CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Once we were finished, and our breathing was back to normal, we decided to take a bath. While the bathtub filled with warm water, Kate lit candles, which she placed around the sides of the tub. They provided the only light, creating a very mellow mood.
I pulled her into my arms and we lay in the warm water. "Tell me everything he said and did."
"Do you really want me to?" she said, her voice doubtful.
I thought for a moment. Did I really want to torture myself with the details of his attempt to kiss her? I knew if she told me, I’d lie awake and picture it in my mind’s eye and would probably have a hard time falling to sleep, despite being exhausted after my weekend of ER hell.
"Tell me, Kate,” I said finally. “We need complete openness and honesty. I need to know what he did and how you felt."
Kate smiled. "Most men avoid talking about feelings at all costs."
"They didn't study psychology like I did." I ran a finger over her wet shoulder and down to the curve of her breast. "Men want to do, and believe me, I want to do. I want to go and punch his lights out. We usually don't want to talk. But I know women talk things out. So talk. Tell me."
She sighed, reluctant to be open. I couldn’t have that. She had to learn not to hide anything from me.
"Come on," I said and shook her shoulder gently. "Tell me. I won't get mad or upset."
Then she told me.
The bastard had been open about his desire to have her. He’d manhandled her, pulled her into his arms and tried to kiss her. He’d said that my work was more important to me than she was and that she spent more time with him than with me that weekend.
Claire walked in when she was trying to resist him and of course took it all wrong. I frowned as I thought about the kind of man Sefton was. The kind of Dominant he was.
"Sounds passive-aggressive. Or else he thinks you're attracted to a sadistic Dom who likes to humiliate a submissive. Some women respond to that kind of behavior. I know you don't but he doesn't seem too bright if he was treating you like that."
"He actually suggested that he and I would be 24/7 if we were together. That I needed it, even if I didn't want to accept that fact."
I shook my head. "No, and that's how I know he's not a good Dom. You're not the type for TPE. I'm not the type for TPE and that's why we're good together. I might be able to do it for a weekend for fun and games, role playing, but not all the time."
Kate exhaled and sank lower in the water, her hands on my shoulders. "I might like roleplaying TPE for a weekend, too, but not all the time. Pretend I was your slave girl. That kind of thing but it would only be an act for fun. It wouldn’t be real. And no humiliation. I do that enough on my own."
"You don't humiliate yourself."
"In my mind I do. Like today, when I walked away. I should have gone in the room and pushed Sam out of the way, put my arms around you and kissed you in front of her. Claimed you as my own,” Kate said, biting her bottom lip. “But instead, I ran away like a child because I was afraid you'd read my texts and Claire's and were turning to her for comfort."
I exhaled in frustration. Kate was vulnerable. Sefton tried to take advantage of that for his own gain. He made her feel doubt about our relationship, and then Claire had threatened to tell me that Kate was cheating on me.
"You were vulnerable because we'd been apart all weekend and you’d been assaulted by Sefton. You were emotional and couldn't face a confrontation. You didn't humiliate yourself."
"Sam was probably laughing at me."
"Why would you think that?" I asked. Yes, I knew Sam was disappointed that we wouldn’t reignite our relationship, but she had backed off since I had my little talk with her.
"She wants you, and don't you think otherwise. That first night at the student-faculty mixer, she admitted as much."
"What?"
"She said that you weren't married and pretty much indicated you were fair game…"
I made a face at that. The fact that Sam thought I was fair game despite being engaged said everything I needed to know about her. She had no ethics if she felt able to step in between Kate and me. It was the same with Sefton.
"She'd be wrong." I touched her cheek. "I just haven't made you a respectable woman yet."
Kate tried not to smile, but failed. "Drake, no single woman goes up to a single man as good looking as you and offers to give him a massage without wanting more… You're very naïve," she said and sighed in a mock-resigned manner. "She wants to jump your oh-so-desirable bones, Doctor Delish."
I laughed out loud at that. "You think she's still lusting after me after all this time? She knows I'm a Dom and that I don't want a purely vanilla relationship. She's far too dominant herself. She has an icicle's chance in hell of ever getting me. You've got me, Ms. Bennet, by the mind, heart and balls."
Kate smiled at that. When I bent down to kiss her, she reached one hand down, trailing it from my hair to my chest, her hand over my heart and then down over the crest of my hip.
"I do, do I?" she said coyly.
I moaned when she cupped me with her hand. "Most assuredly you do,” I said, my dick jumping. “Now, don't touch me there unless you mean serious business and plan on being fucked hard."
I quirked an eyebrow at her, grinning in as evil a manner as I could.
When she ran her hand along my quickly-hardening length, her fingers slipping around the head, I inhaled sharply and leaned down to her, my lips hovering over hers.
"I take that as a yes," I said and kissed her. The touch of her wet skin on mine was enough to chase all the bad thoughts about Sefton and Sam from my mind–for at least a few hours.
We quickly settled back into a routine after the drama of the safari weekend. Unfortunately, I still worked far too many hours and on several occasions, I had to stay late or do call all weekend, and Kate still had to spend most of her day alone or with other people.
On Kate’s first day back in the open studio class, I decided once more to stop by and pick her up as I had some time between surgeries and wanted to surprise her. Of course, I also wanted to check up on deVilliers and see if he was still harassing Kate. She said he was being a perfect gentleman, but I didn’t believe her. Once a rogue, always a rogue. And I should know. I knew that until he had her, he wouldn’t let up.
I knew I wouldn’t have, if I met her now and knew she was a submissive looking for a Dominant.
I drove over, still wearing surgical scrubs, and went into the building to the elevator, planning on going up to meet her outside her classroom. I pressed the button and waited for the car to arrive, but heard voices as the elevator made its way to the main floor. The doors started to open and a male voice with a distinctive South African accent spoke.
"Remember what I said. If that boyfriend of yours ever leaves you wanting more, I'm in the wings, waiting. I could teach you so much…"
"Please let me by," Kate said, and when the doors were fully open, I saw that the man was leaning over Kate, blocking her way, a look of clear anger on Kate’s face.
That was it.
I’d had enough of deVilliers and his insistence on bothering Kate. Adrenaline kicked in and I barged into the car and knocked him a good one. deVilliers was taken off guard, and I was able to pin him against the elevator wall, my forearm across his throat, my fist at the ready, held in front of his face.
I heard Kate gasp but kept my focus on deVilliers.
"You almost broke my nose," the man said, clearly shocked. He touched his nose and it came back smeared with blood.
"You'll be waiting nowhere near Kate, if you know what’s good for you, or you'll have more than a broken nose," I said.
"Is that a threat?" deVilliers said. His face was pale, his teeth gritted.
"It's a promise,” I said, surprising myself with a voice that sounded like a growl. “You leave Kate alone or Kate and I will be making a trip to the police to talk about what happened during the safari."
Then I stepped back and adjusted my shirt. I slipped my arm around Kate’s shoulders and led her out of the elevator and down the hallway. Despite my show of strength, my heart was pounding.
"Drake…" Kate said, her face blanched.
"Let's get out of here," I said, kissing the top of her head. "No arguing. I had the element of surprise going for me, and if I almost broke his nose, it was totally by accident. He's a big fucker and I don't know if I could beat him if he wants to fight."
I heard deVilliers behind us and decided that it was best to pick up the pace.
"I could have you charged with assault for that," he called after us.
"Kate could have you charged with assault," I replied.
deVilliers didn’t reply.
I took Kate’s hand in mine and pulled her, running through the doors and down the walkway to where my car was parked. We both laughed so hard as we tumbled inside.
"That was awfully Bruce Willis of you," Kate said.
I started the engine. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!" I said, grinning widely as I squealed the tires and sped off.
deVilliers stood at the entry to the Institute, watching us, a hand to his bloody nose.
When we got home, I pulled Kate into the house and kissed her deeply, my hands roving over her body, up under her shirt to cup her breast while the other slipped down her pants and under her panties.
“I want a quickie,” I said and pushed her over to the couch. Then, I proceeded to bend her over the back, pulled down her pants, untied my scrubs and rammed myself inside of her.
Neither of us took long to come.
When we were done, as I leaned over top of Kate and kissed her neck, panting to catch my breath, she started to giggle.
“What are you laughing at, Ms. Bennet?” I said, smiling despite myself. “Are you laughing at my show of masculine prowess?”
“Masculine prowess…” she whispered, and then burst out laughing. I tickled her, enjoying her laughter. “No, I was laughing at Sefton and how shocked he was. You, Dr. Delish, were magnificent.”
“I was,” I said and nuzzled her neck. “Even if it was totally a cold-cock and he had no idea what was coming.”
“Better than rapiers at dusk,” Kate said and I could feel her cheek rise in a big smile.
“Much better.” I kissed her and pulled out, watching my come drip out of her with satisfaction. “And now I must leave you because I have a surgery in a very short time.”
I left her there, backing away, enjoying the carnal scene I’d created.
“Are you going to leave me like this?” she asked, craning her head back to see me.
“I am,” I said when I reached the door. “I want your lovely ass and pussy to be the last thing I see before returning to work.”
Then I blew her a kiss and was gone.
I was happy the next day after the showdown with deVilliers. I no longer had any concerns about Kate being interested in the man in any way, and figured he’d most likely keep his distance if only to avoid any further drama. So I actually whistled as I wandered through the hallways at the hospital, popping in to check on my patients and make sure all my cases were in order.
I was even polite to Sam when she was in the staff lounge at the same time, for I knew that Kate was also no longer concerned about her. Things were going along well. Kate was taking classes and happy doing her art and I was immersed in my cases.
Then Kate called when I was out on rounds and it all went to shit.
When I arrived back in my office to find Sam waiting, I frowned for I thought she’d only be there for a brief moment to get some lecture notes, but she was waiting on my sofa, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“You’re still here?” I said, a touch of annoyance creeping into my voice.
“Drake…” Sam said, frowning. “You suggested I use your office to copy notes. I only did what you suggested.”
“I thought you’d only be here for a few moments, not an hour.” I plopped down behind my desk and pulled out a file, hoping she’d get the message and leave. She remained sitting on the sofa.
“Was there anything else?”
She was still frowning. “Kate called.”
I raised my eyebrows. That wouldn’t be optimal. Although I felt sure that Kate was more comfortable now with Sam’s existence, her answering the phone in my office would not be a good thing.
“Why didn’t you say so right away?” I picked up the phone, intending to call her immediately.
“She said something about her father being ill.”
I dialed the number, a stab of adrenaline in my gut the moment she said it. “What did Kate say exactly?”
“She said her father had a stroke.”
“For Christ’s sake, why didn’t you come and get me right away? Ethan had a stroke? Is he still alive? What did Kate say?”
Sam shrugged. “I didn’t want to interrupt rounds.”
“Christ…”
I was so angry. Sam waited until I finished rounds, which was not what I wanted, given the circumstances. She should have come to me right away and told me that Kate called about a family emergency. It was her passive-aggressive way of trying to hurt my relationship with Kate.
I dialed her number and Kate answered on the second ring.
"Drake…" she said but couldn’t continue, her voice breaking.
"Kate, I'm so sorry…” I said. “Tell me what happened."
"I haven't spoken to Elaine yet but she said he had an intercerebral hemorrhagic stroke and had surgery. I left her a message but she hasn't called back. I have a flight out tonight and will be in Manhattan tomorrow before midnight."
"Did you book two tickets?” I asked, my mind turning immediately to who could cover my cases. “I'm coming with you."
"You have class tomorrow and surgery and I could only get one ticket on the earliest flight out. You can come later. I have to leave right away."
"I want to come with you," I said, adamant that I would not let her go by herself. "Let me find a flight we can take together."
Kate exhaled loudly. "Not if it means I have to wait another day, Drake. I have to go right away. Elaine said I should get back as soon as possible. Just in case." She sobbed out loud.
"Oh, Katie…" I said, my voice soft. "Let me check to see if I can find us seats together. I'll cancel class and see if MacMillan can scrub in on my cases tonight. Give me a bit of time to work things out and I'll be home."
"You don’t have to come with me," she said tearfully. "I know your patients have been waiting so long for their surgeries. I can go by myself."
"No," I said firmly. "You forget that Ethan is like a father to me. I want to be there to see how he is. I want to be there with you."
"OK," she said and we hung up. When I looked up, Sam was waiting.
“What’s up?” she said, her voice sounding so pleasant, like she didn’t know what a terrible tragedy this was.
“Kate’s father had a stroke and I’m leaving tomorrow,” I said, my teeth gritting. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.”
I opened a case file on my desk, not looking at Sam, too angry to say anything to her.
“Don’t be mad at me,” Sam said, her voice pleading and whining at the same time. “I didn’t want to interrupt rounds. Your work is important.”
I glanced up at her, barely able to keep my cool. She was pouting, her mouth turned down at the corners.
“Kate is the most important thing in the world to me. Her father is like the father I never had.”
She shrugged. “You called her. Everything is fine.”
“No, it isn’t,” I said and slammed my file closed in anger. “You should have come and told me right away. You should have done your copying and left. You shouldn’t have been waiting in my office.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, but I could tell she was angry. “For me, work comes before everything and that’s the way it is for pretty much everyone I know in our profession. Kate is going to have to get used to it if you two stay together.”
“If we stay together?” I said, my voice louder than it should have been. “We’re getting married!”
She shrugged like a teenager. “What’s the date?”
I stood up and went to the door, opening it. “If you don’t mind,” I said and gestured to the hallway. “I have work to do.”
“You didn’t answer my question. What’s the date? Have you even set one?”
I said nothing and waited for her to leave. Of course, Kate and I had not yet set the date, but I didn’t want to admit that to Sam. It wasn’t even an issue, but I knew Sam would make it one.
“Just as I thought,” she said. “You haven’t set a date. Why not?” she said, tilting her head. “Can’t commit?”
“Out,” I said firmly.
Finally, she flounced out of my office. After that, she couldn’t imagine that there could be anything between us but if she was dense enough to think I wouldn’t be angry at her, she might not get that either.
I went back behind my desk and picked up my phone to call Bob MacMillan to see if he could cover for me in the OR. I’d covered for him when he was sick so I hoped he would return the favor.
Luckily, he had the day off and was willing to pick up some extra OR hours.
I cancelled my surgeries for the day and called Michael to let him know I’d be leaving for at least a week, maybe two.
He understood completely. I knew it would mean hardship for everyone on staff who had to fill in for me in my absence, but I had to put Kate and Ethan first.
Before I left, I called the hospital in Manhattan and spoke to Aaron Clark, Ethan's neurosurgeon. He informed me that Ethan was critical, but he was hopeful they were able to take the pressure off Ethan’s brain to prevent any further damage. Luckily, they caught the stroke early enough that they could treat it before too much damage occurred, but it would be touch and go for the first twenty-four hours.
I left the hospital within the hour and took the car home, rushing along the Mombasso Road, anxious to get to Kate so we could plan our trip.
When I arrived at the house, I went right to Kate. She was sitting in the living room with her laptop, searching the net for articles on Ethan’s stroke.
I sat beside her and took the laptop from her lap, putting it on the table and then pulled her into my arms.
She slipped her arms around my neck and I kissed her warmly before pressing my forehead against hers.
"Have you spoken to Elaine?" I asked softly.
"Yes," she said, her voice breaking. "She said he had an AVM."
"I know," I said, nodding. "I called the hospital and spoke with Aaron Clark, Ethan's neurosurgeon. He's still critical, but Aaron's hopeful they were able to take the pressure off and minimize any damage."
Kate buried her face in the crook of my neck and couldn't hold back her tears. She wiped hers eyes, trying to be strong. "Did you get tickets?"
I nodded. "Two. First Class on Swissair with a layover in Zurich. We leave here at 12:20 a.m. and get to La Guardia at about eight thirty tomorrow night. It was that or wait until morning and take a flight to Amsterdam with a shorter layover, but I thought you'd rather get going as soon as possible."
She wiped her cheeks. "I can't stand to sit around, waiting. I couldn't sleep anyway."
"I'll give you a sleeping pill," I said. "You can sleep on the plane. I got us a hotel room for the layover so you can rest if you want."
"Thank you." She kissed me tenderly, and I pulled her into my arms, my heart swelling with love for her, and with sympathy. I knew how much she loved Ethan and how afraid she’d be. I found out that my father was killed in a plane crash only the day after and it had come as a total shock. There was no time to prepare. He was just gone.
I hoped and prayed that Ethan would survive, but there was always the chance he wouldn’t. Still, I had to encourage Kate not to despair.
"Most patients with a first AVM stroke survive," I said, my voice soft. She nodded and relaxed a bit in my arms. "Are you hungry?" I asked and ran my hand over her hair. "Can I fix you something to eat?"
She shook her head. "I couldn't eat anything right now." Trying to be brave, she forced a smile. "Go ahead and fix something for yourself. I'll have another cup of tea."
I left her on the sofa and went to the kitchen, warming up some leftover lasagna. When it was done, Kate and I sat and discussed Ethan and I told her about my conversation with Aaron Clark.
We remained like that for the rest of the evening, sitting on the sofa, arms around each other while Kate Googled and searched the internet for information on Ethan’s condition.
When the time came for us to leave, after packing hastily, we left our house and drove through the darkened Nairobi streets to the airport. I had no idea whether Kate would be coming back with me, and I felt a twinge of regret as we left our house behind.