"I'm sorry, it just didn't seem like a big deal to me but then, you make me feel so selfish to have done what I thought would have helped. I spend all day helping others. Why is no one upset about that but I try to help at home and I am a screw-up?"
"Katherine O'Connor, I am not going down that road with you, because you know it is ridiculous. I said you endangered your life and you can bet your bottom dollar and the job you love that if I felt you were risking your life, it would not be something you would do again. Mark my words; it would truly be the last time. So do not use your job as validation of today's actions or you will be hanging up your traveling nurse stethoscope, understand?" Ciarán waited for Katie to nod in understanding.
"Okay, so now what?"
"So now I swat your cute little butt."
"Forget it. Ciarán, we have to settle this better. I am not going to let you spank me every time you don't like what I do. I have already told you that."
"Okay, I am up for suggestions. What do you think your penalty should be for risking your life—twice. Ignoring your environment when you are old enough to know the dangers of a storm out here—so risking your life three times—and risking me losing the most important person in my whole world? What would make you understand how serious I am about the fact that you belong to me, I am protective of you, and you need to take care of yourself?"
"Don't be melodramatic. Honestly. I will let you know when I go somewhere and I will not investigate anything anymore. I'll watch the weather closer."
"Oh, you are going to do all of those things, but I am certain you will not believe how much you mean to me and how angry I was when I found out without some incentive. We agreed that I was responsible for your safety and what I decided the parameters to keep you safe were mine to determine. This is outside of those parameters and I am sure you knew it." He paused giving her an opportunity to respond. She chose to keep silent.
"Secondly, trust. I have to trust that you are going to follow what is the safest course of action or I would have to restrict all sorts of movements and I have already said it is not what I want. I will ban you from the stables if that is what will keep you safe. I would keep your car, I would assign someone to ride with you everywhere, but none of these things is right or practical. I don't want you to kick against the pricks, but you sure like to do it sometimes."
"I don't want you to spank me and I don't want any of those restrictive behaviors. I just want you to agree that I made a wrong choice." In response to his raised eyebrows and incredulous look, she added, "Okay, several bad decisions, and let it go."
"Nope, I can't. You knew how it was going to be, you knew that safety was a deal breaker and you knew that I would never back down from letting you know how much you meant to me. I am done talking, you are done trying to justify, I am not angry anymore, so you are leaning over my knee."
"Ciarán, please, I am tired, I really will be more careful, honey…" She got up but did not comply. "I am not going to give you what you want, Ciarán, I am not crying. I'm not just submitting."
"Are you calling it done then? No more releases of guilt, no more erotic swats. There would be no more immediate addressing of issues and they are gone. I can certainly get more creative but can you deal with it?"
Ciarán said not another word while he waited for Katie to comply and position herself over his legs for he knew she would think about the benefits and not choose to end this way of handling things. It worked too well for both of them.
She stomped her foot to which he merely raised his eyebrow in response. Like an angry child who did not get what she wanted, Katie threw herself over his knee making him almost catch her so she didn't fall. Holding his laughter in for it would not have been received well, he propped her face on the pillow, angling for her comfort.
Then he threw up her robe and bared her lush bottom. Just the sight of his wife's beautiful ass made him sad to redden it with more than erotic swats that led to extremely satisfying lovemaking. Tonight wouldn't end that way, but at least it might save her from risking herself next time with disastrous results. With that thought in his mind, he responded with renewed purpose.
No warm ups for this round; he meant to make an impression. Three hard smacks to the left cheek and without rubbing, he hit the right side equally sternly. He resisted giving comfort again for he did not want to be at this long and he intended for the differences between erotic spanking, mouthy woman testing her husband to the limit spanking, and downright risky behavior spanking to be known. The first might be great fun, the second mixing erotic pain, and pleasure, but risking her life was not to be considered an optional repeat.
Three more swats on both cheeks in rapid succession were followed by the same repetition on her upper thighs, which seemed to be the end of her stiff upper lip display. She was squirming and squeaking, begging for his forgiveness. That was not the point, and he continued to explain that, as she writhed each time he placed a swat to a different spot. Her actions needed to be examined; not fix it by apologizing to him, but by changing her impulsive actions.
By the end of this session, the noise coming from Katie before he scooped her up into his arms said an impression had been made. Her bottom was crimson and her upper thighs were a competition in color hue.
She alternated between anger for the warm and throbbing bottom and snuggling into his arms swearing she would think first and act second from now on.
Ciarán comforted and cuddled his love and said he was sure she would, declared his love for her, telling her how precious she was to him. She finished her cry before falling asleep in his arms. Ciarán kissed her tenderly before placing her in bed. He felt the heat coming from her well-corrected bottom and possessively drew her to him. It had been a long, eventful day, and it was time to end it. Just before Ciarán fell asleep, he felt Katie snuggle in tighter and gave a little sigh of contentment. Yes, it had been a long one, but it ended well.
Next morning, Katie awoke to her husband already having left the comfort of the warm bed and left her to sleep in. She loved him for those little things that he did like that. However, she thought as she cringed due to moving her bottom across the sheets, she did not like how he made his will known. It irritated her when it was happening, but she was also annoyed with herself at how she could feel the moistening of her little pink bits just thinking about how he possessed her and protected her and exerted his will. He could change her reactions with a look, act, or a tone.
Sure, she had to allow that to happen but it seemed to happen without her even thinking about it. It was as though she just gave her will to him and looked for him to take the lead. Not in her work, or anywhere else did she do that. It mostly happened in their own home, in the bedroom especially. Sometimes, when Ciarán did not want her to do something, he would turn on the 'no argument' tone and look and she just melted. Anyway, while she felt loved and protected, she decided to forego her planned ride because she was not as comfortable in the seat as she had expected. She found her husband was still in the kitchen finishing breakfast. Looking over with an annoyed look at him, she headed for Jocelyn's hoping to ride over to the building site with her.
Ciarán shook his head and laughed before heading off in his own direction to work with the pups and prepare to meet a few prospective owners. He would start the dog training in the fall but right now, it was too hot and the pups were too young. He had some dogs signed up already for his first class and wanted to make sure he was well trained himself to teach and guide these owners and dogs, both young and old. He was training some dogs of the neighbors' to corral cattle for free to hone his skill. It was a win-win situation for dogs, owners, and trainer. Who said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks?
Jocelyn was ready to go as Katie walked into the yard.
"Hey, how are you this morning?" It seemed like an innocent enough question and Katie was going to answer it that way but when Liam came out of the front door, she just shrugged her shoulders and waited for Jocelyn to unloc
k the car.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Really, Jos? I am sitting on fire right now and it is because of Liam. I can't believe he ratted me out."
"You know the O'Connor men. Cián, Ciarán, Quinlan, Shane, and Da have all 'ratted' me out at one time or another and only Andrew has not, so far. Remember when I drove to the folk's houses and Ciarán called Da and Quinlan, then when Liam showed up he told him, with what I am sure was great relish, the whole sordid story. I did not sit comfortably for two days. And I was pregnant. So I get it but can't fix it."
"Well, I told Ciarán I was not going to let him do that and yet, I don't stop him," Katie grumbled. "Jocelyn, does it make you feel all squishy inside. All loved and protected and cared for?"
"When they tell you to stay home because of the weather, or that you can't drive across a big state alone? Yeah, and it sure enhances making love, but I wouldn't tell Liam that, or any of the walking testosterone O'Connors, and that includes Andrew. It might give them more power than they should have. It is one thing to feel they should be overprotective and warm our butts when that protection is disregarded but please, I am not adding to their sense of entitlement."
"Glad to know that I wasn't the only one it makes to go weak in the knees and terribly compliant. It also makes me mad as a hornet. Darn those men, I am not like that anywhere else in my life."
"Liam says many executives, and women who have a lot of responsibilities in the world can only relax with a spouse like ours. You know, one who just takes over and if it is what they want, will make all the decisions. You have to put your seatbelt on."
"We are going three miles down the road."
"Seriously? Are you willing to risk Liam standing on the porch, watching us leave, and not put it on? I am going nowhere until you buckle, sister girl."
"Right, but I am doing this under protest."
"Understood, didn't we just talk about this being how our menfolk are? Thanks."
Both girls laughed at the wonderfully exciting and exasperating men in their lives.
Liam stood waving at the girls as they pulled around and while Jocelyn waved back, Katie could not do it yet. Liam shook his head and walked off the steps with a wry smile. He picked up the phone to call his brother.
"Hey. How did it go last night after I spilled the beans? She is not too happy with me this morning. I got the cold shoulder." Liam laughed.
"Yeah, she wasn't too happy with me either last night as I was explaining the errors in judgment, but she will get over it. Sometimes I am so torn between loving her into oblivion because I almost lost her and spanking her raw for the same reason. Anyway, have you looked to see if we could identify the caliber of the gun used? And how about tracking?"
"Nothing really. The rain did a good job of covering up the tracks. The sheriff made a report. About all we can do and hope it was just an attempt at poaching that will not be repeated."
The site for Bhaile Haven had about ten men working today. This week, Shane was an overseer, looking at building plans. The property lot was full of construction materials. The building itself was impressive and looked like it could house more than the fifty people it was slated to house plus staff.
Just as they were walking in the doorway, Shane yelled at them. Turning to see what was the matter, Jocelyn said, "Oh man. We don't have our hard hats on, so expect a lecture. Just be contrite, repentant and beg his forgiveness or you will be banned from coming in for punishment—safety, you know. I am serious so follow my lead.
"Shane, I know, we forgot the hardhats. I was talking to Katie and just didn't pay attention to how close we were to going inside."
Shane tossed a hat to each one of them. "I would have thought you would remember after all of this time and Miss Katherine here has had her quota of trouble this month."
"Ugh. Does everyone know?"
Shane laughed. "Wouldn't be our family if we didn't share. And there would be nothing embarrassing to share if you stayed out of trouble, little sister." He leaned down, kissed her on the head, and tousled her hair before backing up and waving them entrance.
Despite herself, she laughed and walked in behind Jocelyn. The next hour was spent looking, mentally designing, and envisioning the result of the hard work and planning that went into the building. Remembering the hard work and love that went into her own house, she once again had great pride in her new brothers' abilities. Katie's mood was much better when she left than when she entered and Jocelyn remarked on it.
"I am glad you came with me today."
As they were entering Jocelyn's car, Shane yelled over to them.
"Hey, you're leaving with my hats."
"Sorry," yelled Jocelyn as she tossed hers to Shane.
"Geez, first you yell because we don't have them and now you yell because we do have them. Make up your mind." Katie handed hers to Shane and grinned.
As she turned to get back into the car, Shane said, "Brat," and he swatted her butt.
Katie hissed and jumped in tenderness. "Hey!"
"Sorry," Shane said. "Ciarán must have gotten you good to still be that touchy. Didn't you say he was the 'easy going' brother? He must really love you, Sis."
Katie ignored him as she climbed into the car with her now bright red face and shut the door. Shane didn't move until he saw both women buckle up, and then he laughed and walked back to his paperwork.
"Wow, he is right, Katie. Are you sure you are okay?"
"Oh yeah, it just feels bruised on my butt, but it isn't. Ciarán is very careful, I just seem more sensitive lately, must be my time, you know."
"Hmm. That is probably it. Was he pretty angry?"
"Yeah, but not by the time we were to the 'paddle your wife' part. He was cool as a cucumber then."
"Doesn't that just drive you crazy? You are mad by then and they are calm as can be. Ticks me off, I can tell you."
The conversation turned to babies and Katie was not sure if she could wait until she became an auntie again. Then there was a discussion of canning, smoking fish, and other things they were most fond of during the summer months.
The next weeks went by with lazy evenings and plenty of hard work in the days. Katherine was finding her work challenging but fulfilling and she thought she would miss her longer days at Doc Ames' clinic and the hospital but she didn't. Caoimhe and Andrew went home and the switch happened again only Shane brought Alisha and little Trenton as well as Quinlan to speak to some prospective employers. The local Forest Service office had several openings and one of the police station's officers was retiring so Parker had called him about the opening.
Parker had already made the call ahead and thought there was an excellent chance that Quinn would have a job if he wanted it. That would work out great. Liam and Ciarán had been talking to Cián about setting up shop on the extra land they were looking to purchase that was across the street from the south meadow. The property had been left for a long time but when the owner died, it seemed his heirs were living much too far away and in the urban areas of Arizona to want to keep the land. The O'Connors were in the process of purchasing it.
The thought was that if Cián came back there to open his vet clinic, then he and Quinlan could build on it. They also thought that if Kelli and Parker ever decided to tie the knot, then they would have a place to build as well. None of them needed grazing lands—just houses and gardens. They were going to walk over, check out the property with those things in mind later after Parker was off work, and Quinn was through with his business. It would take a lot of effort, but they could do it one house at a time.
Might be better to build Quinn's and Cheyenne's house first, and then a clinic for Cián, before anything else. Oh, and make sure Cheyenne had a place to call her own when she did her own work. When they made that special place for Jocelyn to work, it made her so happy, and there was less stress. They would talk later.
About mid-afternoon, when the men were all over at the new property making their plans, Kelli had come over to ch
at with Alisha whom she had not made it out to see during the last trip. She missed Cheyenne coming because Kelli and Cheyenne were both adventuresome and that was something she missed in Jocelyn now. Jocelyn was a mom and a wife and it seemed to take some of the risk taking out of the woman. However, she looked over at Padraig and knew that she was happy with the results of those changes.
Katie's phone went off and within about a minute so did Kelli's phone. Katie informed Jocelyn that she also, was officially called in when Jocelyn's phone went off. The response team call came through because Katie's line was busy and she was the next in the phone tree. Alisha was laughing at the coincidence until she saw the women's expressions. She scooped up her Trenton and laid him next to Paddy before coming to find out what had happened. Fire. A huge fire was out of control. The women would set up triage places while the men came in to do what they could.
Kelli, while not on the rapid response team roster, was hearing it from her boss. Gathering the things they needed, Katie ran over to her house to do the same and said she would meet Jocelyn to drive over in her car when ready. Kelli agreed to go get the guys as not a one of them had cell service or they were not with their phones. Alisha went to inform Mrs. O'Malley and they would take care of the wee ones. They watched as the three women went about their tasks and prayed they would be safe.
Chapter Eight
As Jocelyn and Katie arrived in Elk Ridge proper, they found an abundance of responders already there. They took their places as assigned by the command post joining a few others to do triage for those hurt and needing comfort and medical care. They took a moment to inform the Sheriff that they had sent for their men who would gather others from the Circle C and be on their way.
When it looked like Kelli would try to follow the men into town, all four brothers told her, in no uncertain terms, that she would be more than a little sorry if she showed up. Parker finished the conversation by giving her a hard, possessive, kiss and whispered something in her ear that made the color rush into her face. Whatever it was, he capped it off with a swat to her bottom and he walked away as though he knew she would not defy him. He appeared to be right for she stomped her foot like a toddler, flounced over to the sofa and flopped down, irritated and complaining like a teenager, but sitting. Shane kissed Alisha until she was feeling breathless herself. He whispered something in her ear to which she said, "I am not even tempted, sweetie. With this many O'Connor men in one locale, it would be grounds for psychiatric commitment."
Rancher's Creed (Ciaran O'Connor Book 2) Page 14
