KATE: We do. Thanks so much. Give my dad our love.
ELAINE: I will.
I smiled and put my cell away.
"Thank God, they're so willing to sit for us or we'd probably never get a night alone."
"They love it," Drake said and popped a pretzel into his mouth from the bowl on our table. "Don't kid yourself. Elaine loves indulging herself by looking after Sophie. And Ethan wants to get as much Sophie time in as he can."
Drake didn't say because he's worried about how long he has left to live but I knew what Drake was thinking. My father had fallen and had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. He wanted to spend whatever time he had left in a warm climate so he could spend more time outside. We'd moved to California to be closer to him and to Liam, who was living in San Francisco with Maureen and Chris.
We'd been in our new place just south of San Francisco for two months, getting settled after a brief stay in Monterey. Everything was still all new and felt like we were on an extended vacation – except for the long hours Drake worked in the ER. Other than that, when he had his five days off, we were adjusting but we'd barely had any time alone since we arrived. It was the fate of most new parents and we were no different.
We had a nice meal, and then walked hand in hand along the cliff that bordered the ocean in Half Moon Bay. Down below, the waves crashed against the beach. We watched the moon setting and the stars peeking out from thin noctilucent clouds.
Drake took my hand and kissed my knuckles, looking deep into my eyes.
"Time to go back, Katherine."
That was the signal that I was to fall into submissive mode with him and I was surprised, because we hadn't done a scene for so long, I could barely remember how to do it.
I didn’t say anything, but I smiled, a thrill going through my body at the thought Drake was going to take thorough control over me, which I knew meant a night of pleasure.
He pulled me against him so that I could feel his body. "I hope you'll remember your manners," he said, his eyes narrowed. "Or I might have to punish you."
I widened my eyes, trying to act confused.
"Punish me, Sir?" I said, innocently. "I leave that up to you."
"Yes," he said and ran a hand down my back to my buttocks, which he gripped firmly through the thin fabric of my sundress. "I might have to deny you an orgasm. Only two instead of three."
"That would be so cruel, Sir. I assure you that I will obey you in all things from here on in."
I leaned against him, looking up into his eyes, wh
ich were heated.
"I hope so," he replied. "Because I was planning on making you come at least three times and I don't like to have to change my plans."
"I'm yours," I said, resting my head against his shoulder. "To do with as you please, Sir."
"You are, Ms. Bennet. You are."
I was.
I was so totally his that my knees were weak at the prospect of us doing a scene. As we made our way back to the hotel, I wondered what he'd do because I hadn’t seen him pack any implements and saw no ties in his suitcase.
What could he do that would involve kink?
As much as I wanted to ask him what he had planned, I didn't. That wouldn't be keeping in character and showing proper submission to his desires. Whatever he planned, I knew I'd enjoy it so I finally just let myself go, turned off my mind, and let him lead me back to the hotel, our hands clasped. He took me to the bank of elevators and we waited for the next one to come when we saw another couple enter the one that opened.
"We'll wait," Drake said and pulled me over to the wall across from the bank of elevators. He stood facing me, his eyes glued to mine, one hand on the wall beside my head.
When the next elevator arrived and we were alone, we got inside and as soon as the doors closed and Drake had entered our floor number, he turned to me and pressed me back against the wall.
He kissed me, one hand sliding up along my thigh to my hip and then my breast.
I couldn't help but see the security camera in the corner of the elevator.