The Drake Restrained Compete Collection: Part 1 - 4 (The Drake Series Book 7) (31 page)

I went to my own place and sat on my sofa, my phone in my hand. I sat back and covered my head with my hands trying to figure out where I’d gone wrong.

I had to fix this. I had to find a way to calm whatever fears she’d developed in the hours between being at her apartment and when I received her email.

I was not going to let her get away.

END OF PART TWO

DRAKE RESTRAINED 3

S. E. LUND

Copyright S. E. Lund 2014

First Edition

CHAPTER ONE

I didn’t allow myself any time to sulk, despite the void I felt in my gut.  Self-pity wasn’t going to get Kate back. I had to figure out what had happened and fix it before too much time passed. Nothing killed intimacy quicker than absence. I had to get back to Kate as soon as possible.

My first step was to contact Lara, but she had nothing.

“I don’t know, Drake. Everything sounded fine when I spoke to her last night.  She confessed how quickly she came and was shocked and embarrassed because she’s so inexperienced.”

“She
is
inexperienced,” I said. “But you know me. That’s a plus, not a minus.”

“She may be inexperienced but she did tell me something I found surprising.”

I waited, but she didn’t elaborate. “Such as?”

“She told me that she used a dildo.”

I laughed out loud at that, despite the sensation of dread I felt about Kate. “She calls it ‘Big’ – as in Sex and the City.”

“She told you that?” Lara laughed with me. “You did pretty well getting her to open up if she actually told you.”

“I plied her with liquor and rich food. I hand fed her. And I used my serious doctor voice.”

“Does it every time,” she said and I could hear the grin in her voice.

“Whatever happened, she’s not biting now,” I replied, a sick feeling in my gut. “I honestly don’t know what happened. I sent her the contract this morning and then I got an email breaking it off.”

“You sent her your usual contract?”

“Yes,” I said and rubbed my forehead. “She must have been shocked at a few things I  listed.  I put them in the contract because I thought she’d want to strike them off.”

“Such as?”

I shrugged, mentally knocking myself in the head for including anything I knew would be objectionable. I should have included only what I knew she’d accept, but I wanted her to feel some kind of power over the contract. “Mock rape. Anal. Vaginal fisting.”

I heard her sharp intake of breath. “The mock rape is probably a no-go with someone like Kate. That was why she broke off with her last boyfriend.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Bad choice on my part. He was the one who tried to introduce BDSM into their relationship. He wanted mock rape and it frightened her. I suspect she’s now curious about it and would only need someone who knew what they were doing to make it work.”

“You may be right.” Then I heard her sigh. “She’s
young
, Drake. She might be a bit more flighty than you like. Are you set on this? Why not just let her go? I have several other submissive-hopefuls you could take on…”

I shook my head and even the thought that I wouldn’t have Kate as my own caused my throat to constrict.  “I want her, Lara.”

“Oh, dear…” she said, her voice trailing off into a sigh of resignation. “This isn’t like you. You’re usually much more cool and in control with a new submissive.”

“She’s not my usual submissive.”

There was a pause. “If she calls me, I’ll see what I can find out, but I’m not convinced you two are good together.”

“Why not?” I said, my back stiffening.

“You need someone who knows that being a submissive is what they want, Drake. Kate was never completely honest about her desires, even to herself. My advice?” she said and paused for a brief time. “Just let her go… Seriously.”

“Not going to happen,” I said, more convinced than ever that Kate was who and what I wanted. “If she calls you, I’d appreciate it if you could find out  why she changed her mind.”

“I will, if that’s truly what you want. Take care, Drake. Underneath that cool controlled exterior, you’re a human like everyone else. You know and I know that you can be hurt just as much as the next person. I remember you after your divorce. You were a mess.”

“Don’t worry about me,” I said, remembering with a real sense of remorse my post-divorce blue period. “I’ll be fine. But thanks for agreeing to put in a good word if you talk to her. I appreciate it.”

I hung up, frowning as I thought about what Lara said. It was true that I hadn’t been my usual self with Kate. I hadn’t treated her the way I usually would a new submissive. I would never take my new sub – or even an established sub – out to the Russian Tea Room or a concert. I didn’t want them to expect anything other than a B&D session three times a week. I told them that at the outset. I wouldn’t be a boyfriend. I was a Dom who tied them up and made them come and that was all I could ever be.

With Kate, I definitely wanted to be a Dom, but part of me knew what the other part of me tried to deny.

I wanted more.

I spent the rest of the evening sitting at my desk at home preparing for my convention in the Bahamas, going over the paper my co-author and I would present on pediatric movement disorders. I wasn’t looking forward to going – I had a heavy sensation in my chest at the thought. I called and texted Kate several times, with no response. She really was determined not to respond. I felt the dreariness of New York in November and not even the prospect of sun and sand could bring me out of my funk. My only hope was that Ethan and Elaine would bring Kate with them when they came to the Bahamas – if they came to the Bahamas.

As luck would have it, I had made a stop at my fitness club earlier that afternoon and ran into Ethan, who was coming out of the steam room with a few of his fellow judges who frequented the club. He was busy toweling off his face, which was red and sweating from the steam.

“Oh, Drake, just the man I wanted to see.”

I smiled and extended my hand for our usual shake. “How are you, Sir?”

“I’m fine.”

We moved to an alcove where there were a few benches next to some old lockers, speaking a bit more quietly.

“How are you doing?”

 “Good,” I said. “I’m leaving for the Bahamas on Tuesday.”

“The Bahamas, hmm?” Ethan said, frowning for a moment. “You said you were going there for a conference, if I recall correctly.”

“I am.” Then a thought popped into my head. “You and Elaine should come. The beach is beautiful and the weather is fine. Consistently in the 80s every day.”

Ethan considered for a moment as he dried off. “That sounds like a capital idea. I imagine it would be great to get Kate there as well,” he said and quirked his eyebrow. “A break from all her studies would do her good. You two could spend some time together, get to know each other.”

I smiled. On his part, Ethan examined me for a moment and I wondered what he was thinking. He obviously saw me as a good prospect for Kate and was eager to put us together on a tropical vacation. It gave me a warm feeling that he was so open about his interest in seeing us as a couple, but it also brought out a bit of guilt. He had to know I wanted Kate sexually. No heterosexual man in his right mind wouldn’t want her. I wouldn’t be harming her, or doing anything degrading… Still, I felt as if I were deceiving Ethan. He couldn’t know about my involvement in the lifestyle. I couldn’t bear the expression of disgust I’d see on his face if he found out.

But I wanted Kate…

“I’ll call my assistant and get her to book us a flight and hotel,” Ethan said finally, as if he’d made a decision. “Where are you staying?”

“The conference is at the Hilton in Nassau.”

He nodded. “We might just be able to make this work out.” He winked at me. “Leave it to me. I’ll call you and let you know if we’re going.”

I smiled and shook his hand, feeling a bit sheepish, as if I’d just traded a half-dozen head of cattle for his daughter’s hand in marriage in some bronze-age tribal rite. Kate had no say in any of this, and I hoped that she would agree to go.
And
that she wouldn’t hate me or Ethan when she found out we’d been conspiring behind her back.

If she did go to the Bahamas, and we had a chance to be alone, I was pretty certain that I could get her to sign a revised and far less threatening submission agreement. I felt confident I could exert control over her fairly well. If I could  just get her alone… I’d be insistent. I’d be as persuasive as I knew how to be.

She’d be unable to resist.

I hoped.

If Ethan brought Kate with him, I’d have a chance to repair whatever damage had been done by the clauses in my submission agreement that caused her to balk. If that is what caused her to call it off – and I was pretty sure it was – I knew I could fix things. I kicked myself mentally once more, wishing I’d kept it even more vanilla than I had made it.

Despite several more calls and texts, it appeared that Kate was determined to shut me out of her life. A few days before my trip, I met Lara for a drink after work at the bar close to her office. She was still wearing her business suit, but had unbuttoned her blouse and let her hair down. She looked as beautiful as I remembered her from our college days. That beauty hid a strong sadistic streak and I was glad I was a Dom and not into S&M. She was beautiful and wickedly sexual. Any man inclined to submission would be unable to resist her.

I kissed her cheek as I arrived and sat beside her on a stool at the bar.

“Drake,” she said and smiled, her ice blue eyes coolly appraising.

“Lara,” I said and turned to her.

We made small talk for a while, passing the time while I waited for the bartender. She was busy with some big case and had been working like a dog. I told her about my upcoming conference and the paper I was presenting with a colleague.

“Okay, so now that we’ve impressed each other with our successful careers, any luck on the more human side? Have you won Kate back? Is she at your beck and call?” Lara winked at me, a sly look in her eye. “She never called me.”

I shook my head and ordered a beer from the bartender when he finally came over. “No,” I said, and loosened my tie. “She hasn’t answered a call or text.  Do you think she'll call you?”

She shook her head. “I doubt she will. She’s skittish.”

“She’s afraid. It’s understandable, given who her father is.”

My beer arrived and I took a big sip, needing the alcohol to relax me for the penetrating interrogation I knew was coming. Lara was always on my case about finding a permanent partner who could share my life as well as my kink.

“It seems as if Ms. McDermott has given up on being your new submissive, Drake. Speaking of which,” she said and nodded in the direction of a young woman sitting down the bar from us. I glanced over and saw the look that passed between Lara and the pretty young blonde. She slipped off her stool and came over, an expectant smile on her face.

“Drake, this is Kira,” Lara said, gesturing towards her. She wore a sexy black number with ample cleavage. Her wide blue eyes in combination with being on the petite side, gave her the kind of look Lara knew I was into. I had to hand it to Lara – she knew what I liked.

“Kira, this is Drake,” Lara said pointing to me. “I told you about him and thought you two might hit it off.”

I gave Lara a glare, for she didn’t warn me this was a matchmaking session, but then I tried my best to be chivalrous, considering the young woman was obviously looking for a Dom. No doubt Lara was hoping to divert my focus from Kate to someone she felt was more suitable – and available.

Problem was that I was simply not interested in anyone else. I’d kissed Kate. I’d had her naked beneath me. I’d touched her skin and had my cock inside of her – barely. There was so much I wanted to do with her, so much I wanted to try, so much I wanted her to experience. She was already mine. My task was to convince her of the fact.

I wanted Kate.

“Nice to meet you, Kira,” I said and shook her hand. “There’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not in the market right now.” I shrugged and smiled, hoping to nip this little matchmaking game in the bud before Kira became too interested.

“Drake…” Lara glared at me, her expression frustrated. “Not like you to hold a torch,” she said under her breath. Then, as if resigned, she turned to Kira, who looked embarrassed. “Let’s go, sweetie. I know a place where you might be able to meet someone who
is
available.” Lara turned to me. “Sorry, Drake. We have to go. You understand.”

I did understand. Lara would try to salvage the night by taking the girl to
Diamant
, a bar in the Upper East Side frequented by people who were active in the lifestyle. Lara would parade her around, introduce her to the Doms she knew and try to fix the young woman up with one of them.

I sighed in relief, and turned my back to the bar so I could at least watch the Nicks while I finished my beer.