The Bed You Make
Chapter 46, concluded
"...when I have the upper hand?"
Stefan recognized the teasing quality of his wife's voice. Dara was prone to such moments when she felt empowered or saw the need to 'prick his enormous ego', she said. Her confidence at that moment awoke in him the competitive nature that enabled him to conduct business with almost ruthless efficiency.
His reputation in the business world was that of a cold, efficient assassin. To his select business partners he was a godsend; to those he challenged he was the devil himself. Stefan smiled, more a baring of teeth in anticipation of the give and take to come. He loved the one on one battle of negotiation. The subject of this one, as well as the opposing party, stimulated him far more than any he could recall. "Shall we commence the negotiations and see?"
He saw the moment Dara faltered just a bit at his low, raspy challenge. To Stefan's immense pleasure, her fleeting hesitation was swiftly replaced by an expression of determination that matched his own. "So," Dara squared her shoulders, "we'll be negotiating terms from your standard mistress agreement?"
"Yes. With several exceptions."
"Exceptions." Dara raised a brow. "Exactly what would those be?"
Stefan shook his head. "I should first prefer to hear your terms for this arrangement between us."
Dara shrugged. "I only have one." She locked gazes with him. "But if honored, it takes care of everything else I need."
"Proceed."
"I need your word, from that part of you that loves Nikolas as you do, that you will not use the intimacies I grant you against me. And I don't just mean the physical things. If I let my guard down around you, you won't use what you've learned to maneuver me about that chessboard in your head."
Stefan took unhurried moments to consider Dara's lone requirement. Simple on the surface, he knew that honoring such a condition would place a level of self-restraint upon him that he was unaccustomed to enforcing. His entire life thus far had been spent working to cement Nikolas' place as the head of the Cassadine family. Agreeing to Dara's terms would remove a possible weapon from the cache of 'tools' he employed to secure his nephew's future, a course of action Stefan had never before considered taking.
"I am who I am," he finally replied. "Your lone demand seeks from me that which is counterintuitive to my very nature." Stefan watched Dara parse his words. "I can, in good faith, promise you nothing more than that I will attempt to keep exempt from my maneuverings the private things you entrust to my care."
Now it was Dara's turn to take some time to consider Stefan's response. Her brow was creased in concentration, her gaze remained locked with his. Even so, it was not difficult for Stefan to decipher the direction of her internal debate. He was certain that Dara did not waste time weighing the honesty of his response. No, he calculated, she sat in silent debate of whether she could afford the price of dropping her guard with him.
"Let's say for the moment," Dara offered, "that I accept your response to my stipulation. I reserve the right to revisit it after I hear your terms for this arrangement."
"Very well," Stefan nodded. "My terms are simple. Like you, I have but one stipulation. I do not wish there to be any physical barrier between us."
"Physical barrier?"
"Yes. I should prefer to dispense with the use of a prophylactic. I would have intercourse between us be, as you say, bareback."
