The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(67)

“Then, she sent me the video. And because Maureen had said some things when she called that scared me, I…"

Maureen called Kate?

"What did Maureen say?" I asked, feeling like all the blood had drained out of my body, my heart pounding.

"She said you were barely under control. That you had a lot of anger bottled up inside. That I should think of that before I went to Africa with you."

Dammit… Adrenaline jolted through me, my cheeks heating. "And you thought watching a video of me with Sunita would help clarify how dangerous I am?"

"I'm sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said and her voice was truly repentant. “I didn’t want to upset you. I couldn’t believe Maureen said those things. I was going to tell you, but you weren't feeling well from the shots and then you were sick…"


I fought to control myself, my breathing fast, my heart thumping in my chest. "That's three things, Katherine. Three things you kept from me." Then, I lay my hand over her ass.

"I don't want this," she said, but I could hear the resignation in her voice.

"But you want me to be your Master, Katherine, deep down,” I said for I knew it was true. She did want me to be her Master. That’s why she went looking and when she met me, she wanted me to be the one. I had no doubt about that. “I've been a bad Master, not controlling you well enough, or this would never have happened. I won't let that happen again. So you see, this is really my fault for letting my control slip. Now, I have to punish you even though I'd rather make love to you. I have to take your anger so that our relationship's re-established. We'll both feel better when it's over."

"Cut the psychobabble and do it," she said, her voice tinged with anger.

"It's not psychobabble and you know it,” I said, remembering with that one word why I was in love with her. She was smart. She was beautiful. She wanted submission, even if at times it seemed the opposite was true. “Remember your safe word."

"I won't use it."

I wouldn’t give in. I’d be a force of nature. An immovable object. That would make her feel safe. "Tell me what your safe word is."

She shook her head, fighting to the end.

"It's red, Katherine."

She said nothing, lying across my lap, waiting. She didn’t try to wriggle out of my grasp.

Finally, she exhaled loudly, giving in. "Just do it."

I smiled to myself while I stroked my hand over her buttocks, lingering over the small of her back, then slipping my fingers between her cheeks.

"When I'm ready."

"I hate you."

I stopped my motions, for I knew that she didn’t mean it, but still the words hurt and I knew she’d regret saying them later.

"Don't say that,” I said softy, trying not to sound hurt but failing, my throat choking. "Not even in a moment of anger."

She said nothing and did nothing and neither did I. I’d wait her out, my hand on her ass.

Then, I began to stroke my hand over her cheek once more.

"You don't hate me, Katherine. You love me. Only me. You said so yourself."

Then she spoke, her voice breaking. "I couldn’t help it that Kurt was there. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want to have to deal with him. It's not my fault."

I leaned down, and tucked her hair behind her ear, my mouth beside her ear.

"You didn't have to lie about him. You should have told me about Sunita's video. You should have told me Maureen spoke to you about me."

"I didn't lie. I was going to tell you."

"I have no way of knowing if you would have,” I replied for I didn’t. She might never have spoken about it, hoping to avoid a confrontation or uncomfortable conversation. “Now, because you didn't tell me right away, how can I trust you? Three things, Katherine, that you held back. Three important things."

"You have to choose to trust me when I say I was going to tell you,” she replied. “You said that to me once, if I remember correctly."

I said nothing in response and considered her words. She was right. I had to choose to trust that she would have eventually told me. Something kept her from telling me – fear of my reaction. Lack of trust that I could take the truth without overreacting or removing my love.

She sighed. "I guess I didn't trust you enough yet to tell you. I guess I was afraid of what you'd do. I was afraid of you."

I stopped my motions immediately, but kept my hand on her buttock, hating to break our connection. It was as if she read my mind.

"Why?” I asked, wanting her to be as truthful as she could. “Have I ever done anything to make you afraid of me?"

She shook her head. "No. But maybe you didn't do enough to make me trust you completely. Every time I tried to talk, you shut me up. You'd go into Dom mode and we'd have sex and that was it. You've been under so much emotional stress and turmoil, I was afraid this would be one more thing to hurt you and upset you. It meant nothing to me so I didn’t feel it should matter to you, but I was afraid it would and I was right."

She was right – it did matter to me. I felt incredible jealousy that she’d been alone with Kurt. He was still a threat. She had been attracted to him once but had been afraid of her response to his clumsy attempts to introduce her to kink. Ethan had wanted them to be together and that meant something.