked slightly at his words.
She blushed again and looked away. He loved how shy she was. A normal woman could have been cold and arrogant because of her beauty. But not Anna. She was an angel. It made sense that Kurt called her Angel. It fit her.
“Here,” he said softly, handing her the rose. “This is for you.”
Her eyes lit up at the sight. She put it to her nose and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and smiling. “Thank you, Alex. It’s beautiful.”
“It’s nothing compared to you.”
“Don't we get to say hello to the bride, Alex?” Kurt asked, stepping next to him. “Hello, Engel. You look beautiful.” He kissed her cheek and hugged her.
Alex saw Anna nervously glance behind him to where he knew Gretchen stood, but she smiled warmly at Kurt.
“Thank you, Kurt,” she said in a soft voice.
Alex shook his head to himself. Gretchen was already hostile to Anna; Kurt didn’t need to give Gretchen more reasons. He heard Gretchen murmur something about one man being enough and Liesl giggled. Alex bit his tongue. The rest of the family greeted Anna warmly, except Gretchen.
Seth approached with a white fur coat that Alex had bought for Anna.
“Anna, this is for you,” Alex said, holding it open for her. “It should keep you warm.”
Once again her eyes lit up. “It looks so soft,” she said, reaching out to touch it. She smiled when she did and stepped closer and let him help her into it. “Ooh!” She giggled. “Can I wear this all the time?”
Everyone laughed affectionately. He heard Gretchen make another comment and he whipped around and glared at her. She smirked back.
“Alex, let it go,” his father said softly in German. “Don’t upset Anna.”
Alex looked back and saw the fright in Anna’s eyes. Guilt filled his veins and he sighed. He took her hand and kissed it. “I’m not angry at you, Schatzi.”
She gave him a timid smile.
He looked at his father who nodded, then looked back at Anna. “Shall we go get married?” he asked.
Anna nodded, her eyes sparkling again.
He put on his wool coat and then took her hand and led her out the front door. Tony and Greg got into an SUV parked behind the limo that the family, Seth and Sebastian piled into. A few minutes later, the car pulled away from the house and they were on their way to Frankfurt to get married.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Anna watched the buildings pass by as they drove through the city streets. She felt excited and scared all at the same time. The idea of marrying Alex seemed like a dream. But a very good dream. She held Alex’s hand tightly.
Something occurred to her. “Alex, don’t we need wedding rings?” she asked quietly.
Alex grinned down at her. “In Germany, we wear our wedding rings on the right hand.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two gold rings with birds and leaves on the outside, as well as the words Myn Genyst. He handed her the larger of the two rings.
“These were my grandparent’s wedding rings. Myn Genyst means ‘my heart’. I thought we could use these rings for the ceremony and wear them on our right hand and then go pick out rings together for our left hands afterwards. How does that sound?”
Anna stared at the ring. It was old fashioned and beautiful. She felt honored that he wanted her to wear a family ring. “That sounds wonderful Alex,” she said quietly. “But if you don’t want to wear two wedding rings, we don't have to.”
Alex shook his head. “We live in America for now. I don’t want anyone to doubt that we are married. In America, if I didn’t have a ring on my left hand, I would feel like I was being disrespectful. I want every woman who sees me to know that I am very happily married.”
Anna giggled. She could see his point and was grateful for it. “Thank you, Alex.”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Of course, that goes for you too. I don’t want men thinking that you’re available either.”
Anna leaned against his shoulder and fiddled with the ring he had handed her. It was so big! It went with the rest of him, she supposed.
“What are you thinking about that turns your cheeks so prettily pink?” he asked quietly.
She glanced up at him and gave him a shy smile. “I was noticing how big your ring was and I....” she whispered, then blushed “... extrapolated from there.”
Alex threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, Anna. I love you!”
The thought of the size of his cock made her nervous. When Sebastian had taken her back to her room after finishing at the Manor, he had told her that he needed to make her physically a virgin again.
She had begged him not to, but he said it had to be done. That even though it was rare naturally these days, the Son’s wife needed to be as a virgin. But Sebastian has assured her that it wouldn’t be like the cream that Devin gave her. She would stretch as she had the first time and she wouldn’t stay unnaturally tight. That had relieved some of her fears, but not all. It had hurt enough her first time with Devin. She couldn’t imagine being a virgin with Alex.
*****
The car slowed down and stopped near what looked like an enormous cobblestone courtyard. People milled around a huge fountain in the center of the courtyard in light coats, making Anna wonder how they weren’t freezing.
As she climbed out of the limo, Anna saw that all of Alex’s men were nearby. The men followed the family as they made their way to a line of tall buildings nearby. She squinted in the bright sunlight and looked up at the tallest, steepled building that they walked towards. It was so pretty and looked very “German” to her.
Anna clung to Alex’s hand as they walked through a set of glass doors set in a stone archway. Alex walked up to a lady behind a reception desk and spoke to her briefly in German. She looked at him and the rest of the family standing behind and her eyes widened. She nodded enthusiastically, picked up the phone and spoke urgently.
“Alex, is everything okay?” Anna whispered.
Alex smiled. “Ja, Schatzi. We’re not on the official schedule today. Everything has been done off the record.” He gave her an almost embarrassed look. “My family tends to be in the spotlight socially here. That no one knew I was engaged is rather shocking. Of course,” he said, pulling her close and kissing the back of her hand. “It only happened yesterday.” He gazed into her eyes and stroked her cheek. “Soon you will be my wife,” he said in a hushed tone.
The lady spoke to Alex again and motioned towards a set of glass doors that led to the interior of the building.
Alex grinned at Anna. “Let’s get married.” He opened the door and she walked through.
They climbed up a long marble staircase, brightly lit from the su
nshine that streamed through the wall of windows. Wilhelm walked next to Alex, speaking quietly in German.
When they arrived at the top of the stairs, a man in a dark suit and tie greeted them respectfully, first shaking Wilhelm’s hand and then Alex’s.
“Soeren, this is mein Verlobten, Anna,” Alex introduced. “Anna, this is Soeren Stutterheim. He will be marrying us today.”
“Hello,” Anna said with a shaky voice. Nerves flew through Anna’s body making her nauseous again. Her hand flew to her mouth and she swallowed several times, trying to rid her mouth of the increase of saliva that indicated she was going to vomit again.
“Anna, are you okay?”
Anna’s eyes watered and she shook her head.
Alex spoke quickly in German, then picked Anna up and carried her to a door with a silhouette of a woman on it. He opened the door slightly and called inside. No one responded, and he carried her through the doorway and put her down in the largest stall. She fell to her knees and emptied her stomach into the toilet. Several times.
Alex held her hair out of her face and rubbed her back until she was done.
She heard Ilsa behind her. “Give this to her, Alex.”
Alex handed her a wet cloth and she wiped her mouth.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” she said with tears in her eyes as she slumped to the floor. “I can’t keep anything in my stomach.”
Alex pulled her into his lap and flushed the toilet. “Anna, it’s all right. You can’t help what your body does.”
Greta came in a moment later with a glass of clear soda and Anna sipped it slowly. Alex and his mother spoke softly in German and she felt his heart rate increase as they talked.
She looked up at him. “Alex, did something happen?”
He shook his head. “Nein, Anna. Why?”
“Your heart is pounding in your chest and it wasn’t a minute ago.” She put her hand under his black suit jacket and over his heart. “What’s wrong?” she searched his eyes. “Did Devin find out about the wedding?”
“Nein, Schatzi. Everything is fine.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Finish your drink and then we’ll go get married.”
She leaned her head on his chest and tried to drink the soda as quickly as possible. She knew something was wrong; she could sense it. But she didn’t have the energy to ask again.
When she finished drinking, she held up the glass. “Done.”
He helped her to her feet and then stood. “Are you feeling better?” he asked, smoothing her hair.
Anna nodded.
Alex left the bathroom. Ilsa helped her fix her makeup and dress and then they went back into the hallway. She handed Anna a peppermint candy.
Alex was speaking to his father and looked up when they walked out.
“Everything all right?” Wilhelm asked, giving her an affectionate smile.
Anna nodded, and then blushed as she felt everyone staring at her. She stared at the ground, embarrassed. What was she doing with these sophisticated people? She felt terribly out of place...like a street urchin trying to be a princess. They were very nice, and part of her felt comfortable with them. But the other part of her wanted to run away. She had no idea where to run to, but wanted to just the same.
Alex said something in German and she saw the family walk through a wooden door. Alex took her hand and led her to a bench by the window. He helped her out of her coat and put it beside him on the bench.
She stared at the floor. Was he going to tell her this was a mistake? That they shouldn’t get married? That she had embarrassed him in front of his family? Is that what he and his mother had been talking about?
“I’m sorry I embarrassed you, Alex,” she said softly, tears filling her eyes.
“Anna, you didn’t embarrass me. I’m worried about you. I don’t like seeing you sick.”
“Do you still want to marry me?” she asked with a tremulous voice.
*****
Alex cupped Anna’s cheek and kissed her. “Anna, whatever gave you the idea that I didn’t want to marry you?” he asked in a soft voice. “Nothing has changed that. I love you and want you to be my wife. I just want to make sure your stomach is all right.”
His mother had the same suspicions that he’d had before they left the Gutshaus. She suspected Anna was pregnant as well. He wanted to ask Anna about it, but he had a strong feeling that she had no idea. Why would she?
He didn’t want to upset Anna by bringing up the subject. He wanted her to be happy and not worry about it for a while longer, as he suspected she would become upset and nervous when she found out. He pushed the thoughts aside for now. He needed to sort out his own feelings about it, too, and it would be better if he were settled with the idea before he broached the subject with Anna. She would need his confidence about it.
She nodded. “It’s okay. I feel better now. I guess maybe it’s just nerves.”
“I’m sure that has something to do with it,” he affirmed. “Come. Let’s go get married.”
*****
Within half an hour, Anna looked up into her new husband’s eyes. They were married. He gave her a tender look and then captured her lips with his. She could feel his love enveloping her entire body and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Soeren said something in German and Alex nodded. They stood and faced his family, and Soeren said something else and everyone clapped.
“What did he say?” she whispered.
“He introduced us as the new Duke and Duchess of Hesse.”
She looked up at him, bewildered. “Duchess?”
Alex smiled. “Ja, Schatzi. You are a Duchess now. Here, they should call you Herzogin.”
She had a title? Her mind struggled to grasp the idea, but before she could, they were surrounded by Alex’s family. Hugs and kisses and congratulations were received from everyone. Gretchen’s was terse.
“She is still vulnerable, Alex,” she heard Wilhelm say to Alex quietly as they walked outside. “We need to go.”
Alex nodded. “We have some rings to find and then we will be home later,” Alex said to his family.
They said goodbye and then he and Anna got into the SUV with Wilhelm while the rest of the family got back in the limo. Sebastian and Seth rode in the back of the SUV.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Greg drove through the city streets until they were on the northern outskirts. He pulled onto a narrow road and drove for quite a while.
Anna felt her purse vibrate and opened it. Her phone was ringing. She looked at the screen.
“Alex,” she exclaimed. “Devin is calling me.”
She had to answer it. Devin would punish her if she didn’t. She was about to push the screen when Alex took the phone from her hands.
“Nein¸ Anna,” he said sharply. “You cannot answer his call right now.”
Tears came to her eyes. “But he’ll punish me if I don’t answer.”
“I am your Master too, Anna, and your husband. My authority over you outweighs Devin’s.” His voice was clipped and stern.
Anna felt like he had just slapped her in the face. She swallowed and turned to stare outside the SUV to gain control of her tears. Would he change, now that they were married? Would he become mean, like Devin and Jack had after her birthday?
She heard Alex sigh. “I’m sorry I snapped, Anna,” he said in a soft voice, reaching for her hand. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s fine, Alex,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I contradicted you.”
“Anna, he was probably tracking your phone and got suspicious. You can’t speak to him until after we finish at the Manor. Then my authority will be set and his will be lessened.” He pulled her back against him. “I want you to be safe. You’re still vulnerable until the Elders confirm our marriage.” He kissed her cheek and held her close. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, Schatzi,” he whispered.
Anna tried to relax and told herself she was just being overly emotional. Alex wasn’t Devin; Alex was warm a
nd loving, from the inside. It wasn’t a façade like Devin wore.
He stroked her hand and kissed her head. “I love you, Anna.”
She looked up at him and smiled, the pain in her heart easing. “I love you too, Alex.”
His eyes darkened and he cupped the back of her head, pulling her to him and pressing his lips to hers. She felt his arousal through his hungry kiss. It took her breath away.
He pulled away as Greg pulled up in front of a three-story house with peaked roofs like Alex’s home. A wide staircase led up to the arched entryway. Seth and Sebastian got out first and looked around, then motioned for Alex and Anna to follow.
Anna’s phone rang again as they were walking towards the stairs. Alex was carrying it and he frowned at the screen. “Why does he keep calling?”
“Is it Devin?” Anna asked nervously.
Alex nodded. He pressed the button on the side of the phone and it turned off.
Devin was going to be so angry at her for ignoring his calls.
Alex looked around and put his hand on Anna’s back. “Hurry, Anna,” he said softly, pushing her gently up the stairs.
As they were walking inside, Anna heard a shout behind her. She turned and saw three tall men coming up the stairs. One of them looked like Kaveh.
She stopped. “Alex!” she exclaimed.
Alex grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. He shouted something and someone else grabbed her and pulled her through the doors. The door closed with her inside and Alex outside.
“Alex!” she screamed, fighting against whoever was holding her. “Let me go!”
“Anna, you are safe in here.” It was Wilhelm. “If you go outside, you will be in danger.”
“But what about Alex?”
“They won’t hurt him, Liebling. He’ll be safe.” Wilhelm led her to a nearby couch and sat her down, holding her hand.
Anna stared at the door, wondering what was going on outside.
*****
Alex turned to face the Immortals after Anna was safely inside. “Stop. You have no authority here.”
The tallest one glared at him. “She is ours. You cannot have her.”
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced Page 18