Page 33 of A Submissive's Gift
“Oh, I assure you, the test was more than either of us could have imagined,” Logan said, his smile mirrored by Elizabeth’s. “I promise the room’s soundproofing was tested.”
“Humph, like your word is good enough,” Ariel said shaking her head and snapping her fingers before extending her finger. “Come on, where’s the recorder? We want solid evidence that the test was a success.”
Logan shook his head, as if disappointed that his word was to be questioned yet again by his little sister. Sighing, he took the recorder out of his pocket. “Is it really necessary? I promise you’ll hearing nothing but static.”
“Let us be the judge of that,” Ariel said, rolling her eyes and pointing to a spot on the counter.
Logan put the recorder down. “Ready?” he asked, his finger hovering over the button. At their nods, he activated the recorder. When nothing happened, Jason picked up the recorder and shook his head.
“Gotta rewind it before you can play the tape.” Pressing the proper button to rewind the tape, Logan suggested he not rewind to the very beginning, explaining that since the six of them had been present for several minutes, it wasn’t necessary to play the tape from the beginning. Jason nodded, advancingthe tape for several turns. “Shall we try again?” With nods all around, he pressed the button marked “play”.
Heads bent forward as nothing but the slight hiss of tape spooling through the recorder sounded. Ariel, her face propped onto her fists as she leaned forward, determined not to miss a single sound, sighed deeply. She had just begun to sit back, accepting that her voyeuristic little soul would be denied any prize, when an eerie sound came from the recorder. She leaned closer, listening intently, tensing as the sound repeated.
“Holy Casper, is Haven haunted?” she whispered, as the distinct sound of footsteps was heard. She jumped back when a soft but chilling groan emanated, and then shrieked and almost fell off her stool when a shrill scream burst from the recorder. Ariel shrieked again when Garrett lifted her off the stool, her legs kicking out as if the very demons she imagined were after her.
Everyone burst into laughter as Logan’s voice came through the speaker, “Gotcha!”
Elizabeth shook her head as Ariel realized that her big brother just couldn’t resist. The winners had listened to the tape earlier, satisfied that Ryan had met her requirements when the only sound the tape had produced was those of their footsteps when they had left the room to go upstairs. She had shaken her head when Logan formed his plan. They’d played their roles inside the closed room already knowing it was indeed soundproof. She’d rolled her eyes as Logan purposefully stomped and then dragged his feet along the floor like some ghoul fresh from the grave. She’d had to stifle her giggles and then scream as loudly as she could when he gave her the signal. Though she felt slightly guilty for her part in the scheme, she had to admit, it had been very effective.
“You are such a creep,” Ariel said, her legs wrapped around Garrett’s waist. “Do something, Garrett, he scared me to death!”
“Babe, I hate to admit it, but I think I’d actually pay to see that again. God, you should have seen your face when you thought you heard a ghost. It was priceless.”
“You are all just big meanies. Put me down.” Ariel demanded, her fists pushing against Garrett’s chest.
“Promise you aren’t going to do anything irrational?” Garrett asked, as he set her onto her feet, prepared to capture her again if she took off for Logan.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Ariel assured him before turning to face her brother, who was calmly leaning against the island, sipping his coffee. “However, let me be crystal clear about one thing, big brother.” Logan met her eyes, his smirk telling her to bring it on. “You can anticipate this: Hell hath no fury like a woman scared.”
Logan almost choked on his coffee as he laughed. “Geeze, Ariel, you are an educated woman. The correct phrase is ‘scorned’. Even when you attempt to threaten me?—”
“Oh, I’m not attempting,” Ariel said, as she walked toward him. “I am promising you that one day, when you least expect it, that fake scream will sound like a whisper compared to the one you give.” Reaching him, she stroked his arm, her beautiful eyes meeting his. “But since you seem so stuck on the proper wording, how about this phrase: Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Garrett’s laughter had the others joining in, not a single soul in the room, including Logan, having any doubt that his little prank would have him wondering how long it would be before he ate from the dish Ariel would set down before him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The week before Christmas passed in a blur. Additional towels and pillows arrived, as well as boxes and bags of food items. Craig grinned when a delivery was made that proved to be an old-fashioned blackboard, his eyes finding Barbara’s and seeing her blush, remembering the sentences he had given her.
“That’s the perfect size,” Jason said, as he and Craig went to the woodshed to install the board. Original implements hung on the wall, as well as new ones Nancy and Elizabeth had ordered from Harry. Every piece of leather had been oiled, every inch of wood varnished until each apparatus and implement shone with a polished gleam. The old rag rug on the stoop had been replaced with one that gave the name of the building, large black, block letters spelling out “The Woodshed”.
Discussions had been had over whether or not to install some sort of electric keypad that guests could swipe their room key through, negating the need to stop at the front desk and sign up for a time and pick up the old-fashioned skeleton key to gain access. Though it would have been a far more efficient way to keep track, the women had admitted that being led to the desk by their Dom, listening to him request a time slot, and watching as he took possession of the large key, had them leaking intotheir panties before even reaching the building. The electronic system was instantly nixed.
Though staff would be hired to help run the hotel, everyone agreed that this time they wanted to do everything themselves. No one minded that it meant long days of work, for every moment spent in preparation had their love for the hotel growing. The group had gathered again to finish decorating the hotel, Elizabeth wanting every detail perfect for their first guests.
Jason and Craig returned, the smiles on their faces causing the women to take deep breaths, knowing without a doubt that at some point in time, they would be standing facing the board, using one of the pieces of chalk to write out whatever words their Doms directed. Imagining the scratch of the chalk against the slate, coupled with the knowledge that their lover would be watching every letter being formed, as well as their bright red bottom jiggling as their sentences were written, had panties growing moist.
Logan clapped his hands as he entered the room, startling the women out of their contemplations. “Come on, we’ve got a Christmas tree to cut down.” Since they owned all the properly around the lake, it had been decided that no purchased tree would do. In fact, they would be cutting three trees—one for the lobby, its lights greeting guests, one for the sitting area in the barn, and one for the ballroom upstairs. Pulling on jackets, they all trooped out the door, throwing out challenges to each other to see who could find the perfect trees.
Scattering throughout the wooded area, they continued to call back and forth as tree after tree was rejected as being too skinny, too short, and too scrawny, until Barbara yelled that she had found the perfect one. It stood about seven feet tall and was beautifully fat, it’s branches full. She beamed as the others agreed, and the women stepped back as Craig took thefirst swing with his axe. It wasn’t long before the tree fell onto the tarp spread out to catch it. A second tree, just as perfect, was found nearby, and it was placed beside the first. Once both had been bundled securely, they left them where they lay as the search for the larger tree they needed continued.
“Logan, that is huge,” Elizabeth said, craning her neck to look up to the top of the tree that towered above her.
“It’s perfect,” Logan said. When the men agreed and began a discussion about which way the tree would fall, moving the two tarps from place to place, the women shook their heads, soft smiles on their faces.
“So, if a tree falls in the woods—” Nancy began.
“You can count on the sound of men arguing over who guessed its direction,” Ariel concluded. When it became clear that the process could take a while, the women began to gather pinecones to use as centerpieces for the tables. They had filled the bag they had brought before the first thwack of the axe was heard. The tree fell slowly at first, and then faster to crash to the ground, shaking the earth.
