Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
I stopped and sat on the park bench, watching while Sophie played on the swings. She was doing what I used to when I was her age — lying on her stomach and swinging that way, rather than sitting in the normal position. For some reason, watching the ground moving so quickly beneath you was both exciting and interesting.
She was a lot like me.
I smiled to see her so happy and thought about Drake and his impending flight to Nairobi. When I told her that he would be leaving us for a couple of weeks, she seemed unconcerned.
“He’ll be in Africa?”
“Yes. He’ll be in Africa. When I’m done my article for the paper, we’ll fly there and meet him. Then, we can go see the giraffes. Would you like that?”
Her smile was huge. “Giraffes! Giraffes!”
Seeing actual giraffes made her even happier.
Although Drake and I had made a promise to not ever be separated again, sometimes life threw you a curveball and you had to adjust or regret it. We would be together soon enough. I’d read about the devastating floods in Kenya and how officials were afraid of crop failures and famine, let alone the hundreds of deaths the flooding caused directly. It was an emergency.
I couldn’t say no to Drake’s plan to go and help Michael, knowing that. Besides, Michael had been so good to Drake and me over the years. Drake showed enough concern for me to ask, and I hope he knew that I would say yes.
We spent the morning in the park, and then came home just as Drake was arriving home as well, his limo driving up to the front entrance of the building.
“You’re home early,” I said and kissed him as we walked towards the doors.
“Got everything I wanted wrapped up and decided to come home and pack. My flight leaves at 8:10 PM so I have to pack and get ready. Plus, I want to spend some quality time with my two girls before I go.”
“You’re going to Africa today?” Sophie asked when she took his hand.
“Yes. I’m flying to Africa to see Uncle Michael.”
“Uncle Michael!” Sophie smiled. She loved her “Uncle Michael” and had spent many a happy day at his place when we went there for meals and to spend down time with him while we were in Southampton. “Can we come to the airport, too?” Sophie’s eyes were wide. She was probably thinking of her recent trip to the airport to say goodbye to Liam.
Drake turned to me. “I have to be at the airport 90 minutes early, so that would mean at least 6:15 or so. We could say goodbye, then you and Sophie could stop and get something to eat at her favorite place.”
Her favorite place was of course a hot dog stand near our place.
I turned to Sophie. “How does that sound, Sophie? We go with Daddy to the airport and say goodbye, then go to get a hotdog at the cart?”
Her eyes widened. “And ice cream?”
“Ice cream again?” I replied, giving Drake a knowing grin. “You had ice cream yesterday…”
Sophie only smiled, likely knowing that I’d give in.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said finally, smiling despite myself.
“Good.” Drake opened the front door to the apartment and in we went. He spent the next hour packing and taking care of business on his laptop in his office, while Sophie watched television — Frozen of course — and I made lunch for us.
We sat down together on the sofa, and listened while Drake told us all about the floods in Kenya and how he and Michael would be doing the emergency surgeries and scheduled surgeries until replacement neurosurgeons could arrive.
“Back in Kenya,” I said to Drake after we left Sophie to watch her show and went to the kitchen. I shook my head. “Who would have thought?”
“Life happens,” Drake said and sat on a stool at the kitchen island, exhaling. “I’m just glad I was able to say yes to Michael and help him out.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “Come help me pack.”
I followed him upstairs into the bedroom, leaving Sophie in the living room watching television.
“Michael’s lucky to have you and that you were just about to go on vacation for the summer.”
“When I’m done, you and Sophie and I should make a special trip to see my father’s grave. It’s too bad we can’t take Liam, too, but he’ll be in Indonesia.” He went to the closet and removed one of the suitcases, laid it on the bed, and began placing clothes inside from his dresser.
“Maybe next year.”
I knew Drake wanted to make sure Liam grew up knowing as much as possible about his heroic namesake.
I sat on the bed. “Maybe you could contact Maureen and see if they could meet up with us so Liam could go.”
Drake nodded, and removed some socks from his sock drawer and tucked them into the suitcase. “I’ll do that.”
Then, I thought about what else might be in Nairobi.
One person in particular.
Sam.
Samantha Cuttington.
One of Drake’s former lovers, and a very beautiful and talented neurosurgeon.
They had a brief affair while they were both in Nairobi.
Was she still there?
“Will Sam be there?” I asked, desperate to keep my voice as nonchalant as possible, although there was this tiny — very tiny — feeling of jealousy rising inside of me.
“Who, Cuttington? I didn’t even think to ask.” Drake reached out and took my hand, squeezing it, one corner of his mouth quirked up in a grin. “What? Are you worried?”
“No, just curious,” I said, although in truth, I had always felt quite insecure about Sam. She was not only beautiful, she was also tall and talented and smart. Luckily, she wasn’t Drake’s type, but still…
“Hmm,” Drake said and moved closer to me. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, even if she’s still there. I had no interest in her and never have. She was just an easy source of release. Nothing more. No one could ever match how I feel for you.”
I looked in his eyes — his very smoldering blue, blue eyes and felt a thrill in my stomach. Although our sex life had cooled off a bit lately because we were both working so hard to keep everything together, when we did manage to make love, it was more than enough to keep me satisfied and I hoped Drake as well.
“Look,” Drake said and pulled me into his arms. “Here’s one thing you never have to worry about. I will never be tempted by anyone when I’m away from you. Never . You are everything I ever dreamed of in a woman, a partner, a wife, a lover. Everything. I would never jeopardize that for a physical release. I’d rather Skype with you or sext. Always.”
I sighed in contentment, and we kissed, our kiss warm and tender.
“I had planned on a very intense session tonight after Sophie went to bed, Ms. Bennet, since we’ve both been denied for a while with our busy schedules, so I’m very sad about it. I’ll find a way to make it up to you. I promise.”
“I was hoping tonight would be the night,” I said, smiling at the thought Drake had been planning to seduce me. “I guess we’ll have to wait a few weeks…”
“I’d wait forever for you. You are everything to me. You and Sophie and Liam. When you do come to Nairobi, I promise we will make up for the lost time. I’ll ensure I satisfy your every need and desire. If we had more time, I’d suggest we sneak upstairs for a quickie, but probably not a good idea with Sophie here.”
“She could watch a movie,” I said, hesitantly. “We could… lock the bathroom door. It would only be for, say, ten minutes?”
He raised his eyebrows at that. “Ten, you say?”
I nodded slowly, a smile spreading on my lips. “Ten would do.”
I went back downstairs to the living room and sat on the sofa beside Sophie. “What movie would you like to watch that you haven’t seen for a while? I could rent it for while Daddy and I pack for his trip.”
“Paddington!”
I laughed and glanced at Drake, who was standing in the entry to the living room. He had a very smoky look in his eyes. “Paddington it is. I’ll give you some microwave popcorn and you can have fun watching.”
In a few moments, I’d popped the popcorn and Drake had Paddington rented and playing on the flatscreen. Sophie lay on the carpet in front of the screen and ate her popcorn.
We had ten minutes.
Drake took my hand and practically pulled me back upstairs. “Let’s go and,” he said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively, “finish packing my bag for my trip.”
“Yes. We’ll be back in about ten minutes, Sophie.”
She didn’t even look back at us as we went up the stairs our large bathroom.
Drake followed me inside and locked the door behind him, before turning to me, a leer in his eye.
I was already wet and swollen.
“Shall we have a shower?” He began removing my clothes.
“I already had one.”
“You’re going to need another when I’m through with you.”
I smiled and leaned back against the glass shower door. “Whatever you say.”
He pulled down the shoulder straps of my sundress to reveal the tops of my breasts and began nuzzling them, each one in turn. The feel of lips on my skin sent my already-fast heart rate even faster, and so I closed my eyes and gave myself over to the sensations. He knew exactly how to work me up quickly and efficiently, so that a quickie was just as satisfying as what he jokingly called a ‘longie’.
I sighed once more, because his words made me feel so good. They also sent a jolt of lust right to my core as I remembered what a quickie with Drake was like. It wasn’t quite as quick as it might otherwise be and was always satisfying.
I undressed and got into the shower and Drake turned the water on, then undressed himself.
Water coursed over me as I stood under the shower nozzle, the heat from the water making my skin all goosebumps. Drake stood behind me, and got thoroughly wet himself, before he started to lather up so he could wash my body. Then, he slid his hands, slick with soap, over my back and around to my breasts, cupping each one before tweaking my nipples, pulling on them until they formed hard points. I leaned against the tile wall, my eyes closed, and just enjoyed the sensations. He was expert in controlling my body and knew how to touch and where to touch to drive me wild with lust.
He slid his hands down over my belly and between to my thighs, his fingers slipping between my labia, gently stroking my clit. His touch made my core throb with need.
“Fuck, I need you,” he murmured against the back of my neck.
"I’m more than ready," I said, turning around to face him. “You can take me right now.”
He shook his head, his blue eyes dark with desire. “Not yet. I need to taste you. I want my tongue inside of you when you come the first time…”
“We don’t have time for more than a first time,” I said even as I groaned at the thought.
“Once is never enough for you,” he said and reached over to turn off the shower. Then, he knelt and lifted my leg up over his left shoulder. I knew what to do – I gripped onto the safety bar firmly. “Tell me when you’re just about there.”
While he licked me, he reached up and stroked one breast, tweaking the nipple. The combination of desire, and the sensations of his tongue on me and his fingers working my nipple worked to bring me as close to orgasm as I could come.
“I’m ready,” I managed to gasp.
Then, as he liked to do, he slid his tongue up inside of me and that did it. I felt the sensations build and my orgasm started, my eyes rolling up in my head from the sheer ecstasy of the pleasure.
When I was finished, he stood and turned me around, his fingers still at my clit, stroking softly.
“My turn,” he said.
“You better be fast,” I said, knowing that he had to get ready to leave for the airport. “We don’t have much time.”
“I don’t need much time.”
Of course, Drake being Drake, he wanted me to come once more. He filled me up with his hard cock, and kept his fingers on my clit, stroking slowly while he thrust inside of me. I didn’t think I’d be able to orgasm again, but he was insistent, the slow-motion building back the arousal so that soon, once more, I was ready.
“Drake,” I gasped.
"I want you to come for me again." He thrust harder, faster, and soon, I was over the top, my second orgasm starting. My whole body shuddered, my core clenching around his erection, and I heard him groaning with pleasure as well.
" Fuck …"
I heard his groan of pleasure and smiled to myself once I was recovered enough. He pulled out and turned me around, kissing me deeply.
“A twofer,” he said with a grin when he pulled away. “The only way to go.”
I shook my head. “You are so greedy.”
He laughed. “I am. Greedy for your pleasure.”
Afterwards, we went back downstairs and sat together to read the paper, then we cleaned up and made sure Drake had everything he needed for his trip.
Around three in the afternoon, we got into the limo and decided to take a trip to JFK to watch the planes take off before Drake had to catch his flight. There were several YouTubers who regularly live-streamed the flights at JFK, so I knew all the best places to watch. We drove to one spot that allowed us to watch the planes land and had our sunglasses on and lawn chairs so we could enjoy ourselves. John, Drake’s driver for the day, was amused and joined us, dressed in his uniform. Drake made sure to bring a lawn chair for him as well.
Sophie ooh’d and ahh’d at the planes as they landed, and I spent my time telling her which plane was which and giving specs on the type of plane and where it was coming from. That was the way we passed the last hour and a half before Drake had to go to check in, and it was enjoyable. Luckily, the weather held up and we had a nice time of plane spotting.
Finally, Drake checked his watch and sighed. “Time to go, I think.”
Sophie was standing at the fence, her fingers entwined in the chain links, watching yet another heavy plane land in front of us.
“We have to go, sweetie,” Drake said and went to her, picking her up and kissing her. “I’ll miss you.”
She kissed him back, her arms around his neck. “I’ll miss you.”
We piled back into the limo and drove to the airport terminal. John removed the suitcase and carryon Drake was taking with him on the plane and then the three of us went inside. We walked to the British Airways First Class lounge and went inside after Drake showed them his ticket. For the last half-hour together, we sat at the window and while Sophie watched the planes on the runway, Drake and I held hands and talked about what Drake and Michael would be doing for the next couple of weeks.
“We have to get caught up on surgeries that were canceled, then interview candidates to replace the two surgeons who died in the flood. We’ll cover until they arrive, which hopefully, based on Michael’s early contacts with surgeons he knows who can step in temporarily until more permanent replacements are found, will be only a couple of weeks.”
“We can Skype as often as you feel able,” I said and leaned over to kiss him. “I know Sophie will miss seeing you each night before she goes to bed. If Sophie goes to bed at eight, it would be three in the morning your time. We’ll have to find some other time when you’re free.”
“Maybe it would be better to Skype in the morning. Sophie gets up at seven. I could take a break around 2 or 3 depending on how surgeries are going and say good morning to her. Or at lunch. Three o’clock your time would be ten o’clock in Nairobi.” Drake smiled. “She could say good night to me.”
“That’s what we’ll do. We’ll say goodnight to you.”
Drake checked his watch. “Well, I better get going. Time to check in.”
He stood and then went to where Sophie was standing, looking out over the airport. “Time to go, sweetheart. You and Mommy can walk with me to the checkout.”
We made our way through the terminal to the check in area for first class passengers, and then, with a choke in my throat, I kissed Drake goodbye. We hugged for a long moment and when I pulled back, I had tears in my eyes.
“Oh, my love,” Drake said, and shook his head. “I’m sorry I’m leaving when I promised to never be apart again.”
“No, no,” I said and smiled, laughing. “I just get emotional when saying goodbye. I want you to go. It’s the right thing to do. We’ll be fine, won’t we Sophie?”
“Bye, Daddy,” Sophie said and jumped into Drake’s arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. He kissed her back on both cheeks and then her forehead.
“You be a good girl for Mommy, okay? We’ll Skype each night when it’s time for me to go to bed.”
Sophie laughed. “That’s funny,” she said and that was that. She took my hand and we waved at Drake as he walked off towards the gate.
“Bye, Daddy!” She smiled as he waved back.
“Can we watch his plane take off?” she asked, glancing up at me.
“It won’t be leaving for an hour and a half, but if you want, we can get some food and go home, watch a movie. How does that sound?”
She nodded and together, we left the terminal. Once outside, we were greeted by John at the limo, the back passenger door opened when he saw us come out of the doors.
I sighed and helped Sophie into the rear passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt and getting all set for the drive home myself.
“Where too, Mrs. Morgan?”
“We want some street food. Can you take us to the park near the boardwalk so we can get some corn dogs?”
“I’m on it,” he said with a smile.
I sat back in my seat as the limo drove off, my arm around Sophie’s shoulder in the seat beside me.
After a dinner of hot dogs, soda and ice cream we bought from a vendor, we walked along the boardwalk for a while and then went back to the apartment for our first night alone. Just me and Sophie to spend the next week — maybe ten days — alone in Manhattan while Drake was in Nairobi.
I tucked Sophie into bed and kissed her goodnight, switching on the night light that lit up the ceiling in a million tiny blue, green and red stars.
Then I went to my office and sat down at my laptop to try to get some work done on my latest article. Of course, I couldn’t get Sam out of my mind, despite Drake’s assurances, and despite my promise not to worry or think about it again, I did. I opened a browser and searched for her by name: Dr. Samantha Cuttington.
There was a LinkedIn page for her, of course, but I didn’t dare search it because she’d be notified of people viewing her profile. The last thing I wanted was for her to know I was curious. Instead, I clicked on a link that showed her working at — none other than Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
In the Neurosurgery department.
I exhaled. Stop , I said to myself, but I couldn’t resist.
I searched on Facebook and found her page. I was glad I did, because under her profile was the word, Married.
I sighed with relief. If she was married, she might mention her husband, so I read through a few of her posts and sure enough, there was one with her husband and her on their anniversary.
He was young, handsome and a doctor of internal medicine, working at a different hospital in Nairobi.
Phew…
I knew I shouldn’t be so worried, because Drake wasn’t interested in her — or anyone except me.
But still… There was a part of me that worried because our sex life had quieted down. Even though I knew it was due to our very busy lives, with two children and two very busy work lives, there was still a very small part of me that was insecure.
A very handsome and wealthy and talented man like Drake could have dozens of women waiting for his call if he wanted. I knew how lucky I was, and I promised myself that when we were able, I would make sure he knew that I knew it.
By the time I was ready for bed, I checked the flight information for Drake’s flight on Flight Radar and saw that it was already almost two-thirds of the way to London Heathrow for the layover. By the time he arrived, it would be 8:20 AM London time, but Drake would be ready for bed. Instead, he’d have an hour and a half layover during which time he’d probably fight to stay awake. Some fresh hot coffee at the British Airways First Class lounge would do the trick. Then, he had a nine-hour flight to Nairobi and would be arriving at the hotel just in time to get ready for bed, but he would have slept the entire way.
It would take him a couple of days to decompress and get over jet lag, but soon, he and Michael would be so busy catching up on much-needed surgeries that they would soon be in the swing of things at the hospital.
Just like those two — Michael and Drake — willing to upend their lives for people halfway around the world.
I thought about Michael living alone in Southampton. He’d never remarried after he and his wife Claire split and was living a bachelor’s life while managing the Children’s Hospital. I felt bad for him, but he seemed happy. His life was so busy and had so much meaning that he barely had time to feel lonely.
My cell rang, and I checked the call display. It was my father.
“Hey, Daddy, how are you?”
“I’m fine. Just wondering if you wanted to come this weekend for a cookout. We’re planning on going to the island on Thursday night and thought you might want to come for the weekend.”
“Oh, that sounds so nice. I meant to call you and let you know that Drake was called out to help Michael Owiti in Kenya after the flooding killed two of their neurosurgeons. He flew out today and will stay for at least a month. Sophie and I are planning to fly there as soon as I’m done work on my article. I hoped to leave next week once my work on my article is finished.”
“Aww, that’s too bad he had to leave, but I completely understand — he’s just like his father. I heard about the flooding. Terrible business. Good on Drake for going. I’d expect nothing less from him given his nature and his pedigree. Liam was always rushing around flying to this or that disaster to help.”
“Yes, he couldn’t say no when Michael asked. I think I’ll be done by Tuesday at the latest and so Sophie, and I are going to catch a plane to Nairobi. I’m sure she’ll be ecstatic to come out to the beach house for the weekend. How does that sound? A bit of a celebration before we go?”
“Sounds perfect. Let me know when you leave on your way.”
“Will do. Thanks for calling.”
I ended the call and put my laptop away, then went through my nighttime routine, brushing my teeth and washing my face. It would be a nice diversion from life alone without Drake if we went to stay on the island at the beach house with my father and Elaine. That way, I’d get to spend some time with my father, who I knew would be proud that I finally finished my first bona fide article for the art and culture paper that was employing me.
I crept into our huge king-sized bed and lay down, running my hand over the empty side of the bed where Drake would have been. We had planned on making up for the sorry lack of sex on the weekend when Sophie would stay with my parents, but that was out the window when Drake got the call from Michael except for one quickie.
I regretted that I didn’t try harder to entice Drake into a lovemaking session the night before he left, and promised myself that I would never take tomorrow for granted, especially given my recent thoughts about Sam Cuttington.
I took out my cell and sent Drake a text. I knew he wouldn’t get it until later, but I wanted him to have something from me when he arrived in London.
I took a photo of me lying on the bed, the image capturing my cleavage and head on the pillow, one hand thrown back behind it, hair spread out. I tried to look as alluring as possible and put on a knowing smile, my lips slightly parted.
KATE: Here’s me thinking of you and what you and I are going to do when you get back from Kenya. I want a whole weekend alone with you at the beach house. Just you and me and nothing else…Love you always. XOXOX
Then, I sent the image as an attachment and put my phone away.
I hoped Drake would suffer from as much unsatisfied desire as I knew I was going to…