True Choices: A Dark Romance (True Series Book 3)

by Madison, Willow

  We've been back from Italy for two weeks and she's settled in nicely to the routine I've set for her. Each morning, I leave her a list of chores, each afternoon I come home for lunch to check her progress. I haven't let her leave the apartment except for a chore. And she hasn't questioned when I tell her no.

  "What's the appointment? ...I'm not due for," she raises her eyes to the ceiling, thinking, "five months."

  I cup her cheek. "Because this is your last month of using those." I move my eyes to the container on the table. "As soon as the doctor okay's it, we'll start trying."

  "But." She stops herself quickly at the clenching of my jaw. "I mean..." she swallows, "You want to start having a family this soon...we've not even been married for a month?"

  I ignore her question. "You'll also need to discuss any pre-natal care. I've left a book about planning for pregnancy on your side of the bed. It has a list of questions I'll expect answers to tomorrow. Read the first three chapters today before I'm home for dinner."

  I turn to get my jacket and she jumps up to follow me. "Max...wait...shouldn't we..."

  I turn around quickly and grin when she backs up, "Shouldn't we...what?"

  "We...we should talk about this..." She swallows and moves one foot behind her, like she wants to back up more.

  I close the distance between us quickly and shove her against the wall, my hand on her chest. "Who do you belong to?"

  "I belong to you, Max." She answers without hesitation.

  I move my hand down to her belly, gently, "Yes. You do. And you'll do exactly as you're told."

  "Yes, Sir." Her stomach shakes against my hand with a long breath in and out.

  "I want my child inside you, Lucy." The blue of her eyes swim in the tears not shed. I say in a low growl, close to her ear. "And when I spread your legs, I want you to pray each time for a baby." I pull back to look as two tears blink down her cheeks. I move my hand and wipe one away, kissing the other.

  "Yes, Sir." She whispers against me.

  I stay close, my voice almost a whisper too, "You gave up control of your body, baby. I thought you understood that."

  "Yes, Sir." She pushes into my hand still on her cheek. My sweet puppy. "I do understand that. I'm sorry, Sir."

  I stand back and take a step away from her. She waits with her hands almost behind her back. She instinctively tried to move them there when I shoved her. I smile and kiss her before leaving.

  I know she's worried about getting pregnant. I'll ease her fears tonight when we discuss the book.

  Chapter 14 HER

  I stand for a little longer in the same spot. I don't know for how long. I start to feel my feet going numb and finally push myself away from the wall.

  In a daze, I walk into the bedroom. A thick pink and blue covered book waits for me. I sit next to it. Stare at it.

  I don't know what I'm thinking. Two trains, two tracks.

  I always wanted a child, children. Max and I talked about it once. He said three. I joked; said why not ten. He laughed; said he wasn't sure my little body could handle even one Traeger boy's big head.

  I always assumed we'd have kids, try to have kids. After he proposed, I cried telling him that my Mom miscarried so many times. Aunt Emma too. I worry that it will happen that way for me. He said we'd deal with whatever happens together.

  But today, he wasn't talking, he wasn't dealing.

  An unfamiliar flutter of anger flies in my head. I try to shake it away.

  It's too soon. I'm not ready.

  I want to scream this at him. As loud as he likes to make my scream when he punishes me.

  I laugh a little. I could imagine what would happen if I ever dared to yell anything at him.

  I get up and walk to the bathroom, the mirrors reflecting me back in multiples. I turn to the side, hand where his hand was. It's not anger I see. It's fear.

  I'm afraid. I bow my head.

  What if I couldn't give him something that he demanded? What if he couldn't control everything about my body? What would happen to us if I couldn't bend to his will no matter how hard I would try?

  I shudder and put my arms around my middle, hugging myself. I'm not ready to face a possible darkened future. A day that I couldn't give in to Max's needs.

  I shake my head a final time, close my eyes and breathe in normally. I let go of my waist and square my shoulders. But I keep my head down. I'll do whatever it takes to make Max happy. Whatever is in my power to do.

  I want his child inside me too.

  Chapter 14 HIM

  I can hear Lucy laughing with her friends. I finally relented and let her go for their Wednesday night dinner. We celebrated our one month anniversary last weekend and she deserved a reward. Tonight is the first time I've let her off our island on her own.

  I walk around the corner and stop. Jake's hand on my shoulder is quick to try to restrain me, but I'm frozen in place anyway.

  I was supposed to work late, so she's not expecting me. Jake came to the office, convincing me to go for dinner and drinks instead.

  She doesn't look up. Rich is sitting next to her. Close to her. She only mentioned her friends would be here tonight. She knows I would never give her permission to go out with another man.

  And Rich has his hand over hers. He's smiling at her and talking to her and touching her. My Lucy.

  "I'm going to kill him." It's more a rumble than words. Jake grips my shoulder more, but this won't stop me.

  "Control yourself, brother." Jake's voice is only slightly less a growl than mine.

  Chapter 15 HER

  As I'm pulling my hand back in my lap and trying to move away from Rich again, I see Max's face in the mirror above our table. Oh my God. Clearly he saw that. I swallow, not taking my eyes from his in reflection. He stopped at the small entrance to the back room. Jake is with him, also frozen, staring at me. I steal one quick glance at him and I see the same look. Shock. Disappointment. Anger. The Traeger brothers, finally united. I swallow again.

  Laura's next to me. She sees my reaction and looks in the mirror. She stands up and turns to both men. I move in my chair to follow her, but don't stand, my back to Rich. I just sit with my offending hand in my lap. Rich and Tracy continue talking over the table; I can see he still has his hand on hers. I ignore them both. Rich puts his hand on my back and I jump forward, out of my chair, away from his touch.

  But I see Jake's hand on Max's shoulder squeeze, his other hand grabbing his arm, holding him back, Laura still standing in between us. The wild look on Max’s face is one I’ve not seen before. I'm too scared, too numb to hear what Laura says, but both men turn their eyes to her for a second. I take the opportunity to run away, out of the room.

  I head outside. There's a garden room that isn't open anymore. The staff use it for smoking. No one is out here though. I can breathe fresh cool air and think. How do I explain this to Max so he's not mad at me?!

  It's Laura who finds me. "Max is waiting for you by the curb..." She moves my hair behind my shoulder and squeezes my arm. "You ok?"

  "Yeah...I'll be fine..." She doesn't look convinced. I finally confide in her everything. "Max has a temper." She only nods and continues rubbing my arm. "He...he punishes me...when he's mad...when I've made him mad..." I don't look at her.

  Finally, after she's not said anything for a while, I look up. "I told you that I had a boyfriend very much like Max...controlling...bad temper...jealous...I think I might know a little about what you're going through..."

  I stare into her eyes for a long time. Not wanting to say more. Not wanting to leave. "What did you say to Max and Jake?"

  "I told them that Rich just got here moments ago. And he's drunk. And you didn't do anything wrong." I squeeze her arm back.

  "Thank you for saying that!" I shudder and take a deep breath, looking down again. I can't stay here for long. That would only upset Max more. "Do you....do you think he believed you?" I hate sounding so pathetic...but I know the wrath that I'm facing!

&
nbsp; "You'll be fine," she squeezes my arm again, "He loves you..."

  I smile into hers, "Yeah...I know...I should go...will you tell Tracy...?" She nods. "Could you...could you get my purse and coat for me?" She nods again and heads back inside. I wait a moment before heading towards the door.

  She hands me my things and hugs me quickly, "Call me tomorrow..."

  I only nod and head out the door.

  I see Jake waiting for me by the car. He looks about as angry as I expect Max to be. I stop a few steps away and just look at him. I plead with my eyes for him to understand, maybe he could help me with Max.

  "You've really messed up tonight..." He only indicates for me to get into the car. His voice matches the deep angry voice Max uses when punishing me, I shudder before getting in. He won't be any help.

  Max doesn't say anything when I sit next to him. Jake moves into the seat to my right and closes the door himself. I look at Jeff in the rearview mirror. Not even he's looking at me!

  I stare at Max, but he's looking out the window as the car pulls away.

  I look straight ahead. I can see both brothers in my peripheral vision. Their anger buoys in the small space.

  Max finally looks forward and puts his hand on my knee. I can see Jake move his head slightly to look in our direction too.

  "What were you doing with another man's hands on you again, Lucy?" He squeezes my leg painfully, but I don't move. "No...The same man you let touch you before?!" His voice fills the car. I shake, my leg going numb where he's still squeezing.

  "I didn't..." but he doesn't let me finish.

  "No. Shut up. Not a fucking word out of your mouth until we get home." He lets go of my leg and I have to stop myself from rubbing the red fingerprints, my hand shaking above my knee. I finally put my hand back in my lap. I don't look at anyone, just my hands. Max goes back to looking out the window.

  I've never been more scared of him. After a moment, I steal a look at Jake, still hopeful that he might be able to help me. His jaw is as clenched, as set. He meets my sideways glance and gives me a shake of disapproval before turning his gaze out his window too. I'm alone.

  .....

  I stop at the elevator, watching as Jake talks to Max on the curb. I can't see Max's face, but Jake's hasn't softened at all. Max finally comes in, doesn't look at me, just puts his key card to the elevator and waits for me to get in.

  I find the courage to ask, "What did Jake say?"

  He grins at me, a frightful sight. His beautiful smile twisted and angry. "He told me to take it easy on my wife." He laughs at this.

  I shudder and shrink further against the wall of the elevator. I picture for a moment about not getting out when the doors open, I know this isn’t an option.

  Once inside the apartment, he closes the door quietly. I don't bother walking down the hall, I know what's coming next.

  But he doesn't order me to undress or face the wall. He only walks down the hall. I hesitate a long time before following him.

  He's moved onto the terrace. The fall breeze is chilling. He's poured himself a glass of scotch. I wait just by the terrace doors.

  He takes a big gulp of his drink, holding it on the low wall. He doesn't turn around, only continues looking out at the city lights. "Should I go easy on you, Lucy?" His voice is steady. Not as I've heard from him before. A mix of pain and anger that I've not known?

  "I..." I swallow my words. I want to plead for his forgiveness, his mercy, to explain that it's not my fault. But I know that if this were true, I wouldn't be in trouble. I was guilty the moment I let Rich touch me that first time, in the office. Just a friendly gesture, nothing but a hand on my shoulder. But I was guilty of letting him think it was okay then. It's no excuse now that he was drunk and I didn't know he would be there. I take a deep breath and say nothing.

  Max turns when I don't answer. He looks for a long time into my eyes. Searching for what I don't say. Finally, he nods. Only once, but it changes his whole expression. The pain is gone. Replaced by pure anger. I shudder and take a step back.

  Chapter 15 HIM

  She steps backwards into the apartment, two, three steps. She turns away and moves faster into the room. But not fast enough.

  I put my glass on the table and in two strides, I'm on her.

  I grab her hair and yank her towards me. She cries out and her body snaps to me. I put my arm around her front, pinning her arms to her side, her body to my chest. Through gritted teeth, "Did I tell you to leave?"

  She can only shake her head slightly more than her body is shaking against me. "No. I didn't. Just like I didn't tell you that you could be a whore tonight." I yank her hair back more, making her cry again. "But you were a whore, weren't you?"

  She tries to shake her head, pulling without care against my hold on her hair. "No. Answer me. Say it, whore."

  "I...I..." she sobs until I pull her hair again. "I was...whore." Her words choked on her sobs, her body folding against my arm despite the hold on her head.

  I let her hair and body go, watching as she almost falls onto the sofa. She recovers and lands to face me, sitting with her hands bracing her sides. I stand over her.

  "Say it again."

  She shakes her head slightly, but repeats without a sob, "I was a whore." And I slap her. Hard enough to make her fall back against the sofa, putting her hand up to her face.

  "Move your hand and say it again."

  She stares at me with her hand up for a few blinks. I don't move. She'll either do as she's told or be in more trouble. It's up to her.

  She slowly lowers her hand, shaking, and says it again. I smack her, just as hard; she's pushed off balance again.

  My hand curls into a fist. It takes all my control to relax it again. I can't hit her. I'd break her. But God help me. I want to.

  She lowers her hand and looks up at me. Waiting. Her eyes brightened with fear. Her tits rising and falling quickly. But she sits completely open to me. Waiting for the pain she deserves.

  "Stand up."

  I don't move back, so she has to shakily stand inches from me. "You have to the count of three to undress." I count quickly while she undresses just as quick.

  She stands before me naked, her hands behind her back, trying to behave how I expect. I slap her left tit hard and grab her right arm before she falls back against the sofa. Holding her up, I continue to slap her tit several times. She keeps her hands behind her back, but cries out and begs with her eyes after a few slaps. But she doesn't speak or beg out loud.

  I let her go and she falls back to the sofa, but quickly bounces up to stand next to me again.

  "Follow."

  She moves quietly behind me. Her arms loosely behind her back, her head bent forward.

  I stop in front of the closet. "Get the belt."

  She opens the door and retrieves it, but holds it in front of her body, unsure where to put it. I take it from her gently. She hasn't tried to beg or persuade me not to be angry; it helps to hold my temper in check. I know she understands how much she deserves to be punished.

  "I told you that if you ever let another man touch you, I'd beat you with this belt so badly you'd not be walking the next day." She nods with a heavy sob, not meeting my eyes. I lift her chin gently with the doubled belt to look into her eyes. Fear is only a small part. Her pleading and sadness match my anger. I know that my Lucy is truly repentant.

  But it's not enough.

  I need to see her tears.

  I need to hear her screams.

  Chapter 16 HER

  "Lie on the bed, face down." I crawl into the middle of the bed and lay flat. "Arms stretched above your head." I pull the cover into my fists. "Legs together."

  I don't try to plead or resist. If I show him how willing I am to take his punishment, his anger, he'll be able to forgive me. Please forgive me!

  I feel a little thump next to me and try to move my head to see. "No. Keep your face down." I stop moving. My hair a cover around me. I breathe through the blanket, t
rying to calm myself. Waiting.

  I hear the closet door open again. I jump when Max grabs my ankles, but he has a firm hold of them. He's tying my feet to the bed?! With rope?! Where did he get rope?! My mind circles. The rope burns a little as he tightens it.

  "I'm not going to tie your hands, Lucy." That's a relief. "You'll have to keep them out of the way on your own." That doesn't sound good.

  "If you move," He stops. His voice is deeper. The edge sharper. He's trying not to growl his words, trying to keep his temper reined in long enough to say what he needs to.

  A bolt of fear shivers down my back and stabs my stomach. My mind dredges up the night he put me in the closet. His anger barely in check then. He said he put me in there to keep me safe, away from his anger. Tonight, he's not waiting. Tonight, he's not sheltering me from his wrath.

  "Don’t move."

  "...Please..." I'm too scared to stop myself. But I keep my face hidden, a muffled plea. I don't want to see the face that goes with his glass voice.

  "Do you understand me, little girl?"

  "Yes...yes, Sir." I hear him move to my left side. I can't hold in my fear. I lift my head a little, "Max! Please!..." I cry and shake. "I'm sorry....please!"

  I hear a whoosh and feel the belt. A fire across the middle of my cheeks, wrapping around my hip. I scream, a high cry of pain and shock. He doesn't wait for my next plea. I don't know if he hit me two or three times in a row, a fire spreads from the same spot. In my mind, I'm a rabbit running for the bushes. But I keep my hold on the bed.

  I can't catch my breath, he hits me again. And again. And again.

  My throat burns from screaming into the bed. My body drenched and trembling. He pauses only long enough for me to catch a quick breath, my plea torn with another searing crack of his anger. The belt rising and falling four more times.

  Fire and ice. Heat peaks, spreads, pushes numbness aside. Run, rabbit, run.

  But I stay. Eyes and fists balled. Tears soaking tears. I lose count.

  My cry doesn't stop. I pull it in and push it out. Air a painful punishment. And he doesn't stop.