by Maggie Ryan
Designed for Submission
Divine Designs Book 1
By
Maggie Ryan
©2014 by Blushing Books® and Maggie Ryan
All rights reserved.
No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Ryan, Maggie
Designed for Submission
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62750-3631
Cover Design by edhgraphics.blogspot.com
This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.
Table of Contents:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
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Prologue
A primal scream rocketed around the walls. Goose bumps broke out on his skin as he witnessed one of the most incredible sounds he had ever been privileged to hear. Dozens of candles flickered around them, the soft light seeming to dance across their skin. Her body was covered in a light sheen of perspiration, in testament to the intense play they had just completed. Her fingers were relaxed but securely held entwined with his much larger ones. He gently released her small hand after kissing each knuckle. Each kiss was accompanied by sweet whimpers issuing from her throat, sending delicious shivers down his spine. He moved his hand to gently encircle her neck, his fingers stroking her skin with no more pressure than a feather's touch. The man, his heart pounding, bent over the small frame of the woman, his other hand twisted in the long strands of her ebony hair, as he gently turned her head to the side in order to more clearly see her face. She offered no resistance; her head pulled back, her throat exposed. Her eyes were glazed with feeling, her pupils huge, surrounded by an intense emerald green. Despite his recent release deep inside her, he felt his cock pulse as she submissively offered herself to whatever he desired. He felt her quivering all over, her muscles still contracting around his cock, as he remained deep inside her body.
''That was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard,'' he whispered, as he lowered his mouth to her ear. She barely stirred, every sense she owned strumming from the force of her climax. She moaned deep in her throat as his breath puffed into her ear, her senses so attuned to him that even that small movement caused her to want him again. He realized she had yet to return to him and smiled.
''Come back to me,'' he murmured, as his lips lightly brushed across her exposed throat, before moving to caress her cheek. He never stopped gently stroking her skin with both his lips and his fingers, after releasing her hair and throat. It took another several moments before she finally turned to press her face into the palm of his hand.
''Master?'' she whispered, as she began to become aware of her surroundings. ''Did…did I please you?'' He smiled and brushed his fingertips across her lips before searing her mouth with his own. She moaned deeply, her body instantly responding to his kiss. He pulled his lips from hers.
''You could not have pleased me more,'' he whispered, softly.
''Thank you, Sir,'' she said, and then flushed and closed her eyes tightly.
''Open your eyes. Bask in the knowledge that you have not only served me well, you have proven you can do what few submissives truly can.'' He paused as he watched her slowly open her eyes, the deep emerald depths clearing as they met his blue ones. As her lips began to curve into a soft smile, he bent and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. ''Never be afraid to let go,'' he whispered, as he allowed his finger to caress the hollow of her throat. ''Feel free to fly, because, my love, I will always be there to catch you when you fall.''
Chapter 1
A Year Earlier
''We are going to kick butt,'' Nancy said, as she and Elizabeth stepped off the elevator. Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. She would never understand how relaxed and carefree her partner could be. Today marked a potential turning point for their small business.
''Don't let Jason hear you talk like that,'' Elizabeth laughed, as they began to walk down the hall. ''You're likely to get your own you-know-what kicked.''
Nancy grinned and linked her arm with Elizabeth's. ''Not that the thought doesn't give me just the tiniest thrill,'' Nancy said, ''but I have full faith that you will not rat me out to Jason.'' Nancy giggled. ''Besides, you needed to laugh, girl. No matter what happens, this isn't the end of the world.''
Elizabeth's head knew that to be true, but her heart desperately wanted this to be a success.
Nancy knew her friend extremely well and turned serious: ''Liz, we did a really good job,'' she said. ''If they don't accept the design, it is because they don't have the exceptional tastes that you and I share. Now, chin up; nothing is going to stop us from becoming the most sought-after design team in all of Texas.''
Elizabeth finally relaxed and smiled. They had worked extremely hard, and she had every confidence that their work was very, very good. She only prayed the clients would agree. ''All of Texas?'' she asked with a grin, looking up at Nancy.
Nancy shrugged and grinned again. ''Well, okay,'' she said, ''we will worry about the rest of the state later. Right now, girlfriend, we are definitely going to continue to make our mark on Houston.'' Elizabeth prayed she was right but realized the banter had helped her feel more confident and hopeful, as they pushed opened the glass doors of one of the most prestigious architectural firms in the city they both loved.
Mr. Foster's administrative assistant, Gloria, met the women in the reception area. She smiled as they walked down an adjacent hall. Gloria had gotten to know Elizabeth and Nancy as the team had been in and out of the offices over the past few months.
''This is the big day, isn't it?'' Gloria asked, and the women smiled. ''I know I'm supposed to be unbiased, but I will tell you that personally I feel your designs are beautiful. You both have such a way with colors and textures. If your company isn't chosen, then it will definitely be the client's loss.'' Both women were very pleased to hear the compliment. Despite knowing they had put everything they had into this project, hearing such praise from a woman who had seen a great deal of pitches helped calm any remaining nerves, and they thanked her.
''Okay, back to business,'' Gloria continued, as they entered the conference room. ''The presentation you provided has been loaded into the computer. Copies are on the table over there for you to pass around,'' Gloria said, pointing to a credenza against one wall. ''There will be various teams making their final presentations. You'll find an agenda at your seats. It will tell you the order for the presentations. Feel free to sit wherever you wish, as you are the first to
arrive. There is coffee and water, as well as light refreshments, on the table. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask,'' she said, and then looked at the two women.
''Kick butt,'' she said, and was rewarded when the women broke out into laughter. The effect was immediate; Elizabeth felt herself releasing all of her stress, as she impulsively reached out and hugged the older woman. Gloria appeared pleased at the gesture, and as she left them to prepare, she prayed the two were awarded the project.
Nancy was glancing over the agenda. ''Well, we are neither first nor last,'' she said, running a finger down the list.
Elizabeth picked up the copies of their presentation off the credenza and chose two seats towards the end of the table. She found their name, 'Divine Designs,' and felt a sense of pride. She had met Nancy in college, and the two became instant friends. When they discovered they both were planning to major in the design field, they became inseparable. Upon graduation, both took internships in a major firm to not only get some hands-on experience but to provide the money to pay for tuition to grad school. They shared a small apartment in order to keep costs down; they worked hard and played hard. Their love of life, color, texture, and comfort showed in everything they did.
Nancy had a more modern, eclectic taste, while Elizabeth was more Old-World and comfort-oriented. Not even considering that the two might not work well together, they immediately took the jump and decided to form their own company. So far, they were the only two employees, but both had visions of future dreams. They had been slowly building up their portfolio and references. They would have been very pleased to know they were gaining a reputation for being delightful to work with and as a company to be taken seriously. It was because of their work ethic that they had come to the attention of Garrett Foster, the owner of Foster, Inc. He always worked with a wide variety of smaller firms, having found it far more profitable to not have the overhead of a large employee pool. It also assured him a selection of fresh, new designers to keep his clients happy. No one wanted to walk into another home and find it nearly identical to their old one they had just paid a great deal of money to update or remodel.
Elizabeth moved to the table to fix a cup of coffee before the meeting began. They still had a bit of time to kill. ''They have grouped the rooms together,'' she said as she poured creamer into her cup. ''It makes a lot of sense and will allow easier and faster comparison of each concept.'' Nancy agreed, and the two talked quietly together, as the room slowly filled with other teams.
Nancy nudged Elizabeth's arm when two men and a woman entered. Elizabeth felt her stomach clench. They had been up against the other team before, and when Divine Design won the contract, Greg Spenser, owner of Spectacular Spaces, had not taken it well. It probably didn't help that Elizabeth had turned him down when he had asked her out. She thought she had handled his repeated requests as best she could, always polite and respectful when she said no, thank you. She was very hurt upon hearing that he was spreading rumors that the two women provided special favors to their clients. Elizabeth had been horrified. Her reputation meant a great deal to her. She had avoided confrontation her entire life. Nancy had seemed unaffected and told Elizabeth he was just jealous.
Seeing Greg look at her with contempt as he settled in the chair between his two teammates caused her nerves to kick in again. She couldn't even smile at the other two in fear Greg would consider it some sort of come-on. Instead, she turned away and tried to compose herself. Elizabeth didn't see another man enter and take a seat by the refreshment table.
Greg stood and she stiffened, preparing herself for yet another cutting, hurtful comment. Greg didn't disappoint. He bent slightly and placed his hands on the table.
''I know that you and your, um, partner,'' he said, sliding his eyes to include Nancy, ''Are exceptionally experienced in the bedroom, but darling, not even you two can coerce every client into bed. From what my sources tell me, this old couple is very old-fashioned; you know, only use the bedroom for sleep? I fear that even a hint of impropriety about any firm's employees would just shock the poor dears. Wouldn't want to chance giving the old prudes a heart attack now, would we?'' He straightened and stepped to the table to grab a bottle of water. No one else seated around the table had seen the ugly look on his face or been close enough to hear his words. He made sure to nod his head to them as he returned to his seat, saluting them with his bottle of water, ''Best of luck, ladies.''
Elizabeth felt her face heat and her pulse race. She realized she was trembling. Nancy reached over and placed a hand on her arm.
''Deep breath,'' she whispered. ''He thinks he is God's gift to design, as well as women. He is pissed you haven't given in and taken him up on his sleazy offer to worship at his smelly feet. He's a sore loser, so let's just make sure he loses again.''
Nancy's words had the intended effect. Elizabeth's face relaxed, and she even managed a small smile. ''Thanks,'' she said, and Nancy nodded. ''Oh, and thanks for that very gross visual as well,'' she added. Nancy smiled and then looked over at Greg and simply shook her head, as if nothing he said or did mattered to either her or her partner.
''Even if you get really nervous, don't you dare try picturing him sitting there in nothing but his underwear,'' Nancy said, with mock severity. ''God knows you would be incapable of keeping your look of utter disappointment from showing on your face.'' Elizabeth almost choked on her coffee. The women's laughter drew looks of other competitors who envied them their obvious sense of confidence.
The room began to settle, as Elizabeth saw Mr. Foster escorting the clients into the conference room. She felt herself begin to calm, as Mr. Dietrich saw her and nodded with a smile. Elizabeth returned the acknowledgement with her own smile. During the initial client interviews, she had become very fond of the middle-aged couple. They were as far from old and prudish as most young couples she knew. She had been extremely impressed by the deep respect and love the two had for each other. Mrs. Dietrich was a sweet woman, who wasn't hesitant to discuss her ideas with the team, but always conferred with her husband before allowing any changes in the plans to proceed. Elizabeth took several deep breaths as the meeting got underway. She forgot about Greg and his ugliness, as she forced herself to focus on the presentation. She listened attentively when other teams presented the final drawings, samples and ideas for the areas in which they had been assigned. When it was time for their presentation, she was briefly surprised to see a man sitting in a chair against the wall. He looked vaguely familiar, but she didn't dwell on it as she and Nancy presented their design. When they were done, they both felt like it had gone well. Elizabeth relaxed and listened to the rest of the teams, secretly choosing the ones she would like to work with. Regardless of today's outcome, she truly wanted the Dietrichs to have the best design possible.
Garrett thanked the presenters, after which Mr. Dietrich added his and his wife's thanks as well. He helped his wife from her chair, and placing his hand on her lower back, guided her towards the door. Elizabeth was extremely pleased when the couple paused at her chair.
''An exceptional presentation, ladies,'' Benjamin Dietrich said, with a slight nod of his head. The women thanked him as professionally as they could, trying to hide the desire to simply jump up and down with happiness. The couple left, and everyone visibly relaxed. Most of these small, independent firms were accustomed to competing, and most all of them did so respectfully. Everyone began to gather up the samples of fabrics, paint chips, wallpaper, flooring, tiles, etc., that almost covered the entire surface of the conference table. The competition had been tough, but it was over. Now they would all wait to hear the clients' final decision.
''Great job, Nancy, Elizabeth,'' Ryan said, with a grin. Elizabeth looked up from where she was gathering the rest of their things. While she couldn't stand Greg, she had no such problem with either Ryan or Julie, who, unfortunately, worked with him. Greg's expression said he thought his teammate was an idiot.
Elizabeth was about to thank Ryan
when she was interrupted. ''Give it up, Ryan,'' Greg said, as he and Julie joined him. ''I've told you, if they get the job, it is because they do more for the client in the bedroom than just design it.'' Julie looked as disgusted as Elizabeth felt. Elizabeth had no idea how to respond; she was furious but speechless that someone, anyone, would act so inappropriately in a professional environment.
''I suggest the best defense is an unexpected offense,'' Nancy said softly. Elizabeth looked up to see her friend extremely close. ''Let's just keep him guessing,'' Nancy suggested in a whisper only Elizabeth could hear. Nancy furthered the illusion by raking her blood-red nails gently down Elizabeth's arm where it lay on the table, before reaching out to slowly pick up a piece of fabric Elizabeth had been preparing to put away. Elizabeth never understood how her friend seemed to just not give a damn what anyone might think; Nancy had a confidence that was truly inspiring. Deciding to follow her lead, Elizabeth placed her hand over her friend's.
''I just can't wait to see this draped over that huge, beautiful, and extremely comfortable-looking bed,'' Elizabeth said, making sure she only looked at her friend as she stroked the fabric sample between her fingers.
Nancy had to bite her cheek in order not to burst out laughing. "It will be gorgeous,'' Nancy finally managed to say, reaching out to gently pull the swatch from between Elizabeth's fingers. The room was silent for a heartbeat, until they both heard Greg slamming his briefcase lid closed. Elizabeth dared not look across the table but kept her eyes on Nancy instead. Nancy's smile didn't waver when Greg snapped the locks on his case closed and stormed from the room. Ryan and Julie were shaking their heads, their smiles showing their approval.
''When you are ready to expand, ladies, give me a call,'' Ryan said, as he and Julie followed Greg.
''You, my friend, are one very naughty, very wicked girl,'' Elizabeth whispered.
''Ah, but that is what makes life worth living,'' Nancy said and then smiled. ''Perhaps I will confess my sins tonight,'' she continued, with a mock frown. Elizabeth shook her head, her laugh soft and musical, filling the space around them.
