Chapter 4
Darien moaned as he stretched and opened his eyes. He had just spent a very restless and unpleasant night on the most uncomfortable couch he could ever image! He opened his eyes as he sat up, rubbing his stiff neck and aching back. If he was going to spend what could turn out to be a week here, then they would have to negotiate the sleeping arrangements!
He looked around for anything out of place, satisfied that everything was as it was when he had fallen asleep, he walked into the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee, downing the precious brown liquid as if it were his last. He was onto his third cup when a well rested, refreshed looking golden haired radiant woman emerged from her bedroom.
She beamed him a wide smile. "Good morning!" She beamed loudly.
Darien winced, he hadn't had a headache, until now. Trust her to wake up early in the morning looking better than she had when she had gone to bed! Although she had retired to bed by ten, so she was well rested. Unlike him, who had not only had to stay up til 1am, when he was certain that nothing was going to happen that night and then tossed and turned on that damned uncomfortable couch for the next five hours! Normally he woke up at the crake of dawn feeling good and refreshed, but that was normally after sleeping in his own comfortable bed!
Serena entered the kitchen and poured herself some hot water and then added the cocoa and three teaspoons of sugar.
Darien watched this, she had a sweet tooth and she maintained that figure?! How the hell did she manage that?!
Serena took a sip of her sweet hot cocoa and turned to Darien to find him staring at her with a weird expression on his face, as if he were trying to work something out that was completely baffling him. "What?" She asked, growing uncomfortable with his staring. She looked down at herself, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. She was wearing fluffy pink pyjama pants and a white singlet top as she had been unable to find the top half of the matching pyjama set. Was she dressed indecently? She didn't think so. Well, if so, too bad! It was her apartment!
Darien shook his head, realising that he had been staring at her. He turned away from her. "Nothing."
Serena shrugged and dismissed his weird behaviour. She studied him out of the corner of her eye. He was still dressed in yesterday's clothes, minus the jacket, shoes and the shoulder holster. But he didn't look as well presented as he had the day before. His clothes were rumpled and his shirt was no long tucked into his pants. His hair was unbrushed and ruffled, and he had bags under his eyes.
A small smile crept onto her lips, it seemed he had not liked her couch that much. He must have tossed and turned all night, and she wondered if he slept at all. Maybe that would make him give up on the whole 'body guard' thing, she had a feeling it was going to get very annoying. "Did you sleep well, Darien?"
Darien just growled under his breath. "Fine, thankyou." He said tightly before taking another sip of his coffee. Thank god for coffee! His hand grazed his face and he raised his other hand and ran it over his face. He needed a shave, he didn't like having a five o'clock shadow.
He would have to drop by his place to pick up some stuff if he was going to be her 'body guard' around the clock. He didn't know why he had volunteered for the job, but he was beginning to regret it. It had only been one night and already he wanted to call it quits.
What could he say? He wasn't a very pleasant person when he hadn't gotten at least a few hours sleep! At least he was getting paid overtime, not that he needed it. His parents had been killed during a robbery when he had been eleven years old, leaving him alone with no family at all. He had lived at an orphanage until he had turned seventeen and had gotten a job to support himself, he had joined the police academy and at the age of twenty-one he had inherited his parents wealth, he had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life, but he loved behind a cop and he wasn't about to give it up.
"You can go home, you know." A feminine voice snapped him from his thoughts.
Darien turned to see Serena staring at him, she had obviously seen him rubbing his face and she was trying to get rid of him, again. He gave her a small smile. "I don't think so, Serena. Although we will have to drop by my place so I can pick up some stuff."
Serena lost her smile. "I don't need to go anywhere. It's Saturday and I plan to stay right here and get some work done, but feel free. In fact, let me show you the door." She put down her hot cocoa and walked passed him and out of the kitchen.
He placed his coffee on the counter and followed her into the living room. "I'm not leaving you alone, but I have to get some stuff if I'm going to be staying here."
Serena glared at him, placing her hands on her hips. "And who says you're going to be staying here? I let you stay last night because I'd had a long day and was too tiered to argue, but as you see. I was not killed in my sleep last night, so you can go."
Darien could not believe this woman, was she that stubborn or just nuts? There was a cold blooded psychopath out there, who wanted to torture and kill her and she was fighting against the one who was there to protect her? He crossed his arms across his chest and glared at her, not letting her beat him down. "Listen, Serena. This isn't exactly peaches and . . . lilies for me either." Peaches and lilies? Where had that come from? He was going to say peaches and roses, but that wasn't exactly appropriate to the situation. "But as I said last night, we have to make the best of this situation. Now when you're ready we'll swing by my apartment, pick up anything you may need and come straight back here, okay?"
Serena had turned red. How dare he?! How dare he come into her home and order her around! "Listen you jerk, no one orders me around, got it?! Now I said that I wasn't going anywhere and I meant it!"
He stared at her for a moment, watching as she turned bright red and spat at him like a kitten throwing a tantrum. 'She's so cute when she's angry.'
Wait! There was that damn voice in his head again! He had to do something about that. He couldn't be thinking about her like that when he was on a job, and when he was staying in her apartment with her alone where things could easily happen! Delicious things that the very thought of made him hot and uncomfortable.
Darien had had enough, he was exhausted, aching, and now he was frustrated, not to mention getting turned on and it would only be a matter of time before it became obvious to her. "Listen Serena. I have to make this one trip, I need my clothes and my razor." A mischievous smile spread across his lips. "Unless you want me using yours?"
That made her stop and think. Although the idea of using a pink razor did not appeal to him at all, he would if he had too. He had a feeling that she did not like the idea of him using her personal belongs as she hesitated and the colour drained from her cheeks until they were their normal rosy pink shade.
"It's settled." He said and turned to back to her, intent of returning to the kitchen, and more importantly, returning to his cup of coffee that was probably getting cold.
"Hey, wait one damn minute!" She called after him. "This is not settled!"
Darien could not believe it, how pig-headed could one small woman be? He drew a deep and heavy sigh and covered his eyes with his hand. How was he going to get through to this hard head?
Serena knew her behaviour was bordering on childish, but she didn't care. No one ordered her around and no one dismissed her like that! "Listen, buddy! Get your ass out my door and don't come back! I can handle this on my own!"
Wait one moment! Was he shaking his head at her?! As if she was some disobedient child?! Unable to stop herself, she reached for the closest object, which luckily for him happened to be a pink pillow from the couch and she hurled it at him.
"Oof!" Darien spun around when he felt something that felt like a pillow hit the back of his head and he saw the small fuming woman behind him, glaring at him as if she wished that her fiery gaze would cause him to spontaneously combust. "Are you off your medication?! What did you do that for?"
"I want you out, now!!" She pointed at the door.
"Why?" He asked confused, what was wrong with her now? He should be angry at her, she had thrown something at him and hit his already aching head!
"You idiotic jerk!!" She yelled at him in a high pitched voice that caused him to wince. "This is my apartment, and I'm not your subordinate! You have no right what so ever to order me about and treat me like a child!"
Darien was about to tell her that that was exactly was she was acting like, when the doorbell rang.
Acting quickly, he hurried to the couch and picked up his shoulder holster and slide into it. He then pulled his gun from the holster, clicked off the safety, and holding it with both hands he moved quickly and silently towards the door. Turning his attention back to Serena who was staring at him confused, he motioned for her to get down behind the couch.
Hesitating she looked back and forth between him and where he was pointing. "Are you nuts?" She mouthed at him.
He glared at her hard, and made the gesture with more authority.
Serena shook her head at him and put her hands on her hips as the door bell rang again. "Yes? Who is it?" She called from where she was.
Darien glared at her coldly, his face set firm.
"It's Mrs Collins, dear." Come the old lady's voice through the door. "Is everything alright? I head a male's voice and shouting. Would you like me to call the police, dear? I noticed that they were here yesterday."
Darien's eyes never left Serena's face, and when a mischievous smile spread across her lips he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Don't you even dare!" He hissed.
Her smile grew wider, a smile that would have made a lesser man's blood run cold.
Darien thought quickly, he knew this could cause a whole lot of bother for him if the old woman called the police on him! The reports he would have to fill out just because Serena wanted to get him back for ordering her around. Then something came to him. "If you do." He said to her in a low voice. "I'll tell her I'm your boyfriend staying the night, after we just met yesterday. I'm sure that would make a nice piece of gossip."
Serena's mouth dropped open. How dare he?! She had managed to always keep herself gossip free, which meant no hassles when she was home! The asshole was going to ruin that by telling the biggest gossip in the US that she was sleeping with a cop she'd met yesterday!
Darien could almost see the sparks flying off of her and he gave her a charming smile. "Do we have a deal?"
She clinched her hands shut before walking up to him and glaring right into his eyes. "I'm going to kill you for this!" She pushed him behind the door and she opened the door to reveal Mrs Collins. She had also made sure that she had opened the door too fast and too far so that she caught Darien, who was standing too close to it, right in the face.
"Oof!" His hand flew to his face, his pore head was not getting a break today! Oh, he was going to get her for this! He knew she'd done it on purpose!
Serena smiled brightly at Mrs Collins. "Everything is fine, Mrs Collins."
Mrs Collins looked passed her into the apartment, her eyes searching. "I heard a man's voice, dear."
"The TV. I apologise if I had it too loud." Serena lied, quickly. The last thing she needed was for the old gossip to know that she had a man staying in her apartment. Oh, she was going to kill him.
"Are you sure everything is alright, dear?" Her eyes scanned the apartment, disappointed that she had not found some juicy piece of gossip.
"I'm sure. I was just going to take a shower, so if you do not mind, Mrs Collins. I will see you later." And with a warm smile she closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. Without looking at Darien, she turned her back to him and rammed into a solid chest and bounced back against the wall right beside the door.
Strong arms shot out and hit the wall on either side of her with a loud thud, trapping her there. It seems that Darien had not been behind the door, but behind her.
Serena looked up into Darien's face, which was only a few inches from her face.
He looked a little ticked off.
Her eyes fell upon a red mark smack dab in the middle or his forehead and she noted that his nose looked a little red also. She couldn't fight the smile that spread across her lips.
Which only made him angrier. "You think it's funny?"
She tried to wipe the smile off her face, but failed miserably. "No." She squeaked out, her voice trembling with laughter.
Darien glared into her eyes that were filled with laughter and a cold, pissed off smile spread across him lips. "Right now I am trying very hard to resist the urge to shoot you. Now I'm usually very patient and tolerant when it comes to women and children, but you Serena, are trying my patience." He said slowly in a warning voice.
A pleased smile spread across her face. She reached out and grasped the doorknob, turning it she threw open the door. "Then feel free to leave."
Darien moaned silently. He had known troublesome women and children in the past, but this woman was by far the most trouble he had ever had to deal with! How could one so small and fragile looking be so much trouble?!
Taking a deep breath and calming his anger he pushed back off of the wall and stepped back from her, freeing her. He reached over and closed the door before turning back to her still leaning against the wall, staring at him with caution in her eyes. After all, she didn't know him.
Darien saw this and knew he had to work better at controlling his usually docile temper when it came to woman and children. He wouldn't have any woman afraid of him, not even one who was the biggest pain in the ass. Not to mention the head. "Go and get dressed and where do you keep your aspirin?"
"Bathroom cabinet." She answered. "But I'm still not going with you."
Darien closed his eyes and felt like hitting his already tender head on the wall. How could he make progress with this girl when she wouldn't budge an inch on anything?! "Yes you are, even if I have to handcuff you, throw you over my shoulder and carry you to the damn car! Now get dressed Serena, or you can go as you are. Your choice. Personally I like what you're wearing. I'm sure the rest of Los Angeles will too."
Serena stared at him for a moment before growling loudly and storming to her room where the slammed the door as loudly as possible.
Darien winced and mumbled under his breath, "I swear I'm gonna kill this damn woman myself."
Chapter 5
Serena sat silently in the front seat of Darien's car, which had turned out to be a surprisingly nice car. She had expected an old rust bucket of a car that should have been off the road decades ago, but instead she was sitting in the front seat of a deep red Porsche! How the hell had a cop manage to afford such an expensive car? Ha, he was a crocked cop! She should have known the jerk was! Probably took bribes all the time, but how hadn't everyone else caught on when he flaunted it like this?
After she had changed into a pair of blue jeans, a black shirt with long, flaring sleeves and a pair of black leather boots, another argument had broken out when she had refused to leave the apartment when he had ordered her to.
"Listen you jerk! I am not yours to order around!" She had screamed at him.
Darien shook his head and pulled on his rumpled jacket.
Serena eyed him angrily. "What, no trashy trench coat?"
Darien had had enough, reached behind his back and lifted up his jacket he had put back on when he had fixed himself up the best he could, and pulled out a shiny pair of silver handcuffs.
Serena's eyes had gone wide at the sight of them and she had backed up. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I warned you." And he had advanced on her, slowly.
Serena had taken two steps back for everyone he had taken towards her. "Are you nuts or just a pervert?!" She had snapped at him before she had stepped back into the wall.
Darien had come to a halt in front of her and had held them up. "Your choice, Serena. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you're getting in that car either way."
Serena looked back and forth between his serious face and the handcuffs he had held in his hand. "I'll report you!" She threatened, desperate to get out of this situation without being either in handcuffs or in his car.
He raised an eyebrow. "So you want to be handcuffed?" He had asked, amused. "Kinky."
"Pervert." She mumbled under her breath. He loved trapping her!
He had taken a step towards her, but she had just opened the door and fled. She had waited for him at the front door of the apartment building.
As a result she had completely ignored him for the last half an hour as they made their way across town to his apartment. But ever since she had realised what car was his, she had been trying to figure out how he owned such a gorgeous car!
So far she had narrowed it down to three possible options, one was the crocked cop theory, the second was that this was an undercover car, but she didn't think it was likely as why would they give him a car that stood out like it did? And the final was that he was loaded, but if he was then why was he working as a cop? To pass the time or was he one of those rich adrenaline junkies who were looking for thrills?
She shook her head, giving up on it. She looked around the nice car with the black leather seating and sooth and surprisingly clean carpeting. Her eyes fell upon Darien's waist where his jacket had been pulled back to reveal his badge and his handcuffs.
Oh, when she got her hands on those handcuffs she was going to make his pay for threatening to use them on her! She was going to handcuff him to something and find a way to torture him!
Maybe she could handcuff him outside naked and pull the fire alarm.
At the thought a mischievously evil smile spread across her lips, her eyes sparkling with an evil pleasure at the thought of his humiliation. She may have been acting like she was still in high school, but she didn't care. He had started this game and she was going to win it!
Darien came to a stop at a red light and looked over at his companion, he noted her expression and he knew she was planning something and it wasn't going to be good.
For him, something told him.
He could almost see the little devil sitting on her shoulder, rubbing it's hands together and whispering in her ear.
"What are you planning?"
She jumped, prevented from hitting the roof only by her seatbelt. He watched as she quickly wiped the expression from her face and replaced it with a sweet innocent smile before she turned to him. "I don't know what you mean, Darien." She said sweetly, her voice dripping with hidden meaning.
The lights turned green and the car behind him sounded its horn. He put his car into gear and drove off, his gaze shifting to Serena every now and then. She was definitely planning something and he was going to have to keep an eye on her, or else he may end up regretting it.
They arrived at his apartment fifteen minutes later.
Serena looked up at the apartment building before they pulled into the underground parking lot.
WOW!!
It was so expensive and fancy! Even the parking lot was the most fancy she had ever seen, not one spec of dirt or puddle of grease. She had heard of this place, it was the apartment building where most of the city's rich and famous lived.
What was he doing here?
"Are you visiting someone or something?" She asked, turning to him curiously.
"Yeah." He said, amused as he parked his car. "My apartment."
"Your apartment?!" She gasped in disbelief. "No way! Are you loaded or something?"
He shrugged. "I guess." And he opened the car door and got out of the car, Serena following a moment later.
Darien locked his car and led her towards the elevator. She followed, looking around curiously until they stepped into the elevator and she turned to him. "If you're loaded, then why do you work as a cop?"
Darien turned and looked down at the woman beside him, just wondering if she really was in her early twenties, she was beginning to sound as if she should be in high school. "It's what I've always wanted to do." He said simply.
Serena was about to ask more when the doors opened to reveal an extravagant hallway with red carpeting and interesting art on the walls.
Darien lead her to the end of the hall way and pulled out his wallet and took out a key card.
'Wow, fancy.' Serena thought to herself, noting the number on the door.
1218. That meant they were on the twelfth floor, wow!
Darien opened the door and indicated for her to go first.
Serena entered the apartment, the most extravert place she had ever been within. Expensive and fashionable furniture littered the room along with the highest priced items possible, such as the largest flat screen plasma television she had ever seen in her life! But as she looked around, she realised that the place was so neat and tidy, and frankly, cold and sterile. The furniture look brand new and unused, the carpet spotless and as she looked around she saw no family photos or personal trinkets.
Nothing.
If she didn't know better she'd call this place a show home. Darien couldn't live here, could he? It was so depressing and just screamed of loneliness.
Darien moved passed her and disappeared down a hallway, a moment later he called back to her. "Make yourself at home!"
Serena looked around, with pity in her heart. This wasn't a home and she couldn't understand how he lived here.
Serena remained where she was, not taking one more step into the apartment as she waited for Darien to get his things and change into another suit. The suits he wore were not fancy, in fact they were exactly what she imaged all the other deceives wore, was he trying to fit in or something?
Darien emerged a few minutes later, carrying a gym bag and a black backpack. He walked to the door and opened it for her, Serena took one more sad look around the apartment and she walked out wondering if she should be easier on him, it seemed so sad that he lived like that.
"Hey, Serena." He said with a cocky voice as they entered the elevator again. "I was afraid that I would come back to find you gone, I was thinking that I should have handcuffed you to my door, but you surprised me."
Serena glared up at him. 'Forget going easy on him! The stuck up jerk deserves everything he gets!' She thought angrily to herself as she fumed.
They were back in the car and were driving back through the city to her apartment when Serena's eyes fell upon her favourite clothing store. She whirled in her seat to Darien. "Pull over!" She demanded.
Darien became alert and quickly checked his rear-view mirror and then the others for anything out of place. Where they being followed? "What's wrong?" He asked, seriously.
Serena pointed to the store. "I need to go in there!"
Darien looked at her, disbelief and annoyance rising up in him. She had alerted him like that because she wanted to go shopping?!
"No, you don't." He said coldly, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"Yes, I do!" She argued back. "Now pull over or I swear that the next time you tell me to do something I will tell you where you can shove it!"
Darien knew she would do that anyway. "Look, Serena. A killer is after you, I'm afraid you have to sacrifice shopping for a while."
Serena huffed and sat back in her seat, but she quickly noticed that Darien was coming to a stop at the traffic lights and her face lit up. Before Darien could realise what she was doing or stop her, she reached for her purse, undid her seatbelt, opened the door and stepped out of the car. "See'ya Darien!" She called and closed the car door before he had time to stop her.
"Hey! Serena!" He called, but she had already slammed the car door in his face.
She made her way to the side walk just in time as the moment her foot hit the sidewalk, the traffic lights turned green and traffic started moving again. She didn't look back as she slung her purse over her shoulder and made her way through the crowded side walk to the store half way up the block, with a triumphant smile on her face.
Darien could not believe she had just done that! He was going to kill her himself, he swore to god! In the middle of the busy street she had just gotten out of his car to go shopping when she had a serial killer after her!! Was she suicidal?!
The spoilt brat-!
Oh, she was going to pay for this one!
Turning his car at the next intersection, he looked for a place to park.
Serena hummed happily as she walked through the rows of the gigantic department store. It would take Darien hours to find her in here! Ha ha!
She casually looked over the racks of underwear in front on her. She needed some new underwear, she had already brought the night gown and negligee in the neighbouring department after browsing there for an hour and she'd gotten a real bargain too! She hadn't needed the negligee but at that price she couldn't resist! It was so gorgeous!
She loved shopping, it was just what she needed to get her mind off of the stress of the last day and off of a certain irritating raven haired detective.
Serena was inspecting a set of pink underwear when she was suddenly grabbed from behind. "Hey!" She objected, trying to turn around to see who had grabbed her, when she felt something cold and metallic being closed around her wrists. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I warned you." Came an ice cold, pissed off voice.
"Darien!" She raised, half in relief and half in disbelief when she realised what he was doing. He was handcuffing her! She pulled against him, but he held on tightly as he slipped the second cuff on her wrist. "You get me out of these things right now!!" She yelled.
Darien checked that they were on securely, but not tightly. He was furious with her but he didn't want to hurt her. He looked up and noticed all the attention they were drawing to themselves. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his id and badge, opening it up he held it high for everyone to see. "Nothing to worry about, ladies." He said in a loud and firm voice. "LAPD. This woman is shop lifting."
Serena's eyes went wide. "WHAT?! You bastard!" She struggled against his hold on her arm and against the handcuffs, but both held strong.
Darien put his id back into his pocket, reached down and picked up her shopping bag. Holding the bag in one hand and her forearm in the other, he half carried, half dragged her towards the exit, ignoring her curses directed his way. He was furious, he had spent an hour frantically looking for her and now she was going to answer for it!
Serena tried to wrench her arm away from him, but he held on tight, so tight that she would probably bruise! "Darien, you bastard!! Let me out of these things this instant!!" She demanded, loudly.
He ignored her.
He had a hard and set expression on his face and his eyes flashed dangerously, but despite the dark expression on his face, she was not afraid of him. She suspected that she could push him past every limit he had and he would still never so much as raise his hand to her. But this was pushing her limits!
When they reached the exit, instead of leaving the store, Darien flashed his badge at the manger and demanded to use his security room.
The manager nodded and led them through the maze of hallways to the small, dark and private room where two security guards sat in front of several small screens showing the security camera feeds.
Darien signalled for both security guards and the manager to leave, and he closed the door behind them. He then dragged her across the room and dropped her into a metal chair. He reached for the second chair, turned it around and sat on it the wrong way, staring her straight in the face.
Serena struggled against the handcuffs and glared at him with a death glare. "Darien, you asshole, let me out of these right now!"
"No." He said firmly. "No until you listen. I don't care how many times I have to say it, but we're going to stay right here until I manage to get it through that thick skull of yours."
"Darien!! Let me go right now!!" She yelled, furious and frustrated. "You have no right to do this to me!!"
"I'm doing what I have to do!" He snapped back, just as frustrated as her. "To keep you alive!"
That seemed to quieten her down, she looked into his eyes and he watched as her anger faded slightly.
He went on, hoping to get through to her. "Jesus, Serena! Do you want to get yourself killed? I'm trying to protect you, to keep you alive and safe, and you're just making my job harder! I'm not your enemy, Serena! Right now, you are your own worst enemy."
Serena thought for a moment, maybe he was right. Maybe she should stop fighting him and try to get along with him, but then again she was handcuffed and he had just manhandled her, two things she hated greatly. "Let. Me. Go. Darien." She said slowly, her voice ice cold.
Darien could not believe this! She was still fighting him and still refusing to listen! What was it going to take to get through to her?
"Besides, you're one to talk about being your own worst enemy." She mumbled under her breath.
Unfortunately, he heard her. "What are you talking about?"
Serena looked up into his eyes. "You're one to talk about me being my own worst enemy!" She repeated so he could hear.
"What do you mean?" He asked, annoyed and confused.
"Your apartment." She said simply.
Now he was confused. "What about it?" He asked, defensively.
"What about it?" She repeated in disbelief. "I've seen warmer hospitals, Darien! I mean, don't you have any family, any friends? Or do you just shun them for your rich life and precious job?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You don't know what you're talking about." His tone was ice cold.
Serena's eyes grew wide at his dangerous tone and she knew to back off. Drawing a deep breath to calm herself, she changed the subject. "Just let me out of these things, Darien." She told him, coldly. "I'm so sick of this and it hasn't even been a day! Some jerk leaves flowers in my apartment and you guys are convinced a serial killer is after me, you don't even have any proof that he sent them and I'm being put through hell!"
That was it! He'd had enough, he was going to take her back to her apartment and hand her over to someone else, if she got herself killed then that was her own problem!
Darien slammed open the door of her apartment, dragged her through the door and dropped her on the couch, she still had not said a word to him and every time she looked at him, it was with a death glare. He still refused to take the handcuffs off her, so when he dropped her unceremoniously on the couch, on her face no less, it took her several minutes to mauver herself onto her back and into a semi-comfortable position.
Serena listened intently to the noises coming from the kitchen, it took her a few minutes to identify the sounds and her eyes grew wide, he was making himself a coffee! Why that son of a bitch! Oh, when she got free he was going to get it, big time!
Maybe she could get hold of his gun and shoot him in the family jewels . . . that sounded like a suitable enough punishment.
"You have that look again."
Serena blinked and realised that she was looking into a pair of intense dark blue eyes and a curious, but cautious expression. She had been so deep in thought that she had not noticed Darien re-enter the room and approach the couch. He was looking down at her from behind the couch to avoid any retribution, after all her feet were still free and he didn't trust her, especially when she had that look on her face. She had been smiling like she had been in the car after he had threatened to handcuff her. He watched as she quickly wiped the smile from her face and looked up at him with anger instead.
"Are you going to let me out of these blasted things yet?!" She demanded, furiously.
He stared down at her for a moment. "You know, for a grade school teacher you really have a dirty mouth on you."
"You wish." She mumbled under her breath.
Darien shook his head, was he ever going to win with this woman? Taking a sip of his coffee, he circled around the couch and took a seat in one of the recliner chairs.
"Hey!" She snapped when she noticed he was settling into the chair.
He sighed, as a father would when dealing with a persistent child and looked down at her from his chair. "Yes, Serena?"
"Woman still handcuffed here, you jackass!" She yelled at him. She had run out of patience long ago and he was now playing on her last nerve. Oh, when she got out of these blasted cuffs he was going to get it!
"I don't think so." He said casually as he reached for a magazine on her coffee table. "I like you better this way."
"Pervert!" She hissed.
Darien drew a deep sigh. "You have to stop calling me that. You know that's not what I meant."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Really? You could've fooled me. I've seen the way you look at me."
'Shit! She'd seen him looking at her, when?' He blinked, why did he care? He was a guy after all and she was one gorgeous woman. So what if he'd had trouble keeping his eyes off of her. "And what way is that?" He asked casually.
"You want me." She said simply, as if they were talking about the weather. "I've seen that look enough times to know it when I see it."
A small smile crept up onto Darien's lips. "So you've been watching me?"
Her eyes grew wide. "WHAT?! What are you on?!"
Darien laughed, he tossed the magazine back onto the coffee table and rose to his feet, taking a step towards the couch, Serena's body tensed and she was watching him like a hawk.
"What are you doing?" She asked nervously as he sat down on the couch beside her, half turned and placed an arm over her, resting it on the back of the couch. She was now once again trapped between him and another surface.
Wonderful, he was making a habit of this.
'The jerk probably gets off on it.' She thought to herself, making sure she kept track of his hands.
"What is with you and this?" She asked, annoyed.
"With what?" He asked confused, looking down into her beautiful face with a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Cornering me like this."
He gave her a seductive smile that once again had her heart pounding and the return of the tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach. "It's the only way I can think of to stop you from yelling at me and actually listen to me."
"Really?" She asked, trying to ignore what his close proximity was once again doing to her. "So how's that going for you, working much?"
"Well, if you don't think it's working, we could try something else." He said in a slow, husky and suggestive voice.
"Oh, so this whole handcuffs thing is just one big turn on for you?" She asked, her voice coming out less sarcastic than she had wanted it too.
"Depends." He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "What does it do for you?"
Serena felt his breath on her ear and she swore that she felt her heart skip a beat. It had been such a long time since she had enjoyed the pleasures being with a male could bring.
A real long time.
Darien pulled back slightly so that he could look into her eyes. He was surprised and relieved to see a hint of lust and desire there, he could feel her body temperature rising and see the colour rising on her delicate flesh, from her cheeks right down to her chest that disappeared underneath the hem of her shirt. Oh, how much he wanted to explore the treasures hidden beneath the delicate black fabric, but he wouldn't. Not like this, not with her restrained and helpless against his advances.
Even if her eyes did say that she wanted the same thing he did.
"Serena . . ." He whispered breathlessly.
Serena looked up into his eyes, the way he had said her name, that one simple word almost undid her. He had said it with such passion and desire, how could one word say so much? Say how much he wanted her, but also making it clear that it was completely her choice.
"Darien." She whispered, looking up into his dark blue eyes that revealed his growing desire for her. "I-."
She was cut off by the doorbell.
Darien groaned in frustration and bowed his head onto her shoulder. Of all the times for the damn doorbell to ring! Taking a deep breath he rose his head and reached into his pocket, and he pulled out a small silver key. Sitting up from the couch, he gently rolled her over onto her side and undid her handcuffs. With them in hand he pulled away and sat down on the coffee table.
For a moment they just looked at each other as Serena sat up and rubbed her wrists.
"Thankyou." She whispered.
Darien nodded, drawing another deep breath. Rising to his feet, he walked to the door, pulling his gun from its holster along the way. Turning back to assure Serena was a safe distance away, he was glad to see that she was standing by the couch, he turned his attention back to the door and he looked through the eyehole, but he saw no one. He grasped the doorhandle in his hand and tensed, ready for action. Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned the doorhandle and pulled the door open just enough for him to see through.
But there was no one there.
Keeping his gun primed, he opened the door and cautiously stuck his head out so he could look down the hallway. But it was deserted. Lowering his gun he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, carefully eyeing both directions for any sign of movement, but there was nothing.
"Darien?" Came Serena's quiet, concerned voice from inside the apartment. "What is it?"
Darien sighed in relief and placed his gun back into its holster. "Nothing, Serena. Probably just some kids messing around." He turned to re-enter the apartment when he noticed an large yellow envelope on the floor by the door.
It was addressed to Serena.
Taking another look around to assure there was no one watching them, he slowly knelt down, reached into his pocket for his white handkerchief and used it to carefully pick it up. Checking the hallway one more time, he re-entered the apartment, closing and bolting the door behind him.
Serena was still standing at the couch. "Darien, what is it?" Concern and fear in her beautiful eyes.
Darien's eyes remained on the envelope as he walked to the dining room table. "I don't know. Could be nothing." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife. Careful not to get any of his fingerprints on it, or disturbs those that may already be there, he held it down as he ran the blade of the knife along the seal of the envelope. Tipping it up, its contents to fell onto the table.
Serena gasped in horror from behind him as they both stared down at what were photographs of Serena at the shopping department only hours before. Of her stepping out of his car in the middle of the street and entering the department store. But they had been vandalised, on some of the images her eyes had been cut out, others were covered in blood, and several had red writing across them such as, 'you will be mine', 'we will be together in death' and 'your cop will not save you from me, no one can.'
"Oh, my god." Serena breathed, the room around her spinning
"There's no doubt now, it's him." Darien said softly. He turned and pulled Serena against him, wrapping his arms around her supportively, turning her away from the sickening images. "Don't worry, Serena." He whispered as he held her against him as if he would never let go. "I will never let anything happen to you. He's not getting anywhere near you." Darien's eyes grew hard as he held the precious bundle in his arms. 'I will kill him if it means keeping you safe.' He silently promised her.
Serena clung to his jacket as the tears poured for her eyes. Oh, god this was real and Darien was the only one who could protect her. She listened to his promising words and she just knew in her heart that he would keep them. He would keep her safe, no matter what. He would protect her and keep her safe. Even from this monster. How could she not have believed him? How could she have defied him like that? She had placed them both in danger when all he wanted was to keep her safe.
She would listen now, no matter what he told her and no matter where it took her, she would listen to him.
It was several hours before Serena was calm enough to retire for the night. They had barely spoken since Darien had called his partner and informed him about the newest piece of evidence.
Darien had assured his partner that he had everything under control and Andrew had arranged to drop by in the morning to pick up the evidence. Darien didn't say it, but he was extremely worried at how the killer had managed to get into the apartment building unseen, not even the snoop Mrs Collins had seen anyone in the hallway during the time the envelope was dropped at Serena's door.
They had sat together in the living room in a comfortable silence, Serena had flicked through the channels on the television with little interest in anything that was showing and Darien had gone through his case files again, searching for an answer he may have missed, although he was careful not to let anything fall into Serena's sight, especially not the photographs.
Finally, it was nearing midnight when she had clicked off the TV and had rose to her feet, drawing his attention to her. "I'm going to bed, did you need anything?" She asked, softly.
He looked up at her and gave her a gentle, friendly smile. "No, I'm fine. Goodnight Serena." And he turned his attention back to his paperwork.
Serena hesitated for a moment before walking to her door and opening it, she was half way though it when she turned back to Darien. "You know, that's a fold out couch."
Darien's head snapped up, looking at her in disbelief. She had let him toss and turn uncomfortably the night before knowing that he was sleeping on a fold out bed?! Oh, he was going to kill her! He watched as a cheeky smile spread across her lips and she disappeared through the doorway, the door closing behind her.
He had endured the day with a headache and an aching back when he hadn't had too? Oh, he was certain that had he known that little piece of information that morning, sometime during the day he would have certainly shot her!
Chapter 6
Detective Andrew Simons arrived at Serena Luna's apartment early the next morning to be greeted by his grim looking partner.
Darien signalled for him to be quiet as he closed the door gently behind his partner. "She didn't sleep much last night." He whispered. "She didn't doze off until the early hours of this morning."
Andrew studied his partner and his friend with interest and curiosity in his eyes. "And how would you know that?"
Darien shot him a warning look. "I've been up all night and I could hear her."
Andrew gave him a disproving look.
"It's the truth, arlight?" He snapped, annoyed at just what it was his partner was implying.
Andrew shrugged and held up a file he held in his hand. "Yeah, well. Trust me with what I have to tell you, you don't want to get involved with this woman. It will only lead to trouble."
Darien's eyes narrowed, his detective instincts prickling. "What do you know?"
Andrew took a seat at the table. "How about some coffee?" He asked, noticing the empty coffee cup on the table and knowing that it had been refilled several times throughout the night. Even though Darien had probably never slept in in his entire life, he had always gone to bed at a reasonable hour, he liked his sleep and it did help him to be well rested as Darien without sleep or coffee, was a grumpy Darien.
Darien quickly made them both a cup of coffee each and sat back down at the table, his files spread across the table's surface. "Tell me what you know."
Andrew took a deep breath, opened the file and handed it to Darien. "I know why she refused police protection. Four years ago she started dating a cop here in Los Angles. After two months he fast became possessive, tapping her phone and her cell, following her. He even used his position to get others to keep tabs on her when he couldn't."
Darien's eyes widened. No wonder she had fought so hard to get rid of him! She didn't like cops and it was no wonder. He looked up at Andrew as Andrew pointed to something in the file.
"According to the neighbours and close friends, he became violent." Andrew went on. "She tried to leave him, but he wouldn't let her. Threatening if she tried he would kill her family and her friends."
Darien's eyes travelled to Serena's closed bedroom door. How could the woman his partner was describing be the strong and determined woman who slept behind those doors? He turned back to his partner, knowing that there was more and he wasn't going to like it.
Andrew drew a deep breath. "A month later, I guess she'd had enough because she filed an official complaint against him. An investigation was opened and he was suspended from duty during the course of the investigation. There was no hard evidence, but the investigators knew her accusations were true. They just couldn't prove it. I spoke to the lead detective on the case last night and he told me how terrified of him she was. She filed a restraining order, but he was constantly violating it, only they never caught him." Andrew took a sip of his coffee. "She did everything right, she changed the locks, her numbers and was never outside alone after dark, and for a few weeks she was fine. Until he showed up at her work. In the middle of the day he just walked right into her classroom shouting and assaulted her in front of twenty-nine eight year olds."
"Jesus." Darien swore, how had such an asshole ever been allowed on the force?
"There's more and it gets worse." Andrew told him, taking another sip of his coffee. "Through the help of the LAPD, she was relocated to Chicago and given a new identity. It took him four months to find her."
Darien's blood ran cold.
Andrew looked up into his partner's eyes. "He broke into her house in the middle of the night and tried to rape her, after which he made it clear that he was going to kill her."
Darien felt numb, no wonder why she hadn't wanted him around and had tried so hard to get rid of him! "How did she get away?" He asked, his voice was steady but inside he was anything but.
"She fought him and brought enough time for the neighbours to be alerted and the police to arrive." Andrew threw back the last of his coffee. "The lead detective that I spoke to said that officers stormed in to find him sexually assaulting her with his gun in her mouth. Damn near choking her with it."
Darien felt nauseous, but he held it back. "Could he-?"
"No." Andrew said before Darien could even ask. "This couldn't be him. He was arrested and sentenced to twelve years in prison. He's still behind bars and according to the prison, he hasn't had contact with anyone, but I have a few local uniforms cheeking it out."
Darien nodded, his thoughts only on one thing, Serena and how he had to protect her from the Red Rose Killer. He couldn't let her go through something like that again, she had been strong and lived through a terrible ordeal before, she shouldn't have to be again. He was going to catch the Red Rose Killer and he was going to make her safe.
Whatever the cost.
"We can't let this happen again." Darien whispered firmly to his partner. "We have to catch this guy, now."
Andrew studied his partner before going on, his suspicions growing. "There is every possible resource on this case. I spoke to the captain and he believes that the best thing to do right now is for you to remain here with her since she won't take any further police protection. In fact I'm surprised that she's allowed you to stay."
Had the situation not been so grim, he would have smiled and told his partner that she hadn't really let him.
"But there's nothing much we can do, Darien." Andrew told him. "Not until he makes another move, which reminds me. You got the evidence from last night?"
Darien blinked, coming out of his thoughts he reached to the corner of the table, moved aside a file and picked up an evidence bag and handing it to his partner. "They're just like the others. Only now we can be certain that he knows we're are protecting her. The shrink was right, he's still coming for her regardless."
Andrew took the evidence and looked down at the numerous images staring up at him. "You can't let her out of your sight again. You know what comes next and then there is only a matter of time before he comes for her."
Darien's eyes darkened dangerously. "Let him come, I'll be waiting for him. He's not getting Serena."
Andrew looked up from the images at his partner, studying the dark expression on his face, the dangerous look in his eyes and his fists clinched tightly. Had it been any other situation, he would have been glad at his new found knowledge, his partner and friend had been alone for too long, but the woman he was falling for would only result in trouble. If Darien got too close then he would loose focus and mistakes would be made.
Mistakes that could have disastrous consequences for the both of them.
Taking a deep breath, Andrew leaned forward and looked into his partner's eyes, his tone completely serious. "Listen to me, Darien. You have to stay focused on this, and you have to most of all stay away from her. If you make a mistake here, it could cost her her life."
Darien looked into Andrew's eyes, so many emotions within his own. "I know what I'm doing, Andrew and I'm not going to do anything that will place her in danger. This is my job, nothing more."
Andrew didn't believe him for a second, but he said nothing more of it. He rose to his feet and looked down at his friend. "I'm your friend, Darien. I have been for a while, so listen to me when I say that doing to right thing isn't always the easiest thing." And without another word he left the apartment, leaving Darien deep in thought and with a dark expression on his face.
Two hours later, Darien was sitting on the couch, staring at Serena's bedroom door, deep in thought about what he had just found out about the beautiful and strong willed woman. No wonder she was so strong willed, she'd had to be to survive her ordeal and for her to have a cop staying in her apartment, who she could not tell to leave without placing herself in danger, had to be extremely difficult for her. Did she fear that he would turn out to be like her ex-boyfriend? That he would hurt her like that?
He would never. He would sooner die than harm a woman . . .
Darien shook his head and turned his eyes back to the report resting open in his lap. He had read through it, but there was little more in it than what Andrew had told him other than a report of the trial and some photos of Serena, only she looked so different.
In the photos she was tired and pale, and always covered in bruises. He had seen the type of look before when dealing with domestic disputes, more partially with beaten wives and girlfriends. He hated to see those woman who were constantly hiding bruises and other injuries, defend their husbands or boyfriends, saying it was their fault. He had tried to tell them that it was never their fault, that the man in their lives had no right to hurt them, but they rarely listened.
But Serena had obviously listened to someone, maybe it had been a family member or a close friend, but something had happened that had made her leave him. What could it have been? What was that one incident that had been the last straw for her? To give her the strength to walk into that police station and file an official report against him?
Scenarios played themselves out in his mind, each worse than the last. He had to know, he needed to know, but he couldn't bring this up with her, he couldn't open the old wounds. She had obviously moved on and emerged stronger, but that did not mean that it still did not hurt to remember.
"Oh, Serena." He whispered sadly to the silence of the apartment.
One thing was for sure, he had to keep away from her. Nothing could ever happen between them. If she were to be with him every time he spoke about his job or had to leave in the middle of the night when he got the call, it would just remind her of him and he couldn't do that to her.
He wouldn't do that to her.
Serena walked out of here bedroom door to find Darien staring at her, but she knew he had not realised she was there, he was staring off into space with a strange expression on his face, an expression that told her he was set in something, but he wasn't at all happy about it. There was a sadness in his eyes she could not identify, what was wrong? What had happened since last night? Had there been another delivery from the killer?
"Good morning." She said softly, uncertainty in her voice.
Darien jumped and turned to her, startled. "Oh, Serena. You scared the shit out of me."
Serena gave him a weak smile. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I mean you were staring straight at me." She gave him a questioning look.
He smiled weakly back at her, but was refusing to meet her eyes. "Just thinking about something."
"Want to talk about it?" She asked, gently.
Darien smiled warmly at her. "That's nice of you, Serena. But no, thankyou."
Serena stared at him for a moment, studying her. Why did he refuse to meet her gaze? Hell, he wouldn't even look at her for more than a few seconds. What had happened? Had she done something to make him uncomfortable? She looked down at her attire, she was dressed in simular bed clothing as she had worn the day before. Was that it? Was he uncomfortable because he thought she was indecently dressed?
She turned to re-enter her bedroom to dress.
Darien was looking at her feet when he realised that she was going back into her bedroom. Was she uncomfortable with him there? Of course she was! He was a cop staying in her apartment who wouldn't leave when she had told him to! He looked up to see her back when his eyes fell upon something that froze his blood in his veins. He jumped to his feet, moved with amazing stealth around the coffee table and gently placed his hand on her elbow.
Serena froze when she heard Darien rise from the couch and a moment later, she felt his hand gently grasp her elbow, she turned to him with confusion on her face. What was wrong?
"Serena . . ." He breathed out, but unlike the last time she had heard him as her name, this time his voice was filled with remorse and self loathing.
What was going on?!
She followed his gaze to her upper arm to see a bruise on her delicate milky cream flesh. It must have come from when Darien had dragged her through the department store the day before. She hadn't even felt it, let alone notice it before now. She looked down at her wrists to see a angry red ring around each wrist where the handcuffs had pressed against her flesh the day before, but they were already beginning to fade.
Darien followed her gaze and his eyes opened wide. The flood gates opened and he was flooded with remorse and self loathing. How could he have been so rough with her, so careless? Manhandling her like he had? He'd had not right to do that and he took a step back from her. "I'm so sorry, Serena." He breathed, unable to take his eyes off of the red marks or the bruise.
Serena looked up into his eyes confused, but when she saw his self loathing and remorse her heart melted, he was looking at her as if he had killed her. Why was he taking this so hard? Sure he had been a little rough with her the day before, but he had done it for her own good, to protect her. Who knows what would have happened to her if he hadn't come after her like he had. The Killer had been watching her yesterday, he had known she was alone for a full hour, maybe it had been the knowledge that Darien would come after her that had kept the killer from coming after her right in the department store.
"Darien-." She said gently, taking a step towards him. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him that it was alright and that she was fine, but he only took a swift step back from her and refused to meet her eyes.
"I'll be gone within the hour. I'll have Andrew come and watch you until I can organise for a female detective to take over." And he turned his back to her. He walked over to the table and picked up his cell. He would call Andrew immediately, he couldn't stay here with her, not after he had hurt her like that. Oh, how she must hate him, just another cop who had hurt her!
He felt so disgusted with himself.
Serena watched him, confused. He was leaving, why? One bruise and he was running from her and hating himself as if he had beaten her to within an inch of her life? What had changed in him since she had gone to bed? Where was the man who fought with her until he had gotten his way and never backed down when she wouldn't? She slowly walked over to him and placed her hand gently on his shoulder, she waited for him to turn to her, but he didn't.
"Darien?" She said, softly.
Finally he turned to face her, uncertainty in his hurting eyes.
"Darien, what's going on?" She asked, confused. "Where's all of this coming from? I don't understand. I know you didn't mean to be so rough with me, but it's just a small bruise. Why are you acting as if you really hurt me?"
He turned to her, looking into her confused and almost caring eyes. "I had no right to touch you, Serena. I can't forgive myself for that."
"You saved my life, Darien." She pointed out. "And it is not for you to forgive, that's for me to do. Only there is nothing to forgive, you did what you had to do to protect me. If you hadn't dragged me out of that store yesterday, who knows what might have happened. He may have kidnapped me yesterday instead of waiting and playing these games."
Darien searched her eyes, amazed at her concern from him. She didn't want him blaming himself for hurting her, she really cared even after what he had done. How could such a generous and loving woman exist? How could she still be this way after all that had happened to her?
Serena searched his eyes as his searched his own and the emotions she saw there, confused her. There was self loathing and remorse, but what confused her was the sadness, compassion and sympathy showing within his deep blue eyes. What had happened to make him sad and sympathetic? What was she missing?
"Darien." She stepped forward, bringing them only inches apart and without breaking eye contact, she raised her hand to his face and gently stroked his cheek. "What is it?"
He hesitated. Should he tell her that he knew about her past? He feared that would upset her and reopen old wounds. She may also tell him to get out and to never come back, and that he could not stand. He didn't want to go, but if she ever told him again to leave he would, without question or hesitation. He had already decided to ring Andrew to have him organise for a female detective to be standing by to take over the protection detail.
"I hurt you." He whispered, not knowing what else to say.
Serena sensed there was more to it than that, he was so different and he had been before he had seen the bruise. "Yet here I am, asking you not to go. Here I am standing right in front of you, not caring. If I don't, why should you?"
Serena watched the doubt appear in his eyes, why could he not forgive himself for a bruise he did not mean to give her? She had known the type of man who had meant to give her bruises . . . so she knew the difference. He would never hurt her and if this is the remorse and self loathing he showed by simply bruising her, heaven forbid she accidentally trip over his foot or something of the sort.
She drew a deep breath and shook her head, deciding to try another approach. Sometimes working with children really came in handy, she was a patient and tolerant person, even if Darien did have a habit of rubbing her the wrong way. Taking a small step back and lowering her hand to her side, she allowed small playful smile to spread across her lips. "Listen Darien. I can forgive this but if you ever do it again, then you and I are going to have words, okay?" She smiled warmly, allowing him to see that she was joking.
Darien's heart warmed at her attempts to relieve his self loathing and he could not stop himself as he stepped forward and raised his hand to her face, cupping her cheek as she had the moment before. "I would never hurt you again, Serena. I swear it." He whispered ever so faintly.
Serena felt the sensations return to the pit of her stomach in full force and her heart was beating so fast, for a moment she feared it would break through her chest. She loved the way her name sounded when it rolled off his lips, even when they were arguing, and she never wanted there to be a day when she did not hear his smooth voice that made her melt so easily. "Darien . . ." She whispered, unaware the distance between them was disappearing.
Darien looked down into the eyes of the angel before him, spellbound. Her eyes held him captive and he was helpless to pull away, or stop himself from closing the gap between them and slowly descend down towards her welcoming lips. He stroked her hair gently, unable to believe just how soft it was. He stroked her cheek with his fingertips, amazed beyond words at how soft and delicate it was, he feared that even his gentle strokes may bruise her. How could a woman who was so strong and determined inside be so soft and delicate on the outside? She was the type of woman a man needed to protect with a fierceness that was near physically painful, but she held a way about her that told the world that she could stand on her own regardless of her fragility.
Finally, he could stand it no longer and he moved towards her, before she knew what was happening, his lips claimed hers in the most gentle and tender of kisses. He brushed her lips, taking only a taste before he pulled back and looking into her eyes for any sign that she did not want this, but all he saw was desire, passion and something else he could not name, but whatever it was it sparkled in her glittering eyes like the brightest of stars in the clear night sky. He wanted more of her, more than he wanted to live, but he would make this her choice, he would influence her in no way. Her kisses tasted sweeter than anything he had ever tasted before, sugar itself was sour in comparison with her kiss.
Serena saw his hesitation, but also his caring and his desire for her, a desire she could not deny. She wanted him and she wanted him now, his kiss as brief as it had been had sent shivers right through her and had made her toes curl. The sensation at the pit of her stomach had exploded and had shot heat and desire through her, making her blood boil and her heart sing to the fast beat.
How was so much possible from just one kiss? She had been kissed before, but his one kiss had blown them all away. She drew in his scent and ravished in it for a moment, committing it to her memory. He smelt like roses and coffee, and she liked it, it was unusual, just like him.
Unable to stand it any longer, she rose up onto her toes and brought her lips to his, claiming his once more. She moaned into the kiss with pleasure and leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up against him. She could feel his hands everywhere, sliding up and down her back, through her hair and along the sides of her stomach, but not once did he venture anywhere that would have had her screaming and shuddering with pleasure, which frustrated her.
Now he had to turn into the gentleman?!
She focused on the sensation of his lips on hers. He was so passionate, but at the same time he was gentle and tender. He suckled on her lips, but his tongue remained in his mouth, which only added to her frustration.
It took only a moment more for her to become frustrated enough to take control. Daringly, she slid her tongue into his mouth, gaining a true taste of him and she almost smiled when she heard his groan with pleasure into the kiss.
And that was all he needed to stroke her tongue with his own, which in turn made her moan deep in her throat. He was surprised as she took his bottom lip, and nibbled and sucked on it for a moment. Unable to stand holding back his passion any longer he deepened the kiss, claiming her entire mouth as his own, kissing her with all the passion he had to give.
Serena felt like she could purr, she had never felt so much passion in a kiss before, so much need and desire, and it was all for her. Was this how greatly she affected him? Before she knew what was happening, he picked her up, span them around and sat her on the table, pushing aside all of his case files, photos and anything else that was on the table. Most of which ended up to the floor.
She could take it no longer, she had to touch him. She pulled on his jacket, making it clear what she wanted and she wanted it gone. Without breaking the kiss, he pulled away from her only enough to slide his jacket off his shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor at his feet, forgotten. A moment later his weapon holster followed with a faint thud.
Serena pulled his shirt from his pants and slid her hands underneath it, running her hands along his hard six pack and tight stomach. Wow! He was all muscle! He was as hard and a smooth as marble! She ran her hands over all the flesh she could reach above his belt, she wasn't quite ready for that yet.
Darien growled into the kiss as he felt her hands all over him and he felt himself grow hard and thanked the gods he wasn't wearing jeans! All he wanted was to lie her down on the table and take her over and over again until she was hoarse from crying his name. But he held back, it would be her choice and he would do nothing to influence her other than to show her just how much he wanted her.
But if she kept going the way she was, he was going to completely lose control, a guy could only take so much!
Serena felt him pull away from her lips and disappointment rose up in her, but it soon vanished when his lips descended down upon the delicate flesh of her neck and she through her head back, giving him full access and moaned with pleasure. Closing her eyes, she bathed in the sensations she had not felt in so long. It had been a long time since she had allowed any man to get this close, and even longer since one had pleasured her instead of only taking his own.
"You're so beautiful." He mumbled against her skin, the vibrations of his words against her neck shot through her, and she became very aware of the heat and moisture building between her legs. Oh dear god, she was ready to come and he hadn't even touched her yet!
Serena could stand it no longer, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything in her entire life and she wanted him now, god damn it! Pulling back slightly, she gently placed her hand under his chin and lifted his gaze to her eyes. She was touched when she saw concern and hesitation in his eyes, clearly he had thought that he had done something wrong or that she wanted him to stop, and she knew he would give her that without one word of protest.
She gave him a warm smile. "I want you." She whispered as she placed a gentle kiss on his lips and stroked his face gently.
He searched her eyes, questioningly. "Are you sure?"
Her smile widened. "I'm sure." She lowered her gaze, a blush spreading across her cheeks at the sight of the front of his tented pants. "And I can see you want me."
Darien didn't need to look down, over the last few minutes Serena's teasing had caused his erection to become near painful. "I do want you." He whispered, resting his forehead against her and staring into her eyes. "But this needs to be your decision-."
Serena placed her finger to his lips, silencing him. "Now is not the time to be a gentleman."
"Now especially is the time to be a gentle man." He whispered, his breath warm against her face.
Serena stared into his eyes, what was it that made his hesitate? "What is it, Darien? Are you afraid you'll hurt me? If you are, I can promise you that even though it has been a while, this is not my first time."
"It's not that." He gently brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and placed it behind her ear.
Serena's breath caught in her throat at the simple gesture that had been done with so much affection it melted her heart. How could a man who was clearly so strong, he could easily crush her throat with just one hand, be so gentle and caring? Hands she knew would protect her fiercely at any cost, but when he was with her, his hands were so gentle and tender. An angel's touch could not be gentler.
She looked into his eyes, searching them. "Then what is it?" She asked, but when she noted his hesitation she drew a deep breath. "You don't have to tell me, just know that you can."
Darien was touched by her concern and gentleness, and he could stand it no longer, he had to have her! He wrapped his hands around her and gently lowered her back onto the table, leaning over her.
Serena could feel him pressed against her, and she smiled devilishly into the kiss as she wrapped her legs around him, bringing him into close contract with her, causing the both to moan out loud with desire and lust.
Darien could feel the heat of her delicate centre pressed up against him through the fabric of their clothing and he nearly passed out from the pleasure of it, and all he wanted was to be buried deeply within her, with her moans and cries dancing around him.
Serena reached between them and hastily unbuckled his belt. She wanted him, she needed him, now! She unzipped him, but when she came to the final obstacle standing in the way of her getting his pants off, the button at the top of his pants, she couldn't get it undone. Frustrated and impatient, she pulled as hard as she could until the button popped off and flew off of the pants, leaving the pants free.
Darien growled deeply at her impatience, now completely lost in the animalistic lust of their passion. He had heard of a mating urge before, but he had never dreamed that it would be so strong and unyielding!
Serena's hand slid into his pants and she grasped his manhood boldly through his boxer shorts.
Darien froze, his moan both filled with pain and pleasure. He pulled away from her lips and rested his head on her shoulder, struggling to maintain his control which currently wanted to jump out the window. He gripped the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles were going white.
"Serena!" He hissed, his eyes closed tight.
In response she tightened her grip ever so tightly, causing him to moan louder and swear against her shoulder.
Serena was surprised at the amount of control she held over him, she'd had control over men before, but never had any surrendered completely to he as was doing now. With that thought in mind, she began to slowly move her hand over him, starting at the base of him and moving to the head where she ran her finger over tip at a painfully slow pace, and then she moved down him back to the base where she started all over again.
After only a matter of seconds Serena was worried that he may pass out, his eyes were clinched so tightly as if he were in pain and he clutched the edge of the table so hard she feared it might break.
Darien felt wave after wave of pleasure pulse through him at her torturously slow strokes along his manhood. She was trying to kill him! This was her revenge for the bruise, she was going to pleasure him to death at an unbelievably slow pace! He was in so much pleasure that he was in pain!
"Ssseeerrrreeeennnaaa! Ppplllleeeeaaasssssee!" He hissed out, not sure as to whether he was going to pass out from the pleasure or just rip her clothes from her gorgeous body and bury himself as deeply inside of her as was possible. He had never wanted a woman more in his life and he doubt that he would ever want another as he wanted her right now.
With an evil smile on her lips, she picked up her pace. She could not deny such a pathetic plea. She could feel him shuddering above her and she knew he was close, only a little more and he would be there.
Suddenly the sound of the doorbell sounded in the room.
Serena froze and Darien groaned in physical pain as she came to a complete stop and pulled her hand from him and out of his pants. He gritted his teeth and struggled to regain control of himself, but he couldn't move as any movement was complete agony!
Serena knew that neither of them was in the position to answer the door, they were both sweating and panting, not to mention the state of their clothing and her hair! But out of the two of them, she was the more suitable one to answer the door.
"Darien, you have to get off me!" She hissed urgently as the doorbell rang again.
Darien didn't move. "I can't!" He hissed through clinched teeth.
Serena looked up into his face and knew he was in pain at having to stop so suddenly so close to his release. Slowly unwrapping her legs from around his waist, she pulled herself up the table and out from under him. He was not the only one who had cursed the doorbell and she swore to herself that the moment she had dealt with whoever was on the other side of the door, she was going to rip the blasted thing from the wall!
On her way to the door, she fixed herself up the best she could, running her hands through her messy hair, straightening her clothing and struggling to slow her breathing and her pounding heart. She knew she was flushed, but there was nothing she could do about that. Taking a deep breath in attempt to calm her breathing and her rapid heartbeat, she opened the door just enough for her to poke her head out and greet the person on the other side of the door.
"Yes?" She asked, her voice harsher than she had intended for it to be. Her eyes grew wide in horror at the sight before her and she slammed the door and pressed herself up against it, horror on her face.
Darien became alert and turned to her, as hard as it was to ignore his rather large 'problem.' "What is it?" He asked, alert and reaching for his gun. "Is it something more from him?" He asked.
"Worse!" She cried out in distress as someone knocked on the door persistently. Serena hurried over to him, picked up his jacket and threw it at him, he held it against his chest, staring down at her alarmed.
"Serena, what is it?!" He demanded, eyeing the door. Whoever was on the other side had freaked her out, and then an ice cold thought washed over him. "It isn't your boyfriend, is it?"
"What?! No!" She said, offended. She wasn't a slut and she was furious at him for insinuating such a thing. "It's my parents! You have to hide, now!"
"What?" He asked confused at her alarmed and near hysterical behaviour. "Why?"
She glared at him, frustrated. "Firstly because I don't want them to know about this and secondly my father is overprotective and homicidal! Now please hide!"
"Where?" He asked her, looking around the apartment. There weren't really many places for a man his size to hide.
"The bedroom!" She said urgently.
"And if they find me in there, it's going to be ten times worse." He pointed out to her, calmly, hiding his amusement at the situation, she was acting like a high school teenager who was trying to hide her boyfriend when her parents came home early.
"I'll risk it! Now would you please just get in the bedroom!" She almost begged him.
Darien looked around the apartment, his bag and bedding were on the couch and his files were scattered between her table and the floor. He turned to her with an eyebrow raised. "I think he's going to know that someone's here."
Serena cried out in frustration as the knocking became more persistent. "Please, Darien!" She begged him. "I don't need this right now."
Darien drew a deep breath and stroked her face affectionately. "Anything for you, Angel."
Serena blushed at his chosen nickname for her and gave him a thankful smile as he turned and disappeared into her bedroom. She ran to the door as her father started pounding on it. It was understandable why her father was so protective of her, after what had happened to her years ago. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she opened the door and smiled warmly at her parents. "Mum, Dad. This is a surprise."
Her mother smiled at her, but her father was red in the face and glaring at her. "Young Lady, what did you think you were doing?!" He demanded as if she were still twelve years old. "Slamming the door in your mother's face like that!" His eyes grew wide and he pushed passed her into the apartment and looked around. "Do you have someone here?"
"No, daddy." She said innocently, her voice sounding like the sweet teenager she had never really been, as she welcomed her mother inside, closing and locking the door behind them.
Her father stalked over to the couch and picked up Darien's backpack and opened it up to reveal Darien's personal items. All of which were clearly men's items. "Then what are these?" He demanded.
Serena scrambled her brain for the answer, but before she could think of anything, her father stalked over to her bedroom door and threw it open.
"Daddy, no!" Serena cried out helplessly, but it was already too late as her father stalked into the room, looking around furiously. Serena hurried to the door and looked inside, expecting to see her father strangling a certain black haired detective, but she was surprised to see that her father was alone in her room.
What the . . .?
"Just who are you looking for, daddy?" She asked him, her voice still sweet, but this time it held a curious and offended tone. It had always marvelled others that she could pull it off, being able at her age to still sound like the innocent six year old girl she had been many years ago, it was a rare gift that served her well. She could make people believe she was an angel from heaven while plotting their demise. Her mother was the only person she knew able to see through her and her 'sweet innocence'.
"You have a man in here!" He accused, looking around helplessly as if he expected him to step out of the walls.
"No, I don't." She said firmly. "Nina's brother needed a place to stay last night. His apartment was vandalised and he's a good friend of mine, so I let him. He had to leave early for work, but he's coming back later to pick up his stuff." She lied smoothly. "And if you must know, he has a long time girlfriend he's about to propose too, so he has no interest in me. As you can tell, he slept on the couch. Satisfied?"
Ken looked at his daughter and then looked around the apartment once more before nodding and leaving her bedroom, a relieved expression on his face.
Serena sighed in relief as her father walked passed her, but then where had Darien gone too? Her bathroom door was open and there was no place to hide in there, as was the door to her walk in closest, so where was he? Hiding under the bed?
A smile crept up onto her lips, if by some miracle he had fit under the small gap under the bed, he would be very squashed indeed. She closed her bedroom door and turned to see her father sitting in one of the recliner chairs and her mother staring at the mess of scattered papers on the dining room table and the floor.
"Nina's brother really isn't that tidy, is he dear?" She asked, politely.
Serena quickly walked over to the table and as quickly as she could, gathered up the papers and files before her parents realised what they were. "Oh, I just got caught up in my work last night and didn't have time to clean up." She hated lying to her mother, but it was better than the truth.
While she tidied up the mess, her mother went to the kitchen and started to prepare them coffee, or in Serena's case, hot cocoa.
Once Serena had the mess around the table cleaned up, she moved to the couch and picked up all of Darien's things and moved them to the corner of the room, but what she did not notice was a file slide out and back down onto the couch. She carried the stuff across the room and put it in the corner, out of the way and far from her parents.
"Are you feeling alright, sweetheart?" Her mother asked her from the kitchen, giving her one of her secretive looks that said she knew something. Her mother had always had a dead on intuition, especially when it came to her children and her husband.
"Yeah, mum. Why?" She asked as she walked over to her mother.
"Oh, nothing sweetheart. You must look a little -." She gave her a meaningful look. "Flushed."
Serena swallowed, her mother knew! Her mother always knew. The colour drained from her face and her mother lowered her voice.
"Don't worry, darling. I won't tell your father." She said lovingly. "I'm glad you've finally found someone. I don't want you to be alone anymore."
Serena smiled lovingly back at her mother. "Thanks, mum."
"I hope he's a nice young man." She said, although it was more of a warning than a general hope.
Serena smiled almost longingly. "He is. He's a real gentleman."
Irene raised her hand to her daughter's face and gently stroked the side of her face with a gentleness and lovingness that only a mother could process. "I'm so glad, honey. You deserve everything good in this world, and I want you to know that I'm so proud of you, you have really come a long way in the last few years. You are so strong and so filled with life again, just as you were before." At the mention of it, her face saddened.
Serena's heart sank as well. She reached out and grasped her mother's arm. "I'm okay, mum. I really am. I've moved on, it's nothing but a bad memory now."
Irene smile sadly, but proudly. "I am so proud of you, Serena. We both are." She lowered her arm to her side. "And don't be afraid to bring this new man home, your father just wants to protect you, but I promise that he will behave."
"Thankyou, mum." Serena leaned forward and hugged her mother. "Thankyou." She whispered as she closed her eyes.
It was then she realised what she had said was true, for the first time she wasn't pretending, not even a little bit. Darien had come into her life and in two days he had healed the last of the hurt within her. She was finally ready to move on with her life and she wanted that life to be with Darien.
Her eyes snapped open in shock. Was she falling in love . . . ?