The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(49)

I wasn’t up for much because of the effects of the Filgrastim, my bones aching as they pumped out more stem cells into my bloodstream.

By the fourth day of my shots, I felt like an old man and spent the afternoon and evening lying on the couch with a blanket covering me, drinking hot tea and eating Kate’s homemade scones with jam. She mothered me, which was something I wasn’t very used to given my childhood.

I ate it up like it was candy.



The day of my procedure came and I woke up with a nasty headache.

Kate snuggled against my back. “How are you?” she whispered, her arms slipping gingerly around me.


"As much as I'm glad I'm able to do this,” I said with a moan. “I'll be really happy to get rid of this headache."

She stroked my back. "How long before you start feeling back to normal?"

I rolled over and faced her. "A few days. It's really nothing. Just a few aches and a headache. Nothing more than what I'd get after a really intense workout or a flu."

I leaned down and kissed her and then rolled slowly out of the bed, sitting on the edge for a moment, rubbing my head. I went to the bathroom and had a pee and then started the shower.

"You not going to join me?" I said from the bathroom.

"No, you go ahead without me,” she said. “I'll have one later."

The hot spray woke me up, taking away the fuzz in my brain and I hummed to myself as I washed, glad that the day had come and soon I’d be feeling better.

I finished and wrapped a towel around my waist, then stood in front of my closet, sorting through my shirts and suits.

Kate lay on the bed and watched me dress. I felt her eyes on me, and looked forward to reestablishing our sexual relationship, which had been on hold for the past week.

"What is going on in that mind of yours, Ms. Bennet? You're being far too quiet."

She smiled. "I was thinking how nice your ass is and how I intend to touch it and run my hands all over your body when you're feeling up to sex."

I pulled on my shirt and fastened the cuffs and buttons, watching her while I did.

When I was done, I went to the bed and leaned over her. "I'm sorry we've been so chaste the last few days. I'll make it up to you."

"You don't have to make anything up," she said, pushing a hank of wet hair behind my ear. "I understand. Besides, I'm under the weather, too."

"I didn't let you get away with that excuse, so technically, you shouldn't have let me, but I tell you what," I said stroked her cheek. "When I feel better, you can give me a nice massage and pretend you're my favorite harem girl."

"Sounds perfect,” she said. “Except, maybe your only harem girl, because you've given up all the others, sending them away because they can't satisfy you any longer. Only me."

I smiled and then kissed her. "Only you."

Then I stood up and finished dressing.

"How long will the procedure take?" she asked from the bed.

"About six hours, depending on how fast they can process my blood. I should be home later in the afternoon."

"You're wonderful for doing this."

"He's my son," I said, shaking my head. "How could I say no?"

She didn’t say anything but when I glanced at her, I saw her eyes were brimming. I went back and leaned over her once more. "I love you."

"I love you," she whispered, cupping my cheek. "You sure you don't want me to come with you? I'd be more than happy to if you want company."

I shook my head. "No. I'll have lots of company. There are nurses who stay with you the whole time. Besides, it's really early and you need to sleep some more. I know this is your heavy day. You stay in bed and take some Advil. Don't even bother to go into the studio. Later, we'll have a nice dinner delivered here and drink some wine for your cramps."

"Will you be okay driving?"

"I'll take a taxi there and back."

I bent down one last time and kissed her, unable to ever get enough of her. Then, I left her on the bed with a promise to return as soon as the procedure was over.



I went to NYP, to the Weill Cornell Medical College, which ran New York Presbyterian’s stem cell and bone marrow transplant program and met with the apheresis team of nurses who would do the transplant.

The nurses were all very sweet and doted over me, knowing that I was doing the donation for my son, so I was treated extremely well the entire time. They found a separate space for me so I would be alone, hooked me up to the apheresis machine via an intravenous catheter, and ran my blood through the machine to harvest the peripheral stem cells. The whole process took only four hours and because Liam was so young and small, they were pretty sure I wouldn’t have to do another donation and so I was discharged home once the procedure was complete.

I arrived mid-afternoon and by the time I got in the door, I was exhausted.

"How are you feeling? You look tired," Kate said as she came to help me, hanging up my coat while I removed my boots.

"I feel like total and complete crap. I need to lie down for a while.”

After she hung up my coat, she took my jacket and hung it up, then followed me into the bedroom to watch while I undressed.