| Chapter 13 A secretive smile on her face, Carly ties the last bit of sheet around Stefan's wrists as he sleeps soundly. She has waited for some time to execute her plan, poking him once to be sure he was truly asleep. Her eyes roving his form, she takes in the wondrousness of his nude body. Pure male, and not an ounce of fat. Just lean muscle, full of power which she'd experienced first hand. Remembering the night of ferociously passionate lovemaking, the smile turns dreamy. But this is the first time she'd been able to truly study his nude body. It was a work of art. Unable to keep her hands off him, she runs a hand up his thigh. He stirs slightly under her touch and a smile plays across his face even though he's still asleep. A devilish gleam in her eye, Carly continues to caress his body, all his sensitive spots, delighting as he groans. Stefan's eyes fly open and he reaches for her, only to be stopped because he's tied fast to the bed with strips of sheet. Carly chuckles and places her mouth in the middle of his taut stomach, licking him suggestively. Jerking from the gentle torture, Stefan fights against the bonds fruitlessly. "Caroline, what is the meaning of this?! Let me go at once." Carly shakes her head, and runs her hands up and down his chest avariciously, greedily touching him, unimpeded for the first time since they became intimate. "I'm afraid not, Stefan. See, I've wanted to touch you like this for so long, and you've never let me... so, I took matters into my own hands...." Letting her hands travel lower, she watches as his eyes darken with desire, despite his attempt to fight his natural reaction to her touch. "And I have no intention of letting you go until I'm done." Angered by her little game but refusing to let her get the best of him, Stefan glowers at her, but stops struggling, forcing his body to relax. "You better make the best of your little game, Caroline. Because you will pay for it... dearly." "Such threats!" Carly answers, placing soft kisses on the inside of his thigh. She trails kisses up his chest, neck and finally his chin. Sliding her hand between his legs and teasing him again, her mouth hovers over his, silently asking him to open his mouth. He complies, letting her deepen the kiss, remaining passive and removed -- unaffected. Carly pulls away and frowns. Stefan smirks at her, his eyes mocking. "Isn't that what you wanted? To have me passive? Come Caroline, do your worst.. see if you can make me lose control." Seeing the challenge in his superior smile, Carly rises to meet it. "So you think you can win, huh? You're wrong." she kisses him again, harder and more savage than before, demanding a response, she buries her hands in his hair. Straddling him, she allows her chest to brush against his through the satin of her nightgown, knowing from past experience the sensation is enticing to him. For a moment, she feels triumph as he kisses her back and strains against his bonds to grab her . But the next moment, he regains control and is once again laying passive on the bed. That's all the encouragement Carly needs. It's proof that he's not as in control as he thinks, she just needs more of an advantage. Slipping the belt from her robe, she uses it as a makeshift blindfold. Stefan thrashes as she puts it on. "Caroline! Don't--" Carly places two fingers over his mouth. "Aha! Not so in control now, are you? Now behave yourself or I might find something for your mouth. Now where was I?" Replacing her fingers with her mouth, she proceeds to continue her seduction uninterrupted. In the back of his head he knows she means no harm, that she's merely playing a harmless game, but the buzzing in his head is ceaseless and he's quickly losing all rational thought. All he can think of is freeing himself, at any cost. He can't be defenseless... not to her, not to anyone. And most of all he can't stand the dark, the unremitting dark. So seized with panic he can barely move his limbs. His heart in his throat, he can't even speak no matter how hard he tries. Tears burn his eyes at his helplessness, and his complete inability to stop the game. Finally with great effort, he squeaks out the words. "Car... Carly.... please.. st... stop...please." The strangled high pitch sound of his voice combined with the stutter, sends warning bells to Carly, and she looks at his face to see it masked in terror. Horror struck, Carly stops immediately "Oh God, Stefan no... It's okay .. it's okay. It's over, I'll get you out, I promise. Hold on, Baby." In a rush to free him, she fumbles with the binds around his wrists, not getting anywhere. "Car.. Carly... th.. the blind...." His words come out in gasps and sputters. Carly grabs at the blindfold and tears it off his eyes. What greets her is a sight she never wants to see again. Stefan crying with his eyes shut tight... a weeping so deep in the soul, it makes no sound. Carly grabs his face in her hands, and presses her cheek against his, hoping the physical contact with her will bring him back from whatever internal horror he's experiencing. Using the soothing voice she uses for Michael when he wakes up from a nightmare, she speaks to him softly. "I'm here... you're going to be okay. I'm promise." "Jus... just don't leave me." Hearing the childlike plea torn from his lips brings tears to Carly's eyes. God, what had she done to him? All she wanted was to give him some pleasure, and get a little payback for herself. Looking at his hands and realizing he's still tied, she rushes to the dressing table and finds a pair of scissors. Making quick work of it, she cuts the bonds off his wrists and ankles. Almost immediately, he curls up on the bed, his knees into his chest and his arms wrapped around them tightly. He seems to hibernate into himself, giving no sign that he knows she's there. Carly sits on the bed next to him, stroking his hair and rubbing his back. Feeling a shiver run through his body, she goes in search of his robe and finds one hanging in his closet. Laying it on top of him, she kisses his temple. "Tell me what I can do and I'll do it." Nothing. If he wasn't holding his body so rigid, Carly would wonder if he was sleeping or even alive. She feels like a voyeur, just watching him struggle within his cocoon. Laying a hand on his back, she asks gently, "Do you want me to go?" "No," He answers in a soft muffled voice. One hand unwinds from his body and grabs hold of hers. "Don't leave." Gently squeezing his hand back, Carly vows, "I won't." After what seems like ages, Stefan gradually uncoils himself. He looks haggard and war torn, but Carly is relieved to see the terror gone from his eyes. The only positive thing that had come out of this, is that he allowed her to simply touch him without bristling or being on guard. In fact, her touch seemed to sooth him. Without a word, Stefan rises to wrap the robe around him, taking special care to tie it securely closed. Carly decides it's as good a time as any. "Stefan, I --" Stefan stops her before she really gets a word out. "What happened is not open for discussion." Carly swallows hard. "I just wanted to apologize... I---" Stefan lifts her chin, his eyes dark and his mouth set in a hard line. "Unnecessary. You had no reason to suspect a problem. Now you do. Never ever pull anything like this again. Do you understand?" Knowing she'll cry if she lets any of his harshness touch her, Carly merely nods. "Completely." "Good. Now that it's settled, I would like you to leave." He goes to the door and opens it. Stefan's coldness strikes fear into Carly. He's throwing her out? Just like that? "Leave?" She croaks. "Yes. I require some private time for meditation," Stefan explains, a hint of impatience showing. He wants her gone.. now. "Oh." Carly processes the information a moment before rising from the bed. "What am I to do?" "At the moment, what you do is of no consequence to me," He replies, his impatience growing by the minute. "I would think you would enjoy the free time." Carly wonders the same thing. Why isn't free time more appealing to her? Usually she would kill for it. But right now, all she wants is to be with him... to be sure he's okay. But taking one look at Stefan, she knows he won't tolerate it. Everything about the way he's holding himself screams hands off. He won't even look her in the eye. Carly walks slowly towards the door, intending to leave, but just as she's passing him, she stops. Taking his face in her hands, she kisses him fully on the mouth. At first Stefan is stiff and unresponsive, but a moment later, he's kissing her back, his body relaxing as he takes solace from her kiss. His hands take her shoulders and pull her towards him, seeking further contact. The next moment the kiss is over and they part. Carly runs her hand along the side of his face in a tender gesture, and is pleased when he leans his face into her hand. "I'll see you later?" She asks softly His eyes meet hers briefly. "Yes, later."  Chapter 14 Stefan's sanctuary in the east wing. In the middle of the room, Stefan sits in the lotus position on a grass mat, attempting deep meditation while thoughts cycle in his head at an uncomfortably fast speed The American cliche.. 'the cat's out of the bag' rises in his mind unbidden, followed by the sick realization that it means more than one thing. Not only had Carly found a chink in his armor, but the lid off a very old and deeply buried ghost has been ripped off today. Try as hard as he could, the lid wouldn't shut tight again. It had been years and years since he'd felt these feelings, that deep terror, complete and utter helplessness. Despite the years in between of grueling training and self discipline, he couldn't get his mind to obey as he wanted it to. By sheer strength of will he keeps himself in the mediation position, even though all he wants to do is curl up again. The truth hits him full force and his body sways as if from a physical attack. He was now his own worst enemy. His own fear was controlling him and the more he fought for self control, the more desperate he became, and the more elusive it was. His eyes close as he fights for control. Fragments of the darkness that enveloped him earlier swirl in his brain, making it difficult for him to focus on rebuilding his inner calm. Beyond the unexpected fracture in his well ordered life today, what upsets him most is the person who was a witness to it. Alexis was the only other person who had seen this side of him, and she had been too young to understand what she'd seen. A few times, after he and Laura became lovers on the island, he had been tempted to share some of his dark ghosts, in a naive hope that with love would come acceptance and eventually, healing. But each time he considered it he pulled back, afraid if she knew, she would run screaming the other direction. Then the love affair came to it's inevitable conclusion, and he was relieved he had kept quiet. As each year passed, he buried the ghosts deeper and deeper, behind more and more defenses, until they were almost forgotten. No other woman had even gotten close to learning the truth. Caroline. She was never supposed to see what she saw, EVER. No one was, but especially her. She could and would use his weakness given the right situation, and he wasn't fool enough to think he could control her completely. It was part of the challenge of her, and what would keep him from getting bored. To Caroline's credit, she didn't run when he fell apart, or laugh, or give any indication she even pitied him. In truth, it was her quiet support that had helped him pull himself together as quickly as he had. Of course, there was no way she could understand what happened to him. Not when he didn't even understand it himself. Having showered and changed after her emotional encounter with Stefan, Carly paces her room. She's not really sure why she's hiding out. It's not like she would be intruding on his privacy if she went to the conservatory or the stables. But she doesn't want to run into him until he's ready to see her. Her mind flashes to the way he looked when she left. Ragged and War torn. Uncharacteristically Fragile. Carly shakes her head. Since when did she worry about someone else's feelings? Hasn't she been told over and over by everyone in Port Charles that she was selfish and unfeeling? Just yesterday Monica was saying she had no regard for how she hurt others. That she lacked common decency. The look on Stefan's face, the wild terror that was in his eyes, that will haunt her. And the fact that a relatively innocent trick she played on him was the cause of it, really makes her ill. While on some level she understands what he was saying earlier, that she had no idea that she was hurting him, she still feels like she's responsible. She hurt him in the worst way imaginable, however unwittingly, and it bothers her more than she thought possible. She can't help but be curious about what caused him to be so afraid. Clearly the blindfold.. the blindfold and being helpless to protect himself. She wonders who hurt him so horrendously, to make him so terrified and irrational that he was sobbing like a frightened child. Anger surges inside her unexpectedly. Anger not at herself, but at the people who had abused him, and made him afraid. Out of the anger, an unfamiliar feeling takes shape.. something she hasn't felt this intensely except with one other person.... Michael.. Most acutely when he was kidnapped. And the best way she could describe the feeling was protectiveness. She wanted to kill the people who hurt Stefan. She stops short on that thought. Protectiveness for the almighty Stefan Cassadine? How ridiculous is that? But that's how she feels, and no matter how she tries to knock it loose, by telling herself that he doesn't need her protection, by telling herself that he wouldn't even welcome it, doesn't stop her from feeling it. She shakes her head in dismay. How had he gotten under her skin? Most of her life, she had been so involved in her self-created crises, she hadn't had much time to be concerned about anyone else for long. Besides, she had told herself repeatedly over the years, what good did it do anyone? It's not like she could have helped anyway. Yeah, she had helped Bobbie after Ruby died. At the time she really felt like she had done something good. But now, with Bobbie hating her as she did, it was hard for Carly to see even that as a victory. Her thoughts return to Stefan. How is he handling this? He looked so vulernable before she left. It was an uncomfortable feeling worrying about Stefan. She had never thought of Stefan as someone who needed worrying over. In the last few weeks he had virtually been all-powerful, all-knowing... at times cruel, but also holding her together, guiding her, helping her be a person she could respect and even like. And in all that time, nothing had really phased him, not even her world class tantrums, which were known to put fear into just about anyone. In all the time she'd spent with him over the last few weeks, she can't remember a single outburst he had before this morning which wasn't carefully orchestrated. One would have thought last night had changed everything between them., when they finally became lovers. She would have believed it too, until this morning. Carly takes a deep breath outside the conservatory. This meeting with him would be crucial. It would set the tone for their relationship from here on. She had no illusions she would be trusted. She knew she wouldn't be. She had a long history of betraying her lovers, and he had said since the first day she arrived at Wyndemere that he didn't expect that he could ever trust her. The best she could hope for would be for their relationship to resume as it had before this morning's events. She wanted that more than anything. If he had to believe she was small and helpless to make their relationship safe, then she would comply. If he needed to distance himself, then as painful as that would be, she would do as he asked. She wanted him to feel safe with her again, as safe as he could. But what if he wanted her to leave Wyndmere? The mere idea of leaving Wyndemere and him made her queasy. Not having the least idea how to please him, Carly enters the room quietly, somberly. She sees him standing with his back to her at the fire, seemingly warming his hands. She takes the free moment to check for changes in him. He is dressed in a dark suit and his hair is combed neatly, as it is every day. His stance is a practiced one, one she's come to recognize as the one he shows to the outside world. When he turns around to look at her, she isn't the least bit surprised to see his expression guarded, a smile not quite reaching his eyes, tension in his jaw. And his voice holds true to his aura of formality. "Hello, Caroline. Would you like me to fix you a drink? Mrs Lansbury plans to serve dinner shortly." Careful to match his guarded expression, Carly forces herself to walk towards the sofa and sit down, hoping to make herself as unthreatening as possible. "Umm, my usual. Thanks." Stefan takes his time fixing their drinks, using extra care to methodically go through the ritual, as if it were vitally important that everything be done correctly. "Today turned out to be an excellent day to go riding. Did you enjoy yourself?" He asks as he places the drink in her hand. "Yeah, the ride out to east shore was magnificient..." Carly's lie slips out before she can stop herself. Damn, now what was she to do? She stops short. "Actually, that was a lie. I didn't go riding." Stefan gives her a startled look. "I see," He says after a moment, though clearly he doesn't. Carly fiddles with her drink glass, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It slipped out before I knew what I was saying." Unable to stop fidgetting, Carly gets up and walks around the room. Explaining that she spent the day in her room agonizing over him would only make things more awkward between them. "Come here, Caroline." Carly looks up at him, even more unsettled than before when she sees the unreadable expression on his face. Knowing she has no choice but to go to him, she approaches him carefully, stopping just out of his reach. Stefan's eyes glitter with challenge. "I said, come here," He repeats with more emphasis. A lump forms in Carly's throat, but she forces herself to step in closer. Once within Stefan's reach, she feels him pull her close, so their bodies are almost touching. His hands cup her cheeks firmly, then without a word he lowers his mouth to kiss her. The kiss starts slow, but once she opens her mouth to accept him, he quickly deepens it, dominating her with an open mouth kiss. This kiss isn't seductive so much as it is an affirmation of their relationship.... intimate, with him in control, setting the pace, and her following his lead. Carly relaxes against him, savoring the heady taste of his mouth and accepting the rules of their relationship. Her hands travel up his chest and grab onto the lapels of his jacket. Just as the kiss is about to progress into something more, Stefan puts a halt it. Still framing her face with his hands, he looks down at her with such intensity, Carly feels burned by the fire shining in his eyes. Confused and alarmed, she asks, "What...?" Stefan shakes his head, indicating that he doesn't wish her to speak. He continues to stare down at her, obviously searching for something deep in her soul. Despite being unnerved by his strange behavior, Carly wisely doesn't fight him, but instead stares steadily back at him, as if to allow him to read her thoughts. When Stefan finally speaks, his voice is hoarse and menacing. "Do not betray me, Caroline, EVER. After this morning, there is no going back for us. If you make the mistake of crossing me, there won't be enough left of you when I am done to hand over to Morgan or Corinthos." Her heart in her throat, Carly just nods. He means every word, she knows it without a doubt, and even though a part of her wants to run, to get as far away from this terrifying stranger who's threatening her, a part of her knows he is acting on fear. He is still the man who's held her when she's cried, who makes her her knees go weak with a kiss, and who understands her better than anyone, including herself. Satisfied that he made his position clear, Stefan finally releases her face, his hands resting briefly on her shoulders before he begins massaging them. Some of the darkness in his soul recedes as he allows himself to relax and enjoy being close to Carly. The desire to take her to bed re-emerges with surprising strength. Carly plays with the lapels of his jacket. "So... where do we go from here?" "We eat dinner," Stefan answers, deliberately misinterpreting the question. Carly smiles back at him, the ice between them broken. He offers her his arm, and she accepts.  NC-17... Chapter 14 1/2 - This next section is sexually explicit and written for adults only. The content is not crucial to the story. Scroll down if you don't wish to read and hit the link for the next set of chapters.
Their kisses are tentative at first, as if they have never been lovers. They relearn the feel of each other, and exploring what the subtle change in their relationship means to their sexual intimacy. Absent is Stefan's insistence on being in control, as if their conversation before dinner had somehow settled it once and for all. Stefan's gentle kisses soon have Carly trembling in his arms. This man amazes her. He doesn't have one way of making love, he has endless ways. Ferocious, commanding, and now tender.. and she is certain there were as many ways as he has moods. He could make her feel a hundred different things just on the subtle way he parts her lips. She matches his timbre, her hands stroking his goatee with infinite care, making no attempt to take things further. She is amazed that the mere act of kissing him can be overwhelmingly emotional and erotic. Intimate. After what seems like an endless kiss, Stefan breaks it off, his own breathing ragged, his eyes dark with passion. The palms of his hands cup the ridges of her jaw with great tenderness, as if she were priceless crystal. He seems to memorize how she looks at this moment. A lump forms in Carly's throat, fear gripping her. Her feelings for him were too intense too fast. "Stefan..." She tries to pull back. He doesn't let her, gently but firmly bringing her back to him. "No words, Caroline." He releases her face and with a feather like touch allows his fingers to trail down her neck and over her shoulders, then to her waist, causing her to shiver with anticipation. Feeling Carly tremble in his arms, Stefan marvels at his rare luck. He couldn't have chosen a better mistress if he planned it. Carly seems made for his touch. Perfect. His hands slip under her blouse, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin in his hands. Carly reaches forward, and with unsteady hands, fumbles with the buttons of his shirt and suit coat. She steps further into his arms, kissing warm skin under his shirt as she undresses him, breathing in his spicy clean scent. Her eyes filled with desire, she looks up at him after unbuttoning his shirt completely, her hands running up his leanly muscled stomach to his lightly furry chest. He is so beautiful. She touches the medallion at his chest, thinking absently that it belonged on him, that his body would be barren without it. She remembers the first time she lay under him... how the cool medallion felt on her stomach as he thrust ever so slowly into her. It had heightened her pleasure, in a totally unexpected way. In a cool swoosh of air, her blouse is pulled over her head, quickly followed by her lacy bra. Her breath leaves her as first his eyes, then his mouth feast on her breasts, paying special attention to her sensitive nipples, swirling them with his tongue until she's dizzy with yearning. His hands are everywhere, remembering all the things that drive her wild while also divesting her of her remaining clothes, until she is bare to his ardent gaze. She wraps her arms around his neck to keep herself from falling when her knees buckle. The next thing she knows she finds herself laying on the bed, with Stefan beside her. His hands resume their thorough exploration, his hands enveloping one foot, massaging the sensitive sole until she is sure she will lose her mind from the erotic nature of his attention. Kissing the bottom of her foot, Stefan slowly trails up the inside of her leg to her thigh with the palm of his hand, causing her sex to pulse with yearning. Carly bites her lip painfully, almost to the point of drawing blood, she wants him so badly. "Stefan..." She tries to sit up, but Stefan presses her back down on the bed. "All in due time, Caroline. All in due time," Stefan assures her, letting his fingertip brush the inside of her thighs ever so slowly, tantalizing her further. "I want to savor this, savor the pleasure of touching you, bringing you pleasure." With a tortured groan, Carly squirms on the bed, balling up the comforter in her hands as her legs fall apart allowing him full access. His fingers edge up higher, teasing the curls of her mound. He is rewarded when she whimpers and rubs her sex against his fingertips, demanding further contact. Placing his mouth next to her ear, he parts her dripping wet lips and grazes her clit as his tongue darts around her equally sensitive ear lobe. "Oh GOD!" Carly exclaims, so overloaded with desire she feels like she's going to explode. Knowing she'll orgasm if she lets him continue to please her, Carly goes on the offensive. She rolls on top of him, straddling his hips with her legs while capturing his mouth. She kisses him hard and deep, giving free rein to all of her sexual frustration. Her mouth devours his neck, remembering his sensitive spot at the hollow of his neck. Stefan's hand runs along the side of her face, halted when her lips capture his thumb. Stefan looks up with fascination as she pulls his thumb into her mouth, forcing him to groan. Sliding off his body to lay beside him again, she sucks on it, running her tongue along the length of it enticingly, then pulling it back into her mouth. Holding his gaze, she then expands her attention to the rest of his hand, running her tongue and lips along the sensitive tips of his fingers until he's sure he'll go insane. She brings Stefan closer to the brink when he feels her hand slip into his pants and stroke him in tandem. The sweet torture is too much for him. He grabs her hands, and threading his fingers between hers, pins them on the bed beside her head, holding her still. He kisses her endlessly, making love to her with his mouth. The kiss goes on and on getting more and more ardent until Carly is gasping for air. Stefan releases her mouth to travel along the ridge of her jaw, and down her neck, nipping as he goes. "Please, I need to feel your skin against mine....." Carly pleads, finally catching her breath enough to speak. Stefan complies and releases her hands so she can unzip his pants. Once she does, Carly slips her hands under his boxers to knead his rock hard buttocks, letting a finger graze the crease in between to entice him. Stefan gives a guttural groan, burying his hands in her hair, tugging roughly until her mouth is pulled away from his body. The next moment he pillages her mouth with his, while his nude body settles along the entire length of her. Rolling off her, Stefan props himself up on one elbow, using his free hand to cup her sex, finding it wet and swollen. He slides one finger into her silky warm sex, going deep until she moans with satisfaction, then he withdraws to thrust in two while his thumb lightly rubs her clit in a circular motion. Continuing to kiss her, he thrusts his fingers in and out of her and strokes her clit in the rapid rhythm that he knows from experience will drive her wild. Soon she is matching his thrusts, driving his fingers deeper inside her. At her high pitch whimper of protest signaling that she is close to climax, Stefan breaks his hold on her mouth and slows the thrusting of his fingers. "Not yet, Caroline, soon. The wait will be worth it, I promise you." But Carly is having none of that. She strokes his already rock hard penis, then guides him to her damp sex, hoping the temptation will be too great for him to resist. Stefan chuckles hoarsely. "Impatient, are we? Very well." He brings his cock to her mound, but doesn't enter her immediately. Instead he guides it around her hole, paying special attention to rubbing it against her swollen clit. Each time Carly thrusts up in an attempt to envelope him in her warmth, Stefan pulls back then resumes the teasing. Weak with longing and her clitoris throbbing, Carly collapses under him, almost wailing from the frustration. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!" Stefan runs his lips along her exposes jaw line, lowering himself again so that his penis is laying against her mound. This time she doesn't move. "That's it, Caroline. I want to feel myself enter you inch by inch..." As he says the words, he slides inside her part way, marveling at her heat and snugness. Pulling out, he hears Carly whimper, which stops immediately when he slips back inside of her, this time deeper than before, only to pull out again. He repeats the slow thrusts in and out, going deeper each time, until he fills her, stretching her tight womb. Once he is buried inside her completely, he stops. "Look at me, Caroline." Carly turns her head to look at him, her eyes widening when she sees the naked desire in his eyes. Holding her gaze, he moves inside her again, slow sensual deep thrusts, pulling out completely and leaving her bereft, only to fill her again. Carly watches him strain to keep the pace slow as beads of sweat gather on his brow. Gradually increasing the speed, his face gets taut as his own arousal mounts. Carly rotates her hips to drive him inside her even more deeply as she wraps her legs around his waist. Then she nips him along his jaw until she reaches his ear. "Yes, Stefan. Oh God... don't stop... I love it when you fuck me fast..." Her words combined with a sharp bite on his earlobe break the last thread of self control he has. Emitting a soft growl, Stefan's thrusts come fast and deep, causing her to whimper again with pleasure as she rises to meet each thrust. When his hands find their way back to her clit, it only takes a few light strokes from his fingers to send her over the abyss into a mind blowing climax. She cries out his name, wildly bucking to force him deeper still, intensifying her orgasm. The feel of her walls pulsing around him is his undoing and a moment later he explodes inside her.  |