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

by Madison, Willow

  "Lucy." She's quick to raise her head to the change in my voice. I only added the slightest hint of my feelings, but she picks up on it so easily. It's one of the things that surprised me most about her in the beginning. I don't have to give her more than a small warning voice or look to get her to change direction quickly. "We need to discuss a few things."

  "Yes." She sits up more, but keeps my arm around her, her hands on my leg through the blanket. She likes to keep a physical connection with me when we're together. She takes a quick deep breath and starts talking before I do, "Yes. I don't think it's reasonable to think that we can plan a wedding...the type of wedding that I'd want anyway...in only a month." She tries to sound so strong, business-like. I know she's been rehearsing this in her head.

  I grin at her, feeling indulgent for the moment, "Oh, is that so?"

  She can't make eye contact, instead she concentrates on her hands, fidgeting under the blanket on my leg. "...Yes...I" a big swallow, I try not to grin more, "I want a nice wedding, a...a...formal wedding...white dress, lots of flowers, my friends..." she pauses, fidgets more, shaking her head a little, "my family all a part of it."

  "Of course," I'm really trying not to let the laughter get into my voice. But she's just so damn cute...trying to look so calm and sound so in control. She knows as well as I do, who's in control here.

  She finally looks at me, tears in her eyes. Her tears are my undoing. I like seeing them. She's even more beautiful lit up this way, her cheeks flushed, her blue eyes bright...my beautiful girl. "I'm serious, Max!" She reacts to my darkened brow, "Please..."

  "And you shall have all of that, Lucy." I touch her cheek and she rubs her face against my hand.

  "So...so we can...we can plan for a wedding in maybe six months?" She's using her sweetest, highest voice to try to get me to say yes.

  "No. You'll have your dream wedding...next month."

  "But..."

  "Stand up." My indulgence is over.

  She freezes at my abrupt change to a deep, commanding voice...one she knows very well. She knows she pushed too far. "If I have to give you an order again, this is going to be a lot worse for you, little girl."

  She quickly stands, the blanket getting a little tied up around her, but she manages to get free and not fall over. Her eyes are begging me. "Over my knees."

  She hesitates only a second, before getting on my lap. I position her quickly, roughly. Her thin dress won't provide any protection. "You just received a good spanking two days ago, didn't you?"

  "Yes, Sir." She's crying already, trying not to by the sounds of her choked words.

  "And one of the reasons you were spanked was questioning me, wasn't it?"

  "Yes, Sir." Her sweet voice, the tears. God, I love her. I have to stop from smiling, in case she can see me through her thick hair.

  "And you're questioning me again, aren't you?" I say this with extra depth, easily hiding my grin.

  "Yes, Sir." She's not trying to beg at least, she's learned that lesson.

  "I'm going to spank you three times," she shakes at this, "on the part of your bottom I know is still very sore, little girl." Her legs lower for a split second, but are quickly raised straight out again. Good girl. "Count."

  She'd cried out on the boat when Jake went a little too fast over a wave; we all went in the air and she landed hard on her ass. So I know she's even sorer now.

  I give her a stinging slap with just my fingers where her ass meets her thighs. She cries out, tries to breathe normally, but can only gasp out, "One."

  I spank harder on the same spot, my full hand. Her cry is silent, her body shaking, she again gasps, "Two."

  I know her ass is still raw from the belt, from Saturday's spanking. I know that as light as this punishment is it's causing her a great deal of pain. I spank the same spot, just as hard, my full hand making contact with the sweet spot. Her loud cry is drawn in with her breath, and she quickly says, "Three," with the breath going out before she can't speak, her whole body shaking and her breathing fast hisses.

  "You may raise your legs." She lifts her feet to point straight up, just as I've taught her, but not covering her stinging bottom.

  I wait for her breathing to slow before letting her stand.

  She quickly puts her arms behind her back, "I'm sorry, Sir!"

  "Good girl."

  "Thank you, Sir!" My poor Lucy is raw with emotion and pain. She starts crying and shaking, leaving her hands behind her back, but sobbing openly.

  I know she needs this release, so I let her cry for a bit, before pulling her down to sit on my lap and covering her with the blanket again. "You've been through a lot these past few days, little girl." I wipe her tear-stained cheeks and she lowers her head into my neck. Her arms still behind her back, though. My very good girl. "You may move your arms, Lucy." She brings her hands to sit in her lap, listless, her emotions calmed and leaving her quiet again.

  I take her left hand and play with the ring, making it shine in the firelight. "Do you know what this ring means to me?" She shakes her head and sniffles. "It means that for the rest of your life, you'll belong to me." She nods her head, but sniffles more. "That I will always own you, Lucy." She nods again.

  "And I want you to understand a few things going forward..." I wait until she nods once more. "Questioning me will result in immediate punishment," she looks shamefully down, "I don't care where we are or who's around, I will punish you if you talk back to me. Do you understand me, little girl?" I speak slowly, she responds best to this. She answers quietly. "This ring means that you are no longer in control of anything." I spell this out as to a child. "So when I tell you that we're getting married next month...that is what we're doing."

  I wait for her to think about what I've said so far. "I know you're nervous about that. That you have concerns. I will always try to take into consideration how you feel about something...but you need to understand that in our marriage...I will make all the decisions. That choosing when we get married is only the beginning of a long line of choices you no longer have."

  She moves slightly in my arms, her head coming up to look at me. "What...what if I really want something...I mean...what if I really don't like a decision that you've made?"

  I smile at her, but she doesn't relax. "Then you may ask me to reconsider my decision." She thinks about this, her face frowning a little. "But you'll ask respectfully, not talking back, not arguing."

  She continues thinking for a moment. I wait to see how she's reacting so far. "So...so if I ask you to reconsider pushing our wedding back a few months, would you?"

  Good. Not great, but she's figuring out her limits still. "No. And when I say a decision is final. It is final, that means no more questions, respectful or not. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Good." I give her a hug and she relaxes a little into my arms, her head back on my chest.

  In a very small voice, "So how are we going to get married next month then...?"

  My very good girl. "I'll need to make a lot of decisions quickly." I laugh at this understatement and her head moves with my chest.

  "I want," she starts off strong, but stops herself and starts again in a more questioning voice, "I'd like my Mom to be here to help with picking a dress..."

  "Of course, baby." I kiss her head and she relaxes even more. "I was thinking that since your parents are retired, I could fly them out here this week. I want to talk with your Dad anyway...explain that I will be paying for everything. I don't want to step on his toes...your still his little girl too...for now."

  "I'd like that...thank you, Max."

  "Now, why don't you tell me all the things you've dreamed of for your wedding..." She gives a big smile and sits up more quickly.

  "Well...let's see..." Uh-oh...this could take a while! "Big white dress, lots of flowers, tons of them, everywhere, sparkling lights, candles, a big-as....a really big cake," she checks to see if I'm angered by her misstep, but I remain smiling, "dancing, maybe
a band or something..."

  She's interrupted by the front door. Jake comes in loaded down with three big grocery bags. He stops and stares at us for a second. The strangest look on his face; I can't quite make out what he's thinking.

  "I thought you were bringing dinner back, not groceries?"

  "We were, but Marcello's was closed due to a family emergency. And ya know, Dad has to have his spaghetti dinner to end the summer..." He rolls his eyes, laughing, the look gone. He heads into the kitchen.

  "I should help with the groceries..." Lucy says this as a question though. I told her yesterday that she has to ask my permission before leaving my side. She'll learn that sometimes I only need a questioning look, but for now, I'm proud of her for asking out loud.

  "Yes." And she hops up to follow Jake. I head outside to see if there's more to bring in. I didn't get to say everything to Lucy that I wanted, but it's a good start.

  Chapter 2 HER

  Phew. No one else is awake. I pad in Max's socks through the kitchen and find the switch for the light above the coffee pot. He went for a run a few minutes ago, so I know I'll have some time to myself.

  I have somethings to do and I'd rather do them alone.

  I look at my phone again. Start with messages or texts? I'd rather hear how they sound first, I guess.

  "Hey, Lucy. It's Laura...duh right?! Are you ok? Are you guys still here? Call me back." I can hear the concern in her voice.

  "Luce. Call me back. I'm with Laura by the pool if you're still here." Tracy, minutes after Laura's call.

  "Lucy...we're worried about you. Call one of us back!" Tracy again, an hour later.

  "Hey...me again...I'm home if you wanna talk...are you still going to his parent's tomorrow? If not...well, we could all hang out...please call me!" Laura. She sounded very tired. And very concerned.

  "I know Laura just tried to call you too...I'm heading to your place now. Please call me back if you're home and just want to be alone...or if you're not home...or if you wanna come to my place instead...just call me dammit!" Tracy. Sounding very concerned. And still pissed a little.

  The last call makes my heart skip though. "Hey, Lucy. It's Rich. Um...I know it's kinda late. I looked for you at the party again, but I don't know if you left early with that guy...I just wanted to check if you're ok...I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Take care." He left the message last night. He thinks I'm going to be in the office today. Did I give him my number? No...I wouldn't have done that. He must've looked it up in the company directory. I use my cell for phone interviews sometimes, so it's listed.

  I put my phone down after making sure all voicemails are deleted. Thank God Max didn't hear that one! I shudder again thinking about how mad Max got when Rich touched my arm a few times at the party. He went ballistic after hearing that I'd gone to lunch with him, even just as a work thing. If he thought I gave my number to Rich and he was calling me during non-work hours...I shudder again.

  I get a cup of coffee and sit in the family room with the blanket wrapped around me.

  Ok. Texts. I take a deep breath before opening the thread from Tracy and Laura. More of the same...concerned pleas to call or text. A last one from Tracy saying that my neighbor's dog won't stop barking at her, so she's leaving. I stare at my phone for a while. It's early, but they're both probably up getting ready for work.

  I send a text to them. "Got your messages. I'm fine. At lake house with Max. Heading home later. I'll call you. xoxo"

  "Whatcha doin in the dark?"

  I jump, "Shit!" coffee spills on the blanket and me.

  Jake turns on the overhead light, laughing. "You've really gotta watch your language around here, little girl."

  I jolt at him saying this. Exactly how Max would've said it, except he doesn't sound so much mad as amused. But I rebound quickly, "And you've gotta stop sneaking up on me!" He scared me yesterday morning the same way, but this time I know Max isn't around to hear me.

  He gives me that strange, looking through me look again. I want to yell more at him, to curse at him actually, but I don't. I just get up for a towel.

  He follows me and heads for the coffeepot. "Get the creamer out." I stop. The fridge is in between us. He could just as easily get it himself. He can see that I have a towel in my hand and I'm heading back to the family room.

  My mind goes blank. Is he testing me? Numb, I go to the fridge and hand him the creamer. "Thank you, Lucy." Looking right through me with the same crooked grin that Max wears so often.

  I leave with the towel without saying anything.

  He follows me though. "Are you texting all your friends the good news?"

  I'd left my phone on the arm of the sofa. I pick this up defensively. I have two new texts. "Yes."

  "Well I'm sure you're going to be a very busy girl for the next few weeks...if you guys are still planning a wedding for next month that is?"

  "Yes. I..." I sit down slowly. That was the other thing I needed to do...start thinking about everything that needs to be done. "Frankly...I'm a little overwhelmed. I've only been to weddings, I've not even stood up in one yet..."

  Jake sits on the fireplace stone. "I'm sure Max will make all the big decisions..." He says this into his cup, his eyes looking over the rim at me.

  "Yes...I'm sure he will..." I feel we're dangerously close to the edge of a conversation we've already had.

  "And this is what you really want, Lucy?"

  "Yes. I am sure, Jake." I look him squarely in the eye. "And you really have to stop asking me...it's getting annoying!" I stick my tongue out at him, trying to lighten things between us. I don't want to be on eggshells around him, waiting for him to say something about Max or our relationship.

  He laughs. A big laugh. "Ok. I promise...no more questions from me." He laughs a little more. "I've always wanted a little sister...someone I can tease!" He sticks his tongue out at me.

  He looks so ridiculous that I'm laughing loudly too. He looks so much like Max, but I could never imagine Max looking so silly.

  Ron joins us in the family room, "What's so funny you two?" His smile fills a room, just like Max's. There's no family resemblance, but the man stands and sounds so much like Max.

  "I was just saying that I always wanted a kid sister," he sticks his tongue out again.

  "We're all happy to have you in the family, Lucy." Ron raises his coffee cup to me. Ron's definitely warmed up to me more on this trip. The first visit, he really intimidated me. Then learning about Max's past, I was even more scared of him. But both Ron and Alex have turned out to be very welcoming and nice to me. "We're looking forward to meeting your parents this week. I understand you have a brother that lives around here, too?"

  "Yes. He and his wife with my two nieces live in Downers Grove."

  "Good. Family's important to have around. Especially at times like these. Max said it'll be a small wedding, just your closest family and friends. But we look forward to meeting everyone."

  Max had sent me up to bed last night again at 11:00. He must have stayed up talking more about me and the wedding. I blush thinking about what he might have said. It seems like they know more about the wedding than I do.

  My phone buzzes next to me. I see it's a call from Laura. I didn't read this morning's texts yet, but I'd rather tell Laura first anyway...she's likely to be more excited for me at least...hopefully?!

  "Excuse me." I pick it up and head back upstairs, answering. "Hey, Laura."

  "Wow! You finally picked up! Tracy, you can call off the dogs..." Great, they're together. Well, two birds...

  "You guys are up early."

  "Yeah. Big staff meeting. We're launching that new referral program, so it's all hands on deck, for the marketing department anyway. How are you?"

  "I'm great actually."

  "Oh? So...what happened Saturday?" I can tell that she's put me on speaker for Tracy to hear too.

  I don't have anything prepared. I know what Max expects. He's been very clear about this. He expects me to tell t
he truth. But I can't possibly tell them all that! My face is beet red again. "Max was upset with me, but everything's fine now."

  "Max was upset?! What about you?" Tracy is almost yelling into the phone.

  "Where are you guys?" I really don't want my business broadcast in the office.

  "We just got coffee around the corner...no one can hear us, Lucy...just tell us what happened." Laura is her usual nurturing self. I can tell that she's more worried than mad at me for ignoring all their attempts to reach me this weekend.

  "There really isn't much to tell..." a major white lie, "I was wrong for letting Rich and that other guy think they could act like that with me and..."

  "Lucy...do you hear yourself, for fuck's sake, quit with...?!" Laura obviously stops Tracy from interrupting.

  "But Max and I are fine now," a blatant attempt to wash over everything. But full speed ahead, I take a deep breath, "Actually...better than fine. Max proposed yesterday!" Absolutely nothing but street noise. "So...I'm sorry that I didn't get back to you guys sooner...we've obviously been a little busy. My parents are really excited and his Dad..."

  "You said yes?!" Tracy's voice is almost as high as mine. I imagine her flaming red hair is paled by her face too.

  "Of course."

  "Oh my God. You talk to her...I can't even believe...I can't believe you!" Tracy is walking away from and back to the phone yelling into it.

  "Stop yelling, people are looking at us!" Laura takes me off speaker. "Lucy...Um...so you are getting married?" She obviously doesn't know what to say, caught between Tracy's ranting in the background and my silence.

  "Yes." I take a deep breath again. "Next month."

  "Um...oh...that's crazy quick..." She's still trying to think of what to say, speaking slowly. In a whisper, "Are you...are you pregnant?"

  I can hear another "Oh my God" from Tracy in the background. I nervously laugh, "No, no. We just don't want to wait."

  "Wow." I wait for her to say something else, but she must have passed the phone to Tracy instead.

  "Are you coming in today?"

  "No. We're still in Wisconsin till this afternoon."