Katie said, “Probably, but I’m going to do my darnedest not to test that theory.”
The other women nodded their head in agreement.
Jocelyn added, “And when I walked in the door after Ciarán had filled everyone in on my little driving adventure, Da started. He told me that if it weren’t that he completely trusted Liam to take care of the issue, he would be doing it himself. And I had no doubts that he was telling me the absolute truth.”
Everyone laughed, but no one doubted the veracity of it. Jocelyn was juggling two children in her lap and another at her feet before things settled down again.
“If you think that’s bad, ask me or Caoimhe about growing up in that house.” Kelli groaned in remembrance and Caoimhe laughed. “Yeah but I believe that you got it more than me.”
“You’re probably right.”
Alesha said, “Okay, so I think Quinn is the most hard-core dom husband we have, and I would not doubt that he's into erotic pain.”
“What?” Kelli screeched. “Are you kidding me? You mean like spanking benches and crops and crap like that?”
Alesha shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe, but fun things like fire play, hot wax, and so on. You know the fun spankings and stuff.” All the women looked at Cheyenne, who was sporting a fire engine red face.
Jocelyn jumped in. “Sorry ladies, TMI. I don’t want to know that stuff about any of them or you for that matter. Our men would each light our collective asses' firecracker hot if they knew we were talking about information that personal.”
Alesha was feeling sorry about embarrassing Cheyenne even though she privately noted that she didn’t deny the conversation.
“All right, we agree number one dom husband is Quinn, but then who is next? I vote Liam.”
“Yeah, probably Liam because he’s just so dang hardcore lord of the manor,” declared Kelli, who had recently had the privilege of experiencing that persona in him.
Jocelyn sighed. “Unfortunately, I have to agree. I think that the next in line after Liam must be either Shane or Parker.”
“No, not Shane, I think Ciarán more than Shane. And Parker right there with Ciarán,” corrected Kelli.
“Mmm, okay, I might go with that, then what about Shane, and Andrew and Cián bringing up the rear?”
“Right, that makes it although I think Ciarán and Parker, Shane and Andrew jockey for their positions. So, back to why the term dom-husband and why Quinlan is the worst.”
“They are doms because they just are. Every last one of them is dominant to the core. They are bossy, dictatorial, my way, or the highway kind of guys even if their way is the wrong way.” Jocelyn made everyone laugh at the reality of it.
“Oh, and the rules they have. I have gotten used to it now, but for the first year, I have to tell you I wasn’t sure I would last,” Alesha added. “I mean, I got pregnant pretty soon after our first anniversary, and while I thought that I had figured Shane out, for the most part, I was not prepared for expectant daddy Shane. All of a sudden, everything was a potential hazard, and I should be careful of doing more than breathe. Oh, I thought he would never touch me again! By the time he figured out that the doctor and I knew what we were talking about, I was so desperate that I almost devoured him.”
A burst of laughter born of experience burst forth.
“I know. The first months we were married, I had to hide if I had an ache or pain because if it was from an activity, I might not get to do it again,” added Jocelyn. “Except for anything that happened in the bedroom, that is; that could never be a problem.”
Katie agreed. “Pregnancy put Ciarán in the unbelievably overprotective category.”
“Yeah, but I would call them dom-like for another reason, they are so loving and protective. I just adore it when I don’t want to do something or am too tired, and my man just takes over, don’t you? Over the years, we can all hold up something as an example of how this family of bossy, arrogant men, also love hard, play hard, work hard, and always protects. And no matter what they do, if it’s about the family, they talk to us or each other,” declared Caoimhe to everyone else’s nods of agreement.
“Right and they stake their claim on us. I can’t tell you how many times Ciarán has said I’m his, and, therefore, I need to take care of his most precious possession.”
“No kidding. Liam says that all the time. They know us like no one else knows us; irritating as that can sometimes be, it’s so freeing. It’s comforting to know that there is always going to be someone, or a group of someone’s who’s going to have your back and your best interests at heart. Liam, for instance, knows me so well, he can tell me things about myself that I may not acknowledge, or he sees my needs before I speak them. And I trust him with all that I have and all that I am.”
Everyone nodded in absolute agreement. Siobhan walked into the room and said, “They get that from their Da.”
Cheyenne mumbled that Quinn said it was his job to know all of her tells.
Katie said, “I knew he would be like that,” to no one, in particular.
Kelli added, “Like it was his job to know all of ours growing up. He was too intense for the others who he dated. One confided in me that she was in over her head with him. He called it pushing her boundaries, and she indicated that it happened all the time. Does he push your boundaries?”
“Maybe, but I agree with it. He does nothing I don’t agree to. It’s necessary, for Quinn mandatory. Well, most things are agreed to anyway.”
There was an uncomfortable silence after that statement as though the others were digesting that Quinn might be one of those erotic romance, BDSM doms, but no one would embarrass Cheyenne again by bringing it up. Alesha, still feeling sorry she had stumbled on what could potentially get all of their bottoms glowing brightly, tried to rescue Cheyenne again.
“Yeah, we all get the spanking part. Except, maybe Kelli who is against spanking, right Kelli?” When Kelli didn’t respond, Alesha went on. “So, my newest sister, I hope and pray that your husband is as bossy as the rest, loving as the rest, protective and demanding as the rest. But in those quiet times, I hope you’re eternally reminded of his forever love and devotion to you and your future children. May you and your own dom be as happy as we each are with ours,” offered Alesha.
The rest murmured agreement and hugged Cheyenne. There was a shout from the other room asking where his supper was.
“That’ll be your da, ladies, let me save the lot of you grumpy, hungry men. “We are all in here, dear, and on our way. We have grandchildren waiting for fathers and Granddad to come and play.”
Three eager to play men showed up. “Okay, ladies, I’m off to finish dinner,” said Jocelyn and others started to disperse to do their part.
Dinner seemed fun for everyone until Cheyenne grabbed her second beer. While most didn’t notice, Katie exchanged a look with Caoimhe before sliding her eyes over to Quinlan, who already had his eye on Cheyenne. Katie then looked over at Ciarán, who had squeezed her hand and raised his eyebrow when she opened her mouth to say something. Ciarán’s eyes cautioned his wife to stay out of it, but she was pretty darned sure Quinn already realized his darling had more than what he had seen at the dinner table. Cheyenne’s face was flushed, and her words came out jumbled sometimes. He was not looking amused, and if Quinn wasn't happy, Cheyenne would not be happy soon.
When dinner was over, Quinn grabbed Cheyenne’s hand and led her outside. Jocelyn, like the good hostess who hadn’t paid any attention to what had gone on, called to them asking about dessert. Liam gave a look all the women would have understood, but Jocelyn rose to go looking for them anyway, brushing Liam’s hand off her arm. He got up to go after her when Da asked for another cup of coffee. Liam stood next to her and whispered in her ear, which stopped her going any further.
After one last look out the front door she replied, “Yes, Da, I’ll get that for you.”
Outside, Cheyenne found herself answering questions and explaining herself to Quinlan.
“Honestly, I wasn’t driving, riding, or using heavy equipment and I’m not about to stop enjoying myself because you don’t like the way I do it.”
“We had an agreement. You promised not to drink too much.”
“Quinn, you’ve had more than this and not thought a thing about it. I was not hurting anyone or anything. I wasn’t even loud or rude, something that might have said I had too much to drink. You don’t get to boss me around just because you can. I do get to make some choices of my own.”
“Cheyenne, we had an agreement, and you decided to ignore it. We also chose the consequence. Our relationship is built on mutual trust, honesty, and respect. You didn’t even want to tell me, when I asked at dinner, how much you’ve had to drink this afternoon. This tells me that you know you went over your limit and that you’re avoiding the issue by not addressing it. We don’t do that, and when we do, there are consequences.”
“You mean when I do. The penalties are only one sided. You want me to be honest with you, but I’m always the one who comes out on the raw end of the deal. If you aren’t honest, and it isn’t right, I don’t get to paddle you. If I get angry and ignore you, I’m in trouble for that.”
She snorted her disdain. “There has to be some even territory here. I’m an adult and just because I allow you to respond to things you don’t like by swatting my butt, or putting me in the corner, or plugging me or whatever, doesn’t mean I lose my place in this world. I give you permission at those times.”
Cheyenne crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “I like to think that we are equal in the relevant things in this relationship and, if it isn’t true, then maybe we shouldn’t be in one. I’m about to commit my life to you, don’t you think that we should have some agreement as to how I can express my displeasure without bringing down the house around my ears?”
“Respectfully done, you can express your thoughts, anger, fears, and irritations, whatever you want in private. Right here, right now, is the best way to do that. But when we have an agreement already in place, and you violate that trust, then you’re subject to my choice of discipline. Because you like it so little, which I think might change after we are married by the way you often get a warm butt. We enjoy some other things that might be implemented to be used for punishment if necessary. But you disrespect us and our relationship when you do things that are unsafe, unhealthy, or against what we have already agreed upon.”
“But how can you respect me when I’m treated like a child?”
“Cheyenne, if I treated you like a child there would be a great number of things different. I would not discuss whether you received punishment. I would not ask you about finances, purchasing things, our future planning, I would not make sure you were left alone to make your career as you see fit. I would be screening your friends, your activities, require you to get permission for every place you went and event you participated. I would not wait on you until you decided what you wanted in your new house, I would just do what I thought was enough. I would not make sure that I added all the little personal things you dream of having.” He took his hat off, and he ran his fingers through his hair. He lowered his voice, and the intensity rose.
“But what isn’t going to change, no matter if you’re my wife or one of my kids, you will always be responsible for staying safe. You will always be accountable to tell me if there’s something not quite right. I’ll always keep watch over the health, happiness, safety, and overall well-being of my family.”
“It just seems so restrictive.”
“I know, piscín, but you know that in our relationship, maybe even more than the others, that I expect respect and require obedience. It’s a lifestyle you and I agreed to embrace and to enjoy. When we’re like this, not playing, not in the bedroom, not in front of others, that respect is just in how we talk. It’s in the tone of the conversation, not so much in your mannerisms or your actual words to me. I know I have a higher standard of expectations than many others do. My sisters and mother have told me that for years.
“Nevertheless, it isn’t like you, ghrá, to challenge me so much, especially when we have a sound understanding. Is something else wrong? Are you feeling isolated, or needing more attention?”
He pulled her close to him and ignored the slight resistance, “Or do you need your daddy?”
“No, maybe I do, honestly, I don’t know. What I know is sometimes I feel overwhelmed.”
“Then we work on that. It’s a start.”
He placed a kiss on her lips. “Tomorrow we can go look at the house. There isn’t much, but we can walk the floor and plan for what we will want in the private side of the basement.”
“I guess I’m feeling a bit out of place but not too much, really. Part of me just wants to get married, and I’m afraid that you’re going to start finding reasons not to get married soon. I expect you to tell me that since you’re changing jobs, we have to wait longer, or you’re waiting for the house to be complete. I don’t know, I guess part of me feels you’ll get tired of me, or I’ll really mess up sometime, and that will be it. Sometimes you expect too much.”
Sitting on the bench outside the main stable doors and bringing Cheyenne down on his lap, Quinlan reached up and lovingly moved her hair out of her face. Then reaching carefully, he kissed her deeply and slowly, bringing out all of her insecurities and evaporating them.
He lifted his head then leaned his forehead on hers for a few seconds, slowing pulling back and caging her chin with his fingers, he spoke somberly.
“Sweetheart, mo mhuirnín, you need to listen to me and believe me when I tell you that I’m never going to get enough of you. When you look at me with those eyes that say you’re giving yourself into my care and allow me to do for you, I’m so thrilled, I’m almost giddy. When you allow me to make decisions that I can make for us, or trust me to decide when to rein you in and when to let you go, it builds me up. It’s empowering to know that you believe I’m worthy to be your protector.”
Cheyenne pulled her head back, and Quinn lets go as she shook her head. “It isn’t that I don’t enjoy it, it’s just that I don’t always enjoy it. You have to let me do as I want, and I’ll figure it out. I’ll make mistakes, but you have to be okay with that. I’m conflicted all the time, but I won’t be if you let me find my way. I’ll come back. I just need to be confident that you want me, warts and all. You can’t create perfection in a non-perfect being.”
“Oh, baby, I’ve done you a disservice. That isn’t what I want at all. I’m honored to be allowed the responsibility of you and later our children. No one else has the power to thrill me. I pay such close attention to what, when, how, why you say things, do things, so I don’t miss any nuance that will indicate I need to adjust myself for you. I’m insecure with you.”
Quinn caressed her arms. “When we play, I’m desperate to know you better, to read you better so that I can give you more of what you want, need, crave. I pray that by meeting your needs more completely, I meet my needs more completely.” He drew her into him again rocking slightly in comfort.
“Cheyenne, you always meet my needs. When you’re feisty, I’m excited. When you’re sad, I’m on alert to find the source and eliminate it. When you’re angry, I look for the root, address it, and hope to find the appropriate response to you. When you’re disobedient, it causes me pain to discipline you, but I know it’s the only way to keep you safe and healthy. At times, I know you need it.” He smiled warmly. “You get naughtier when you want a spanking.”
Cheyenne had pulled back preparing to challenge him but smiled when he acknowledged what Cheyenne thought was her secret. She was naughty to get a spanking.
“Love, mo ghrá, until you came into my life and showed me what truly loving a woman could be like; I was bored with other women. I was tired of whiny, irresponsible, inconsiderate, and demanding women who took and never gave. They were superficial, or too needy with little idea of what a relationship was truly like. They said they wanted what I offere
d and who I was as a man, lover but they didn’t understand. They didn’t want to put the time and work in it.” He held her face carefully between the palms of his hands. “It’s work. I know that. You’re the only woman I have ever known who understands what it is to love me and who allows me to love her to almost smothering levels at times. I love you in English, Is breá liom tú in Irish, yesterday, today, and forever. I’ll never let you go. And November’s date isn’t changing unless we do it sooner, this weekend if you like.”
He kissed her lips and had such an earnest look that when he wiggled his eyebrows and winked at her, she had to laugh. She leaned in and hugged him tight. Quinn continued to kiss Cheyenne until she thought she was going to melt. Quinlan then hugged her, snuggled, and cuddled her until finally, he sighed in regret.
“Okay, Cheyenne, we need to finish this and go back in before we, no, I do something I’ll be sorry for. Because I still intend to wait to enjoy all your treats until our wedding night. So we need to get the consequences done.”
Cheyenne moaned, and he was not quite sure if it was because they stopped, or because of what was coming next or both.
“So, how many drinks did you have tonight, piscín?”
“Well, you know I had two at dinner.”
Quinn waited for her to continue and when she hesitated too long, said, “Cheyenne.”
Quinn was not playing games here nor was he a patient man during times like these. He expected the full truth on the first request.
“How come you punish when I don’t think anyone else does in your family, well, except Liam, well actually, he doesn’t punish right? Maybe Parker actually but that’s all and Kelli would never admit that. Wait that might not be true, I think Ciarán does and oh, someone said your da would if pushed.” Her eyes rolled, and she huffed. “Lord, you all do, don’t you?”
Accepting His Ways (Quinlan O'Connor Book 2) Page 11