Accepting His Ways (Quinlan O'Connor Book 2) (5 page)

“I hope you’re quite satisfied with the way by ass aches.”

“Hmm. Good thing you love leather. It was one of my good belts, too.”

“Not for punishment,” she retorted.

“But it’s so much better than yelling at each other, hurt feelings, angry words, and things we can’t take back.”

“I’ll get back to you on that,” was her sullen response. Quinn released his indulgent, delicious, throaty laugh of enjoyment and it was over. The error in judgment, the inconsideration of others, the irritation, the fear, the anger, it was all gone.

“Okay, I have no intentions of pleasuring you on this insect-infested ground, and you need to clean up your scratches. Do you have disinfectant and cream?” He waited for her nod before continuing, “When are you coming home?”

“The plan was to go tonight or tomorrow morning.” She had to ignore her need to rub her burning butt.

“Which is it?” he asked as he leaned down to lick her lips being held by her teeth.

“Does it matter?” she murmured as she relinquished her lips to his insistent ones.

She leaned back and licked her lips before looking up at her fiancé’s face and saw her dom lower his chin and lift his eyebrows in a display of disbelief. She deflated in the face of another spankable issue.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you came home tonight but I do have enough to do so I can make it to tomorrow morning. You call me as soon as you get into town. No exceptions or you will be one sore and sorry woman. Understood?”

“More than now, you mean.” Before he could respond, she said, “Yes. I’ll call, but I’m not sure what time I’ll be back in town.” She surreptitiously glanced up to see his expectant look remained. “By noon, though.”

“Good, now where is that first aid kit?” He left her at camp with a searing kiss and a parting smack to her aching bottom that reignited the burn just enough to remind her for a few more hours that her man loved her.

Preparing for the wedding was more taxing than Cheyenne would have thought. The summer was half over, and the wedding was approaching in a few short months. She lay in Quinn’s lap as they cuddled after a play session.

“I have to go to Liam’s the end of next week. They’ve set up branding for Friday and Saturday, and I promised to come up and help. Cian is coming up to help with the immunizations. Shane and Andrew will be working on the house plans. They want to get started on foundational work while the weather is still good.”

“Can’t they do that alone?”

“I suppose they could but why? What’s wrong?”

Cheyenne shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing really, I feel a bit off, I guess. I don’t want you to go again. It seems you’re always gone in the summer. August is almost here, and I haven’t spent much time with you.”

“I can stay home and go the following weekend. I’ll call the guys and tell them to put off branding for another week. It won’t be more than an inconvenience. I don’t like leaving you home when you aren’t well.” He added a chastising tone to his next words. “You don’t have a good history of getting medical help without encouragement.”

She had already rolled her eyes before she caught herself and looking at him sheepishly. “It’s a female thing. Nothing I can’t handle, besides I’m anxious to see some tentative house plans, so I guess you should go.”

Quinn stared at her for a long moment and then accepted she would be fine. After all, it wasn’t something she was unfamiliar with, and she did sometimes have difficulty with her cycle. He trusted she would be honest with him on the important matters.

By the time her friend and assistant Jacquie had called Quinn, Cheyenne was very sick and had been for most of the week, but since they’d both been busy, Quinn didn’t come over the first of the week and just called. Now it was Wednesday night.

“Leaving at first light tomorrow,
beag amháin,
so wanted to call now. I’ve missed you this week, and now it won’t be until Tuesday before I see you. Possibly Monday night.
I should have made some time to come over. I’m sorry I was so caught up at work that I didn’t do that.”

“Mmm, it’s okay, I’m a big girl, you know, regardless of what you like to call me.”

“Now, you know I love to call you Irish endearments. Not like Liam, but I have my favorites. Are you feeling any better? I know it’s late, but I don’t like how you sound. Do you need me to come over anyway?”

“No. I’m just having cramps and a long week. Don’t worry. Honestly, I’m fine. Just a day or two more and I’ll be great.”

“Are you sure?” his voice sounded skeptical.

“Allow me to know my own body,” was her testy reply.

“Okay. I might not call because we will be working long hours but I’ll text you. I want to know if you aren’t feeling better. I love you, and I’ll be back Monday night, late or Tuesday morning.

“Geez, no calls, texts only, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were stepping out on me.”

“Cheyenne.” She could hear the dom descending.

“I’m playing.”

“Not funny. All right, honey, go to bed and feel better. You know you can always call mom and if you need me, call me. Promise me.”

“I will. Have a good time. Don’t work too hard.”

Cheyenne tried to take care of what she knew wasn’t her monthly visitor, but it was too little too late. Everyone who knew Cheyenne well enough knew of her general aversion to doctors and since becoming an adult, she rarely saw one. Quinn had gotten her into the only one she had seen in over four years, and only after she had gotten very sick. Cheyenne tried to ignore the fact that her fiancé was quite adamant the last time she waited too late that if she did it again, she would be a very sorry
beag amháin.

Regardless of the butt clenching memory of her last doctor encounter with Quinn, she didn’t call the doctor. She was determined she would be better all on her own.

“Cheyenne, please call the doctor. Please? You’re really sick and have been for too long,” begged her assistant Jacquie. “Besides, every night Ace asks me how you are, and he said if you weren’t better today he would call Master Carter to come and see you. I don’t think that would be better than going to your own doctor. When Carter Taylor is in dom mode and irritated, I find another place to be. So would you please get an appointment?”

Cheyenne croaked her answer because her throat hurt. “I’ll be okay. You were so sweet to bring these extra meds before work. I’m staying here today and only stay until you are done with your high priorities. I just need this medicine and sleep. Just tell him you picked up medicine for me and I should be better tomorrow.”

“Cheyenne, you have to know that I can’t lie to Ace. I mean, I don’t want to but I really can’t, he can tell. It’s not possible anymore because he knows me too well. I’ll try to avoid the subject.”

“Fine but don’t offer any information.”

When Ace came home at lunch, he didn’t sound happy after his question and answer round with Jacquie. “Ace it isn’t my fault she won’t go to the doctor,” exclaimed Jacquie.

“True. But when I ask you a question, and you find every way in the world to avoid that question and then give me one syllable answers, that just won’t do.”

“She asked me not to say anything.”

“I bet if she knew you were going to get your butt burned because you were so avoidant, she might not have asked you.”

“Ace, this is Cheyenne we’re talking about and going to a doctor. Those two never reside in the same sentence well. She would feel bad, but she would not have gone to avoid me getting in trouble with you.”

“Keeping her confidences are fine if she isn’t unsafe. You missed it on this one, baby, so let me call Quinn and then you and I are having a session on trust and truthfulness. Strip.”

Jacquie made an inadvisable sound of dissatisfaction and Ace chuckled as he picked up his phone. “That’s five.” She made another sound but followed it quickly with, “Sorry, sir.” He shook his head.

Quinlan was on his way home when he got the call from Ace. After listening to his friend’s interpretation of the situation, he asked to speak to Jacquie.

“Hello? Yes, she’s pretty sick, and no it isn’t even the right time of the month for that. Yeah, well, she’s having a hard time swallowing.”

“She won’t go to the doctor.” It was a statement from Quinn rather than a question.

“No. Quinn, she’s truly afraid of going for some reason. I did try to get her to go but as sick as she is, she absolutely won’t even consider it. I feel bad even asking her to go.”

“You did what a good friend would do. I know my girl doesn’t like to go see a doctor. Look, honey, I’m on the road, do you think you could call her doctor and get an emergency visit.”

“Yes.” Her tone was resigned.

“Thanks, honey. Jacquie, before you go, is Ace upset with you?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Okay, this wasn’t your fault, and I’ll talk to him to see if I can lessen the penalty.”

“You don’t have to, and I don’t think that will go over well, to be honest.”

“Well, let me have a go anyway, okay? I promise I won’t make it worse. Hand Ace the phone. And thanks again. Call me with the details.”

“You’re welcome and thanks.”

Cheyenne’s doctor, being out of town, had someone covering for him who gave her an appointment at the end of the day. Quinn asked Jacquie to get her there, and he would bring her home.

“What the hell? I don’t need you to make my doctor appointments, and I’m really pissed off that you called Quinn. What are you now, the town crier?”

“I’m sorry,” cried Jacquie. “It wasn’t me it was Ace, and I’m telling you he’s upset with both of us.”

“I’m not going to see a doctor I don’t know, and I’m not talking to you about it anymore. I thought you had my back. And honestly, I don’t care what Ace thinks about it, it’s my life.”

Cheyenne coughed, moaned and then tried to catch her breath. She decreed in her raspy voice that the crying Jacquie was banished from her apartment. She knew that her friend had no choice but to do as the doms in their lives had told her to do. Cheyenne was still angry.

When their men demanded something, it was the most natural thing in the world to comply. She moaned thinking about how she would have to grovel when she felt better. Right now, however, she just didn’t care. Everything changed when Quinn arrived at 4:30 and pounded on the door demanding entrance.

“Go away,” Cheyenne croaked out.

Hearing his voice made her want to cry and damn if it didn’t make her feel so small and needy. It was as if she wanted to be his
beag amháin.
Just until she was well, that is. Then she would take over her life again. Rightly or wrongly, Cheyenne kept the wall up between help and misery. The wall, in this case, was her door. She wondered why he didn’t just unlock it unless he didn’t have her extra key ring with him.

“Cheyenne,
beag amháin
,” his voice taking on that coaxing tone, “you’re too ill to stay in bed without going to a doctor.” She wanted to be his little one right now. When he said his next statement, she almost caved. “Open the door, darling, let me take care of my baby.” Still, she resisted.

“You’re going to make me go to the doctor and I can’t. I just can’t. You’re angry with me. It’s more than I can deal with right now.” Her raspy voice was all but gone.

“Okay, listen, just let me in and we’ll figure this out. I promise I won’t force you to go to the doctor’s office.” Silence.

* * *

When she didn’t respond, frustration and Quinn’s restrained irritation was heard in his next tone and his words commanded her to answer.

“Cheyenne, open this door, or I’ll bust the lock, paddle your ass and then take you in because either way, you’re going to get help. Do it now, Cheyenne.
Anois
.”

After another moment, Quinn realized his fear for her health and safety was causing him to lose his composure, and, most probably, the neighbors were ready to dial 911. So he reined in his emotions and schooled his face to show concern sans the anxiety and fear.

He changed his voice to cajoling but kept enough firmness to retain his authority. “
Piscín,
let me in, I want to help you. Come on, sweetheart, open the door for me.”

He could hear her breakdown on the other side of the apartment door, crying pitifully, and it was all he could do not to act on his first threat and break down the barrier.

Knowing nothing was working so far, he decided to beg, “Come on, baby, please let me take care of you. You’re too sick to be in there alone. I love you too much to leave you so ill.”

That did it. He could hear the latch disengage. Cheyenne opened the door crying. One look at her swollen eyes, drawn face, and then hearing her wheezing breath sounds was all it took for him to swoop her up in his arms.

“Damn,
beag amháin
, you’re burning up. Hold on, honey. You’re going to be just fine. I need to get some clothes for you. I’m here. I’ll take good care of you. Lay here just a moment while I grab some things.”

He began throwing items in a bag he found in her closet telling her firmly to lie down until he was done gathering her things. When she started to get up and protest, Quinn tried to calm her.

“Lie down. I have this. I have you. Hold on just a few more minutes.” He started dialing.

“I just need to sleep. Will you stay with me?”

“Yep, I’m staying with you, but you need medicine first.”

“I don’t need a doctor,” she argued as she went into a fit of coughing and wheezing.

He was in no mood to be argued with, and while he attempted to speak softly and gently to her, his actions were anything but soft and gentle. They talked about urgency and purpose. He needed to get her to a doctor and treated. Fearful of how sick she might really be and angry that she would allow it to get this far, he didn’t allow her to refuse the help that he arranged.

With a few more fussy outbursts that he lovingly ignored, Quinn got Carter Taylor, a friend, a member of the club and a physician by trade, on the phone. After some hushed conversation, Carter said he would be back in town later that evening, and if she didn’t get medical care by then, he agreed to come over and see Cheyenne.

Quinn made another call and gathered the too exhausted to resist Cheyenne up to take her to his family physician. That kind gentleman had been hearing the complaints and curing the illnesses of the O’Connors for more years than Quinn was alive, one more moody family member didn’t surprise him any. He knew how to handle them.

“You, young lady, need to go to the hospital, and that’s that.”

“No. Just give me some medicine.”

“Cheyenne, he’s the doctor and if he thinks you should go then you need to go.”

“No,” she hacked. “I’m not going. Either give me medicine or don’t. My father died in a hospital that was supposed to heal him.” She fell into a coughing fit. “I know it’s irrational. I do. But I just can’t.” She started crying so hard she vomited, making breathing all but impossible.