Forbidden Awakenings (Awakenings #1) Read online

  Forbidden

  Awakenings

  By

  Lisa Bilbrey

  Copyright © Lisa Bilbrey, 2014

  All rights reserved. Published by Lisa Bilbrey 2014.

  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This ebook is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental

  Cover design by: JC Clarke

  ©Mnogosmyslov Aleksey|Dreamstime.com

  © Konradbak | Dreamstime.com

  Acknowledgements:

  To my wonderful husband, Chan, who gives me the strength and encouragement to keep writing, to hone my craft, and the love of a lifetime. You are my everything, and I’m lucky to have you.

  To my children: Cooper, Alexander, and Sophia. You’ve given me the confidence to stay true to myself and let my voice be heard. You’re my inspiration for a better future.

  To my mom and dad, thank you for boasting about me. I love you, and I’m so thankful for everything that you’ve done for me and my family.

  Michelle Blansett, you are always there when I need someone to talk to, someone to bounce ideas off, and I can’t thank you enough for your friendship.

  To Kerry Fuglsang, Leigh Warner, Tina McDonald, Sarah Carroll, and Rhonda Erikson, thank you for being my fans, no matter what I’m dealing with. You’re rock stars!

  Elizabeth Lawrence, R. E. Hargrave, Elena M. Reyes, Lorenz Font, Trenda London, and M.B. Feeney, your constant support means so much to me, and I am honored to be able to say that I know you. You’re amazing authors, whom I adore.

  JC Clarke, thank you for the beautiful artwork.

  Writing is a passion. If you haven’t found yours yet, I hope you find it soon.

  One

  “Baby, move your ass,” Sadie Williams yelled from the living room.

  Elle Reid rolled her hazel eyes as she smoothed out the front of her electric-blue, silk blouse and straightened her tight, black skirt. Combing her fingers through her long, silky, hazelnut-brown hair, she turned from the mirror, knowing Sadie was in a hurry. When she walked into the living room, she found her roommate — and lover — standing at the opening to the short hallway that led to the front door of their small, two-bedroom apartment with a scowl on her face and a glare pointed in her direction. If the stunning red-head wasn’t so beautiful when irritated, Elle would have felt horrible for pissing her off, but how could she when Sadie was so appealing. In fact, she had never been more turned on.

  Elle smirked as she wrapped her arms around Sadie, placing a soft kiss on her pouty lips. “I am moving my ass, lover.”

  “Stop,” Sadie moaned, pretending to try to wiggle out of Elle’s arms. “We’re going to be late, and we can’t afford to lose this account. Not after passing on two other clients in hopes of working with Samuel Davis.”

  “And we won’t.” Elle brought her hand up to Sadie’s cheek. “Trust me. By the end of the day, the account will be ours, and then you and I are going to spend the entire night celebrating.”

  “Promise?” Sadie lifted an eyebrow, causing her dark, brown eyes to stand out more than usual.

  Elle had always loved her eyes; they drew her in and captured her attention. “I promise,” she whispered, brushing her lips across Sadie’s again. “Now, let me grab a cup of coffee, and then we can go.”

  “I’ve got your coffee waiting by the door. Two spoonfuls of sugar and one of cream, just the way you like it.” It was Sadie’s turn to smirk, causing Elle to laugh.

  “Aw, thanks, honey.”

  They gathered their briefcases, presentation boards, and the travel cup of coffee, and headed down the back steps of their building to Elle’s car. Once they had everything loaded into the backseat, they slipped into the front and started the drive toward downtown San Francisco.

  After three months of preparation, Sadie and Elle were ready to present their proposal in a bid to be chosen to design a new housing development Davis Architecture and Design was being contracted to build. As the firm was one of the biggest and most prestigious companies in the Bay City area, landing such an account would be a huge step in the women’s budding careers.

  Every year Samuel Davis opened his doors to architects and designers from outside his company, allowing them to work with his team on a multi-million dollar account. Once when he was being interviewed, Samuel had been asked why he sought outside contributions on such high-end deals, and Elle remembered his response: “We’ve all needed a chance to win the game; I’m simply presenting them with the field of play.”

  When Elle and Sadie had graduated from the University of California Berkeley two years ago, they had hoped to land jobs in their chosen fields, but a tough economy had proven to be difficult for them to find work that wasn’t in the mailroom. So, after discussing their options, Sadie and Elle opted to go into business for themselves and Reid Williams Designs was created. Over the last two years, they’d managed to snag a handful of accounts, which included a few houses, a department store, and a pre-school, but both Sadie and Elle wanted to do more with their degrees.

  Elle had graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in architecture and mathematics. Drawing had always been a passion, and at one point, she’d dreamed of being an artist, but her parents were quick to squash that dream, stating they wouldn’t pay for her education if she pursued such a ridiculous profession. Their words, not hers.

  Her parents’ attitude hurt, but she hadn’t been surprised by their refusal to accept her desire to be an artist. They had never hidden the fact that she was the least favorite of their two children, often comparing her to her older sister. Ivy Reid was perfect in their eyes, while Elle hadn’t been anything but a burden. Then, add in their outspoken views on homosexuality and Elle’s attraction to her best friend and, well, she had learned at an early age not to share her personal life with her parents — not if she wasn’t prepared to lose them both. In the end, it hadn’t mattered. Elle had found a second love in architecture, and felt that the buildings she designed were a reflection of her artistic vision.

  Where Elle took great care in perfecting the construction of their projects, Sadie created the feel of each room, making each detail impeccable. With a degree in interior design, Sadie had an eye for style and had always been able to amaze their clients, leaving them with a sensation of peace and tranquility. They were a team, best friends, and lovers.

  “Are you ready?” Elle asked, parking her car in one of the visitor spaces outside of the Davis Building.

  “I fucking hope so,” Sadie, said, releasing a deep breath and looking over at Elle. “Our proposal is flawless. They’d be fools to turn us down.”

  “Let’s hope they feel the same.” Elle released a nervous laugh before she opened the car door and climbed out, closing it with a bump of her hip.

  She and Sadie gathered their belongings and headed into the large glass and steel building. Elle had always admire
d the clean lines and open feel the building reflected. Most structures in downtown San Francisco were old and stale, which meant they were covered in red brick and had small, narrow windows, but the Davis Building was fresh and new. It had been constructed the year Elle and Sadie started their first year at Berkeley. In fact, Samuel Davis and his company had been the push she had needed to decide to pursue a degree in architecture.

  Elle had been a freshman when Samuel Davis came to Berkeley to give a lecture in her Introduction to Contemporary Architecture class. She’d been toying with the idea of declaring her major, and figured she’d take the class before making such a life-altering decision. After all, she had to think of her future; that’s what her mother had told her when Elle expressed interest in studying art.

  She was sitting in the middle of the classroom when Samuel Davis walked in with her professor. When Samuel began speaking, the passion behind his words, combined with the slideshow of over thirty years of his work sparked a fire inside her. Elle went to the administration office the next day and declared her major. Now, she had a chance to work with the man who had been her inspiration, if she and Sadie could convince him they were right for the job for his new project, of course.

  Three months ago, Samuel Davis announced the date for his annual open-house project for the job of designing a residential development that included roughly fifty houses in a new subdivision that had been dubbed Alvarez Park. Elle and Sadie had jumped at the chance, calling Davis Architecture and Designs and setting up an appointment to present their pitch. They had worked non-stop and were now ready, at least Elle hoped they were prepared.

  With a quick stop at the front desk, Sadie and Elle picked up their visitors’ passes before taking the elevator up to the tenth floor. When the doors opened, they stepped off and found themselves amongst a group of at least twelve other architects and designers. Sharing a look, they checked in with the receptionist, who appeared frazzled when she said, “Mr. Davis is running an hour behind schedule, but that he’ll be with you soon.”

  “Thank you,” Elle replied, and she and Sadie sat in two empty seats and waited their turn.

  —FA—

  Just over an hour later, the receptionist, an older lady with short, black hair that was graying around the edges, directed them down the hallway to a large conference room, and offered them each a cup of coffee, which they refused with a smile. They were nervous enough without adding the effects of caffeine.

  “Mr. Davis will be with you both in a moment,” she said with a simple tilt of her head.

  “Thank you,” Elle mumbled. Once the woman left, shutting the door behind her, she turned to Sadie. “I think I’m gonna puke.”

  “No, you can’t!” Sadie exclaimed, reaching out and grabbing Elle’s hand. “Sweetie, you’re ready for this. Just take a deep breath, and remember that I’m right here.”

  Elle did as Sadie instructed and inhaled a lungful of air, but before she could exhale, the door to the conference room opened, and Samuel Davis walked into the room carrying a black, leather binder. Tall and thin, Samuel Davis had thick dirty blond hair and bright blue eyes. For a man in his early fifties, he was extraordinarily handsome.

  As she expelled the air from her lungs, Elle expected to see additional people walk in behind him. She was under the assumption that he had a committee that would help him choose the lucky team, but he was alone, which did nothing to soothe her frazzled nerves.

  Elle put a smile on her face and stood up, faced to the man who had inspired her career, and offered him her hand. “Mr. Davis, hello, I’m Elle Reid.”

  “Ah, Ms. Reid,” he said, wrapping his fingers around her outstretched hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “You have?” Elle couldn’t stop the question from leaving her mouth and regretted the bluntness that filled the two words immediately.

  However, Mr. Davis tipped his head toward the ceiling and laughed. “Yes, yes, your reputation has preceded you.”

  “Oh, well, thank you,” she mumbled. Sadie cleared her throat, causing Elle to blush in embarrassment. “Let me introduce you to my partner. Mr. Davis, this is Sadie Williams, one the best interior designer in the business.”

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Williams. I’ve heard a lot about you, as well.” He shook Sadie’s hand, offering her a genuine smile. “I hate to rush, but I do have a dinner meeting, so why don’t we get started with your proposal.”

  “Of course.”

  While he settled in his seat, crossing his legs and placing his hands on his lap, Sadie and Elle moved to the other end of the table and pulled out the sketch boards they’d created for the meeting. Exchanging a look with Sadie, Elle began by explaining her designs. While she spoke, gesturing with her hands to point out the use of sharp, clean lines and delicate angles that would give each house the individual attention it deserved, Mr. Davis watched her with a smile resting on his lips. More than once, Elle found herself stumbling over her words, struggling to keep her train of thought, yet he never appeared to notice when she stammered or how many times ‘um’ enhanced vocabulary.

  After Elle gave a detailed account of her plans, Sadie presented her ideas for the interior of the houses, showing him the samples of neutral colored flooring and paint chips that would be provide a warm, tranquil feel to each place. She also explained the array of plants and foliage she planned to use to increase the curb appeal. The combination of bright colors and rich greenery would create the feeling of paradise for whomever was lucky enough to live inside the gates of the new development.

  Though Elle was normally a good judge of character, she struggled to read Samuel Davis’s facial expressions, unsure if they were making a fool of themselves with each word they uttered. When they were done, she expected him to say something — anything — but instead, he stood up and walked around the table and examined each sketch with exceptional scrutiny.

  After a several more minutes, Mr. Davis faced Elle and Sadie and smiled. “You both have an excellent eye for detail, ladies.” He shifted his attention to Elle. “Tell me, Ms. Reid, if you were presenting one of these houses to a potential buyer, how would you proceed?”

  “My first step would be to get to know them,” Elle said, causing him to raise an eyebrow in questions. “Mr. Davis —”

  “Please, call me Samuel,” he insisted, interrupting her. “Mr. Davis is too formal.”

  Elle gave him a soft smile. “I believe that every home has a soul and should represent the individual spirit of those who will be living within its walls. So the first step for me is to get to know the people wanting the house built. Are they married? Do they have children? If not, are they planning on having children? What’s their idea of a dream vacation? Favorite hobbies? I learn more after an hour of just chatting with them about their hopes and dreams than I do when they tell me what they are looking for in a house,” she explained. “Now, some might see that as a violation of privacy, and I’d never force them to tell me anything they felt was too much, but I’ve found that those who are open to the process are happier with what I design for them than those who are closed off.”

  Samuel pursed his lips together and nodded before he turned, walked back to his seat, and picked up the black binder. Tilting his head back toward Sadie and Elle, he studied them for a moment before he flipped the binder opened, pulled out a sheet of paper, and placed it on the table. “If you’re agreeable to the terms, I’ll meet you here Monday morning at eight, ladies.”

  Before either could respond, Samuel walked out of the office and left them standing there. Elle and Sadie rushed around the table and reached for the paper he’d left on the table. Elle got to it first, and her mouth flopped open when she read the offer scribbled across the bottom.

  “Oh, my God, Sadie, look at this,” she exclaimed, shoving the paper into her hand. “We get thirty percent of the commission from the project, plus a ten percent bonus when the project is complete. That’s on top of the budget for the entire project! Do
you realize how much that will add up to?”

  “An assload of cash!” Sadie chortled, her eyes flashing with excitement. “You know what this calls for, don’t you?”

  “What?” Elle asked, smiling at the sensual woman next to her.

  “Dancing,” she cheered, clapping her hands together once.

  Laughing, Elle caressed Sadie’s cheek before pushing her red hair behind her ear. “Promise to wear something sexy for me?”

  “Oh, sweetie, you have no idea,” Sadie purred.

  Two

  After their meeting, Sadie and Elle rushed back to their apartment, stripped off their clothes the moment they were inside the door, and somehow managed to make it into their room before they started their celebration. While their apartment had two bedrooms, it was rare for them to spend the night apart. Once they’d satisfied each other’s needs, they showered and began to dress for a night out dancing.

  Elle left it to Sadie to decide what she should wear, knowing her lover would make sure she looked good enough to eat, and Sadie hadn’t disappointed. She was now squeezed into a short, black leather mini-skirt and a strapless silver top that clung to her chest, making her breasts look bigger than they were. Adding a pair of silver, strapped heels, and a touch of make-up, Sadie had declared that Elle was flawless.

  Sadie had chosen to wear a black spandex dress that hugged her curves and made her red hair stand out. Making sure her own make-up was perfect and slipping her feet into a pair of black pumps, Sadie declared them ready for whatever adventures the night brought.

  There was already a line forming outside of Club Venom when Sadie and Elle arrived, which wasn’t unexpected for a Friday night in San Francisco. With a wink and a wave to Dave, the bouncer working the front door, Elle and Sadie were able to bypass the crowd and head inside, much to the chagrin of the people waiting. They visited Club Venom quite often, finding it to be one of the few places where they didn’t have to hide their unique friendship.

  Stopping at the bar first, the women ordered a couple of drinks before they found a table next to the dance floor. One of waitresses noticed them and smiled, placing a red ‘reserved’ sign on the table so nobody would take it when they went to dance. Just another reason why Elle and Sadie loved Club Venom so much; they took special care of their regulars. The music was blaring and multi-colored lights flashed across the people grinding against each other.