Unrestrained (Unrestrained 3)

I nodded and remembered how he was teaching even while he did surgery that time I watched him operate on the man with Parkinson's. I thought of how he liked to explain everything to me when it came to BDSM. He was a teacher.

We lay in silence for a while and I felt bad that I'd ruined the mood by mentioning that I felt deprived. He kissed my shoulder and leaned over me.

"Let's have a shower. I don’t know about you but I'm exhausted."

I smiled and followed him to the bathroom. After a quick shower during which he washed me tenderly, we went to bed, lying together naked, our limbs entwined. Soon, he was asleep beside me, his breathing deep and slow. I tried to shut off my brain but couldn't, thinking back over the evening and the chance meeting with Sam at the restaurant. It was a long time before I relaxed enough to fall asleep.

CHAPTER FOUR

The weekend went too fast and then the next week was the same as the first. Drake was gone at the crack of dawn and stayed at the hospital until late evening. I spent my time working on my art and when I needed a break, I contacted the local chapter of Doctors Without Borders to offer my services in case they needed anyone to write for their newsletter or in the office.

I spoke with the office manager, a woman named Jirani, offering my services as a writer or working in the office. She agreed to send me the newsletter so I could see the kind of articles published and decide if there was anything from my time in Mangaize that I wanted to rework for publication. She also agreed to provide me with the meeting schedule so I could attend and report on anything that was newsworthy.

I was pleased, and eager to put my journalism skills to work. The next meeting wasn't for a month, so I would spend my time going over past issues and working on a piece for the next edition.

Work on my series of paintings of Drake progressed during the day when Drake was away at the hospital with Michael. I worked on one piece of Drake in the huge claw foot tub, his skin luminous in the morning light, beads of water on his skin, his black hair wet, his eyelashes clumped and dark against his clear blue eyes.

As for Drake, he contacted me frequently, sending little texts throughout the day to let me know what he was doing and how things were going.

So tired, and was hoping to come home early tonight, but we have some critically ill pediatric patients flown in from a war zone who need surgery and so I'm staying late with Michael again. I love you. Don't wai

t up.

We finished morning rounds. It's a great hospital but I wish I had my surgical suite in NYP here. Will have to call Dave Mills and get him to release capital funds to renovate.

Taking a short break after a long delicate surgery on a very sick child. I think I might do a sub-specialty in pediatric neurosurgery. Would mean another year training but after Liam's illness, I realized I really feel happiest when I'm working on children.

Great OR staff – all the brightest and best students work here after they graduate. A group of really professional nurses have been working in the OR for years. They're showing me how it's done. Reminding me in no uncertain terms who really runs this operating theater…

UGH. Hospital cafeteria food is the same all over the world. Consistently tasteless and flavorless. How is that possible? I thought in Kenya they'd have more flavorful food but I guess Americans have been here teaching the cooks. They must go to the same conventions… I can't wait for us to move into our place and cook fresh food…

Speaking of eating, I am very much missing eating my favorite dish… YOU.

GOD I miss you, Ms. Bennet…

Don't hate me, but I have to stay late again tonight… I'll make it up to you this weekend. After I sleep for 14 hours straight!

On Friday night, he and Michael took the evening off as usual. We went to the restaurant in the hotel, turning down dinner with Michael and Claire because Drake wanted to spend his time with me. I wore something Drake picked out for me – a black leather dress with a zipper up the front, that he made me unzip a bit so he could enjoy my cleavage. I wore my black lace garter belt and black hose with the seam, a pair of simple black leather pumps, and my black diamond 'collar'.

"Wear your hair up," he said as we dressed. "I want to see your collar whenever I feel like it. I feel so deprived, I need to remind myself that you really are all mine. But I have a special surprise for you tonight."

I smiled and styled my hair in an up do, leaving long tendrils, which I curled so that they fell softly around my face and down my neck.

"You look beautiful," Drake said as he stood behind me at the mirror. "I've been so busy this week, we haven't even made love once since the weekend. I imagine you're feeling quite neglected, because I know I am."

"You've been late every night and have been exhausted when you get home. I understand."

"I need you all the time, Kate, but you know I don't like quickies. I'd rather save it up for a very sensual, very long, slow scene when we have time."

We turned back to the mirror as he finished brushing his hair. I looked him over. He wore his black leather pants and white linen shirt, untucked.

"You look delicious," I said. "Entirely lickable. What's up with the leather pants?"

"Lickable, Ms. Bennet?" he said, quirking an eyebrow. "You like them, do you?"

I glanced at his body when he lifted the shirttail to expose the top of his pants, the thick black belt studded with metal, the happy trail leading down from his navel.

"I like very much…" I said, and turned back to my hair. "What's the occasion?"