I woke really early, just as the sun was rising. Drake had rolled over onto his back and I was lying all alone, shivering, the sheet off me. My skin hurt where I was burnt and so I got up and quickly put on my nightgown, intending to put some aloe on my burns to ease the pain. I snuck out of the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, taking my bag with me. I sat on the toilet to have a pee and took out my cell only to find an email message from Dawn. The subject line read

Read this now.

I hesitated. I did not want to open it and read anything bad from her. But I did anyway.

Kate, I know you're in the Bahamas with Drake. I asked Heath where you were and he was only too happy to tell me that you’d snuck down there for the holiday weekend to be with Drake, so bad planning on your part if you were trying to hide this. I also know that Drake is not what you think he is. He's not some sweet harmless man who likes to have some control during sex. Maybe you should ask why his ex-wife had a restraining order against him. Seriously, Kate. I did a background check on him. You think he's not a sadist but the police report I have suggests otherwise. If you don't come to your senses, I think the prospect of an anonymous letter with this police report included to the Head of Surgery at NY Presbyterian might convince you to end this very dangerous relationship.

I covered my mouth with a hand to stifle my gasp and texted her instead of sending an email.

Dawn, why are you doing this? Have you decided you'd rather lose my friendship than see me happy? I'm happy with Drake. Just give this a chance. Please, I'm begging you. He's not what you think…

She responded immediately.

A restraining order, Kate. I wonder what he tried to force on his ex-wife? Do you suppose he wanted to fist-fuck her? One day, you'll thank me for this. I can wait.

I held my head in my hands. Drake's ex-wife had to get a restraining order against him? A shock went through me, making me feel a bit dizzy. I was sure there was a good reason, but still, it made me slightly nauseated.

A noise at the door drew my attention away from the message. It was Drake, standing naked in the doorway, his hair mussed, his eyes sleepy.

"What's the matter? Are you feeling OK?"

"Drake, I'm taking a pee…" I said, putting my cell in my bag. "Can you give me a moment?"

"Sorry," he said and stepped out of the bathroom doorway. "I was worried you were feeling sick from your burn."

I wiped myself, flushed and washed my hands, wondering what I'd say. He came in and stood beside me. When I avoided his eyes, he tilted my chin up with a finger so I couldn't avoid him.

"Are you OK?"

"My burn hurts," I said, my voice a bit quivery. "I thought I'd put some aloe on it."

He nodded and ran his fingers over the burn on my breasts. "Let me do that."

"I can do it," I said, pushing his hands away.

"I like to do it," he said, insisting, taking the bottle out of my hands and turning me around, lifting me so that I sat on the vanity, my back to the mirror. He was strong enough that I couldn't resist so I didn't. I just gave in and let him, my mind in a whirl over what Dawn said in her email.

A restraining order?

Drake leaned closer between my thighs and pulled down one of the straps to my nightgown. He squeezed some aloe out and smoothed it over the burns on my shoulders and breasts.

"This is going to make me hard."

"It's still really early…"

"Six hours of sleep is my usual," he said, cracking a grin. "You're so delicious in that black lace. But even more delicious out of it." He hiked up the hem so that my thighs were exposed and of course, my newly-shaved pussy. Then he poured a bit of aloe gel on my thighs where the burn was worst and spread it over. "Oh, I am definitely getting hard because of this."

"I need to take a shower first," I said.

He put the bottle of aloe down and leaned against me, his mouth at my throat, kissing my neck.

"This is waterproof," he said, his fingers sliding up my inner thigh to my groin. "Oh, you're so nice and smooth…" he said when he touched me.

I swallowed hard, in the grip of conflicting emotions. Desire rushed through me at his words and touch, but anxiety did as well. I had to find out what happened before I judged him. Dawn sent a PDF of the restraining order in her email. I wanted to read it but I had the feeling I wouldn’t be able to until Drake and I fucked. He wouldn't let me alone now, not in the state he was in with a delicious-looking erection standing up between our bodies. Just seeing it sent a stab of lust through me, thinking of how good it would make me feel once inside of me.

"I'll turn the shower on. You get naked."

He turned away and started the shower, and I admired his delightfully round and firm ass, his strong, wide back. His skin was so smooth and fair although he did have a bit of a tan on his arms and legs. I undressed, resigned to what was going to happen, wanting it, but still, so afraid of what I'd find when I opened that PDF…

The shower stall beside the bathtub was tiled and large enough for four people. There were two safety bars on the walls and after I got in and was completely wet from the warm spray, Drake maneuvered me into the corner and proceeded to wash me. He took a bar of soap out of its box and lathered up really well, his eyes intense as he began to slide his soapy hands over my shoulders and breasts, his fingers circling my nipples, drawing them into hard points. I grasped onto the two bars on either side of me, and closed my eyes, letting him just do what he would to me. I tried to block thoughts of the restraining order out of my mind. I tried to just focus on his fingers and what he was doing to me, so expertly working me up.

His soapy hands trailed down my body over my belly and down to my thighs. He slipped his fingers between my labia and thighs, gently, and then around my back to my ass and his touch sent thrills of desire through my body. He slid his hands around my hips and soaped between my cheeks before turning me around so that the water rinsed the soap off me.

"There," he said, turning me back, lifting one of my thighs so that warm water ran down my body and between my legs. "All clean."

He turned the shower off and knelt down on the floor, taking my leg, placing it over his shoulder. He glanced up at me, his eyes intense. "I'm going to eat you, Kate. Put your leg over my other shoulder. Hold on to those bars for support. Remember to tell me if you feel like you're going to come."

I did as he said, my thighs shaking just a bit to see his mouth so close to me. He worked his hands up and around my thighs and spread my labia, then began to lick me all over, his tongue circling my clit, then going lower to the entrance to my body. It felt so good, his tongue so soft and warm against me, but when he lowered one hand and slipped two fingers into me, I clenched around him.

It didn't take long and soon, my arousal built and I felt the unmistakable signs deep inside me of an impending orgasm.

"Drake, I…" I whispered, but he didn't stop. He kept licking, sucking my clit into his mouth, his fingers stroking inside of me. "Drake, I'm going to come…"

This didn't stop him, but seemed to encourage him and he thrust a third finger inside of me, and the increased pressure combined with the sensation from his tongue on my clit pushed me over. My orgasm started, my whole body shaking, my thighs tensing around his head. I breathed in through gritted teeth as waves of pleasure overtook me, and I moaned out loud. "Oh, God…"

He kept licking and thrusting his fingers inside of me, my body quaking, clenching around his fingers.

He finally stopped after I almost let go of the safety bars in my near delirium. He pulled his mouth away and stared into my eyes as I gasped above him, my arms shaking.

Then he let each of my thighs down from his shoulders and stood up, his rock-hard dick pressing against my belly.

"Turn around," he commanded and I did, knowing what came next. I bent over and spread my thighs without him even telling me, gripping the safety bars once more and he entered me from behind, his length easily sliding inside of me, I was so slick from my orgasm.  I thought he'd just fuck me quickly and come himself, but he didn't. He slid his hand around my body between my thighs and began to stroke my still very-sensitive clit while remaining still, his cock feeling so nice and big inside of me. His fingers were soft at first, but soon, he increased pressure as he began to thrust inside of me, very slowly, stroking inside the entrance to my body and a couple of inches so that he hit my sweet spot over and over again.

He was so good at this, it felt so good, so sweet that soon, I was ready to come again.

"Drake," I said, breathless once more, "I'm going to come again."

He didn't stop, just kept sliding inside of me just a few inches, his fingers never stopping their slow, agonizing tease. I was breathing rapidly, my body so close once more and I felt that any moment my orgasm would start. I tried to speak, barely able to get it out.

"Drake…"

 "Come for me," he said, his voice hoarse. He started thrusting faster, entering me all the way. "Say my name when you come," he whispered, biting my shoulder. "Say my name."

I gasped as my orgasm started, the sensations so intense, jolts of pleasure down my legs and up into my belly. My face felt hot, and I had to grit my teeth.

"Say my name," he said again, his voice a harsh whisper.

"Drake…" I groaned as I shuddered, my whole body quaking.

He was right behind me. He pulled his fingers away from me, and gripped onto my hips, thrusting harder, grunting in my ear as he came as well, gasping with each thrust, pulling my hips against him. Finally, he stopped and just leaned against me as I bent over, still grasping the safety bars for support, my thighs now shaking.

"Fuck…" he gasped in my ear, his hands stroking underneath me, down from my neck and over my breasts, then to my pussy once more. "That was so good."

I clenched around him when he touched my clit and he groaned. He just stood like that for a moment, his cock still pulsing a bit inside me, his breathing and mine starting to slow. Finally, he slipped out of me. He turned me around and grasped my shoulders, bending down to kiss me, pulling me into his arms as he did. I just melted into him, trying not to think, trying to just feel him, feel this moment. The other moments when I had to face reality, when I had to face what Dawn sent me in her email, would come soon enough.

"There," he said, stroking my cheek. "That's two for one, I think."

I smiled and closed my eyes, biting back sadness that started once more when I thought about Dawn's email. "Are you keeping track?"

He leaned down and pressed his face in my neck, kissing me, and I felt his cheek rise in a smile.

"I'm greedy that way."

After we ate a quick breakfast in our room that Drake had ordered the night before, Drake went back to his own suite to prepare for his conference session. I sat alone in front of the open window and read my email, examining the copy of the restraining order.

It named Drake and was taken out by his former wife, Maureen. A temporary order of protection for "forcible touching" and "harassment". The order was dated almost five years earlier and I wagered it was after he and his wife split.

Forcible touching… Harassment…

Not quite what I thought at first. I thought he'd assaulted her. I could understand if a husband who had just been told by his wife that she was leaving him tried to touch her, tried to stop her from going through with it.

I could see Drake, maybe not quite understanding his Dominant nature, trying to control her and getting too insistent. I could see there being misunderstandings over this and a he-said she-said situation. Then I feared I was trying too hard to find an excuse for him. Maybe the split came out of left-wing for him and he freaked. It didn't seem like the self-confident controlled man I knew but perhaps he was really heart-broken by the split. Would he really hurt his wife?

Maybe that was what drove him to compartmentalize his life so carefully, keeping women at arm's length using submission contracts.

I sent Dawn a text.

Dawn, that was during his breakup with his wife of five years. He was probably upset and maybe overreacted but he wasn't cited with assault of any kind. He probably didn’t want her to leave him. He has mentioned how broken up he was over their split. Can't you understand that he is not dangerous? He is not into pain! He just likes control and I happen to like it when he takes control. Is our friendship worth nothing? Can't you give me the chance to prove to you that he's a good man?

She responded in a couple of minutes.

I have to follow my conscience. He likes to tie women up and fist them and anally fuck them, Kate. Doesn't that scare you? How much farther from that is rape? Even if you let him willingly, what's wrong with you if you want that? It's sick.

I sat and held my head in my hands, grief washing over me that she couldn't listen to reason. Was she going to actually try to ruin his career over this?

Don't do this, Dawn. Don't ruin him. He hasn't hurt me. He's only cared for me.

She replied right away.

I won't wait around until he does hurt you. Kate, this is for your own good. End it now before it goes any further and he either breaks your heart or hurts you for real. If you don't, I will send this to the head of surgery along with his FetLife profile. Do you know he calls himself Master D? I asked around the nurses at NYP and I heard an earful. They say he's a controlling bastard. Who knows what else I'll find if I have my PI dig a bit deeper… End it Kate. I don't care if you hate me. I have to do this to save you from even worse pain.

I didn’t respond. I just dialed Lara. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Kate. What's up?"

"Lara, I'm in trouble. I need your advice as a lawyer."

"Uh, oh. Can I assume it involves Drake?"

"You assumed right," I said and related what happened. I didn't use Dawn's name but told Lara that it was someone who knew Drake in his professional life.

"What happened with his wife?" I asked, cringing, not sure if I wanted to know.

"Oh, that was overblown," she replied. "He tried to stop her from leaving the night she announced she wanted a divorce. He wanted to keep talking and she just wanted to leave. He stopped her physically. Didn't hurt her or anything, but by then, she was so cold to him, she didn’t care how he felt. When he persisted, calling her, wanting to get counseling, try to keep the marriage together, she took out the order of protection. It was only temporary, so no big deal. It wasn't a permanent order so the judge didn't think he was a real danger. Drake had been so busy with his work, with establishing his career, he didn't understand how far apart they had grown until it was too late. She just couldn't deal with him, had a new boyfriend and just sprung it on him out of the blue."

"Poor Drake," I said. I felt really bad for him.

"Christ," she said, sounding exasperated. "What did you tell Drake about this?"

"I tried to break it off with him last week, but he wouldn't accept it. He said he wants to stay together and that we would just be really discrete, but this person was able to find out that we were both in the Bahamas. She found a Private Investigator and did a background check on Drake. I didn't tell him any of this yet. I'm afraid for him."

There was a silence on the line. "I was a bit concerned about Drake. He's gone a bit native with you, Kate."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, a bit wild. Like the old Anthropologists when they stayed too long with the tribe. Not following his usual routine. He never sees his subs outside of the lifestyle. I don't know what he was thinking with you, but he saw you at the fundraiser, at your father's campaign fundraiser, at the concert, and now he's there. That really surprises me. He's not being sane about this. His reputation is far more important than training a potential sub."

"I tried to talk to him, but he's just not listening. How bad would it be if the existence of a restraining order was made public, say to someone in the hospital?"

"I have no idea, but it would depend on the optics of it and the person who received the information. Some people might completely ignore it. This happened five years ago after all. But add in the whole kink element, his profile at FetLife… That might be too much."

I sat and chewed my nail. "What should I do?"

She was silent for a few moments. "What do you think you should do?"

"I don't want him to be hurt because of me."

"Then end it."

I closed my eyes. "I already tried that."

"You didn't try hard enough. Listen, Kate. I know Drake Morgan. You want to end it with Drake? Tell him he doesn't do it for you. Tell him you don't feel it. Or better, show an interest in meeting another Dom who might be better able to get you to submit. Technically, he should have just kept things totally professional with you and not seen you outside of establishing this D/s relationship. He screwed up. You can use that, claim that he feels too much like a boyfriend, not a Dom."

"I couldn’t do that! He does do it for me. He knows that…"

"Kate, you two have only known each other for a few weeks. Just cut him off. Be mean. Believe me, there are any number of subs who would be entirely grateful to have a Dom like him. I'll set to work finding a replacement for you. She'll be there to assuage any sadness he feels over your broken agreement."

"You really think I should do this?'

She was silent for a moment. "I think that this shouldn’t have happened. I think whoever found out about you and Drake is an evil person to threaten this. I'm so sick of the public's ignorance of this lifestyle and intolerance. Drake is my close friend. I think you have to put Drake's career before your own hopes for this D/s relationship. He's a wonderful man, Kate. He does really wonderful work as a neurosurgeon. Don't let your desire for him ruin his life."

"I know."

We said goodbye and I ended the call. I sent a text to Dawn.

You win. I'm ending it with him tonight. I'll be back in Manhattan as soon as I can get a flight.

Then I cried my eyes out.