"Drake…"
"Katherine," he said, his voice firm. He said nothing for a moment. "Hold on a second." I heard him speak to someone, wishing them well and thanking them for the meeting. Then, the sound of a door closing.
"Sorry," he said. "I had someone in my office."
"Drake, we could never do anything when my father's there…" I said, despite being titillated by the whole idea.
"Of course not. But we could arrive a bit early…"
I sat there, biting a nail, wondering how to respond to the tone of his voice, which was definitely authoritative, brooking no argument.
"What time would we meet them?" he asked.
"The usual time. Seven-thirty."
"Tell your dad it's my treat and that I insist. I'll reserve the fourth floor at the Russian Tea Room. Now, as for you, Ms. Bennet, I'll pick you up at 8th Avenue at 6:45 and we'll arrive a half hour early. Remember my rules for going out in public. I want you wearing that black dress you wore at the fundraiser and your stockings and garters. Nothing underneath. Put your hair up so I can see your collar and get at that neck of yours. You'll be so wet when we get to the restaurant, I imagine I could make you come very easily."
I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting with my urge to argue. "If you really want this."
"I really want this, Katherine. I'm getting hard thinking about slipping my fingers inside of you while we're sitting at the table. I'm going to have to do some serious meditation and deep breathing to get rid of my not so little problem before I go to my next meeting…"
"I wish I could help you with that problem, Doctor Morgan."
He laughed. "I do as well. You'll help me later."
I smiled at the image of him dressed in his suit, his erection straining at his trousers.
"See you and it at six-forty five," I said, butterflies in my belly at the thought of him having his way with me at the restaurant.
"That's my good girl," he replied, his voice sounding pleased. "I love you."
"I love you, too," I said, his words eliciting a flood of warmth through me.
I ended the call and sighed, my body already warming to the thought of what would happen tonight.
The morning passed quickly and I ate a meager lunch I picked up from the deli across the street from my apartment. I spent the afternoon packing up the rest of my apartment. Most of the boxes that would be shipped to Africa were ready to go at my father's, but those things I'd donate or keep in storage were still waiting to be boxed up.
At about four o'clock, I took a taxi to my father's where my clothes were already packed for the trip. I said hello to my father and Elaine and then started to get ready, having a quick bath, shaving so that my skin was completely smooth, and then I did my hair and makeup. I unpacked my dress from the fundraiser and after fluffing it in the clothes dryer, I slipped it on. The final touch was the black velvet choker with the diamond pendant Drake had given me. My collar. Finally, I gathered up my coat and bag. I briefly popped my head in my father's office.
"Hi, Daddy," I said when he was no longer on the phone. He glanced up from his papers and smiled.
"You look lovely. How come you're ready so early?"
"I'm meeting Drake for a drink before dinner. We've got a lot to discuss."
My father nodded. "We'll meet you there at 7:30. I haven't been to the Russian Tea Room in ages."
"Drake loves the Tea Room. His dad took him there during a trip to Manhattan when Drake was first in college. They used to eat there regularly when his dad would visit. Drake's such a sentimental man."
I went to him and kissed his cheek. He smiled up at me, squeezing my hand on his shoulder, no more words bein
g spoken between us. I turned and went to the door, still so amazed at how things had changed between my father and me in such a short while and it was all because of Drake.
When I glanced back, he was already back on the phone making plans for his run for office.
I took my father's limo service to Drake's apartment on 8th Avenue, texting him when I was outside. I climbed the stairs to the third floor loft, thinking back to the first time I went there and how he met me on the landing. When I opened the door, Drake was waiting for me in the entry, holding two shot glasses of Anisovaya.
"Ms. Bennet…"