The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(69)

I closed my cell and left the apartment on 8th Avenue, not wanting to be there if she came by. I needed to work things out in my mind, think it through. If she was there, I knew I’d cave and be unable to resist her.

Instead, I decided to go and meet with Ken at the pub.



I drove to the pub and entered through the rear door. The kitchen was busy as prep people in white aprons and hairnets worked to get the food ready for the evening meal. I popped into the office and saw Mrs. O sitting at her desk, poring over a ledger, her half-eye glasses perched on the end of her nose.

“Drake!” She leaned back when she saw me and let me kiss her cheek.

“Hi, Mom,” I said, warmed to see her smiling face. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by.”

“That’s nice,” she said. “It’s just me here. Ken is out picking up some supplies.”

I shrugged, sad that I missed Ken. I needed his big brother wisdom. “Tell him I was here. Nice to see you.”

“Wait,” she said and pulled out a chair beside her. “You look like you need someone to talk to. Sit down. How are you doing, Drake?”

Mrs. O was as close to a mother as I ever had. If anyone would know what to do, it would be her. I sat down beside her, my elbows resting on my knees.

“Ken told me about your son,” she said, her voice soft. “How is he?”

I recounted the round of meds I’d taken and how Liam had been prepared for the transplant.

“You are so wonderful for doing that,” she said and took my hand, squeezing it briefly.

“How could I refuse?”

“People do all the time,” she said and crossed her arms. “So, you and Kate...” She smiled at me, pleased. “When are you getting married?”

I laughed, although I felt sick inside. Mrs. O was always pushing for me to get married again.

“You two will be going to Africa soon, right? I hope that’s still going to happen.”

“I hope,” I said. “Liam is doing really well, so we’re scheduled to leave soon.”

“You should ask her to marry you before you go.”

I smiled, amused at her persistence. “We’ve only been together for five months…”

“Love doesn’t run by any schedule but its own,” she said, wagging her finger at me. “If you love her, if she’s the one, you should snap her up before someone else does. Just think how sad you’d be if she ends up marrying someone else.”

I nodded without saying anything. Of course she was right. If Kate and I broke up and I learned she had married someone else, I couldn’t imagine it.

I’d feel like a failure.

“So, why are you really here?” she asked, giving me a look that suggested she doubted my earlier excuse.

“Kate and I had a…” I said and hesitated. What did happen? “A disagreement.”

“And you want to talk about it.” She patted my hand.

“Not really,” I said. “I know what I have to do. I just wanted to go somewhere and get away from it all for a while.”

She nodded as if she understood. “She sounds like a wonderful girl from what Ken told me. You’re very lucky to have found her. Whatever the disagreement is about, keep that in mind.”

I smiled at her. “I am very lucky.”

Then, my cell buzzed. I removed it from my pocket and saw that it was another message from Kate.



Drake, I came to 8th Avenue looking for you. I'm still here. Come to me. I don’t want to ever be apart from you. Not one night. I love you.



“Is that from her?” Mrs. O said.

“Yes.”

“You better respond,” she said. “I’m going to the kitchen for something to drink. You take your time.” Then she stood and laid a hand on my shoulder before leaving me alone in the office.

I thought about my response for a long time.



Katherine, I want you waiting for me, blindfolded, naked, kneeling on the floor by the bed. I'm going to spank you. And then I'm going to f*ck you. You're going to take it without complaint.



Do you understand?



I knew what she’d write before she even sent the text and when I saw it, I was right.



I don't want you to spank me.



I replied immediately.



Of course you don't but I have to. Trust me on this, Katherine.



She replied in moment.



What if I break up with you because of it?



I texted right back.



We'll break up if I don't. I realize now that this relationship won't work unless we follow the rules we drew up and committed to when we signed the agreement. The rules are there for a reason. Both of us need them. We can't be just a vanilla couple. I can't be a vanilla boyfriend, Katherine. I might try, but I'd fail and you'd eventually be dissatisfied. I'm a Dominant and you want submission in the bedroom, even if you haven't completely accepted what that means yet. We have to follow the rules or neither of us will be happy.




If you love me – if you really love me – the Dominant I am inside – you'll accept this and obey just as I have to accept that you really want submission underneath your uncertainty. You need my dominance to feel free.