The Drake Unwound Complete Collection (The Drake Series Book 9)(77)

I grinned. "Of course."

"But I've never lived with a man before," she said. "The most I've been with someone is a weekend."

"Kurt?"

Kate nodded. "He spent a lot of time at my place. But we only dated for a few months, so… You've been married."

"I have. But I was bad at it. I don’t think I knew how to be a proper husband."

She shrugged, her shoulder lifting. "I don't know how to be a proper submissive."

"You're learning," I said, for she was. During our scenes, she was far more responsive to my commands and eager to try things out. "You've got a strong will. I get the sense that as much as submission excites you, it also still scares you. You judge yourself too strongly for wanting it but being happy is more important than being politically correct."


She nodded. "What will you tell people that we meet when we're there?” she said softly. “Your colleagues? Your boss?"

"I'll introduce you as my partner,” I replied. I’d thought about it before she asked. We were a collared couple in BDSM terms, and we were definitely committed. “I think that's the going word for people who are committed to each other but who aren't married."

"Partner," she said, repeating it. "Sounds like a business relationship. Or sporting."

"It's not perfect, but lover is too blatant. Soul mate sounds too much like Keats."

She laughed and shook her head. "Your colleagues would think you'd gone bonkers if you said I was your soul mate."

"That they would." I leaned in closer and kissed her, threading my fingers in her hair. I was glad she seemed interested in how to define our relationship. When I popped the question, which I had planned out in my mind exactly where and when, I hoped that she would be pleased.

With that in mind, her touch and scent all served to arouse me and I couldn’t help but kiss her more deeply, my lips parting hers, tongue finding hers.

I broke the kiss, my forehead pressed against hers. "So," I said. "What in this agreement do you want to change? Anything?"

"Nothing," she said without hesitation. "I want to be with you. I want you to teach me about submission. I want to go where you take me."

I kissed her again. "I want to take you where you need to go," I said. "But I think I want to clarify that we are a collared couple. You’re mine, and our bond is as important as an engagement. Some lifestylers see it like a marriage. It's as close as I've come to being in a committed relationship outside of marriage. That means we're completely and totally honest and open with each other. We're completely exclusive with each other. How does that sound?"

She nodded and slid her hand behind my head, stroking my skin. "That sounds perfect."

I nodded, amazed that everything I desired had come my way – Kate as my submissive, my trip to Africa, my position at the college. "I'll revise it and then I think we should sign it again. Make it official. We're Dominant and submissive in the bedroom. We're equals outside of it."

"Are we always going to be doing D/s when it comes to sex?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “No vanilla?"

I kissed her. "Let's play it by ear. As long as you’re honest with me about how you feel, I should be in tune with your needs. Will you let me make the decisions about that? Do you trust me to know what you need?"

"Yes," she said.

"Kate, I don't want anyone but you."

She smiled and cupped my face with her hand. "I don't want anyone but you."



The day came for our flight and we spent the morning with Ethan and Elaine at their penthouse, eating a farewell breakfast of waffles, Eggs Benedict, fresh squeezed juice and coffee.

Kate was excited and didn’t sleep well the night before and so was both tired and nervous to leave. Once we were finished with breakfast, Kate went to freshen up in her bathroom. I followed Ethan down the hall to his office, wanting to say a special goodbye to him in private.

We spoke in soft voices about the flight and our stay in Italy before we went to Kenya.

“I’ll be asking her to marry me there,” I said. “I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes.”

“So am I. She loves you, Drake. Make her happy.”

“That is exactly what I want. To make her happy.”

Ethan smiled at me from across his desk.



Ethan and Elaine used the limo service and drove with us to JFK to see us off. When the moment arrived for us to part, Kate was all choked up and tearful, embracing her father again and again, kissing Elaine on the cheek, and generally letting go of them with reluctance.

I stood and watched them after I kissed Elaine, amazed once again at what a great father Ethan was. He gave Kate one final embrace, his own eyes wet.

"I'll miss you, Katie," he said, in his gravelly voice. "But I'm so happy to see you going with Drake. I know it will be a great experience."

"Thanks, Daddy," she said. "I'll miss you. These past few months have been so… So wonderful. I feel like I know you better than ever before."

"You're all grown up, Katherine. I'm so proud of you. Take a lot of pictures. Skype me as often as you like."