The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared (19 page)

“Because I did fall in love with you,
Anna.”

Anna looked at Peter in shock. “You...you
can’t. Dariya...”

“I couldn’t help it, Anna. I tried not to,
but the more I got to know you....” He sighed. “You’re a difficult
woman not to love.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He took her hand in his. “She told me if I
didn’t marry her while I was there that she would end things. We’ve
known each other since we were children. I couldn’t lose her.” His
expression was pained. “She knows enough about the Brotherhood that
she doesn’t complain about me being gone, as long as I visit her
often.”

“Doesn’t she mind you being here with
me?”

“Yes, but she knows it’s only temporary. She
is a good choice for a wife, Anna. A proper wife is difficult to
find.” He paused and looked at his hands. “If I thought I had any
sort of chance to take you for a wife, I never would have married
her. But Devin will never let you leave here, and I have to return
to Russia sometime in the near future.
Dedushka
isn’t
going to live forever and he’s...been sick lately.”

“Does she know you...love me?”

“I didn’t tell her in so many words, but I
didn’t deny it when she accused me of it.”

“She must hate me.”

Peter laughed sadly. “I wouldn’t recommend
meeting her in a dark alley.”

Anna was quiet for a few minutes. “When did
you get married?”

“Monday. We flew to Gibraltar.”

“Didn’t you have to go through the Elders?
Germany is very strict about approvals and stuff.”

Peter shook his head. “Germany is strict
about everything. No, as long as
Dedushka
approves, that’s
all that matters. It’s not as big a deal since I’m not next in line
for Elder yet.”

“Did you...get your piercings?” Anna bit her
lip, but was curious.

He nodded and then grinned. “You want to see
them?”

Anna had never had issues with sleeping with
married men, but she felt awkward with Peter having been married
less than a week ago. “Do you love her?”

“I do.” He shrugged. “We’ve been together for
so long, I suppose I couldn’t imagine my life without her.” He
glanced at Anna. “But being with you these last few months has
been....” He sighed. “I hate to imagine my life without you either,
but we both know this can't last.”

Anna nodded. “I know,” she said sadly.

“I want to enjoy the time we do have
together. I don’t want anything to change...if that’s possible.” He
gave her a tender smile.

“I don’t want anything to change either.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “I missed
you,” he whispered.

“I missed you too.” She wrapped her arms
around his neck and kissed him back.

He stood and tugged her to her feet. “Shall
we see how you like my new jewelry?”

Monday morning, Anna saw Peter staring at his
wedding ring as he sat on the bed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, kneeling behind
him and kissing the back of his neck.

“I don’t know if I should wear this while I’m
here. I don’t want there to be questions asked.” He turned to look
at her. “I don’t want people to think badly of you.”

“I don’t know if anyone would think of it as
a wedding ring. We don't wear ours on our right hand.”

“You do,” he pointed out.

“I married a German. I had other rings...I
don't know what happened to them.” She paused. “But, no one’s ever
taken much notice of my ring.”

“Would you be uncomfortable if I wore
it?”

“It doesn’t change anything if you wear it or
not.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Peter, it’s not my place to tell you to wear
it or not. I’m only a slave.”

Peter frowned. “You’re not a slave to me.” He
cradled her cheek and kissed her. “I’m sorry I ever made you feel
that way.”

Anna smiled. “It’s okay. You don’t
anymore.”

“Good.” He kissed her again. “I’d like to
make you feel something else,” he murmured against her lips and
pushed her backwards onto the bed.

“Did I mention I like your new jewelry?” she
asked in a husky voice.

“You did. Several times.” He laughed and
kissed her neck. “I’ll have to make sure you tell me again
tonight.”

Anna reached her hand down. “Or now?”

Peter groaned. “I wish we had time.” He sat
up and pulled her with him. “But we need to get moving.”

Rehearsals passed quickly and soon it was
time for opening night of
Swan Lake
. In the afternoon
before the performance, Peter and Anna went home to relax before
they had to be back at the theater. They were naked in bed with
Peter poised to thrust into Anna when there was a loud knock at the
apartment door.

Peter shook his head and Anna moaned as he
pushed into her body. “Whoever it is can come back later,” he
groaned and kissed her as he thrust in and out. Anna wrapped her
legs around his waist and met his rhythm with her hips.

A few minutes later, the knocking repeated.
Anna looked up at Peter who shook his head again. “You feel too
good to leave,” he said in a breathy voice, quickening his
movements. A few minutes later, as they moaned and thrust hard
against each other, Peter’s phone rang.

It was Dariya’s ring. Peter cursed. “I’ll
call her back,” he said and kissed Anna as he thrust even harder.
They both cried out loudly a few minutes later and Peter rested his
head on her shoulder, breathing heavily. “This is a really strange
time for her to call,” he mumbled and rolled off Anna. He picked up
his phone from the nightstand and looked at it.

There was another knock at the door. Peter
cursed in Russian and stood. “Whoever it is, I’m going to fucking
kill them,” he mumbled. He pulled on his sweatpants and went to
answer the door.

“Dariya!” Anna heard Peter exclaim a moment
later, and then he proceeded to speak rapidly in Russian.

Oh, no!
Anna stood and looked for
her clothes that had been discarded. She found her pants, but her
shirt and bra was out in the other room. She pulled another shirt
out of the dresser and dressed quickly.

It didn’t sound like Dariya was happy, and
Anna was hesitant to go out into the living room. But she was
curious about what Peter’s wife looked like.

A few minutes later, Peter walked into the
bedroom. “I’m sure you heard?” he asked quietly.

Anna had sat down on the bed and nodded. “Why
is she here?”

He frowned. “She wanted to see me dance, and
surprise me.”

“She doesn’t seem very happy.”

“Well, I did just answer the door in a sweat
from making love to you.”

“Doesn’t she know we live together?”

“I told her that, but I don’t think she put
two and two together. She—”

Peter stopped as a beautiful woman with long
blond hair and sapphire blue eyes stepped into the doorway. Her
skin was flawless with expertly applied makeup and fashionably
highlighted and styled hair. She was tall and curvy, wearing tight
jeans that showed off long, thin legs and a red low-cut peasant
blouse that showed off impressive cleavage. Anna couldn’t help but
stare. Peter fell in love with her when he had Dariya waiting for
him at home? Why?

Peter ran his hand through his hair. Anna
could tell he was upset and uncomfortable with the situation.

“Peter, do you want me to leave?” she asked
softly. She didn’t want to be in the way.

He sighed. “Dariya, this is Anna Kunze. Anna
this is Dariya.”

Anna stood and gave her a timid smile

Dariya looked her up and down and then looked
back at Peter. “She’s rather fat for a ballerina, don’t you think?”
Her voice was low and thick with accent.

Peter gasped. “Dariya! That was rude.”

Anna put her arms around her stomach. Her
face had filled out and she imagined she did look rather fat for a
ballerina.

Dariya shrugged. “Is true.”

“She’s pregnant. Give her a break.”

Dariya’s eyes got wide. “You got her
pregnant?”

Peter narrowed his eyes. “What if I did? It
was before you gave me your ultimatum.”

She snapped in Russian and then proceeded to
speak very rapidly, pointing to Anna several times.

Anna stood silently looking at the ground as
they argued. Oh, this was not what she wanted for Peter. Who could
she stay with while Dariya was here? Aaron? Travis? Devin? She
supposed she could stay at the house. Yes, that would be the best
option. She could use Alex’s car to get around.

Peter raised his voice at Dariya and pointed
to the door. She narrowed her eyes and then left the room.

“Peter, I’m so sorry,” Anna said softly. “I
don't want to cause trouble. I was thinking maybe I could go stay
at the house for a few days...or however long she’s in town.”

He looked at the door and then at Anna and
stepped close. “I don’t want to lose you,” he said softly, cradling
her cheek.

“It’s not real,” she whispered with longing
in her eyes. “Take me to the house and fix things with her. I can
use Alex’s car to get around.”

“You shouldn’t be in that big house all by
yourself.”

“I’ll be okay. Aaron lives close by.” Peter
didn’t mistrust Aaron anymore and, in fact, they had become good
friends. He always cautioned Aaron about getting too close to Anna
because of Devin, though.

Peter sighed and thought for a few minutes.
“I won’t tell anyone she’s my wife. She said she wants to stay for
a while. She can be...an old friend or something and we had a fight
over her or something like that. I’ll be the bad guy.” He gave her
a sad look. “I never wanted to hurt you, Anna.”

“I know.”

An hour later Peter dropped Anna and two
suitcases at the house in Presidio. He was hesitant to leave her,
but she insisted she’d be all right. Now that he was gone, though,
she wasn’t sure. The house was so big and empty. She wondered if
Frau Gersten was still around. She decided to call Aaron. Maybe he
would know.

Aaron told her that Frau Gersten had moved
back to Germany, but there was a woman who came and cleaned the
house every few weeks. “Are you thinking about moving back in?”

Anna looked around at the great room. “I’m
here right now. Peter and I...had a fight.”

“Oh, Anna. I’m so sorry.”

She tried to smile. “It’s okay. I forgot how
big this place was.”

“Do you want some company?”

It was tempting, but she didn’t want anything
to happen to him. “I’m okay.”

“I’ll...make some calls about a housekeeper
for you and let you know. Do you need a ride tonight?”

“Alex’s car is here. Do you know if it
runs?”

“Everything in the house has been kept in
order, just in case you needed it. The car should be running
perfectly.”

“Thanks, Aaron.”

“Come see me when you get to the theater
tonight, okay?”

“Okay.”

Anna went upstairs and unpacked. She noticed
that Alex’s clothes had been put away. Strangely, it didn’t hurt as
much to be here. She missed Alex terribly, but didn’t feel the
stabbing pain in her heart. It was more like a dull ache and it was
almost comforting. She pulled one of his sweaters down and put it
on, and then went to watch TV until she had to leave for the
theater.

Anna carefully parked Alex’s silver Mercedes
Roadster in the parking garage. It was such a powerful car that it
was a little scary to drive. But she’d done well, considering how
little she drove these days.

She got out to retrieve her things from the
trunk and Aaron walked up. “Hey,” he said giving her a hug.

She smiled. “Hey.”

“How ya doin’?”

“Okay.” She closed the trunk and stroked the
car. “It’s so him, you know?”

Aaron nodded. “I always thought so.” He took
her garment bag from her and they walked across the street to the
theater. “What did you and Peter fight about that made you leave?
And does Devin know?”

Anna’s heart sank. She didn’t know what to
tell Devin. “I haven’t told him.”

They made their way through the backstage
halls until they came to the row of dressing rooms for the soloists
and principals. “At least you’ll have privacy for this
performance,” Aaron pointed out.

“Yeah.” She opened the door and turned on the
light.

A vase of red roses sat on her vanity. She
picked up the card. They were from Peter. “I’m sorry,” read the
card.

Anna smiled to herself. She missed him, but
she knew how things were. Peter would stay as long as Devin wanted
him to and then go home to his wife. He needed to make sure things
were good with Dariya. That was more important than his fake
relationship with Anna.

“Holy shit. Is that what you two were
fighting over?”

Anna turned to see Aaron gaping at something
in the hallway. She hurried to the door and saw Peter walking down
the hall with Dariya, who was looking even more beautiful than she
had earlier in a slinky black dress.

“Who is that?” Aaron asked. “She’s fucking
hot!”

“A...friend from St. Petersburg.”

Aaron looked at Anna apologetically. “Sorry,
Anna.

She shrugged. “She’s very beautiful.”

“So are you.”

Anna shook her head. “Not like that.”

Aaron turned and put his hands on her
shoulders. “Anna, you are a knock out. Guys follow you with their
eyes wherever you walk. Yeah, she’s hot. And you are too. But you
have...I don’t know...there’s something about you that makes you
even more beautiful than that.”

“The fact that I’m half Immortal?” she asked
wryly.

Aaron laughed. “Well, that could be part of
it. But tonight at the party, see who gets more attention. You or
her.”

“Men like blondes. And I don’t care if they
find me more attractive. Sometimes I wish they didn’t.” Anna
sighed. “I just...why would he love me if he has someone like her
at home?”