by S. E. Lund
"Oh, God," I said and rolled my eyes. "That's almost worse than them thinking I'm a sadist."
"Don't sweat it, Drake," Michael said. "It'll pass once the novelty of your presence wears off. Once they realize how totally professional you are, and how you expect professionalism back from them, things will quiet down. I had hoped you'd escape notoriety while you were at the hospital, but I guess we had to expect news would leak out eventually."
"I know, but it was so nice living in blissful ignorance for a while..."
"Things will improve. When I get back, I can have a little staff meeting if you want, enforce order."
"No, please don't," I said and rubbed my forehead. "I don't want them to think it's bothering me. Just ignore it. That's the best approach. They'll soon stop when they realize how much of a boring old man I am becoming."
"You? Boring? Never!" Michael said with a big guffaw. "Now, hold down the fort while I'm away and you can take several days off when I get back. Spend time with your beautiful wife and daughter."
"Thanks, Michael. I appreciate everything you've done for me. I especially appreciate that you've accepted my past without question. This is the very best job I've had in my entire career and I want to keep you happy, so I can stay."
"I want you to stay as long as you're happy. If you're happy, I'm happy."
We said our goodbyes and I hung up, feeling somewhat better that Michael had my back.
I checked my watch. I had fifteen minutes before my consult, so I decided to go for a walk around the hospital and get some air. I'd been working for eight hours already and needed a break. I had four more hours to go, part of which would be taken up with after school consults.
I put on my sunglasses for we were having exceptionally sunny weather and set off for a walk around the building on the walkway. I was about a third of the way around the mile-long exterior, when my cell rang.
It was Kate.
"Hi, sweetheart," I said, smiling when I heard Sophie burbling in the background. "What's up with my favorite girls?"
There was a park bench beside the walkway, so I took a seat and listened.
"I wanted to let you know I spoke with Elaine and she wanted to know if my dad and Elaine could come and stay with us."
"I hope you told her that they're always welcome, anytime for as long as they want," I said.
"I did, but I wanted to let you know."
"You know they're both welcome to live with us as long as they want and as long as you're happy."
"I'm happy, but the idea that I can spend more time with my father makes me almost blissfully happy," Kate said, and I could hear the emotion in her voice. I knew she'd been worrying about him on and off since he went back. She felt so helpless when he was so far away and worried a bit too much about him becoming sick and dying before she could get back to Manhattan to say goodbye.
"When are they coming?"
"Two weeks, probably."
"Good," I said. "I have a week off coming up. Maybe we can take them on a nice trip to Wales or something fun."
"Wales?" Kate said with a laugh. "Why Wales?"
"I have relations there and I've always wanted to go. It's a bit more rugged but still beautiful, from the photos I've seen of it."
"We'll make a point of going to Wales, then," Kate said, her voice happy. "I honestly can't wait."
"I'll be home at about nine or nine thirty, depending on traffic."
"Okay," she said. "I'll be waiting for you."
"I want a nice hot bath and then I want you."
I'm yours."
"See you later. I love you, Kate."
"I love you, Drake."
I hung up, glad to think that Ethan and Elaine would come and stay with us for the summer. It would mean Kate would have some company, and Sophie would get to spend time with her grandparents -- something I never got to experience. I wanted to make up for everything I missed as a child growing up with a father who was too self-absorbed to give me what I needed.
I arrived back at the hospital with about five minutes to spare before my consult, so I sat in my office and read over the files once more. Then, armed with my file and a fresh outlook, I went to the consultation room and met with the family, hoping I would be able to give them good news about their boy's chances of a full end to his seizures with deep brain stimulation.
I drove home after my shift was over and was glad to leave the hospital behind. I'd been working extra-long hours while Michael was away, running my own practice and overseeing the administration in Michael's place so I had been exceptionally busy, leaving before six in the morning, and getting home after nine at night. It was exhausting but fulfilling at the same time. Plus, it was giving me some administrative experience, which I could use one day if and when I wanted to become a hospital or department administrator. I couldn't see ever wanting to stop neurosurgery, but it was still good experience.
I drove up to the house and was happy to see the lights on in the sitting room and kitchen. When I entered the house after parking the car, I saw that Sophie was still up and was sitting with her mother on the sofa, reading a book.
She squawked when she saw me and held her arms open wide.
"Dada!"
I went right over to pick her up, hugging her tightly, kissing her chubby cheeks. "How's my two beautiful girls?"
I bent down and kissed Kate as well. She smiled up at us, and I could see the peace and contentment in them when she saw Sophie and me together.
"We're fine. We wanted to read another story after the other twelve, and so I decided to let her stay up so you could put her to bed and have some Sophie time."
"Good," I said and sat beside Kate. "How was my girl today? Did she have a good day at nursery?"
Sophie babbled happily, picking up her book and opening it and shoving it against my chest. "Book," she said.
"Enough with the pleasant conversation, read me a book," I said with a laugh. "Okay, sweetie. I'll read you," I said and checked the title. "Thomas the Tank Engine. How could I have guessed it would be Thomas?"
For the next fifteen minutes, I read Thomas and then another book, and finally, Goodnight Moon. Sophie yawned, sucked on her pacifier and rubbed her ear. I knew what that meant. She was finally ready for bed.
I carried her to her crib and laid her down, covering her up with her blanket. She held her Chloe Bunny who she called Bun-Bun in her arm and rubbed its ear while she closed her eyes.
"Good night, sweetie," I said and bent down to kiss her. I cranked the music box on the side of her crib and left her alone, closing the door softly behind me.
"There," I said when I met Kate in the hallway. "She's down without even a peep."
"She loves it when you put her to bed," Kate said. "Shall I run us a bath?"
"You read my mind," I said and pulled Kate into my arms for a brief, but intense, kiss. "I'll be in momentarily."
Kate went to our ensuite bathroom and ran a bath while I went to my office and checked my mail, just in case anything had come in while I was in the car home. Seeing nothing, I went to the bedroom and began stripping off my clothes, eager to get into the bath with my beautiful wife and have her wash every inch of me.
Just the thought of it was making all my inches extremely excited, even if I was exhausted.
Kate did that to me.
I opened the door to the bathroom and saw her standing beside the tub, entirely naked, running her hand in the water to check the temperature.
She was bending over, her back to me, and her buttocks were deliciously round, her pussy peeking out between them. My dick jumped and hardened even more at the sight.
She stood up and smiled, her eyes moving down over my body to my groin and my very excited erection.
"Is that for me?" she said, her voice throaty.
"It's all for you. I don't know if I can last the entire bath without fucking you, but I'll try."
"Why wait? We can always have a bath after."
"God, Kate," I
said as I came up to her and took her shoulders in my hands. "I want you right now."
I kissed her and turned her around, bending her over so that her hands rested on the side of the tub. "I'm going to fuck you quickly, once. Then I'll fuck you leisurely, when I recover. How does that sound?"
"It sounds fantastic," she replied, smiling coyly.
So I did.
~~~~
To be released on December 17th, 2018.
Get your copy on preorder now!
About the Author
S. E. Lund writes erotic, contemporary, new adult and paranormal romance. She lives with her family of humans and animals in Beautiful British Columbia Canada on the side of a mountain and in sight of an active volcano. She dreams of living in a warm climate where snow is just a word in a dictionary.
For More Information:
www.selund.net
[email protected]
Also by S. E. Lund
THE UNRESTRAINED SERIES:
THE AGREEMENT: Book 1 in the Unrestrained Series
THE COMMITMENT: Book 2 in the Unrestrained Series
UNRESTRAINED: Book 3 in the Unrestrained Series
UNBREAKABLE: Book 4 in the Unrestrained Series
FOREVER AFTER: Book 5 in the Unrestrained Series
EVERLASTING: Book 6 in the Unrestrained Series
DRAKE FOREVER: Book 7 in the Unrestrained Series
ENDLESS: Book 8 in the Unrestrained Series (Dec 17 2018)
THE UNRESTRAINED SERIES COLLECTION ONE (BOOKS 1 - 3)
THE DRAKE SERIES:
DRAKE RESTRAINED: Book 1 in the Drake Series
DRAKE UNWOUND: Book 2 in the Drake Series
DRAKE UNBOUND: Book 3 in the Drake Series
THE MACINTYRE BROTHERS SERIES
Tempt Me: Book One
Tease Me: Book Two
Tame Me: Book Three (2019)
STANDALONE BOOKS:
MR. BIG SHOT
MATCHED
IF YOU FALL
THE BAD BOY SERIES:
BAD BOY SAINT: Book 1 in the Bad Boy Series
BAD BOY SINNER: Book 2 in the Bad Boy Series
BAD BOY SOLDIER: Book 3 in the Bad Boy Series
BAD BOY SAVIOR: Book 4 in the Bad Boy Series
THE BAD BOY SERIES COLLECTION: All 4 books together in one volume.
PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES:
DOMINION: BOOK 1
ASCENSION: BOOK 2
RETRIBUTION: BOOK 3
RESURRECTION: BOOK 4
REDEMPTION: BOOK 5
THE DOMINION SERIES COMPLETE COLLECTION
