Unrestrained (Unrestrained 3)

Talia nodded, her expression one of polite impatience. "If you could wait outside, I find visitors tend to disrupt the class."

I looked back at Drake, who nodded. " Of course," he said. " I apologize."

He gave me a dark look and then went out the door, closing it softly behind him. I went back to my bench and sat down, my heart pounding. I tried to keep working on my drawing, but my hands were shaking from the adrenaline rush I had when Drake seemed so upset.

Finally, the class was over and we gave Janus a round of applause and passed around the hat for donations. I gathered up my pencils and art kit, and made my way over to the door, glad that the class was over but now I'd have to face Drake and try to convince him that there was no reason for him to be jealous.

Drake was waiting on the sidewalk, sitting on the curb, his arms resting on his knees. Jomo's taxicab was parked by the side of the road, Jomo leaning against it, chatting with Drake while they waited for me.

Drake stood when I walked up and dutifully took my art portfolio while Jomo reached out to take my art kit.

We drove back to the house, the silence in the cab almost unbearable. Even Jomo was unusually silent. I thought Drake would come inside for a brief time so we could talk this out, but he didn't get out of the cab.

"I have to get back and scrub in for a surgery at 1:00."

I checked my cell. He didn’t have time. I had to lean into the car through the open window on his side.

"I wish you wouldn’t leave like this," I said, emotion building in me, my heart pounding. I glanced at Jomo, who was busy putting in his earphones as if he wanted to give us privacy. "I don’t like to see you upset because of a misunderstanding."

"I understood perfectly, Kate," he said, not looking at me. "It's you who doesn't understand."

"Drake, don't leave things like this."

He shook his head, "We’ll talk later. Be waiting for me. In proper position."

"What do you mean?" I said, but then I realized exactly what he meant. He meant kneeling, wearing only my garters and hose, my head bowed. In submissive mode for a scene.

"You know what I mean." Then, he kissed me briefly but intensely, one hand tangled in my hair, pulling me against his mouth. "I need to do a scene with you tonight to wipe his memory from both our minds. What do you think, Katherine?"

"Whatever you want," I said, frustrated that he took things the wrong way with Sefton.

"I want," he said. "I'll let you know later when I'll be home."

I smiled at him, forcing myself to mean it even though my chest was tight with emotion, my cheeks heating at the thought he took everything wrong.

He kissed me one last time, roughly, and then he tapped Jomo on the shoulder to indicate that he was ready and the taxicab drove away.

As I expected, I was alone all evening once more. Drake texted me at seven to say he'd be late again because of an emergency head injury from a collision on the Mombasso Road.

I know I intended to do a scene with you tonight, but once again, we have multiple patients and I have to stay until Michael is convinced they're stable.

I texted him back, trying to allay his fears about Sefton.

Drake, please don't take what happened at the Institute the wrong way. Sefton was apologizing for being improper with me and promised to be completely professional from now on.

Drake responded immediately.

You're very naïve, Kate. But this is something I should have known I'd have to deal with. You're young and inexperienced in the ways of men, especially Dominant men. I'm sorry to have been so busy lately and that you feel neglected. I swear I haven't been worked like this since I was a resident. I don’t know where Michael gets the energy but he beats me in that department. He thrives on work, according to him. Says he feels 'alive' when he's working a trauma case.

Don't think this is how our life together will be. It won’t. You're everything to me, and if you don't feel that, I've failed.

I sighed and texted back, not wanting to argue with him, but wanting him to understand Sefton was nothing to me.

Please don't worry about Sefton. He's nothing to me. He's an art instructor who might help me improve. That's all. I love you.

I made some blackberry tea and waited for his response but there was none. He must not have received my text. I was determined to wait up for him in case he was in the mood when he got back, although I suspected that like every other late night, Drake would come home, undress, brush his teeth and crash.

I watched the late news, tidied up the kitchen and then went to bed. I left the light on and read a book on my laptop, but soon, I was yawning and decided to put my laptop on the nightstand and close my eyes for a moment. I checked the clock and it read 11:13. Drake should be home any moment…