Never A Choice (The Choices Trilogy (Book 1))

by Palmer, Dee

  “Daniel, this is Paul Simmons, Sofia’s fiancé. He works near your offices, in one of the finance houses and Paul, this is Daniel Stone.” Paul interrupts.

  “-Yes I know who you are, it’s really good to meet you.” Paul shakes Daniels hand vigorously

  “Right.” I carry on. “Well . . . Paul this is Daniel,. .” Daniel interrupts this time.

  “-I’m Bethany’s boyfriend.” The shock on my face would be the same if he’d slapped me but it was Sofia that gasped.

  “What?” I gasp too.

  “Well, I thought partner sounded like a business relationship, and although lover is technically correct I feel that although it is an intimate description it also sounds temporary. I thought you would prefer boyfriend, for now.” My mouth is open and I am actually speechless. Paul steps in.

  “Well, that makes you a very lucky man.” He slides in next to Sofia and winks at me.

  “I’ll drink to that.” Beams Sofia and I can’t help but love my cheering section. Even if I am hugely embarrassed.

  “Yes, yes it does.” Daniel agrees softly and he covers my mouth with a heated passionate kiss as if there wasn’t a room full of people. “I need to speak to Bethany, I won’t keep her long.” I just manage to put my glass down before I am whisked off the seat and led away through the busy room toward the back of the bar. We walk through an entrance that is clearly marked staff, and then a second door that is to a small intimate private dining room. My heart is racing as he turns to face me, he fixes me with heavy lidded eyes filled with lust. My lips are dry and I moan a little with pent up need as I suck my lips into my mouth.

  “I like your thinking Miss Thorne.” His words are pushed through deep desire filled breaths. “You know by rights you should be properly punished for your behaviour today. If we had time, I would make it that you couldn’t sit down for a week, but I am going to have to improvise. I am going to fuck your mouth and you are going to swallow all I give you. It is going to be hard and fast and for me. Understand Miss Thorne?” Oh God I’m so wet right now I squeeze my legs together. “Oh No Miss Thorne, I don’t think so, for me remember?” I pout but nod to his raised brow.

  “Yes Sir.” My breath hitches and I don’t know how I am going to stop my own building pleasure.

  “Good girl.” He steps close and pushes my shoulder with one hand as he releases his buckle with the other. This really doesn’t feel like a punishment as I kneel infront of him. I undo his zip and his trousers fall to the floor. I carefully release his rock hard erection and fist my hand around the root, applying some pressure I move the silk soft skin over his long thick shaft. The wide crown is soft against my tongue and I lick around the tip before I sheath my teeth and suck him into my mouth. He lets out a guttural moan and fists his hands in my hair pulling me into him as he pushes deep in to my throat. I can feel his veins pulsing against my lips as I swallow and hollow my cheeks taking as much as I can, skilfully using my tight fist to squeeze and pump him to his root. I cup is heavy balls with my other hand and feel him tighten. His thrusts are faster, harder and I feel him hit the back of my throat. I am having to focus on my breathing to stop the gag reflex, I want all of him. I feel him flex and tense and suddenly his cock gets bigger and his hips jerks and stop as he holds my head firm and I pump my hand milking the last drop. He comes deep down the back of my throat with an agonising moan.

  That was hard and really fast. My lips a swollen from the rough thrusting but even so it really didn’t feel like a punishment. I don’t even feel too frustrated at not having an orgasm myself. It felt amazing to just please him, for it to be all about him. I smile a satisfied smile as he directs me through the crowd with his arm around my waist. We reach our table and I slip back into my seat.

  “Another round?” Daniel asks casually and he and Paul disappear to the bar. Sofia is quick to notice my swollen lips.

  “Maybe some mouthwash?” Sofia giggles after them, luckily it’s too noisy and they’re too far to hear.

  “Sofs!” I cringe.

  “Hey don’t shoot the messenger!” She laughs and I join her. “You did say he’s kind of hard to say no to.” She is still laughing, this is such rich material for her and so out of character for me she’s loving it.

  “Yes, something like that.” I hang my head at my own wantonness.

  The men return with fresh drinks and the conversation remains normal but as we begin to discuss the weekend I feel him tense beside me and I hate that I want to know what’s making him react like this. I turn to speak just to him.

  “Look you don’t have to tell me and I don’t want to know but you get tense at the mention of the weekend and all I want to know is there anything I can do to make it better?” I hold his strong chin and look with all seriousness in his eyes.

  “You already do, baby.” He kisses me so softly it makes my chest ache. But he doesn’t tell me any more, so I leave it. “Look ladies, Paul; I will leave you to the rest of your evening. I have work to do, do you need my driver to take you home?”

  “Paul can drop us or we’ll get a taxi.” I lean up to kiss him but he frowns.

  “No Paul will take you or my driver will take you.” He demands clearly.

  “Right, Paul will take us.” This time I manage to kiss the corner of his lips.

  “You are working at the restaurant tomorrow night, all night?” He states.

  “Yes.”

  “And then your mothers all day Sunday, is that right?” He looks agitated.

  “Yes Daniel and I’ll see you after, after work and after my visit.” I hold his gaze but his eyes flash with uncertainty. It was only fleeting but it was there. I hate uncertainty.

  After Daniel leaves; Sofia grabs my hands.

  “Oh Bets.” She sighs and I know she’s hearing unicorns. “You two are scorching hot together, do you even notice there is anyone else around, because I know he doesn’t.” I smile but now I’m unsettled. “He can’t take his eyes off you, he’s so intense, it’s seriously panty wetting material.” Paul coughs.

  “Hey! I’m right here babe.” He points to his somewhat wounded face, which she instantly captures and kisses profusely. “That’s better.” He smiles as she finishes adoring him enough to restore his pride.

  “He is intense.” It’s all I can say, my mind and heart elsewhere, somewhere much more precarious.

  “I know you’re probably shitting yourself right now.” Sofia is hugging me goodnight. Paul decided to stay over too and I’m in her guest room because I have a call booked. “But he is really serious about you.”

  “Well I’m such a catch.” I joke but she looks stern.

  “Don’t! I know you think I’m all rose tinted and see romance everywhere, but I know love when I see it.” She stands looking as fierce as anyone can in fluffy pink pajamas.

  “Fuck Sofs!, He doesn’t love me, he doesn’t know me.” I sigh at her sad face. “Look, there is definitely passion and lust; off the charts chemistry. I’ll give you that but anything else is you projecting, I’m afraid.” My turn to look stern or she will have me engaged by the end of the week.

  “But what he said about ‘boyfriend for now’?” She pleads her case.

  “Goodnight Sofs” I go to shut the door on her pouting face.

  “Do you trust him Bets?” Her voice soft.

  “Yes, yes I do.”

  “Then it’s Ok to let him in.” She kisses my forehead and lets me close the door.

  I hear my phone vibrate and pick it up immediately and answer quietly.

  “Sir?”

  “Good Evening Lola, why are you speaking quietly?” His deep voice sends a familiar chill across my skin.

  “Sir, I am staying at a friends and I don’t want to disturb her.”

  “Very well. Are you wearing something I sent you?” He continues regardless of my location.

  “No Sir, it wouldn’t feel right.” I’m being honest.

  “Interesting, well tell me, are you at least naked?” I did quic
kly remove my T-shirt before the call.

  “Yes Sir.”

  “And have you been a good girl today?”

  “No Sir.” I can think of at least one occasion and I feel a little rush of heat at the recollection and the consequence.

  “Really? And were you punished?” His voice deepens with a gravel rough quality.

  “Yes Sir.”

  “So you have been punished since we last spoke, did you enjoy it, did it make you wet?” I can hear him draw in a slow breath.

  I take in my own deep breath as a raw need starts to build in my core and I run my hand over the skin of my bottom remembering the heat from my spanking. “Yes sir.” I pause. “It hurt at first but it did make me wet, very wet.” My face is flushed and bright red.

  “So you have received administrative punishment since we spoke last, that makes me hard Lola . . . and jealous. And you said you were naughty today, were you naughty because you wanted to be punished?”

  “No Sir.” I don’t think so.

  “Really? Are you sure? Did you believe your actions would go unpunished?”

  I think about this carefully, “No Sir, I knew I would be punished.”

  “You knew you would be punished for your behaviour and yet you did, whatever it was, regardless. Does that not strike you as the actions of someone wanting to be punished?” He is coaxing my confession.

  “Yes Sir , it does.”

  “Tell me?”

  “Yes Sir, I wanted to be punished.” I sigh softly and I tingle all over. My body hyper alert from my encounter with Daniel earlier, I feel hot and frustrated.

  “Good girl, now I don’t want you to touch yourself, I know you want to but that is my punishment for you.”

  “Why am I being punished by you?” I sound a little desperate and a lot frustrated.

  “Because you want me to.” I let out a slight moan, I know I won’t touch myself now and I hear his knowing laugh, he knows it too. “Goodnight Lola.” The line goes dead.

  MY PHONE BUZZES in my pocket as I’m heading downstairs for my shift.

  MY CAR WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AFTER YOUR SHIFT TONIGHT. D

  I have heard nothing from him all day and I’ve been unsettled since our conversation at the bar. I can feel my defences going up and I kick myself that I had started to let them down, that he made me feel safe. I make myself safe.

  AND HELLO TO YOU TOO b

  Nothing.

  I am just wrapping my apron when Sofia rushes through the door in a panic.

  “Oh God Bets you have to help me! My manager has called in sick, I’m not supposed to be working tonight but they have a Charity Drinks and Canapé reception at the club and now I have to be hostess. I need another me!” She has her hands presses together in prayer, but it really isn’t me she needs to pray to and I tilt my head toward Joe to indicate as such.

  “Uncle Joe.” She wraps him in a big hug, “I’m taking Bets, I’ll make it up to you, I promise!” She finishes her request with a hard kiss on his cheek, he laughs.

  “Oh yeah how you gonna do that Princess?” He holds her until she actually has something to offer in exchange.

  “Oh oh . . . I know, baby-sitting, I’ll baby sit your brats!” She barters.

  “I’d pay to see that Princess.” He can’t contain his laughter now. “You go but I’ll call in that favour one day Princess, I don’t care who your daddy is!” He calls after her but she has my hand and is dragging me out the door and into the waiting taxi.

  I have changed at Sofia’s club into a smarter server’s uniform, fitted white shirt mid length black skirt and black leather pumps. Sofia is flapping about with last minute adjustments to the room, and I am calmly pouring the pink champagne. “Sofs calm down, you’ve done this a million times before.” My tone is soothing, trying to calm my hyper anxious best friend.

  “I know, I know, but this is for the boss’s wife. It’s her charity thing and there are lots of really important people here tonight. It’s a who’s who of corporate entertainment. I would’ve been more prepared if it was my show and I hate being dropped in it last minute. It just feels like a huge test or something.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Now, I want you to start with handing the champagne out and then walk through with the canapés and then . . .”

  I place my hand on her flapping arm. “Sofia, breathe. I know what to do, I can manage a tray of drinks and food; just go and hostess. I’ll sort the others and we will be fine, go.” I gently usher her to the entrance and carry on filling the champagne glasses. The private dining room at Sofia’s club is set up tonight for a standing reception for about fifty. The room is nearly full of beautiful people, beautifully dressed, elegant gowns and black tie. Most people have drinks but I collect a tray of fresh champagne to make another walk through, I only take two steps in to the room when I freeze. I don’t know how I still manage to hold the tray but I can’t help my hands from shaking and the glasses from singing their disapproval.

  “Good lord, how difficult is it to hold a tray steady?” A woman claims laughing loudly, she doesn’t turn but her comment is enough to draw attention to me. I really don’t see anyone else. He is looking directly at me and although I can see his hand on the small of her back, which he retracts, it’s not him I’m looking at. It’s her. It’s my sister Kit.

  I don’t know where my strength came from but I hold the tray firmly, like my life depends on it, with white knuckles and sweaty fingers. I hold it steady and hold my eyes steady too. I fix a brilliant smile and feel my mask fall into place. Once my tray is empty I slip out of the room, my steps falling faster the further I move away toward the staff room. I feel his tight grip on my elbow and he spins me to face him. His face is cold and his eyes are dark, I hope my mask holds up as I meet his look.

  “Daniel, you’re looking very dashing, quite the gentleman.” I smile too brightly, this is really hard.

  “Bethany this is . . .” He looks angry, whether he is angry at me or angry at being caught now is as good a time as any to break my own heart.

  “-None of my business,” I interrupt, “but bringing more canapés is; I’m seeing you later right? We’ll talk about it then?” I hope this will end this now if he thinks we’ll sort it later. He releases my arm with a frown.

  “It’s not what it looks like.” He steps toward me and I back away. I can’t be close, I can’t hold this together when he’s close. “Bethany?” He reaches for me and I back away some more. He looks devastated but it doesn’t come close to my pain right now.

  “Daniel, it’s fine. We’ll talk . . . later?” This awful empty swell churns in my stomach, gathering momentum and threatening my fragile act.

  “Dammit it’s not fine! “ He grabs me by my arms and I start to shake. I feel his heat rush through me and I can feel my eyes start to water. I can’t breathe.

  “Right, Ok it’s not, but we’ll talk about it later or maybe we should both go back in there and you can introduce me as your girlfriend?” I snatch my arms back and glare. I’m speaking through gritted teeth to keep the volume down. Conscious that this is Sofia’s debut as hostess I’m not going to let Daniel or me fuck that up.

  “No.” He quietly confirms and my heart plummets.

  “No . . . Quite, so how about you let me do my job and we’ll talk about it later?” He lets me turn just as I hear Kit’s voice calling him. I think I’m going to vomit. I manage, and I don’t know how, to sweep the room once more with a tray of canapés. I can feel his eyes on me, feel the tension but I don’t risk making eye contact. Sofia waves me over.

  “Take a break Bets, I’ll be there in two minutes.” I couldn’t be more relieved to sit in a sweaty cramped staff locker room.

  “What a complete Arse-wipe! Bets I’m so sorry, God I’m so sorry.” She opens her arms and steps toward me.

  “Don’t you dare cuddle me Miss!” I hold my hand up to stop her advancing. “Not if you want me to go back out there, because I am not going out there with red swollen eyes.” I try
and smile but it catches and doesn’t quite make it. “You know it isn’t that.” I let out a shaky sigh, “I’m really not surprised, more surprised he wanted me to start with. Kind of let that go to my head, no it’s just . . . did you see who he was with?” Sofia’s sympathetic face is not helping.

  “Yes, some blonde bimbo with false tits, fake tan, dripping in diamonds, shoe horned into a Harvey Leger bandage dress, gross!” Her lips curl with distaste.

  I snicker. “True, but did you see her face?”

  “Botox, probably.” She sneers this time.

  “I’m sure, have a look next time you go in there.” I’m wringing my fingers as I try and sort through the mess in my head. Sofia doesn’t really do shaken but she does look furious when she returns.

  “What the fuck is she doing here? I didn’t recognise at first, I mean she’s blonde now and those boobs and what happened to all the tattoos?” I’m shaking my head because I have no idea how to answer. I honestly haven’t seen her in four years. “Did she see you?”

  “I don’t know.” I shake my head lightly.

  “Does she live around here? I’ve never seen her at the club before. Not that I can be sure, if you hadn’t told me to look again I wouldn’t have known.” She frowns trying to make sense of this but I’m clueless. “What’s she doing here with Daniel?”

  “I don’t know.” I whisper.

  “God! You don’t think?” My eyes flash to hers and she stops before she finishes that horrendous thought.

  “Sofs do you need me to finish up here?” She must see the cracks in my mask because she already has my coat in her hand. “I need to stay somewhere tonight, somewhere he can’t find me?”

  “Go to Paul’s. I’ll text him, his building has shit hot security; no one gets in without a rectal exam and a DNA test!” She snorts and already has her phone in her hand.

  “Or if they’re approved, I hope?” I give her a hug and a kiss, take my bag and slip away down the stairs.