by Maggie Ryan
Nancy smiled and continued: "I've seen Jason leave the house and return a couple of hours later because he is too pissed off to touch me. I've had him send me to bed alone because he doesn't trust himself to tend to me at that time. Hell, I've spent over an hour standing in a corner just waiting for him to cool down enough that he could spank me without killing me."
"But, why does he get to decide when, where, or how long you get spanked, Nancy?" Barbara asked. "I mean, you are a grownup, an adult woman who is very successful in her own right. Why does he get to send you to bed or to the corner and then get to beat you until you come around to his way of thinking?" Elizabeth started to speak, but Nancy held up her hand.
"You'll get your turn. The answer is far simpler than you could believe, Barbara. He gets to do everything you just asked for one reason and one reason only—because I let him." She smiled as Barbara's eyes widened and her mouth opened. Nodding, Nancy explained. "I made a conscious decision to wear this collar," Nancy said, her hand moving to trace the leather collar around her neck. "No Dominant—well no good Dominant—would ever beat a Submissive, Barbara. The power lies not with the Dom; it lies with the Submissive. We can talk about limits, safe words and such later, when we have more time. For now, let me try to explain at least a bit about discipline—if you still want to hear?" Barbara didn't hesitate. She nodded her head, but all saw her first look back towards the beach as if to make sure the men were unaware of the topic, none aware of her thoughts and dreams and the man who suddenly was taking a role in those dreams.
"Good, well, when I'm going to be disciplined, I am not allowed to attempt to get out of it or set the limits. That is where trusting my Dom comes into play. God knows that if it were left up to me, he'd give me maybe a single swat on my ass, declare me well-spanked, and then make love to me for hours." She giggled, and Elizabeth and Ariel both groaned loudly, shaking their heads. "Yeah, I know. I'm a big wuss when it comes to spankings," Nancy admitted. "We can't all be like certain unnamed persons on this raft that actually crave having their asses smacked." Elizabeth reached out and smacked Nancy's arm. Barbara found herself not only smiling, but wondering if Elizabeth would ever want to explain that comment. Her attention returned to Nancy as the story continued.
"Discipline is strictly Jason's decision because, as I've explained, I gave him that power. As for last night, I had promised to put some of his files onto a flash drive for backup since we've been having computer problems. I was supposed to do it on Monday. I got busy, and it slipped my mind. When he asked me about it on Wednesday, I said I'd been busy but that I'd get to it. He even told me not to worry about it; he had the time to take care of it himself, if I couldn't. I told him no, I had promised I'd take care of it, and I would. I didn't. Everything was fine until yesterday morning when his computer crashed. If I had done as I promised, it would have been a simple matter of reloading the files. Since I didn't, he has to redo work that has already been done. It will take many hours of tedious work, whereas it would have taken only a few minutes if I had done what I promised to do."
Barbara nodded, knowing how important it was to have reliable backup systems for important files. She used flash drives all the time, keeping them in separate locations just in case something happened and she needed backups. Technology could be great, but it could also be a horrible pain if you weren't careful.
"I felt awful and knew I'd disappointed not only Jason, but I had disappointed myself. I realized that if it had been something to do with Divine Designs, I would never have procrastinated. I had been not only unreliable; I had been incredibly selfish. Jason very rarely asks me to help him out; I felt horrible! Sometimes Jason will spend an hour discussing why I'm going to be punished, making sure I understand and accept his decision. There was no need this time; we both knew exactly why I was going to get my ass spanked. Jason knows exactly how far I can be pushed, and last night he took me to that limit. I went to bed with a hot, aching bottom last night, but I not only accepted it, I thanked him for it. I screwed up big-time, got punished and forgiven. I will help him redo the files, not because he is making me. I'm doing it because I need to do it for me—to show him that I can be trusted to do as I say. I might kid around, but it's because what we share is so incredible, so beautiful, so much a part of us that sometimes I'm scared it is too good, that I'm not good enough for him, that I don't deserve this man."
Elizabeth was a bit surprised but understood exactly how her friend felt. After meeting Logan and falling so deeply in love, there were times in the early hours of the morning when she would wake and feel fear that he would not be real. She reached out and hugged Nancy, letting her know that she was loved and had no reason to fear losing Jason's.
Barbara listened as if it were the first time she'd ever really considered what Nancy was talking about. She knew her brother was into BDSM. After all, he owned Tastsinn, a highly respected BDSM club in Houston. She had never really thought about what that truly meant because, well, he was her brother. She also knew that Ariel was involved in the scene, but again, she was her sister. She smiled, thinking they both must think she was a prude. Though she never would have thought she'd be discussing such things, she realized she could understand why Nancy had gotten spanked and found she also understood that Nancy not only had submitted to the spanking, she'd truly needed it to free her from her guilt. David had never so much as made a single gesture to discipline her, physically. Instead, she now realized that he disciplined her both mentally and emotionally, sometimes remaining aloof or silent for days. It made for some horrid days in their office, where their partners couldn't help but know he was pissed off at his wife or she at him. Remembering her childhood and how she would be spanked and then quickly forgiven, she realized it had been a much more preferable way to pay for her misdeeds. Smiling, she reached out and patted Nancy's arm.
"If you'd lost my files, I guess I would have spanked you, as well," Barbara said, and heard her sister giggle. "Thank you for sharing your experience with me." Nancy's face lit as she leaned closer.
"Perhaps one day I can share the better part of the lifestyle with you. I certainly don't want you to think it is all about discipline. There is so much more, and Barb, so much fun." Elizabeth smiled and was relieved to see that Barbara's look of disapproval had slipped from her face.
Nancy was about to turn to tell Liz that it was her turn, when she saw movement on the beach. Elizabeth followed her friend's gaze. "Darn! It looks like our first meeting is about to be interrupted. How about we meet again later to answer any more questions our newest member might have? Everyone can come up with a better name as well," she suggested as she nodded towards the beach, where the men were removing shoes and socks, shirts pulled over heads as they apparently prepared to join the women. She turned to see if Barbara had any interest in another get-together and grinned. The woman wasn't even listening; her eyes were glued on Craig as he unzipped his jeans. Nancy giggled and nudged Ariel, who turned to see her sister's attention captured by the tall cowboy.
"Do you think he's going commando?" Nancy teased, leaning towards Barbara. She giggled when the woman flushed and turned to them.
"Ummmm, what … I mean what were you saying?" Ariel rolled her eyes at Nancy, and Elizabeth slapped her on her arm.
"Ignore her, Barbara," Elizabeth said. "It's obvious where her naughty mind is going. We'll talk more later, and whoever comes up with a better name for our club, gets a prize." They all nodded, and Barbara blushed but found herself nodding as well. There was a tremendous splash as all four men dove into the water, easily closing the distance to the raft with long, powerful strokes. Once at the raft, the girls were soon squealing as hands reached for ankles and pulled squirming, protesting women off the raft and into the lake. Barbara screamed as she hit the water and went under the surface, sputtering as she was instantly lifted back up and set on her feet. She couldn't believe he had so easily lifted her off the raft or had the gall to dunk her. Hearing the other women protesting wi
th giggles and splashing, she simply gave him a smile and then dove back under the surface and gripped his knees, pulling him towards her until he lost his balance and fell with a splash. She tried to swim away but was soon grabbed, lifted totally out of the water and then thrown into the air. As she went under again, she smiled and realized she was having more fun than she'd had in years. The couples swam, and when Craig suggested a game of chicken, Barbara found herself perched on his shoulders.
Elizabeth, on Logan's shoulders, shook her head. "We might as well concede," she said, looking up to where Barbara was seated several inches above anyone else, despite the height of their own men.
Craig laughed and Barbara giggled. "Hey, short stuff, don't blame us. God could only create so many tall Amazon Goddesses … as for the rest of you, well, what can I say?" Craig taunted. Logan roared in mock indignation and charged at the tall couple. Ariel was the first to be unseated, falling backwards off Garrett's shoulders with a high-pitched scream. He scooped her from the water and carried her back to the beach. As the remaining couples continued the battle, Ariel grabbed her camera and began shooting the fun. Jason and Nancy soon joined them on the beach, Nancy immediately heading back to the picnic table to replace any calories that might have been lost in the fight. They all cheered from the beach when Elizabeth finally was thrown off Logan's shoulders and Craig bellowed with victory. Barbara was declared the winner and felt her prize had to be when Craig lifted her off his shoulders and slid her down his front, ending with his mouth on hers in a kiss that made her toes curl in the sand of the lake bed. There were good-natured boos by the losers, but all were pleased to see the woman who had seemed so sad this morning smiling and flushed.
A loud horn sounded, and Elizabeth groaned. "That's got to be the contractor. Ya'll can stay, but we need to get back, Logan." She and Logan swam back to the shore.
As Elizabeth climbed out of the water, she saw that everyone seemed to be crowded around Ariel. She and Logan joined the group. Logan looked over Ariel's shoulder. "Wow," he said softly, causing Elizabeth to wiggle between him and Ariel to see what had caused the amazed tone in his voice. She looked down at the screen of the camera.
"Oh, wow," she whispered. "God, she's beautiful; they are beautiful." On the screen, captured for eternity, was a photo that made everybody on shore smile. In the frame, Barbara stood waist deep in the water, her hands holding Craig's waist, her hair thrown backward to fall down her back. Craig's hands were cupping her cheeks. He towered over her, his face looking down at hers, his lips curved into a sexy, totally predatory smile. Though they stood in profile, it was clear that the look they were sharing meant a lot.
"That's an incredible shot," Nancy said, and everyone agreed. Ariel looked over her shoulder at her brother. He grinned and nodded, looking down at her and then back towards the water. Craig and Barbara were almost to the beach, their hands linked.
"Do you think they …" Ariel began.
"We can only hope," Logan finished for her and then swatted Elizabeth's rump. Her yelp caused the group to split apart before Barbara could question what they were all doing.
"We've got to get a move on," Logan said, and bent to pick up his clothes from where he'd thrown them onto the chair.
"Go ahead; we'll help clean up and meet you back at the house," Garrett said.
"Hotel … not house," Elizabeth retorted, her hands on her slim hips.
He chuckled and shook his head. "Nope, that comes in the after-shots….and believe me, that's about a million shots from now." Elizabeth glared, tossed her hair, and soaking wet jumped into Logan's car. He shook his head as he calmly stood outside, stripped off his wet shorts without any concern for modesty, and pulled on his dry jeans. Tossing his suit in the backseat, he pulled on his shirt and then his socks and shoes. Elizabeth shook her head, thinking that sometimes it was just easier being a guy. He climbed into the car and turned to her.
"Though I love that suit on you, I don't want you exposed like that for the contractor," he said, reaching behind him and getting a towel he'd brought from the hotel. She thanked him and attempted to dry herself the best she could.
"Um, I forgot underwear," she whispered, having forgotten to add them to her bag this morning when they had all changed into swimsuits under their clothing.
Logan grinned and shrugged. "Guess it's either you go commando or wear your clothes over your wet suit," he said, and then sat back to see what choice she would make.
Elizabeth hesitated for an instant and then handed him the towel. "Please, could you hold this up so I can change," she said, nodding towards the others. Logan did as asked and shielded her from view as she wiggled out of the clingy suit. His cock was soon pressing against his jeans as her naked body came into view. She threw the suit into the backseat and bent down to grab her shorts, snaking her legs into them and trying to pull them up over her still-moist skin. As she wiggled and squirmed into the tight shorts, Logan moaned.
"God, you'd better hurry up, or I swear I can't be held accountable for my actions," he warned, as she finally got the denim over her bottom and was reaching for the zipper. Logan shocked her by lowering his head and giving the bare area where the zipper was parted a kiss, his tongue sliding over her skin in a long, lazy lick. It was her turn to moan, his touch instantly causing her sex to pulse. No telling what might have happened if another loud horn hadn't split the peace of the quiet woods. "Damn!" Logan exclaimed, lifting his head. Elizabeth shivered, pulled the zipper up, and then dropped her T-shirt over her head, pulling her wet hair out of the neck. Seeing that her thin T-shirt did nothing to hide the round fullness of her breasts or the pointed peaks of her nipples, Logan peeled off his own shirt and handed it to her. Her eyes narrowed but the look in his, as well as the sensation of him reaching out to gently pinch an erect nipple, convinced her to simply pull the huge shirt over her head. Logan handed her the towel to dry her hair the best she could.
"You'd better hope that Julie isn't here yet. You have no problem stripping down to your birthday suit or baring your manly chest while I have to wear two shirts!" she said, looking at his muscular chest and then down at his huge shirt, knotted so it wouldn't go down to her knees.
"Babe, the only one in this car that has to worry about what God gave them is you. You are mine and far too gorgeous to have men ogling you. I want these men to work, not have to punch them out. Consider it a kind gesture on your part, okay?"
She pretended to pout but had to smile at the way his words made her feel. He grinned and then shrugged. "Besides, I've got another shirt in the trunk," he promised. As he started the car, using a hand to adjust himself in his pants, his eyes fell upon his fiancé, looking at his crotch, her lip caught in her teeth. "You owe me, Schatzlein," he said, and she lifted her eyes and smiled knowingly, licking her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. "Yes, you owe me big. Your mouth on my cock the moment we step into our room. Are we clear?"
She felt her heart pound and her blood rush as she nodded. "Crystal, Sir," she said.
Chapter 5
By the time they all pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, they were again dirty and exhausted. As Logan and Elizabeth met with the contractors, the rest had continued either cleaning or demolition. Barbara and Craig had surprised everyone who went to look at the progress of the kitchen. There wasn't a cabinet left standing; the entire space had been practically gutted down to the horribly-ripped linoleum flooring. The men worked to carry the old sink and stove from the room as the girls made appropriate sounds of admiration concerning their muscular strength. Logan had stopped Craig from trying to clear out the debris on the floor, telling him that's what the contractor's team was being paid for.
Everyone agreed to meet for dinner in an hour, after showers. Craig went into the dining room and asked to speak to the manager of the hotel as well as the chef who ran the kitchen. He asked for space in their huge walk-in cooler to store the leftovers from the picnic, offering to pay for the privilege. When the manager assured
him that it wasn't necessary, he thanked him and made another request. The manager had grinned and left him to work out the details with the chef. Only when all the food had been stored did Craig go to his own room to take a shower.
As he stood under the spray, letting the hot water pound against his shoulders and back, he thought about Barbara. God, she was not only beautiful, she was one of those rare women who didn't seem to either know her own beauty or value her own strength. He knew she was an attorney and that her firm had become highly successful through sacrifice and hard work. He also knew she was extremely unhappy. She was indeed a grown woman, almost thirty, yet in many aspects she was like a small child. He had watched her turn from a sullen woman of the morning to a giggling little girl as she played in the water. His cock rose and he moaned remembering the sight of her in that bathing suit. While it had been a one-piece, it clung to her in all the right places. Her breasts had filled out the top quite nicely, her perfect rounded bottom covered in wet material seeming to call out for a man's hands to cup each delicious globe. Those legs—God, she had legs that went on forever—sensual hips, and a waist that curved in and just felt perfect in his hands. He was a man that enjoyed women and had experienced a great deal of them over the last several years. He had dated short women as well as tall ones. He'd dated stick-thin women, as well as ones that stupid men believed were far too curvy by today's standards. He'd dated very young women as well as an older woman once. He had appreciated each and every one of them and had tried to treat them fairly as well. He wasn't one to take advantage of anyone, especially not a female. What he hadn't done was date Barbara. He smiled, thinking of her name. Part of him wished he could call her Bunny as he thought the nickname adorable. However, she had made it clear when her father had called her by that name that she hadn't appreciated it. Calling her Gracie was almost as good, and he had seen her surprise as well as her pleasure every time he used her middle name. He knew he wanted to date her, to teach her, and hopefully instruct her in what he enjoyed the most. He wanted to offer her protection, as well as the discipline that he knew she understood and craved, whether or not she was ready to admit it. He wanted to spank her bottom until it glowed and then spread those luscious legs and sink himself between them. Remembering the incredibly sensual feel of her lips under his, he groaned, his cock straining. Craig closed his eyes, his fist stroking his cock as he continued to fantasize about exactly what he wanted to teach the beautiful Barbara Grace Dietrich.
