The Bed You Make
Chapter 8, Continued
Stefan Cassadine was awakened by the pleasant sensation of soft, lithe fingers intimately stroking and teasing him. His pleasure immediately became wariness and he nearly grabbed the hand that so lightly caressed his taut abdomen and beyond. Just as quickly, though, Stefan identified the warm body moving so tantalizingly against his own. Intrigued, he willed himself not to move.
A quick glance at his new bride showed Stefan that Dara was asleep, caught in the midst of a dream. Just who, Stefan wondered, was the man that her sleeping mind saw? Did she dream about the new husband who lay beside her in the massive bed? Or did Dara recall times with the lover she had left behind?
It was far more likely, Stefan reasoned, that thoughts of the policeman Garcia were on his bride's mind. Dara caressed his body with a familiarity borne of experience. On the heels of that thought, Stefan was forced to clench his teeth. The sensation of painted nails running lightly along the silk that covered his straining erection derailed all attempts to observe Dara's actions dispassionately.
The sensual pull of her lush body warred with Stefan's desire to honor his earlier words to her. It did not matter that Dara had made the first move toward initiating a physical relationship between them. She had done so unwittingly. He would not take advantage.
Stefan exhaled a labored breath when Dara's playful fingers ceased their teasing. Her hand returned to his chest and began to stroke the taut muscles there. Reluctantly Stefan reached out and firmly grasped his wife's wrist to prevent her from jerking the Cassadine medallion she now held tightly in her palm. With hooded eyes, he waited for Dara to come to full wakefulness.
A myriad of emotions played across Dara's expressive face as her rapidly waking mind sought to process the information it was being fed. Stefan saw the moment that realization dawned. Dara gasped. Her dark eyes flew open.
Stefan released her wrist and watched Dara nearly fall from the bed in a scramble for the bathroom. He sat up and immediately shifted uncomfortably. Dara's sleeping ministrations had left him aroused and erect; it would be a several minutes before his condition began to ease.
Stefan smiled through his discomfort. Based upon the mortified expression upon his new wife's face, he had all the time in the world for his body to relax. Dara would no doubt remain in the bathroom until she could put off facing him no longer.
