Bella's Choice (23 page)

He had mistresses all over the city, and in other cities all over the world. She never complained as he allowed her to have her own lovers, and just like now, would rather join in to the pleasure he experienced. He loved sharing this with her.

André was in a huff as he showered in the luxurious bathroom situated in Sandra and Jason Anthony’s bedroom. He didn’t care for the Italian marble displayed in the richly decorated bathroom. Normally, he would enjoy the exquisite taste of his friends, but tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

He really liked the couple. They had been friends for a long time, so he’d seen the children grow into adults, and the moment the boys had come of age, he had had his first taste of their chiseled perfections. Between himself and other members of their exclusive club, they’d taught them everything they knew. He loved running his hands over their bodies, loved to feel the ripples of their hard, muscular frames under him. He had driven them hard since the day they could take it. He was more careful with women, and used a softer approach. Except for their mother, of course, she was a wildcat, one that could handle him.

Her daughter had the same qualities; her fiery character had turned him on from the moment she had shuffled him out of her way three months ago. His member reacted just with the thought of having her, and he grinned.

Anabella.

Her name alone had enticed him to cum on several occasions. When buried deep within someone, her name would be on his lips, his mind and his heart.

He smacked his lips appreciatively as he played with himself vigorously. When he ejaculated, he gasped with pleasure, but then the grin faded. Up until now, he’d never been able to have her, and he was growing impatient with both Anabella and Sandra. To learn that she loved someone else angered him. It wasn’t acceptable.

He liked her. Her youthful body tempted every nerve in his body. He had watched her on TV a few times, made a point not to miss anything concerning her; studied the slender body meticulously, every curve, every muscle defined by her training, and had had a few hard-ons. He’d never had a woman like her, and admitted to himself that he was obsessed with the young woman, more than with any other woman. She had captured his imagination from the moment he grabbed her firm breast. And he dreamed of the time they would finally be together. He couldn’t wait any longer, and now she had a ‘friend’. He slammed his fist against the tiles, pain shot into his knuckles and up to his shoulder making him wince

“Damn it, she is mine!” he fumed, “Mine!” He turned off the taps, and glanced at his physique in the mirror. He smiled, satisfied with the new body he had worked hard on the last few months, had sacrificed a lot to have her. Wrapping a sheet around himself, he returned to the room. His shameless eyes glanced at the three people on the floor. Grinning sardonically, he decided to join in. His body demanded attention, and the enticing butt of the young woman was just in the right position for him to take her.

She wiggled her hips invitingly at him. She was gorgeous.

He dropped the sheet, his skin still wet, but he didn’t mind as he braced himself to enter her, knowing that she was ready. He entered the blond quickly, his thoughts with the young woman whose picture was in his wallet.

Anabella Anthony.

Chapter Ten

“I
t is time to let you go, Bella,” Aldrich whispered in her ear. More goose bumps appeared where his lips had caressed her skin. Both were unwilling to end the closeness they shared. For the past hour, he had fed her dessert as they talked, laughed and kissed, forgetting the obstacles in their path. They reveled in their love.

Aldrich could not get enough of the young woman in his arms. Her sweet innocence so different from the women he knew. She was refreshing, intoxicating and full of life.

“Mmm,” she murmured, dozy and incredibly lazy in his arms.

“It is late.” He chuckled, seeing her slow reluctance to move away from him. He was pleased with her total abandonment, letting go of her guard when she was with him.

“Yes, I am tired.” For emphasis, she hid a yawn behind her hand and looked up at him with a lazy stare. “This was nice,” she whispered, “thank you.” And with that, leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

“It was my pleasure, we will do it again soon.”

“I would love that.”

They packed the basket, folded the blanket after they had given it a thorough shake, and hand in hand walked to their cars on top of the cliff. Reluctantly, they parted, driving away, each their separate ways.

It was already after one when Anabella walked into the house. The house was quiet, but she could see the light coming from her parents’ bedroom. She knew they were not alone, the two cars parked outside said as much, and she sighed.

After taking a cool shower, she got into bed as her phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Aldrich, whishing her a good night’s rest; she smiled at the small cell phone.

“Goodnight, Aldi.” She lay her head on the pillow. When she turned to turn off the bedside lamp, she heard a crackling sound from under her head. Lifting her pillow, she could make out another envelope in the dim light. With apprehension, she looked at it dumbfounded, not sure what to do with it. With trembling hands, she opened the brown envelope, and pulled out a sheet of paper. The words immediately screamed at her. This one, too, was written in the same fashion as the first letter.

Leave Aldrich alone! He is mine!

You are promised to another!

Anabella shot up in the bed.
Now what does that mean?
Shocked, outraged, and stunned into silence, she could only look at the paper, the words danced before her as tears formed in her eyes. Without hesitation she grabbed her phone and dialed Aldrich’s number. On the second ring, he answered with a pleased smile in his voice.

“Sweetheart?”

“I have another letter!” she all but yelled, holding her fingers before her lips, her voice shaky.

Silence fell between them before he asked, “What does it say?”

She read it out to him, repeating the dreadful words, gasping for air as the meaning settled in her mind. “What does it mean, Aldi?”

“I don’t know.” Silence followed yet again. Aldrich, too, was shocked. He shook his head trying to make sense of it before he continued, “Put it back in the envelope. I will get it from you tomorrow morning and take it to the police. I have friends who can help.”

“Aldrich, but why? And to whom am I promised?” A sob shuddered through her. “I only want you, no one else,” she whispered, fearful of the implication.

“I know, sweetheart, I feel the same.” He sighed, his tiredness gone. How could he sleep knowing that Anabella was being threatened? Who was this deranged person? She was scared, he could hear that, and he had to admit that he was just as anxious. However, he had to calm her as best he could.

“No one will take you away from me, Bella.” Aldrich clenched his fists, punching the duvet in anger. “Settle down and try to sleep. You have practice early tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night I will take you to a movie.”

She swallowed as the sobs forced their way through her lips. With a hiccup, she relaxed into his calming voice. She had never really been scared of anything before, but the letters were making her afraid. How had they ended up in her room, with no postage stamp, or even her name? Where had they come from, and who had put them there?

“Sweetheart, I want to make a call. I will speak to you soon, meanwhile sleep.”

“Okay, Aldi. I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart, now get some rest.”

“I will. Goodnight.” Reluctantly, she shut down the phone and placed the sheet of paper back in the envelope, to fall into a restless sleep.

“You are mine!” The words played over in her head, repeatedly. It was a different voice, one unknown to her. It sounded possessive and demanding. A hand grabbed her legs, pushing them apart, and she kicked and yelled against the hold. Frantic with fear, she screamed, demanding that they must release her. Tangled and out of breath, she nevertheless continued to struggle, exhausted from the fight, but refused to stop. They shook her persistently, until she heard a second voice. A familiar voice.

“Honey, wake up,” a gruff voice called to her. “It’s only a dream.”

Startled, she opened her eyes and found Derek hovering over her, concern etched on his sleepy face. “Honey, are you okay?” He sat down on the bed next to her, his eyes never leaving her. He touched her arm, soothing her as she slumped back into the softness of the mattress, and nodded yes.

“Here, have some water,” he offered her a glass. She took it from him with shaky hands. After she pushed herself up, she took a long gulp from the glass, allowing the cool, refreshing liquid to run down her dry throat. She tried to concentrate on its revitalizing taste, hoping to forget the dream. But it was difficult.

“What time is it?” she asked him, the moment she handed the glass back to him.

His steady watchful gaze studied her face; he did
n’t answer her, but asked instead, “How many times does this happen?”

She looked down at the covers. “Not many.”

“You are lying, Anabella.” His blue eyes searched her face.

She wanted to hide in shame because she wasn’t willing to admit to him her struggles.

“You need to get out of this house,” he finally said with conviction, when she didn’t want to answer him.

Stunned, she looked up at him, meeting his serious gaze.

“This house is not good for us,” he admitted, “and the sooner we can leave, the better.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, now wide awake from his statement. Something in his posture alarmed her.

“This is not a normal house.” He sighed, as if he carried a heavy weight on his shoulders. “I would love to have a normal house,” he murmured.

She reached for him, offering comfort. Her thoughts were in a jumble, shocked at the declaration her brother just made. She always thought he’d been okay with all of this, but it seems he wasn’t. They lived so far apart from each other, each in their own little world. On the occasions they did get together, they had spent those days on fun things, anything at all but the issues at hand. They never really talked about their feelings, or the lifestyle within the house. Hearing him speak from the heart startled her.

“I know what you mean.”

“We are tired of this life,” he said, a tear running down his face.

Her heart ached for him. She could hear his struggles just in those few words, spoken with so much pain, it hurt to hear them.

“I can believe that.” She sighed as she brushed his hand.

“I have found someone,” he admitted sheepishly, a soft grin appearing on his face.

“You have?” She raised a brow in question, a soft smile on her lips.

“I love him.”

“Derek!” she gasped.

He placed a finger on her lips. “I know it comes as a shock, but please be happy for me.” His face was cloaked in shadow, but yet she could sense the anguish in him as he waited for her answer.

“Of course I am. When can I meet him?” Questions raced through her mind, but this wasn’t the time to ask them. Not now while he was sharing his heart openly with her. Many things fell into its particular slots, things that were so obvious now that she thought about it. Who was she to judge him? He was her brother, her protector, and friend.

“Soon, I promise.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you, sis.” He got up and walked out of her room.

She flopped back onto the pillow, staring at the white ceiling. The thought of her brother in a relationship with a man shocked her, but then she could understand the choice. In the end, it was his choice, not hers to make. She couldn’t blame him, nor turn her back on him.

It was true what he’d said, though. They had to get out of this house, but how, she was still a minor. She had no money to buy a house, or even rent an apartment. All the money she had earned so far went to her studies and swimming fees. She was still dependant on her parents for her daily care. The monthly allowance that she received from them wouldn’t be enough to live on her own. She stretched out on the bed, and scrunched herself up into a fetus position. There were so many things to consider, but she was tired.

Her eyes fell on the envelope she had tossed on the floor last night, and the threatening words returned. She shivered and pulled the cotton sheet over herself, her body cold with fear. Who was she promised to? She’d made no promises to anyone except Aldrich. He was the only man she cared about.

The woman remained a mystery.

Early the next morning, Aldrich phoned Giselle Etsibeth’s number. He needed answers. Quickly.

He hoped that his hunch was correct where this woman was concerned. He hadn’t slept last night, his mind had kept going through all the women who had shown any interest in him in the last two years since he’d met Anabella. Few people knew about the relationship, or even that they were serious for that matter. The people who did know were trusted, and wouldn’t do something like this, not to Anabella.

It disturbed him that he hadn’t met her parents, but Anabella was adamant in this regard, although he’d met her brothers. He doubted her parents even knew about him. Therefore, the letter couldn’t have come from them. What disturbed him the most was that it had to be someone who had access to their house. That would explain how the letter got into her room without a postage stamp. It had to be someone they both knew, and to accomplish what they had, it had to be someone who shared the lifestyle the parents lived.
But who?

He knew no one who shared their lifestyle; there was no common threat that could connect them. Most of his friends were married with children, and they had a deep sense of family values and respect for the marriage bond they shared.

Except for Monica, Anabella had no friends other than her teammates, and he knew that they had never been to her house.
So who could it be?

On the third ring, Giselle finally answered. Still sleepy and sounding annoyed, she growled, “Who is this?”

“Giselle, it’s Aldrich,” he said in a clipped voice. He wanted to make it plain that this was not a social call.

“Oh, darling,” she replied huskily, her tone softer than a moment ago. “I was wondering when I would hear from you again. I have missed you.” Without giving him a chance to explain his reason for calling, she went on about the party she’d had the previous night, and how angry she was at him for not attending.