The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(65)

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were sick!"

Our eyes finally met, and her tears spilled out over her cheeks.

"Oh, God, Drake," she said, almost sobbing. "Nothing happened."

"You have to always tell me the truth, Katherine," I said, my voice low. "You have to tell me right away. I have to know you're being completely honest with me, completely open. I can't have any doubt ever," I said. "I can't."

"You don't have to doubt me," she said, her voice breaking again. "I love you. More than anything. More than I ever thought possible." She kissed me, her hands on either side of my face. I didn’t respond, still not convinced that it was all a mistake. She pulled away, her expression almost desperate. "Drake, I love only you." She kissed me again. "Only you."

"Why, Kate?” I said, my own voice breaking. “I let you in. I let you in."

She glanced away but I stopped her, tilting her chin up so that she was forced to look in my eyes. I pulled her against me, burying my face in her neck and pressed her down on the couch. With her body under mine, listening to the desperation in her voice, the fear in her eyes, I made a decision. I had to trust her, even if the circumstances didn’t appear to merit it. But she had to know that she could never keep anything from me again. I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t stand to doubt her. I had to know for certain that she was mine.

"Why didn't you tell me right away?"

"I knew you were jealous,” she said. “You told me you were jealous. I was afraid you'd misunderstand."

I exhaled. "Kate, I can't stop men from hitting on you, but you have to trust me completely and tell me when they do. No secrets. It's absolutely necessary for this to work. I've been lied to. I've been cheated on. I can't have it. I won't take it."


"You have to trust me, too, " she said and I knew she was right, but trust had to be earned. It was earned by telling the truth right away.

"How can I when you didn't tell me right away? Were you hoping it would never come up?"

"Every time I tried to tell you, you'd do something to stop me,” she said, raising her shoulder up. “I wanted to find the right time, and well, you read the paper…"

"It upsets me that it was Dave who told me,” I said, and that was what really bothered me. I wanted Kate to feel so secure with me that she could tell me anything. A Dom needed to know everything in his sub’s heart and mind. It was imperative. He had to know. “It hurts that he had to phone me to ask if I'd seen the picture."

She sighed and shook her head slowly. "I was wrong not to tell you right away. I didn't think it was important. It meant nothing to me. If anything, it reinforced why Kurt and I broke up. You have no reason to be jealous."

"You have to understand," I said, touching her cheek. "Your father tried to fix you up with Kurt first, before me. He thought Kurt was just your type. He thought Kurt was perfect for you. I was around, listening to him talk about Kurt and how he wanted you to get together."

"What?"

I nodded. "You know, Kurt's a Marine like he was and like my father. A veteran. A pilot. Strong. Intelligent. A bit older than you, but still, closer to your age. He's really good looking, on top of everything. You have to understand back then, I was forced to listen to your father's campaign to get you together with Kurt. He told me all about how he thought Kurt was perfect for you and that you'd love him…"

Kate shook her head. "He's not. I don't – he's nothing to me. You're everything."

"I was like second best to your father," I said, giving her a rueful smile. "If Kurt didn't work out, there was always me." And that was the truth—Ethan had chosen Kurt for Kate over me.

"You're better,” Kate said, her voice a little desperate sounding. “A million times better. And I can't believe my father talked to you about setting me up with Kurt. Why?"

"I asked about you. Frequently,” I replied. “He seemed to want to talk about you to someone. He was busy trying to get you together with Kurt when we started to become friends. I figured he didn't consider me because I'm so much older than you."

"I like that you're older than me. I've told you that."

"Still," I said, remembering what I had seen of Kurt – young, studly, blond surfer good looks. "You might not always like it." I’d always be twelve years older than her. When she was forty, I’d be fifty-two. I’d be an old man when she was still an attractive middle-aged woman.

She shook her head. "I can't imagine not being with you. Not loving you."

I sighed and played with a lock of her hair. "People stop loving you, Kate. I know."

"Not always. Drake, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice breaking. "This is all my fault. I should have told you right away, as soon as you woke up."

I nodded and touched her cheek with my fingers, unable to keep from touching her, making contact even when I was still upset. "You should have."

"Please forgive me."

I forced a smile. "I do. But I'm going to have to punish you."

"What?" She pulled back, a look of shock on her face.