by Maggie Ryan
She paused again. ''I am not asking for, nor will I accept, any monetary help.'' She saw him open his mouth again. ''No, and please, please don't even ask. I need to do this, but I will not put anyone else's money at risk, or even their name, in case … well, in case it fails. Or in case it comes alive, and there is fallout from people who discover that there is a hotel anywhere near them that not only condones sexual activity, but advertises that there is now a safe place for consenting adults to stay and play without fear, or embarrassment, or bothering other guests. It will take me a bit longer, but I'm sure I can come up with the additional down payment. Can you understand?''
Logan understood perfectly and his pride in her grew. He sank onto the couch, Elizabeth straddling his lap. He cupped her face and kissed her.
''I understand, Schatzlein,'' he assured her. ''I would absolutely be honored to help you in any way you need. My first tip is to find another lender. Your guy obviously has no idea the amount of people who enjoy this lifestyle and will flock to your place. I can draw up a list for you.''
She laughed, her joy flowing from her. Haven was going to be real. Her dream was going to become reality.
It was late before he handed gave her phone back to her, smiling as he turned it on. ''Call Dan first. Then Elizabeth, you may call Nancy and talk until the sun comes up,'' he said, punching in Dan's number. Elizabeth asked for Master Daniel and Dan smiled, realizing it was the beautiful Miss Adams. He agreed to be there in a half-hour and told her to inform Logan that he would need to stop and run the Audi through the car wash to get rid of all the mud. Logan pretended to growl when she repeated his words and tried to grab the phone but Elizabeth laughed and yelled out her good-bye before she hit the end button. Logan pulled on the rest of his clothing, including the shirt she had finally given back after they had made love on the office couch. She had giggled repeatedly when she realized just how much harder it was for Logan to find a comfortable position on such a small piece of furniture. Afterwards, she had promised to make sure any seating in any room of her hotel would be large enough to accommodate bigger men. She told him that women wouldn't mind, as the larger furniture would make them feel even smaller, and most Submissives she knew liked that feeling.
She was quiet when his phone vibrated to inform him that Dan had arrived. He led her to the door and took her into his arms. He kissed her tenderly, finding that, for the first time in his life, he had absolutely no desire to return to the apartment he loved for its solitude.
''I will call you, Elizabeth,'' he said, against her hair. ''You need some time alone, despite what you feel right now. Go fix a cup of tea and call Nancy. Have a good cry if you need, but know that I am very proud of you and that I could not be happier than when I am with you. I will call you later, Schatzlein,'' he promised. She nodded, and he kissed her once more before opening the door. He looked back and smiled when she held up the key to tell him she would deadbolt the door behind him.
''Granny would be so proud,'' he said, with a grin. His grin disappeared as he said, ''And, God, I am so very proud of what you have done and what you are going to do.'' With that, he pulled the door closed, waiting until the lock clicked.
Though he was no longer watching her, Elizabeth obeyed him. She fixed a cup of hot tea and taking her phone, crawled into bed. She called Nancy and they talked for over two hours. Nancy felt every emotion run through her. She was pissed that her friend had gone through so much pain without her and yet thrilled that she had gone through it with Logan and he had done what she and Jason had been unable to do. By the time they hung up, Nancy had tears in her eyes, knowing that her best friend had finally taken the first step. She hoped and prayed that the man who had taken it with her would never, ever let her go.
Elizabeth had finished the tea a long time ago when she reached over to turn out the light. She smiled seeing the small wooden paddle on the table. She picked it up and ran her hands over its surface. She giggled as if it should feel hot, retaining the heat it had created on her ass. She realized that though her bottom had been truly thrashed, all that remained of the session was a small amount of tenderness. She couldn't believe she felt herself growing wet as she remembered Logan's relentless determination to not only paddle her, but to paddle her until she took that first step.
She jumped when the phone rang. She dropped the paddle and picked up the phone. ''Did you forget to tell me something?'' she asked, thinking it was Nancy.
''Just to tell you I will dream of you tonight,'' she heard Logan say.
She smiled and turned onto her side, cradling the phone. ''I'll dream of you too, Sir,'' she said. ''I always dream of you.''
Logan grinned, feeling a sense of pride that he had a nightly role in her dreams. Elizabeth could almost see him and giggled. ''Hmmm, I wonder if I will be kidnapped by my Limo Man,'' she said, and giggled again. ''Oh, wait—perhaps a bunch of crazy moles will chase me, attempting to whack my bottom. Or … maybe some incredibly sexy, wonderful, and very loving Dom will decide he needs an ice cream sundae.''
Logan shook his head, his wonder about this woman increasing every time he talked to her. ''I'll play whatever role you need, Schatzlein,'' Logan said, softly. She stopped giggling, her heart swelling. ''Good night, Elizabeth, I'll meet you in our dreams.''
''Yes, Sir,'' she whispered, feeling treasured and loved. ''In our dreams.''
Chapter 18
Six months later, Elizabeth stood leaning against Logan, his arms wrapped around her. She felt the sun on her face, the breeze lifting strands of her hair. More importantly, she felt the warmth and solidness of the man standing with her, his support, protection and love enveloping her soul.
They stood silently looking at the stately old house before them. It was a majestic structure standing three stories tall. Wraparound verandas provided each floor with a place to relax and enjoy the view of the heavily wooded acreage that led down to the shores of the lake. Huge trees lined the drive, their branches seeming both to shield and embrace the house.
She would transform this old home into a hotel, one where guests would never fear being embarrassed, if their play caused them to loudly voice their pleasure. Haven was to be a small but beautiful place to enjoy play and explore passion for longer than a night out at a local club. Guests could spend a night, weekend, or even longer as they vacationed in a beautiful environment. The location Logan had helped her find offered a sense of seclusion, yet also offered the bustling town of Houston in one direction or the refreshing Gulf of Mexico in the other, both less than an hour from the hotel.
Elizabeth didn't see the peeling paint or the broken shutters. She didn't see the gaps in the veranda railing. She didn't see the broken slats of the porch. She didn't see the weed-choked patches that once held plantings. She saw what she had visualized for years.
''Tell me what you see,'' Logan said softly, his breath against her neck as he bent to kiss her cheek. She smiled and told him, opening his eyes to what she saw.
She saw a majestic but warm hotel. She saw fresh white paint and gleaming windows framed by slick black shutters. She saw new slats on the porch flooring, painted a light gray. She saw white porch swings, just the perfect size for two people. She saw hanging baskets full of flowers that would lend their beauty and their aroma to the air. Instead of the weed-choked drive, she saw an intricate iron gate at the head of the drive that when closed, formed the name of the hotel and her dream—Haven. Most importantly of all, she heard the sound of people talking and laughing. She heard the sound of their amazement that such a place existed. She knew she would also hear the sound of silence, for each room would allow absolute privacy to those that played inside. Within the walls of Haven, they would be safe. Whether spending only one night, a weekend, or even a week, the room they chose would house them in comfort, beauty, warmth and peace.
''It is almost as if I can see it,'' he said, and then chuckled. ''Almost.''
Elizabeth laughed and pulled away, reaching into her bag. She withdrew a dr
awing she had worked on last night, as he slept beside her.
''Perhaps this will help,'' she said, handing it to him. Logan looked at the drawing and then back to the house several times. His smile widened, as he was once again stunned by her talent and her vision. At the bottom of the page, he saw what she had inscribed.
Haven – A Safe Place for Love … Proprietors Elizabeth Adams and Logan Dietrich
''Schatzlein,'' he said softly, his heart full, ''that is not necessary. I …''
She placed her fingertips against his lips, something he did often to her own. ''Logan, this is no longer my dream alone. I could not and do not want to build Haven without you. You are as much a part of this dream as you are a part of me. Please, don't ask me to change what my heart desires.''
Logan found himself swallowing hard. He nodded gently, and she removed her fingertips, to go up onto her tiptoes and replace them with her lips. Logan pulled her close, his heart beating rapidly.
She watched as he slowly went to one knee before her, and her heart stopped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. She was crying, her hands pressed to her lips as he looked up at her.
''Elizabeth, you are my life and my love,'' he said. ''You are my heart and my soul. I can't imagine life without you, Schatzlein; please let me serve you, protect you, love you and treasure you for the rest of your life.'' His voice was shaking as he opened the box and she saw the ring inside. ''Please, Elizabeth, please do me the honor of becoming my wife.''
Elizabeth found her voice. She sobbed and then screamed her answer as she flung herself into his arms. Logan caught her, held her cradled against his chest as she tried to laugh, cry and speak at the same time.
He pulled her away only far enough to see her face. ''Clarity, remember?'' he said, tears on his cheeks and a smile on his lips.
''Yes!!!'' she screamed.
Logan slipped the ring onto her finger, knowing he would die if she ever removed it. Elizabeth turned her hand one way and then the other, watching the diamond sparkle. She looked up at him, her eyes soft and full of the love he had come to crave. ''I'm going to be your wife,'' she said, as if it were the most amazing thing in the world. He lifted her hand and kissed the ring, and then kissed her lips gently.
''I'm going to be your husband,'' he said, softly. They sat on the grass together, Logan leaning back against an old oak tree, his fiancé on his lap. Elizabeth found the drawing and smiled as she reached for her purse, digging through it for a pencil. Logan watched as she drew a line through their names, and his heart lurched when she wrote new ones in their place.
Mr. and Mrs. Logan Dietrich. Logan shook his head and took the pencil from her. He drew a line through what she had written and wrote beneath it: Elizabeth and Logan Dietrich
''You will be my equal as my partner, Schatzlein,'' Logan said, as he put the pencil back into her purse. He looked down and then spoke softly. ''You'll be beside me as my wife,'' he paused, bending to kiss her again, ''And, Liebchen, you will be under me as my Submissive.''
Elizabeth felt delicious shivers run up her spine and a delicious tingle run from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes. ''Liebchen?'' she asked softly.
''My love,'' he answered. ''You will always be both my Liebchen and my Schatzlein until the day I die.''
Elizabeth had never felt so perfectly content in her life. She realized she had everything she could ever dream of.
Logan shifted her from his lap and then helped her to stand. ''Ready?'' Logan asked, feeling her trembling. She turned her face to his, her eyes filled with tears, but he knew they were only from her complete joy. Not trusting her voice, she nodded. Logan bent to kiss her and then took her hand. Their fingers linked automatically.
They would soon be surrounded by dozens of people. The quiet air would be filled with the sound of hammers, saws, shouted directions, laughter and conversation. Their friends and family were coming tomorrow to start building the dream. Elizabeth could have easily told them that they weren't needed. She had the financing in place to hire the contractors and laborers that would be needed to physically transform the building. However, she knew she needed them here almost as much as they needed to help. Their love and support would help breathe life into the new lumber, shingles and paint that would make an old house into a living dream. But not today. Today was for only two.
Logan led her carefully up the steps, keeping his eye on the areas of rot that he knew would require immediate repair, before someone broke through the porch. They reached the door, the screen hanging crooked from its frame. He opened the screen and chuckled when the door came free. Elizabeth laughed at the look on his face, his eyebrow raised, as if questioning whether she had made the proper choice, but knowing in his heart that she had. He leaned the screen against the wall and then turned and handed her the key they had received at closing.
''This is real,'' she whispered, feeling the weight of the key in her hand.
Logan smiled and bent down to kiss her cheek. ''Yes, Schatzlein, this is Haven, your dream,'' he said, his own voice thickening with the emotion. He knew what it was to realize a dream and had thought it was the best thing in his life. He now knew that watching the woman he loved, realizing her own, far outshone his.
Elizabeth slid the key into the lock. She looked up at him, tears running down her cheeks, a smile of wonder on her face. ''Our dream,'' she whispered, and Logan felt his own eyes well.
Stepping inside for the first time as the owner, Elizabeth felt overcome with emotion. She began to shake, her tears falling faster as she laughed. Logan picked her up, twirling her around. When he set her down, he cupped her face, kissing her in a way that soon had her moaning, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Logan forced himself to release her, though it took incredible control. They held hands as they walked from room to room. Logan listened to her as she shared her vision. He actually winced when they entered the kitchen. It was not only old; it was as if it were ashamed of itself. Cabinet doors were missing or hanging from a single hinge. Countertops were split. The old linoleum was buckled and cracked. Seeing his face, Elizabeth giggled and spread her arms out.
''Can't you just see it?'' she said, her smile wide and confident. ''All new cabinets, commercial appliances, great lighting, smooth granite countertops. A warm and beautiful island where people can gather and food can be prepared. A large wine refrigerator over in that area,'' she said, pointing to a dark corner. ''New flooring. Oh, Logan, it will be fantastic!'' Logan smiled, knowing that, if anyone could transform this horrid space, his love would be the one.
The second floor contained bedrooms and outdated baths. Walls would be demolished, new baths built. As they climbed the stairs to the third floor, Logan also knew the risers and treads would have to be redone as well. When he stepped on one and an eerie squeal sounded, he turned to her. ''So much for silence,'' he said, and she playfully slapped his arm. They looked into the first few rooms, and then Logan led her to the large double doors that opened into a very large room. They had been told that, in decades past, large, opulent parties had been held in the house. Elizabeth planned on converting this area into a large, open and welcoming space where parties would still be held. She had visions of weddings and commitment ceremonies, where friends could gather and witness the joy of two people pledging their lives and hearts to each other.
Logan pushed the door open and Elizabeth gasped. Dozens of candles illuminated the room, flickering tapers in tall glass vases. The flooring had been sprinkled with rose petals, their scent enticing. Her eyes filled as she saw what was on the small raised stage at the opposite end of the room. A chaise lounge, covered in red leather, seemed to call to her. She stepped forward, her heart pounding, her hand slipping from Logan's. The bench was long and about two feet wide, with huge curved and padded arms at either end. She walked forward as if in a daze, her blood racing, wondering how it would feel to be bent over one of those arms, Logan behind her, taking her hard. She felt her panties moist
en and her bottom clench picturing him holding their linked hands at the small of her back as he spanked her until she was begging him to stop, to fuck her as her body screamed its needs. Logan turned and shut the door.
Elizabeth turned and looked back at him, her eyes soft and filled—with want and tears.
''How … when did you do this?'' she asked, her lips trembling at his unbelievably romantic gesture.
''Dan and I came up last night and did most of it,'' he confessed. ''I needed help with the chaise. I paid the realtor's daughter to come light the candles, so they would be ready for us. I planned on proposing here, but my heart told me I needed to know you'd be my wife before we stepped into this room for the first time,'' he said, his love evident in each word. Elizabeth quivered, as she realized just how much she loved him.
Logan walked towards her, the sight of her amazement and wonder filling his heart. She lowered her eyes as she reached for the plain brown paper sack sitting in the middle of the chaise.
She felt Logan's hands slip around her waist, and she shivered. With trembling hands, she opened the top of the bag and slid one hand inside. Her entire body clutched with promised pleasure as she slowly drew out his gift from months ago. She had often wondered, but Logan had not ever spoken of it. Though he had taken her to Tastsinn several times and every visit included a spanking, he had not once used this flogger. She held the grip and ran her fingers through the soft suede strands, her pussy clenching. She twisted it and ran her hand through the rigid strands, her fingers caressing each small knot and her bottom clenched even tighter.