Chapter 18

Despite her efforts to steer clear of Peter throughout the weekend, Anna couldn’t avoid him. But even when she did manage to avoid his attention, he was still around and seemed to enjoy the other girls openly flirting with him. Some of the guys even attempted to catch his attention, but Peter made it clear that he was not interested in their advances, and yet managed to somehow not hurt their feelings.

“He likes you, Anna,” Aaron said softly Sunday night as they waited backstage for the Petrushka overture to finish.

Anna looked up at his face, covered in elaborate makeup so he looked like a clown puppet. “No, he doesn’t.”

“He watches you constantly. He’s always trying to talk to you. Of course he does.”

“Devin brought him here to date me. He’s supposed to be wooing me or something.”

“Why would Devin do that?”

“He thinks I need a boyfriend.”

Aaron frowned. “Well, hell, Anna. I’d gladly take that job.” He looked at her with all the love he’d had for her years ago. He lowered his voice. “And I wouldn’t be faking it.”

She shook her head emphatically. “No, Aaron. I couldn’t do that to you. Don’t you remember what happened to Ben? He sent Nate away. He sent Kurt away. Even Alex died.” She gave him a pleading look. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.” She took his hand with both of hers. “I need you too much.”

Aaron jutted out his chin and nodded. “Okay.” He sighed. “Then please stop pushing me away. And Jenna. And Travis. We care about you and want—?” He stopped and looked over Anna’s head and narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”

Anna turned around to see Peter watching them with a suspicious expression on his face. She released Aaron’s hand and stepped away, clasping her hands in front of her hips.

“What are you two talking about?” Peter raised his eyebrows and walked closer. But it wasn’t a curious look. It was borderline menacing.

Anna’s lungs tightened in her chest, fearing what he would do to Aaron if he suspected anything was going on between them. “I was telling Aaron that I was glad he was my friend .”

Peter narrowed his eyes as he looked between the two of them. “He doesn’t look at you as just a friend.”

“Please, Peter...” She stepped closer and looked directly up into his eyes. “He’s just a friend,” she said in a slow, deliberate manner.

Peter looked back at Aaron and then at Anna. He nodded and strolled away.

Aaron stepped closer. “Is he also a spy?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” She watched Peter walk toward the dressing rooms and looked back at Aaron. “That’s why I stay away from you.”

Aaron clenched his jaw and sighed. “I don’t like that, Anna.”

“I’m sorry. I wish...” She sighed. “I wish so many things were different.” She turned and hurried away, praying he wouldn’t follow.

“May I drive you home?”

Anna jumped at the sound of Peter’s voice as she walked out of the dressing room after the Sunday evening performance finished. She opened her mouth to say no, but he raised his eyebrows and tilted his head.

She smoothed her face into her practiced smile. “Yes, thank you.” She just wanted to be left alone and Devin was forcing her into a relationship. Peter would probably tell Devin everything she did, too.

Peter held her hand as they headed toward the exit, but a few steps later, he abruptly stopped and pulled her close. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed her. She kissed him back without thinking about it, sliding her hands up his chest and over his shoulders.

His kiss was confident. He knew she wouldn’t pull away. Not like other first kisses she’d had, where the guy had been hesitant and gentle. Peter probed her lips with his tongue and demanded entry. He held her tight against his body, as if to prevent her from escaping.

“There. Now maybe those women will stop flirting with me,” he murmured against her lips.

Anna opened her eyes and looked up at him, then turned to see several dancers watching them. The girls all looked disappointed. She looked back at his chest. “I won’t avoid you anymore.”

His eyes were dark as he gazed down at her. “Good.” He backed away and took her hand again. They walked outside and made their way to his car in the parking garage.

He backed out of the parking space. “Your place or mine?”

“Place...” Anna stared at him, brows drawn together. Then she sucked in a sharp breath as she remembered. It was Sunday night. They were going to have sex. “I really should shower before anything happens.”

Peter nodded. “Alright. Your place.”

Anna twisted her fingers together as he drove to her apartment. He produced a parking card for her garage and found a spot a few minutes later. “Devin gave me the card so I wouldn’t have to worry about parking. He says it’s rather difficult sometimes.”

“Yeah...” How would she know anything about that? She didn’t have a car.

He walked around the car and opened her door, and they took the elevator up to her floor. The entire journey was silent.

Anna chewed her lip as she unlocked the door and walked into her apartment. It really was rather pathetic. A long hallway led to the back center of the apartment. To the left was a tiny kitchen. To the right, a tiny bathroom. Up ahead was the living area. Her mattress, covered by a fitted sheet with a blanket balled up in the middle, was in the area to the right. Her couch was on the other side, pushed up against the half-wall that separated the kitchen from the living area. The TV sat across from that, next to the only window in the place.

Peter stopped in the center of the living area, his lip curled in disgust. “Next time we’ll go to my place.” Peter turned in a circle. “You can keep whatever you need there until we move in together.” He looked at her. “Are you going to go shower?”

Anna blinked and scurried into the bathroom. Well, at least he hadn’t yelled or hit her. Yet.

After she had showered and washed her hair, she pulled on her pink satin robe and walked out to find Peter lounging on her couch watching TV. He had taken off his shirt and sat with one hand behind his head, his bicep flexed. His upper body was trim and well defined, with a thick carpet of black hair on his chest that tapered down below his navel to disappear under his jeans. He laughed at something on the TV and his mouth opened to reveal straight white teeth under full lips that looked almost too sensuous for a man. He glanced up at her and smiled. “You’re much prettier without all that stage makeup on.”

“Thank you.” She glanced at her bed. “I’m sorry it’s... like that. I don’t have overnight guests often. They... usually just leave after.”

“Who says I’m going to stay the night?”

Her cheeks burned. “Oh. I...” She swallowed and turned away. “Of course. I shouldn’t have assumed...” Would he make her leave when they had sex at his place?

The TV turned off and she heard him stand and walk up behind her. “I might.” He kissed her neck. “I haven’t decided.” He reached in front of her, untied the belt to her robe, and pushed it off her shoulders so it fell onto the floor. “You have beautiful breasts.” He slid his hands up her belly and to her breasts, where he kneaded them.

She leaned her head back against his bare chest and sighed.

“You like that?”

“Yes...” Rare were the occasions when gentle touch was part of sex anymore.

One hand moved down her stomach and between her legs. His finger slid between her pussy lips and found her clit. He wrapped his arm around her chest, his hand on her breast, and circled her clit with his other hand.

His touch was demanding and she tried to escape his relentless touch. It was too intense to be completely pleasurable. She moaned and writhed against him, trying to get control of her body so she could give him what he wanted—or what she thought he wanted. But she couldn’t. He kept circling the sensitive nub with just the right amount of pressure that made it not-quite-painful. Her body wouldn’t listen or work the way she wanted it to, and her release wouldn’t come.

She screamed in frustration at being so close, but not being able to push over the edge. She’d never not been able to come before.

“You want to come, don’t you?” he whispered as she struggled against him. Her forehead was damp and every nerve in her body was on edge.

“Yes!” she screamed in frustration. “Please! Please, Peter!”

He released her and she fell to the floor, panting and shaking. “Remove my pants.”

Her hands shook as she rose to her knees and pulled at his belt. It took her much longer than it normally did to unfasten jeans. She wasn’t exactly scared of him, but neither did she know what to expect. He wasn’t cruel or kind. Just... demanding of what he wanted.

Finally, she was able to push his jeans to the floor and his boxer briefs followed shortly after. She stayed on her knees with his cock at eye level. She licked her lips as she stared at the long, pierced rod, uncertain what he wanted her to do.

“You are well trained.” Peter towered above her and looked down. “I’m impressed. Most Elder-Mistresses are rather independent.” He sat on the mattress and ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m not a cruel man. I don’t enjoy hurting women. But Devin has given me permission to punish you if I deem it necessary.”

Anna’s stomach twisted and she dropped her gaze to the floor, swallowing hard.

“I will tell you what I want you to do, and I expect you to do it. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Peter.”

“Stand. I want to see you.”

Anna stood and he studied her body. She had gained her weight back and looked as she had before the drugs had taken over.

“Turn.”

Anna turned around to face away from him. He caressed her ass and thighs. “You have hips. Most dancers are so skinny there’s nothing to hold on to. I like it.” He put his hands on her thighs. “Second position and put your hands on the floor.”

She stepped her feet apart and bent over at the waist, keeping her legs straight. She looked back between her legs. A smile played at Peter’s lips as he looked at her wide-open pussy. He reached up and caressed the swollen, wet folds and then slid his thumb up to her asshole.

“Do you like anal?”

She closed her eyes as he caressed the hole. “I... I’ve had some enjoyable experiences, but most of the time, not really.”

His thumb pressed inside and she moaned softly. “Stay still.” She felt his hot mouth on her pussy a moment later.

As he devoured her, she moaned in pleasure. His tongue was everywhere and his thumb slowly thrust in and out of her ass. Her knees threatened to give way when he locked his lips around her clit and sucked hard. He held her thighs so she couldn’t escape, not that she wanted to. She gasped and came with such force that she screamed and clawed against the worn carpet. Fireworks exploded in her mind and she felt nothing but the waves of ecstasy pulsing through her body.

As the waves subsided, the room spun and her knees collapsed, making her fall hard to the floor. She panted for air and her head hung between her arms.

Peter rubbed her back for a moment and then pulled her back onto his lap. He sucked on her neck. “Did you like that?” He nipped at her ear.

“Yes.” She shuddered as aftershocks wracked her body.

“You have a beautiful body.” He slid his hand between her legs and lightly stroked her swollen pussy. “I am going to enjoy getting to know it better.” She shuddered as his fingers brushed over her clit.

When she had caught her breath, he pushed her gently to the bed on her hands and knees, taking her from behind. He rode her hard, but he didn’t hurt her. She cried out as he plundered her body, digging his fingers into her hips. He shouted in an unknown language that Anna guessed to be Russian and pushed himself even deeper as he came.

He stayed where he was for a minute and then collapsed on the bed next to her, eyes closed.

She sat on her hip and studied his face. “Are you staying the night?”

He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Is that okay?”

“Whatever you would like, Peter.” She glanced at the TV. “I have to sleep with the TV on, though.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

“I have . . . unpleasant dreams if I don’t.”

“Nightmares?” He sat up on his elbow.

Anna shook her head. “No. I just... I don’t like the subject matter.”

“What are they about?”

She bit her lip and turned away, reluctant to share her dreams of Alex with the grandson of Vitaly. “Is this one of those things that you’re telling me to do?” She kept her voice as respectful as she could.

Peter smiled. “No. I was just curious.”

“I don’t like talking about it.”

He lay back down. “Alright. You don’t have to. We’ll have to talk about that before we move in together. I don’t know if I can sleep with the TV on all the time.”

Anna picked at the blanket. “They don’t happen every night. But I try to avoid them all the same. Mostly if I’m upset about something.”

He looked at her curiously and then reached for the remote to turn the TV back on. “Does it need to be loud?”

Anna blinked in surprise. “Uh . . . no.”

He turned the volume to a level where she could hear it but wasn’t overbearing, and set the remote back on the floor. “Okay?”

She nodded and crawled to her feet to spread out the blanket so it covered the bed, and then turned out the lights. She only had one pillow and told Peter she didn’t need it, which wasn’t true, but she didn’t want him to tell Devin she’d been rude.

He didn’t cuddle with her, but didn’t scoot away either. She turned on her side to face away from him and stared into the darkness. Peter was an enigma. He was kind and intimidating, demanding and thoughtful all at once.

She tried to ignore the questions in her mind and concentrated on the inane laughter coming from the TV.