Ties That Bind

Chapter 48

Walk in Beauty

Author's Note: Hi everyone just want to say thank you for all those that are coming back each week and reading along and also for the great reviews I received from the last chapter. I am glad to see that the development of Darien's backstory went over well as it helps to explain his actions and will be mentioned more to come in other chapters. To answer a question I received asking if Serena ever experienced her first kiss, technically speaking yes she has. Darien has kissed her several times when they are in bed together, but nothing that would be construed as a real tender first kiss. With that said (hint, hint) I hope you will find one part of this specific chapter extra special. Thanks for following along and please continue to send your reviews and thoughts Mars Light.

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor do I own George Gordon's She walk in Beauty, but I do find it to be a very nice poem. Thank you!

Darien walked back towards his bedroom needing some peace and quiet away from the voices that remained still in his head, and the captain of his guard, who didn't seem to know what it meant to mind his own business.

He walked past her bedroom door going towards his own room, but then stopped hearing her giggling inside. He didn't know what it was about that sound, but just hearing it made him feel lighter.

He took a deep breath and then continued walking to his own room, determined to get his head straight, but as much as he tried too, he couldn't get his feet moving past that spot.

He stopped again looking at her closed door in front of him, knowing he couldn't avoid this and he couldn't outrun it; as much as he tried too and he did try.

He slowly opened up her bedroom door to see her sitting in her chair by the window sill reading a book with just a small candle nearby lighting up the area and her with its soft glow.

Serena lowered the book down hearing someone enter and looked up startled to see him standing there in her doorway. She placed the book she read down then took a deep breath, and let it out slow knowing why he was here in her room and looked back at him devoid of any emotion asking "what position would you prefer this evening my lord?"

Darien looked over to her sitting there with her face firmly turned towards his and knew he deserved such a comment back and under normal circumstances he would have enjoyed it, but instead he found himself wanting more from her tonight and went to take a seat across from her on the bed, then surprised her by asking "what are you reading?"

Serena looked back at him with a roll of her eyes knowing he had no real interest in her thoughts other than pleasing him sexually and to see him now just sitting there calmly in front of her acting as though nothing had happened before she told him flatly "it is a book on poetry"

Darien nodded his head seeing the cold indifference way she looked towards him now and leaned back on the bed ready to listen telling her "please read on"

Serena looked over to see him lying there on her bed, unsure what motive he had for being here, but was not ready to let her guard down and simply nodded her head telling him "very well" then flipped through a few pages of her book when her mouth curved up slightly and told him "this one is titled she walks in beauty"

She looked over to the bed towards him to see his reaction, if the title meant anything to him, but just found him still sitting there waiting patiently to listen to her read.

She cleared her throat and read the poem aloud "she walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless clines and starry skies and all that's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes"

She looked up for a moment to get his reaction, but was profound by her own reaction to him as she took a deep breath feeling almost at a loss for air in her lungs, feeling his deep blue eyes piercing right down into her own.

She let out the breath she held and looked down trying to focus on the words on the page and continued reading "thus mellowed to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, had half impaired the nameless grace which waves in every raven tress, or softly lightens o'er her face"

She let out a small sigh and dared not look up at his face again fearing what she would find there, not willing to let herself be hurt by him again. After thinking for one moment he could ever be anything different then what he is and kept up the emotionally solid wall between them.

She placed the book down next to her and walked over to the window sill looking out to where she had seen him riding his horse away earlier, galloping faster and further as she recited the next line from memory "where thoughts serenely sweet express, how pure, how dear their dwelling – place"

Darien looked to her standing there and being this close to her did not stop the voices in his head or the want that longed within him, but seemed to keep a steady hold for her alone as the shadows that stayed lurking behind him silently pushed him forward.

He stood up from the bed seeing her back turned to him and walked over to her standing there in the glow of the moonlight through the window pain. He put his hand down onto her shoulder and felt her freeze up by his touch as she slowly turned around to look up at him expectantly.

He gently reached out and caressed her cheek with his thumb and saw her eyes drift downward away from him. He took the quiet moment between them and finished the words she had yet to speak, reciting the last words of the poem for her "and on that cheek, and o'er that brow, so soft, so calm, yet eloquent, the smiles that win, the tints that glow, but tell of days in goodness spent, a mind at peace with all below, a heart whose love is"

Serena blinked her eyes to hear him speak and looked up at him surprised that he knew the poem she read and knew it well too, as he looked into her wide open blue eyes staring up at him and finished the last word of the poem "innocent!"

Serena looked up at him trying to find the right words to ask, amazed that he could quote her favorite poet from memory alone as she questioned "you know of George Gordon's poetry?"

Darien nodded his head pleased seeing she seemed to be dropping her guard down some with him again and told her simply "yes"

Serena took a deep breath knowing the way he could be with her kind and wonderful one moment and then hurtful the next. She couldn't go down this road with him any longer, it would only lead to more pain.

She took a deep breath ready to resign herself to the task she had to perform each night which she did well and that would be all there was between them, then turned away from him standing stiffly with her shoulders back and took a deep breath asking "was there reason why you came for me this evening my lord?"

Darien looked to her standing there before him with her head raised high, holding her own more so then any other person he ever met before and wanted to know more about what it was with this particular girl, then went over and took the seat she occupied before as he spoke aloud to the room "it was an interesting choice to pick that particular poem"

Serena turned around and looked at him not sure what he was getting at. Why he was here at all because she was certain it had nothing to do with discussing poetry and nodded her head telling him quickly "it's one of my favorites"

Darien nodded his head knowing it was a good sign that she was at least speaking to him still, even if it was in a clipped tongue, then looked over to where she stood with her arms crossed, and her blue eyes blazing back at him with her golden hair slightly brightened in the candle lit room as he spoke "yes the way he writes. I can almost picture the woman he speaks of standing right here in front of me"

Serena looked to him sitting there and knew he was speaking of her then dropped her shoulders down, knowing she couldn't let him get to her again, but then she never saw the look he had in his eyes just now. It was not a dangerous look, but of someone who was deeply lost as she walked over and stood up against the bureau by where he sat asking him "you can?"

Darien nodded his head yes without response, then reached down picking up the book she read knowing this particular book very well. He could recite each poem from it word for word without even opening up a page and she had chosen this particular book this evening to read.

He looked up to this girl, his servant who was everything he never expected and surprised him in new ways every day, then put the book down at his side and looked up to her stating "Serena what happened between us earlier at the supper table"

She turned her head downward towards the floor and shook her head away not wanting to discuss or think of her punishment any further or remember his actions beforehand that for one brief moment made her feel like she was living a fantasy.

Darien stood up from the chair seeing her pulling herself away from him again, then slowly walked up to her, lifting her chin back up again so he was looking at her face, but with the stone coldness that she showed him when he first entered, he missed seeing the dried up tears from where she had been crying and let out a long sigh telling her "I'm sorry"

Serena looked up at him blinking her eyes utterly amazed, not sure if she actually heard him right to actually hear those words spoken from his lips she shook her head questioning herself "what?"

Darien looked to her surprised expression and let out a little chuckle feeling slightly amazed himself that the words just escaped out of his mouth, knowing he never had actually apologized to anyone for anything before, but he did so to her and more so he actually meant it.

He removed his hand away from her chin and turned around to walk away from her feeling an uncertainty in himself, he had only felt once before. Suddenly he felt like a boy again hearing his father's words to him, just after his mother's passing and they took a walk through the gardens together as two men his father spoke to him "one day Darien you will understand what it means to guard ones heart and guard it well"

He didn't know at the time his father wasn't speaking of his own heart as he looked over onto her dresser and saw a small ballerina statue that sat in the same space for many years. He gently reached out and touched the fine porcelain, then let out a deep breath and told her "your punishment this evening, it wasn't actually all about you"

Serena nodded her head hearing him take the same tone he used down at the super table when he spoke of her singing and then heard him confirm her thoughts from earlier that what he felt and did was not all due to her actions and told him back lightly "I know"

He stopped for a moment hearing her thoughts and turned around looking up at her amazed that she knew him so well he asked "you do?"

Serena nodded her head knowing she should be angry with him for his actions, but found the more time she spent speaking with him, her anger dissipated further as she spoke up telling him "I didn't know for sure. I did go against your rules and trespassed into a forbidden area, but when you were hitting me I" she closed her eyes tight remembering the feeling of it telling him sadly "I felt a deep pain inside and it wasn't coming from the spoon"

Darien nodded his head knowing she was right as usual, about everything and took a deep breath trying to still remain in control over everything in his life and told her "there are certain areas of the manor that are forbidden. I keep them blocked off so that no one will enter Serena, that is the way it is and the way it will stay"

She nodded her head wondering what it was about that wing that he kept hidden away and brought up such deep feelings to the surface and told him "I understand and I promise it won't happen again"

Darien nodded his head glad that was settled and no one would be stepping back into that area again. It would forever remained locked away with his memories, but then a little smirk crossed his lips thinking of earlier that day when he found her there, watching her in the ballroom spinning around looking so carefree.

He knew laughter had not been heard down that wing in many years and it was hers that echoed down through the hollow halls and into his head as he walked up closer to where she stood and lessened the distance between them.

Serena stood in place looking up at him knowing the end of their conversation had come and he was ready to take her to the bed as he placed his hand down at her waist moving her slightly closer to him.

She took a deep breath feeling his close proximity to her own again as he used his other hand to lift her chin up slightly so she was starring right into his face and requested of her "dance with me?"

Serena looked up to him shocked not expecting that to come as she watched him remove his hand from her chin and then slowly moved it down her arm until he was holding her hand, she looked up to him asking nervously "here?"

Darien nodded his head feeling her jitters inside telling her back confidently "yes"

Serena gulped feeling this close to him again and thinking of what happened earlier, what her dancing with him had led her to, a broken heart. She pulled her hand away from his then shook her head telling him "no I can't"

Darien felt deflated at hearing her words and knew this time it had nothing to do with her dancing ability. He could see the worry in her eyes as he reached out and wiped away a single tear that threatened to fall from her eyes he spoke "you are so beautiful"

Serena nodded her head expecting to hear those words from him, that is all he would ever see her as nothing more than a pretty face as she watched him brush some hair away from the side of her face telling her gently "I much prefer to see your eyes shining up at me" and then reached into his pocket and took out a gold hair clip with small rubies in it as he held it out for her to take.

Serena looked up at him and straight into his eyes, knowing this was his way of making everything better. She was confused on what to do never having anyone before giving her expensive gifts like this and also not wanting to appear rude by not accepting his gift, but she wasn't happy about it.

She felt aggravated knowing this was his way of giving her pretty things to ask her forgiveness and took a deep breath feeling used and replied back simply "thank you, its lovely"

Darien looked to her surprised that she did not even seem impressed with his gift. He wanted to be angry and demand what was wrong with it, but then let it go instead and placed the clip down gently onto the bed and looked over to her bureau where he saw the porcelain ballerina standing there keeping balance on one leg, while being slightly worn down with age.

He walked over to it slowly and touched the delicate figurine on its face and then turned around and looked to her as he took a deep breath telling her "this belonged to my mother"

Serena looked to him surprised by his comment and was unsure what he was getting at speaking to her of his parents once more. She felt uncertainty building up within her to his reaction, whether he would lash out at her again when she saw him pick up the statue and hold it out to her telling her "I would like you to have it. You are my favorite dance partner after all"

Serena stood there with her mouth open agape seeing him standing there offering something that was obviously so precious to him and shook her head telling him "I couldn't possibly it was your mothers"

Darien nodded his head seeing her reaction and knew without regret where it should belong telling her "yes, but I would like you to have it"

Serena stood there in place for a moment longer feeling the distance between them, then slowly walked forward to where he was standing holding the statue that had been in her room for a while now, but until this moment she never realized how significantly important it was.

She turned to him and gently bit down on her bottom lip nervously, knowing she was going against her own promise to herself and reached up to tenderly touch his cheek saying "I'll cherish it always"

Darien placed the statue back down on the dresser and turned back to face her as he told her "I know you will, otherwise I wouldn't have given you something so fragile to hold onto"

She looked up at him and felt her heart flutter for a second thinking that he was speaking of more than just the statue, then put her hand onto his arm and moved his other hand down slowly to her waist as she looked up to him telling him sweetly "I would love to dance with you again"

Darien looked to her with a little curve of his lips then placed both of his hands down to her waist as they slowly rocked back and forth together in a slow rhythm. She could feel her heart pumping away faster though her chest and for the first time felt more connected to him than she has ever been before.

Darien looked down at her knowing she could see him in a way no one else could as though she could look right down into his very soul, while he closed his eyes and felt her slowly put her hands up to his neck and traced them slowly down his chest.

He took a deep breath feeling her rub her hands up and down his chest, then opened his eyes following the trace of her hands and moved his hands away from her waist, reached up and took her hands in his as he told her with a little warning "be careful don't start something you don't intend to finish"

Serena removed her hands away from his chest, and looked into his eyes seeing the intensity there and knew that what she felt inside was something much deeper and beyond her control as she slowly untied the laces to her corset.

Darien stood there watching her pleased, unknowing what it was exactly that changed her thoughts of him, but was pleased to see she no longer was pulling away and told her honestly "you are becoming more of a need for me everyday"

She looked to him and knew that he would never reciprocate the feelings that she had for him, but he was opening up to her in a way that he never did before and that meant so much as she let her corset fall down to the floor she looked to him saying "I wish to please you"

Darien looked down at her prefect body standing before him and it was her words that left him breathless now as he reached out and rubbed his hand across her neckline down her throat he told her pleasantly "you so do indeed in many ways"

Serena stood there feeling his touch on her warm skin and wanted more, needing desperately to feel his strong body up against her own as he moved his hand up to her face and stopped.

Serena looked to him unsure what it was. Why he stopped if something had changed and he was going to pull away from her again or worse. She felt her breath hitch in her throat with concern when she heard him speak "I would desperately like to kiss you right now, may I?"

She looked back at him speechless for all the things she expected him to say, and all that they shared together, the multiple ways there bodies touched, not once had she ever heard him speak in such a way to her and nodded her head telling him "yes"

He gently reached out putting his hand up to her cheek and then followed with his other hand as he cupped her face and moved himself closer to her. He heard her sharp intake of breath from his closeness and lowered his face down to her own where his lips touched hers, but this time, this kiss, it was different than any other kiss he had ever given to her before.

His kiss was long and lingering. It tasted sweet, hungry, needing, and amazing. She felt herself wanting more as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as she drew him nearer to her, which he seemed to be happy to oblige as he deepened there kiss further.

Darien gently pulled away trying to catch his own breath as he looked back at her amazed, never feeling anything so strong before as he looked over to her seeing her face looking just as flushed as his own when she looked up at him and shyly spoke up telling him "Darien will you take me to your bed"

He looked over his beautiful vixen and didn't need the invitation to be spoken twice; then quickly reached down and scooped her up into his arms holding onto her tight.

She grabbed onto the back of his hair slightly running her fingers through the bottom tendrils, afraid of not wanting this moment to end as he turned around and carried her through the adjoining door towards his own bedroom.

He stopped just before he reached his bed and placed her back down to her feet on the floor, where she looked up at him expectantly waiting for what is to come next. He moved his head down lower between her breast and placed a kiss there as he heard her take a deep intake of breath and then quickly pushed her down onto his bed as he heard her sudden gasp.

She lied there waiting in deep anticipation for him while she watched with a little grin as he quickly took off his boots, pants, and shirt then tossed them to the ground.

She took a second taking all of him in, his hard chest, muscled arms and legs, and his mighty sword as he slowly crawled up her legs and loosened the binding on the skirt she wore, letting it fall down to the floor with his own clothing, then joined her the rest of the way on the bed.

She rolled over quickly before he got a chance to get himself settled and pinned him down with her hands on top of each of his shoulders, so she was on top of him and in control. He wrapped his arms around her holding her tight up against him. She looked down to him with a little smirk of her own asking "will you kiss me again?"

He felt her heart beating steadily as his lips pressed up against hers hungrily wanting more than just a taste of her. He couldn't get enough of her and was fairly certain he never would, then tightened his grasp around her back and turned her over quickly so he was back on top, all the while not breaking the lip lock he had on hers.

She stopped pulling her mouth away to catch her own breath and looked up at him unsure what was to come next, but with him she was certain he would drive her mad, going to new unexplored heights as she felt him move his mouth down to her throat and let out a small moan telling him "yes"

He pulled back from her perfect skin slightly trying to catch his own breath feeling his hard member wanting more and saw her blue eyes looking up at him wanting more than a small sample. He smiled back happy to oblige, then slowly ran a hand down her bare chest and told her "close your eyes"

She looked up at him unsure with his order, wanting to take in every second of this moment and hold onto it for the lonely nights that would follow, when he would be far away and she couldn't experience his amazing touch then heard him again tell her again "close your eyes and keep them closed or I'll blind fold you"

She looked up to him and knew he was serious about his threat, then closed her eyes tight. Not knowing what he planned to do had her on edge as she felt him touch her face, gently running two of his fingers along her cheek, her nose, and her eyes and then placed a kiss down onto each of her eyelids.

She could feel herself starting to tremble with anticipation as she heard him whisper in her ear "no peeking now"

She shook her head no only able to feel and not see left her senses on over drive as she heard him tell her "good girl" and then felt him lift her arms up higher and tied something around them leaving her there helpless to his mercy.

He began slowly lowering his hands down her arms ready to take this deliciously slow as he followed with his warm lips as they touched her skin.

She let out a deep breath enjoying the feel of his warm breath against her skin, but then started to feel a different kind of burning as she felt him slowly rubbing himself up against her leg teasing her without making full contact.

She felt her pelvic muscles moving on its own accord in time with his own, when she felt a tightness take hold of her as he grabbed onto one of her breasts firmly in his hand as he gave it a light squeeze and then put his mouth around it pulling on her nipple as she sighed loudly "oh Darien"

He enjoyed hearing his name coming from her luscious lips as he slowly moved his mouth down further licking across her skin tasting how sweet she is. He heard her breathing getting stronger and looked up to be sure her eyes stayed tightly shut.

He used his hand to part her legs and moved his hand up to her inners and whispered by her ear "open up wide for me"

She nodded her head and went to open her eyes, but he took his hand and quickly covered her eyes telling her "no keep them closed"

She nodded her head and did as he asked, he waited a moment to be sure she wouldn't open them again and then used his finger and reached inside her deep as he heard her enormous satisfaction from his touch as he brought in a second finger opening her up wider for him.

She closed her eyes tight feeling the heat traveling up through her body, she couldn't see or touch, but she could feel and it felt so good as his rhythm picked up she let out a loud moan calling out for him "Darien"

She could feel it inside of her building up more and more ready to bring about her, the end of her existence as her body convulsed with pleasure. He removed his fingers from inside of her.

She stopped feeling right at her edge, afraid this would be like it was before only a punishment and opened her eyes and looked to him afraid asking "this isn't to be some sort of punishment again is it, because I can't take this if it is"

Darien stopped what he was doing and reached up touching her cheek gently telling her "no, this is only about pleasure now"

She nodded her head accepting his words as he placed a small quick kiss down to her lips telling her "trust me close your eyes and let me lead you astray"

She looked to him and knew she was putting a lot of confidence in his words then closed her eyes as she felt him run his hand down slowly between her breasts, over her stomach, down to her "ugh" sweet spot as she felt him switch his hand for his tongue as he dove in deeper along her insides, exploring every crevice of her as she let out a pleasurable moan for him.

The fire burning inside of her was all consuming burning up the path as she screamed out loud. He opened up her legs wider for him as he grasped onto her tighter not sure how much longer he could hold on also.

He could feel as her body became tense and stiff as she called out for him "please Darien, please I can't take this anymore. I need you inside of me" that was all he needed to hear for his undoing as he removed his tongue from inside of her and stood up grabbing her by the waist and entered into her with one fast and hard motion.

She let out a scream of pleasure feeling him finally within her, filling her completely with his hardness while she kept her eyes tightly closed captured in the dark, but with each thrust of his mighty pelvis feeling that much closer to being set free.

She wrapped her legs tightly around him feeling his power and strength at the brink of her explosion, she screamed out to him "yes, yes"

Her screams just made him want her more as he moved himself faster and deeper into her feeling himself ready to come as well. He lowered his body down onto her own holding her close to him as they finally came together.

Darien held her close up to him not ready to let her go while trying to capture his breath. While she rested her head gently up against his chest. He could feel her deep breaths on him as he told her "you give me great pleasure Serena"

She lied there on his bed feeling his warmth beside her and heard his words to her but, what she felt for him was more than just great pleasure. She turned away so her back was facing towards him and let out a sigh knowing he certainly did leave her heart astray and she was not able to give her response back.

She took a deep breath knowing what she felt and then turned back over and gave him a small kiss on the cheek telling him "I should be going back to my own bed so I can get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow"

She sat up on his bed and looked back to see him lying there with a perplexed look in his eyes and expected him to reach out to stop her from walking away and leaving him behind, but he didn't.

She instead stood up from the bed and walked back towards the connecting door to her own room and turned around looking to him saying "good night"

He lied there seeing her walk away not sure what just happened here? Why she suddenly chose to leave, but was only able to get out two words "good night" as he saw her go through the adjoining door and close it behind her.