The Only Choice (The Choices Trilogy #3) (23 page)

SAM HOLDS MY
hand as we check our coats and she continues to hold it as she leads me across the darkened room toward the bar. The instrumental music is loud with a sensual slow heavy bass. The booths that edge the richly decorated social area are all occupied with couples or small groups. The scene is really no different from other exclusive private clubs, other than the dress code and the lack of personal space exhibited between patrons. Sam orders two white wine spritzers because now I am here I really do need some bottled courage and I figure a spritzer is better than a neat glass. Some women might not even realise they were pregnant this early and no matter how many other justifications I ponder I still end up only pretending to sip my drink. Sam informs me her client has arrived and she will come back for me in half an hour because he should be ready to talk by then and it will spare me a little of the show. She runs through some basic safety tips repeated from the first time she brought me here. She tells me not to accept drinks and if anyone asks anything, to be polite and answer something along the lines of, ‘thank you, I’m flattered but I’m afraid that’s not possible tonight’ and if it gets too awkward to hide in the ladies and she’ll find me there.

I think the ladies sounds like a great idea but then I glance furtively around the room and as everyone seems more than occupied I am happy to stay at the bar. I chat a little with the barmaid, it is quiet and she seems friendly. She enjoys her work but added little detail, discretion is golden and even with my slim mask I am grateful it is. A deep voice I recognise as Jason, asks me from behind, if the seat next to me is taken and I get the sudden rush of excitement and fear. I turn to face him, he returns my smile but I know he hasn’t recognised me from his expression. Not that this situation isn’t extremely awkward as it is but to prevent any irrevocable faux pas, where he asks me how much for the night or he whips his dick out and suggests I might like ‘something in his size,’ I pat the seat next to me and break the ice.

“Jason, you know you didn’t have to come, I just needed your sponsor.” I lean in and whisper the last bit.

“Holy Fuck Bethany! What the hell?” He is stuttering and his eyes are on stalks. “I mean shit, look at you. Fuck! I didn’t recognise you!” He slaps his hand over his mouth to stop the curses and to shut his jaw closed.

“That would be the general idea.” I tilt my head and raise a brow.

“Yes, of course. Well, good job. Sorry I’ll stop staring in a minute.” He laughs. “Well maybe I won’t but I’ll try at least.” He nods to the bar and orders a whiskey and another for me although my glass is still full. I ask for a tonic instead and he furrows his brow.

“Need a clear head.” I smile tightly as the nerves start to return.

“I’m not happy about this Bethany and what the fuck are you doing alone at the bar? You’re lucky I’m the only freak man enough to approach but I can see them circling.” His voice is deeper than Daniels but just as stern. He takes a quick look and I follow his gaze, noticing for the first time some men at the end of the bar and on the edge of the dance floor looking our way.

“Sam’s um . . . setting up. She’s going to come and get me in a few minutes and if I was uncomfortable I was going to hide in the ladies but I’m fine and this is just a bar.”

He sniffs dismissively. “At the moment it is and don’t think for a second you’d be that safe in the ladies.” He takes his glass and raises a toast against mine. “Here’s to doing the right thing.” He doesn’t sound remotely happy about the toast but he clinks his glass against mine and takes a sip. Sam appears at his shoulder and orders another for herself. I start to move from the stool when she waves me back to sit.

“No rush Bets.” She takes a sip of my wine while she waits for hers. “He can wait.” She smiles at me and gives Jason a full on wicked wink that makes his back straighten and a deep cough form at the back of his throat. I bite my lips together to prevent a childish giggle escaping but it is impressive the reactions she evokes in men, even a hardened alpha which Jason definitely is. After what feels like an hour but is probably no more than ten minutes Sam is motioning me to follow her. I slip down from the stool and Jason holds my hand as I wobble on the high heels.

“I’ll wait for you here. Don’t leave without me or I’ll worry, OK?” He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes and I can tell he is almost as anxious as I am.

“I will, I promise and thank you for this Jason.” I squeeze his hand to draw some comfort and add with borrowed confidence. “I’m doing the right thing because he didn’t give me a choice. Failure is not an option Grrrr.” He laughs loudly at my attempt to appear dominant. I am pretty sure he can spot a fake I just hope Mr Angel isn’t so intuitive.

The room Sam leads me into is dark with a few dimmed sconce lights and one spotlight aimed at the chest of the man kneeling in the centre of the room. Sam motions for me to walk around the perimeter of the room slowly and I do. Happy to follow any instruction that doesn’t involve me having to speak or think, because my heart is in my throat and my brain checked out when I crossed the threshold. I make my way around the front of the room, I can see the man is gagged with large red rubber ball that stretches his lips thin and shiny, with saliva dripping down his chin. My feet falter and Sam cracks her whip which makes us both jump but my eyes meet hers and she smiles and nods for me to keep walking. Sebastian is blindfolded and his hands have been secured to his ankles, he is still wearing his boxers but he looks uncomfortable as he strains against his restraint and his erection strains against the gaping material in his shorts. His breathing is surprisingly calm and he lets out the occasional satisfied groan as he twists and moves against his bindings. His back is laced with fierce red welts and I get a strange tingle at seeing these familiar marks. I don’t believe my marks were any less red and the heat they generated I can feel again in my core as if they are fresh on my skin.

Sam unclips his gag and caresses his cheeks where the straps had creased his skin he leans into her touch like a kitten. He looks up to where he assumes her face is and asks if there is someone else in the room but before he finishes the question she swipes her hand across his face and quickly smoothes the sting with her palm and soft words.

“You don’t get to ask the questions pet. You know better than that.” She pats his red cheek and draws her long fingernail along his jaw bone, scratching the slight stubble and leaving a feint line. “Now why are you here pet?” She draws in a sigh that sounds like she is bored already with his answer, “and if you lie.” She leans in and whispers in his ear making him visibly shiver. “I won’t let you come.” She steps back and he shakes his head roughly at that unpleasant idea.

“I won’t lie Mistress Selina, I would never lie to you.” He is quick to respond. She draws her fingernails through his hair and pulls it roughly back tilting his head back and exposing his throat. I recognise these moves and my body is reacting in kind, my heart beat is picking up and my skin glows with a light cover of perspiration. “I have just been fucked over with a deal and I’ve come to make sure my wife keeps her end of our arrangement.” He pauses as Sam remains silent. “And to see you Mistress Selina.” Sam looks over to me and mouths ‘Oh My God” and I just nod numbly, shocked at this open disclosure but keen to hear more.

“I like that you came to see me but business deals bore me.” Sam walks round to stand directly in front of him and tips his chin up as far as it will go with the tip of her whip. I wonder what she’s doing, she needs to keep him talking about the deal not tell him she is bored, surely?

“This one would have interested you. It was worth millions but fucking Stone wouldn’t bite. Fucking due-diligence and now I’ve got to wait until Angel can work herself back in to get my money, but it will be worth it. She’s promised me and for the fucking shit I have to agree to I’m earning every penny. Arhhh!” Sam has circled him once more and brought her whip down sharply on his backside and he cries out again with each stroke. The sound rings in my ears and my mind is racing with too much information thanks to Sam and that is why she has the whip and I can only look on in awe.

“Arhh poor baby.” Sam croons stroking the whip tenderly across his inflamed back. “Don’t you love each other any more.” Her lips curl with heavy sarcasm.

“I love her Mistress . . . I have always loved her but she is incapable of loving anyone. It is her own brand of sadism. She makes you fall in love and then she withdraws: her affection, her touch, her time. I’m a masochist but even I have trouble taking that much pain.” His voice is raw and I falter at the honesty. “She doesn’t want me anymore but she needs me for a little while longer. Then she will cut me loose and she will be free to pursue Daniel Stone in earnest . . . She told me once he was the only one that got away. He is a challenge to her now and he
will
fall in love with her. She doesn’t lose . . . ever.” Sam yawns loudly and barely breaks her stride.

“How interesting.” Her tone perfectly bored. “What’s the nasty lady getting you to do? Do you have to pretend to be blissfully, happily, married.” Her mocking sarcasm is perfectly punctuated with careful strikes of the whip on his inflamed rear.

“No, I only have to pretend that for a few more weeks.” He is panting rushing his words, giving Mistress Selina what she demands, trying to please her, trying not to get punished. “But I have to say I’m firing blanks and I have to say that until I get my money. I hate that shit, people thinking I’m not a real man.” His whiny voice only emphasises his position as pathetic rather than submissive.

Keeping with her demeanour of disinterest Sam asks. “Well, it might not be a lie and you aren’t a man you are my pet.” She grips his hair once more tilting his head at an uncomfortable angle, the muscles in his neck taught and strained. She leans down and licks his face from chin to ear.

His laugh is ugly. “My two kids in Mexico would prove otherwise don’t you think? I’m not the one firing blanks.” Sam retrieves the gag from the floor beside him and informs Sebastian that she is so tired of his voice, he is to open his mouth once more. Once the gag is secured she motions me to the door. On the other side of the closed door I throw my arms around her and we both jump tiny excited jumps together desperately wanting to scream our success but not wanting to be heard.

“Oh My God Sam, you were amazing, that was . . . I’m speechless.” I hug her once more.

“Just tell me you’ve recorded that?” She whispers and I pat my tightly packed breasts which are concealing the recording device. “Give me five minutes and I’ll meet you at the bar.”

“Five minutes?” I challenge.

“Hey I’m a pro . . . five minutes, tops.” She giggles and gives me a sexy wink disappearing back into the room. I let out a deep breath filled with relief and excitement. I can’t believe it worked. I mean I hoped and prayed it would but that it actually did. I am shocked. I have proof that Angel has lied to Daniel. There was other stuff there too but I can’t process that now. I will need to listen again and again to get it all. He sang like a canary but then I don’t know why I’m surprised, Daniel always got the truth from me in a similar fashion. I make my way to the ladies my heart is still racing and I need to stop shaking before I return to the bar.

Sam is at the bar by the time I leave the ladies. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking and I was sweating so much I had to towel dry myself. I think it was mostly the cause of the rubber dress rather than my nerves but it was pretty gross. I look around for Jason but can’t see him, he may have gone to play. Since Sam is staying for the evening she can let him know I’ve left so he won’t need to worry. I want to hug her again but she looks guarded as I approach and I decide to just give her my best and most grateful smile. I decline a drink and realising I didn’t bring any money for the cab I graciously accept Sam’s loan. God I owe her big time. I give her a kiss on the cheek and walk around the edge of the room to the entrance. I just step past one of the booths when a tight grip holds my wrist and spins me back to face the direction I had come. Standing like an impenetrable wall is the towering frame of Daniel Stone, impassive face and ice cold eyes. His eyes drift down my body but there is no hint of heat, if anything he looks disgusted and I feel both cold and sick.

“Interesting career choice.” His voice drips with distain and I can’t quite believe I’m hearing the gravity in his words.

“Sorry you can’t be serious? You think . . .” Words fail me so my head just shakes incredulously.

“Think what? That you’re dressed for work? That you’re here in a sex club with your professional friend in a professional capacity? Now why would I think that?” He doesn’t leave me space to answer which is good because he has left me speechless. He tugs at my wrist. “Now shall we, I believe you know I’m good for the money.” He pulls me forward and I stumble, his loose grip allows me to fall on to one knee. I look up into is glacial expression I can feel my eyes prickle but I fight to not let the building tears fall. I pull my hand from his grip and steadily get back to my feet, straightening my back I tip my chin and scowl.

“I’m not—”

He growls his interruption. “—Not what? So that wasn’t your friend paying you for your . . . assistance?” He smirks but it’s not sexy. It’s cruel.

“No!” I snap back “That was my friend lending me the cab fare home because,” I motion up and down my outfit, exhibit A of my explanation. “I have nowhere to carry money.” He might be justifiably upset finding me here, but he is, in fact, here too. I struggle to hide my own anger. But remarkably manage to keep my overwhelming hurt under control, for the moment. But I need to get out of here if I am to keep it that way.

His lips form a thin tight line as he considers me. “In that case I’ll get Colin to transfer your fee directly.” His sneer is just as harsh.

“God you’re such an arsehole in this place.” I snarl at him but still keep my voice at a normal volume.

“And you are a
whore
when you are in this place . . . It would seem we are a perfect match after-all.” His words are whispered smooth and he even tucks my wig behind my ear. I shake free of his transparent false affection and try to step away.