He had no idea how much time passed as he stared into his glass and wondered how the hell he was going to recover from experiencing the most intense physical and emotional pleasure known to man or vampire when he knew he’d never experience it again. He didn’t know how to move on from here. The burning desire to see her again made it difficult to decide what was right and what was wrong—go to her and apologize again, comfort her. Or leave it be and let her get on with her life without him.
Sensibility told him to let it lie. So he drained his glass and focused instead on what needed to be done to wrap up his business, shut down Body Scenes and return to England.
He wasn’t surprised when the security guard stationed at the elevator that led to his private office phoned him to say Finn Griffith and Yvette Samson wanted to see him.
Letting out a pained sigh, he said, “Send them up, please.”
He reached for his suit jacket to pull it on, though his shirt was currently incinerating in the fireplace. He decided it was moot to put the jacket on—it’d be obvious either way what he’d been up to this evening and it was doubtful Finn and Yvette were arbitrarily dropping in. They were friends of Shana’s, so their unexpected visit wasn’t likely coincidental.
Hoping to keep the conversation congenial, he poured two more scotches and had them in hand as Finn and Yvette entered his office.
His hopes were dashed as Yvette immediately demanded, “What the hell did you do, Drake?”
Holding his sigh in check, he handed over a glass to Finn, who accepted it graciously, then set Yvette’s drink on the corner of the desk. He said, “That’s between me and Shana.”
Yvette, always more than willing to say exactly what was on her mind, told him, “I just saw her downstairs. She was clearly upset, though she wouldn’t tell me why. What happened when she was with you?”
“I assure you, I—”
“She couldn’t get out of this club fast enough, Drake!” Yvette’s temper flared. “She wouldn’t even wait for Finn’s driver. She rushed out and grabbed the first cab that pulled up to the curb, practically climbing in before the other people had even gotten out of it!”
His jaw clenched. He really didn’t need someone else to tell him how deeply he’d hurt Shana. He’d seen the bruises himself and was suffering every conceivable consequence for being the one who’d inflicted them upon her. But he’d obviously also upset her emotionally and that was even more disheartening.
For as territorial as he felt toward her, it’d take all the willpower he possessed not to maim anyone who harmed her. So it was the worst damn feeling in the world to know he was the one who’d done it.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out, but again, that’s between Shana and—”
Very unexpectedly, Yvette stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
“Yvette!” Finn grabbed her around the waist and pulled her backward, stepping in front of her so he was between her and Drake.
Not that Drake would ever hit a woman, but Finn apparently intended to take any potential retaliation for his girlfriend. One more thing he admired about Finn. He also adored Yvette and was more than willing to overlook the slight.
In fact, he said, “I deserved that. Not that I would ever intentionally hurt Shana. Please believe me. I’m very enamored by her.”
Oh Christ, what an understatement that was!
But it seemed to catch Yvette’s attention and quell her temper at the same time. “I don’t understand. If you’re so fond of her, why did she say you don’t find her attractive?”
He stared at her, his eyes bulging. “What?”
Yvette said, “She was devastated and her eyes were bloodshot as though she’d been crying. I asked her what happened with you and, I mean… You knew she was a virgin, right?”
His eyes rolled. Hardly the conversation to be having with Finn and Yvette. In a dour tone, he replied, “It was brought to my attention.”
“Then how could you have taken advantage of her?” This from Finn, who seemed genuinely surprised his friend would do such a thing.
“In my defense,” Drake started to say, but then turned away and stalked over to the wet bar to pour himself another drink. There was no defense for what he’d done this evening.
He’d worshipped Shana White from afar and it should have stayed that way. He’d given into Jane’s desire to “help” the woman because she’d connected with Shana’s soul and had felt something tragic dwelled within Shana that she and Drake could somehow miraculously cure. And it almost seemed as though they had released her from her demons as she’d so freely given herself to them and allowed herself to experience the pleasure they wanted to bring her.