The Drake Restrained Compete Collection: Part 1 - 4 (The Drake Series Book 7) (22 page)

Kate turned away from her father as if she couldn’t stand to look at him. She was not pleased. At all.

I thought she’d be surprised, but I didn’t expect her to seem so adverse to my presence. I hoped I’d be able to warm her up, lean down and whisper in her ear, but she wasn’t buying it. She pulled out her phone and texted. Who was she texting? A friend? Was she complaining about the man who was bothering her?

Then my cell dinged with an incoming text. I took out my phone and checked. It was from Kate.

I frowned and read it.

Drake,
please
, can you find some excuse to leave during the first part of the performance? It has special meaning to me and I get very emotional. It has to do with my mother. I'd rather you not be with us. Can't you pretend to get a page about a patient and leave for half an hour? I'm asking you this as one human to another…
please
…

Damn…

I didn’t want to leave, especially during a very emotional moment. I wanted to be there to share it with her.
 

Still, I wanted the evening to go well, and for me to end up between her luscious thighs. If I didn’t leave, she would resent me.

So I took the high road.

I  typed a message on my phone and sent it to Lorraine, the unit clerk on the surgical ward where I had patients.

Do me a huge favor and buzz my pager in a minute – I need an excuse to leave and you’re all I have. I can say someone on the ward needs my attention. Are you game?

Of course Lorraine was game. She was an apple-cheeked women with Albinism who joked with me constantly when I was at the nursing station to read charts.

Sure thing, boss man. Woman problems?

I chuckled to myself and answered.

You have no idea…

She sent me one last text.

You have to tell me all about it when you’re in tomorrow… Promise?

I replied, knowing damn well that she’d grill me if I admitted that I needed her to help me with a date.

You drive a hard bargain but OK. Tomorrow. Thanks for this.

I slipped my phone back in my pocket just in time for Ethan to ask me more questions about my band. Kate was still silently fuming beside me so I answered, happy to pass the time until the program started.

As the lights dimmed to mark the start of the concert, my pager went off, so I pulled it out and checked it.

"Ah,
damn
," I said and showed it to Ethan. "Gotta run out for a bit. Have a patient post-op who's experiencing complications. I'll run back to the hospital and check on him, but I'll come back as soon as I can."

"That's too bad, Drake,” Ethan said. “You'll miss the first part of the performance. That's Katherine's favorite part, isn't it, dear?"

"That's too bad," Kate said and turned to me, our eyes meeting. It was the first time that night she actually looked in my eyes. I sensed relief and appreciation in them so it was a good thing I decided to be a gentleman and honor her request.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," I said, holding her gaze. "I'm sad I'll miss your favorite part."

I made my way to the door, glancing one last time at Kate before I left the box, but I had no intentions of missing the performance or Kate’s response to it. I had my own seat a few boxes away and the angle would afford me a profile view of Kate.

I stood in the back of my box for a few moments, until the concert was underway and the soloist had begun, before moving forward and training my opera glasses onto Kate. I only half-listened to the performance, my focus on her, but soon even I was diverted from my observation of Kate to listen to the music. It was very emotional, and I glanced at the program, which included the lyrics in both Polish and English. The words were by a young Polish prisoner to her mother, asking her mother not to weep for her. Extremely emotional, I couldn’t help but calculate how Kate would respond to it. Based on what I knew of her already, she’d be emotionally overwrought by it and – to be honest – more open to me.

While I watched her, I saw her break down completely, a tissue to her mouth, tears in her eyes. When the audience rose for an ovation, she sat back, gathering her composure.

Then she glanced around and saw me watching her.

She leaned back, trying to hide but I didn’t stop watching her or hide what I was doing. I wanted her to know I saw her. It would be one more moment we shared. One more intimacy. One more brick I’d removed from the wall between us.

I left the box at intermission and made my way to the mezzanine where people were congregating. Ethan had already left his own box with Elaine and was standing with a small group of people I didn’t recognize. I went up to him and of course, we shook hands and he introduced me to everyone. I glanced around, but Kate was nowhere to be seen.

“She’s in the washroom. Always gets a bit emotional during the concert. She’ll be out in a minute.” Ethan nodded at me knowingly.

Ethan’s friends all spoke of the music and how wonderful Upshaw was, but all I could think of was Kate and how much the music affected her. She was a delicate young woman, her emotions close to the surface. I hated being so calculating but the thought excited me. I knew I could get a lot out of her and that’s what I wanted more than anything.

Finally, Kate emerged from the washroom and when she saw me standing with Ethan, I smiled at her. She wasn’t ready to face anyone and left the mezzanine, almost racing back to the box.

“Excuse me,” I said to Ethan, who raised his eyebrows at me as if he understood.

I followed her back and when I was inside, I sat down and put my arm around her on the back of her chair.

"How are you?" I asked, keeping my voice soft.

She tried to avoid looking in my eyes, glancing everywhere except at me directly.

"Fine,” she said, pausing. "Thank you for understanding and leaving."

"You're welcome." I moved a bit closer. "I've never heard that piece before. It was…" I searched for the right word, wanting to convey how much it moved me. "
Devastating
."

I took out a handkerchief from my jacket pocket and wiped a spot of mascara from her cheek. I wanted her to know I knew she had been crying from the music. It was a moment of emotional nakedness that would lead – eventually – to one that was physical.

"Here, let me get this," I said. "Your mascara ran a bit from your tears."

When she resisted, I took her chin in my hand and turned her face so that she could no longer avoid me. Finally she met my eyes and a jolt of adrenaline went through me, surprising me at how much I responded to her.

I kissed her, my hands on either side of her face. A kiss meant to knock yet another brick out of the wall between us. Soon, there’d be nothing there and she’d be mine completely.

Of course, Ethan and Elaine returned so my brief moment of intimacy with Kate came to an end. I turned to Ethan and smiled at his expression. He wanted us together so badly. I felt more than a touch of guilt at taking advantage of his fatherly desire to match me with his daughter. But only a touch.

I wouldn’t be bad for Kate. On the contrary, I’d help her find out more about herself.

I turned to Ethan and Elaine, welcoming them back. Kate was clearly trying to hide that she had been so emotional, her face turned away from us. I let her have her moment to recover her self-control and then sat back beside her as the program started.

Getting her into my bed would take a bit of finesse, even though I could feel her cold reluctant exterior starting to crack under my constant pressure.  My mind was occupied with thoughts of her seduction and so I barely took note of the performance, the music a distraction from my mental images of Kate lying beneath me, blindfolded and restrained. When she stood up and excused herself, I thought at first she had to use the washroom, but then I realized that she was far too emotionally overwrought and was probably trying to escape.

I followed her out of the box, patting Ethan on the shoulder when he made a face of concern.

“Is she all right?” he whispered.

“I’ll take care of her,” I said, my voice quiet. Ethan nodded as if he approved and was glad to know I was taking care of his daughter.

God, he was making this so damn easy…

I couldn’t find her down the hallway and so I checked the mezzanine but it was empty. Finally, I saw a side door and realized she might have taken it so she could get some air. I opened the exit door and saw her leaning against the wall, staring up at the night sky.

"Kate, what on Earth are you doing out here? It's freezing out, for God's sake," I said, and grabbed her arm, wanting to pull her into an embrace, but she resisted me, pulling free, wrapping her arms around herself protectively.

"Just leave me. I need some air."

She was close to tears again, and so I removed my jacket and draped it around her shoulders, tightening it to keep her warm. I had to take control, show her that I could understand her and take care of her needs.

"There," I said and then tipped her face up so I could look in her eyes. I wanted her to connect with me, to look at me and not retreat into herself. When she finally met my eyes, a surge of desire for her raced through my body right to my cock.

"Oh, fuck,
Kate
," I groaned, surprised at how she affected me. I pulled her into my arms and against my body, unashamed that she’d know how hard I was. I wanted her to know I was aroused by her emotions and her delicious body. I pinned her against the wall and kissed her and this time, I didn’t hold back, devouring her mouth, needing to feel her lips part and for our tongues to touch. I slipped my hand behind her head and ran my fingers through her hair, then kissed her chin and her neck, pulling her hair out of the clip so that it fell softly around her shoulders.

She let me kiss her, not resisting, turning herself over to me and I took over, jamming my thigh between hers, my fingers caressing the tops of her breasts, the other hand trailing down her back, over her buttocks, and then beneath the hem of her dress.

I wanted to see if she wore garters and stockings again.

"Drake,
no
…"

I stopped, breathing heavily, not wanting the moment to end.

"Tell me you don't want me," I said, my voice low.

She turned her face away, not able to deny her desire for me.

"I thought so."

I kissed her again, this time even more aggressively, my mouth claiming hers, sucking her tongue inside, my fingers searching for her mound, her clit…

"Oh, you're already wet." I almost groaned out loud when I felt her dampness. "
Fuck
, I want you right here, right now." I stroked her over her hose and panties, wanting to stimulate her even more. Then I pressed my hips against her so she could feel me, imagine me inside of her.

Then, she kissed me back.

I lost all control and struggled to find a way beneath her pantyhose, my fingers slipping under the waistband and beneath her panties until I reached her pussy. I slid one finger between her lips and felt the hard nub of her clit, my cock throbbing in response.

Then she pulled away and pushed against me. "
Stop!
"

I did stop, pulling my fingers away, removing my hand from beneath her dress, but I leaned against the wall, my elbows on either side of her head so she couldn’t escape.

"What?"

"I'm not
ready
," she said, her breath coming in small gasps.

"Yes, you are," I said and licked my fingers methodically, one at a time, my eyes not leaving hers. "You’re more than ready." The salty taste of her juices made me even harder, if possible.

"No," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not ready for this. For
you
. Not yet."

Of course she was ready. Physically, she wanted me as much as I  wanted her. Emotionally, she was still afraid. I pulled my horns back in and tried to calm myself. She adjusted her dress, and smoothed her hair.

"Well, I'm ready for you." I stood up straight and adjusted myself, running a hand briefly over my groin to hide my still-erect cock. I felt her eyes on me and smiled to myself, knowing she’d be curious about how big I was. Let her wonder. I hoped that she’d find out by the night’s end.

"Any time, Kate. You just have to sign the revised agreement I'm sending to you when I get home tonight." I turned away and took in a few deep breaths, trying to will my erection away so we could return to the box.  When I felt a bit less erect, I went to the door and opened it, pointing inside. "We better go back. Your father will be starting to worry about us."

She appeared to have regained some composure and walked past me and back into the building.

 I glanced back at the wall where we had stood and saw that her bag was on the ground. Chuckling to myself, I picked it up and handed it to her.

Not so in control after all.

"Here," I said, and couldn’t stop from smiling. "I really must have affected you if you forgot your bag."

She grabbed it from me, and quickly turned away as if to hide her smile but I caught it.

Yes, Kate. I saw your smile. You can’t resist me.

 We returned to the box and stood at the back in the darkness, not wanting to interrupt the final performance of the evening. I leaned against the wall beside Kate, an arm beside her head, watching her without looking away.

When she finally looked at me, after avoiding my eyes for as long as she could, I held my fingers under my nose and breathed in her scent, which lingered on them, tantalizing and arousing. That was a bit too much for her, and she glanced away again, her cheeks flushing. I wanted her to know I found everything about her desirable, right down to how wet she was.

When the second standing ovation was over, Ethan turned to us, smiling like he was pleased to see us in such an intimate pose.