“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Mr. Drake’s hand cupped my chin, bringing my eyes up to his. A hot tear rolled down my cheek, and he brushed it away, the rough pad of his thumb more tender than a kiss.
“He... He just grabbed me. I tried... I tried to knee him, but...”
“Shh, Isa. I know. I believe you.”
His hand found its way into my hair, wrapping a loose curl around his fingers, caressing my neck. His gaze softened as he touched me, each stroke of his fingers through my hair releasing my tension until I felt like putty in his hands.
“Why does he hate you so much?”
The question was out before I realized it, my thoughts spoken aloud when I’d meant to keep them private.
Mr. Drake’s eyes narrowed, then focused out the window, over the twinkling lights of the city.
“He and I have known each other since prep school. Did you know that? As boys we were always together, our families close from summering in neighboring cabins by the lake.”
He ran his hand absently over my shoulder and down my arm as he spoke, making me shiver.
“Lex and I had so much in common, even though our personalities were so vastly different. We were both ambitious and bright, but Lex had a knack for getting into trouble. He loved pulling pranks and seeing how far he could push people before they reached their limits. His father was a hard man. An authoritarian with a penchant for drink.” He looked at me and cocked an eyebrow. “Let’s just say, they didn’t get along.”
His hands covered mine, his warmth calming me like a soothing balm.
“I was the opposite, focusing on working hard and lending a helping hand to my classmates. My mother used to say I saw the best in people... and that was the only reason Lex and I were close, but I don’t know. I just thought he went too far at times. His father used to praise me in front of him, talking about the two of us to my parents like we weren’t standing right there with them... Saying he wished Lex had my grades or my discipline.”
He paused, sighing, and I could see how the memory still pained him.
“It got to him. How could it not?”
“That would be terrible for any child. Being compared like that.”
Mr. Drake slipped his fingers through mine and squeezed them. “He pretended that he didn’t care, and for a while, I believed him. I was young and foolish. I thought we were as close as brothers when we founded this business together.”
He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. “But, as you know, things change. These problems always have a way of coming to the surface.”
I looked up and brushed my fingers over his jaw line, tracing the lines that gave him such masculine beauty.
“Thank you,” I said.
“For what?”
“For believing in me. For believing I wouldn’t betray you.”
He leaned in, kissing me in a way that stole my breath away.
“Isabeau, you don’t have a cruel bone in your body.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Just the way you are. How you took care of your family. How you take care of me,” he said. “I’ll always believe in you. You make it easy.”
I kissed him back, releasing my fear and doubt in that moment, letting the feel of his lips on mine wash away my worries. He believes in me...
I moaned, opening my mouth to him, my tongue exploring his languidly as the kiss deepened. I was lost in a haze of sensuality when he pulled away.
“Not tonight.”
I leaned in, trying to capture his lips again, but he held me by my shoulders.
“Why not?”
He chuckled low in his throat. “You’re drunk.”
“I don’t care.”
His eyes flashed in warning. “I’m going to bring you some aspirin and a glass of water. Take them and hydrate, then get some sleep. That’s not a request.”
“But, I-”
I closed my mouth at the look on his face. He would not be disobeyed, even though I could tell by the tenting in his pants he wanted me as much as I wanted him. I wanted nothing more than to reach over and stroke him through the fabric, to unzip him slowly and reach in, wrapping my hand around his hard length. Instead, I nodded, sighing. It would do no good. Chase Drake had made up his mind.
After the water and the pills, he undressed me and lay down behind me, spooning me to him.
“You know I want you, too, Isa,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. “But I won’t make love to you when you can’t properly consent.”
I snuggled back against him, his words making me feel desired. Protected.
He believed me. He took care of me. He held me close to him when I needed him by my side.
I was safe in the arms of Mr. Drake.