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SHE LIKED SEAMUS BEST of all. He was bossy, sure, and his body mass was notable, but his gentleness was endearing. He would protect his woman and not accuse her of bringing on the issues herself or letting it happen to her. Stryker was rubbing her back gently, possessively, maybe a little repentantly, as they stood in the entryway. He might have noticed how Seamus reacted to her, highlighting the different reception, too.
“My brother.” She shrugged. “It’s really okay now, but he got angry and lost control. It hasn’t happened in a long time.”
“He’s done this before?” demanded Stryker.
She gave him a look she hoped conveyed her annoyance. “Years ago, he had a temper problem.”
“Well, it sounds like he might still have one, sweetheart,” said Seamus. “Do you need some frozen peas on that?”
“Oh, that would be great.” Avery smiled her appreciation.
He nodded. “I came out to say steaks are done.”
“Would it be impolite to say I’m famished? I missed breakfast and was busy during lunch. I’m kind of starving.”
Seamus gave Stryker a stern look. Avery almost smiled. Yes, she would have help keeping Stryker in line if needed. Seamus turned to lead the way in, and Stryker leaned down to whisper in her ear as he patted her bottom.
“I hope you enjoyed that. You will pay for it later.”
She flashed him an impetuous grin and wiggled her bottom just a bit more than necessary. She had to swallow a yelp when he pinched her butt cheek.
Callen brought the frozen peas and shook his head when he saw her cheek. “I hope you gave as good as you got Avery, because this is going to bruise.”
Carson stood behind Renee. “Shit, woman, who did that to you?”
“Ben.”
“The hell you say. Does he do that often?” Renee turned her head to get a better view.
“It’s been years since he lost his temper so badly. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Renee frowned. “I guess, but really? This is horrible. Callen is right. You’ll bruise.”
Renee turned to look at Carson when he spoke into her ear. Avery didn’t miss the little pat on Renee’s backside. Did he spank too? It sure looked like he might. Did he have a daddy thing too? Nothing would surprise Avery with these men. Renee seemed to listen to whatever was said to her because she quit asking questions and considerably toned her outrage.
Declan, who had remained quiet, brought her a plate full of salad, corn on the cob, a baked potato, and a steak so tender she almost cried again.
“Who is the incredible cook?”
“Normally, mom cooks, but since she and dad are gone for the year, we all pitch in. We can all cook pretty standard fare,’ said Renee. “We have a regular cook for the visitors that also will cook our lunch and usually dinner for us, but we have to handle the rest. Seamus did the steak, I tackled the salad, and the corn and baked potato were Declan. Callen, Carson, and Stryker are clean up.”
“Impressive. Dad and I cook at home. I’m usually left with the clean-up.”
“We are democratic and share. Not without grumbling, you understand, but we do, usually, divide the work,” said Declan.
As she listened to the family, Avery teased out the different personalities and obvious quirks. Renee was the typical little sister, trying and often getting her own way. Avery knew what that was like. Carson, Stryker’s best friend, managed the working part of the ranch with Seamus. Carson also seemed to be close to Renee.
Stryker was the typical older sibling who tried to herd the group to go in his direction with some resistance along the way. Seamus was a gentle giant, but his whole body showed his emotions, even though he went quiet when he was irritated.
Declan was the thoughtful one. It was easy to see him as a professor. Callen was the youngest brother, and that was obvious too. He did what he wanted, said what he wanted, and likely was popular with the ladies. All in all, they were an interesting clan, but one thing was very obvious; they were a well-bonded family.
Avery helped clean up and sat with them for a short time in the family room, watching some detective show. She started out by sitting awkwardly next to Stryker. The whole situation was still so new and unfamiliar. Before the program was over, he had maneuvered her to snuggle into his arms, her face lying on his chest, her eyes struggling to stay awake.
Stryker spoke quietly. “Time to go to bed, baby. It’s been a long day, and we have work to do tomorrow.”
“I am tired.” She didn’t say another word about going to a hotel.
***
STRYKER UNDERSTOOD that this was all different for Avery. He wasn’t even sure she had spent the whole night with a man; these days, many women didn’t, for safety. He had never spent the whole night with anyone he was dating either. His reasoning wasn’t for safety, but the morning after might be awkward, especially if he had decided not to repeat the experience and the lady had other ideas.
But Avery was different. He’d brought her home, and that hadn’t happened since his first girlfriend in high school. His mother had come home earlier than he had expected from a school meeting and walked into his bedroom to put something away. While they hadn’t gone too far, they had gone far enough that Kayleigh Red Eagle had taken the girl home after first sending the teenager to the bathroom to freshen up. Kayleigh explained very succinctly that it would never happen again, or she would call the girl’s parents and turn him over to them.
Richard Red Eagle called his son into the office, which was in the house at the time. “Heard you had a lapse in judgment today, son.”
“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again.”
“Show your woman respect. Listen to her, but if she wants to go the wrong way, you don’t participate. If it was your bad judgment, you check yourself. Did you understand your mother?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’d heed her words. She loves you, but she won’t let an underaged young lady be defiled in her home. Don’t disappoint her, son.”
“No, sir. I won’t.” His father hadn’t said another word, but Stryker had learned his lesson. His next adventure was as an adult and far away from home.
Avery wasn’t someone to warm his bed for a night. He wanted to keep her. He knew it sounded like he was some wild Sioux claiming his stolen woman or an Irish clansman having won the neighboring chieftain’s daughter for his, but dammit, it felt like that. He didn’t want to scare her, and she had been all over the place with her emotions today, but he had to believe that things would level out. He would need to take the lead and make work as normal as possible tomorrow.
He would do all he knew how to do to make that happen. And oddly enough, his siblings, especially Renee, who he had expected to complain about Avery staying, had accepted it without a word. Renee had every right to complain about the double standard, but she seemed happy for them. Good. It made things easier on the home front.
Stryker wanted to help Avery relax, and since no secrets were hanging over their heads and after their filled morning, there would be nothing she needed to worry about. They had explored everything likely to be tried tonight.
“Do you want a shower?” he asked. The actual living together routine would be figured out as they went, like showering. He did it after he came home for the night.
“No, thank you, I’ve already had two today. I might grow webbed feet if I had a third.”
Avery’s attempt at levity wasn’t lost on him, but it was delivered with a flat smile. He tried again. “Okay, well, I had one after getting in tonight, so other than brushing my teeth, I’m good too. Do you need to go first? Change your clothes, and do any nighttime rituals you like to do? I’ll go to the hallway bathroom. Only guests use it normally, so it’s available.”
“Okay. Would you rather I go there? I feel awkward about putting you out of your own bathroom. Honestly, I feel uncomfortable, period.” This time her smile turned wry.
Stryker reached out and ran his hand through her silken tresses and softened his tone. “No, baby. This is your room and your bathroom whenever you’re here. If anyone makes an adjustment, it will be me.”
“But I don’t mind.”
He nodded. “I know, but I want it this way.”
He smiled when her tense body relaxed some, and she leaned her head back against his hand as he massaged her scalp. He watched her close her eyes and sway. She was exhausted. As much as he wanted to make sweet, slow love to her to balance out the fucking from earlier today, she would likely fall asleep. He kissed her ear.
“Go get ready for bed before you fall asleep on me, darlin’, and I have to strip you myself.”
That did it. Avery’s eyes popped open, and she gave him a cautious smile and nodded. He took her lip from between her teeth and kissed her before backing away. She was uncertain, that was for sure.
Well, after tonight, she would be less out of her element. He watched as she turned to grab her bag, and when she bent over, he patted her ass. Avery immediately put her hands back to cover her butt and looked at him accusingly. He grinned and shrugged in answer before grabbing his toiletry bag and striding out of the room.
Stryker returned, having taken longer than he would normally, to give her time to crawl into the large four-poster bed. She was indeed snuggled down into the bedding when he reentered the room.
“You find everything?”
“Yes,” she answered quietly. “I don’t know which side you sleep on, so I just crawled in, but if you want this side...”
“I’m likely to spend all night spooning your sweet body, so whatever side you want will work for me.”
To validate his words, he crawled in and reached out to turn the lamp off next to his side before snuggling up close and finding the perfect way to spoon her. She lay stiffly beside him in the bed, and Stryker sighed. He couldn’t have her lying awake all night. He slid his hand down her sleep shirt covered belly and caressed her body. She squirmed and bumped his cock. His staff jumped. He had to focus his thoughts away from his member, or this wouldn’t go as planned.
Stryker advanced down her hip to her thigh and brought his hand back up, pushing her sleep shirt with it. Once he had it high enough to show her panties, he went back down again, this time drawing her scrap of material over her hip to slide down her leg.
“Lift your bottom, darlin’. I want to make you feel good.”
“I’m fine. Really. I’m tired, is all.”
“And tense. You’re lying here stiff as a board, and I’m going to help you relax. I bet you’ll sleep like a baby afterward.”
“Stryker.”
He lightly pinched her inner thigh, where his hand had stopped. “What do you call me when we are alone.”
“Even when you are... you know...”
“Especially when I’m firing your rockets in a spectacular orgasm.”
Avery giggled. “You’re so blunt.”
“That’s not blunt. Telling you I am teasing your clit so you grow dripping wet, hot, and sticky because I want to use your juices to lubricate my fingers so I can fuck you in both of your waiting holes is blunt. To say your ass is so beautiful that I want to take it with my fingers and then plugs, and finally with my cock, is a kinder way. Doing it will be amazing. Now, what do you call me?”
Avery’s giggle had turned to an erotic moan. “Daddy, if you do all of that, I’ll be exhausted.”
“Perfect for sleeping through the night. The best sleeping aid that I know, besides a good spanking. Would you prefer I pull down your panties and pepper your bottom with fast, hard swats to make you cry each night? You’ll sleep after that too, but it won’t be as fun on your belly.” He chuckled. She squirmed.
“No, thank you, Daddy. I prefer to smile when I sleep.”
“Do you now? Good to know you will be trying hard to not do naughty things. Now hush while I help you relax.” He patted her hip and tugged on her panties. She dutifully lifted her butt so he could drag them down her legs and off. He tossed them to the floor. “No more panties to bed, baby.”
“But...” his hand rubbing her bottom stopped any further protest. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl,” he said against her neck before placing a lingering kiss there. She extended her neck to offer him access. “A very good girl.” Her moans told him all he needed to know about her sensitive neck.
His hand made a deliberate descent to the tender flesh propping her leg up so he could slide between her thighs, pushing his finger into her pool of wetness, signaling her arousal. “So very wet. Hear the suction sound as I finger fuck you? Your pussy sounds so happy to see me.” He withdrew his fingers to taunt her clit. She moaned. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “So good.”
“Now listen to me, baby. I will send you to paradise now, but you have to be quiet and no wiggling. Got me? Or we will have to send you to sleep with a red and throbbing bottom.”
She pulled away from him slightly. “What? How can I do that?”
His voice deepened, and there was no doubt as to his expectations. “You’ll find a way.”
“That’s cruel.” Damn, she was so cute when she pouted.
“No, if you do what I say, you’ll find your orgasm will be more intense. Trust me?”
“Yes. I’ll do the best I can.”
“Good. Now lay on your back to give me full, unfettered access.” He helped her rollover. “Lift your arms over your head and do not move them.” He spread her legs, and her breathing sped up. “Watch me play with you.”
And he began. He didn’t take it slow because she was indeed tired and wouldn’t last. He did play for a few moments before taking her to the peak, and as she froze for a few seconds, her body seizing in pleasure, he took her mouth to ensure her little sounds of ecstasy stayed in the room. He spanked her pussy lightly, directly over her sensitive, fat clit, and she came again.
Stryker wanted to explore and experiment to see what would keep Avery going strong for several more rounds, but she was totally relaxed now. She would sleep without any trouble, and even though he hadn’t come this time, he loved watching her in the throes of her orgasmic delight. He sucked his fingers, making her wiggle at the sight. It excited her and embarrassed her. He grinned, finishing her little session with a kiss before he rolled her back onto her side, cuddling up behind her.
“Now, you can sleep. You were so good for Daddy. Although you did squirm and squeal, it was to be expected. Some things even a good girl can’t control. Sleep, darlin’ we have a long day tomorrow.”
“Mmm, night Stryker.”
“Night, darlin’.”