Her Balancing Act: Quinlan O'Connor Book 3 Page 4

  Right on cue, the alarm went off again on the ten-minute snooze she must have hit.

  Cheyenne startled when he touched her shoulder. “Time to go to bed, a stór.”

  She turned back to her work. “Mmm hmm.”

  She reached for the radio volume, and his hand stayed hers as his other hand snaked around and grabbed the stack of papers she was reviewing.

  “What? No, wait, I’m still working on this.” She reached to take back the papers.

  He met her anxious and annoyed look with a stern one of his own. He knew what he was going to do. He had already figured out the next move. “Mhuirnín, I think we need to have a de-stressor and compliance reminder so I’m going to institute the nightly spanking so you will be relaxed and go to sleep well. You need some boundary help already, and I think maintenance will do that for you.”

  “Sorry, won’t be happening.” She punctuated her statement with a shake of her head.

  He grabbed the extra chair in the office he had sat in an hour ago and sat down again, leaning forward with his forearms on his thighs. “Okay, here’s the deal. If you’re too tied up in knots you come, ask for it and I’ll accommodate. If I have to call you on it because you’re too over the line, then I’ll just handle it without your input.”

  “I don’t think I like that deal,” she said, her voice full of suspicion.

  Quinn sat back up. “Then we go to nightly maintenance.”

  Cheyenne put her hands up as if to ward him off. “No, no, okay, fine. I’ll let you know if I need you to spank me for stress relief.”

  “And if you don’t, I’ll take over and handle it.”

  “Ugh, fine. Why can’t you be more like your brothers who don’t spank for punishment?”

  “Sweetheart, that is such a fallacy. Even if it wasn’t, you know, we deal with things differently. You’ve known it since the first night you showed up to The Sting after promising to stay away. Besides, this isn’t punishment. This is discipline. I’m helping you to learn some for a better life.”

  She allowed her head to roll back and looked at the ceiling for a few seconds taking a deep breath and letting it out. She made a big deal of releasing a resigned sigh, but she agreed. “All right, you win.”

  He decided to make her feel less irritated with their arrangement by doing some non-invasive stress relief now. Pulling her up from the chair, even though she resisted, he flipped the light and led her upstairs. On the way, he teased her nipples with little twists and tweaks. Her excited squeals let him know he was on target. He pinched her bottom near the top of the stairs, and she raced to the bedroom with Quinn in hot pursuit. Stress relief 101. It worked every time.

  ***

  Over the next week, Cheyenne spent extra time working with the bookkeeper of the Double S and began to move systematically through one business process at a time. She had questions that the bookkeeper, Shelby, couldn’t answer. Not surprising since Cheyenne thought Shelby was rather new herself. Cheyenne did wonder what the previous bookkeeper had been doing and wished she could speak to him or her. She couldn’t put her finger on it yet, but things did not look just right. Things were going much slower than she had first planned. The good thing about it was Mr. Spencer didn’t seem to mind. The bad thing was he hadn’t spent quality time on his books for years. He trusted his people he hired to do that job. Maybe too much.

  Cheyenne decided to have a conversation with the head ranch manager, Chuck Wyman and when she met him, she couldn’t quite understand why she had an uneasy queasiness in her belly. He was dressed like any other manager, flannel shirt, and jeans, hat, with an unusual handlebar mustache. Oh, Cheyenne, you simply need to get this put together right and shake loose of the weirdness. You don’t have to like him to work with him. All he has to do is give the receipts to the bookkeeper and stay in the budget she sets. I only have to verify the numbers, do the final schedules and reporting. Then handle the taxes and do the first audit. Then everything will be easy as pie from then on.

  Cheyenne tried to explain it to Quinn at dinner that night. “It isn’t a big deal, really but I’m having trouble not understanding why I can’t let the feeling go. You know, that something isn’t quite right. The manager isn’t intimidating although he acts as though he is. It is almost laughable. If I wanted to, I could blow him out of the water by telling him who my family is.” Cheyenne laughed at the lunacy of trying to intimidate an O’Connor woman.

  “Shelby is intimidated or just doesn’t want to work with them more than she does. I’m just guessing here, but it seems as though she really isn’t interested in why the numbers don’t jive.”

  “Well, it isn’t nice to say, but maybe she isn’t too smart and doesn’t want to get into something she can’t work out. Or worse, she’s lazy.”

  “That’s horrible to say. Some people aren’t intrigued by mysteries. She might be just someone who keeps to herself.”

  “What a concept.” He leaned over and kissed his wife.

  “Yes, and how boring.” She kissed him back.

  It seemed as the days progressed, so did her uneasiness and her moodiness. She’d become a dog with the proverbial bone and the more she questioned, the more intense her determination, causing much more moodiness than her husband was happy with.

  Quinn had walked into the room after working with the dogs and had just finished feeding, watering and bedding them for the night. He opened the refrigerator.

  “Did you remember to stop at the grocery store today?”

  She never looked up from her dinner preparations. “No, did you?”

  “Cheyenne, are you snapping at me again? I’ve had just about enough so unless there’s something you have to say for yourself by way of explanation, I’m pulling out the chair and having a talk with your butt.”

  She sighed and knew she needed to get apologetic fast. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know what’s wrong. I think I woke up grumpy. I’m sorry I forgot to stop at the store, but I promise to do it tomorrow.”

  He reached to bring her into his chest for a snuggle and while she resisted for a second, she told herself he needed to touch her. She did feel better after the physical connection, but she was still tired and jumpy.

  The grumpiness got the attention of her family quickly. “Cheyenne, do you want to drive to Missoula for some shopping and lunch?” asked Kelli O’Connor.

  “Sorry, I have too much work to do. I don’t have a nine-to-five job. When you own your own business, you can’t leave a task to the next day. You have to get it done.”

  “Oh, I get it. Grew up on the Emerald Isle, remember?” Kelli said with a nod.

  “Everyone worked together. That isn’t the same as having to figure things out on your own with deadlines, and strange situations, and stupid men…”

  Kelli laughed. “I live that life, Cheyenne, especially the stupid men. Both bosses are male. I have Parker who is the deputy on steroids sometimes. Then there are the brothers I was raised with and who raised me. Believe me, I get it.”

  Cheyenne didn’t share in the joke. “Yeah, look I have to go.” She left without another glance in Kelli’s direction even though Kelli called after her. She marched towards the stable.

  Rounding the corner, she spied one of the grooms and said, “Hey, can you get my horse? I’m going to tack her up and go for a ride.”

  The groom hesitated and then said, “Are you all right, Mrs. O’Connor, you look stressed and upset. Besides, I need to tell you some things I have discovered about this horse. You need a firm but gentle hand on this one. She tends to be skittish. Loud sounds and heavy hands spook her.”

  She reached for the bit and bridle. “No shit, Sherlock, that’s why I need to ride. I need the relief a good ride gives me, and we need to get to know each other better.”

  He stared for a moment, seemingly considering something and then said, “Unfortunately, ma’am, I can’t let you do that. It is dangerous for both you and the horse if you’re upset.”

  “What?�
�� She stomped her foot and knew she needed to cool down. What was wrong with her anyway? “No, it’s my horse, and we will be fine.”

  He stepped into her path and reached for the tack. “Sorry, but I can’t let you.”

  She released a screech, threw the equipment at him, and stormed out of the stable headed towards the house. Maybe she was just hungry or needed a nap. She took a nap and was really feeling the effects of no breakfast by early afternoon. She was waiting on Shelby gathering the records she requested and was irritated it wasn’t on a computer but only paper. Who did that anymore?

  While the others tried to ignore the bite in her words and responses, Quinn was having none of it. He walked into the kitchen where Cheyenne was making a snack and leaned up against the counter where she laid her cutting board.

  “Did you just say to Ciarán’s stable manager, ‘no shit Sherlock’ and walk off when he was trying to explain about your new mount?”

  Cheyenne looked up into her husband’s face and shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t have time to waste on repetitions.”

  “Cheyenne, what has gotten into you lately?”

  She began cutting a red apple. “Nothing, but I’m no idiot when it comes to horses. I have ridden my whole life. I don’t need a groom to tell me how to care for my horse. I really don’t need him to tell me how to saddle him, or where to ride him or that I need to have a gentle hand. Besides, I’m too busy to make him feel like he’s doing his job.”

  “Cheyenne there are things about your horse that you need to know. Did you get any of the temperament information before you were over the top rude?”

  She shrugged again as she turned to wash the cutting board and knife. “What could be so different that I need special classes?”

  “Enough.” Quinn knew naughtiness when he saw it. “Do we need a session, mhuirnín? It sounds as though you’re having trouble and I have just the solution. You, me, a few instruments of merit, and a secluded room, like the treasure room or, in a pinch, my corner office might be just the ticket.”

  “Cute. Tell you what, just start without me. I’m too busy, and I have a puzzle to solve only I don’t exactly know what I need to solve it yet. But there is something, I’m sure of it.”

  “I thought the taxes were done.”

  “Oh, they are, but I’m still working on the weirdness in the Spencer books. I’ll find it, I know I will.”

  Quinn’s face softened and then he said, “What you did was naughty, and you know it. I spank for naughty. You know that too. I think it’s what you need but are not telling me as we agreed. Do you need your daddy to take care of you?” His hand slid under her hair and behind her neck, caressing the slender column lightly.

  Cheyenne closed her eyes for a moment and released a tiny whine before sighing. “No. Honestly, I’m just preoccupied. I’ll go apologize.”

  He nodded his head and said. “Guess I’m going to have to make good on my threat if you don’t get a handle on things pretty darn quickly.”

  “Honey, I just have something I haven’t figured out yet, but I’ll get it soon. I’m getting closer, but I haven’t unraveled quite enough yet.” She allowed him to pull her into his warm manly chest.

  “Have you forgotten? I am a big bad police officer. I can figure things out for you.”

  Cheyenne moaned and said, “Oh, trust me when I say I have not forgotten how you solve things, and I would love a session only it won’t help this weirdness. And I don’t want a discipline session.”

  “Well, I’d settle on fixing this hard on and your attitude for now.”

  “Mmm, I might go for fixing your present problem… for now. But not my attitude, I’m a little off balance, that’s all. I promise to work on it.”

  Cheyenne reached for her husband’s waistband to draw him nearer to her and stepped closer to him. He audibly inhaled as she stood on tiptoes to run her tongue along his lips. He lowered his head giving her the opportunity to access his lips fully and his body without stretching. He lifted her in his arms after another long, toe-curling kiss and carried her into the bedroom not bothering to close the door behind him.

  ***

  She squealed when she found herself quickly flipped over his knee, bottom upended and divested of her yoga pants and panties. The first slap stilled her movements, and the volley of swats afterward saw her begin to release her stress. He smiled as she relaxed over his knee. Best foreplay ever when you have stress and a naughty woman to deal with, no doubt about it.

  He tipped her forward and began to spank the spot between those dancing globes and the tops of her thighs. Mmm, that was the response he wanted, squeals and wiggles meant she was feeling the sting. He let her squeal and protest for a few more moments before rubbing the heat and ache to diffuse the feeling and help her endorphins work. Quinn knew his sweetheart, and he loved her responsiveness. He slapped and massaged for a little longer, heating up her sex as well as her bottom.

  Sliding his fingers down the divide of her cheeks and seeing the goose bumps rise made Quinn smile. His finger continued down through the valley of her heated ass to his treasure. His cock jumped with anticipation of sinking into her hot, wet, pussy and he was glad that he controlled this part of his independent wife’s life. Well, he planned and orchestrated the play, but Cheyenne would always direct the outcome by her needs and responses. God, he loved this woman.

  He smiled as she made her usual attempt to top from the bottom by positioning her pinkness so his finger would strum her clit. He removed his hand to slap her cheek.

  “Who owns this playground, piscín?”

  She whined in frustration. “You do, sir, but I need you, now. Please, please take me now?”

  He felt her abundant arousal, and he was about to burst.

  “I can’t take you gently, this time, baby. I need to just take you. Hard.”

  “Oh, please, please. I want you just like that. I can’t do gentle now either.”

  He lifted her without a word and threw her on their bed. He quickly disposed of his clothing while she did the same with her top and bra.

  “Come to the edge of the bed, mhuirnín.”

  As she approached, he settled her as he liked and speared her vagina not slowing until he bumped her cervix. He heard her hiss. He stilled.

  “Are you okay, honey?”

  She responded through clenched teeth and with a desperate moan. “Yes. Move, dammit, just move.”

  The slap resounded in the room. He wasn’t allowing her to break the no swearing rule. He felt her vaginal walls clench. He slapped again and had to clench his own teeth in the effort to control his body as his cock was squeezed by her inner muscles. He moved, and as she tried to come back to meet him in her desperation, he picked up the pace, slamming into her welcoming channel. Her movements became frantic, and he picked up his pace as they raced to the finish line to win the orgasm. She stilled, and the sheath that housed his cock squeezed, convulsed, and his sounds and pulses combined with hers as they exploded together in harmony. They were in balance again.

  As they lay together, touching, connected, Quinn realized that he had not suited up. Cheyenne had been on the pill, and that should be enough, but she had side effects they had both agreed would not be healthy for her such as continual bleeding. He didn’t mind a condom for now. She was just so worried his little swimmers were as strong as he was. He would have been happy to start their family, but he was content to wait. They were young, and there was no hurry. He reached over and kissed his wife soundly before he ran his hands over her perspiring body answering her welcoming sounds with his tongue.

  Chapter Three

  Cheyenne decided to do some deeper checking into several years back in the Double S books, and the manager was oddly upset about it. It strengthened her distrust of him but what could she do but keep an eye out and continue searching? Shelby didn’t like to rock the boat even if things weren’t as they should be. Cheyenne was not so complacent. If the numbers looked skewed, she dug deeper.
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  Shelby flopped down in her chair. “Look, I know you think that Jason Spencer and Chuck come over regularly, and we chat about the budget, the numbers they feed me and the like, but it just isn’t that way. Chuck intimidates the hell out of me, and I don’t trust Jason for one second.” She waved her hand over the desk filled with receipts. “I’m just here to do my job and nothing more. I’m sorry if things don’t look right with the books, but I take the numbers, plug them in and they balance. I can’t help it if you are delving further back than last month because you have concerns.” Her hands went nervously to straighten some of the papers on her desk and opened a form on the computer. “That is your job. Mine is inputting the numbers I’m given. I honestly can’t do anything to help you. And I refuse to piss off either of those men.” Shelby shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

  Cheyenne studied Shelby for a moment but didn’t see even a glimmer of regret. She was on her own in this. “Fine. I’ll take care of it myself. If you just make sure every number is backed up with a receipt, it would help me. If it isn’t, could you list it as an exception?” Shelby just nodded her head and appeared to be entering numbers from her receipts.

  Cheyenne knew that after the strict talk Quinn had given her about safety, he wouldn’t think either one of those characters was safe any more than Shelby appeared to. She walked in on them just this morning rummaging around Shelby’s desk.

  “Hey guys, where’s Shelby?” Cheyenne watched the men jump, and Chuck shoved paper into his pocket.

  “Don’t know. We just needed to drop this receipt off.” He reached into the box and grabbed the paper off the top, waved it in the air and dropped it back on the pile.