She knocked respectfully on his door, well aware that in many ways this was his inner sanctum, one of the few places where he could find some escape from the responsibilities of his life.
“Come…”
An involuntary shiver beset her. His voice never failed to move her. Perhaps it was the rich, cultured sound that fell so appealing upon her ear. Or perhaps it was the almost undetectable trace of accent that lingered in every word he spoke.
Or maybe it was just the memory of his voice's rich timbre coaxing forth her almost desperate pleas as he made love to her. ‘Say the words…. '
With a shaky hand, she pushed open the door. “I hope that I am not disturbing you,” she began, “but I-”
“Business or pleasure?”
The interruption of her carefully planned approach left her off-balance. A little stunned, she watched him rise from behind his desk and stride silkily to the door. “Business,” he repeated, resting his hand upon the lock, “or pleasure?”
The knowing glint in his eye nearly made her lie in response. For a long moment she debated just which answer she would give.
Her struggle did not go unnoticed by him. The corner of his mouth turned up in an arrogant little half-smile that angered her.
“Business,” she bit out.
His amusement rang crystal clear in the refined bark of laughter he gave. It was a sound she understood well. With that single sound he let her know that he was neither fooled nor deterred by her lie.
“Business it shall be.”
With wary eyes she watched him walk toward her. He had accepted her very obvious lie far too easily. If there was one thing she had quickly learned about him, it was that he did nothing without a reason.
“Begin.”
He stood so close to her that she felt the brush of his clothing. “Th-thank you for your family's latest donation. It was very generous, as always.”
“You are welcome.” His voice deepened slightly. “But unless I am mistaken, you thanked me for my generosity three days ago.” He sensed more than saw the blush that warmed her cheeks. “And quite admirably, I must say.”
“ That wasn't about thanking you. That was about two people realizing that they enjoy each other's bodies.”
“And I do so enjoy your body.” He ran a teasing forefinger along the line of her throat. “How regretful that your presence here today is due only to business.” The half-smile returned. “Now had you chosen pleasure…”
Nimble fingers swiftly undid the top buttons of her silk shirt and pulled at her bra. The feel of his warm, wet mouth closing upon one taut peak made her arch her back in sheer pleasure.
“Yessss….” The strangled cry seemed lodged deep in her throat.
“That pleases you?”
Blindly, she buried her fingers in his hair and tried to return his mouth to its earlier actions. “Don't stop!” she demanded.
He easily resisted her efforts to control him. To the young woman's dismay he tugged the lacy cup of her brassiere back into place.
He wondered if she had any idea how sensual she was at that moment. Her lips were bruised from his kisses, her hair slightly tousled from his fingers, and her clothes all askew from his caresses.
Still he stepped back and put distance between them. “Now back to business…Unless, of course, you wish to reconsider your original response.”
She glared resentfully at him. He would not concede to the desire he felt for her until she spoke the words aloud. “Fine,” she bit out, “I change my answer. I came here today for pleasure.”
“Then it is pleasure,” Stefan Cassadine assured Keesha Ward, “that you shall most definitely receive.”
