Haven's Promise Read online

  "It's Bunny's choice. If she doesn't mind, I certainly don't care if you join us. Since I'm planning on only using my hand, you'll have plenty of implements to choose from. There is more than one spot to drape our naughty girls over, as long as my little lady tells me the truth of what happened." Craig turned to Barbara. "Bunny?" he asked. letting her know that it was definitely her decision.

  "I, um, maybe Nancy cares?" Bunny hesitated, shocked at the way she was feeling. Her flipping tummy wasn't only due to the fact that she knew she was going to get a spanking. Being honest with herself, and remembering witnessing Angel being spanked, she had to admit she was more than a little curious to discover how it would make her feel to have her punishment witnessed by someone other than her Daddy.

  "I'm the exhibitionist, remember?" Nancy said, with a slight giggle.

  "But, Nancy, I know you don't like spankings. And, honestly, you didn't do anything to deserve one. I accept all the responsibility for my actions," Barbara said, amazed that Nancy's friendship evidently included paying for her very innocent part in Barbara's tantrum.

  "Bunny, I agree that I might not be as much of a spanking aficionado as Liz or Ariel," Nancy admitted softly. "However, I do know when I need one, even if anyone else thinks it might not be necessary. I feel that it is. I need to learn to think before I open my mouth. I am really sorry for making you feel uncomfortable, and well, I won't get past it until Jason spanks me." She shrugged, as if unable to really explain her reasons, even to herself. Looking at her friend, she added, "But, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable now, either."

  "I don't," Barbara said, reaching out to take Nancy's hand, and leading her through the door.

  Chapter 5

  Though it was obvious the room had been given a good cleaning, otherwise nothing much had changed since their last visit. Rows of implements still hung on the walls; the various spanking stations still in view. The room had an instant effect on the women, both suddenly going quiet, thinking of every naughty thing they might have done.

  The two women stood next to each other, hands clasped, submission flooding through them, completely unaware of the picture they made to their two dominant men.

  Craig turned and closed the door, slipping the latch. Jason grinned at him and nodded, indicating that he would allow Craig to set the stage.

  The first thing Craig did was to walk to the spanking bench and drop their bag next to it. It landed with a soft thump that had both girls jumping a bit.

  "Bunny, come here," he said quietly, and when she felt Nancy's fingers give hers a hard squeeze of support, Barbara knew she had the strength to obey. She went to him, and Craig took a seat on the bench and drew her to stand between his legs. He felt her trembling as he quickly unbuckled the straps of her overalls, and heard her soft gasp as he pulled the denim down to her ankles.

  "Step out," he instructed softly. Once she had, he placed the clothing on the end of the bench and gently drew her to sit on his knees. "Tell me, what happened to cause you to be so naughty?"

  Barbara's world narrowed to only include the man holding her as he had sworn he always would before any punishment took place. It didn't matter that instead of being alone within the walls of her house or his, they were in the Woodshed with others. The familiarity of the ritual allowed her to speak.

  "I didn't like it when Nan… when we were in the boutique. I know it's stupid, but then Ryan said the room needed to be huge and, well, I just got mad."

  Craig waited, but it seemed she had no intention of continuing. Leaving it at that would not help cleanse her of the insecurities she needed to address—and hopefully learn to dismiss.

  "Bunny, why did it bother you so much? I thought it was fun, role-playing and pretending to dress my sweetie in something cute and sexy from the boutique. If I—"

  "But you didn't like it," Barbara interrupted, sitting up a little straighter, meeting his eyes.

  "I don't understand. What do you mean I didn't like it?" Craig asked, confused. When she shook her head, her face beginning to color, he spoke more firmly. "Bunny, tell me what really upset you. You didn't act like playing with me bothered you…" He paused, and thought about the events from earlier. "Well, not at first. So, what happened to make you have a meltdown?"

  The room was silent as everyone waited for her answer. Shaking her head, Barbara's response surprised them all. "It doesn't matter anymore. I was wrong and threw a hissy fit like a baby. I said some mean things to Nancy and Elizabeth, and I broke our rule about putting myself down. Oh, and I cussed and screamed. Now, I've confessed everything, apologized to everyone and accept the consequences. Can't you please just spank me so we can finish this and go back?"

  "Craig?" Nancy said, from where she and Jason stood a few feet away. She realized it was inappropriate to speak or interrupt while he was obviously involved in a scene with Bunny. Though he was obviously surprised as he looked up with a raised eyebrow, she knew she needed to speak.

  "I don't mean to interrupt, but please, may I say something?" Nancy asked, even though it was a bit late to ask permission.

  Craig saw Jason nod, and was aware that Barbara had lifted her face from his chest, her attention also going to Nancy. Tightening his hold around Barbara's waist to assure her that he had her safe, he nodded.

  "Thank you, Sir," Nancy said. "Barbara, honey, you know I love you. You know all of us love you, and though I'm probably going to really piss you off, I hope you remember that as HOPEFULs, we swore we'd always be totally honest and open about our desires, feelings and our fears. We've learned that communication and trust are vital, right?" When Barbara gave a tentative nod, Nancy took a deep breath. "Good. You need to be honest with your daddy and tell him why you got upset. He loves you, Bunny, and I promise you need to let him know, or else no matter how much your butt aches when he spanks you, you'll never let it go or move past it."

  When her friend shook her head, her eyes transmitting that she didn't feel she could take Nancy's advice, Nancy moved forward, knelt down in front of the bench and put her hand on Barbara's arm. "Barbara, trust me on this. Please, I've been where you are now. I've tried to confess only enough to get by sometimes—not wanting to hurt Jason's feelings. I know how hard this is and I know that part of you is worried that if you tell Craig the whole truth, your fear is that he will tell you that it is ridiculous to feel that way. I swear to you, he won't. Even if you feel you can no longer trust me because I hurt you, please, sweetie, trust your daddy."

  The love in her tone, the look on her face and her hand on her arm, gave Barbara the courage she needed. Though she couldn't look up at Craig, she finally revealed the truth of what had hurt her so deeply.

  "It wasn't the room, and it really wasn't Nancy or Ryan. I mean, I know they were just using us to figure out the best design for a dressing room. It-it wasn't even the fact that Nancy talked about sturdy big chairs or Elizabeth talked about romantic candlelight. I mean, we've discussed all of that before, and I agreed with everything they had planned." She paused, and might have stopped there—if it hadn't been for Nancy's hand giving her arm a gentle squeeze before moving back to return to Jason.

  "Go on, honey," Craig said, smart enough to realize that whatever had caused her to feel so horrible had to have come from only one person—the one currently holding her on his lap and in his arms. "I promise, it will be fine," he said, bending down to place a kiss on the top of her head. As he sat up, he saw the pair of overalls, and the truth swept over him.

  "Oh, Bunny," he said softly, moving one of his hands to lift her chin with the tips of his fingers. "It was when I was acting like I was dressing you," he said, and though she began to shake her head, he nodded his. "No, don't, little one. You think that I didn't like seeing you in the invisible outfit I put you in, didn't you? You were already aware that Nancy had said something about big couples, and at least part of you thought she was talking about you. Then, when you were kind enough not to say anything about her hurting your feelings, when I said
that maybe it would look better in pink, you assumed that I just couldn't imagine you in anything sexy that Nancy might stock in her store."

  Her eyes grew wide as he explained, almost to the smallest detail, exactly what had made her ache inside.

  "Oh, babygirl, I'm so sorry. I was imagining you—every gorgeous beautiful inch of you, draped in some sort of risqué nightie. But the one I imagined Nancy had stocked was black, and well, cut really low. I remembered how much fun I had dressing you at Miss Betty's, and how adorable and sexy you look in those clothes. You look so beautiful with your porcelain skin and your silky hair, all innocent and sweet dressed in soft colors. Bunny, I would see your beauty if you were dressed in burlap or paper bags."

  "I love you, Daddy," she said, and started to cry. Craig kissed her forehead and pulled her even closer to his chest. He sat rocking her softly, his murmurs of love and reassurance barely audible. Several minutes passed before she sat up on his lap, wiping her tears away.

  "I feel really foolish," she admitted. "I-I thought…"

  "It's fine, Bunny," Craig said. "I take the responsibility, and should have realized how you felt from simply seeing the look on your face. I'm so sorry and hope you forgive me."

  "Of course I do," Barbara said instantly. "My head knows better, but my heart…"

  "Still needs reassurance," Craig finished for her. With her nod, he kissed her lightly and then guided her off his lap.

  A little confused, she stood between his legs. When he reached for her overalls, she looked over to where Nancy and Jason were still standing. Looking back, she shook her head,

  "No." Hearing the single word, Craig looked up at her, his eyebrow lifting again. "I mean, please, no, Daddy." Barbara corrected herself. "I was naughty and I need my spanking. Please may I have it now?"

  Having decided not to punish her once he'd understood exactly why she'd blown apart, he hesitated. Her soft repeat of the word 'please' had him putting the overalls down and nodding. He looked over at Jason. "Shall we share the bench?" he asked, to let the man know that he thought neither woman truly needed a harsh spanking, but acknowledging that neither would feel able to move beyond the hurtful incident until she had at least received some type of discipline.

  Jason nodded, and led Nancy to the bench.

  Each man moved to opposite ends, sitting down back to back. The women looked at each other, small smiles on their lips as their men lowered them down across their knees. Panties were gently pulled down to bare their bottoms as the women looked at each other, neither able to truly see what the other looked like draped across a lap for a spanking, their Doms' positions affording each woman a modicum of privacy. The men just grinned and shook their heads when both women began to giggle. Even as hands came down with crisp slaps against bare flesh, the girls continued to giggle, until they broke out into full laughter.

  Giving up all pretense of punishment, Craig laughed as well, his hand moving to rub across the pale skin of Barbara's ass. "Up and to the corner with you, naughty girl," he said, guiding her off his knees after the shortest spanking of her life. She was still giggling as he led her to the corner where the tall stool stood. Craig grinned, noting that at least some renovations had been done. The stool had been replaced with one that would provide safe support for a naughty girl. The slate board had new leather straps, and a fresh piece of chalk hung from a thin leather cord. Pulling Barbara's panties down to her ankles, he lifted her to sit on the stool, enjoying her slight gasp as her bare skin connected with the wood. Handing her the slate board and chalk, he tapped the black surface with his fingertip. "You will write, 'My beautiful bottom is a gift from God' and think about how much your daddy loves playing with or spanking it."

  "Yes, Sir." Barbara giggled again, her heart free of all guilt, and the last thread of discomfort about her appearance disappearing with the 'spanking' she had received. When Nancy was placed to stand next to her, her nose to the wall, the men stepped back and again shook their heads when sounds of giggling began anew.

  Corner time was as short as the spankings had been. When Barbara said she was done, Craig took the slate and read her sentence. "Good girl, don't forget that," he instructed, as he hung the slate on the wall. She squealed as he lifted her off the stool and squeezed her hard to his chest.

  "I won't, Daddy," she promised as he put her down, popped her butt a final time and led her back to the bench, scooping their bag up from the floor. As he opened it and found her swimsuit, she watched over his head as Nancy changed into her own suit, the two friends feeling a deeper connection beginning. Once Craig had her dressed, her clothing in the bag along with his own jeans, the couples were ready to return and join the others. As Craig opened the door and then turned to lock it, Nancy took Barbara's hand.

  "I think you need to go back and use Miss Betty's dressing rooms," she said with a wry smile. At Barbara's questioning look, she giggled. "Honey, I adore your panties just as much as Ariel, but girl, they are way too big for you. Those cute little cakes look like they collapsed when they were taken out of the oven."

  Barbara's mouth opened as she realized that the underwear had seemed a bit looser than when Craig had originally purchased it for her. Looking up at Craig, he smiled and nodded. "When you take your suit off, you'll see it's a size smaller."

  "Really?" she said, her eyes shining even as she shook her head slowly, pretending to pout. "Poor Omar," she sighed. "I guess he's lost a customer."

  With a laugh, Craig reached out to give her ass a much harder swat than the ones from her spanking. "Don't be a smart aleck."

  The two women laughed and, hand-in-hand, preceded the men back through the woods.

  "Man, you gotta love them," Jason said, as they listened to the two women laugh, their clasped hands swinging as they sauntered down the flagstone path. "I promise not to rat you out to the Dom discipline society if you'll do the same for me," he went on with a grin.

  "That's a deal," Craig agreed.

  *****

  When they arrived at the lake, Barbara discovered that Craig had given his own keys to Logan in exchange for the Woodshed key. The others had already put out the food and placed chairs in a circle on the blanket. Helen and Ben were seated under the shade of one of the very impressive oak trees, the others working to put the final preparations on the picnic. The HOPEFULs demonstrated their connection again as Elizabeth and Ariel instantly stopped what they were doing and ran to surround their fellow club members. Though it was evident from Barbara's and Nancy's relaxed faces that they were feeling fine, the others needed reassurance that all had been discussed and forgiven.

  "Okay?" Elizabeth asked softly, pleased when both women nodded and gave her a hug.

  "I'm so glad," Ariel said, hugging her sister hard and then dropping her voice to a whisper. "How was it? I mean, wow—the Woodshed? How's your butt?"

  "Geeze, Louise," Barbara said, shaking her head. "You are the most incorrigible, not to mention the nosiest, person I've ever known."

  "Yeah, isn't it great?" Nancy said, laughing loudly. "There we are, being led to the Woodshed, Bunny being so gracious as to offer to share it with me so we wouldn't keep our friends waiting…"

  "Wait, what do you mean share? Together? You were in there at the same time?"

  Ariel's eyes were huge, her small frame almost shaking with her curiosity at how her sister had handled that scene. "Please, oh God, how was it? We all know you wouldn't care if the President of the United States was in the room, but, geeze—Bunny—are you… were you…"

  "Just the sight of that place does something to you deep inside. It's like it has some sort of mystical power." Nancy bent closer as if to make sure her words remained in the confines of their small circle. Ariel's head bobbed up and down in agreement, her silence indicating that Nancy had her complete attention.

  "It was, um, very eye-opening, so to speak." Nancy gave Barbara a quick wink before she continued. "The new flagstone patio is going to be stunning when it's completed. It's absolut
ely amazing what a dust rag, some wood polish, and a lot of elbow grease can do. In fact, the entire place is so much more inviting now, wouldn't you agree, Bunny?"

  Elizabeth broke out into louder giggles as Ariel reached out, slapped Nancy's arm and rolled her eyes. "God, you say I'm incorrigible? You are just plain mean, Nancy Spellman!"

  Barbara took pity on her sister. "Everything Nancy just said is the truth. But, to satisfy your over-imaginative little brain, here it is. We got spanked and I had to sit on the naughty stool, which by the way is no longer wobbly. Oh, yes, then Nancy had to stand next to me with her nose to the wall, and we—"

  Nancy broke in, "Are starving, so show me the food!" Ariel groaned, but then giggled, and wrapped her arm around Nancy's waist, both laughing as they joined their men at the picnic table. As the others began to prepare their own plates, Elizabeth hung back a moment.

  "You sure you're fine?" she whispered to Barbara.

  "I'm more than fine, I promise," Barbara answered with a smile, but it was the look in her eyes that gave Liz the answer.

  After eating their fill, the group sat around for a while, chatting and discussing the progress of Haven, and what additional suggestions had occurred to them as they'd toured the house. "Craig, I was sort of hoping that you and Bunny could finish the kitchen," Elizabeth said.

  "Are you afraid the workmen won't meet your accelerated schedule?" Craig asked, looking up from where he sat with Barbara on his lap.

  Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. "No, please let me clarify my request. I didn't mean physically finish the work. I meant that since you both love cooking, would you mind choosing the flooring and countertops? I have no idea what types of fixtures, appliances, etc. will make it a functional kitchen."

  "We'd love to," Craig answered for the both of them. Barbara's smile, and her eyes shining with excitement at his answer had him again making plans.

  "Thank you," Elizabeth said, looking over to see Logan grinning and knowing he was thinking about her clarity comment. Garrett stood and walked to where he had dropped something by Ben's chair earlier. Picking it up, he turned to speak to Ariel, who had moved over to talk to Barbara.