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I shook my head. “No, I can’t.” I couldn’t, but people had surprised me. First, Dawn with her willingness to meddle in my life and Drake’s career. Then Kurt, hoping to break us up, then Sam and Claire…
I held on tight to Drake’s hand and thanked my lucky stars he loved me as much as he did.
Drake stifled a yawn later when we were standing in the living room with our cups of tea and coffee. He led me over to where Michael stood with a few students and extended a hand. “It’s time for us to go, but thanks so much for everything.”
Michael took Drake’s hand in both of his huge meaty ones, those large hands that had shocked me with their size the first time I met Michael, and shook.
“I’ll miss you, young man, more than you can know. You’ve done the hospital and college a great service and I’ll never forget it. Anytime you want to return, you are most welcome. There will always be OR time for you and a position on the faculty.”
“I’ll see you on Monday when I come in to wrap things up,” Drake said softly and Michael nodded. They embraced and clapped each other on the back.
I saw Claire standing off a few feet, her face sad. She came up once Michael ended the embrace, the painting in her hands. She set it down and held out her arms. I watched Drake to see what he would do, but like a true gentleman, he embraced her and kissed both her cheeks.
“Claire,” he said softly. “Thanks for everything. And thanks for the painting. How very thoughtful of you.”
She said nothing, as if she were fighting emotions.
Michael embraced me next. “Thank you, Ms. Katherine, for coming with Drake and keeping him happy. I wish all the best for the two of you in your lives together as a married couple.”
He kissed my cheeks and my eyes welled up. “Thank you,” I said.
Drake turned to those who were still present and waved at them.
“Thanks all of you and good luck in your studies and careers.” They responded in kind, murmurs of thank you, and best of luck from the group.
Then he picked up the painting and we left.
In the car on the way home, Drake took my hand as we drove through the darkened streets.
“That went well,” he said and glanced at me. “Better than I hoped, with the exception of that bastard deVilliers showing up. I’m pissed that Claire invited him. She didn’t have to. I think she was rubbing it in.”
“It did go well,” I said and squeezed his hand. “Sefton was like Claire’s knife in the back. I can’t believe she actually invited him, given what happened.”
“I know,” Drake said, his brow creased. “I guess I was always so busy with work when I was here before that I never realized how manipulative she really is. I wonder if she didn’t push Sam and me together back when I was here before.”
“She might have,” I replied. Then, to change the subject from Sefton, I thought about our little interlude in the back bedroom. “What do you suppose your student said to the others about catching us alone in the bedroom?”
Drake laughed at that. “He probably said that he caught the two of us lying on the bed together, kissing, and that we were obviously deeply in love.”
I smiled in the darkness. “I notice Sam didn’t say goodbye.”
“No, she knew well enough not to, for a change.”
“Do you think she finally got the message?”
Drake held my hand up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I hope so. If not, she’s not as smart as I thought.”
“It has nothing to do with smart, Drake,” I said softly. “It has to do with desire and that involves none of the prefrontal cortex, if I remember my anatomy course correctly.”
“You do remember it correctly,” Drake said with a laugh. He sighed out loud. “I hope you realize that we can weather any storm that we encounter after tonight. As long as we’re open and honest about our needs and desires, we can handle anything together.”
I smiled and nodded. “I do realize it,” I said and took in a long breath, happy that the night I’d been so worried about was finally over.
When we arrived home, Drake didn’t wait to fuck me. Instead, he pushed me up against the wall just inside the entryway and kissed me passionately, before lifting up my thigh and placing it around his hip.
“I’ve been waiting all night to fuck you again, Ms. Bennet, and I’m not waiting another moment,” he said, his voice almost a growl.
Before I knew it, we were on the floor, going at it like a pair of hungry teenagers and I was surprised at his desire, but I imagine that Sefton’s presence fueled his lust.
