The Agreement (Unrestrained 1)

"No, it's all right. I'm over it."

"How do you get over a mother leaving? Did your father remarry?"

"No," Drake said. "He never did. He travelled so much, he just kept the proverbial woman in every port. I had a succession of nannies and housekeepers to look after me."

I sighed. This was really stupid. Even I had to admit that I should let him in. We were having a nice conversation, even if now and then, I got the sense he was amused by me.

"You shouldn't have come here," I said. "It's very forward."

"I didn’t want any misunderstanding between us, Kate, and I don't want your father to find out about me. I admire your father and value his friendship. He's like a second father to me. I admire you. I," he said, hesitating. "I heard so much about you from your father and others. I'd like to get to know you better."

I ignored that. "You think I would ever tell my father about you? I'd have to tell him how I found out about your, you know. Kink. No way."

"Kate, why don't you let me in and we can talk? I'm sweltering out here and need some water."

"There's no reason to talk," I said and took in a breath. "I'm not writing about BDSM any longer and so we have nothing to talk about."

"I'd like to hear about Mangaize," he said. "I was in Africa last year but never went to the camps. I was in several field hospitals in the Congo."

"In case you forgot, you warned me off you."

There was a pause. "Oh, damn. I did, didn’t I?" He said nothing for a moment. "Can I take it back?"

"Nope. My father always said that if a man tells you he's not good for you, you should believe him."

"Your father is a very smart man."

I heard him sigh heavily. It made me want to invite him in. Someone who sighed like that had regrets for the bad things they'd done. They want to be good.

"Why did you warn me off?"

I watched out the peephole as he shook his head, rubbed his forehead.

"Isn't it obvious? You seemed so innocent, so young, so pure. I was sure you'd be horrified about my," he said, his voice low. "My lifestyle. I actually wanted to ask you out but didn't want to with Dave there, and then after the interview, I wanted to once again but I talked myself out of it. You were Katherine. Ethan's beloved daughter."

I said nothing. I wasn't horrified by the thought he was a Dominant. I was totally aroused by it but he could never know that. I could tell I'd be like putty in his hands if it ever came to that.

I didn’t know what to think. He did good and that's really what counted. His father's foundation did many really great things in third world countries. Maybe he did like to tie women up and fuck them senseless, but those women wanted it.

Right then, I wanted it.

"I'm sorry," I said, and I was truly sorry. "I just can't."

He sighed again. "Well, I should go, then. I don't want Mrs. Kropotkin to learn all my secrets." He had a playful tone but when he next spoke, his voice fell a register so that it was low and deep. As I peered out the peephole, he leaned up against the door, his face next to the fish eye lens. "I'm sorry about all this," he said, his voice soft. Sexy. "If you want to talk – about the article, about me, or the lifestyle – anything – you just have to call. Text me."

"I don't think I should," I said, grimacing, regret filling me.

"Okay," he said and sighed once more. "Your call. But if you change your mind and want me, I'm willing. Very willing."

Oh, damn… That was loaded with meaning.

"Goodbye, Dr. Morgan."

"Good night, Ms. Bennet."

I closed my eyes and bit back a smile at the reference to Pride and Prejudice. Ms. Bennet. Was he likening us to Darcy and Elizabeth?

I watched out the peephole as he walked down the hallway to the stairs and out of my life.