Chapter Thirteen

As they walked further away from his mother, out of earshot, Drake couldn't contain his amusement. "You truly are remarkable, Lydia. I can't recall a single instance where my mother was left speechless like that."

"Good. It'll do her some good to keep her mouth shut," Lydia snarled, narrowing her eyes in anger.

Drake pulled her toward him, forcing her to face him. He grabbed her chin and tilted her head up, "What she said back there. It wasn't true. You are absolutely beautiful, Darling."

Lydia's cheeks blushed as she smiled, "You have to say that. You're my boyfriend."

"I mean it, Lydia." Drake replied gruffly, his lips mere inches away from hers, "You are stunning. I want to devour you right here, right now."

Lydia bit her lip. She could feel her body begin to flood with desire. She ached for him. She wanted him to fill her. "Then why don't you?" She asked huskily, batting her eyelashes, pressing her breasts into his chest.

"I told you to stop biting your lips." He growled, frustration and desire evident in his voice. Without warning, his grip on her face tightened and he slammed his mouth down against hers, kissing her with a fierce and passionate energy. His tongue eagerly demanded entrance into her mouth, and Lydia was swept away in the intensity of their embrace. In that moment, they both forgot where they were, and who might be watching. They were so consumed by the overwhelming desire they had for each other.

"Eh-hmm," Someone cleared their throat nearby, causing Drake to pull away from Lydia and turn his attention to the person who'd disrupted them. "Mr. Alston, your father has requested your presence at his table." The nearby waiter stated, gesturing to where Mr. Alston sat.

Thanking the waiter for delivering his father's message, Drake took Lydia's hand and walked in the opposite direction of his father's table, not wanting Lydia anywhere near that psychotic man.

"Mr. Alston! Mr. Alston!" The waiter called desperately running toward them, trying to get Drake's attention as Drake dragged Lydia through the crowd, further separating them from the frantic waiter.

Lydia looked up at him questioningly and Drake sighed with frustration, coming to an abrupt stop and turning toward the waiter. When he spoke, the anger was evident in his voice, "Tell may father if he wants me, he can bring his ass here. I am not his lackey he can summon whenever he pleases."

The server's complexion drained of color, causing Drake to look away from him, guiltily. He hadn't meant to take his anger out on the poor server who was only trying to do his job. He was just trying to avoid his father. With a sigh, he strode away from the server and in the opposite direction of his father's table, setting his sights on a nearby bar.

"Don't you think it would be best, if you went over there and talked to your father?" Lydia asked, troubled by Drake's behavior. She knew he disliked his father, but there had to be more at play, than just the incident with his brother when they were younger. Drake didn't like his mother, but he still talked to her, he didn't go out of his way to avoid her, like he did his father.

"No." Drake replied curtly, his eyes full of hatred, a glare appearing on his face. He let out another heavy sigh before turning his full attention onto Lydia. She deserved at least some sort of explanation. "It's a power play. I'm not my father's pawn anymore. I'm not a piece he can control on his chest board. He's play one game and I'm playing a completely different game now. I no longer need him or his company to support me."

Lydia knew she wouldn't be able to press him further on the issue. He had the same look on his face, that he'd had that morning when Amelia was brought up. It seemed like his relationship with his father would be yet another hard limit for them.

A stunning woman with long blonde hair and a figure-hugging white tank top leaned against the bar, her eyes sparkling as she greeted them. "What can I get for you?" She asked, her gaze lingering on Drake, barely acknowledging Lydia's presence.

Drake didn't even seem to notice the blondes presence. She could be any Dick or Jane for all her cared, "What would you like to drink, Darling?"

"Darling?" Lydia giggled.

"Yes, Darling. Unless you would prefer Beautiful, Sexy, Babe, Love, Honey, Sugar,"

"No, Darling works just fine." Lydia laughed, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

"So, Darling, what would you like to drink?"

"Umm...I'll take a Long Island," Lydia replied, wanting something strong to calm her nerves.

"Scotch on the rocks and one Long Island. Keep them going." Drake stated, ordering their drinks without so much as glance in the bartender's direction.

The woman walked away looking dejected, like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. Lydia couldn't help but shake her head and laugh as she watched the blonde way into the backroom to fill their orders.

"What now?" Drake asked.

Lydia glanced around to see if anyone was nearby before she lowered her voice, "I just don't understand why I'm here. There are so many women who throw themselves at you. I just don't see why it was necessary for you to enlist my help."

"None of them have ever intrigued me the way you do. You've created this hunger inside of me," Drake replied, staring intensely into Lydia's eyes, not offering any further explanation.

They were on their third round of drinks, by the time Drake's father finally approached them. "The prodigal son has returned at last." His father spat, his words clearly meant to be an insult.

"What do you want, father?" Drake asked his tone clipped and unwelcoming.

"I just came over to greet my son. Seeing as he has lost all sense of manners. And of course to greet his new woman that everyone is talking about." Gregory replied, leering at Lydia. His gaze caused chills, and not the good kind, to run down her body.

"Lydia this is my father, Gregory. Gregory, this is my girlfriend, Lydia." Drake replied gesturing between the two of them.

"Mr. Alston. It's a pleasure." Lydia smiled extending her hand out to Drake's father.

Gregory gently grasped Lydia's outstretched hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles. His breath was warm and tickled her skin as he held the contact a little too long for comfort. Lydia's stomach churned, her drinks threatening to come back up, as she snatched her hand away, wiping it against her skirt.

Drake snaked his hand around Lydia's waist and drew her closer to his side, glaring at his father. The two men stared at each other in silence. Neither willing to budge on their show of dominance. Luckily in that moment, Kevin walked up to them, interrupting their stare down.

"Dad!" Kevin called out cheerfully, breaking the tense situation, "And Dray, you're here, looking fantastic as always. Anywho, I know you hate being in the spotlight, but umm... the reporter is here and she's ready to take the family photos."