by Maggie Ryan
Elizabeth had never been more mortified. The manager stayed outside the room but the security guard boldly walked straight to the bed, his eyes raking up and down her splayed body, noting not only her very red bottom, but every point where she had been secured to the bed.
''Are you quite all right, Miss?'' he asked politely though she could tell he was pretty much disgusted by what he was witnessing. Despite her overwhelming embarrassment, she assured him that she was and admitted she had consented to both the spanking as well as being tied to the bed. He nodded and began to turn away. Before he left the room, he turned back.
''This is a respectable hotel, Miss. Our guests do not appreciate being awakened by screams, especially when the screams aren't coming from anyone in danger. If you wish to participate in such deviant, disgusting practices, I suggest you check into someplace that doesn't care about its reputation. If you were my daughter, I'd make sure your bottom was whipped until you never thought of a spanking as anything more than the punishment you are just playing at. I'm sure your parents would agree with me.''
Elizabeth had been shocked and highly embarrassed. She felt like a naughty teenager being told she was a slut and a horrid embarrassment to her parents. Elizabeth knew that her parents loved her but thinking of them being told that their daughter's screams had been loud enough to cause several other guests of the hotel to contact the security office would be embarrassing. If the guard further informed them that he had personally witnessed their daughter in a room she was sharing with a man that was not her husband, that she was not only naked, spanked and tied spread-eagle to a bed but that she had actually consented to such vulgar activities, her screams of pleasure causing his intervention, it would not only embarrass them greatly, Elizabeth did not believe she could survive such a humiliation. The men left, and John immediately apologized as he released her from her bonds.
She had accepted his apology but could not release the feeling of humiliation the guard had planted into her mind. John attempted to reassure her that she had been beautiful, that vocalizing her emotions, whether they came from pain or pleasure, was a wonderful gift to her lover. She kept shaking her head, not uttering a sound. When he told her that there were other things to try—and even items that could be used if she wished to be quieter, she jumped from the bed, grabbed her clothes and ran into the bathroom.
She cried in the shower, hoping the rush of the water would cover the ragged sounds of her sobs. She had never allowed herself to be so free, to voice all of what she felt. John was an amazing lover, one who not only took what he wanted but forced her to recognize that she found intense pleasure in obeying his demands. Though she eventually left the bathroom and tried to forget the embarrassment, knowing it wasn't truly John's fault, she simply could not let it go.
They made love once more, but Elizabeth was unable to enjoy it; she was terrified that even the softest squeak of pleasure would find the security man breaking into the room and throwing them both naked right out the front door. After their return to school, John continued reassuring her that she should feel no shame, no guilt for enjoying what they had done. He told her that the security man didn't matter, that she was permitted to enjoy her own sexuality and voice her pleasure. He attempted to draw her from her shell, but they gradually drifted apart. She never regretted dating him. When she did allow herself to think of him, it was with both a sense of loss, as well as a sense of hope that he had found someone who loved him as much as he deserved. Years later, she understood that he had been her first encounter with a Dom. She didn't know if she would ever have been able to accept the fact that she was a Submissive if the experience had not been as exquisite as it has been embarrassing. She only regretted two things: The first was that she had never had the chance to thank him. The second was the knowledge that he had awakened her in a way she had never known she was capable of, but no longer felt free to fully express.
*******
Finishing her drawing, she slipped the final design back into its sleeve in her notebook. As she put the box away and readied herself for bed, she wondered if she would ever have a chance to build the thing she knew would be appreciated by her friends.
Chapter 7
She forgot about her own designs when Nancy returned from her honeymoon, obviously head-over-heels in love. After the two spent an entire evening discussing almost every element of each day of the trip, they talked about work. Elizabeth filled her in on how well the project was going and explained that they should be done by the end of the following week.
While Nancy returned home by six every evening, Elizabeth didn't mind picking up the slack. She worked overtime outside the office, going from store to store, seeking just the right elements to bring the couple's home to life. The master suite took up almost half of the top floor of their home, and the bath was being updated and expanded. While Nancy made a few changes in the his-and-hers huge walk-in closets, Elizabeth finished working on the mosaic. She had spoken to each of the couple and listened to both what they said and what they didn't. She noticed they had dozens of photos throughout their home, depicting not only their children when they were quite young, but their pets and places they had been and seemed to enjoy. She found putting the special mosaic together brought her a great sense of happiness and prayed the couple would find it brought them joy as well.
The entire house was done almost a week earlier than expected. As the final furniture and accessories arrived, everyone pitched in to make sure everything was perfect. Nancy and Elizabeth felt very proud of their work. They had admired the bedding and moved to fluff the pillows in the chairs, when a voice spoke from behind them.
''Very nice, ladies,'' Garrett said. The two turned to see him nodding at the deep earth-tone colors of the walls. Various soft lighting illuminated the room, with deeper jewel colors in various pillows, vases and artwork on the walls providing splashes of color. He knew the clients would enjoy the set of chairs facing the fireplace, along with an extra-large ottoman covered in burgundy leather, arranged so that the couple could share it and put their feet up.
''Thank you, Sir,'' Nancy said, and then grinned, remembering the whispers the girls had shared about other possible uses of such an elegant piece of furniture. Elizabeth saw where Nancy was looking and flushed, quickly leaning forward to place her pillow back onto the chair.
Nancy took pity on her friend. ''Wait until you see the mosaic.'' Garrett had seen Elizabeth flush but said nothing. He, too, had seen the ottoman and approved it heartily. He nodded and motioned for the women to precede him into the huge master bath. This room was also done in subtle tones and looked both elegant and calming. Nancy motioned for him to come to where a huge walk-in shower had been built in a corner of the room. There was no shower door; the shower area was deep enough to have a rainfall showerhead hanging from the ceiling, without fear that any water would escape out onto the bathroom floor. A bench seat had been built into the back wall and would provide an area to sit and shave, or simply allow the various jets angled towards it to massage away a day's care. As Garrett turned to face the wall opposite the seat, he gasped. The entire wall had been framed to accent just the center section. What appeared at first to be a magnificent scene of nature in intense, tropical colors proved something far more complicated, as he stepped closer. Various animals seemed to peek from behind leaves of dense foliage. The varied hues of the water seemed to not only be reflecting light, but gave the impression of other, hidden items. Turning his head one way, he could swear he saw a portrait of his clients, though when he turned his head the other way, the lines seemed to morph into the outline of some abstract painting. He stepped even closer, unaware that Elizabeth was standing behind him. When he let out a laugh, she giggled, as well.
''Is that really supposed to be Benjamin?'' he said, turning to smile at her. She nodded and reached out to lay her fingers onto a small frog that was being held in the open palms of a beautiful fairy. The frog, a small crown on the top of his head, appeared to be sm
iling up at the girl.
''Helen told me she often felt like she had kissed a lot of toads before she found Benjamin. I thought it terribly romantic when he smiled at her and took her hands. He kissed her fingers and thanked her for turning him into her prince,'' Elizabeth said, and then drew his attention to what appeared to be a flower. Garrett watched her trace around the design and smiled when a small bunny, sleeping on a purple pillow, was discovered.
''Their daughter, Barbara?'' he guessed, knowing they used to call the girl Bunny when she had been a small child. She nodded again, and he spent several minutes searching the tiles until he found another hidden animal crouching behind a log. ''This is Logan,'' he said, smiling at the small, sleek tiger. Elizabeth nodded again. ''He'd like being thought of as a jungle cat,'' Elizabeth heard him say. She had chosen the image because she had seen Helen smile lovingly at a photo of her young son. In most of the photos, Logan seemed intense, very rarely smiling, as if he were thinking the deepest thoughts. However, in this one photo he was smiling brightly, his arms clutching a stuffed tiger. ''They used to call him Tigger when he was young,'' Garrett went on. ''He was always bouncing around, as if he couldn't settle, couldn't just stay in the same place and find contentment.''
''You seem to know the family extremely well,'' Elizabeth said with a smile, and he nodded.
''Yes, I've known them for years,'' he said, moving his eyes over the mosaic again. Behind a small rock under the water, a fish seemed to be smiling, his fins exaggerated, his scales shimmering in bright colors. He turned to her again with a grin on his face that reminded her of the one in the photo Helen had shown her. ''Please don't tell me that funny little fish is supposed to be me.''
He saw her smile and nod. "It was necessary; I know how much you mean to the family,'' Elizabeth said.
''They always said I was a fish. Ariel and I were always in the pool. It is kind of you to include me, as well.
He turned back to the mosaic and chuckled. He had found the small depiction of a mermaid under the water and he knew she represented Ariel, the Dietrich's youngest daughter.
All of the family pets had their own places of honor scattered among the mosaic. Garrett's smile only faltered when he finally noticed a tiny angel, who appeared to be peeking out behind a cloud in the blue sky at the top of the mosaic. He reached out and touched the small painting and Elizabeth saw him go still.
''Rebecca,'' he said softly, in a strained tone. Elizabeth felt tears well in her own eyes and was immediately terrified she had made a huge mistake. Garrett turned to look at her and saw her distress. He reached out and placed his hand on her arm.
''No, don't be sad, Miss Adams,'' he said. ''You could never leave someone they loved so much out of this magnificent gift. While it is terrible that she died so young, it would hurt far more to think she had been forgotten.'' She closed her eyes and forced back her tears. He allowed her to compose herself, as he turned back towards the wall.
''This is truly amazing. You'll have to tell me how you managed to tell a story Helen and Benjamin will be instantly able to read, while it would be no more than a fascinating mosaic to anyone who didn't know them,'' he said, meaning the compliment. It was seldom that he was so impressed with a design. He had been in the business of building and designing for all of his life and thought he had seen pretty much everything. Elizabeth nodded and assured him she could explain how it was done.
''I'll look forward to hearing about it. Excellent job, ladies. I could not ask for anything better,'' he said, as he turned to leave. Right before he left, he turned and spoke again.
''Congratulations on your recent marriage, Nancy,'' he said. She nodded and thanked him. He saw her hand drifting towards her neck and smiled. ''Lovely collar,'' he said, and she thanked him with a smile. He looked pointedly towards her neck and then towards the leather ottoman that now seemed to dominate the room. ''Good furniture choices as well,'' he grinned, and then stepped into the hall.
As he left, Nancy immediately grabbed Elizabeth. ''Oh my God,'' Nancy squealed. ''He loved it! He loved your mosaic, Liz. I bet he will direct more clients to us. We are definitely on our way. We kicked all sorts of butt!''
She looked up, surprised to see Elizabeth looking at her as if she had sprouted horns out the top of her head. ''Are you out of your mind?'' Elizabeth asked, her entire body flushed. ''Nancy, he knows!''
Nancy was confused by the look on her friend's face. ''What do you mean he knows? Knows what?'' Nancy demanded.
''Are you nuts? Didn't you hear him? I mean he couldn't have been any plainer,'' Elizabeth said, pulling Nancy further into the room, as if to make sure they weren't overheard.
''Elizabeth, calm down,'' Nancy said, pulling her to sit beside her on the ottoman. ''All I heard was him complimenting us on a job very well done. If you heard something else, then for God's sake, tell me.''
Elizabeth shook her head as she tried to collect her thoughts. Maybe she was wrong; maybe she had misinterpreted what he had said. Before she could voice her thoughts, they heard several voices approaching. ''I'm not sure; maybe I heard wrong,'' Elizabeth said. ''Forget it.''
Nancy shook her head, still not understanding what Liz was so upset about. ''Hell no,'' she said, and then spoke quickly, before they were joined by the others. ''This conversation is not over. We'll talk at dinner tonight. Jason's grilling again,'' Nancy said, firmly. Elizabeth hesitated, but then nodded as their teammates poured into the room. They spent an hour going through the entire house, compliments flying, and all knowing the Dietrichs would come home to the house of their dreams.
Elizabeth and Nancy were sipping iced tea at the patio table as Jason finished at the grill. Once they had taken a few bites, Nancy spoke. ''Okay, spill it, Liz,'' she said, popping a piece of grilled pepper into her mouth. Elizabeth took a sip of tea and leaned back in her chair.
''I think Mr. Foster knows,'' she said, cryptically, again. Nancy sighed and was about to speak when Elizabeth continued. ''I mean, I think he knows you are a collared Submissive, Nancy. He complimented you on your collar, and well, he kept looking at the ottoman and then said he liked your furniture choices. I believe he knows you enjoy playing … you know, at the club.''
''Liz,'' Nancy said softly, ''are you ashamed of me? Are you embarrassed that your best friend and business partner embraces the lifestyle?'' Elizabeth looked shocked and opened her mouth but Nancy continued: ''If you are, then, my friend, we do have a problem because I will never apologize for who I am or what I enjoy in my private life. I don't give a rat's ass who knows that this professional, talented, very capable businesswoman finds her greatest joy in submitting and obeying completely the man who has not only wed her, but collared her, as well.''
Elizabeth immediately reached out and put her hand over Nancy's. ''God no, and frankly, it sort of pisses me off that you would think that. I love both of you and I would gladly take on anyone who would hurt either of you. I was just worried that …''
''That you might be guilty by association?'' Nancy said, pulling her hand from beneath her friend's. ''That he might look at you differently? That he might think you enjoy playing naughty games? That …''
''Watch it, Nancy,'' Jason said, seeing the effect her words were having on Elizabeth. Nancy shot him a look she normally wouldn't have dared, but she was getting pissed. He shook his head and gave her his own look of warning. Nancy forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down.
''Okay,'' Elizabeth said, softly. ''Maybe I deserved that. As I said, I would never be embarrassed by you, or the lifestyle. Just because I am not yet a collared Submissive does not mean that I don’t truly hope to be someday. I see the love and commitment you and Jason have, and the joy of a perfect connection that a lot of our friends have found. I pray that I will find the perfect man for me, someone who not only wishes to collar me but one I fear I can't live my life without,'' she said, her voice wistful, as if afraid she'd never find such a partner.
Nancy looked ashamed and took back Elizabe
th's hand, squeezing it with her own. ''I'm sorry,'' Nancy said, softly. ''That was uncalled for and rude. I love you and know you'll find him.''
They were all quiet for a few minutes, as if to gather their thoughts. Jason leaned forward. ''Then why did it concern you so much, honey? Nancy said you looked terrified.''
Elizabeth sighed and looked between the two.
''What if he detests the thought of women like us? I mean, he is a powerful man, and though it might not be fair, his opinion could definitely affect our company. I don't care if he is some sort of repressed, biased individual but, Jason, like it or not, his opinion carries a lot of weight in our field,'' she said, glad to express her fear openly. Nancy looked up at her husband.
''May I tell her now, Sir?'' she asked respectfully.
Jason nodded, sitting back again.
Elizabeth turned to her best friend, her question showing in her eyes. ''I believe you are right,'' Nancy said, and when Elizabeth's eyes grew wider, she quickly continued. ''I mean, I believe he does know. I also believe you are wrong that he judges me in any sort of negative way.'' Her words did not seem to be having the desired effect of clarifying the situation. Nancy looked again at Jason. ''Perhaps you'd do a better job,'' she offered.
''Liz, look at me,'' Jason said, quietly. When she did, he took her hand. ''What Nancy is trying to say is that you do not have to worry about Garrett Foster.'' She opened her mouth but closed it when he shook his head. ''Remember last weekend, when you didn't want to go to the club because you were working on something at home?'' he asked. She nodded, remembering that she had wanted to finish pulling her new office together and work on her designs.
''I took Nancy back to Tastsinn's,'' Jason continued. ''I purchased a membership there because we both feel it is a much higher-quality club than some we've enjoyed.'' Elizabeth smiled and nodded, remembering the night they had gone to celebrate. ''Anyway, honey, they were having a demonstration and we watched.'' Elizabeth nodded again, having done so herself on many occasions. ''The demonstration was on using the St. Andrew's cross. It wasn't a punishment scene but demonstrated how to properly flog a Sub until she was begging to be fucked. It was really quite beautiful, and though we have no idea who the Submissive was, the man wielding the flogger was Garrett Foster.''
