The Drake Unwound Complete Collection Book 9 (24 page)

"You make me so happy," I whispered. Then I kissed her neck, her shoulder, her cheek. "Stay here, my love."

I pulled away finally, kissing her shoulder and went to the bathroom. After I washed myself off, I ran a clean washcloth under the hot tap so I could provide her with aftercare. I returned to the bed and unfastened the cuffs around her wrists, then removed all traces of lube and semen from her body because I knew she’d be squeamish.

"I would have liked to have had a photographer here, you looked so delicious lying there all bound and wet."

When I was satisfied that she was clean, I stood her up and removed the blindfold and turned her around, untying the leather bindings, one by one. They left faint red lines crisscrossing her flesh, around her breasts and between her thighs.

"You look absolutely well-fucked, Katherine," I said as I took her in, enjoying the signs of my bondage on her body.

I led her to the bathroom and we showered together. I took care to wash her tenderly. When we finished, I dried her off, and took her back to the bed. I sat on the edge and pulled her onto my lap.

"So," I said, running my fingers down her neck to her breasts. "How was that?"

"Can't you tell?" she asked, her cheeks pink from the shower, her hair wet.

"I want to hear your assessment. You were anxious."

She inhaled. "I was afraid. I knew it was supposed to be painless when done properly, but those were just words I've read or assurances from people. I was afraid you were too big for me. You
are
larger than average."

"I am," I said, grinning. "But that meant I had to take extra care to prepare you, make sure you were completely ready and relaxed. I would never do anything that hurt you, Kate. As long as we communicate freely and you trust me enough to relax, it won't hurt."

She nodded, not meeting my eyes. I tilted her chin up so she couldn't avoid me.

"So, you enjoyed it? It didn't hurt?"

"It
almost
hurt," she said. "It did burn and there was intense pressure…"

"You were right to tell me when it was starting to be too intense. I pulled back, took more time, used more lubricant. At the first sign of discomfort of any kind, you have to tell me. I'll adjust what I'm doing."

"You
really
enjoy this?"

I nodded. "I do. We won't do it a lot, because it's like a fine caviar, to be enjoyed only occasionally."

"I didn’t think that I could come," she said, her voice sounding surprised. "I didn't think I could come the first time we tried. I thought it would take a lot of practice."

"It can be very powerful for a woman, if done properly. For me, while the tightness adds to my pleasure, it's really the trust factor—the submission factor—that gives me pleasure. You trusted me enough to do it, despite your fear. You almost asked me to stop, but I pushed a bit and you gave in, letting me have my way. This was something you were reluctant to do. Doing it anyway to please me, aside from the pleasure we both got from it—that's what I enjoyed the most. It meant you submitted completely."

I kissed her, pulling her against me tightly. This was the last barrier I had to break down. She’d submitted despite being afraid. She hadn’t used her safe word, and that trust and willingness to let me have my way with her filled me with so much pleasure.

When I pulled back, I held her face between my hands, my gaze moving over her face.

"Now you're mine – every part of you.
Completely
."

End of Part Two

DRAKE UNWOUND 3

S. E. LUND

Copyright 2015 by S. E. LUND

First Edition

DEDICATION

Dedicated to Suzanne, my first editor and the first writer to consider my writing seriously and offer an honest constructive critique. Without your critical eye and supportive words, I would never have seen both the potential in my work and where it needed improvement. You gave me the courage to continue writing despite difficulties in the early years. You will be missed.

R. I. P.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to my family and friends who supported me during the long hours when I would lock myself into my office with my computer jammed in my face, writing. Without your tolerance, my books would never have been written or finished, but my house would have been a lot cleaner! Thanks as well to my editor Michelle Saunders who makes my books better! Any remaining errors are mine alone.

You can sign up for S. E. Lund’s mailing list here and receive a free story,
The Gift
, featuring Kate and Drake’s first Christmas:
http://eepurl.com/1Wcz5

CHAPTER ONE

As any nurse will tell you, physicians make the worst patients. Surgeons are probably the worst because we’re used to taking action when faced with illness, opening up a body to find the source of disease and usually cutting out an offending tissue or organ.

With a virus like influenza, there was nothing to do but suffer until it ran its course.

 Whether it was the stress of the whole business with Liam or the effects of my donation on my immune system, I woke up the next morning at the Chelsea apartment with a cold and sore throat.

 “I think I've come down with the flu," I said, pulling the covers around me even more tightly.

Kate felt my forehead, her brow furrowed. "You're hot. You have a fever. I'll get you some Tylenol." She left the bed and while she was gone, I drifted in and out of sleep. I woke once more when she returned to the bedroom with a glass of water and pills.

"I have to go to a fundraiser tonight for my dad," she said, watching while I swallowed the pills. "Both he and Elaine are sick, too, and can't go. He was going to present a check and so he wants me to go on his behalf. Do you mind? It'll only be for an hour."

"No," I said, and grimaced because my throat was sore. I shook my head, feeling so bad that all I really cared about was the meds kicking in. "By all means, go. I feel like total crap. I'll watch those funny home videos or something."

"Nigel will be there so I won't be totally alone,” Kate said, looking somewhat skeptical about the evening. “My dad said I could stay for the wine and cheese portion of the night, and skip the dinner."

"Stay with Nigel for the dinner if you want." I didn’t want to deprive Kate of an evening with Nigel. Hopefully, we’d be leaving for Africa in a month or so and she’d miss him. "But if you're bored, skip it by all means. Don't come back just because of me."

"I don't want to stay without you there," she said and stroked my forehead tenderly. "I want to come home and make dinner for you and then lie here and watch some old movie."

I smiled, warmed by her thoughtfulness. "Sounds like a date to me."

Kate left me alone and took a cab to the studio. In her absence, I slept, altering between shivering with fever and a deep sleep brought on when my fever was reduced from the aspirin.

She returned from the studio later in the afternoon and made sure I was well-supplied with tissues and hot tea with honey, then changed into something suitable for her event. She looked spectacular, as usual and wore pretty dress with a modest neckline but which hugged her curves and made me regret I wasn’t well enough take her. As I lay on the sofa, I watched her put on her boots and coat in the entry. I hated being sick, and cursed my luck. After the previous night when Kate submitted totally to me, allowing me to have my way with her even though she was afraid, I had planned on taking her out to celebrate.

Instead, I lay aching on the couch, my nose running.

She kissed my forehead one last time and left me alone with the business news playing on the flatscreen. I felt so bad, I couldn’t even focus on the news. Eventually I gave up and fell asleep, hoping I‘d feel better when she returned.

Kate woke me hours later.

"There you are," I said and sat up. "What time is it?" I checked my watch and frowned. "Have I been asleep all this time? When did you get back?"

"I was back pretty early, but you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you."

I yawned and stretched, admiring how lovely she was and regretting that I was unable to go to the event with her. "I missed you."

"I missed
you
, more than you can know," she said and sat on the side of the couch. She leaned over and kissed me, cupping my cheek.

"
Why
did you miss me, Ms. Bennet?” I said. “What was it that you missed?"

"I wish you'd been there with me,” she said, making a face. “I couldn't wait to get out of there."

"Was Nigel there at least?"

She nodded. "Yes," she said. "We had a nice visit, such as it was."

"Anyone else I'd know?"

She pursed her lips. "Captain Donnelly was there. You'd know him from Doctors. Dave Mills was, but I didn't speak with him. I'm sure the regular crew was there."

I sighed. "Sorry I wasn’t up to it, but I'm sure your dad appreciates that you went in his place. It's good PR for his campaign to be seen giving away his money to a non-political social cause."

"I suppose," she said. "What do you want for supper? Should I order in from
Clair
? Something light – maybe some fish and vegetables? A salad?"

"Sounds great." I sat up a bit more. "I needed that nap. I feel like an old man falling asleep in front of the television."

"You're hardly an old man," she said. "You're in your prime, Drake. Prime Grade A Manflesh."

"My manflesh is still a bit sick tonight, I'm afraid," I said and groaned.

"Just as well." She tucked a hank of my hair behind my ear. "I'm under the weather anyway."

"A bit hung over from the Anisovaya?"

She nodded.

"You should have taken some aspirin and drunk copious amounts of water."

She smiled and pecked my cheek. "Always the doctor."