FIFTEEN

Billie sat on the floor playing with Terry Junior. Unable to contain herself, she excitedly spilt the beans of the weekend's happenings. Jade sat in silence, listening to her story. She'd had a bad feeling about this boy Danny, and if the unprotected sex was anything to go by, it looked like her instincts were right. Billie finished the story and waited for Jade's reaction.

'Well, I don't know what to say to you really, Bill. It's too late now to take the morning-after pill. You'll just have to wait and see if your period comes and pray that it does.'

Billie got up off the floor and sat on the sofa. 'You don't think badly of me do you, Jade? I haven't acted like a tart or anything, have I?'

Jade went and got a bottle of wine from the fridge. A drink might help her say the right thing. 'Do you want a glass of wine with me, Billie?'

Jade didn't normally encourage Billie to drink as she was still underage, but the girl seemed to be a bundle of nervous energy. Handing her a glass, Jade sat opposite her and held both her hands. 'Of course I don't think badly of you. Wanting to have sex is natural, Billie. I just wish that you had waited a bit longer and spoken to me about it first. I could have taken you to a doctor, or a family planning clinic, to get you some protection. The thing is, Bill, it's not just getting pregnant that you have to worry about. There are so many diseases you could catch that it's not worth taking the risk. From what you've told me, this Danny sounds pretty experienced. He's a lot older than you and well, to be honest, you've only known him five minutes. You don't know how many other girls he's slept with. You have to be careful, Billie, you know.'

Billie's happy mood had now disappeared. The look on Jade's face had said it all. Feeling her lip begin to quiver, she grabbed Jade's hand. 'I've been so stupid, Jade. Can you imagine if my dad were alive? He'd kill me. Say he's looking down on me and he knows what I've done?'

Jade hugged Billie tightly as her tears began to flow. 'Now, now, don't cry, you've done nothing to be ashamed of, you just need to be a bit more responsible, that's all.' By this time Billie was sobbing so much, she was unable to talk. 'Oh, Billie, come on, stop crying now. Everything will be fine, you'll see. I'll tell you what we'll do. Danny works on Saturdays, doesn't he?'

'Yes.'

'Well look, I've got an idea. I know a private clinic that opens on Saturday mornings. I'll pick you up early and take you there to get some contraception. Why don't you bring Carly along and we'll make a day of it? Sue next door keeps offering to babysit if I need a break. She's got a baby herself only a few months older than Terry Junior. If she's willing to have him, we can go shopping and have a bite to eat and that.'

Billie wiped her eyes and managed a half-smile. 'That sounds really good, Jade. I'll speak to Carly tomorrow. I'm sure she'll come, and thanks, I really mean it, thanks for everything.'

Billie felt much better after her chat with Jade and began to look forward instead of backwards. She went on her date with Danny the following evening. She was a bit nervous to start with, as it was the first time they'd been out on their own. She needn't have worried. The conversation flowed as if they'd known one another for years.

They met up early evening at Romford station and went to see a film at the cinema. It was a horror movie and Danny was mucking about all the way through it, making her jump out of her skin. They finished the evening off in the Pizza Hut, where they had a bite to eat and a few drinks. Billie wanted to contribute towards the bill but Danny was having none of it.

'Leave it out, Bill. You're having a fucking laugh, ain't ya? I asked you to come out so I'm gonna pay.'

Billie secretly liked him talking to her in that way. She found it very manly and it reminded her of her dad. He would never hear of a woman paying for anything. In fact she found quite a lot of similarities between Danny and her dad. The dark hair, the blue eyes, the way they swore and they could both talk their way out of a paper bag. Maybe that was part of the attraction for her.

Arriving home in a cab, Danny asked the driver if he could wait five minutes while he walked Billie to the door and said goodnight. Just as they were having a kiss, Michelle and Nathan pulled up on the drive, returning from a night out.

Billie had told her mum that she'd met someone and really liked him but that was all she'd told her. She couldn't talk about anything personal with Chelle, they just didn't have that kind of relationship.

'Hello, love. Is this your boyfriend? Aren't you going to introduce us?'

Billie was relieved to see her mother was only merry and not slaughtered. Since she'd met Nathan, she'd been a lot better with her drinking. She still went on binges with her friends from the gym but her new beau seemed to be having a good effect on her. 'Hello, Mum. This is Danny, who I told you about. He's got to go now because the cab's waiting.'

Chelle put her key in the lock. 'Cancel the cab and bring him in. Do you fancy having a nightcap, Danny? Come in and meet me and Nathan, properly, eh?'

Danny didn't need asking twice. This was his chance to impress and take his first steps towards getting his feet under the table. 'It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Keane,' he said, flashing his killer smile. 'I'd love to come in and have a drink with you and Nathan.'

Billie was mortified. She wasn't ready for him to meet her mother yet; she'd rather have introduced him to Jade. Say her mother started knocking them back and got into one of her states, it might put Danny off her and things had been going so well up to now. Billie needn't have worried however. Within half an hour, the O'Leary charm had worked wonders and Danny had her mother and Nathan eating out of his hand.

Michelle was bowled over by him. 'You've picked a good 'un there, Bill,' she said, filling up her wine glass.

Billie sat there quiet, but secretly as proud as a peacock. She was quite happy to let Danny do all the talking, making everybody laugh with his stories. At one o'clock, Billie felt it was time to wrap things up. She was enjoying herself but couldn't stop yawning and had to be up at seven. 'I'm going to have to go to bed in a minute, Danny. I'm so tired and I've got to be up early for work.'

'No problem, babe,' Danny replied, downing the rest of his beer. 'Can you call me a cab?'

Before Billie had a chance to reply, Michelle piped up. 'You can stay in one of the spare rooms if you want, Danny. We've got plenty of room here.'

Danny put on his surprised expression. 'Oh, I couldn't do that, Mrs Keane. I don't want to take liberties, but thanks for the offer.'

Chelle was insistent. 'You're not taking liberties, is he, Nathan?' Nathan shook his head dumbly. 'You're more than welcome to stay here and for Christ's sake stop calling me Mrs Keane. The name's Michelle, so use it.'

Danny laughed. 'Well, only if you're sure you don't mind. Thanks, the spare room sounds great.'

Chelle grabbed Nathan by the arm. 'Come on, muscles, we'll go to bed and let these two lovebirds say goodnight. You can show Danny the spare room, Bill. Put him in the bigger one out of the two.'

'OK, Mum.'

Danny got up off the sofa, shook hands with Nathan, kissed Chelle on the cheek and thanked the pair of them for their hospitality. Grabbing Billie by her arms he dragged her towards the sofa and kissed her passionately. 'I thought your mum was all right, babe, and Nathan, but I'm glad they've gone to bed. I want a bit of time on my own with you. Let's have a bit of fun now, eh?'

Billie knew exactly what he meant by fun, but the thought of her mother being in the house made her freeze. Her chat with Jade was fresh in her memory and fun was the last thing she felt like. 'Not tonight, Dan. I'm really tired and I must go to bed soon.'

Danny wasn't one to take no for an answer and began to feel slightly agitated by her lack of interest in him. 'Oh come on, Bill. I really fancy you and I thought you liked me. What's the matter with you, eh?'

'I just don't feel all that well, Danny, and my mum and Nathan are upstairs. Say they come down and catch us doing things?'

Danny laughed and carried on groping Billie as if she hadn't even spoken. A self-confessed stud, he wasn't used to rejection. Determined to get his wicked way, Danny unzipped his trousers and released his prize asset. 'Look, Bill, you're my girlfriend now and I've got needs. You've got me all excited, so you're gonna have to sort me out.' Without waiting for a reply and overcome by lust, Danny pushed Billie's head down and held it firmly with both hands.

Billie gagged. This was disgusting. She felt uncomfortable and didn't like what he was forcing her to do. Frightened of upsetting him, she did as he asked. As the gooey stuff spurted into her mouth, she thought she was going to be violently sick. 'Swallow it,' Danny demanded.

Half choking, Billie did as she was told.

'There's a good girl,' Danny said, stroking her head.

Billie said goodnight and showed Danny to the spare room. Outwardly, she pretended everything was fine; inwardly she was repelled. As soon as Danny shut the bedroom door, Billie shot into the bathroom and scrubbed her teeth until her gums bled. Tossing and turning in bed, she found she was unable to sleep. His behaviour tonight had unnerved her and she really didn't like what he'd made her do.

Danny lay in the spare room admiring its opulence. The room was bigger than his mother's living room. He was annoyed with himself for the way the evening had ended. Things had been going so well. Wining and dining Billie, winning over the mother and potential stepfather, now he'd probably gone and fucked things up for himself. He should never have forced her to go down on him, he knew she hadn't wanted to. When it came to sex, he knew he had problems, he was like a man possessed. He liked it kinky. The bigger the slag, the better the orgasm. Billie wasn't gonna be up for the kind of stuff that he liked. He had to try and calm himself down.

From tomorrow, he would behave like the perfect gent. He would be attentive, loving and make things up to her. He really liked her and didn't want to lose her.

Her upbringing was different from the birds that he usually hung out with. He was used to complete and utter sluts. He'd had tons of women and visited enough whorehouses in his time to know that Billie wasn't that type. Danny adored having his cock sucked, but from the shellshocked look on Billie's face, it looked as if his favourite choice of entertainment was a no-go.

What he had to do now was use his loaf. He'd have to go elsewhere for all his sexual perversions and treat Billie with respect. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her and if he was having good sex elsewhere, he could treat her with kid gloves. Danny had it all worked out. He'd buy her a present tomorrow; he wouldn't mention tonight's events, she'd soon forget about that. He'd only have to say he loved her a couple of times and give her a bit of the old chat and she'd be smitten all over again. Pleased with his plan, Danny smiled to himself.

He was desperate for a taste of the good life. Slowly and steadily, he had begun to climb life's ladder. Thieving as a kid had put him on the first rung. His market job, the second. Billie Jo would definitely be the third.

Ambition kept Danny alive. Reaching the top was his dream, his goal. And if anyone ever had the audacity to get in his way, God help 'em!