The Bed You Make
Chapter 16, concluded
There was certainly no cause to blame Mrs. Landsbury for packing the erotic scraps of silk and lace Dara held. She was, to the Cassadine housekeeper's knowledge, a newlywed. No… the blame for the naughty little lingerie rested solely on her shoulders, Dara admitted. She cursed the reckless impulse that had prompted her to purchase the racy items several years earlier.
Dara Jensen Cassadine grimaced and dropped the dripping items into a plastic bag. The first opportunity she got, she would dispose of them permanently.
Dara considered her reflection in the mirror. Stefan's pajama top covered most of her body, but somehow she felt more exposed than if she'd simply donned the see-through teddy Mrs. Landsbury had packed.
Maybe it was the faint smell of Stefan's cologne that clung insidiously to the black silk. Or maybe it was the knowledge that the garment was her husband's, creating an intimacy Dara could not escape.
“Most becoming.”
Dara spun around. Stefan was fresh from the shower, clad in his customary silk pajama pants and Cassadine medallion. “Thank you.” She made herself move calmly to the bed and take a seat.
“Allow me to say again that your handling of Russell Lee was most impressive in every way.” Stefan took a quick glance at his email before powering down his laptop. “You were most flawless in your handling of his act of familiarity.”
“It wasn't all an act.” Dara knew that Stefan made reference to the way the Asian chemist introduced himself by caressing Dara's lower lip. “He allowed his hands to wander a bit while you were retrieving his coat.” Dara shook her head at the memory.
Stefan froze in the act of pulling back the covers. “Why did you not bring it to my attention?”
Dara slipped into bed. To her dismay, the hotel room bed was only a fraction of the size of their bed at Wyndemere. “Why? You would have just made arrangements to exile the poor man to Siberia. And that would hardly inspire his creativity. Which ,” she pointed out tartly, “was the point of paying millions to acquire Reveal Cosmetics.”
“Such behavior should not have gone unchecked.”
“It didn't go unchecked. I handled it.” Dara eased near the edge of the bed. “But if it makes you feel better, next time I'll tell you about it. Then you can pretend to be a jealous husband and go all ‘male animal' on him.” She rolled her eyes. “ Good night , Stefan.”
The room plunged into darkness as Stefan switched off the bedside lamp. Dara felt the mattress shift as he climbed into bed beside her. “So that there might be no misunderstanding in the future,” Stefan's breath warmed her ear, “where you – and other men – are concerned, Dara…. I am very much ‘male animal'.”
