The Bed You Make
Chapter 47, concluded
After a couple of minutes of not being able to sit still, Dara decided to take Stefan's advice and head for the distraction of the library. The cavernous room, with its ceiling-to-floor shelves of books, never failed to hold her attention for hours on end. Dara was counting on that fascination to continue and help distract her from her thoughts.
Just as Stefan had claimed, several polymer-bagged hardcover books were placed in a low stack upon the table. They were not rare volumes but, instead, extremely fine first edition copies of books that had continually grown in popularity since their initial publications. The bottom of the stack was Dara's contribution to the library. She'd teased Stefan weeks earlier that his library was incomplete without a copy of Maurice Sendak's colorful and adventuresome children's book, Where the Wild Things Are . Stefan had raised a brow at her claim but made note of the title in the open ledger on the desk. Now, here it was.
Compared to those priceless volumes in the library, such a book could have seemed inconsequential. But Dara was willing to bet that Stefan had taken the time to read it. The fanciful little tale would be judged on its own merits. That was how Stefan approached everything in his life. Yes, he was arrogant. But not so arrogant that he was reluctant to court the opinion of experts. In the end, though, his decisions were exactly that. His.
There was something almost...hypnotic...about such a man. In her role as ADA, Dara had been in the company of rich men before. The Quartermaines, the Jacks brothers, Mayor Houghlin, Charles Van Pelt (a crony of Edward Quartermaine)... The confidence of wealth surrounded each one. Stefan's old money demeanor, however, made them all seem new to their fortunes. Maybe, Dara reasoned weakly, it was that singular confidence she was drawn to and not the man himself. Maybe a few nights of physically satisfying that pull would be enough to clear her thoughts of the desire she felt for so dangerous a man.
With any other man she wouldn't have bothered to deny her feelings. But Stefan Cassadine was a lethal being. Without even trying he could wreak havoc in her life when this was all done. And now that she had agreed to terms that would enter her into a physical relationship with her 'arranged husband', she needed desperately not to be attracted to the man himself..or walking away when this was over would be a very difficult thing to do.
Dara realized with a start that she had thumbed through all of the new library acquisitions without really seeing a page. She shook her head and sighed. It was obvious with each passing moment that calm would continue to be a stranger throughout the upcoming hours.
A shower. Maybe that would help. A long, hot shower beneath the almost sinful spray patterns of the multiple shower heads in the master bath.
Dara straightened up the stack of books. She squared her shoulders and made her way back through the maze of hallways to the bedroom. Her steps slowed as she spotted a sheet of writing paper atop an emerald-colored square in the center of the bed. Curious, Dara retrieved the note and silently read its contents. It was from Stefan.
I trust you will allow this additional (and one-time) stipulation
to our agreement. I would prefer, for tonight's consummation of our pact,
to see you clad in this.
This was one of Stefan's silk pajama tops.
