The Agreement (Unrestrained 1)

"If it was nothing, why are you still recovering?"

He grinned. "Touché," he said. "But as I said, I don't usually kiss a woman unless we're fucking, so I'm still a bit uncomfortable. How about you?" He turned to look at me, his eyes dark.

I crossed my arms and looked out the window, avoiding his gaze. "Never better."

"Good. I knew you needed some attention," he said, humor in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my smile. He was enjoying himself.

"Do you ever take things seriously?"

"Oh, I assure you, Ms. Bennet, that I take some things very seriously. Sex, for instance."

We finally arrived at the restaurant and Drake found a parking spot a block away. He opened my door, then took my hand, his arm around my waist.

The restaurant was still full with late-evening customers, but Drake had a reservation and so the hostess escorted us in to the main dining room, with its dark green walls, gilded fixtures, red leather banquette seating and white tablecloths. We sat at a table with a curved banquette, which meant Drake could sit right beside me. As soon as the hostess left us alone, Drake moved closer to me – closer than I wanted.

"I love these tables," he said, his voice a bit smoky. "If you were already my submissive, I'd have made you wear garters and black fishnet nylons instead of pantyhose. With no underwear on, I'd be able to sit real close and have my way with your pussy while we ate. Your mind would be occupied with what else I was going to eat when we were finally alone."

A thrill of lust went right to my groin at that. I tried to keep a straight face, but my cheeks heated at his words. What possible response could I give to that? Luckily, a waitress arrived and asked for our drink order, and I was spared having to say anything. Drake ordered some blini with caviar to start and then, to my surprise and shock, a shot of Anisovaya for us both. When he said the word, a chill ran through me.

Anisovaya…

"I'm sorry, but we don’t have Anisovaya on the menu."

"Tell the bartender that Dr. Morgan is here. He keeps some especially for me."

The waitress nodded. "Certainly."

I turned to him, my mouth open. "You drink Anisovaya?"

"Yes," Drake said and folded his hands on the crisp white linen of the tablecloth. "I love Russian vodka, especially infused with anise."

I sat in silence for a moment, my face hot. "You wrote those letters."

He frowned, and then smiled briefly as if recovering, his eyes hooded. "I take it that Lara gave you the link and password."

I nodded and glanced away, not knowing what to say.

He was the Dominant who wrote those letters…

"You weren't supposed to read those," Drake said, moving cutlery around on the table. "They're for my subs to read after we sign contracts so they know what to expect. I feel somewhat at a disadvantage because usually I know what my subs like before they know what I like."

"You read my profile on FetLife," I said, a little too petulantly.

Crap. Drake was him.

"Yes, but I want the narrative, not just a list. I want your fantasies so I can fulfill them. Most couples are too afraid to be honest about fantasies, sexual kinks, Kate. The great thing about a relationship like we'll have," he said, leaning closer, "is that you can be totally honest with me. I won't be offended or shocked or jealous or worried about them the way a normal boyfriend would. I'm only here for the sex so I want to make it incredibly good and rewarding. There'll be none of those messy emotions to get in the way of pure pleasure."

I thought about that for a moment when the cocktail waitress brought us our drinks and the caviar, placing them in front of Drake.

"How can you keep emotions out of a relationship? They're bound of leak in."

"Not if you don't let them," he said, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. "I won't let them. Now, down it fast," he instructed, pointing to the shot of vodka. "The Anisovaya goes down smoothly."

"I shouldn't drink," I said, but in truth, I needed something at that moment.

"Oh, you most definitely should. I want you to loosen up a bit, Kate. Enjoy yourself. Relax. We need to talk and I want you to be completely honest with me. For a change. Here." He pointed to the shot again. "Pick it up and we'll do it at the same time."