Quinlan's Quest (Quinlan O'Connor Book 1) Read online

  “But tonight it’s just to observe some of the club’s well-established doms and their partners do some straightforward scenes to give a taste. To see what trust looks like and see the roles play out as well as the scenes that are being played.

  “Often a submissive is not allowed entrance here without her dom or special arrangement and no dom may play with another dom’s sub without permission. I can tell you that permission is usually granted due to punishment, not generosity. If you are a dom or domme at heart, I won’t need to explain further.” The room laughed.

  Quinn released everyone with the club safe word, red, but as no one would be allowed to scene tonight, it would not need to be used. He told them the bell at eleven-thirty would bring everyone back for debriefing and final information. Then he sent them all on their way, pointing out the areas around the large room that might entice their curiosity.

  As Cheyenne was getting up to follow the group, she was snagged again by Quinn’s arm.

  Chapter Four – Claiming the New Land

  Cheyenne glanced up into his eyes and swallowed her protests in the heated intensity of his look before looking away.

  “You, piscín, are with me, and I will steer you to the best places to go. If you do not like something or are interested in something else, whisper in my ear, and we will do that. Did you know what this club was, Cheyenne?”

  She shook her head, and Quinn stopped, raising her chin to allow her eyes to meet his eyes, and he gently moved the curtain of straight blonde hair out of her face.

  “You need to practice using your words in here, beag amháin, little one, because I won't always be able to see your face. I won’t always be able to read your meaning. I need to know that you understand so I can gauge what you are feeling, that you hear me.” Quinn looked into her bewildered eyes and kissed them gently, and then kissing her lips so gently, nipping at her bottom lip making Cheyenne moisten yet again.

  It was as though he knew what she wanted and felt, and he deepened the kiss, drawing her into the vortex of his strength and protection.

  Cheyenne moaned, and Quinn chuckled. “You are a sumptuous morsel that I need to push away from before I can do nothing but devour you, sweetheart.”

  Quinn punctuated his statement by kissing her quickly and crisply, bringing her back into more control. Cheyenne looked down and saw that she was not the only person in need of a cold shower or satisfaction. Cheyenne could feel her own arousal and saw signs of his awakening cock tenting his leathers. It was just so, so hot and moisture producing she thought.

  For the next couple of hours, Quinn watched Cheyenne observe the scenes as well as keeping an eye on those around them. There were several dungeon monitors on tonight because while the dungeon was not open and would not be for these people until after a four-session orientation, more eyes were needed to watch this first week. Most would not be back, but some might and the scenes were very light to moderately light tonight just to see what interested them. The St. Andrew’s cross interested Cheyenne, and she asked Quinn how it got its name.

  “It’s thought that St. Andrew, one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus was martyred on an X at his request as he did not believe he was worthy to be martyred as Jesus.”

  “And yet you use it to do kinky things? Isn’t that sacrilegious?”

  “It’s all a choice, and I don’t have proof that the story I told you is actually true. Some people look at it differently. I am a religious man but don’t see it as a religious symbol. I don’t publicly scene, or rarely, except for public punishment or demonstrations. I believe that whatever two consenting adults do is their business so long as it’s safe. I might enjoy a little kink in my bed, but I don’t appreciate extremes at all. To answer your next question, no, nothing here tonight is even close to extreme. The dungeon is a different story and still, not the intensity other places go to. No blood sport, golden showers, fecal play or the like. No enemas here. Those things are for home if they interest a couple. Do they interest you?”

  “Oh, not one bit.”

  Quinn just smiled.

  While looking onto the St. Andrew’s cross scene, a couple seemed to be having a difference of opinion and unable to table it until they were in a more appropriate setting. Quinn told Cheyenne to stay where she was, and he would be back for her. She was enthralled in the beginning standing with Quinn, but when the scene took on some type of heavy flogger, she shuddered. Although it appeared as though the woman enjoyed it, Cheyenne did not, so she wandered off to another scene.

  The club Master named Josh, who sat next to her during the introduction talk, was suddenly whispering sternly in her ear. “Should you have strayed from where you were, young lady? Is that where Master Quinn left you?”

  “Mmm, I didn’t want to watch that one anymore. Quinn will find me.”

  She looked at Master Josh and saw his eyebrows raised and his displayed hard look.

  “Honest, he said I didn’t have to watch what didn’t interest me, um, Master Josh.”

  “Well, I hope you are right for if you aren’t, your cute little bottom may be feeling some heat. So be very sure to make the right choice.” Then Master Josh was gone.

  Cheyenne began to feel some panic setting in and wondered if she should return to the scene she left even though it was distasteful to her. Then she saw a flash of flame, and she was fascinated, forgetting all about her resolve to return to where Quinn had left her.

  Walking back to the St. Andrew's Cross where he had left Cheyenne, he could see she was gone, and, frantically, he began to look around for her. Josh walked up and tapped him on the shoulder, pointing in the direction of Cheyenne and Quinn nodded.

  He walked up behind her as she intently watched the fire play display. Wrapping his arms around her middle, he leaned into her small frame and placing his lips near her ear, he whispered, “What are you doing away from the place I left you, piscín? You are not very obedient at all tonight. Are you forcing me to punish you?”

  Cheyenne lowered her eyes and whispered, “No, sir.”

  Moving her in his arms to allow her to face him, he lifted her face so he could see it and then said, “Then why are you so disobedient?”

  Her tone strengthening some, “I didn’t like the St. Andrews cross when it went to a cat ‘o nine tails or something so I wanted to see this one. And truly, Sir, I was going to leave before you saw me.” Even as she spoke, her attention was once again taken with the fire play and the flames whooshing up only to be extinguished soundlessly.

  “Ah, you like fire play.” Quinn, like any good dom, noted it.

  * * *

  The invitational night was over after the last of the evening’s instructions were dispersed, a repeat of the confidentiality and the questions answered, and the new group went home. The rest of the club was filling up with regulars who would stay until two o’clock. Quinn waved to Josh that he was taking Cheyenne into one of the rooms upstairs that were not a public voyeur room but a private room that only masters could use; therefore, only masters could watch.

  He settled Cheyenne in his lap in a big oversized armchair and said, “Now Cheyenne, we need to talk.”

  “Um, are you angry with me because I didn’t stay where you told me to?”

  “Disappointed, but I understand why you thought it was okay for you to move to another location, but I expect you to stay where I put you the next time. I had another master watching you, and when you moved, it made it difficult for him to keep an eye on you.”

  “Master Josh. He asked me if I should have moved and, if I shouldn’t, warned me that I might be feeling a warm bottom later. Did he mean what I think he meant?”

  “He did.”

  “Oh. Um, are you, um…” Cheyenne’s face turned a rosy red and she tucked her head under his chin to lie on his shoulder.

  “Warming your cute little butt? Do you think you earned it tonight for disobedience?” His tone was firm but lips smiling that she was so compliant here but outside of thes
e walls, she was quite the opposite. Just the way he liked her. She was a natural submissive even if the little lady did not know it yet, thought Quinn. If he were to bet on anything, it would be that her panties were pretty wet by now. That threat of punishment probably shot to her core because she wiggled in his lap in such an adorable manner. He loved that about her.

  “Well, I probably earned it, but I don’t want it. I mean, I was feeling uncomfortable thinking she was getting hurt on the one scene I left and then I was so fascinated by the fire scene.” Cheyenne had begun to trace his vest and playing with the buttons on his shirt.

  “And I honestly did not expect to come here tonight. When I met up with everyone, they were on their way here, and I didn’t want to be alone. I had such a lovely time at your parents’ house I wanted the feeling to linger. Well, mostly, a nice time,” she amended with a mock punch to his stomach that made Quinn laugh.

  She continued, “Then I was leaving when I heard your voice, and I froze.”

  “That was your inner self, telling you that you had been caught disobeying.”

  Cheyenne laughed. “I am not sure that is what it was saying, but I certainly wanted to get out of here that much faster. And honestly, I trust my friends so I came with someone I trusted.”

  “Did you come with intentions of staying with them or going it alone?”

  “I, um…” Cheyenne moved her shoulder in a depreciating shrug, “Not in a, like, threesome or something.”

  Quinn nodded his head as if making a decision. “It’s called a ménage and good to know. Ten swats, over my knee, is your punishment for not listening to me about coming here tonight. I won’t punish for not staying put because we are just learning each other.”

  “Adults don’t punish other adults, really, right?”

  “Oh, yes, as you are about to find out.”

  He waited to see if she would protest but heard nothing. Quinn drew his errant lady over his knees without her protest. He positioned her for the best possible access to her bottom, again with no disagreement. He smiled as her hands went to the floor and she was solidly supported. No sound came from Cheyenne even though he knew she was apprehensive. It probably scared and excited her.

  “Have you ever been spanked before?”

  “Oh, plenty of times, as a child, but not since I was twelve.”

  “Huh. Probably part of the problem because you have forgotten how to mind what you are told. I am going to do some warm up swats to prep you but I promise the ten that count, you will know they are for real.” Quinlan rubbed her bottom and because she had tights on, he hiked up her dress as she drew in a dramatic breath. “This is the one and only time you are allowed to be punished fully clothed. I would remember that, beag amháin.”

  She wiggled in response but did not say any words. The prep spanking was slow swats followed by rubbing and kneading her bottom. She lay stiffly over his knees for a short time before relaxing. After a moment of hesitation, Quinlan’s large, heavy hand came crashing heavily down on Cheyenne’s bottom, and she let out a loud yelp as she quickly reached to cover her bottom from his next swat.

  “Quiet down, you are not being harmed, just your ego, and your bottom feeling some sorrow. Take your hand away. I don’t want to hurt you. When you get to know me better, you’ll know that I don’t mind wiggles and cries but no yelling or covering.”

  The next nine swats were enough to cover her whole bottom and sit spots. They were slow, methodical, and painful. After rubbing her bottom a bit longer, Quinlan avoided what he really wanted to do with her luscious bottom and did what he knew he should do. Sitting her up on his lap again, he smiled at the bit of discomfort she exhibited when her heated bottom touched his pant leg through her now irritating tights. He knew the burn would go away quickly, but he hoped the experience and the lesson stayed with her. For a while anyway. He leaned down and kissed her hair, smoothing it out of her face as he kissed her eyes and then her lips.

  A sigh escaped from Cheyenne, and she felt so relaxed, almost boneless. She didn’t remember any spanking leaving her feeling content, cared for, and well, excited. When she realized it, her eyes flew to Quinn’s face.

  “I knew you would not totally hate that.”

  “How did you know? I always hated spankings.”

  “It is with whom, with what, when, where and under what circumstances that make all the difference, piscín. Everything is right with us.”

  “Somehow, blistering my butt is not what I would call ‘right.’ ”

  “That is where you are wrong, beag amháin, because I will lay odds that you are wet. Shall I check?”

  “NO! I mean,” she clarified when Quinn’s brows shot up, “Okay, but I don’t want you to check. I am already embarrassed enough.”

  “I love that about you, piscín. I absolutely love it. This time, I will leave you unfulfilled, and me as well. This time. Now, we need to become better acquainted. A little backward, I know, but we will fill in the gaps. Here I can see that you like bondage, fire play, and a few other things, but how about outside of here.”

  Relationship building was something Quinn understood. It was important in his work, in his family, and in this very segregated environment, with a woman he was beginning to enjoy very much. He kept the conversation going through favorite foods, family, work, friends, and even some life goals. At the end of two hours, they came to a wall. The subject he had wondered about since before dinner, the last boyfriend. She had given enough hesitation earlier that he knew Cheyenne had some problem or unease with him. He tried to approach the subject but the moment he did, she shut down.

  “Cheyenne, do you remember that respect was a big part of a relationship both inside and outside of these walls?” Cheyenne nodded. “And do you remember that I said honesty was mandatory? One of the quickest ways to earn punishment with me is not to be honest when I ask you something. Trusting me to do the right thing for you is important.”

  “I remember.”

  “I only want what is best for you, and I need to know if there is something that needs to be taken care of for you. So let me ask again, why did you break up with your last boyfriend?”

  Cheyenne took a deep breath pushing it out with a whoosh. He knew she was struggling, but he waited for her to feel a modicum of trust. She stared into his eyes for a moment and then cuddled back into his arms before she began. He allowed it because he could see it was difficult for her. If she stayed, he would have plenty of time to help her trust him.

  “He was okay for a few months, liked a little extraordinary in the bedroom which started out to be fun, different you know. Then he got possessive. Once he was possessive, he then became paranoid that I was with someone else. Confining in that I couldn’t go anywhere, do anything without clearing it with him and then finally he was verbally abusive. The last day he slapped me after he saw me with some friends saying I was cheating on him, and he called me some pretty nasty names. I called the building security guard and had him escorted out.”

  “Did you press charges?” Quinn was ready to kick ass and take names later.

  “No.” Cheyenne could feel Quinlan’s chest flex and his arms tighten ever so slightly.

  She rushed on to explain, “I was too embarrassed that he had done that and that I had let him. I run my own business; I’m smarter than that. Besides, I liked some of it. I am not into degradation, slapping or other types of abuse. I guess that sounds funny because I just let you slap my butt. I liked that. Not the real pain, but the rest of it, the zing. It’s just different for some reason. It’s so very different from what he did. I matter to you; I’m a person with you. Besides, I can’t see you dogging my every step.”

  Cheyenne paused again and looked up at Quinn momentarily before she continued, “That is why you scare me a little. Something deep down tells me you won’t go too far. It did threaten my sense of safety, and that is why I hesitated to tell you. I don’t have nightmares or anything. He never tried to come around again. I have even gone o
n casual dates since then.”

  Cheyenne’s voice had lowered, and she ducked her head again but Quinn, angry though he was at what had happened to Cheyenne, pulled his control back in place. She was right, that was the past, and if she weren't in pain over it, he would let it go. He was relieved her self-esteem was healthy. He framed her chin with his fingers, bringing his lips to hers and kissed her gently at first then deepening it to consumption level.

  Raising his head for a quick breath, watching as she melted into him, he continued his caresses. He kissed her face, running his hands down her arms and purposely bringing her to a higher level of alertness and need.

  “It isn’t me you are afraid of, it’s the feelings I bring out in you. I don’t ever want you to be frightened of me. You are scared of the control I take over you. The way you allow my control,” he stated as he put one hand in her hair knotting it in for a slight tingle. Then he wrapped his other hand around the back of her neck as he waited for her attempt to nod. He nuzzled her neck. “And you are afraid of the need I create in you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Then he moved his hand from her neck and slit it down her soft belly laying it over her tight, panty-clad mound under her dress. “And the possession I take of you.”

  “Yes,” she answered as a sob escaped her.

  “And the protection I force upon you,” he said as he tightened his hold on her. “These frighten you but you are also comforted by them, and it confuses you. Right now, you are allowing it, but once you get home and think about it, you are going to begin to feel that you don’t need any of this. That you’re a woman who does not need a man to help control your behavior or to take possession of your happiness or of you.” He kissed her with a power she moaned to embrace. He broke the kiss to continue.

  “You will think the emotional and sexual need you feel now wasn’t real, and no protection is required. You will believe that I am not right for you but, in the same breath, you are going to feel a loss when you think of not having me there. Make no mistake, if we are here again, together, I will consider you mine. I will take care of you in all ways that I can when we are together. Cheyenne, I understand that you can do things yourself and I need a woman who can do that, but I’ll assume responsibility for you and your needs and step in if you need or want me to do that. I’ll take care of your worries for you or at least join in the resolution of them.” He slowly ran his rough finger down her cheek and jawline before bringing her face back up to his.