by S. E. Lund
“Wow,” I said and switched Sophie to the other breast. “And Lisa was involved in that murder, too?”
“Apparently, yes,” Drake said and shook his head in amazement. “When she was called into the office at NYU the day she attacked you, Derek was already dead. She thought she could go out there and hide with Jones after she attacked you, but she made the mistake of delaying her trip out there and was caught before she could leave. When Jones realized she was in custody, he hid at the cabin." Drake sighed. "It all started when Derek called Lisa and talked to her, threatening to report her to the university if she didn’t leave me alone. That’s when they went to his mansion and took him hostage.”
“Unbelievable.” I sat there dumbfounded. “Who would ever think she was capable of something like that?”
“She’s vengeful. She wanted to make Derek pay and then make me pay. Jones was her little servant. He was so enamored with her that he’d do anything for her.”
“Even kill for her,” I said.
“Even that,” Drake said. “Some people are so needy, and so empty inside that they only feel whole when someone powerful takes control of them.”
I glanced at Drake. “Not all submissives are like that,” I said softly.
“No,” Drake said quickly, as if he didn’t want to hurt me and realized how his words might be taken. “Not all are like that. Probably only a very few. But just like there are a few sadists among Dominants, there are also people who can be easily manipulated among submissives. You have to hope you meet someone who isn’t going to hurt or use you.”
I leaned over to him and hugged him with my free arm, kissing him on the cheek. “I’m so lucky I contacted Lara that day about the interview. What would have happened if I’d met someone who was a sadist? I hope I would have run away, but what if he was really persuasive?”
“You were lucky that Lara is such a good judge of character. She knew when she met you that we were right for each other and that I’d love you. She even said that to me. She said You’ll love her. I told her I didn’t want to love someone. How wrong I was. And how right she was.”
I put Sophie on my shoulder to pat her on her back. After she burped, I got up and put her in her Jolly Jumper for a bit of play time. She loved that jumper and I watched her for a few moments as she bounced around, smiling at me.
On his part, Drake came up behind me and put his arms around me.
“I’m so glad this nightmare is over,” he said and kissed the back of my neck. I turned around in his arms and he pulled me against his body. We kissed and it was warm and tender. I felt such relief that they had finally decided to end their investigation into Drake, and realized that it was Jones who was the one being manipulated – by Lisa. Not Lisa being controlled by Drake.
We stood there, in each other’s embrace, and enjoyed the moment. If Sophie hadn’t been so wide awake, I would have taken Drake’s hand and lead him into the bedroom, but that would have to wait until later when she was down for a nap. Whatever the case, I knew we’d make love sometime later in the day. I felt a deep ache in my body when Drake pressed his hips against me. I knew he felt it, too.
So much stress over the past weeks and months since the attack and since the police refused to clear Drake of any suspicion.
“Later,” I whispered in Drake’s ear. I looked at his face and he quirked a smile.
“Say the word,” he said in a deep husky voice, “and I’m your man.”
“You are my man,” I said and smiled back, narrowing my eyes. “Every delicious hard inch of you.”
He laughed at that, his eyes twinkling. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“I hope to see something,” I replied, trying to keep up with the playful banter. “I hope to feel something, too. And taste something.”
“Mrs. Morgan, I believe you will give me terrible blue balls unless you follow through with your seductive promises.”
“I will follow through,” I said and pressed my hips against his again. “I need you. I need this. After this hell we’ve both been through, we need each other.”
“More than ever,” Drake said, his voice filled with emotion. He bent down and kissed me again, then pulled me deep into his embrace, his lips at my neck. Then I heard him chuckle softly. “Even if you smell a bit like baby puke…”
I laughed and pulled away. “I’ll have a shower first, I promise. This afternoon, when she goes down for a nap.”
“It’s a date.”
It was pretty thrilling to hear the details of the arrest and arraignment of Jones, Lisa’s submissive partner in crime. Cases like theirs didn’t happen often and so I felt quite like a voyeur as I listened to the reporters talk about Jones and the details police were releasing. Someone had found images of Jones online and posted them, and they were quite explicit. The pictures showed him naked from the waist up, his chest bare, except for some large tribal tattoos, and a very well-developed six pack. He was good looking in a rugged sort of way, and I wondered if he realized what he was getting into when he first sighed up to be Lisa’s submissive.
At that, my cell phone rang and I pulled out of Drake’s arms with reluctance. “I’ll have to get that. It’s probably my father or Elaine.”
I went to my phone and sure enough, it was my dad’s number.
“Hi, Daddy,” I said and smiled when I heard his voice.
“Hi, Sweetheart, your old man calling to say I heard the news that they finally arrested someone in the Richardson murder case. What do you know?”
I sat on the sofa beside Drake. “Apparently, Lisa and her boyfriend kidnapped Derek with the idea of extorting money from him and Jones killed him when he tried to escape. Jones confessed everything to the police, according to Drake’s lawyer. It was enough to clear Drake of any involvement so they won’t be pursuing him as a suspect in my attack any longer.”
“That’s good. I knew they’d clear him eventually, but I was surprised it took so damn long.”
“Yeah,” I said and turned to Drake, brushing hair off his cheek. “I knew they would, too, but it was still annoying and pretty much ruined Drake’s year.”
“It's such a shame they kicked him off the board,” my father replied, his voice sounding tired. “Hey, look Sweetheart, there’s another reason I’m calling. Elaine and I have been talking about finding another place in a warmer climate. Since the stroke, it's hard for me to get out and during the winter, I'll have an even harder time getting fresh air. We thought we might find a place Somewhere in California. What do you think?"
"What do I think?" I said, a shock of adrenaline going through me. "I don’t want you to leave Manhattan!"
"We'd keep the place here but spend most of the year there. We were thinking Monterey. Somewhere with good weather, and somewhere more wheelchair accessible.
“Monterey?” A wave of sadness went through me at the prospect of not having my father around all the time. “That’s so far away…”
“It’s only a few hours by plane. Of course, you and Drake and Sophie would be welcome to come and stay with us any time you want. We’ll get a place big enough to have you and Heath come to visit. We’ll get a place with a pool, and have a nice yard. Think of it – barbecues every night under the stars. The ocean, the beach. It’ll be great.”
“Aww,” I said and actual tears sprung to my eyes and my throat was all choky with emotion. “I’m going to feel so lonely if you go…”
Drake looked at me, his brow furrowed. “What?” he asked softly.
I covered my phone with my hand. “Dad and Elaine are thinking of moving to Monterey, California.”
Drake nodded and rubbed my shoulder affectionately. “That would be good for him.”
“I don’t want you to move away, Daddy,” I said and I realized I was whining, but I truly felt sadness at the prospect of not having him there for me whenever I wanted to pop by and see him.
“We can Skype anytime you want," he said, his voice soothing. "I’m tech savvy for a half-
paralyzed old coot. Plus, you can text me or email me and we’ll be connected on Facebook…”
“I’m so sad,” I said again, and blinked back tears. “But I understand it would be good for you. Of course I’ll come and visit. Drake and I have the year off so why not? It would be nice to visit the ocean and see the sights.”
I looked in Drake’s eyes. “Tell Ethan I’ll miss him,” he said. “He’s the only father I have now.”
“Drake says he’ll miss you, too. He said you’re his only father.”
“I’ll miss him," my father replied. "But I expect the three of you to come and stay for a good long time once we find a place.”
“Okay, Daddy,” I said and smiled to myself, trying to accept it, wiping moisture off my cheeks. “Thanks for calling.”
“Give Drake a hug for Elaine and me and give that pretty baby of yours a kiss for me.”
“I will,” I said and ended the call.
I turned to Drake after I put my phone down. “I don’t want them to go.”
“Of course you don’t,” he said and pulled me into his arms. “We can always go for a visit.”
I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder, my tears running down my cheeks once more. I squeezed Drake more tightly, glad that he was so willing to accommodate my desire to be close to my father.
Together, we watched Sophie bounce away in her Jolly Jumper.
When Sophie was finally drifting off for a nap in the afternoon, I felt Drake’s eyes on me, waiting to see if I was still interested in a nap with him as well, but I felt too sad to make love. My newfound happiness that Drake was cleared of suspicion was dampened by the news my father would be leaving Manhattan.
I kept thinking how lonely and isolated I’d be with my father and Elaine out in Monterey. Heath and I were never close, and he was always off in Haiti or somewhere else involved in charity work, so we didn’t get together much. Besides, his kids were in school, and I was afraid that they’d bring their sniffles and sickness to Sophie. I felt anxious about her health, given she was a preemie and had been born so early. She’d had her shots, but she was still vulnerable to the flu. I wanted to keep her as healthy as possible so I was reluctant to invite Heath and his family over for dinner.
After I put Sophie in her crib, Drake came up behind me and put his arms around me, but I shrugged him off and made an excuse about being too tired.
I felt bad, especially given how much good news we’d received, and said maybe I’d feel like it later that night.
Drake was disappointed but understanding.
He was so understanding of everything. Sometimes, I felt as if I didn’t deserve him.
“I’m sorry,” I said and squeezed his arm. “I’m a bit down because of the news about Dad.”
“I know,” Drake said and pulled me into his arms, squeezing me firmly. He rocked me back and forth. “I’ll miss him and Elaine. But I completely agree that he should live in Monterey. He needs to be somewhere warm. It’ll be good for them both.”
“You’re right," I said and sighed, and of course, tears sprung to my eyes. “I’m being selfish.”
“You love him, and he’s been so sick this year,” Drake said and bent down, kissing me on the mouth warmly. “It’s totally understandable.”
We hugged once more and I stood there in Drake’s arms, so thankful that I had found him. With him, I could admit anything and he understood and accepted.
“I love you,” I said, my voice choking with emotion.
“I love you,” he said, his own voice husky.
"I'm sorry," I said, pushing him away softly. "I'm too upset."
"It's okay," Drake said softly. "Maybe we can go and stay there for a few months. Neither of us have anything to do except look after Sophie. With Chris and Maureen getting back together and moving back to California, we'd all be in the same state at least. I could travel up to Silicon Valley to see Liam. We could spend time on the beach with your father and Elaine."
I glanced at him, our eyes meeting. "Do you really mean that? What about the Foundation and the Corporation?"
"They'll still be here," Drake said with a sigh. "Besides, I've had to take a year off. Now that I'm cleared of any suspicion, I hope that things will get back to normal, but it'll take a while. My reputation is still hurt because of my past, but at least people don't have to worry that I'm a murderer."
I nodded and smiled. "I'd love to go to California if you're willing."
He nodded “Let’s go and watch the news. Who can say what they’ll report next about the case? Even I’m excited.”
He smiled down at me and I realized he truly didn’t mind waiting until later, when I felt more like making love.
We walked arm in arm down the stairs to the living room where the news was still playing, showing images of the white tent where Richardson’s body was found and the caption Billionaire Financier’s Killer Arrested.
Even Drake was happy to watch the news, eating up every tidbit of information we learned. We plopped down on the sofa side by side, a whole mountain load of stress slowly falling off each of our shoulders.
Chapter 23 : Drake
The next week was a blur for both Kate and me, as we sat entranced and watched the developments in the Richardson case. Kate sat beside me, both of us glued to the television set while waiting for updates from Lara. She had her connections in the legal world and so did Ethan, so we got a few tidbits of information that were not generally known to the public.
Apparently, Jones didn’t like me, had seen me at a few dungeon parties, and was jealous of Lisa’s obsession with me. I examined images of him in the newspaper closely, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember him. I was only vaguely aware of male submissives, and never took note of them other than to acknowledge one of Lara’s latest partners.
Jones had never been one of Lara’s subs so I didn’t recognize him, despite the fact he was quite distinctive, with his Mohawk hairdo and tattooed neck and shoulder. The tabloids went crazy posting images of him found on his website, showing his leathered-up tattooed body in various submissive poses. One was of him licking the boot of his Domme, while another was of him in chains, a mask and ball-gag in his mouth.
“I’ve never seen him before,” I said to Kate as we read the Saturday paper together.
“He’s a big guy,” Kate said and shook her head. “He’d be hard to miss.”
“Not my area of expertise,” I said and turned the channel to see what the other local station was covering. “I haven’t seen anyone mention that I’m no longer a suspect.”
Kate sighed beside me and squeezed my hand. “My mother always said no news is good news,” she said and met my eyes, hers filled with sympathy. “If they had decided to arrest you, you can bet it would be all over the news with gaudy headlines. But the fact that you’re not a suspect? Not a mention.”
I exhaled heavily. “How am I going to get my reputation back? I wonder if I should call Lara and see if she could release a statement about it so the news shows would actually say it out loud.”
Kate shook her head. “I think you should stay under the radar for as long as possible. This will all blow over once the trial finishes. After that, some other criminal or freak will take center stage in the news, and people won’t even remember Doctor Dominant.”
“I hope so,” I said and sat back, considering how long it might take to get back to the old normal, if that was even possible.
As to Jones, he was only too happy to deny that I was in any way involved with Lisa and recounted how angry Lisa was with every rebuff I made. Despite how he felt about me, it turned out Jones was the one sending the emails to Lisa, posing as Dr. D. It was all part of an elaborate fantasy that Lisa concocted involving me as her Dom. Lisa was undeterred and imagined that if Kate was out of the way, she could fulfill a need that Kate was no longer filling for me – be a true submissive in other words – and that I would become her Master.
She was confused, obsessed, and she manipulate
d poor Jones, who apparently wanted to be Lisa’s footstool as well as her bum boy. He’d gotten in over his head with Lisa, letting her call the shots, and went along with her harebrained plot to kill Richardson and use his income so they could afford to live the luxurious life that she felt she was entitled.
How she could keep it all up – the residency, the kidnapping of Derek, and the attempted seduction of me – was surprising.
She almost did get away with it, but she didn’t realize that Derek’s staff would check the cabin once a month. Not being used to having properties and staff, Lisa wouldn’t know about those routine duties. Unfortunately, none of Derek’s staff were concerned when he told them he went away to Malaysia after he sold the mansion. They were used to his freewheeling ways and wrote it off to his massive wealth.
Lisa impulsively attacking Kate, and doing so after renting a car in her own name, was proof that she wasn’t thinking straight and that her hatred of Kate was so strong that she would risk it.
The next day while I was sitting in my office going over some financial reports from the foundation, I received a nice telephone call from Detective McDonald. I smiled when I saw the caller ID.
"Detective McDonald," I said, jubilant. "Just the man I wanted to hear from."
"I guess you've been watching the news and already know about the arrest of our suspect in the Richardson murder case."
"I have. I also spoke with my lawyer and she let me know a few details."
"Yes, Mr. Jones came clean as soon as he realized we had more than enough incriminating evidence about his involvement in the murder and his connection to the email account. He admitted that he and Dr. Monroe were carrying on an email exchange, with him pretending to be you. According to Mr. Jones, he thought it was just role playing, but he now suspects that Lisa was setting all of you up and that she was planning on killing Kate."