Drake Restrained(21)

Dave held his beer up to his mouth for a sip. He grinned, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. "I haven’t found a way between her thighs just yet, but I'm working on it. One of these days."

"She's not your usual type, Dave. She’s smart," I said, trying to keep my anger in check. "Full scholarship at Columbia. She's really driven."

"Obviously too busy for men. Must be a lesbian," Dave said with a grin.

That really infuriated me. "Maybe she's just picky."

"Must be if she turned me down," Dave said and laughed out loud.

"Maybe she’s just not into you," I said, wanting him to get the hint.

"You're just jealous because she was having eye sex with me and not you. Apparently Ms. McDermott isn't impressed by your neurosurgical skills or the size of your wallet…"

No, she didn't appear to be, showing no particular interest in me at all other than to note that her father had spoken of me.

I had to admit I'd go vanilla for her, at least, for a while. But to thine own self be true was my motto. I'd want her on her knees to me and soon.

Then she was spirited away to another room and I stood there and watched her leave. I hadn't wanted to get to know a woman like that for some time. Know her. In every sense. Usually, I didn't want to know anything about women except their kinks around submission.

She was different. Unfortunately, she was Judge McDermott's daughter and so completely off limits. He was my father's oldest friend and she was not the kind of woman I needed.

Finally, someone joined Dave and me and the conversation turned to new regulations governing tax shelters. I couldn’t pay any attention, my mind occupied thinking of Kate and how our fathers were best friends before my father’s death. I was certain my father would be happy to know the two of us were together. But I was getting ahead of myself. I hadn’t even asked her out for coffee.

A while later, I came upon a group containing Katherine and stood on the periphery to hear her talk about West Africa. She turned and spoke directly to me.

"People with influence have to step up to the plate and use their power to do good. Like Dr. Morgan, using his father's foundation to provide hospital equipment to Africa. Those who have the means should use them."

I was completely surprised that she referred to me and bowed my head, touching my chest to show her words had affected me deeply.

"My father was committed to Africa," I said. "I'm just trying to fill his big shoes using whatever influence I have."

As that conversation ended, Nigel pulled Katherine away and once more, I felt a mix of emotions – pleased that she acknowledged me, and frustrated that I wanted her and knew I couldn’t have her. I could never have her because of Ethan. He'd die if he ever learned of my lifestyle. I knew I'd lose his friendship if he found out. I felt such affection for him and such respect for Katherine that I couldn't do it despite how much I desired her at that moment.

I hated myself for being so principled and for once in my life, I wished I were more like Dave Mills, lacking any scruples when it came to women.

If I were, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.

But I wasn’t like Dave and so for the next half-hour, I tagged along behind Dave as he made his way around the room, glad-handing the other big rollers who were here from Wall Street, thoughts of the delicious Ms. Bennet in her stockings and garters plaguing me. When I next saw her, she was standing surrounded by a herd of men who were all eagerly listening to her talk. I kept to the periphery of the group to see what they were discussing.

"So, I read your article last month in the newsletter on the need for direct action, and civil disobedience on the famine in West Africa," one of the Wall Street suits said.

She nodded, totally absorbed in the issue, unaware that most of her audience were barely listening, too busy imagining her naked, her limbs restrained with soft leather ties, her body in various lewd poses, an expression of pure ecstasy on her pretty face.

Or maybe that was just me.



Ethan was late arriving at the fundraiser, showing up just a few moments before it was over. I was getting ready to leave, having agreed to give Dave a ride home, when Ethan came over to me, pulling Katherine behind him.

"Drake, did you get a chance to meet my daughter, Katherine? I don't believe the two of you have met."

I held out my hand and Ethan and I shook as we usually did.

"Judge McDermott," I said. "Glad to see you. Yes, I did meet Katherine. Finally. You've kept her pretty well-hidden."

Katherine turned to Ethan. "Dr. Morgan used his medical skills on me, father. I fell in the alley and he patched me up." She pointed to her knees and Ethan made a show of inspecting her wounds. He turned and smiled at me.