Chapter 97

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Stefan met the morning with a warm feeling of contentment. The sleeping beauty who lay peacefully in his arms filled him completely and made him feel whole. No words of love had been spoken between them during their night together. The meaningless sentiments and hollow declarations of eternal devotion were not and would not be a factor in what the future held for them. However, that didn't mean the emotion would not play a role in their...dare he even think it...relationship.

He sighed deeply at the thought. Would it be possible for him to finally find himself in a real relationship? Not one, which was complicated and was born of supreme duress like the one he had shared with Lasha. Nor one, which was formed as a strategic maneuver such as his ill-fated marriage to Barbara. And never again, would he lose sight of himself as he had with Katherine. No, Stefan thought with a shake of his head, this time, he would relate differently with the woman he so tenderly held in his arms. This time, he would have a happily ever after.

"Good morning," Carrie whispered against his bare chest. She smiled as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

"I agree," he said, "it is a good morning. One of the best, I've ever encountered."

"Me, too," she agreed. She lightly traced the curve of his lips with her index finger, caressing his lower lip until he parted his lips. A low moan of pleasure was the only sound in the room as Stefan pulled her finger into his mouth.

"Stefan...," she breathed. Carrie's eyelids fluttered closed, as she surrendered to his tiny bites and kisses. She was amazed that at the slightest touch, he stirred emotions and longings in her that had lain dormant for so long that she had almost forgotten they existed. As he released his hold on her finger, his mouth and tongue tormented the palm of her hand. Unable to stand any more, she grasped his face with both hands and roughly brought his face to hers.

After a slow, sensual night of lovemaking, by silent agreement, their early morning coupling was fevered, rushed and deeply satisfying. They came together in a passionate moment, which left them both feeling spent and breathless. Later, after they had regained the ability to speak, Carrie said, "How would you feel about breakfast in bed?"

Stefan frowned slightly. "What about Lucky?"

"He's not invited." She laughed as she rose from the bed.

Stefan watched her as she retrieved her dressing gown from the floor and wrapped it around her. After a quick glance at the door, he asked, "What if he should discover us together? I should take my leave now."

"You don't have to leave," Carrie said, turning away from her dresser. With her silver-plated brush in her hand, she went back to the bed and sat beside Stefan. "You don't have to leave...unless you want to?"

"But my being here could prove awkward for you. He respects you, and I would rather not do anything to jeopardize that."

"That's sweet of you," she said, covering her hand with his, "but it's unnecessary. Lucky spent the night with Sly. Besides, they're taping the Tiffany Hill Sunday Morning Hour, remember?"

"Oh," he slow smile crept across his face, "I see."

"I know what you 'see'," she laughed softly, "but you'll have to 'see' it later. We don't have much time before the program is on, and if you don't mind, I'd like a shower and some breakfast as I watch my baby's first television interview."

"So, would I." His green eyes sparkled with desire as images of a shared shower came to mind.

"Next time," she told him as she perfectly understood his intentions. She smiled as he pouted, but she remained firm.

~*~

"Hey! I didn't know you could cook."

AJ turned and greeted Eve with a smile as she entered his kitchen. She looked good in his T-shirt and sweats. Damn good! He grinned as he made a show of removing the toast from the toaster. "Is that the way to greet your chef?"

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