by Dakota Dawn
The Most Exquisite Gift
Being nice can sometimes get you tethered and begging.
Kneeling at a blond giant's feet was the last thing Dara would have guessed she'd be doing today. A favor for a friend was quickly turning into a heated lesson in BDSM. She knew she shouldn't stay under false pretenses, but her body wouldn't let her leave him.
The second his midnight gaze lands on her, Garner knows he should never have let his friend talk him into training her. The dark-haired beauty arouses feelings in him she shouldn't. Her expressive eyes draw out the protective and possessive Dom in him, and the sight of her luscious lips tell him his heart is in deep trouble. Oh yeah, she is a glitch in his well-ordered life. A beautiful, spirited glitch.
Some gifts are too priceless to ever give up.
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary
Length: 20,547 words
THE MOST EXQUISITE GIFT
Dakota Dawn
SIREN ALLURE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Siren Allure
THE MOST EXQUISITE GIFT
Copyright © 2011 by Dakota Dawn
E-book ISBN: 1-61034-462-6
First E-book Publication: June 2011
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
If you have purchased this copy of The Most Exquisite Gift by Dakota Dawn from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
Regarding E-book Piracy
This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.
The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.
This is Dakota Dawn’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Dawn’s right to earn a living from her work.
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DEDICATION
To my husband and children for all their crazy support. Love you guys!
I want to thank Siren-BookStrand Publishing for believing in me.
And to all the people who love a good romance—I’m with ya!
THE MOST EXQUISITE GIFT
DAKOTA DAWN
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
“Augh.”
Dara DeLuna pulled over to the side of the road and glanced at the map her friend Bryan had given her. Frustration was eating at her. Looking around then back at the map, she acknowledged that something was wrong. She must have missed the turn off. Now she’d have to go back, darn it. Driving around, lost in the dark, two days before Christmas, was not her idea of fun. Sitting in front of a warm fire reading a book was more her cup of tea. Why did she have to be such a loyal friend? She’d bet her last dollar the Grinch would never be in her current position.
Snow flurries started drifting down as she turned around. The cold wind choreographed the frozen flakes into an interesting dance. A dance that was sure to become dangerous if she didn’t hurry up and get the present Bryan sent her after, then get her butt out of there. Focusing, she found the turn and headed toward the cabin she’d been sent to. Dara cursed as the snow started falling faster. Only for her best friend, Nora, would she make a trip into the mountains to retrieve a present.
Bryan had begged her to pick it up for him, which was rare coming from a dominant. It was a special collar he’d had made for Nora from a jeweler that lived up here somewhere. She was personally going to his friend’s place to pick it up in what was now driving snow. Bryan owed her big-time. His sexy, commanding tone was not getting him out of this one.
Pulling up to the cabin, she noticed and appreciated how ruggedly beautiful it was. Snow swirled around it and capped the roof. It was postcard perfect. Way larger than she would have guessed, the porch was as big as her living and dining rooms combined. It would be a wonderful space to sit and watch nature pass by, in the spring, of course. It was too danged cold to sit out there now. Even a snowman would be banging on the door begging to go inside. The cold wind was wicked.
Glancing at the clock in her car, she noted the time. Bryan had told her to show up at around eight, and she noticed it was a little after that. Sweet, that meant she’d made good time. Turning off the engine and grabbing her purse, she pushed her car door open and dashed through the snow and onto the porch. If she hurried, she could make it back home by around midnight. Knocking, she looked back at her car to make sure the door had closed. It had, good. She didn’t want to have to go back and close it harder. Blowing warm air into her cupped hands, she waited for Bryan’s friend to open the door.
* * * *
Garner Adams growled as his eyes returned to the clock. Why had he let his friend, Bryan, talk him into training his new sub? Actually, she was being trained for Bryan and his wife, Nora, as their third. Bryan had asked him to train her as if he was training her for himself. He looked at the clock again. She was late. Fifteen minutes late already.
Minutes later her headlights flashed across his cabin as she pulled up. Seventeen minutes late. She was already off to a bad start. Punishment was due, and she hadn’t even gotten in the cabin yet. New subs could be such a trial.
At her knock, he took a breath and forced himself to control his frustration. He let a couple of minutes pass before he opened the door. Her small hand was raised and fisted—he could tell she was about to knock again. That’s another strike against her, no patience. Pale green eyes locked with his. Arousal like he’d never felt before crept through his veins, heating his body. Something about her drew him to her like a magnet to a steel statue of a sex goddess. He h
ad an insane desire to be stuck to her forever. Mentally, he reminded himself she belonged to his friend. She was not free. Her delicate form could be tasted and taught, but not kept.
Getting back on track, he looked pointedly at his watch then back down at her and barked, “You’re late.” Startled green eyes met his midnight glare. Something strange pierced his chest at the innocent look that crossed her face right before indecision made her full lips tremble for just a second. Damn, that was hot. The beast in him roared—it wanted to claim her as his mate.
The Dom in him rose steadily to the surface at the vulnerable expression that stayed on her sweet little face. A burning need to dominate and protect her settled deeply into his chest.
“I’m sorry. I—”
“Shush.” Garner didn’t want to hear it. And he didn’t want to have the feelings he was having for her. Frustration at Bryan simmered in his belly, she was way too fucking tempting, and that little bastard knew it. Taking her by the arm, he pulled her into the cabin and closed and locked the door behind her.
Dara fell silent for a moment. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she stammered, “I’m Dara DeLuna. Bryan sent me to get a gift. You are his friend, right?”
Garner held up his hand to stop her. “Because you are new, I’m going to answer you before we begin. Yes, I am Bryan’s friend, Garner Adams. I do have Nora’s present, and you will be allowed to see it when we are done with your training.” Folding down two of his fingers, he moved the other three to get her attention. “Three. You’ve been disobedient three times already. All three are punishable. Number one: You were late. Number two: You were impatient after being late.” At her questioning look, he added, “When I opened the door, you were about to knock a second time. Number three: You didn’t come in and kneel before me. A good sub always immediately kneels at her Master’s feet.”
“Master’s feet? I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Look, I think there has been some kind of—”
“Shush. Master’s feet mean my feet. The moment you pulled onto my property, I became your Master. You are to be trained by my standards. You are no longer allowed to speak unless spoken to.” He watched her closely as his words sank in. She was shocked, but she remained quiet. The question was, for how long? “We only have two days, which means we must start tonight.” Pointing down at the floor in front of him, he commanded, “Kneel.”
Looking down at her as he stepped closer, he had to force his body under control. Fresh cut flowers, that’s what she smelled like. Some flowers were edible. She definitely fell into that category. Copper highlights glistened in her brown hair. Hair that flowed just past her shoulders, plenty of length to grab hold of and guide her head to his waiting, wanting cock.
He wanted to touch her so bad, and the way her jewel green eyes looked so uncertain brought out his protective Dom side even stronger. But she was Bryan’s, not his. She was just here to be trained, nothing more. A frown creased his brow at that thought.
Watching closely, Garner hid a smile as she dropped to her knees and placed her hands palm side up on her thighs.
Her sign of submission lit a fire in his veins. A fire he shouldn’t have, but he did, and he had two and a half days to put it out. Unless, Bryan shared her in the future, of course.
Garner circled her. Damn, she was hot, even in her thick sweater. Little round spots had made an appearance on the front of her sweater the second she’d gone down to her knees, a sure sign that his command had turned her on. His hands itched to get her naked. To touch and taste her perky, swollen breasts. As he circled her, he watched her closely. He could almost read her mind, she was so expressive. Indecision and interest warred within her.
His heart felt like it would burst the second he knew she’d made up her mind to stay. That was a new feeling for him, because he’d never felt this strongly for a woman before. Never really cared if one wanted to be his submissive or not. If one didn’t want to follow his commands, another one would. Plenty of fish in the sea.
Seeing her body start to shiver, he no longer cared about all the other fish in the sea. He only cared about the treasure in front of him.
Knowing she was cold, he ordered, “Rise, then go stand by the fire. Do you like eggnog?”
Dara rose and sent him a grateful smile. “Yes, um, Sir.” Moving quickly, she headed for the fireplace.
“Dara.”
“Sir?”
“While I get our drinks, I want you to strip. You will remain naked for the rest of the time you are with me.” Garner’s voice was husky and commanding.
“But it’s winter. I can’t go around na—”
“That’s one punishment.” Black eyes bore into hers.
“Punish—”
“That’s two. Keep disobeying and I won’t warm you up with a drink before we begin.” Her mouth dropped open. He’d shocked her, good. She needed to learn her place quickly. “Strip now, little sub.” Oh yeah, she was a fiery one. No wonder Bryan had sent her to him.
Dara scowled at him but started taking her clothes off. “Yes, Sir,” she grumbled.
Garner chuckled. He loved a woman with spirit. “Good girl.” Turning on his heel, he went to get their drinks. She was going to be a challenge to train. A challenge he was more than ready for.
Chapter Two
Naked in the winter was not good. Why couldn’t this have happened to her in the summer? For some reason, the blond giant thought she was here to be trained. Could Nora have told him she was interested? It would be just like Nora to set up something like this. It was her who nudged Dara into striking out on her own. Now she owned her own interior design business. She was doing well for herself. Without Nora’s prodding, she would still be working for her no-good ex-boss. Once again, Dara wondered if Nora had set her up, but then she remembered that Nora couldn’t have done it because she was here on a secret mission for Bryan. Maybe the blond giant was expecting several subs that didn’t show up. That would explain him thinking she was here on purpose to be trained. If he did this a lot, it would be easy to confuse one sub for another.
Folding her clothes and putting them in a chair with her purse, she nibbled her lip as she wondered what she should do. She’d been struck dumb and mute when he’d started commanding her around. She would have protested if her traitorous body would have allowed her to. At the first sight of him, the pulse in her clit had started to throb, and when he’d told her to kneel in that sinful voice, her conscience had started egging her on. The devil on her shoulder had begged her to kneel. And the next thing she knew she was on her knees. Was this what love at first sight felt like?
As the heat of the fire warmed her skin, her mind rushed to and fro. Should she leave, or should she stay? Would it be wrong to stay under false pretenses? In reality, she was just supposed to be picking up a gift. But, for some reason, he thought she was here to be trained, and he didn’t seem to mind doing it. She was curious about the BDSM lifestyle. Nora was more than happy in her submissive role. Maybe she should stay, just to learn—nothing more. The little devil on her shoulder jumped for joy, and her sex throbbed and dripped in response.
Looking down the length of her body, she worried her teeth over her lower lip. Would he think her boobs were too small? Her butt too big? Sighing, Dara held her hands out to the fire. Mentally, she kicked herself. It didn’t matter if he liked her body or not, she was just here to see if she liked this lifestyle or not.
Strangely, her body and mind wanted to please him. Maybe it was his commanding tone, maybe it was that he was the best-looking man she’d ever met. Most likely it was both.
Looking around, she found comfort in her surroundings. Holiday decorations spruced up the richly-furnished cabin. A decorated tree stood beside the cabin’s front windows, brightly lighting that section of the house. An assortment of snowmen, Santas, reindeer, and candles were placed around the room. A leafy, real-looking garland, decorated with red bows, snaked its way up the stair railing. This place screamed comfor
t and home.
Dara wondered briefly what kind of man Garner was. Bryan would never consider an abusive Dom as a friend. That thought calmed her considerably. Plus, the man was super-hot. The blond- haired giant possessed an aura that she was too weak to resist. A frown drew her brows closer together. Men weren’t supposed to bring out such strong feelings in her. She didn’t need a man to live happily ever after, right?
Biting her lip, she thought about the punishment he’d mentioned. How bad would it be? Could she handle it? Doms were big into being respected and obeyed. She’d stay, but she’d have to try harder to remember everything she had learned from her friends about BDSM. No more mistakes, no more punishment.
Catching movement from the corner of her eye, she realized he was back. Nervously, she glanced over at him, her heart was beating harder than a working reindeer’s on Christmas morning. She gave him a weak smile. It took every bit of willpower she had not to cover her private parts. Watching him through her lashes, she was once again taken aback at how badly she wanted him. Moisture gathered at her womanly opening. The sweet spot between her legs cried out for him. Squirming under his knowing gaze, she tried to remind herself she’d only be here for two days. Not long enough to get attached. Not attached. Not attached.
Worrying her teeth over her lower lip, again, she wondered what she should do. Should she kneel? Damn, she wished Nora was here.
