“Lass, have mercy. The need you felt is far surpassed by my need of you. The only difference is mine was unsatisfied.”
“So you’re sayin’ that a woman’s desire is somehow inferior to a man’s?” she asked incredulously. “I’ll have you know, O’Malley, that I’m still wet and achy and I think?—”
“Why did I come home?” he asked himself, pulling up in front of her house and resting his head on the steering wheel. “Why did I choose to put myself through this when I could just as easily have sent you a ticket to join me?”
“Exactly what I’ve been sayin’ all along. You might be able to spank me when you’ve a mind to, O’Malley; you’re bigger and stronger, but your stubborn, prideful, know-it-all attitude will be your downfall,” she informed him smugly.
“I was bein’ facetious,” he drawled. “If you attended to your studies, you’d know what that meant.”
“I know what facetious means. Don’t be so pompous with your university education and your fancy job. Maybe you better wait till you get to America and find yourself an educated woman. We poor Irish lasses might not be good enough for you now.”
Sean bit his tongue and got out of the car. Quickly, he went to her side and opened the door.
“Get out,” he barked.
When she didn’t move immediately, he reached in and took her arm, pulled her from the vehicle and right over his shoulder. Slamming the door, he marched up the walkway and continued up the steps.
“Sean, the neighbors,” Maeve hissed in protest. “Put me down!”
Ignoring her, he knocked on the door and strode through when her mother opened it.
“Good evening, Mrs. Donahue,” he said smoothly as he made his way to the stairs. “I’ll only be a minute.”
“Aren’t you goin’ to do somethin’?” Margaret gasped, her hand on her chest in shock. Glaring at her husband, she waited.
“No, I don’t believe I am,” he replied, glancing at her over the top of his newspaper.
“I demand that you do,” Margaret insisted, hearing Maeve’s cries. There was no mistakin’ the sound of a hand striking flesh.
“Margaret, that young man has the right of it and I only wish I’d taken you in hand long ago. In fact, the next time we have an argument and you stop talkin’ to me, it might just be you who is upstairs cryin’ as I paddle your bottom. Now you just think about that,” he said firmly.
Shaken, Margaret collapsed onto her chair.
Five minutes later, Sean came back downstairs with a very satisfied expression on his face.
“Mrs. Donahue, please cancel any weddin’ plans you’ve made,” he said clearly.
“I don’t understand. You aren’t goin’ to marry Maeve?” she asked weakly.
“Oh, we’re gettin’ married, but it’s goin’ to be the way Maeve wants it. I’ll inform my mother as soon as I get home. The weddin’ will be early August and we’ll be leaving for the U.S. immediately after.”
“You got the job,” Mr. Donahue crowed, rising from his chair to shake Sean’s hand.
“So I did, and a September weddin’ will not work. I’ll be returnin’ to the States next week for a month of trainin’, and while I’m there, I’ll look for a house. We’ll be married as soon as I return and have a couple of weeks for a honeymoon in the U.S. before I have to start work. It makes sense to have her settled inour own home as soon as I can. Livin’ in a new country will be enough of a challenge for my little bride.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m happy about you takin’ her so far away, but I do understand. A man must go where his work is and this sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you. I know she’s not really happy here.”
“I will do everythin’ in my power to make her happy,” Sean promised.
“It doesn’t seem as though you’re off to a very good start,” Margaret snipped sarcastically.
“That’s where you are wrong, Mrs. Donahue. A wife needs to learn to honor and respect her husband, just as a husband must learn to cherish and protect his wife, sometimes from her own foolish notions. Maeve will have everythin’ she needs with me.
“I’ll be by tomorrow to discuss the new weddin’ plans with my future wife. My mother won’t be with me. Goodnight.”
Chapter Ten
Maeve felt more settled after that night. Two spankings and a bout of glorious lovemaking gave her an idea of what she could expect as The O’Malley’s wife. While one was not particularly to her likin’, the other was far more appealing than she’d ever imagined. She tried more than once to get Sean to repeat the act as they planned their wedding while waiting for him to return to the States. He flatly refused.
