Sonny's head rose slightly and he stared for a moment, drinking in the sight of her, a gorgeous little beige dress and matching sandles that dangled from her left hand. He smiled at the sight of her being barefoot.
"Hi," he said quietly, trying to ignore her seemingly genuine look of mixed shock and dismay.
Dara blinked once before finding her voice. "Hi," she replied, slowly, trying to contain the excitement she felt deep down inside. Why was he all of a sudden making her nervous and tingly? Her wonderment lasted only a few seconds before Sonny interrupted her thoughts.
"Mind if I come in for a second?"
Dara quickly shut the door a few inches further, "no, I was just leaving. I'm having lunch with someone in about ten minutes, I have to go," she said hurriedly, grabbing her purse and quickly locking the door behind her.
"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked in a hushed tone. God forbid any of her neighbours came out to investigate and caught sight of the two of them in an quiet moment.
"I had to see you, Dara, we really need to talk about last night," Sonny started before Dara held up her hand to silence him.
"No, what's done is done. We can't change it and I don't want to talk about it. Call it whatever you want, I don't care, just leave me out of it okay?" she stated firmly. She opened her mouth to say something further, but decided against it, she had a lunch date to get to and there was no way Sonny Corinthos was going to make her late. She turned on her heel and marched down the corridor to the elevator, leaving a muted Sonny behind. She took the three flights of stairs down to the main garage and jumped into her car, only to pause for a few moments to seriously consider Sonny's words to her. He sounded polite and sincere, there was no trace of the sarcasm and fake charm that she was used to at the station or the courthouse. Maybe he really did just want to talk, clear things up about any confusion either might have.
"Oh my God Dara," she said aloud, aghast at what she was thinking to herself, "you're *actually* considering meeting him? It didn't mean anything so put it out of your head. You are only looking for trouble if you delay nipping this in the bud," she chastized herself as she turned the key in the car's ignition. She had a lunch with Marcus to get to, putting Sonny's words out of her head was the smartest thing she could do.
*****
PC Grille
"So, are you feeling better now?" Marcus asked as the waiter took their salad plates away. He leaned forward, resting his forearms against the table. Dara smiled, finally feeling relaxed, and nodded. She always felt an odd sense of calmness around Marcus. He was her closest male friend but more importantly, he made her feel secure and safe. Despite their failed attempt at a more intimate relationship, he was still a complete gentleman, basking in the close friendship the two now shared. Dara had gotten to a point where she could tell Marcus just about anything. Dara's smile faltered slightly, anything but what was on her mind nearly every waking moment of her day.
"Dara?" Marcus questioned, his voice interrupting her thoughts.
Dara snapped her head to attention, "yeah, I guess I was just really tired after my set last night, I'm much better now," she assured him before taking a sip of her red wine to cover her wince. Damn, she thought, another lie.
Marcus nodded, he wasn't entirely convinced that everything was okay with her, but he trusted that she would open up when she was ready.
"What about you? How are things on your beat?"
Marcus smiled, "nothing much, just the same old stuff."
"What, nothing on Sonny Corinthos this week?" Dara asked, trying to sound like she was teasing but inside, hopeful that the two hadn't crossed paths recently. She had no idea what Sonny would divulge if Marcus goaded him enough in his weekly raids of the Corinthos/Morgan warehouse.
Marcus said nothing, but his eyes flashed with instant annoyance and his jaw tightened. In a flash, his entire demeanor had tensed up. Dara sat back, surprised, she didn't know she was hitting a sensitive spot, he was used to her teasing about Sonny. She opened her mouth to speak but Marcus beat her to the punch.
"Nothing until now," he said, his voice full of disgust and contempt, his eyes staring just over Dara's left shoulder, towards the entrance of the Grille. Dara, turned and instantly her mouth dropped open slightly. Just at the entrance was Sonny Corinthos and partner Jason Morgan. Both looked incredibly handsome and refined with an air of arrogance that both always seemed to carry. Dara was horrified, he'd followed her to the Grille, it was the only possibly explanation. Sonny's dark eyes wandered the busy restaurant until they found Dara. Instantly, his eyes sparkled, a teasing grin formed gently across his face. as he and Jason were led to their table. Dara narrowed her eyes, infuriated that Sonny was deliberately annoying her just so he could get his way. You want my attention, you got it pal, she thought with annoyance as she turned back to Marcus.
"Excuse me for a sec', I just have to use the ladies room," she excused herself and strode purposefully across the room towards where the bathrooms were located. Her gaze met Sonny's and she shot him a 'get your butt over here now' look before heading down the long secluded hallway. After a few seconds, Sonny casually excused himself and headed down the same corridor to where an infuriated Dara waited for him. He barely had opened his mouth to apologize for following her when she dragged him into a maintenance room and locked the door behind her.
"How *dare* you?! What the hell kind of game are you playing here?" she demanded, careful to keep her voice at a proper volume level.
Sonny held up his hands in defeat, "look I'm sorry about the following you bit, but I was serious back at your place. We need to *talk*."
Dara shook her head firmly, placing her purse on the chair beside her. "No we don't, I already told you this, just let it go and pretend it *never* happened," she ordered.
Sonny frowned, "what so just because you're uncomfortable talking about it means that we should? Dara, *I* want to talk to *you* about it," he implored.
Dara closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in growing exasperation, but inside, her heart lurched, urging her to give him a chance. "What's there to talk about Sonny? It was a big mistake, one thing that really led to another and we ended up..." her voice trailed off as she grew somewhat embarassed at the memory of their night together.
"...Making love. We made love Dara," Sonny finished for her softly. Dara's eyes opened slowly, she'd heard what he said, but she refused to listen.
"Sex Sonny, we had sex. Love requires feeling and we are not in love, hell we don't even like each other," Dara explained, feeling her heart lurch again, telling her she was lying to herself and to him.
There was silence for a moment until Dara finally met his gaze and nearly gasped. He'd called it making love, she'd called it sex. Dara knew one of them was lying and she knew it was her. What scared her was that he knew too. He took a step forward, rapidly closing the space between them. "I don't believe you mean that," he murmured.
Dara didn't move, she could feel herself weaken as his eyes roved her body slowly. She knew the look, she was growing more familiar with what it did to her. Be firm Dara, end this now, her inner voice nagged at her. Dara's had rose and she placed it gently on his chest, to stop his moving forward. Speak, speak now! Tell him you're leaving and you're not looking back! her inner voice shouted, but this time, an even deeper voice within her protested.
Don't leave. Stay.
Dara's hand moved slowly up his chest, feeling the smooth fabric of his white, buttoned shirt against her skin. Her fingers reached the collar and gently grazed his neck. Sonny sucked in his breath at her touch, growing more arroused as her finger moved upwards, past his jawline and gently carressed his cheek. Sonny could hardly believe what was happening, he wasn't doing anything, it was all Dara. Her thumb moved lightly across his lower lip. Once, twice, three times before Sonny gave in and clutched it in his mouth, rolling it around his tongue as his hands snaked around her waist and pulled her against him. A sigh escaped Dara's lips before she removed her thumb. She stared at him momentarily, as if confirming everything her heart was feeling. She didn't regret their night together, not for a second.
They met, equally arroused, in a passionate kiss, their lips opening within seconds as their tongues warmly greeted each other. Dara ran her fingers through his dark, curly hair while her other hand quickly unbuttoned half his shirt and quickly darted inside to feel the smooth firmness of his chest, illiciting a hoarse groan of appreciation from Sonny, his suit jacket now carelessly discarded on the floor. Sonny's hands had gone to work also, running vigorously up and down the contour of her body, just as he had done the night before. He tugged on one spaghetti strap of her dress to assault the now exposed area with his mouth. Dara's eyes flew open with growing desire and as she tilted her head back, she caught sight of the toilet rolls sitting quietly on the shelf beside her. Where she was suddenly flew back into her mind. Oh my God, Marcus, she thought quickly, suddenly wondering if he was wondering where on earth *she* was?
"Sonny, I have to go," she whispered, "Marcus is going to come looking for me," she added, hoping that the mention of Marcus Taggert would halt Sonny's mouth from going any further south on her body, not that she didn't want him to stop.
Sonny instantly, but unhappily stopped and took a step back, allowing Dara to pull herself together. He buttoned his shirt and picked his suit jacket up off the floor. Once again feeling the foolishness of her actions, Dara quickly opened the maintenace room door a crack and peered into the hallway. Relieved to find it empty, she exited the room without a word to Sonny and carefully shut the door behind her.
"Ma'am?"
Dara jumped, clearly startled at the unfamiliar voice. She whirled around, to find an equally startled waiter.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but you looked a little lost, the ladies room is just down the hall," he explained kindly, trying to ignore the obvious flush in her cheeks.
"Right! The ladies room, I just forgot my purse there, I'll go get it now," Dara said quickly, her voice flustered as she threw the waiter a casual smile, hoping he'd leave quickly. His eyes darted to the maintenance room, having a good idea at what just occured, but he chose to drop it, and instead, smiled politely and left.
Dara released a huge sigh, before tapping on the door gently. It opened to reveal Sonny, a wide grin across his face, "you sound so cute when you're all hot and bothered," he noted teasingly.
Dara leaned past him and snatched her purse from the chair, "I'm going now," she stated.
"When can I see you again?" Sonny asked. Dara sighed, he sounded kind, hopeful and secure that she'd want to continue seeing him. It wasn't that she didn't, it was that she knew better. It couldn't work, not between two entirely different people like them. Despite the pangs in her heart, she stubbornly chose the proper road.
"I'm sorry Sonny, but this is where it ends between us. Good bye," she said softly.
Sonny nearly objected to her words but seeing the pain that filled her eyes, he knew why she was doing this. Different people from different sides of the tracks. Even though he knew she'd be the one to cut this short, he was surprised at how much it really hurt him. But it was her choice ultimately and if he didn't want to cause her anymore shame or embarassment, he had to respect it. Dara turned and left him standing speechless, alone in the hallway.
Dara walked slowly, willing for Sonny to come after her, to object to her decision, but as she got further and further from him, she realized he agreed with her choice and wouldn't pursue her anymore. It's for the best, she decided quickly, despite the deep disapointment and dare she say, pain? No no no, this was better, it really was, she said firmly, the resolve growing in her.
It was over, before it had even begun.
It was best for both, Dara concluded as she headed towards her table where Marcus sat waiting.
Wasn't it?