Serena opened the front door to let her husband in. She was waiting for him in the living room while watching a Disney movie. Their housekeeper, Mrs. Olsen, had left for the night. Serena was the one who cooked their dinner.
Darien walked toward the stairs, removing his dark gray overcoat. She took it from him, remembering the days when she really felt like she had the right to do such wifely duties. He knew she would follow him upstairs. Serena tried not to look at his wide shoulders and muscular back and focused on the steps as she ascended the stairs.
Why did she have to fall in love with him? He was so cold and complicated. He was changing when she entered their bedroom.
"I opened accounts in your name. Buy what you need. Even those that you feel you don't need. Take everything you fancy."
"You didn't have to do it," she answered, fingering his coat after hanging it in its place.
"Listen, Serena, I don't want people to look down on my wife."
She could feel his anger from where he was standing and it made her tremble literally.
"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you," she answered dryly. Before he could make a reply, she said, "I prepared your favorite roast chicken and steamed veggies. I'll go down and set the table."
He thanked her for the food, said it was delicious. She was a good cook, not as excellent as Lita, but her talent in the kitchen department was edibleenough. Besides, she was well aware of his likes and dislikes. The same way that he knew her.
If she didn't speak a little every now and then, the silence would drive her crazy. She could feel Darien's eyes on her from time to time.
"I saw Ami today," he began.
She didn't know if that was a good topic.
"What did you talk about?" Serena asked when she found her voice.
"Your miscarriage."
She looked away. "I'm really sorry about that."
"I want you to know that there's nothing to forgive. It's not your fault. If it was, it could well have been mine."
She tried to smile. But it was a bitter shadow that crossed her face. "I don't know how I should feel. Maybe I'll forget in time."
"It hurt me just as much as it did you."
"Thank you for telling me that." Her voice was very low, barely recognizable.
"And I want to apologize for not being there for you."
"I saw enough of you. It was enough." She tried to smile at him. "Was that all that you talked about?"
"Ami told me that Seiya Kou is constantly asking for you, and that you saw a great deal of him before he went to Germany for his treatment."
Her eyes were enormous pools of blue. There was a silent threat in his voice.
"How much truth was there in that detail?" he continued.
"It's true as true can get," she answered honestly.
"So you're aware how he feels about you?"
"Yes." She saw him smirk.
"The man has no scruples letting Ami and the world know of his feelings for you." His statement made her head jerk in his direction. There was steel in it.
She should have remembered that Darien was there when Seiya sang that song during the concert at the hospital. Darien spoke Japanese fluently. He understood the lyrics completely.
"It's not important."
"How do you feel about him?" Darien insisted.
She knew that tone. It was laced with danger and there was a trace of warning in it. She wasn't a coward. She would give Darien the answer that he wanted. His expression was grim. She was going to tell him that Seiya was nothing more than a close friend, but she remembered how Darien had possessed her last night and how sure he had been of her, how clear she had been to him because of her hot response.
"It's easy enough to fall for him." She casually looked into her husband's eyes. "He made feel…important and safe. He was there to protect me when I needed him. Of course I understand that I have to make allowances because of his illness."
She regretted her words the moment she freed them. It was Darien who protected her against Alain, not Seiya. It was Darien who paid for her father's bills. It was Darien who took care of their debts, made sure her dad's company was still standing. It was Darien.
It's Darien…
This time, his eyes were narrowed slits in her direction.
"Your protector, huh? What about me? What's my role in your life?"
"With you I'm not sure where I stand. Maybe on a cliff, on a high, and it always feels like I'm on the verge of falling and no one's going to rescue me." He must be getting amused by her outburst.
"You sound confused, wife. Do I protect you or not?"
"You're right. You do protect me. But you always fail to protect me from yourself, Darien."
He surveyed her body, from her delicate face to her full and pert breasts, to her slender thighs. She could not mistake the sensuality and passion in his gaze. "Are you saying that you don't like what we've shared last night? You want to be saved from my desire, is that it?"
She rose from the table. She refused to answer his question.
Surely he knew that that's not what she meant.
But Darien's reflexes were quicker. He grabbed her arm and Serena found herself seated on his lap. And once again, she was submitting to him, weakly so.
He looked directly into her eyes. She didn't like the thought that sex was how he would make her pay. But when he raised his hand and touched her face gently, he seemed to be communicating something stronger than mere desire. Stronger yet gentler. She tried to release herself from his hold, struggled to stand up, before he could melt her in his arms once more but he refused to let her escape.
"I hope you forgive me, but I cannot give what you want. You're mine for now. So don't you entertain any foolish thoughts about Seiya Kou."
"Why did you come back into my life, Darien?" Her lower lip trembled.
"I didn't. You came to me. You asked for my help and went to see me," he reminded her.
"You could have just given me the money I need, and forget about it. It's not like that amount would put a dent in your finances."
"Maybe," he easily agreed. Then he pulled her towards him and pressed his lips against her throat. "Unfortunately, you're the only one who can do this to me. The difference is this time I have to protect myself better."
Whatever did he mean protect himself? From what? She was the vulnerable one in this relationship.
She had placed her palms on his chest to push herself away from him, and was not prepared to feel the hard beating of his heart. Like it wanted to leap out of his ribcage into her hand. This time, he let her go.
She must be imagining things.
She was right. He only took her back because he could not help his lust for her. It hurt, and it was a shameful fact. And the saddest part was she still loved him despite everything.
Everything was so unrequited it was so unfair. She had thought of using his desire to make their marriage work this time. After all, there were times when he would treat her tenderly, affectionately. Could she be content with that?
Serena didn't realize that she was still standing there in front of him until Darien stood, carrying his plate and glass. She automatically took a step back, but he had once again trapped her in his embrace. He used the arm that was holding his plate with the utensils to pull her close to his body.
She could only close her eyes when she felt his warm kiss on her forehead. That simple touch from him brought her to life again.
"Don't worry. I'll try to protect you from myself as well. I won't touch you unless the need is really too great, and not without your permission. But if you ever need me, just say the word. I won't disappoint," he promised, his voice a husky whisper. "For our next lovemaking, I'll wait for you to come to me first. The ball's in your court now, sweetheart." He then walked past her.
"W-where are you going?" she asked stupidly. He was walking toward the kitchen.
He stopped to look at her and her face grew warmer. She couldn't help the dark flush staining her cheeks if she tried.
"I won't let you accuse me of being a bad husband. I'm going to help you wash the dishes. After that lovely meal, it's the least I can do."
How could a girl stay sane if he kept confusing her like this?
"Don't you dare load it in my dishwasher!" she shouted after him when she got her bearings.
She could hear his rich laughter coming from the kitchen and couldn't suppress the smile on her lips if her life depended on it.
