Page 29 of A Submissive's Gift
“It’s only just begun,” Logan murmured, turning his head in order to press his lips against the palm of her hand. “You have done the impossible. Your dream is now visible for all to see—to share. I could not be prouder of you. You are an amazing womanand deserve only the very best. Thank you for allowing me to be part of everything. It’s been an incredible adventure.”
Elizabeth felt every word he spoke sink into her very being. There was no need for her to voice her thanks to him, no reason she needed to remind him that she could never have done it without his unwavering support and encouragement.
They both knew the roller-coaster ride of the renovation process had included many ups and downs, as well as twists and turns they had not expected. They both understood there had been times when it seemed impossible the end would finally come. Not needing to say anything about the process, she spoke of one of the benefits of that process instead.
“I’m surprised we haven’t been besieged yet.” She watched his eyes, seeing a flash of something just before he turned his head to look off into the twilight. He was the strongest man she knew, but it seemed that his very strength was holding him captive. He was making the right moves, speaking the right words, and yet something was wrong. As if to prove her thoughts were misguided, his eyes returned to hers, his eyebrow quirked.
“I’ve been making all sorts of promises in return for the right name to be pulled tonight. I know you refuse to rig the drawing but…” His voice trailed off, but his arms tightened around her, pulling her against him as if needing to know she was still there.
Elizabeth laid her head against his chest. “Logan, I don’t need to win the drawing. I just need you.”
His eyes closed briefly, his heart wanting to assure her that he was hers. “Perhaps we should postpone. Perhaps everyone is too tired to do the test justice, and we can?—”
“Not on your life, big brother. We’ve been waiting for this night for months. I can’t help it if you are getting old. Or, are you just crotchety because you’ve yet to persuade Liz to cheat?”
Logan groaned as the door to Haven opened and their friends spilled out onto the porch. Ariel giggled as she plopped herselfdown on the swing next to her brother. “Fates are quite fickle, you know—especially when I’m betting that every one of us has been making the same sorts of promises that you have. Heck, I’ve promised to keep my curiosity to myself if only I see my name drawn.”
Laughter and loud harrumphs met her comment, causing her to cross her arms across her chest and stick her tongue out at her friends, before breaking into giggles. “Okay, okay, I can understand your response, but I really would try.”
“I suggest we stop all these promises we all know are barely concealed lies, before some little lady’s butt has to pay the price,” Garrett said, pulling his fiancée up from the swing and giving the seat of her dusty jeans a swat. He ignored her protest, drawing her to his side and dropping a kiss on top of her head. “Even though we’ve all worked our fingers to the bone, it’s been at least fifteen minutes since I’ve had to move a piece of furniture ‘just a few inches to the right’. Given that opportunity to rest, I guarantee I’m up to the challenge of the test should your curiosity need sacrificing.”
Jason grinned as Nancy put her hands on her hips. “Furniture positioning is an exact science, I’ll have you know.”
“I beg to differ,” Garrett countered, bending his head from side to side and rolling his shoulders, as if needing to work out the kinks from his physical exertions. “I think you just like seeing men lugging huge pieces of furniture around and listening to your orders.”
Nancy’s giggle spoke of the accuracy of his words, but no one truly held her responsible for their sore muscles. All had enjoyed every moment of finally arranging the very items that would bring life to the hotel’s rooms that Ryan and Julie had turned from uninhabitable to luxurious.
The couples had spent the entire weekend unloading trucks, unpacking boxes, and making continual comments about thefact it would all be worth it for the prize awaiting the last picture being hung, and the final pillow plumped on one of the beds in the eighteen rooms now waiting for their first customers. By implicit agreement, the four couples had promised not to jump ahead of the game to try out any of the rooms, though it took every ounce of their strength to keep from sneaking in only a few kisses and not falling into the wonderfully comfortable beds.
It had been the plan from the moment they all walked up the dirty, rickety stairs of the house, that when Haven was done, a drawing would determine which lucky couple got to closet themselves behind the closed doors of one of the suites and then initiate the activity that would test the soundproofing that the hotel promised would keep any kink shared private behind the closed door. Now that the time had come, it was natural that they all seemed just a little reluctant to discover who would be strutting up the stairs in triumph, knowing the rest would be left to walk about the beautiful new hotel to try to ascertain any noises escaping the lucky room.
“Okay, everyone has given their last promise, so perhaps it’s time to end this agony,” Jason suggested, accepting the bowl Craig had brought from the kitchen. Slips of paper were passed out and names printed, with a final prayer, before being dropped into the bowl.
“Oops, we never decided who gets to do the drawing,” Nancy said, as Jason shook the bowl. “I propose Elizabeth has the honors, since Haven would never have come to life without her dream.”
“Oh, hel… um, heck, no,” Ariel argued, stepping forward and lifting her hand. “Despite Logan’s swearing he’d be fair, I would not put it past him to have rigged the drawing. Knowing my dear brother, he’s probably promised his fiancée a spanking if she doesn’t go along with his evil plans.” She ignored the roll of Logan’s eyes as she snapped her fingers, indicating that Jasonwas to lower the bowl so that she could draw out the lucky winner. Breath was held as they all watched her fingers dip into the bowl, swirling the slips around and around until finally selecting one. Drawing it out, she turned to face her friends and family.
“For Pete’s sake, read it,” Logan growled, as his baby sister drew out the moment in the way he should have known to expect.
“Don’t be so hasty.” Ariel grinned, her smile mischievous as she slowly waved the folded piece of paper. “Aren’t you the one who insists anticipation is almost as good as the actual event?”
Elizabeth couldn’t stifle the quick giggle that Ariel’s words caused, remembering the many times that Logan had teased her for so long that she was practically a puddle of Jell-O, begging him to finish the spanking, let her climax, or any of a dozen things. He was definitely the man who enjoyed stringing out the pleasure he was capable of delivering.
“Garrett, if your fiancée doesn’t stop dawdling, I swear I’m going to spank her myself,” Logan warned, causing Ariel to squeal and jump back as he reached for her hand.
“Okay, criminy , you’re no fun,” she pouted, as she opened the piece of paper and silently read the printed name. “No way!” she protested, turning and running into the hotel. Logan stared after his sister in shock.
“Hey, get back here, Ariel,” he demanded. By the time he’d stood up, placing Elizabeth onto her feet, the others had followed the fleeing girl. “What the hell? She’s the one who drew the name—she can’t accuse me of cheating.” Elizabeth shook her head, her hand clasped in his as he practically dragged her across the porch. Ready to do battle, Logan’s mouth was already open when he suddenly drew to a complete stop at the sight before him.
“Congratulations!” The word was chorused by all those who had gathered behind the beautiful round table that would normally hold a tall vase of flowers to welcome guests. Instead of flowers, wrapped gifts were piled onto the surface, six smiling faces testament to the fact that the drawing had indeed been rigged.
“There was never a contest,” Garrett explained, his grin wide as he enjoyed the fact their plan had actually rendered Logan speechless. “Elizabeth and you have always been the winners. No one deserves the prize more than you two.”
Elizabeth had tears in her eyes even as her cheeks flushed with the realization of what her friends had planned. Every ounce of fatigue fled her body as it began to tingle in anticipation of what Garrett’s words meant. “What a remarkable gift,” she said, her fingers tightening their grip on Logan’s hand.
“I don’t know what to say,” Logan said, the generosity of their friends momentarily allowing him to forget his aching muscles. He felt his body beginning to quicken, the memory of the evening when Elizabeth had found her voice crystal clear in his mind. With that memory came the almost crushing doubt that he was the one who truly deserved to hear it again. His eyes closed briefly as he mentally pushed the negative thoughts away. No matter what, he owed this to Elizabeth—he owed her so very much.
“Just open your presents,” Ariel suggested, picking up a box and holding it out to her brother. She might be a drama queen, but she was well aware that her brother seemed to be struggling—though he would rather die than admit it. “Logan, I never doubted your integrity, I swear.” She squealed as Logan ignored the box, lifting her off her feet and squeezing her hard.
