Chapter 15
After making love, Stefan pulls Carly into the crook of his arm and closes his eyes. Carly nestles in, enjoying the warmth of his arms after their tumultuous day. She needs this... this affirmation that as his lover, she still pleases him. She smiles at the memory of seeing Stefan's raptured face as they reached completion together. He was magnificent.
His lover... his mistress. What exactly did that mean if it didn't mean whore? Feeling a lump form in her throat, she's moved to speak. "Stefan?"
Stefan opens one eye and pulls her more tightly against his chest. "What is it, Caroline?"
Carly nibbles on her lip nervously. "What does it mean to be your mistress?"
Stefan's eyes pop open at the sound of uncertainty in her voice. "I thought we went over this last night, and we came to an understanding."
"I thought so too, but anyway I look at it, mistress means..." Carly stops herself from saying it again.
Stefan turns her in his arms so he's eye to eye with her. "You are NOT a whore, Caroline," He states emphatically.
Carly's eyes fill with tears of shame. "Just tell me what you mean by mistress. Please."
Stefan kisses her eyelids tenderly, before laying her head against his chest. "Very well. Perhaps it will help to explain my family's history with marriage and mistresses.... The men in my family didn't marry for love, they married for children, property, and security. Love was not a foundation for marriage."
"It sounds so cold," Carly comments.
"It is very much a business arrangement. You have met Helena, have you not? She is the epitome of a Cassadine wife. Cold, conniving, a ruthless viper from hell. Obviously my father found affection elsewhere." Kissing her hair, he continues. "My uncles had similar marriages, as did my brother, Stavros."
"So mistresses are where the men in your family find love?"
"Yes, or at the very least affection. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement, I believe."
"You married Bobbie... and you almost married Katherine," Carly points out. "It's common knowledge you were in love with Katherine."
"I did not love Katherine," Stefan counters firmly. "However I will say my engagement to her was an attempt to acclimate to the American culture. As you well know, it ended in disaster. I have since learned I cannot escape my family's traditions. It is unlikely that I will ever marry again, so acquiring a mistress is a vastly superior alternative to living my life alone." Stefan trails his hand down her bare back, causing her to shiver. "And I chose you to be my mistress because you please me, in so many delightful ways."
Late night
Stefan lays with Carly entwined in his arms, listening to her soft rhythmic breathing that signal that she's sleeping soundly. He doesn't even bother trying to sleep himself, knowing if he does, the ghosts will only visit him with more vehemence. Somehow they sensed his lowered defenses and took advantage of the situation to torment him in vivid nightmares.
For a few minutes after their last love making, Stefan had actually dozed, but when he neared a deeper sleep state, his internal alarm system woke him up with a start. Carly had felt his sudden tensing, and had tightened her hold on him. She had turned in his arms to kiss him, to soothe him, but he had stopped her, urging her to go back to sleep. He had faked sleep until she dozed off again. Now he laid in the bed wide awake, in the darkened room, trying to fend off the demons that lurked in the shadows waiting to attack while he slept.
He hated this, he wanted nothing more than sleep like a normal human being with her unique scent filling his nostrils. But he couldn't stop his mind from racing.
Since when had he ever been a normal human being? With a sigh, he gives up. One by one, he carefully extricates his limbs from around Carly's body, taking his time to be sure he doesn't wake her. Then with great reluctance he leaves the bed, pulls on pajama bottoms and robe, and heads down the stairs.
Morning
Carly wakes with a start, knowing from her internal clock and the light filtering through the edges of the drapes that it's morning and she's overslept for Tai Chi. Not only that, but the bed is cold, ice cold. Almost as if she'd been sleeping alone. She sits up with a start. "Damn!" The room is still as death. She knows she's a sound sleeper, but how did Stefan get up and dressed without waking her?
Carly leaves the bed in a hurry and heads for the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for her day. A short time later, she arrives downstairs to go in search of Stefan, only to find a note for her on the table.
Caroline,
I have some urgent business to attend to, so you
will have to go riding without me this morning.
I will be availablearound 10am, will you meet
me in the conservatory? I have something
important to discuss with you.
Stefan
At the time the note requested, Carly meets Stefan in the conservatory. "Stefan, you said you wanted to see me?" A fundamental part of Carly wants to go to him, draw him into long deep breathless kiss and ask him why she woke up alone. But the formal tone of his note leaves her hesitant.
Stefan puts to rest her nervousness by reaching out his hand to her and bringing her forward. "Yes, I have a surprise for you. At least I hope it is." He points to a rack of winter coats, none of which are furs, against the wall. Next to it is a full length mirror with three panels, the panels on the ends angled to give the wearer the full effect of the garment being modeled. "I asked Ms Follette from Wyndams to bring us a selection of coats for you to choose from. I narrowed it down to several which should serve you well."
Carly's eyes dance with excitement, inevitably drawn to the elegant garments. She runs a hand appreciatively up and down the coats, reveling in the feel of them. "They are so beautiful..."
"As they should be, if you will be wearing one." Stefan stands behind her, beaming at the success of his idea. After their rough day yesterday, he is anxious to put it behind them, to see a glow of happiness in Carly's eyes again. And this would be a successful step to accomplishing his goal.
As Stefan expected, her hand finally rests on the most unusual one, a full length black double breasted leather coat. Despite his preference for more understated clothing, on impulse he had included this more trendy one, at the urging of the saleswoman and his own curiosity of how it would look on Carly. "Try it on," he coaxes.
She looks at him uncertainly, trying to gauge his reaction, sensing he might not approve. Stefan reaches forward, takes the coat from her hands, and holds it open for her.
With a giggle, Carly turns around and sticks her arms in the sleeves of coat. Stefan gathers her hair in one hand and pulls it free. He twirls her in his arms, facing her towards the mirror, placing his chin on one of her shoulders so he can appreciate the full effect on her.
Breathtaking. The coat suited her more than he wanted to admit, not to mention it had a sensuous feel in his hands, which was a definite plus. The coat was made for her, from the supple leather to decorative silver buttons. His eyes meet hers in the mirror, he smiles at the delight he finds. "This one is meant for you."
"It's gorgeous...." Her face suddenly screws up unhappily. "But you hate it, I can tell. I don't want to wear something I know you're going to hate..."
"You have no idea what I am thinking, Caroline," Stefan says with a dangerous glint in his eye. "Do not presume to guess."
"Come on, Stefan. I know you. You like the classic understated look..." She reaches to the rack and pulls off an elegant gray coat and drapes it across the front of her. "This... THIS is what you like."
Stefan stares at her and the coat for a long time, then takes it from her and hangs it back up. "That coat is totally unsuitable for you. For one thing, the color is wrong for your eyes."
Carly growls. "You're just being contrary! Why won't you admit you hate this leather coat, Stefan? Huh? It screams of everything you hate."
"Do you really want to know what I think?" Stefan whispers in her ear from behind while his hands brush the leather from her shoulders down her arms, then trailing to her waist. "This coat makes me want to touch you..." His hands slip under her coat to caress her stomach as his breath warms her bare throat. "Undress you.. lay you out on the nearest table and make love to you." When she gasps and her head rolls back against his shoulder, he finishes. "That is my reaction to this coat."
Carly lets out a throaty chuckle. "Then I guess you do like the coat."
Chapter 16
As Carly and Stefan finish lunch, Stefan makes another announcement. "We will be ending your business lesson early today. We have a meeting."
"A meeting?"
"Yes, with Margo Renfield," Stefan wipes his mouth methodically with the cloth napkin. At her quizzical look, he elaborates. "A lawyer, the best in her area of specialization-- custody law."
Carly's eyes widen with surprise. "For.. Michael?"
"Yes, I have given her a brief overview of the situation, and she believes at the very least she can get you visitation rights. But I'm sure you would like to speak to her yourself, so I have arranged to have her flown in from New York City."
Carly gets up from her seat in a flash and gives Stefan an enthusiastic hug before settling in his lap. She draws him into a deep passionate kiss that has him wrapping an arm around her waist and slipping his hand under her shirt to massage her back. Breaking the kiss, she says breathlessly. "Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me!"
"I have an idea..." Pleased to see her eyes shining with tears of happiness, Stefan draws her mouth down to his again for longer, more tender kiss. As it ends, he draws in a deep uneven breath. "If we continue this, there won't be any business lesson."
"Would that be so bad?" Carly kisses him again, drawing his upper lip between hers while her knuckles brush across his jaw. The ache that has been ever-present whenever they kiss or touch, returns with a vengeance. "Perhaps there is a lesson I could teach you?"
With exquisite slowness, Stefan rubs a thumb along her swollen lips, then his mouth goes dry when she pulls his thumb into her mouth and sucks it, reminding him of the previous night "What lesson would that be?"
"All work and no play makes Stefan a dull boy," Carly answers coyly, extending the attention her mouth is giving his thumb to his whole hand, nipping him playfully.
Reversing the teasing game, Stefan captures her mouth with his. His hands stroke her neck and hair, finally settling on rubbing his thumbs along the base of her neck enticingly. With each caress his thumbs move deeper under the collar of her shirt, the buttons straining until the top one pops open, and then the second button quickly follows suit. Carly gasps as his fingers trace her skin along the collar and open buttons. She strains against his hands, craving more intimacy. "Have I ever been dull, Caroline?" Stefan asks finally.
"Never," Carly replies. "Not even predictable. Let's go upstairs."
"Let's not." Stefan smiles devilishly, bringing her mouth down on his again.
Nurses station.
Amy is talking with another nurse, or more accurately gossiping. After hearing the latest dish, the other nurse's mouth hangs open. "So it's true? Carly Benson came in with Stefan Cassadine. And he was defending her to you?"
"More accurately he was threatening my job..." Amy crosses her arms in annoyance. "I don't get it, Lori. What does Carly have that Stefan Cassadine would want anyway? I mean, why would he be sleeping with the little slut? I could see it if she were pretty..." Amy looks up in time to see a pale Bobbie standing in front of them. Realizing Bobbie has heard what she just said, Amy cringes. "Oh Bobbie, I'm sorry!"
Bobbie gives herself a shake, this really shouldn't surprise her. She had a feeling Carly was still in town, but in bed with Stefan Cassadine? God, would the little bitch ever stop going after her ex's? Her face hardens with determination, there's no way she's going to let Carly get to her again. EVER. "Don't be, Amy, I would have heard about it eventually anyway. It's not like I care what the little tramp is up to anymore. And Stefan Cassadine? Carly couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
"I think we've covered what we can for now," Margo Renfield announces as she rises to her feet. "I will contact you once a court date has been set and I've received all the background information from Alexis Davis on your last case." A well rounded, attractive, dark haired woman in her mid forties, Margo puts her files back in her briefcase with an practiced efficiency. Her movements are quick and businesslike, but her demeanor is warm, assuring, most who have met her would would describe her as maternal. A definite plus with her specialization.
Carly grabs Margo's hand and shakes it enthusiastically, a huge smile on her face. "Thank you SO much, Ms Renfield. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to hear I might get to see my son."
"You're welcome, and please, call me Margo. No mother who sincerely loves her child as you obviously do should be deprived of visitation. I look forward to winning this case. With luck, you'll be seeing your son by the end of the month." She extends her hand to Stefan and smiles at them both. "It was nice to meet you, Carly. Mr Cassadine, I'll see myself out."
After Margo leaves, Carly launches herself at Stefan, almost knocking him off balance with the force of her embrace. "Did you hear her?! She said I'll get to see my son! I never thought I'd get another chance with him after the last time in court." As her excitement cools, Carly loosens her hold. "Supervised visits sound so cold and formal, but if it means I can see him..."
Stefan brushes her hair back from her face. "Supervised visitation is just the beginning, Caroline. You heard what Margo said. Visitation reestablishes your place in Michael's life. From there we can build."
"You mean that.. 'we'?" Carly asks, suddenly serious. "You'll stand by me? I know if I have you in my corner, I can win this, I even believe I might get custody rights. Without you..."
Stefan crooks a finger under her chin, his steady gaze meeting her uncertain one. "I will be with you every step, Caroline. If that is what you want."
Middle of the night
The coolness of the bed awakens Carly from her deep slumber. Seeking warmth, Carly reaches out a hand to locate Stefan on the other side of the bed, only to find cold empty sheets. Carly sits up brushing her sleep-tousled hair out of her face. "Stefan?" No answer.
Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, Carly slips out of bed and fumbles for her robe. Still very much a zombie, she pads out of the room and follows the source of the light to the landing of the staircase. Down below she sees Stefan on the sofa, reading a book.
Stefan looks up when she reaches the top of the stairs. He gives her a strained smile; it's obvious he's tired. "I hope my night prowling didn't wake you?"
Carly descends the steps. "I missed you... what happened? You couldn't sleep?"
"Nothing for you to be concerned about, it is not uncommon for me to be awake at this hour." Stefan puts aside his book and removes his glasses. "I suppose I should have warned you."
Carly sits on the sofa beside him and rubs his thigh affectionately. "Maybe you're ready to come to bed now?"
"Not quite yet," Stefan demurs. "But you go on ahead. I'll join you in a little while."
Carly's not sure how she knows it, but she knows he's lying. And as she becomes more fully awake, she recalls how she woke up alone the previous morning. She frowns at her dilemma. If she went to bed, she'd worry about him down here and she wouldn't get a lick of sleep.
An idea forming, she gets up and goes to a nearby bookcase and picks up a book, not even bothering to glance at the title. Stefan watches her do this, puzzled. He's never really seen her sit down and read before except for magazines. She settles down on the other side of the sofa curling her feet under her, and pretends to read.
Stefan watches her for a couple minutes, then a sly smile crosses his face. "Are you enjoying your book?"
"Yeah, it's pretty interesting, actually..." Carly answers, without looking up.
"I never realized you read Russian, Caroline," Stefan says, unsuccessfully stifling a smirk. "Or had an interest in history. Now that I know, I have some excellent books on Russian history that you MUST read."
Carly flushes red, but doesn't lower her book. Stefan chuckles and plucks the tome out of her hands and tosses it on the table. "Enough of this silliness. Come here." He reaches out a hand to take her elbow, gently hauling her towards him until she's lying on top of him. "This is much better." Running his hands through her hair, Stefan kisses her lightly on the mouth before guiding her head to rest on his chest.
Morning comes. Stefan awakens first, his body screaming from the strain of sleeping on the couch. He schools himself not to move in hopes that Carly might get a few more minutes of sleep; she certainly deserves them. Glancing up at the wall clock, he notes that he got two hours of sleep. More than the night before, and likely more than he would have if Carly hadn't joined him.
"Mmmm," Carly groans as she starts to stir. A tender smile on his face, Stefan strokes her back and kisses her hair, crooking a finger under her chin to guide her lips to his. He kisses her intimately, letting the kiss go on and on until Carly is fully awake.
"Wow," Carly says finally, grinning sleepily. "What a nice way to wake up...." The smile turns to a grimace when she moves. "Ouch!"
Helping her into a sitting position, Stefan ignores his own sore back to rub out the kinks in hers. "You should have gone back to bed last night."
"The same could be said of you," Carly counters, standing up and extending a hand to him.
Stefan takes her outstretched hand and rises. "Duly noted. Shall we forego Tai Chi this morning for an extended ride?"
"I have a better idea. A nice loooong hot shower."
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