Chapter Twelve #2
Cheyenne pulled back, preparing to challenge him, but smiled shyly, instead. Of course, he knew her secret. She was naughty to get a spanking.
“Mo ghrá, I was bored with other women until you came into my life and showed me what truly loving a woman could be like. 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 offered and who I was as a man, a lover, but they didn’t understand.
They didn’t want to put the time and work in the relationship.
” He held her face carefully between the palms of his hands.
“It’s always going to involve 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.” His eyes lit up.
“And November’s date isn’t changing unless we do it sooner, like this weekend if you like. I forgot, everyone is here already.”
“But not my mom.”
His lips whispered over hers. He had such an earnest expression that when he wiggled his eyebrows and winked at her, she burst out laughing.
Cheyenne leaned in and hugged him tightly.
He settled into caressing her lips until she thought she was going to melt.
Quinlan then hugged her, snuggled, and cuddled 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. “But I thought we weren’t going to go back to that. The fairness and equality thing.”
“Health, my dear. 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.”
She understood the quality of his tone. 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. Nonetheless, she continued to redirect.
“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?
” Quinn waved his hand as though swatting a fly.
“You prevaricate. I don’t care what others do, and I don’t want you to talk about what we do to anyone else.
Tonight is about health, safety and agreements, but that being put aside, I never said I was going to follow someone else’s guidelines, and you know I punish for unacceptable choices.
” Quinn’s voice changed to one of warning, “Now tell me how many drinks you had, my dear, before I change my mind about the consequences.”
“And three glasses of wine during the afternoon.” Quinn lifted his eyebrows and said, “Last time.”
Cheyenne looked at him in disbelief. “How could you know I had more when no one else knew? It’s absolutely incredible,” she continued in awe. “I know you said you study my every reaction and emotion, and that’s how you just know, but it’s still amazing to me.”
He simply waited with that determined, confident stare that spoke volumes.
“Really? Fine. And a vodka and cranberry juice before lunch.”
Looking at the raised eyebrows over slanted eyes that said, “seriously?”, Cheyenne tried to salvage the conversation.
“I know, I know. We agreed on two unless we were together. We were technically together, on the same ranch. While I want to blame it on other things, it was just that I wanted to drink them as ‘liquid courage. You know, in case I needed to do something I was uncomfortable about, it would be easier.” She lowered her head and mumbled, “I’m sorry. I broke our agreement. But I spread them out.”
“Why couldn’t you come get me and let me know?
I would have expected that from you, and you should have expected that I would take care of you.
I would have diverted you, distracted you in a fun way.
Besides, no one, and I mean no one would have demanded you do something you were uncomfortable with, except maybe me, and we were playing. ”
“I couldn’t do that. You’re male bonding with your siblings, and I was supposed to be doing the same with your sisters. I wanted you to have fun, to enjoy yourself even if I have some insecurity about my place in all this. I was trying to gift you just as you gift me.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Oh, baby. You’re my most precious gift.
Don’t you know that? I wouldn’t care for anything else if I lost you.
I appreciate that you tried to find another way to handle your insecurities, but it isn’t an acceptable way, and you can’t be risky.
Now I have to punish you even when that isn’t what I want to do right now. ”
“You don’t have to.”