"When you're uncertain about something, it usually indicates ambivalence. You're attracted and repelled at the same time. When you're uncertain, if I can push you a bit, you may discover you can enjoy things you wrote off."
I nodded. Then I grinned. "So, if I want you to do something, I should pretend I'm uncertain of it? Would that encourage you to push, so that I'd submit in spite of my reluctance?"
He smiled, but then put on a mock-frown. "That would be very bad, Katherine. Topping from the bottom is generally frowned on. Honesty is the best policy."
"I was kidding."
"I'm serious," he said and turned my face to his. "If you want me to do something, if it brings you pleasure, I'll do it gladly."
I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder.
"There will be a few bumps along the way, Kate. It's inevitable, but as long as we're honest with each other, we'll be happy."
We spent the next hour listening to music and talking about our trip, our itinerary, the unpacking, and where we'd stay for the first few weeks until we found a place to live. He had a real estate agent lined up to show us short-term rentals and so we would spend our first weekend traveling around Nairobi, seeing various properties in the most prestigious areas where expats lived. Once we had a place, we’d move in.
That was it – there was not much for me to do but sit back and enjoy the ride.
It was a ride I never expected to take that day I went to the café in Manhattan to meet the Dom Lara had arranged to teach me about BDSM, about D/s and submission. There had been so much doubt about whether we could be together right from the start. But we'd made it through it all and now, were just starting our new life as a couple. Drake pulled me into his arms and kissed me, pushing me down onto the couch, his body lying between my thighs.
As usual, his intensity almost overwhelmed me, making my pulse race. I closed my eyes, sighing with pleasure. I had no idea what the future held for us, but was willing to finally just give in and let life take me where it would.
This – here with Drake on our way to Kenya – was exactly where I wanted to be.
The music ended and a pleasant silence passed between us. I wondered when we'd have sex. Drake had promised earlier that he had something special planned for dessert and I was excited, thinking he meant we'd eat each other. While he went to the bathroom, I stood on the balcony and watched the ocean below.
Then, Drake came to me and wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands slipping around my waist. He kissed the top of my head. I leaned against him, my eyes closing.
"What are you doing, Ms. Bennet?"
"Watching the stars. They're amazing here, in such a tiny village."
He pulled me even closer into his embrace and we stood outside, the warm night air soft on my skin. The sky was completely dark and because it was a moonless night, the stars were really visible, the Milky Way a broad expanse of stars like diamond dust.
"We never did have dessert," he said, his voice husky, his breath warm on my shoulder.
"Mmm, no we didn't," I said, glancing up at the sky. "What do you fancy, Dr. Delish?"
"Dr. Delish?" he said and laughed.
"That's what the nurses call you."
"I thought it was Dr. D."
"That too. And Dr. Dangerous."
"Dr. Delish," he said, one hand roving up and down my body, his mouth on my neck. "I think I like Dr. Dangerous. Gives me a better ambience, for a Dom."
"Dr. Delish suits you better. You are delicious," I said, smiling. "At least you were the last time I tasted you."
"Mmm, Ms. Bennet, you are definitely giving me ideas…"
"You're never short of ideas."
"No, I'm not." He pulled down the shoulder strap of my dress so he could bite my muscle playfully. "Yes, very tasty," he said, licking my skin where he bit. "Very tasty indeed. I'm going to sample more of your wares."
As Drake nibbled my shoulder, I closed my eyes and laid my hands over his, which were around my waist. In his hand was something hard and square and at first I didn't understand what it was. Was it a tiny boxed-chocolate the hotel management left as a welcoming gift?
"What's this?" I said and withdrew a white box with a lid, around it a thin silver ribbon tied in a bow. I turned around and looked in Drake's face. "Drake…"
"Open it."
I held the box in my hand, in shock. It was a ring box – of that I was certain. I couldn't move and stared at it, my mouth open. Finally, he took it from me.
"Let's do this properly," he said and took off the ribbon, then removed the lid. Inside was a tiny royal blue velvet ring box. He opened it and knelt down in front of me. "See? You've brought me to my knees, Katherine," he said, grinning. Then, he cleared his throat. "I said once that people might think I was your sub, if they saw the way I was with you. But while I'm kneeling down to you now, it's probably the last time I will, so I hope you appreciate it."