There are three dresses waiting for me. All white, all sparkling, all modest with big skirts.
"We will try this one first." She reaches for the nearest.
"Could...could I try one...that maybe isn't as...I don't know...big looking." I want to say isn't as covered-up looking. They all have long sleeves, high necks and backs.
"Mr. Traeger was very specific in what he wanted..." She gives me a knowing look. As if to say, he's paying her to make sure I get the dress that he'd approve.
Well, I don't need her to tell me what Max would like! I’ve been following his rules of a how a good girl should dress long enough to know. "Of course. But I know what Max likes and I'd like to see a few other choices before starting...please." She nods only once, putting the dress back on the wall. I try to describe what I'm looking for and her face goes inward with a frown with each word. It's definitely not the same as what's in this room already. It’s not up to Max’s specifications.
Finally, she stops frowning and says she may have something that we'd both like. She turns on a heel and leaves before I can say anything more.
.....
"What do you think?"
Mom has tears and her hand to her mouth. Cathy is smiling and the girls are clapping.
"Oh, Lucy...you look so beautiful!" Mom finally finds her voice.
I look in the mirrors again. The dress is a perfect blend between what I wanted and what Max specified. At least I hope it is.
All white, all thick lace, no sparkle, a soft trumpet shape with a little train. The sleeves are tight lace ending just above my elbows, the neckline is high, but follows just below my collar bone, ending wide at the tips of my shoulders. I turn a little. The back has a dramatic drop....definitely not to Max's specs, but I think he'll be okay with it. I chew my lower lip.
"What's the matter?" Cathy has stood up and is walking around the dress looking at the details.
"Do you think it's too sexy, open in back like this?"
"My God, girl, you're covered head to toe almost! Gotta show some skin, you're young!"
"Mom...what do you think of the dress?"
"Your Dad is going to cry when he sees you. It's perfect, sweetheart!" She's standing next to Cathy now. The girls both give me thumbs up, but I'm still not sure.
I wish Alex was here...she'd know if Max would approve or not.
"Try on something else if you're not sure...but this almost fits you even." Cathy is sitting back down with Priscilla on her lap.
"It was a dress we ordered for a private runway show last year. My granddaughter is almost your size and she was supposed to model it, but she was sick last minute. So, it's never even been tried on before. It needs a few alterations, but yes...it does suit you." The efficient pronouncement makes up my mind.
"I'll take it."
"Sweetheart, you didn't get the price..." Mom whispers this, but I don't know why since we're the only ones in the shop and Ms. Efficient already walked away to get her seamstress. And she knows Max is paying for everything; he had that talk last night with Dad at PJ's house.
"Max told me not to worry about that, just to get the dress I like best," I smile at myself in the mirror. It's not exactly what I pictured, but I do feel very grown-up, pretty, and, turning a little again, sexy too.
"Well...you look great!" Cathy is holding Priscilla's thumbs up.
I laugh, "And at least in a dress this form-fitting everyone won't be asking if I'm pregnant at the wedding!"
"Lucy!" Mom is shocked by this, although she asked me too in private last night.
"Now...the little girls' dresses. Pink or white?" Ms. Efficient has returned with three helpers. All white-haired, all big glasses. It's a wedding-shop-cult! I have to stop myself from laughing, but Cathy just cracks up on the sofa, covering her face in her daughter's hair.
"Pink!" Priscilla answers for us.
"Pink it is!" I nod seriously at my niece. Cathy gets up and goes back with the girls, still giggling.
The seamstress starts tucking and pulling, twisting me this way and that, arms up, arms down. I feel like I'm already doing a chicken dance.
"Mom...Max said he'd be happy to get you a dress from here too, if you'd like." She's watching the seamstress very carefully and putting her two cents in when she thinks something is too tight. The seamstress is completely ignoring her.
"Oh...no. I don't need anything this fancy...do I?" She's looking around the room uncomfortably.
"Well...his parents are pretty formal people...maybe you should try on some things...we're here..."
And another white-haired helper appears out of nowhere. I can't help but laugh this time...where are they coming from?! The seamstress clucks her disapproval from my feet. I stop moving before I get pinned to the floor.
Chapter 4 HIM
"Sir...Paul," I smile when he nods, "I'm glad we have this time to talk, just man to man." He sits up a little more in his chair. Paul Jr., sits back in his. "I love your daughter very much." He nods again with a smile. "And I will take very good care of her."
"You better!" He points with his cigar and a fake stern look.
"And I want you to know we will have a very traditional marriage." I watch his face change from a grin to a confused smile. I keep mine neutral, waiting for him to say something. PJ's face is equal parts amused and confused, watching us both.
"Um...what do you mean by traditional, Max?" He's asking slowly. He's a little tipsy, but I can tell he's trying to match my earnest tone.
"I was raised in a very traditional home... My father was the head of the house, the rest of us obeyed his rules without question. My home will be the same." I again wait for the change in his expression. I think Lucy must get this from her Dad. His smile moves quickly from confused, to a grin, back to confused, settling on a hard half smile.
"And Lucy knows this...that this is what you want?"
"Yes, Sir."
PJ laughs, but Paul only shakes his head, "My daughter can be pretty headstrong...I find it hard to believe that she wants a very traditional anything..."
"You can ask her yourself, Sir. I wanted to clear the air, though...before the wedding. I think it's important that you know the kind of man that's marrying your daughter."
"I do too...I appreciate you talking to me like this, Max...but I...well, I just don't know what to say to you..." He takes a drink and puts his cigar in the ashtray, "I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment, frankly...And I want to see my daughter happy."
"I will make Lucy very happy, Paul." I raise my glass to this and both men clink theirs to mine.
Chapter 5 HER
"Are we doing parties?"
"Parties...you mean like a bachelor, bachelorette kinda thing?"
"Yes...Cathy asked me yesterday if we were doing all the traditional stuff...registering for gifts, having a shower and parties."
"And how did you answer?" He's eyeing me sideways, his hand still loosely on my knee. We're on our way to his parent's house in Evanston.
"I said that I wasn't sure we'd have time for all that..." I add quietly, "and that I needed to check with you."
"Good girl." He squeezes my knee and I giggle a little. "Dan asked me the same thing...I think he's planning something for next weekend." He looks over at me again, but quickly puts his eyes back on the road. "You may have a party next Saturday."
"Thank you!" I'm nervous about tonight, but the thought of everything coming together so quickly and easily has me feeling a little more relaxed.
Tonight is the meeting of the families. Cue big scary theme music in my head. Max said he had a nice time yesterday with my Dad and brother, but this is a little different. I haven't even been to this house yet.
It's what I was expecting. Big. All brick, craftsman style with a large porch. I don't see PJ's car yet, so we're the first to arrive.
Ron opens the door for us and takes the wine from Max, hugging me. "Alex is in the kitchen..." I take this for what it is...directions. I smile at
Max and he nods towards a large dining table and door. I guess I'm getting used to being ordered around by the Traeger men and getting permission to leave the room. But it still feels damn weird! I smile at my naughtiness...I can still get away with cursing in my own head at least. I mentally stick my tongue out at Ron. Max may want me to be obedient even inside my own head…but I can still entertain myself…
"Oh, honey, thank goodness! I was hoping you'd get here before your Mom. I'm running behind...can you help with the stove?" Alex gives me a handless hug, holding a large fork and knife away from me. "Just stir everything."
"Sure." I step out of her way as she puts the large roast back in the oven. I help with stirring and whipping. "This all smells and looks wonderful, Alex! Thanks for doing this!"
"Of course. We have to give your parents and family a proper welcome from ours!"
"Well my Dad is going to love you...this is his favorite!"
"I usually make this on Sundays, but Ron let me make it today instead."
The casualness of her statement still surprises me. I don't know if I'll get used to saying things like "let me" in front of other people.
Max pokes his head in, "Your family's here, baby." Alex wipes her hands on her apron and takes it off, smiling at me and following Max out.
Ron is already shaking hands with PJ and Cathy, they left the kids with her sister though. Mom and Dad are moving into the living room. Mom's eyes are big taking in how nice the place is. She walks over to me with an impressed smile.
Everyone says hello to Alex too. I hang back, just comparing our parents a little. Mom is a little shorter than Alex, a little older. Mom's in nice pants, Alex is in a dress of course. Dad is about the same height as Ron, both men have salt and pepper hair. But Dad's not as fit as Ron. Everyone seems happy congratulating each other.
PJ puts his arm over my shoulder. "The nightmare begins, sis." I slap his stomach. "Now you will know the joy of splitting all your time between two sets of parents." He laughs.
"Please excuse me, I have to finish dinner," no one else noticed the subtle nod Ron gave her before she says this, though.
Max only looks at me and says quietly, "Lucy..." nodding towards his Mom.
"I'll help!" I quickly turn around and follow her, not wanting anyone to see me blushing.
.....
"Everyone seemed to get along great tonight," I'm sleepy and put my head back against the headrest with my eyes closed.
"I thought so too," he strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers. "You were very good tonight."
"You were very bossy tonight." I open my eyes a little.
He only grins more. "Yes. I had a talk with your Dad yesterday...I wanted him to see for himself that you're happy with how things are between us."
"What did you say to him...?” I swallow, I wish I'd known about this earlier.
"Nothing specific. I just wanted him to understand that our home will be different from the one you were raised in." He looks over at me, a little sternness back in his eyes. "Your Mom contradicts your Dad a lot and he lets her get away with it."
"Well...she doesn't mean anything by it...I mean she's only voicing her own opinions after all..."
"It's not my place to say anything about their marriage. I only say it as a point that you were raised thinking that a wife can argue with her husband; I wanted your Dad to know that won't be our marriage." I don't say anything, so he continues, "My Dad asked me again tonight if I'm sure that you're ready to be my wife."
"He asked you that? And he's asked before?"
"Yes. He asked me the night before I proposed."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him then that I knew you were the one for me. That I know that I've rushed us, but I know in my heart that we'll make each other happy. And even after seeing more how your family is together tonight, I know that you're the one."
"You make my family sound bad..."
"No." He squeezes my hand. "But tonight I saw more how your Mom and Dad are together, how your brother is with his wife. I know what I'm demanding of you is different from what you've always known." He pulls into his garage, so he stops talking while he parks.
In the elevator, he picks up where he left off, though, pulling me into a hug.
"Lucy, I'd like to say that I'll go slow with you...that I'll ease you into being my wife. But we both know that isn't my style." He gives me a crooked grin and I touch his cheek.
"No...Certainly hasn't been so far..."
"And you've done very well...with all my rules and discipline. But I'm not going to go easy on you just because you weren't raised to be a proper obedient girl." He kisses my forehead, so my shocked look is covered.
"My parents raised me to be a good girl, Max." I don't like that he's disparaging how I was raised!
With his head bent down to mine still, his voice takes on the edge that makes my pussy pulse, "And that right there is what I'm talking about, little girl. You still think you can get away with arguing with me. Don't you?"
"I'm...I'm not arguing...I just...I don't like that you're saying something bad about how I was raised."
He drops his arms and the doors open. I have a bad feeling about how this night is ending...
Chapter 5 HIM
"Undress and face the wall." I don't stop to look at her, just head down the hall into the kitchen. I pour myself a scotch and take a deep drink.
My temper flares so quickly with her! I've never known this feeling with previous girlfriends. True, I've never cared this much for a girl. She will be my wife and I won’t have us starting off the wrong way. I take a few deep breaths and another sip before walking back into the hall.
She stands just as I've taught her. Close to the wall, nude, hands clasped behind her back, stomach tight, head up. She's so beautiful. Her long blond curls cover her shoulders and back. Her tits rise shakily from her attempt to calm her own breathing.
I don't say anything just walk slowly up to her, standing just a little to her left, but close enough that her fingertips brush against me. I grab her hair and yank her head back fast, keeping my fingers in her hair. She stares into my eyes.
Her bright blue eyes, so telling. Fear. I pull her hair more and she squeaks. I kiss her hard and she responds as always. Hunger.
"Follow." I walk slowly into the bedroom and stand next to the bed. She stands a little away from me, but quickly takes two steps closer when I look at her.
"You can't seem to hold your tongue and behave, little girl."
"I'm sorry, Sir. Please...can we...can we talk...please Max."
"No." I watch as her look goes from shock to despair. I know she's fighting her urge to say something more, so I give her time. "We aren't talking about anything, Lucy. You are listening. I am talking. Do you understand?"
"...Yes, Sir." Her voice is soft and pouty.
"I won't have you thinking that you can talk back to me like your Mom does to your Dad. I won't have you thinking that you can get away with contradicting me like your brother's wife does to him." My anger is flaring back up, my voice getting deeper and quieter. "You weren't raised properly, Lucy." I don't have to wait long for the defiance to surface in her expression again. I grab her face, fingers gripping her cheeks and like that her eyes are quickly changed to shock. Her hands stay behind her back though.
"You weren't raised to be obedient. You don't know your place, little girl." I let go of her face. "Get the belt." She goes slowly to the closet and brings the belt back to lay on the bed in front of me.
"Bend over the bed." She hesitates. I've only spanked her standing up or over my knees so far, so she's uncertain what to do. But she lowers her hands and puts them on the bed, shoulder length apart. "Keep your legs together and your back arched." I rub my hand down her back and over her ass. She shivers.
"You were going to have a light maintenance spanking tonight, Lucy. But you blew that, little girl." She shivers again and starts to say something. "No. I don't want to hear another
word out of your mouth except 'yes, sir' or 'no, sir'. Do you understand me, Lucy?"
"Yes, Sir."
"You will not speak for the rest of tonight or all day tomorrow. Your mouth got you in this trouble, maybe not using it will help you to think before you speak. And if you say anything besides 'yes or no, sir' we will be right back here for a harsher spanking. Do you understand me?"
"...Yes...yes, Sir." She knows she's angered me. Her fear is electric.
"I'm going to hit you ten times with the belt." Her ass clenches at this news. She remembers the last time I was angry and spanked her at the party. I rub her back and ass again and say slowly, "If I hear anything from you more than a small cry, I'll start over."
Thinking about the maintenance spanking, remembering how angry I was last week, I get even more control over my temper. I'm angry, but I am in control of it. And I want to enjoy this spanking.
I double the belt and take a deep breath. She's so beautiful, waiting. My cock is already painfully aroused. I place the first whack high on her ass. Not too hard, but she's sensitive here. She bounces on her toes and muffles her cry to a hiss between her teeth. The pink print is so nice, I imagine kneeling and kissing it.
The next whack is dead center on her right cheek. A little harder; she can take it here. She keeps her cry behind closed lips. The mark is a little angrier in color.
Another dead center, left cheek. Same beautiful mark.
My favorite, lowest part of her cheeks, the belt hitting both sides at once, a good hard smack. She dances and hardly keeps her cry contained.
I raise the belt and know her eyes are closed, she doesn't tense, just waits. I land two stripes across the side of each cheek quickly, more stinging than hard, bringing the belt down across my body.
She bounces again, her cry more an open mouth moan now. I listen to her breathing. Her arms are shaking. Her ass is now painted with beautiful pink cherry stripes.
The last two I deliver quickly, one on top of the other, a little low. She almost blows it and has to gulp back her cry two times. Her back heaving with the effort to stay still and quiet against the pain.
True Choices: A Dark Romance (True Series Book 3) Page 4
