Hiya! This is my first Fanfic on here. Technically my first Fanfic ever. I have bookchick81 to thank for my re-entry into Fanfic haven.
Feedback would be highly appreciated and a thanks to this chapter's Beta (and hopefully future Beta) Aqua Tonic.
Chapter One
Serena Carlisle sat at the edge of the Moonlight Café and Lounge's chic little bar; the surroundings were set in navy blue with metallic yellow accents showing the owner's sophisticated tastes. The place doubled as a classy, quiet bar at night as light jazz played in the background, and a quaint bistro café during the day. The owner, Lita King, walked over to her childhood friend, and placed her white dishcloth over her casual, white-collared button-up shirt clad shoulder.
"What can I get you, my friend?" Lita asked, looking over at her with a smile, her russet brown pony swishing behind her as she leaned on one foot, trying to give her friend the impression of authority.
"A very, very strong vodka cranberry." Serena replied with an exasperated sigh and dropped her sequined silver handbag on the bar. Lita looked at her friend's disgruntled appearance with sincere empathy. Her bright blue lacy camisole, and brown, knee length peasant skirt matched the Floridian weather outside, but made her stick out like a sore thumb. Her blonde hair was thrown up in a high messy bun, loose pieces of silky golden locks thrown everywhere. Lita did not care what her friend looked like, as she looked into her sad, big eyes, her beauty spoke volumes, as disheveled as her appearance was.
"Seiya again?" She asked with concern. The jerk had hurt Serena far too much for Lita's liking and if it were up to her, Serena would do a whole lot better.
Serena shut her eyes and a pained expression crossed her face. She looked up at her across the bar and replied, "When is it not about him?"
"Still arguing?"
"Lita, he won't even listen to reasoning." She looked down at her left hand, the perfect square cut diamond set on the perfect white gold band haunting her of their now dead commitments. She thought about when he had taken her to the store to "look" at wedding bands. It was early in their relationship, so she thought things were being rushed. He had promised that it was just for fun, and she agreed to do it. A year later, in the middle of their favorite park, he got down on one knee, like a gentlemen, and pulled out the ring she had shown him in the store all that time ago. She could do nothing more than nod her head at him, head over heels, completely and madly in love with the man she knew she would spend the rest of her life with. At least at that time, she knew he was the one for her.
"If only," she said aloud, mainly to herself, "if only he had wanted the same things I did."
"Oh Serena," Lita said apologetically, "I know you love him, but maybe it's for the best."
Her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears, "how though, Lita? Why did I spend two years, two blissful years with him, not knowing how he felt on the subject of children? The thing I want the most in life, is the thing he never wants. You know, he wouldn't even touch me after I told him my desire to start trying right after we married next month?"
"Sere, I am so sorry."
"And even after his rejection, after all this despair, I still cannot take his ring off," she glanced back down at her hand, "he told me, that if I could live without children, our relationship could continue. But how can it after everything that happens? I am hurt, he's always suspicious. I just don't know anymore; anytime I would even suggest the thought of making love, he thought I was trying to get him to conceive a child. He even started checking my birth control pills." Serena's mind went back to the day she caught him in the bathroom of their shared apartment.
Serena turned over in her bed looking at the man lying next to her longing for his once warm embrace. It have been so long since he had touched her, and she needed the feeling of being wanted again; to be in his loving embrace, and just to know that he still cared. She reached out with a shaky hand and brushed him on his shoulder.
Her voice, raspy and filled with longing she whispered, "Seiya," she paused as he began to stir, "do you want to make love?"
He turned around, looked at her suspiciously and asked, "are you sure that's all you want to make?"
The venom thick in his voice as his eyes roamed over her face. Her bottom lip quivered with the threat of oncoming tears, and she pulled away, turning to shield herself from his glare and replied softly, "never mind Seiya. Never mind."
The next morning when she woke up early after a fitful night of unrest, and she made her journey to the bathroom. Serena found Seiya hunched over a round container, his index finger moving over each little section as his lips silently counted.
Anger rose up within her bones. With eyes narrowing, she hissed at him, "What the hell do you think you are doing Seiya Morgan?"
His granite eyes met her icy blues in challenging manner, "you know damn well what I am doing."
Her body stiffened, readying herself for the fight that she knew was about to erupt. "So what? Now you don't trust me, either? Tell me Seiya, was your count on?"
His jaw ticked a tad as his short, dark brown hair fell into his eyes, "yes. So at least you aren't deceiving me."
"Why the hell would I deceive you?" She roared at him in anger.
"I don't know Sere. Two months ago you bring up wanting children, we don't agree. Two months go by and we don't talk about it, don't have sex, and then all of the sudden you want to?" His arms shot up in exasperation, "what was I supposed to think? That you wanted to just make love?"
"Yes! Yes that is exactly what you are supposed to think! Damn it Seiya, you told me how you felt. I complied. I thought we could try and see if this could work without my wants. I have tried for two damn months, and you don't even want to touch me. There was a time when you couldn't keep your hands off of me. And now I am trying to deceive you by not taking my birth control? As much as I want children, I would never want them like that. The only way to bring a child in this world is through love. How could you think something so vile of me?" Shaking her head in disgust, Serena let out an aggravated sigh and spat out, "I don't even know you anymore."
He remained quiet. He glared at her, his granite eyes piercing even more like stone.
"Oh, so now you are speechless?"Serena crooned, crossing her arms defensively. His eyes remained cold as he replied, "I don't know what to think of you anymore either, Serena," he pushed past her to walk out. She remained in the bathroom for a long while, her anger pulsating warmly off her as she stared at the pills on the counter. Not being able to take anymore, her hand shot out, pulling the container of pills off the counter, and without thinking about it twice opened up the circular lid and emptied the contents into the garbage. About an hour later, she haphazardly threw clothes into a suitcase and moved in with her sister.
Now, a month later, she sat at the bar her friend owned drinking her sorrows in vodka-cran's.
"Serena, you know how I have felt all along about Seiya….but I know you loved him, so I am backing you in whatever you decide."
"I know."
"Do you think you guys are going to get past this?"
"It's been a month since I moved out, and it wasn't good before that. I am at a point where I know we won't be together anymore Lita, but I have to just accept it." Looking down at the ring, Serena felt the liquid courage surge through her as a resolution came to mind: pull it off. She slapped it down on the bar, and nodded in confirmation to a wide-eyed Lita, "There. One thing down."
Lita looked at the ring and replied, "Serena, are you sure? I mean, I don't like Seiya, but you have spent two years with him."
"It's time to move on, Lita."
"Are you sure you are ready?"
Serena chuckled, "Lita, last month, I moved out, this month I took his ring off and maybe next month, I will feel up to a date. It's a step-by-step process"
"Speaking of which, now how is that living with Mina situation."
Serena closed her eyes and grinned a tad bit, "Mina is Mina. I have loved her for the last 26 years of my life, but you tell me how well you think, me, the reserved, quiet sister is handling her twin's party life style."
"That bad, huh?"
"It's not terrible. It could be worse and she is gone this weekend. But there is this new teacher at the school, Amy, who just moved here to live closer to her brother and she needs a roommate. We hit it off really well and I am pretty sure I'm moving in with her. I think you'd like her."
"What's she like?"
"Just like me."
"What? Klutzy, opinionated, stubborn, and an appetite that could put some men to shame?" Lita said grinning wickedly, noting all her friend's not so nice qualities.
Serena blushed, "no; smart, simple, sweet and reserved."
Lita nodded in apparent sarcastic understanding, "ooh, you mean your preferred traits."
Serena chuckled, as she held up her glass, "yes, Lita, my good qualities. I would never want to be around another person with my bad ones. But, you have to admit, I have come a long way since high school."
"Sere, you know I am just teasing."
"I know," Serena smiled. Lita could always cheer her dour mood. Looking at her empty glass, she remembered the reason she came here. She picked it up, flicked it at Lita and said,"refill, please?"
"If you insist." Lita took her glass and poured her a fresh drink, "when will you move into this new place."
"Next week if everything goes according to plan."
"Well, something to look forward to," She looked at the bar, and noticed it starting to pick up business, "gotta get back to work though. I can't let Ken pick up all the slack."
"Oh no, we wouldn't want precious Ken to have to actually work," Serena batted her lashes teasingly, "what would he think of his boss?"
Lita chucked her towel at Serena's face, "Shush, you," she said as she hurried away.
"You know you want him," Serena whispered to her retreating form. She sighed as she looked down at her drink, her mood lowering instantly, realizing that she was alone with her drink.
Darien Stansbury loosened his tie as he walked down the sidewalk. It had been another long day at work, and having nothing to go home to anymore, he found himself walking aimlessly down the long stretch of the city streets.
"Twenty-eight years old Darien, and what do you have to show for yourself," he said to no one in particular as he continued his trek to who knows where. "One divorce almost under your belt and little work right now to tide you over. Who would have thought you would ever be here?" He ran a hand through his already scruffy jet hair and checked out his surroundings. There were shops closing around him for all sorts of different venues. Restaurants, clothing, electronics, and the random bookstores lined the typical city streets, all blending together in an array of more the same. A little ways down, there was a bright yellow sign over a black door that caught his attention.
The sign was in what looked like a handwritten, partially cursive and partially manuscript font that scribbled the words 'Moonlight Café and Lounge'. Back-dropping the word Moon was a silver crescent moon. Having nowhere else in mind to go, and really needing a stiff drink, he crossed the street and entered into the bar.
It was a nice place, he noted, as he internally assessed his surroundings. He looked right on the side of the door to a sign that stated 'Welcome,' and 'Thank You for Not Smoking;' his kind of establishment. Round French looking tables with cushioned chairs lined the floor and on the back-wall was a bar with cushioned black stools. Along the right wall were fifties style lounge couches set in the color of navy blue. The wall behind them was navy, accented with yellow stars of all shapes and sizes. From the ceiling hung round, modern lights with frosted glass. In the background, soft, willowy jazz music set the mood for the peaceful atmosphere of this calm bar. Darien made his way to the bar in the back and sat on a vacant stool.
The male bartender walked over to Darien, his brown tousled hair in his eyes and smiled genuinely, as he leaned over the bar, "what would you like tonight?"
Darien slumped down against the bar and looked over at him and replied, "gin and tonic."
The man nodded and slid the quickly made liquor across to him. Darien pulled out his wallet and threw his credit card on the bar, "can I start a tab? It's going to be a long night."
The man took his card, and chuckled, "sure thing."
"You too, huh?" Darien heard a small, feminine voice ask him. He looked over to his right to find the face of the woman who said it. He sat stunned at the beauty sitting next to him, playing with the stir stick absentmindedly in her drink. She looked exotic to him with the little flush in her cheeks and chest, her disorderly hair, and slouchy clothing. By the looks of her hunched shoulders, she was having as crappy of a day as he was.
"Yeah," his deep voice grumbled, "bad day turns into a long night."
"Try bad month for me," she replied not looking up from her drink.
"I understand the feeling," he looked forward and gulped down his drink, signaling the bartender for a refill.
"You know," she said, looking up from her drink, "I used to be a happy, bouncy girl. Let a man in your life, and look what happens," she raised her glass in the air for emphasis, "I'm sitting at a bar, guzzling down vodka cranberries like there is no tomorrow." She raised her glass to her mouth, sipped and looked over at her fellow commiserator, and their eyes met.
Serena gulped at the man sitting next to her as she looked at him. Ice met storm in a clash of heat. This man had to be the most attractive man she had ever laid eyes on. His dark, ebony hair hung loosely over his eyes in a way that she wanted to reach out and push it away. His long, chiseled face held those deep, blue eyes with depths that could probably continue forever. His perfectly slanted nose sat above his pouty lips that she felt drawn to, and his stubbly unshaven face added to his manly aura. His perfectly tailored suit was in disarray. The black tie loosened, and his white dress shirt's first two buttons were undone, giving him that dangerous sex appeal. She could tell by his long torso and never-ending black slack clad legs that he was a lot taller than her 5'2'' stature.
She slowly reached out her hand inviting his to join hers in a friendly shake and managed to strain out, "I-I'm Serena."
"Darien," he replied as his hand grabbed hers. The jolt that went through her skin and up her arm both shocked and excited her, and his low voice said in reply to her earlier comment, "us men aren't that bad are we?"
"As far as I can tell," she said to him truthfully, "but then again, I don't really have much experience beyond my ex."
"Ah, let me guess," Darien looked at her, "he cheated."
"No." She stated, gripping her drink at the thought of him doing such a thing, "believe me, if he would have, I would not be here right now."
"Why do you say that? Isn't cheating the worst thing a person could do." His eyes flashed something that she could not quite catch – pain – maybe, she shook her thoughts away from it.
"Cheating is definitely the worst, but had Seiya cheated, I would be behind bars," she smiled a little to herself for her ruefulness, "for a double murder."
"Ouch." He chuckled. Serena's heart raced at the deep sound that reverberated through the back of the bar.
"Exactly," she replied, not letting her attraction come through her voice.
Darien asked, "well, if it wasn't cheating, what was it that finally drove a wedge between the two of you?"
"I wanted something more from him that he wasn't willing to give?"
Darien nodded in understanding, "Marriage."
"No, not marriage," Serena slid the ring she had placed on the bar in between where the two of them were sitting, "I had that."
"I'm lost then."
"Children; I wanted them. He didn't. Simple as that." She looked away from him and muttered, "I'm beginning to think that no man wants them."
"That's not true." He replied, "I know plenty of men that do...Including myself."
She looked over at him, and smiled, "thanks. Sometimes I just assume things, so I apologize if I offend you."
"None taken."
She lifted up her body so she was resting her weight on her elbows, and said to him, "So, Darien, we know why I'm here, why are you?"
"My wife cheated." He said solemnly with a steel tone in his voice.
"I'm sorry." She reached out and patted his hand noticing the jolt again when their two hands touched.
He looked up at her and gave a half-smile, "It's okay. Everyone warned me not to marry her. We loved each other, but looking back at it, we were not in love. Best friends in college, and neither of us dated through it. When the time came and we graduated, it just seemed like the right thing to do. We both wanted someone and we were comfortable, and we were comfortable with being comfortable. Then Raye met Chad, and knew she couldn't settle for comfortable when she could have passion. So that's where I am. Alone, and divorcing my best friend, and not hating her for it either."
"Wow. You must really love her to not hate her. Not to mention noble." Serena stared at the man beside her in awe, "did you even put up a fight?"
"Why would I have?" Darien replied, "our marriage was more of a business transaction than love."
"A business transaction? You just said you were best friends."
"We were, but like I said it was merely comfortable. No passion."
Serena sneered quietly, "passion is made up. The façade of it exists for a short while, and then if comfortable hits, you are pretty much done for."
"That's what my opinion is as well, but to start out comfortable is even worse."
"Maybe you're right," she replied, contemplating her relationship with Seiya. The way it had started out had been merely sparkling. Nothing like the two jolts she felt rush through her veins from touching this stranger. Maybe their relationship really was meant to end.
Darien finished off his third drink and said, "we are a couple of fun people, aren't we?"
"You know what they say, misery loves company."
"True," Darien replied, "but, personally I am tired of being miserable. How about you tell me a little about yourself?"
"Really?"
"Why not? I have no one to go back home to, and from the sounds of it, neither do you."
Serena's sister's empty apartment came to her mind, making her grimace a little, "you are right. Well, Darien, what would you like to know?"
The two talked long through the night, throwing back drink after drink. It felt comfortable to them. They shared little stories about their past, including relationship failures and highlights. It was light talk and Serena could not believe how humorous and smart this man was sitting next to her. He would tell an account from his childhood about and she would share a similar story and would chuckle at his antics.
"My sister is far more reserved than I am," he said talking about a prank he once pulled on her, "and I am pretty reserved. So, a bunch of my buddies and I took gummy bears, licked them and stuck them all over her car. I will never forget her reaction. She just made a humphing noise, got out the hose and sprayed her car down. It didn't even seem to me that it had phased her. That is until she saran wrapped my car and covered it in whipped topping. She is a sly one."
"Whipped topping and saran wrap?" Darien nodded as Serena, alcohol surging through her system, burst out into a fit of giggles, "That is genius! Brilliant. Kudos to your sister."
"She is a genius."
"Sounds like it," Serena smiled at him, with a slightly hazy gaze, "now I want some whipped topping."
"It is delicious." Darien stated in his low, rustic voice.
"Especially off of bodies," Serena said dazed. She looked over at Darien, eyes lust present in her cool blue eyes as they glazed over. He was looking into her as if trying to scald her off her chair.
"Especially…" Darien stood up from the stool he had occupied and pulled her off hers in one fluid motion. Her soft, small body crashed into his hard chest. "I am kind of tired of the scenery here," he barely whispered, "how about you?"
"My apartment is two blocks down," she replied lust evident in her raspy voice. Blood seemed to throb in her ears as she looked up at the man who had been entertaining her for the night. His eyes grew darker, stormier, as she said the words. He grabbed her shoulders and roughly pushed her towards the door.
His head came down against her ear as his husky voice spoke in her ear, his hot breath making her body convulse in pleasure, "lead the way." She grabbed her purse and pulled him out, heading blindly towards her apartment.
Serena fumbled with her keys as she attempted to unlock her apartment door. She let out a soft gasp as the man behind her found her sensitive spot at the nape of her neck with his lips. She could feel his hot mouth curve into a smile and he let out a small chuckle as she continued to fumble with her keys. He reached his hand out to steady her shaking hand, leading it to the door. The key finally met the lock and together they twisted it and threw the door open.
Darien slammed the door behind them and shoved her against a wall, taking her mouth greedily. His lips on hers felt like nothing she had ever felt before. Seiya had kissed her with sexual frustration before, but never like he hungered for her lips. He deepened the kiss, hands gripping her arms. Her hands clenched his shirt as she tried to pull him even closer to him as his tongue pried her lips open. Her arms snaked up to the back of his neck feeling the silky tresses of his raven colored locks. Pressed against her, she could feel his need for her against her stomach and she moaned.
"God, Serena, what you are doing to me…?" Darien growled as he reached down her waist to pull off her shirt, her arms starting to fidget with the buttons on the front of his shirt. She fumbled with the buttons for what seemed like eternity when she gave up pulling on the two sides feeling the buttons fly off in different directions, her small hands finding his smooth chest. As her hands grazed his chest, he shuddered and harshly whispered, "which way is your bedroom?"
She pointed and he lifted her up easily, legs wrapped around his torso, his hands firm on her buttocks. He walked towards her room; reaching her bed, he threw her down on it. Her eyes met his, icy, liquid fire in her urge for him to continue. He met her lips again with little effort. He went for her lacy, hot pink bra, unclasping the front of it. She pulled of his shirt and stared at the splendor of his toned chest. He looked down at her and took in the beauty of her. Her silky, ivory skin glowed in the moonlight from the window as he memorized her features. He began to trace kisses from her jaw down her neck towards her collar bone as his other hand found her breast. She moaned under him as he continued his assault on her other breast. His lips finally found their way to each one, suckling them with such heat her senses were going into overload.
Her hands left their place on the small of his back to reach out in front of him to the zipper of his pants. She easily undid the button and he slipped out of them and his boxers. In one quick swipe he pulled her out of her skirt and underwear as his mouth caught hers again. He grazed down her torso towards her abdomen, his fingers plunging into her causing her to whimper as he continued his assault upon her.
"Darien…" she cried, muffled against his mouth. As she shuddered in ecstasy, he pulled his fingers out. He eased himself in place over her and she readied for him. His movements started out slow, teasing her with the fluid movements of in and out making her groan pleasurably.
His pace quickened and he grunted in pleasure. "Serena," he moaned as she began to climax under him.
"Darien," she whimpered as he climaxed, finding his release within her. His body slumped down on her as his head came down to rest in the hollow of her neck. Both breathing ragged, he rolled off her to the other side of the bed and pulled her into a lover's embrace.
"Wow," was all she could utter.
"Yeah…" he replied.
"I had no idea it could be like that."
Darien smirked sleepily, "Me neither Serena, me neither." He kissed her neck and they closed their eyes, drifting off into a comforting sleep.
Serena awoke and rolled over to the other side of the bed, opening her eyes to the dull ache the sun was causing her. Her head was pounding in a rhythm that made the room around her spin. Still in her nude form, she ran to the bathroom and relieved her stomach of its contents. She cleaned herself up, and went back to her room, pieces of the night before slowly resurfacing. She had been upset, she remembered that, and the beautiful man she met and talked to. Drinks continued with conversation and they... Piece by piece the night came back to her. She had had the best, most passionate sex in her life to a man she just met. A man whose first name was the only thing she knew and who had left before she had awoken. Her eyes widened with realization.
A man who did not use protection.