Blueeyedevil06, you are awesome. Thank you for being my beta.
This chapter gets a little more into the weeds of where things are located in the penthouse in one section. Off the entryway, there is a room with a rotunda. I will be using that space for part of the story. If you want to see a layout of the penthouse, the link to the floor plans is still on my Tumblr under WildRiverInTheSky.
Chapter 44 - Promises
As Serena and Darien left the restaurant, she said, "What time are we meeting them all tomorrow to go over the latest problem?"
Darien whipped his head towards her startled, "I didn't realize you noticed something was wrong."
"I have known the girls for a long time. Of course I noticed that something was wrong. Kunzite's speech would have given it away otherwise. The threat must be pretty bad if he is promising you now that he will be my shield."
"I caught that too." Darien sighed. He was trying not to worry. "They will be at the penthouse at two o'clock. They promised they could take care of it in the meantime."
Serena smiled up at him, "Then let's believe them and leave the worries about Sapphire for tomorrow."
"Sapphire?"
She shrugged, "Gosh, I hope it is about him. If it's a new enemy, I really don't want to think about that."
"Good point."
Darien surprised Serena by taking her to a very nice hotel. Mina had packed a change of clothes for her and her overnight bag was already waiting for her in the room.
Before she could even look at the room, he spun her around and got down on one knee.
She laughed and said, "You already proposed. Or, did you forget we married today?"
He smiled up at her and shook his head, "I will never forget that I am married to you. There is something I wanted to do. Something I remember Endymion wanting to do on his wedding night."
"Sex?"
He chuckled, "Definitely that too. He had wanted to say, 'I vow to you my everything. Today, I promised my life. Tonight, I promise my all. I will never stop loving you. Even death will not defeat my love for you. I lay everything I have at your feet. It is all yours.'"
Serena wiped the tears from her eyes, "You made his desires come true. Even death didn't stop our love. I accept your promise and give you my own. I will never stop loving you. Death didn't stop my love. It never will. I give you everything, and I promise you my life."
He stood and kissed her to seal their promises. "I love you."
"I love you too." She pulled back and looked at him. She noticed his focus move to the room behind her. She looked and said, "Darien, this place is amazing! You spoil me so much!" She spun around in the room and flopped on the comfortable bed. She was smiling up at him.
He cracked a smile and said, "I am glad you like it. I enjoy spoiling you."
"How convenient since I like being spoiled!"
"You are beautiful, my wife."
"It is Mrs. Shields to you, husband." she replied.
He cracked a huge smile, "I like that, a lot."
"So do I. Serena Sheilds. It works well together. It actually sounds like a superhero name." she chuckled and stood up. "Now, onto consummating our marriage." She gave him a heated look.
Instantly, Darien's mood changed. He stood too and walked over to her. "Well, Mrs. Shields, I think that is an excellent idea." He caressed her side, and she stepped into his embrace.
"Husband, was… was there anything you wanted to try with me?" she asked him.
"Serena, there is nothing in this world that would make me okay with you hesitating when you asked that question." he said as he caressed her back.
She shook her head, "You misunderstand, I am not nervous about you asking me to do something. I am nervous that you will think I sound silly." She buried her head in his chest.
He raised her chin and said, "Your desires and questions will never sound still to me." He gave her a heated look. "Especially when they deal with sex. I enjoy trying new things with you. Not because I need them. I just like exploring things with you."
She smiled brightly at him, "I like that too, which was why I asked. I was wondering if you had ideas we could try."
"Why don't we explore that together in the future. Tonight, as I make love to you, I want to be able to look into the face of my wife. We could get you on your hands and knees another day. Although, you do have a very nice butt. I would like to look at that while I have sex with you too."
She blushed and nodded, "I would like to try that with you too."
He slowly undressed her, kissing her skin as he did. He pressed kisses into her, trying to show her how much he loved her. When they were undressed, he laid her on their bed and teased her skin. His fingers worked their way down to her pussy and played with her clit. "You are already so wet for me."
"It turns out I like you talking about sexual positions. Who knew?" she gave a wry smile. "It's sexy."
He lightly pinched her clit, "I will have to keep that in mind. I also remember the fact that you have handcuffs."
Serena moaned as he played with her pussy. "Those are for when you are willing to let me torture you. I don't know if you are ready for that yet." She gave him a saucy smile.
"Don't forget I like your form of punishment. I think I will love your form of torture too." He slid one finger into her as he continued to play with her clit.
She rocked up against his hand moaning and arching her back. "That feels so… so…" she moaned. "Good." She rocked up against his hand again.
He added another finger. "So, you like this?" He smirked and she nodded. He loved watching her whole body respond to him. There was just something that made him feel so powerful watching her laid out next to him, coming undone around his fingers. He knew that when he curled his fingers like this, she moaned like that every time. He loved knowing her body and how to bring her pleasure.
"Shit!" she screamed as he sped up his pace. She started riding his fingers as he played with her clit, and she shattered around them.
He removed his hands and licked his fingers. He tried to do it while she had her eyes shut, attempting to catch her breath.
She caught him and asked, "Why do you look embarrassed?"
"I didn't know how you would take it."
"That you like the taste of me? Go back to licking your fingers. I want to watch." she demanded.
He did just that and watched her face as she enjoyed it. "I won't ever hide something from you again."
"Good. Now, come over here and fuck me. That was hot, and I desperately want you."
That night, when they came, he was looking her in the eyes while they fell apart. He loved her blue eyes, and he found it incredibly sexy when he could see the pleasure they were experiencing together in them. She came screaming his name. He really loved that too.
The next day, at two o'clock, they arrived at the penthouse and set down their bags. They noticed that everyone was already there. They had rearranged the room with the rotunda and placed two dining room captains chairs side by side.
Darien and Serena left their bags in the entryway and immediately went to sit in their makeshift thrones.
Serena spoke first, "I wanted to say thank you for your speeches yesterday. Kunzite, Darien and I already understood your promise to protect me. We thank you."
Darien nodded, "I figured you were preparing me for whatever you have to say today."
Kunzite sighed and nodded, "I was. I wanted you to be assured ahead of time that it isn't Serena I am going to put at risk. It is myself."
Darien nodded, "How bad is it?"
They had already discussed how things were going to be told to Darien. So, Nephrite launched right in. "Friday night, Lita and I ran into Rui and Masato Sanjoin at the park. They had been going for a stroll too."
Serena smiled, "Rui's soulmate. At least that was what Mina told me."
Nephrite nodded, "Yes, Kunzite is sure that Mina is correct, and that he is her soulmate."
Serena noticed that Lita wrapped her arms around Rui and comforted her.
Darien asked, "So, I assume that means… Shit! Please, tell me I am wrong."
Kunzite shook his head, "You are not. Masato Sanjoin is really Sapphire."
Serena's eyes grew wide, and she dashed off of her throne to wrap her arms around Rui. "Then that blue haze must be that he is possessed with evil, and he is really good. I will heal him, I promise!"
"Fuck! What made you think this could wait?!" Darien was pissed. He knew that meant that Serena wouldn't fight back against Sapphire even when he tried to kill her. She wouldn't want to hurt her friend or get in the way of true love.
Kunzite bowed low before Darien, "I am fully aware of what I am telling you. I promised to be her shield. I will not fail on that promise. It was my choice to tell you and to believe that he is her soulmate. I will take the full force of that responsibility. I will die before I let any harm come to her."
Mina bowed before Darien too, "I will take up the position as her shield if he does." They had a very bad day and a half. Mina had wept in his arms when he told her the full weight of what his promise meant. She loved him all the more for his desire to protect Serena, but it didn't make it the least bit easier.
Darien looked at Serena and said: Come and sit next to me. We need to be united when we accept this. I know I can't talk you out of trying to save him.
Thank you. She walked over and sat in the chair next to his.
She looked at all gathered and said, "It looks like we have a Dark General to save. It is probably time to start making a plan on how we are going to do this so that everyone comes out of this safely."
