The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged (23 page)

Drinks were ordered and delivered. Anna
glanced in the direction of the curtained room and smiled before
she took a sip of her martini. She could almost feel his eyes on
her and it gave her shivers that ended right in her clit.

Hugo pulled her onto the dance floor a while
later and slid his hands down her hips. “This is the one place I’m
expected
to molest you,” he grinned as he ran his thumbs
over her hipbones.

Anna smiled and put her arms around his neck
as he swayed with her to the music. “Then maybe we should come here
more often,” she teased.

“Tempting,” he grinned, showing off his even
white teeth. He pulled her close and his hands went lower on her
ass and her heart pounded.

Was it wrong that she wanted his hands on
her? It wasn’t like Mr. J. was expecting anything other than sex.
Maybe he was the watching type. Why else would he send her to a
dance club where he watched her dance with men the previous
week?

She pressed her hips to Hugo’s and she
faintly heard him groan as she leaned backwards, leaning her head
back so she could smile at Mr. J. Hugo’s fingers trailed down her
neck as she was leaning back and ran against the edge of her dress.
She brought herself upright when he skimmed the very edge of her
areola and looked at him with wide eyes.

“Did you mean to do that?” she asked
breathlessly as the blood drained back into place from her
head.

He grinned. “Did you like it?” His hands went
back to her ass, moving her hips with his.

“Yes,” she admitted, making him grin.

She pressed her chest to his and he looked
down her dress. “You’re not wearing a bra.” His hand skimmed up her
side and brushed the side of her breast.

Anna gasped softly and closed her eyes. “I
can’t with this dress.” Was dancing like this considered
indiscreet? She pulled back, suddenly uncertain. She had two men
tonight to take into consideration, and Hugo wasn’t one of them.
She gave him a timid smile. “I need to use the ladies room.”

Hugo looked crushed as she pulled away and
walked towards the other side of the room.

Damn Kurt! She swallowed nervously and dodged
dancing couples as she made her way to the bathroom. The line
extended out the door and into the hallway, so she continued down
the dimly lit hallway until she reached an open door that led
outside to a gated patio. A few club-goers had a similar idea. She
walked to the end and gripped the metal railing, looking up at the
starless sky.

“Do you know the man you were dancing with?”
Simon had walked up silently and stood next to her.

“Yes.”

“You looked like you were having a good time.
Why did you walk away?”

Anna didn’t answer immediately. “I had a
feeling I was being indiscreet,” she finally said, fingers tingling
with discomfort. “If Kurt saw me dancing like that with my
ex-boyfriend, he would probably fly out here again to yell at me,
and then lock me in my apartment.”

“Your fiancé is that temperamental?”

“He used to be one of the kindest men I knew,
but since I moved here....” She shook her head. “He’s become
volatile. And cruel. Well, no, not cruel, but mean.”

“Then why are you marrying him?”

“Because I have to.”

“In this day and age? That seems
unlikely.”

Anna glanced at Simon. “I’m in a...position
that comes with duties. I must perform those duties.”

Simon chuckled. “Are you a runaway
princess?”

Anna smiled at the reference that she and
Aaron had made months ago. But now she really was trying to enjoy
herself before she got into a loveless marriage. “Something like
that.” If it weren’t for the whole
Devin-wanting-to-control-the-world thing, she’d fly back to him
tomorrow. At least with him, her life would fly by without a care.
She wouldn’t be aware of anything. It sounded blissful.

“Mr. J. was enjoying watching you dance.
Envious, perhaps, of the other man’s hands, but comforted in the
fact that his will be there soon enough.”

“I don’t understand why he stays hidden. With
the amount of gossip going around, at least in the Company, he
could have any woman he desired.”

“He has the woman he desires.” Simon gave her
a pointed look. “At least in a way.”

She laughed. “Has he seen the other
dancers?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Enjoy yourself. I will...keep your fiancé’s
hawks away if that will comfort you.”

“You know who’s watching me?”

Simon nodded. “Consider your
dancing...foreplay.” He smiled and walked away.

Anna followed him a few minutes later and
went to find Hugo. He was dancing with another woman and she
mouthed, “I’m sorry.” He grinned at her and nodded and she went
back to her seat and took a big gulp of her martini.

“Did you hear?” Stef squealed. “He’s
here!”

“Who?” Anna asked, putting her drink
down.

“
Him
. Euroman.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The rich European who donated all that money
to the Company.”

“Oh!” She tried to look surprised. “How do
you know?”

“I overheard someone talking about it in the
bathroom. He’s over there.” She motioned to the curtained
doorway.

Anna laughed when she noticed a crowd of
women dancing in front of Mr. J.’s private room. A moment of doubt
plagued her as she watched the beautiful, sophisticated women
dancing for him.

“C’mon. Let’s go dance.” Stef said, pulling
her up. “Rachel and Jamie are there already.” She grinned. “We have
an advantage over the other women there.”

“What’s that?”

“We’re ballet dancers. He obviously likes
ballerinas.”

“Or the guys.” Anna laughed. “Maybe he’s
gay.”

Stef stopped and frowned. “Bi?” She looked
around. “Just in case....” She grinned and grabbed Aaron’s hand.
“Come dance with us for Euroman.”

Aaron rolled his eyes but followed along.

Anna felt very silly, dancing with all the
other women trying to get the man’s attention. But she wasn’t
trying to get his attention...really...well, maybe she had doubts
that he was truly watching her.

Dark hands slid around her waist and she
turned to see Hugo grinning at her. “You owe me the rest of a
dance.” His hands slipped down to her ass and cupped it as he
pressed her hips to his. She clung to his upper arms, becoming
dizzy as the alcohol caught up with her.

She gazed up into his eyes and he smiled at
her. He grazed her neck and she leaned back, letting his hands
trail down her chest as before. His palm subtly grazed her nipple
and her breath caught in her throat. When she straightened, he held
her close, one arm around her upper back, the other hand at the
side of her breast.

“Come home with me tonight,” he whispered,
leaning in to her neck and nuzzling her ear.

“Hugo....” She whimpered as his thumb brushed
her nipple, sending jolts to her pussy. “I can’t. We can’t.”

“You don't sound very convinced.”

“Kurt found out I did something last
weekend....” She told him the basic story and he looked at her,
horrified. “I don’t want to get into trouble again.”

“God, he’s an ass,” he commented.

Anna shrugged. “I don’t want to think about
him anymore. But that’s why....” She looked up at him. “And I don’t
think I could stay with you without falling for you again.”

He gave a little smile and nod. “I
understand.”

She nodded.

“Maybe some other night,” he said in a low
voice and turned her around, guiding her into Aaron’s arms.

She looked back in surprise and he grinned at
her and winked.

“Hey sexy,” Aaron said. “Trying to steal me
away from Cameron?”

Anna laughed, looking to see Cameron dancing
between Jamie and Rachel. “He looks to be having fun.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Yeah.”

The next few hours were spent drinking and
dancing and Anna had a great time. She didn’t have to worry about
Kurt, and Mr. J. was enjoying himself. At least she assumed so.
With all the beautiful women in front of him, how could he not? As
it approached midnight, she began to wonder how she was going to
get away from her friends without them being suspicious. Only Aaron
and Cameron knew what was happening next.

She knew she could just slip out the door
without being noticed, but how would she explain her absence in the
limo home? Not that it looked like everyone would be going home
with her.... Stef was practically fucking the guy she was with on
the dance floor.

She went to get a drink and sat down for a
few minutes. Cameron came and sat down next to her. “When are you
supposed to leave?”

“I don’t know exactly. Simon hasn’t said
anything.” She looked at him with doubt. “How do I explain why I’m
not in the limo on the way home?”

“Get sick?”

Anna laughed. “That might work, though I hate
lying.”

“Don’t lie. I’ll do it for you. Let me know
when you get the go-ahead, slip out and when we get ready to leave,
I’ll tell ‘em you weren’t feeling good and took a cab home.”

“I can’t ask you to lie for me, Cameron.”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering.”

Anna’s phone vibrated in her purse and she
pulled it out. “The limo’s outside,” she told Cameron
nervously.

He looked around. “Go. Everyone’s busy. I’ll
take care of it.”

Anna gave him a goofy grin. “Thanks.” She
kissed his cheek and walked around the perimeter of the room and
out the door.

Anna walked into the Hotel Elysee feeling
more comfortable than she had the week before. For one, she was
dressed. Also, she kind of knew what she was getting into.

Simon met her in the lobby. “Have you enjoyed
yourself so far tonight?”

Anna smiled. “Yes.” And then blushed,
thinking about what was coming.

He chuckled and walked towards the
elevators.

“Is he sure he wouldn’t rather have one of
the other women he was watching tonight?” she asked, following him.
“I mean, there were many vying for his attention.”

“He was only watching one woman tonight,”
Simon said with a serious face, and then chuckled again. “In fact,
he was getting quite irritated when he couldn’t see you.”

“Oh.” They stepped into the elevator. Simon
pushed a button and the doors silently closed.

“Same rules as last week. Do you
remember?”

“Don’t take the blindfold off. Don’t touch
him.” She bit her lip, remembering how she’d tried to touch him a
few times. She wasn’t trying to be rebellious and hoped he knew
that. “Yes, stroked cheek. No, tap on the nose.” She giggled. “If
he kisses me, he wants me to shut up.”

Simon laughed. “I’m sure there are other
reasons he kisses you.”

She looked at him in the reflection of the
brass doors. “Do you know what I am?” she asked quietly.

His eyebrows twitched slightly. “I know you
are a beautiful woman that is in an unfortunate relationship.” He
turned his head to look at her. “Anything else is irrelevant.”

Anna blinked several times. “But is...is it
why he wants me back again tonight?”

“No. As I said, anything else is
irrelevant.”

Anna shook her head. “I don’t understand. How
could that not be a factor?”

“Mr. J. is an unusual man.”

“Does he know my fiancé?”

“I won’t answer that Katrina.”

Anna sighed. “Does he know who I belong
to?”

“Yes.”

The elevator stopped and they exited. He
turned to look at her. “I assure you he will not do anything to
jeopardize your safety. He...likes this arrangement and doesn’t
want it to end just yet.”

They walked down the hallway together. “Is he
handsome?”

Simon smiled. “Does it matter?”

“No, I suppose not. The girls in the company
have been speculating about him.”

“Oh? What do they say?”

“That he made a sizable donation to the City
Ballet.”

“Yes.”

“That he’s either British or Russian.”

He laughed.

“Is he?”

Simon shook his head. “You ask many
questions.”

“I’m curious.”

“I’m not going to answer that either.” He
stopped at a door. “And we’re here.”

Anna looked at the non-descript wooden door
with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Simon pulled out the blindfold. “If you would
like, the car can take you to the library tomorrow so you don’t
have to walk.”

“I like walking. Wait...will there be more
roses?”

Simon smiled but didn’t say anything. He
motioned for her to turn around and then tied the blindfold around
her head, covering her eyes. “Can you see?”

“No.”

“Clothes for tomorrow are in the bathroom.
Call for breakfast when you are up. Or lunch.” He knocked on the
door and a moment later, the door opened.

The large hand enveloped hers again and
gently tugged, pulling her into the room. It was a longer walk
around several corners before he stopped her.

Anna’s heart beat fast in anticipation.
Thoughts flitted here and there about the evening, last week,
wondering what would happen tonight.

He pulled her forward a few more steps and
she heard a noise and assumed he had sat down on the bed in front
of her as he had last week.

When he didn’t touch her she swallowed
nervously. “Thank you for tonight,” she said softly. “It was a lot
of fun. The food was delicious and....” She blushed. “I kinda liked
dancing, knowing you were watching.”

He stroked her cheek and she took it to mean
he liked it too.

“Did Simon tell you how much I enjoyed the
rose trails at the library?”

Another touch on her cheek. “I’d had a really
bad morning and it cheered me up. Thank you.” She smiled. “And I
really enjoyed the books as well.”

He took her hands in his and held them at the
small of her back and kissed her gently, slowly, as if wanting to
explore every recess of her lips and mouth. Her head spun and it
had nothing to do with the martinis at the bar. His lips alone were
enough to make her dizzy.