True Choices (13 page)

Chapter 17 HIM

"She's sleeping now, Laura. I'll tell her you called." I look at my watch, it's almost three in the afternoon. I should get her up soon to eat something.

"So...everything's ok...between you guys...?"

"We're fine."

"You weren't fine last night!" She sounds nervous.

I laugh at her understatement. "No, I was pissed as Hell last night. Another man's hand on my wife? What do you think?"

"But...Lucy's ok...today? I'd really like to talk to her, Max..." She's a sweet girl. Submissive at heart, whether she knows it or not. I know Laura is the one friend that Lucy confides in, talks to about our marriage.

"Lucy's fine, Laura. She's resting after the spanking I gave her last night." I don't give her time to respond, her little intake of breath enough of one. Lucy must not have told her that part. "And she won't be taking any calls or visits for the next two weeks either as a part of her punishment." I have a sudden thought. Tracy's been texting and calling her all morning too. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. "I'll be getting Lucy a new phone and number. She'll call you in two weeks."

"Oh...okay." Before I can hang up though, "Max?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell Lucy that I'm sorry...that I didn't help her more last night...she really tried to keep a distance from Rich, but he was drunk and just kept leaning over and grabbing all of us."

I know she's only trying to help, thinking she can explain it away. But hearing this only peaks my anger again. "Lucy knows that it was her own fault. She doesn't blame you. I'll let her know you called." And I hang up Lucy's phone.

And fuck me if the phone isn't vibrating again before I can put it down. Unknown caller. Instinct. I pick up.

"Hello."

"Oh…uh...Is Lucy there?"

"Hello, Rich." I keep my voice even. I lean back against the kitchen counter.

"Can I talk to Lucy?" He's trying to sound strong.

"No, Rich, you can't talk to
my
wife,
Mrs
. Traeger. You won't be talking to her again."

"I just want to apologize for being drunk...and to see if she's ok." He tries again to sound like he has balls.

"Another man checking on
my
wife? I don't think so. I think that it's in your best interest to forget that you even knew
my
wife."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me?!"

"No. I'm
promising
you that if you talk to my wife again, if you even get anywhere near her again, I will
break
...
your
...
fucking
...
arms.
" I don't raise my voice, just let the anger idle on low. I don't want to wake Lucy.

"You're fucking crazy! I could sue you…threatening me like this!"

"I'm a good lawyer." I hang up and turn her phone off. At least I don't have to track him down to settle that now.

I walk back to the bedroom. Lucy is still sleeping, her body in a loose ball, the sheet only covering half her ass.

The sight of my anger on her skin...the mess of bruises and welts...I feel my cock stiffen. I run my hands through my waves and breathe out quietly.

I know I'm a monster. To do that to her. To
like
doing that to her. Hell, to get off doing that to her.

It's not just her cries, her tears that turn me on. Watching over her last night, I realized that it was her willingness, her yielding to my anger. That she would stay on the bed, not moving, taking whatever I would do to her. That she thinks like I do...that she deserved to suffer for her disobedience. That she wouldn't be my good girl again without taking my punishment.

I'm a monster. And she loves me anyway. She surprised me with her eagerness though. I know I've made her wet with lighter spankings, slappings. But last night, this morning, in her pain...she wanted to please me. She said before that she craves my touch, tender or rough, she just craves me.

She's mine.

I've given up the fear of losing control. Even last night, I was in control. I hurt her this badly on purpose, no hesitation. But I was in control.

But last night, I gave up the fear that my anger could ever push her away. She'll take my anger and make it her pain.

She's mine.

Chapter 18 HIM

"Lucy! I'm home." She usually comes running, giggling and slaps my chest when I do my bad Cuban impersonation. "Lucy?!"

I walk into the kitchen and drop off the pizza I picked up for us. I stop. The dishes from lunch are still sitting on the counter. I clench my jaw. She better have a
damn
good reason for not getting this chore done before I'm home. It's only been a few days since I had to spank her for talking back. She won't be sitting for dinner.

And I stop again. She had a doctor's appointment this afternoon. She's been extra tired the past few weeks and even though the EPT was negative yesterday, I made her the appointment. I've been stuck in client meetings all afternoon, so I haven't been able to check what the doctor said. I called earlier but figured she was running around getting her chores done before the charity concert tonight.

I smile. Being excited at the news of being pregnant would count as a damn good reason!

I walk quickly into the hallway to the bedroom. Everything's right here. Laundry put away, bed made again. She got through most of her list today at least. I take off my coat and shoes and leave them by the bed. The bathroom light is on.

But she's not here, and she left the bathroom a mess. My anger is peaking again. She's really pushing it.  I walk quickly down the hall to the den. No Lucy. Guest room. Bathroom. Terrace. No Lucy. I walk back to the kitchen and grab my phone off the counter. No texts, no calls.

Goddammit, little girl. Good news or not, you are getting an ass beating when you get home! Where the fuck are you?! I dial her cell and her voice picks up right away.

"This is Lucy. Leave a message."

I hang up without leaving one. She'll see my call and know she's in trouble.

I check the voicemail on the home phone.

"Hi, guys! Just calling to see how you're feeling today, sweetie. And how your doctor's visit went...Fingers crossed!" Her Mom. She knows we've been trying for three months. Lucy talked to her yesterday.

"Hi, Max. Lucy. Give us a call when you're finished with your appointment today. We're thinking happy healthy thoughts for you, Lucy! Love you both!" My Mom. I told her last night about the appointment.

"Hello. This message is for Lucy Traeger. This is Dr. Patel's office. You've missed your scheduled appointment with us today. Please call our office to reschedule at your earliest convenience. Per our office policy, you will be charged our late cancellation fee of $50 for this missed appointment. Thank you."

A cold steel rod raps around my stomach, stabbing my balls. She missed her appointment?

"Hey, baby. Call me if you have news. I'm stuck in damn contract negotiations again, but I'll pick up. Oh...I'll grab a pizza for us before the concert. Wear your green dress. I love you, baby." My message. She didn't listen to it. She didn't listen to any of these.

"Hey, Luce. You haven't answered your texts, so I'm hoping it's because you and Max are celebrating...some good news maybe?! Call me!" Laura.

I pick up the phone and dial her again.

"...Leave a message." Her happy, sweet girl voice. The steel tightens.

"Lucy. You better call me right back if you know what's good for you, little girl." All my anger, my fear trembles into my message.

I text her the same.

I wait a minute. No response. I call Laura first.

"Hey!" Laura's excitement loosens the steel a little.

"Hey, Laura. Is Lucy with you?" I try to sound controlled, not angry, not afraid. Maybe she wanted to share her good news with her best friend...

"What? No...I thought you were Lucy calling me back. I haven't heard from her since yesterday..."

I can't breathe. I can't speak. Where the fuck is my wife?!

"Max? Where's Lucy?"

"I...I don't know." My vision swims and I grab the counter. Shit.

In six months of marriage...I've never not known where she was.

"I have to check with a few more people...I'll call you back." I hang up before she can say anything more.

I go to the den and start up my computer. Trying to slow my breathing while waiting. I don't wait well. Finally. I start up the monitoring app I installed on her phone.

No messages or calls answered today. My message stares back at me. Not even picked up. Nothing is picked up.

The GPS shows the phone is stopped near her doctor's office.

But she missed her appointment.

What the fuck are you doing, little girl?!

I walk back to the bedroom. Put my shoes back on. Grab my coat.

In the kitchen I grab my wallet and keys. I text Jeff to meet me downstairs. I'll get in a cab if he isn't here first.

I dial, "Jake. No. Stop....I need your help." He listens as I give him directions.

                                                                                    .....

"She's not here, Max. There's no body here." The darkened office buildings sentinel over me. Crushing my heart, pinning the steel rod into me more.

I try her cell again, no answer. No whistle ringtone. I've tried up and down the street. "She's got to be here, Jeff." I hear the weakness. I hear the anger. Fear. Pain.

I sent Jake back to the apartment in case she showed up there. He hasn't heard anything.

Jeff stops in front of a garbage bin.

"It's time to call the police, Max." His voice is cold. He puts his hand up to stop me from reaching into the bin. Halfway down, on a pile of papers and food, the blue light of Lucy's phone is sitting on top of her purse. He looks at me, but I'm not seeing him through the tunnel of darkness. "Don't touch anything. I'll call a friend on the force." He turns away and I don't hear him, frozen in place.