The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(63)
"You do?” she said, smiling coyly in the way I loved. "I have nothing else to do and so I'm all yours."
"All mine?" I said, grinning, my mind already going to where I wanted to take her – naked, bound, blindfolded, crying out in pleasure.
"At your disposal," she said and she seemed more relaxed. "At your command. I seem to recall a promise about harem girls and massages…"
"Oh, that's right…" I smiled when I remembered my request. "I do remember something about you being my slave girl and giving me a really sensuous massage, but maybe we should wait until after the nap." I kissed her softly and she seemed to forget about whatever was bothering her.
CHAPTER TWO
We undressed and slipped under the covers, snuggling together the way we always did at night. Her body was soft and warm against mine and it was so nice and comfortable that I felt my eyelids close and I drifted in a semi-awake state.
Then my cell chimed, announcing that a text message had arrived.
"Crap," I said and grabbed it off the bedside table.
"Ignore it, Drake," Kate said, yawning.
"Can't," I said. "That's someone from the foundation calling."
I took my phone and read the text. It was from Dave.
Drake, are you alone? Call me. I have something to tell you… You better be sitting down when I do, buddy.
That didn’t sound very promising. What was the problem? Something bad to do with the Foundation? I wracked my brain trying to think of what it might be. Did someone abscond with funds? Did some Foundation money go to arms deals instead of to hospital construction or tools? I couldn’t imagine why Dave would want me to be sitting down.
"I'll be right back," I said and left the bedroom, going to the living room where I sat on the couch and dialed Dave’s number.
“Hey,” I said when he answered. “What’s up? What’s the crisis?”
“Is Kate with you?” he said, his voice hesitant.
I frowned. “Yes. She’s in the bedroom. Why?”
There was a pause. “Have you seen the New York Weekly? The Society Page?”
I got up and went to the pile of mail and papers on the table by the door. There was the New York Weekly, under an envelope. I hadn’t even had a chance to read it, let alone the Society Page. Did someone write something about me? Had Kate’s meddling friend finally got me in trouble by going public with information about my participation in the BDSM lifestyle?
I opened the page and searched through the articles.
And then I saw it.
Ice filled my veins. Kate leaned against a wall with a blond-haired young man leaning over her very possessively, a hand on the wall beside her head. He was standing close as if he was whispering to her or preparing to kiss her. She didn’t look happy, but she was there – wearing the dress she wore to the DWB event the other night.
The caption of the photo read “Kate McDermott and Escort attend Doctors Without Borders fundraiser.”
Escort?
“Do you see it?” Dave said, his voice hesitant.
“I see it,” I replied, my face hot with anger. Jealousy burned in my gut.
“She was with some old flame, from what I heard. I spoke with Nigel. He said Kate was hot and heavy with him a year ago. Some former pilot who volunteers for Doctors Without Borders.”
“Flyboy,” I said, my throat choked with emotion.
“Flyboy?” Dave said.
“That’s what they call him. Kate and her dad.”
“Is she still with him? I thought the two of you…” he said, his voice trailing off.
“They broke up a year ago. At least, that’s what I was told. Did you see them arrive together?” I asked.
“No,” Dave said. “I thought Kate arrived by herself. I saw her speak with Nigel and then she gave the donation on behalf of her father. Then she left just after six o’clock and he followed her. When I saw the picture, I figured she was still seeing him or something. She never spoke to him at the function and I had no idea he was her escort.”
I didn’t know what to say. Had she planned on meeting him? It didn’t seem at all like the Kate I had come to know – and love. My jealousy was like a coiled snake inside of my chest. I was so upset, my heart was pounding very fast. I fought to keep from throwing the phone across the room.
I did everything in my power not to jump to any conclusions but it was incredibly hard and as each moment passed, it became less and less possible.
“I’ll speak with Kate. See what’s up,” I said, keeping my voice controlled. “Thanks for calling.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when I saw the photo in the Weekly, I thought I should call you and tell you what I knew.”
“Thanks,” I said and ended the call.
I sat with my head in my hands. Was this why Kate had been acting strangely? Was she going to break off our relationship? Maybe she didn’t really want to go to Africa but didn’t know how to say it.
Anger and hurt seethed inside of me as I tried to understand what I had seen and what Dave had said. I sat there, the phone in my hand, considering what I would say to Kate.
That was how Kate found me when she entered the living room. I heard her footsteps and saw her out of the corner of my eye but I didn’t look at her – I couldn’t look at her just yet.