CHAPTER ONE
As I led her through the gate and to the baggage carousel, Kate's expression showed a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat. Her hand was closed tightly around mine, and when I put our carry-on bags down, I glanced at Kate again, trying to see her from the perspective of someone who didn't know her. She appeared a bit lost, and at that moment, I felt an incredible sense of responsibility for her. She was here with me, dependent on me. It was both incredibly rewarding to someone like me who liked to be in control, but at the same time, it made me consider that responsibility seriously.
As an independent woman of some personal wealth, although she tried not to be dependent on her father, Kate could buy a ticket back to Manhattan any time she desired. It wasn’t the fact of being financially dependent on me for she never would be, but she was emotionally dependent on me. She was here with me. As my lover and partner. Her happiness depended, at least in part, on our relationship.
I wanted to make her happy. I promised Ethan before we left that I would do everything in my power to make her happy and I meant it.
We stood in the crush of people meeting their friends and relatives, our arms around each other.
"We're here," I whispered, squeezing her closer. I tilted her chin up and kissed her tenderly. When I pulled back, I ran a finger over her bottom lip, touching the tiny scar. "I thought I'd be here by myself when I accepted Michael's offer back in December. I'm so glad you're with me, future Mrs. Morgan."
"I'm so glad you asked me."
It was true. When I accepted Michael’s offer, Kate and I were briefly broken up as a couple. I expected to arrive here alone and to spend my days immersed in my caseload, keeping my head down, using the distance between Nairobi and Manhattan to mend my wounds. They were wounds. I wanted Kate so badly when we first met at Ethan’s party. Despite the difference in our age and the fact she was Ethan’s beloved daughter, I wanted her as my own. When I realized she was the young woman Lara was trying to hook me up with, I wanted her even more for I knew then that we were compatible sexually.
She wanted a Dom. I wanted a submissive. I wanted her.
Now, here she was. All mine. My submissive in heart and mind, even if she wasn’t the best-behaved sub and I was a terrible Dom, letting her get away with murder. I couldn’t help it. I loved her for her resistance. She was a challenge. Truth be told, if she had been too compliant right away, if she had been fully submissive, I think I wouldn’t have fallen as hard or as fast.
"I guess we should get our bags," I said and ended the embrace. "Why don't you have a seat and wait for me. I'll get a cart. Michael and Claire should be here soon."
Kate nodded and sat in a chair by the floor-to-ceiling window while I went to the baggage area, pushing a cart in front of me.
While I waited for our bags, I thought about Kate. I hoped that while she was here, she could take some time to explore herself, find out what she wanted to do with her life—besides be with me. She was the daughter of a very powerful man and had always felt she was in her brother’s shadow. It was all of her own making, for Ethan adored Kate and only wanted her happiness, but Kate never felt secure in her father’s approval. She always tried to second guess him and please him, but resented it at the same time.
I hoped she would have the freedom to do whatever she wanted. Write. Paint. Explore the city and go on safari. I wanted her to see Africa in a different light. The way my father and I saw it—as a place of great possibility and hope.
I picked up my suitcase when it emerged and turned to glance at Kate, still seated by the windows. She smiled back, her tiny wave so sweet. While I was loading one of my own bags onto the baggage cart, Michael Owiti walked up, his hand extended, a huge smile on his friendly face.
His wife Claire followed, looking impeccable as usual. Michael and I shook and embraced. He was a mentor of mine and felt like a favorite uncle or big brother. Michael was Chief of Surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital where I would work. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Aga Khan University Medical College where I would teach.
I was finally making good on a promise I made Michael several years earlier, that I would take time off from my practice in Manhattan, come teach at the university and take on a surgical caseload at the hospital. I had come briefly for a couple of months a year earlier, but Michael wanted me to stay longer. Then my father died and I was a year in mourning before I met Kate.
Things seemed to have worked out for the best for now I’d be able to devote six months to Michael instead of four. Maybe longer, depending on Kate.
I gave Claire a hug and pointed to Kate, who sat up, eager to meet our hosts.
Kate stood and smiled, waving hesitantly. Being a natural extrovert, Michael strode over to her with his arms out.
"There you are, lovely Miss Katherine," he said. "Welcome to Kenya!"
He shook Kate’s hand, smiling broadly at her.
"Nice to meet you," Kate said, her cheeks flushed. "You must be Dr. Owiti. Drake spoke so highly of you."
"Please, call me Michael,” he said. “And Drake has spoken so highly of you as well. My wife Claire and I have been so excited to meet the woman who finally stole Drake the Rake's heart. We thought he might be a playboy forever after the divorce, but you proved us wrong."
Michael turned and wagged his eyebrows at me. I cringed inwardly when he used the old title Drake the Rake. It was what the nurses called me when I had been at Michael’s hospital for a term.
"Drake the Rake?" Kate said and laughed, turning to me with a gleam in her eye. I draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, giving her my best guilty smile.
"That was his nickname for me when we worked together a couple of years ago," I said.
Claire arrived and smiled at Kate, extending her hand. The two women shook hands while Michael introduced Claire.
“We met in a philosophy class on Heidegger," Claire said, her British accent impeccable. "Back when Michael was still a rebellious son trying to be anything but a doctor, the way his father wanted and expected."
"Sounds familiar," Kate said and raised her eyebrows at me. "Drake studied psychology before he became a surgeon." She turned to Michael. "Philosophy is a long way from neurosurgery. How did you end up studying the brain?"
"The philosopher is obsessed with the theory of the mind; the neurosurgeon with the brain,” Michael said. “It's actually a very easy jump."
Michael and Claire led us to the car and while Michael loaded our suitcases into the trunk of the black Mercedes, I opened Kate’s door, leaning in close to kiss her cheek before she entered.
"Drake the Rake, hmm?" she said quietly when I pulled away. I caught the gleam in her eyes.
"Michael's exaggerating of course," I said, feigning innocence, although I had a few partners while I was in Nairobi before. Not as many as Michael might suggest, but enough for an old married man like him to take note.
"You must have been seen as a rake, for it to be your nickname, though."
I grinned. "I was notorious,” I admitted, “but Michael had better stop telling tales or he'll scare you off."
"Not likely," she said. "Drake the Rake is pretty mild, considering the other nicknames you have."
"It is mild,” I said and nodded. “And I'm the farthest thing from a rake now. I'm a committed monogamist soon-to-be newly-wed husband."
She smiled at that and entered the car. I closed the door and went around to the other side and took my seat beside her. I checked her seat belt to make sure it was fastened properly and then fastened my own, my arm slipping across the back of the seat so I could touch her.
Michael drove through the streets of Nairobi, an expert at managing its busy roadways.
"You know, Katherine," Michael said from the driver’s seat. "When I first heard that you'd broken poor Drake's heart back in December and he wanted to come to Kenya to escape, I was so happy for myself and for our hospital, although of course I felt bad for Drake. I'm very glad you two worked things out because I was feeling very guilty that my happiness came at Drake's expense."
"I'm glad as well," Kate said and smiled at me. I squeezed her hand, wanting to show her affection and that I felt the same way.
"How is that young son of yours?" Claire said from the front seat. "We were so surprised to get the news, and so worried for you about his diagnosis. Your last email said that he was doing well, that the graft was taking and he was improving."
"He's doing very well,” I said, thinking of the last report I had from Liam’s doctors. “I wouldn’t have left if there was any doubt, but they'll keep a close eye on him for the next weeks and months."
"We didn't expect that you were bringing Kate with you, you bad boy,” Claire said chidingly. I glanced at her, surprised that she was bringing it up. I hadn’t said anything about Kate to Claire, although I did finally email Michael and tell him. “You never told us that in your emails!” Claire turned to Kate and looked at her pointedly. “He kept the fact you two reconciled a secret. We only found out a few days ago. Imagine our surprise that you were back together."
I held Kate’s hand up, wanting to silence Claire once and for all. "And engaged."
Claire smiled icily. "And engaged?" She turned to Michael and hit him playfully on the shoulder. "Did you know this? Why didn’t you tell me?" She turned back to me. "How quick was that?!"
I shrugged. "Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about Kate, but I was pretty preoccupied with Liam for the past month so I wasn’t thinking about coming here." I turned to Michael. "You didn't have to pick us up," I said, appreciating it all the same. "We could have taken a taxi to the hotel."
"Nonsense," Michael said, shaking his head. "The driver would take you all over the place to extend his fare and then given you the wrong change. Claire and I are only too pleased to give you a ride to the hotel. I hope you're not too tired, because we have the new student-faculty mixer tonight at the faculty club. I thought we'd go so Drake could meet the new students and a few of the residents, have a glass of wine and some appetizers. Then we'll take you out for some good street food, and give you a proper introduction to Nairobi."
I turned to Kate and squeezed her hand once more. "What do you think? Are you up to it?
Kate smiled, but I could see fatigue in her eyes.
"Of course we can go,” she said. “Don't want to keep you from your students."
Claire turned to face us from the front seat. "Oh, by the way, Drake, you'll never guess who decided to come back to Nairobi for specialization in pediatric neurosurgery."
"Who?" I said, curious about my new crop of residents.
"Sam Cuttington."
Christ… I said nothing for a moment as I thought about Sam. Samantha Cuttington. A medical student, specializing in surgery when I was in Nairobi before. We had an affair that lasted for most of the time I was in Nairobi. We kept it quiet because technically, I was faculty and she was a student. We could have gotten in trouble—I could have gotten in trouble if anyone besides Michael and Claire had found out.
I cleared my throat. "When did this happen?"
"Only recently," Michael said from the front seat. He caught my eye in the rear view mirror. "We contacted Sam at Christmas that you were coming to teach the robotic surgery class, but didn't hear back until now. Sam's a great student and wants to specialize in robotic surgery. We'll all work closely together."
I nodded, and then looked out the window. Sam was a great student, very bright and competent. Driven. We were too much alike to click. I was very committed to my lifestyle as a Dominant, but she was very adamant about seducing me.
I let her seduce me for I was lonely, without a submissive, and the sex was good.
Kate squeezed my hand and I turned and smiled at her, but I wasn’t happy that Sam had returned and would be a student once more. She had probably returned when she knew I was going to be teaching for the semester. She and Michael were close and he had mentored her while she was in Nairobi before, but we had parted on less than agreeable terms.
She wanted more and I couldn’t give it. I was already cutting my ties to Nairobi for my return to Manhattan. I had already pushed her out of my mind and it took her a while to realize it.
I felt guilty, but she had to know a long distance relationship just wouldn’t work between us, aside from the fact that I wanted to be in control sexually and she wanted to share it.
It didn’t end as well as I would have liked, but it had to end.
Now she’d be back and I hoped she knew that I had Kate with me and we were engaged. I’d have to make that clear to her if she came to Nairobi with any hopes of rekindling our previous relationship. If we were going to be anything, it would be colleagues and professionals.
Nothing more.
We arrived at the hotel, and I was excited to see Kate’s response. I picked the Hemmingway because it was perhaps the nicest hotel I had been in. Picturesque, it resembled an old estate from a bygone era.
A porter helped me with the luggage and while Kate sat with Michael and Claire, I checked in.
One of the perks of the hotel was a butler, who was assigned to us during our stay. He led the way to the hotel room and got us settled. Kate glanced around the suite, her face flushed. When she stopped and glanced in a circle, her face bore a look of pleasure that made me very happy.
While Michael and Claire waited in the living room, I spoke with the butler and Kate freshened up in the bathroom. I joined her, and then took a quick shower. When I was done, I pulled a towel around my waist and went to where she stood by the sink.
"So, what do you think, Ms. Bennet?" I pulled her into my arms. "Does the hotel meet your expectations?"
She slipped her arms around my neck. "It's fantastic. Looks like a place where Hemingway himself would stay, except brand new."
I kissed her. "Good. I want you in the lap of luxury while we find a place to live. You've been working hard at college for five years and now it's time to relax and do whatever you feel like. Paint. Sightsee. Go on safari."
"What about you?" Kate said, stroking her fingers through my hair. "You've been working hard at your surgical practice, your foundation, the business, and your band…"
"I only work as hard as I want,” I said, for it was true. I worked the cases I wanted. “I want you to rest, sleep in as late as you want. Stay up as late as you want, painting or writing. Whatever your heart desires."
She smiled. "I might like to do some wildlife art while I'm here. When I was in high school, I did a lot of bird paintings so it makes sense to paint wildlife since we're in Africa."
"I'd love to go on Safari," I said, squeezing her. "Maybe some weekend when I'm not on call. Claire and Michael will know some good places to go and good tour guides."
She pushed a hank of hair from my forehead. "I'm pretty tired. I hope we won't be out late."
I shook my head, and pulled her more tightly into my arms. "Don't worry. We'll go to the mixer, go for some local food and then come back early. I think I might like a late-night swim in the pool, though."
"Sounds good to me," she said and smiled.
I pulled her up for a kiss and when it ended, she frowned.
"You didn't seem all that pleased that this Sam fellow was coming back to the college to work with you and Michael."
I shook my head and wondered how to handle the next part of our discussion. How much should I tell Kate? I wanted to be truthful, but I didn’t want her to be worried that there would be any reason for jealousy.
"Not a he." I stroked her cheek. "Samantha Cuttington, one of Michael's former students."
Kate frowned, her expression one of shock.
"Tell me," she said, her face blanching a bit.
"I met her when she was a resident two years ago,” I said, deciding to be as truthful as I could. “I volunteered at the hospital for a couple of months. At Michael's request, I was here to help deal with a backlog of cases the foundation brought in from Somalia. It was before my father died. We," I said and shrugged. "Sam and I had a fling."
"A 'fling'?” she said, her voice soft. “I didn't think you had flings."
"I don't. Sam and I," I said and hesitated as I tried to use the right words. "We went out a few times, had sex a few times. But she wasn't interested in anything to do with BDSM so nothing more developed."
Kate nodded, and I could tell she was trying hard to stay calm. I pulled on some clothes and waited for her questions.
She played with the collar on my shirt, straightening the tie knot. "So you broke up."
"There was nothing really to break,” I said, although I knew Sam thought there was. “It was only a few times."
"How many is a few? Twice? Three times?"
I shook my head. "I can't remember exactly. I was here for a couple of months. Maybe a dozen times." I finished fastening my cuffs and then focused on Kate. "There was nothing other than sexual release for me, Kate. She's not my type and was very upset at the thought I was into D/s."
She had been upset, claiming D/s was anti-feminist. I had told her that feminism meant freedom for women in all aspects of their lives, including desire. She didn’t seem to understand.
"You must have liked something about her. I thought you only had submissives."
"I do, I did only have submissives. She was here when I was here, and well, it was just opportunity…"
"Did she feel that way?” Kate asked, her voice very soft now. “That it was just opportunity?"
I shrugged, and remembered back when we ended things. Or rather, when I ended things. "She wasn't happy when I left without continuing the relationship," I said, a sense of relief that Kate seemed okay with it. "She thought she'd be enough to tempt me to give up my kinky ways. She wasn't. End of story."
"You're not very kinky, Master D. She must be pretty vanilla."
"She's pretty dominant herself. We clashed."
"Not enough to keep you out of each others arms."
"Too much to keep me with her."
Kate exhaled. "Did Michael know about you two? Does he know about you being part of the lifestyle?"
"We tried to keep it private,” I said, “because I was in a supervisory role even though I was only here for a few months. I want it to stay that way, Kate. It's not that I think it would matter. It's not something I want getting around."
"Of course," Kate said. "I know that better than anyone. But she knows…"
"Look," I said and took hold of her shoulders. "This was several years ago before my father died. I've moved on. She's moved on and so there's nothing to be concerned about."
"It sounds like she came back to study with you."
"She came back to study with Michael. He's the one who specializes in pediatrics,” I said but I suspected that she also came back because she heard I’d be in Nairobi for the term. “Let's forget about her and what happened and enjoy ourselves."
"I'm sorry." Kate held up a hand and forced a smile. "You don't have to say anything more. I was surprised, that's all."
I shook my head. "You have nothing to worry about. Like I said it was just sex. Plain old vanilla sex out of convenience."
I bent down and kissed her again, hoping that I had dispelled any worries she felt about an old flame being in town. I had no interest in seeing Sam again and would have preferred that she went somewhere else for the last years of her residency. I knew that she really liked Michael and wanted to specialize in pediatric neurosurgery. Michael was the obvious choice. If anything, the fact that I was here was just icing on the cake.
After pushing Sam out of my mind, I took Kate’s hand and together, we went out to join Claire and Michael.