She was a nervous wreck with the wedding and ultimate move. One of the things she didn’t need right now included a fiancé who not only had dom qualities but also was a full-fledged freaking dominant. More than that, she was worried that Quinlan was an irritated, freaking dominant. The word fuck flowed unbidden through her mind, and she instantly looked for him. She had been with Quinlan O’Connor for so long now she wouldn’t even say the word mentally without making a furtive look around. Her programmed brain had long ago substituted freaking. Who did that? She smiled, whom was she kidding? She creamed just thinking about him, his protective, loving and yes, dominant way with her. He was such eye candy, she grinned as she was reminded that her girlfriends still drooled over him.
Now here she was, watching for her Quinn to walk into the airport, out of security, and into her anxious arms. As Cheyenne was standing and waiting for her lover to get off the airplane, she thought back to the reason she was apprehensive about Quinlan coming home. It seemed like every time Quinn went out of town, Cheyenne stepped waist deep in the bogs. This time was no different. Her diet was out of control and a hot mess in any book. Even though it began with good intentions, it had gone awry. She remembered that, in Jocelyn’s venacular, she had been running on “stinkin’ thinkin.”
She heard the flight announced and watched as he strode with relaxed confidence to the entry that separated secured from non-secured passengers. Opening his arms as he crossed over the security line, she ran into them almost breaking down into an emotional mess. Well, she thought, an airport is one of those crying places and allowed the tears to flow. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow but comforted her with gentle words and kisses.
“Shush, baby, you’re okay. I’m home until the wedding so no more separations.
He lowered his head and made love to her lips with a tangible desperation that she gave back to him in response. She felt a delicious shiver of dread when her too observant man spoke in that deep grumbling voice in her ear.
“Your clothes are too loose.” His lips brushed her ear, his voice taking on that tenor that it did when he was concerned and getting ready to chide her. Leading her out of the main walkway, he asked, “Were you sick?” He continued at the shake of her head, “Then the truth is all I’ll be interested in when you try to explain this much weight loss. I haven’t been gone so long that you should be this thin.” He slid his lips back over hers and spoke into her moistness, “God, I missed you. I want you to enjoy your wedding without a sore bottom, among other things, so I advise you don’t put any effort into trying to come up with anything other than the truth, piscín.” His arm slid up to draw her into him as his hand draped around the back of her neck.
He started them moving forward. “Let’s go home, baby.”
She breathed, “Yes, sir. I love you.” She was drawn into another soul-igniting kiss.
Once again, she felt the familiar shiver of anticipation both of the punishment and the reward. How did he make her know she was special and then naughty at the same time? Cheyenne sighed. She would never be able to give up Quinlan O’Connor, and she was eternally thankful she didn’t have to live her life without him. He was her addiction, and she didn’t have the power or the desire to break his hold over her. She smiled. What a lovely addiction he was.
“So, what did you accomplish while I was away and could only dream of you? What did you do to keep yourself busy?” he soothed her as he steered them towards the baggage claim, wiping her tears as he did.
“Nothing but worked on the wedding things, I guess. I missed you so very much. It might sound bad, but it was awesome with no one to worry about but myself and yet I missed you terribly. No problems at all, well except for that one problem you already know about. I can’t believe you embarrassed me like that when Master Josh called you.”
She left the door open for discussion, but Quinn merely raised an eyebrow and chuckled to show he heard her but declined to rise to the bait. How many times had she heard that response she had no idea. Cheyenne watched his brows draw close, and his worried face presented as he openly looked at her body. She had to divert his thoughts before this conversation started more trouble. That was not something she wanted to handle right now.
“It wasn’t-isn’t funny. Anyway, I had lots to do and didn’t seem to notice you gone as much this time. And if you had left well enough alone, I would not have noticed at all.”
She still didn’t get a rise out of him, and he changed the subject yet again. It was infuriating when he didn’t allow her to control the situation or conversation. He called it topping from the bottom and something she rarely got away with except in business where she was the top dog. Quinn seemed to have one subject he did want to discuss, though.
“You’re terribly thin, Cheyenne, how did that happen?” She could tell that he knew, without her disclosure, that she had purposely lost that much weight from the way she had been eating. “I remember we discussed this, and we agreed you would go back to your normal eating habits after you lost your few pounds.” His voice was very relaxed and conversational which she was positive belied his true thoughts. She knew it was something else he would try to deal with in the next few days. She would do her best to divert his efforts.
“No, I think it’s these pants. Slimming aren’t they?”
She made a game show hostess sweep of her hands and then chastised herself for that silly comeback. Why was it she just shot off her mouth when she was nervous? Cheyenne saw that particular, I know the truth smile. Damn the man was dangerous and so hot she was melting simply by looking at him.
She was letting her brattiness show and oddly, she wanted him to respond to show his ownership. How incredible was that lunacy? She needed him to claim her and show her his love was ever growing. For a confident woman, she sure was insecure, she told herself.
Quinn again raised his eyebrow that she again interpreted as disbelief, and he answered with a non-committal grunt indicating his deferral. However, she was under no illusions that it would be addressed, and subterfuge would be met with retribution. She sighed. Thank goodness, he must have decided to talk about it later.
As they waited for his bag, Quinn brought his hand down to grab her by the waist, and took possession of her mouth again as a man with complete confidence in his ownership and Cheyenne responded as one who knew who possessed her.
“Why more tears, piscín? Could it be that you’ve some things that you need to come clean about?” He waited a moment, and when she shrugged her shoulders he asked, “Is it your conscience or your worry? Maybe it’s just that you missed me.” She shook her head, and her subdued cry seemed to alarm him. “Tell me what you need so I can help you feel better.” Cheyenne couldn’t imagine another man more perfect for her. All rough and tough but so loving she was ashamed she ever crossed him, well at least for today.
Her remorse was filling her again at his gentleness. Cheyenne, with tears flowing down her cheeks, whispered her apology. “I’m so sorry I went to the club without you. I was a brat because I was angry you weren’t here to take me yourself. I think I wanted the collar and was angry you didn’t let me have one yet. I mean Richard gave Ashley one, and they aren’t even getting married.” She bit her lip and looked up at her man through her lashes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was still dieting.”
“Yes, baby, you were bratting, and we’ll discuss this later. We’ll figure out what you need, so this won’t be an issue again. Deal?”
“Deal. And about the diet—”
Quinn squeezed her tight from his side hold and sighed. “Okay, cailín dána, why have you not been eating? You lost too much. I like my woman to have some plumpness and be soft. This is too thin. It can’t be healthy.”
“It was only a few pounds, really. I’ll stop right now.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re still dieting?”
Cheyenne nodded her head.
“So, we have some things to talk about later, but not here and not now.”
>
Quinn kissed her lips tenderly but firmly, sending Cheyenne the message she needed. It said I’m here, and I’m in control so let go of the reins for me.
Cheyenne shrugged her shoulders trying to finish the conversation regardless of his direction.
“Really it just snowballed.” She was unwilling to let it go. “I was so excited about the wedding getting closer, I couldn’t eat much. Besides, I wanted to look good for the wedding and fit the dress. It will all work out once it’s all over.”
Quinn whispered in her ear. “I’m not having the conversation here but I expect you to discuss this with me later; topping from the bottom isn’t allowed.”
His tone was deep, demanding, but overall loving. She was sure he didn’t miss the quick shiver that ran through her body. Because not only did she know that he would get his way, but if he found out how many pounds of fluffiness she lost, he would sizzle her backside before taking over her intake like she was two. She was very proud of the weight she lost and knew that even though Quinn would never say so, he would be happy with less of her. What man wouldn’t want less?
Chapter Eight
Quinn’s thoughts brought an uncontrollable grin to his face as he led his lovely, soon to be wife, to the airport exit doors. She was sassy, naughty, and disobedient, but she was his, every delicious imperfect part of her. He would enjoy that he needed to rein her in, again, because then the soothing love of aftercare would be needed and enjoyed. In just a couple of weeks, that would mean so much more.
Cheyenne filled him in on the past weeks, her face was animated, chatter almost nonstop now they were in the car. Whenever she touched on the club, he informed her that he wasn’t about to discuss the club incident with her, yet.
“Wait.” She swiveled in the car seat and rearranged her arms in the seatbelt to sit sideways. “What about that Maggie incident? You can’t know how devastated I was to find out that you two spoke about something I wasn’t privy to and the rest of it, well. You can’t just leave me dangling, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s… it’s cruel.”
“Cruel, huh? Well, you’ll think cruel if you don’t turn in that seat belt right, because you’ll be meeting another kind of belt.” His tone was firm.
“Don’t try to ignore the issue here,” she scolded back as she scrambled to correct her position.
Quinn pulled into her parking spot and turned with an amused face, still trying to give a strong reprimand. He missed her so much he just wasn’t sure he could pull it off.
“I think we need to concentrate on how we’re going to address this issue of inadequate food. Do you want to debate the issue or are you simply going to go back to a nutritious and healthy diet?”
“Don’t you want me to look good in my wedding dress?” She looked and sounded hurt.
She was so damn cute with that pouty face. He grabbed her to him and kissed her roughly. “You’re perfect for me. If I wanted you to lose a few pounds for the wedding, then I would be a selfish and foolish man. Cheyenne, I want some softness, your softness, not this angular woman you’ve become. You said five pounds. I agreed to five pounds without any thought. Then, you later present me a too thin woman who I know has not been eating properly.” He shook his head in confusion. “I just want to put you over my knee after I shake some sense into you. I won’t do either. Just know, I love you no matter your size but adding back half of what you took off, at a minimum, would be my desire.” He gave her a hard look. “But I won’t say anything else if you will now eat healthily.”
“Okay.” She nodded in agreement. “Now about the club thing—
“— isn’t being discussed right now. Do I need to give you an I’m home spanking?” His chin dipped and an eyebrow rose to indicate he was seriously considering it.
“Absolutely not but I’ll take another kiss.”
Cheyenne was in a lull at work, which is one reason they chose November to have the wedding. Even though it was a good time for her business, Quinn watched her become harder to live with each day. He interpreted her irritability due to the club issue and the fast-approaching wedding date but he was beginning to doubt he could soothe and ignore until both were over. Yesterday when he walked into her apartment full of boxes, it hit home how stressed she was.
“Hi, a stór,” he leaned down to kiss her, when she turned away.
“Quit, I’m busy,” she said crossly.
“Okay. Tell me what to do to help?” He hung up his coat in the front hall closet and looked around the room.
“Tell you what to do? Like I have that kind of time these days. You’re a grown man, look around, see anything that doesn’t look settled or that needs handled, then take care of it,” was her terse reply before pushing past him to open the kitchen cabinets.
“I have the guys coming over on Thursday night to grab all of this up for storing until January. We’ll need to order pizza or something and have something cold on hand for them to drink.”
“Sure,” she grumbled, not quite low enough for him to miss. “I’ll add that to the list of things yet to do. I figure it will be about 499 in the priority standing.”
She slammed the cabinet door and tried to push out of the room but Quinn filled the exit with his body.
“Get out of the way, I’m working here. If you are just going to slow me down, just… just, go home. I can do this myself.”
Reminders of the near disaster that happened when Liam and Jocelyn were moving Jocelyn to Montana came to mind and Quinn tried to always learn from other’s mistakes. He snagged Cheyenne around the waist and stopped her, pulling her into his broad chest stilling her movements when she would struggle.
“Stop it and tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help if I don’t know how to help.”
She wrestled with him for a moment and then grunted a frustrated sound when it didn’t produce the results she wanted.
“I’m tired and I don’t have time to direct you. I hardly remember what to do myself sometimes. Can we just elope? Maybe change the date to next November. That would be perfect.” Her pleading face made vulnerable to him, was not going to change the wedding plans. She was overwhelmed.
He held out his hand. “Give me your list.”
“What?” Helplessness disappeared, as she looked at him hard. “No, I know what I’m doing.”
“Yes, you do, now give me the list.”
“I have three.”
“Okay, I have a plan. You walk through the apartment tonight and take everything you are going to need between now and Montana. Then load up your car with it and take it to Mom’s.”
“I can’t do that, she’ll be inconvenienced.”
“Do it, Cheyenne.” The familiar bossy Quinn had shown up to this little party and he watched as she relaxed her stance a little.
“I’m not going to do it. I won’t barge into your mother’s house before it is time and start putting my stuff there.”
Quinn pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Hey, Mom, do you mind if Cheyenne brings over the things she needs to have out from her apartment so we can finish it up before the weekend? Right, that’s what I thought. She will be over with the first load tonight. Can she stay there starting tonight? Good. Thanks. See you soon.”
He turned and looked at a peevish Cheyenne. “Done.”
“What the hell, Quinn? What if I didn’t want to sleep there tonight?”
“Well, it’ll be hard to stay here after tonight but you could do one more night if you like. Packing and moving things around is something I know about. We are always doing that in the barns at the ranch.”
“But I was on a plan.”
“Good, that makes it easier.”
Quinn moved out of the doorway to allow her to get started. He watched her stomp into the bedroom and then heard something hit the wall in her bedroom. He shook his head. He was familiar with that sound from living in a house full of mostly “A” type people.
He strode into the room with a frown of determination on his face. L
ooking to see what it was that she had thrown, he spied a brush on the floor. A paddle brush—that would be perfect for what his lady needed. Walking over and grabbing up the brush, he turned to see tears streaming down Cheyenne’s cheeks. Brush tossed on the bed, he gathered her up in his arms and kissed her face.
“Cheyenne, this is just not going to do, beag amháin. I need you to relax. We’re going to get this done. The first thing on the time limit is this apartment and if you get what you need out now, I can get some help and we can have this packed up in no time. Throwing things, however, is not allowed. Ever.”
There were muffled sobs and his heart went out to her. “What do you need, honey?”
She talked into his shirt so quietly it came out as almost a whisper.
“I need my daddy.”
Quinn relaxed. She hadn’t asked for him before. He thought she needed her daddy too, but other times when he suggested it, she usually refused. He was proud of her. She needed love, comfort, support, a stress reliever and he needed to consequence her. Throwing shit when you got angry was a seriously dangerous habit to get into when she was in need of something else entirely. He squeezed her tight and then stood back, never releasing her from the circle of his arms.
“Daddy’s here, baby. I know you’ve been dealing with too much and you need to let Daddy take this over, okay?”
She nodded and gave him a tentative smile. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good. Now,” falling into the play, he asked, “what was that noise I heard banging in here a few moments ago, young lady?” It was time to get serious and give his woman what she needed.
She shrugged. “My brush slipped out of my hand.”
He gave her a look of disbelief. “I see. And how does a brush slip from your hand so hard that it flies across the room and bounces off the wall? And remember, Daddy will not be happy if you don’t tell the truth.”
“Oh.” Her voice was quiet and unsure. “I guess I might have helped it some.”
Accepting His Ways (Quinlan O'Connor Book 2) Page 14
