Accepting His Ways (Quinlan O'Connor Book 2) (14 page)

Quinn looked at Jocelyn and said, “Must have been my reputation.”

Jocelyn blew out a sound that was loaded with frustrated laughter at his grin.

“Yes, that must be it.”

Cheyenne met Quinn and Parker later that day at the foundation of her new house.

“So, on the first floor will be the front porch that wraps around three corners. The garage will cover one side. Then,” Quinn continued as they walked, “this is the front door facing the northwest. I have the backyard predominately in the south and the living room to the west and the bedrooms to the northeast. It isn’t quite square with the road, but I think it will work the best for sun and weather.”

“You’re so smart,” she said proudly. “I never thought about how to place the house, just what was in it.”

Quinn kissed Cheyenne quickly. “See I’m good for something other than a playmate.”

Cheyenne’s face darkened with the red of embarrassment. “Shhh,” she hissed at his laughing face while she made what she thought was a veiled look but he was not at all concerned. He squeezed her shoulders in compassion.

Parker kindly ignored the exchange between the two and brought the conversation back to the building. “So the basement will be the length of the house with a divider under your offices and bedroom. There will be steps from the bedroom that open up to the office landing and then the private part of the basement. We can put the furniture down through the steps in the office. Will it be a large enough opening?”

“We will need to measure to make sure when we create the steps and archway. I need you to tell me the dimensions of the largest piece so that we can be sure. And the rest of the basement will be accessible from the main staircase going up and down. I already have the staircases broader than most because we are all big men, and if I’m living here the rest of my life, the steps are going to be tall enough clearance and wide enough.”

They discussed what pieces he wanted to begin with, specifically the versatile spanking bench which would take as long as the house to create and the St. Andrew’s Cross which needed to be made of oak or maple and with Cheyenne’s dimensions in mind. The manpower to get it downstairs was another issue and Quinn was sure he could get a few guys from The Sting to come down for a weekend and help him set things up.

Later Cheyenne questioned his choices. “Why would you ask Parker to make your furniture when there are others we could have contacted? You know, furniture makers who were at least a little in the lifestyle. Parker isn’t and now it’s rather awkward.”

“I have an arrangement with Parker, and before you ask, I’m not telling you. It’s something I promised him I would keep quiet about, but we made a deal, and his workmanship is excellent.”

“It’s beautiful, I agree, but I don’t consent to secrets. I think you shouldn’t keep secrets from me if I can’t keep them from you. You’re opening up a very dangerous precedent if you continue to keep me out of the loop. I want you to know that. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, don’t forget.” Cheyenne meant more than this secret, but she kept quiet.

“Cute. All right, I’ll tell you, but if it leaves your lips you won’t be able to sit for a week, a full week, do you hear?” Quinn waited until he saw her nod of agreement. “And more than that, you will possibly harm Parker and Kelli’s relationship.”

“Oh, is it that bad?”

“No, I think it’s good but at this point in the game, it wouldn’t be to anyone’s benefit to tell the tale.”

“All right, I promise to say not one word.”

“Or even hint at it. I’m very serious.” Looking at Quinn, no one would doubt his intent.

“Promise, I promise, not a breath.” She rolled her eyes but turned away so he missed it.

“I’m teaching Parker how to be assertive with Kelli in a more productive way. I’m helping him to understand the fine art of being the dominant in their relationship in a way that won’t destroy it but build it up more.”

“Oh, man, that’s dangerous,” warned Cheyenne. “I thought there was an understanding. Kelli isn’t even into spanking and Parker isn’t into rocking the boat.”

“Until recently, I would agree. We’ve just begun the preliminaries. We have to go slow. You know it’s a good thing to do for Kelli who tends to think she’s superwoman and runs herself into the ground. It doesn’t mean they play as much as we do or even at all. It’s a way of life, and each picks what works in theirs. Kink isn’t always part of it, besides kink is only kink if it’s something you don’t do yourself. Otherwise, it is a lifestyle.” He grinned playfully and added, “Or, a kinky lifestyle.”

“Well, good luck with that. I don’t want to be associated with any of it.” She backed up and made motions to push the issue away to illustrate her separation. “Other’s kinky lifestyle, that is.” She reached to give her kinkster a kiss.

“And so you won’t be. Besides, you have enough in your life, right?”

“If you mean enough dominance, yes, I have more than enough,” Cheyenne said with a nod. Quinn chuckled.

They spent a little more time looking around after Parker left. It wouldn’t be done until the spring, but that was all right. They’d be married in November because neither one could stand to wait any longer. The private side of the basement would be assembled after the house was done and they were ready to move in or even a bit later. Just as they were finishing, Quinn received a call and after checking the number told Cheyenne to go on back to Liam’s place.

“This might take a while.” Then he walked off in the other direction, voice low. It had happened several times and was causing Cheyenne to become more concerned. What would take him from planning their future home and life to “see you later” that fast? She didn’t know, but she was determined to find out.

Later that morning, all the women went into Missoula to look for dresses and for Cheyenne’s wedding dress as they finalized the wedding program itself on the drive up and back. Cheyenne was able to find the perfect wedding dress she could have ever hoped for, but the store was out of her size. She tried on the shop sample, and it wasn’t too small said her entourage, but it was snug. The next size on the rack was much too large, and while they could alter it, she was out of time for a wedding two months away.

“Caoimhe, you’re the best seamstress, can you alter it?”

Caoimhe looked at it and said, “This would be a major overhaul because of all the layers and pleats, darts, and the like. I could do it but not in the time we have. I have the girls’ dresses to make, and I still have the baby room items to finish. I really think that if you wanted to lose five pounds in the next two months, you would breathe freely. But if you don’t you will still be able to wear it; it will be snug is all.”

“Yeah, and I haven’t seen you breathe around Quinn anyway. Except for this trip, I have never seen two people fight all the time and still be spellbound with each other. And I thought I argued with Parker a lot,” observed Kelli.

“You do!” declared Katie. “It’s just the making up that’s so great.”

Cheyenne said with a twinkle in her eye, “Or at least the promises of great makeup sessions.”

“Wait, are you still waiting for that last love scene, Cheyenne?” asked Kelli.

“Mmm, don’t let Quinn know I told you because he’s so prickly about others knowing certain aspects of our business but, he hasn’t made love to me yet. He wants to wait.”

Alesha said, “Figures, the men who don’t have any compunction about baring your bottom for a spanking don’t make love to you until you’re married.”

Everyone laughed at the contradictions in ideals but agreed it was somewhat old-fashioned and sweet, just like their men.

“Well, congratulations, Cheyenne, you’ve stolen my hardest to live with, brother’s heart. I was worried it would never happen, but you’ve shown me that there is truly someone for everyone,” said Kelli. “And to be honest, it wasn’t that I didn’t think Quinn could find someone, it was that someone would find him. He is so immovable.”

Cheyenne smiled cheekily. “Not for me, he isn’t.”

“Just as I said about Liam, he bends like a willow branch for me.” Jocelyn boasted.

Kelli quipped, “Or uses one on you.” They all laughed.

The mood changed after that and Katie was anxious to find the rest of the things on the list and get back to her husband. There were murmurs of agreement so they changed gears and started checking things off the list. They had the dress mailed to her apartment and after having an enjoyable lunch, completed their list and went home.

Cheyenne had decided that if she lost ten pounds, then she would look better in her swimsuit. Even though Quinn had specifically said he didn’t want her to lose any weight, sometimes a woman had to do what a woman had to do. Being perfect for her one and only wedding couldn’t be argued against, not from a position of authority or ignorance. All women would agree, she told herself.

Thinking about that lovely dress and only two months before her wedding, Cheyenne became obsessed with the need to lose the weight and after a week of regular low-calorie meals, she didn’t see any results. She panicked. She had always walked but the time it took to go for a walk was not available, so Cheyenne reasoned eating fewer calories, considerably less, would make the weight fall off. She had lost almost a week of time because she had to wait until she was home, where only a few might notice her eating habits had changed.

“Cheyenne, that can’t be all you’re eating, baby, it isn’t enough to keep a bird alive,” stated Quinlan during her first week of fewer calories by consuming less food. “And you’re more pale than normal. Are you feeling okay? Too stressed?”

“Oh, I’m eating my big meal of the day at lunch now so I have time to work it off,” covered Cheyenne as she ate some undressed salad for dinner.

“Okay, but make sure you are.” Quinn gave her a skeptical glance and kept his silence.

Siobhan noticed at lunch that Saturday and said, “Cheyenne, you aren’t eating enough, and unless you want me to let Quinn know, you had better eat more.”

Cheyenne laughed cautiously, “What? Have you turned into a tattletale, Mom?” She reached to pat Siobhan’s hand with reassurance and felt sorry for saying something mean when it was obvious she cared about Cheyenne. “I’m sorry, Mom. Don’t worry, really. I’m eating at breakfast so that I have the whole day to work it off,” replied Cheyenne as she ate yet another undressed salad, of which she was becoming hardily sick.

She hated that she was lying to everyone. The thing that kept her going, and fibbing about it, was that she had already lost four pounds this first week of change. She was starting the second week, and this was going to work, with only a few weeks left. Quinn would be leaving for his job again soon. If she could only keep Quinn preoccupied until then so that he didn’t notice, she would be home free. She was headachy more and getting tired much more quickly than she normally did. Moody, she was incredibly cranky these days. It was because of her crankiness that she entertained the suggestion from Ashley and Richard to go to the club with them the second weekend after Quinn left on loan to the Forest Service.

“Hey, Cheyenne, it was fun finishing your last big errand for the wedding, but I have to get home and get changed. Richard is coming over to pick me up for the club. Why don’t you come along?”

“It sounds so fantastic and believe me when I say it’s beyond tempting, but Quinn isn’t here so I’m not supposed to go without him.”

“But it’s Friday night. I know at least Master Josh will be there, and I bet Jacquie and Ace will be there. Ashley and Richard had stuck it out after the infamous open house invitation two years ago, when she had officially become Quinn’s girlfriend and submissive. Right after her first official spanking, that is. Her friends had then taken the formal classes and found that they enjoyed the play. They were regulars at the club now.

“Richard isn’t going to want to have me tag along, and I wouldn’t blame him.”

“I’ll call him and see if it’s okay just so you won’t feel like you’re imposing, all right?”

“Thanks, Ashley. I would really like to go but don’t want to take away from your enjoyment.”

Ashley made the call and then hung up with a smile. “Richard said you can stay with us, and he’ll make sure nothing happens to you. He did ask if Quinn would be okay with this. I said he would be fine with it.”

Cheyenne pretended to finish chewing her jalapeño popper before answering. She was actually trying to make a decision. The first immediate rational response was,
No Way
. She gave herself a quick pep talk.
No way am I going when Quinn made it clear I was not to go without him. He had told her that there was protection when he was there, but she was open territory if she went alone. Nevertheless, she would not be going alone.

Even as she thought it, she knew he didn’t want other doms taking care of her, even the ones who were their friends unless she needed the help. Still, she hesitated about telling her friends no. She was lonely, cranky and so very weary with all of the wedding arrangements. She needed some relaxation.

At The Sting, the stated expectation was that a submissive would go with her dom or go alone if she had no dom. She could be considered single unless she wore his collar. If you wore your dominant’s collar, you knew your place was with your man without a doubt, exclusively. So did everyone else. No dom, no collar, no attachments.

Quinn and Cheyenne hadn’t yet agreed if she would wear his collar. It would be making a private and yet public declaration of their modified lifestyle so Quinn brought one for when they played, and she removed it when they left. Quinn was the keeper of the collar. Quinn was out of town. She could hear his admonition even now.