Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my awesome beta.
Andrew chuckled as he watched Serena sweep into the arcade in her four-inch heels. It wasn't that long ago that she would have fallen on her face. Now she was full of grace and poise. She sure had grown up. "How was work, Serena?"
She waved her hand in dismissal. "Nevermind that. Remember that guy I sat here talking to on Tuesday last week?"
"Yes."
"Please tell me you remember his name. If you don't, we're going to have to go for coffee on our date tonight."
Andrew burst out laughing, "You can't remember his name? Do I even want to know what you have him down as in your phone?"
"'Friday's Date', of course." She shrugged. "What else would I call him?"
Andrew's gaze slid over to a very puzzled-looking Darien. He decided it was time to remember his manners. "Serena, this is my friend Darien. I've mentioned him to you. He just got back from Harvard Med School."
She turned her focus to Darien and smiled at him, "So you're the famous Darien. I've heard so much about you. Well, I've at least heard you're brilliant and going to be a doctor. I'm sure there's more to you than that, though."
"Nope," Andrew teased. "He doesn't have time for anything else."
"I'm focused." Darien objected to Andrew's joke. "I'm top of my class, and that takes up all of my time. And why would you have to go for coffee if you don't remember his name?" That fact was puzzling him.
"We'll go to that place that writes your name on the coffee cups. That way, I'll have it right in front of me. It works really well." She smirked and turned her gaze to Andrew. "Can I have a chocolate milkshake, please?"
"You're the only model I know who can eat so many calories."
"I'm the only model you know, period." She rolled her eyes playfully. She then took off her coat and sat down on the stool one down from Darien.
"That's true," Andrew admitted. He then made her milkshake, and while he did, he asked. "So, you don't want to say how the photoshoot went today?"
She sighed out heavily and drooped a bit. "Ugh! The male model at the shoot with me was a total ass. I really would rather talk about a root canal. Can you believe he implied that I owed him a date since I was 'lucky enough' to get to model with him?" She shuddered. "Modeling would be fun if it weren't for all the other people."
Andrew set her milkshake down in front of her and said, "You're too kind to be in that industry, Serena. I don't want them to make you change."
She took a long sip and then smiled at him. "Oh, I have my ways of handling them. I slipped itching powder in his street clothes."
"And if they find out about all these pranks you play, and you can't get a job modeling anymore?"
"Who cares? I can't model for the rest of my life anyway. I've managed to save quite a bit of money." She took another sip and then continued. "Plus, with the dates I go on, I don't spend much on groceries. I always make sure I have enough left from dinner for lunch the next day."
Andrew looked shocked. "You've saved money?!"
"Of course I did. After all, you walked me through a budget, Andrew. Just because I kept yawning and calling you 'Mr. Boring' doesn't mean I wasn't listening." She smiled at him sweetly and finished her milkshake. "I even stopped spending money on arcade games. Now I get my dates to do it for me."
Darien rolled his eyes, "And what do they get out of this?"
"Two things. An amazing kiss at the end of the night, and then they get ghosted." She smirked.
Darien snorted, "That hardly sounds fair."
"Hey! When I find a guy who isn't horribly shallow, then it won't be like that. Unfortunately for me, the only good guy I've met is like a brother to me. Right, Andrew." She focused on Darien. "Plus, he's been dating Rita forever."
Serena pulled money from her purse and paid Andrew for her milkshake. "That was perfect like always, Andrew. I'm glad your friend is back." She then turned to Darien. "It was nice meeting you."
She then put her coat back on and walked out the arcade door to get ready for her date.
Darien looked at Andrew and asked, "Should I be insulted that she thinks every guy is shallow except for you?"
"No. As much as she pretends she hasn't changed from the girl she was in high school, that isn't true. She's not as carefree as she used to be. I can't go into personal matters, but just believe me when I say she's speaking from experience."
"Not from experience with me. It sounds like she's already judged me."
"Does it matter?"
Darien couldn't figure out why, but it did.
That night, Darien thought about the mark on his wrist. Even Andrew didn't know about it. He always wore a watch to cover it up, and he'd never let anyone have a chance of glimpsing it.
He knew what he had was incredibly rare. No one was ever able to figure out why they showed up on some people and not others. There was a reason Darien stayed focused on school and never dated. He had a soulmate. At least, that was what the mark told him.
One week after he woke up in the hospital after the crash that killed his parents, it showed up. He asked the nurses about it, and they told him that it was very special, that one day, he'd find his true love and be able to show her they were meant to be together.
He tried not to let it bother him when they said she wouldn't have one too. He'd hoped she'd be out there with one looking for him also that she was thinking about him already. Why only one-half of the soulmate pair ever got the mark sounded depressing to him. But eventually, he accepted that there was someone out there for him and that he could rest in the fact that she'd love him completely.
Currently, it was in shades of gray. It would stay that way until it was time for him to meet the woman who'd be his other half.
He removed his watch and looked at the mark he'd memorized. When he saw it, he dropped his watch to the floor, and his mouth gaped open. It was now in color. The circle that was there had become a beautiful full moon, and there was a pink bunny.
He couldn't believe he had pink on his wrist now. What in the world could that mean? How was that supposed to give him a hint to his soulmate?
To his shock, his mind supplied the answer immediately. Serena. She was the only part different about his day. He wanted to curse.
If she was his soulmate, she was out on a date with "Friday's Date." She was probably drinking coffee with him right now.
He swallowed his enormous pride and called Andrew. When he answered, he said, "What do pink bunnies and the full moon have in common?"
"Are you drunk? I know you don't drink, but you sound like you are."
"Never mind that. Do you know?"
"You mean, Serena? Her father calls her Moon Beam, and she loves pink bunnies." Andrew paused. "Are you really okay?"
"I need her phone number. Please." The desperation bled from his voice.
"Tell me what's going on. I trust you, but..." Andrew sighed. "She's not to be toyed with."
"You think I would?!"
"You never pay attention to girls. Do you even know how to treat a woman?"
"Andrew, I have a soulmate mark. That's why I don't date. I'm waiting for her. Hold on." He pulled his phone from his ear and switched to his texts. He pulled up Andrew's name and took a photo of his wrist, and sent it. "Look at the photo of my soulmate mark."
He heard Andrew fumble with his phone. "Shit. No way! That's Serena. Right?"
"It wasn't in color until today. It has to be her. And right now, she's on a date." He tried not to sound like that fact devastated him.
Andrew texted him Serena's contact information. "Here, that's everything I have on her. If you don't treat her well, I'll kick your ass."
"How do I get a second date with her? The first one sounds easy."
"She doesn't believe in second dates. But, you're her soulmate. Surely that will make a difference. Right?"
"Why doesn't she believe in second dates?"
Andrew sighed. "She doesn't trust men. She cuts them loose before they can betray her."
"How am I supposed to convince her that I'm different?" Darien sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose with his left hand, and clutched his phone tightly.
"Just be different, Darien. That and I can tell her I trust you."
"Thank you." He looked at his soulmate mark on his left wrist. "I feel like I've been waiting for her for so long. I've known I had a soulmate since a week after the accident when it showed up in black and white."
"I was trying not to be that 'I told you so' guy, but I did try to introduce you to her last year before you left for Harvard."
"That was her. If I'd have met her, I probably would have never gone to America."
That admission floored Andrew. He didn't think anything could get between Darien and his goals. "I have a hard time believing you'd give up Harvard even for a soulmate."
Darien snorted. "How much of my life have I lived without love? Do you really think I could choose to walk away from someone that loved me?"
"She's not the type that would make you choose. You'd have been able to have both."
"This topic is pointless. But, I've met her now. Damn, she's the first woman that ever affected me, and now I know why."
"What's your plan now?"
"Try not to think of her kissing another man at the end of her date tonight. That, and I pay for everything she eats or drinks at the arcade from now on."
"I can take care of the last part."
"Jack Daniels and I can hang out and take care of the first part." Darien chuckled darkly. "I just have to go and buy some first."
"Or, you can let me see what I can do. Don't start drinking yet. I just got a text from her."
Andrew read the test. "Damn, Darien, do you know where that new fusion restaurant is by the shopping district?"
"Yes. The food is pretty good there."
"Can you go pick her up? The date went south fast, and she needs a ride."
"Will she get in the car with someone she just met?"
"She's heard about you for years. I'll tell her I'm busy but that you're coming." There was a pause on the line. "Done. She texted back that she'll wait for you right out front."
"I'll text her a photo of my car, so she knows which one to look for."
"Perfect. Oh, and Darien, good luck."
Serena got in his car, slammed the door, kicked off her heels, and threw her phone onto the dash.
Darien looked at her in concern, "What happened?"
"His wife showed up. He's married! To make matters worse, she had their six-month-old in her arms as she's screaming at him that he was a cheater. Then the baby started crying!"
She put her belt on and wiped at her tears. "I was so pissed at him I threw my drink on him. I told his wife I wished her luck being married to such an asshole, and then I stormed out. It would have looked so much cooler if I hadn't forgotten my coat and purse and hadn't had to go back to the table to pick them up."
She then tossed her purse on the dash by her phone. "I did dump his drink on him too since I was forced to go back."
"What a creep."
Serena teared up, "I would never have been the other woman. I'm not like that. I had no clue he was married. He didn't even have a tan line from a wedding band. I check."
"You check?!" Darien was surprised that was something she even thought to look for.
"Of course I do. It's saved me from this situation before." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Men suck!"
"And what am I?" Darien asked; he was drifting more and more into despair.
She leaned back in her seat, turned her head to focus on him, and sighed, "I'm still trying to figure you out."
"Maybe I can help you with that. What do you want to know?"
"First of all, I was wondering why we're still sitting in front of the restaurant. I don't want to be here when his wife comes out. It was awful enough seeing her in there," she pointed at the front door.
"Sorry." He turned on his car and pulled out of his parking spot. He then asked, "Did you even get to eat?"
"No."
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"How about we go get some burgers and fries."
She moaned. "That sounds delicious."
Darien swallowed hard. Her moan had gone straight to his cock. He glanced over at her and gripped the steering wheel tighter. He wanted to pull her close and hold her. Instead, he went back to their discussion. "I know a great place then."
"Thank you."
She reached forward and grabbed her purse and cell phone off the dash. She then started texting. Once she was finished sending it, she put her cell away and set her purse next to her.
"Darien, do you think she hates me?"
"Who?"
"His wife." She closed her eyes. "I wouldn't have ever gone on a date with him if I had known he was married."
He sighed, "Yes. I think she hates you, but not for the reason you're thinking. It sounds like it was obvious that you didn't know he was married. But, Serena, you have to admit you're gorgeous. That can't have felt good. She just gave birth six months ago. No matter how good of shape she's in, there will still be baby weight. I'm guessing she hates the situation, and your beauty wouldn't help."
"I'm not that beautiful."
"You're a model. I think you're absolutely stunning, and I have an industry that is known to be cruel to back me up."
"Thank you for being honest about how you think she feels. I really wouldn't have believed you if you lied to me. It does help to know you think it was obvious that I didn't know he was married. It had to have been devastating to her." She looked up at him. "You're the first guy to tell me that you think I'm beautiful, and it felt like it didn't matter to you."
"Why do you say that?"
"You said it in relation to why it would hurt his wife."
"Does that bother you?" He stopped at the red light and looked at her in concern.
"No. It's nice to be more than my looks."
"Why do you model if you don't like it?"
"Lots of people have jobs they don't like. They go to them day in and day out, and they live paycheck to paycheck." She heard her text message alert go off and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She continued what she was saying, "It's no different than that except I get paid well for it. I wasn't kidding when I told Andrew I've saved a bunch of money. I figure I'm better off than most."
Darien noticed her reading a text and replying. "Please tell me that's not him trying to apologize."
"I already blocked him. It's my friend Lita. She wondered how the food was at the restaurant, and I told her she'd have to find out herself. She did offer to beat the crap out of him for me. I told her I should have asked his wife if she wanted her to go after him." She smiled at her phone and put it away. "I also told her you rescued me. She had offered to come and pick me up."
Darien parked and turned off the car. "Does she regularly offer to beat people up for you?"
"No, usually she does it without asking first." Serena smiled at him. "She's very protective of me."
"She sounds… interesting." He didn't know what to think. "I assume you're okay with the assault?"
Serena laughed, "It's funny, really. I know that sounds weird, but she's incredibly strong, and it's funny to see her beat up guys who think they can take anyone on."
Darien hopped out of the car and rushed to get her door before she could. He held it open and said, "Who's the last guy she beat up?"
"This guy who wouldn't take no for an answer. We were dancing at a club, and he was getting… insistent. She punched him once, and he was unconscious on the floor."
Suddenly, Darien understood. She didn't beat up guys for the fun of it. She stopped Serena from being sexually assaulted. "She sounds like a great friend."
"She is."
Serena took the arm that Darien offered to her. She walked by him in silence until they were close to the burger place. "Why do I feel weird around you?"
"You'll have to explain what you mean, Serena." Darien was instantly nervous, and he was trying not to fidget.
"Can I be upfront with you?" He nodded. He couldn't get any words out. "You're attractive to me."
"That's weird?"
"No, that's… new. I dated all these guys because I realized something was off about me. I like guys, but I wasn't interested in any of them. I just thought it was the way I was." She looked up at him and sighed. "But, then I met you." She focused back on where they were going, and she admitted, "I'm actually happy to be here with you."
For the first time he could remember, Darien filled with joy. He was relieved she felt the pull between them too. "Then you better let me pay for dinner. I want to tell you now, though, no kissing at the end of the evening."
"Why's that?" She asked in confusion.
"You said a guy gets two things, an amazing kiss at the end of the night and then ghosted. I'm not going to let you get rid of me," he quipped.
She chuckled and pulled him to a stop right before they entered the restaurant. She then got up on her tiptoes and kissed him. She opened her mouth to him and quickly slid her tongue into his. The kiss was incredible and left them both panting for breath.
"There." She gave him a sly smile. "It didn't happen at the end of the evening." She left him standing there frozen. He quickly got his wits back and followed her into the restaurant.
Serena couldn't take her eyes off of Darien. They'd long since finished their dinner, and she didn't want the night to end. The way he didn't remove his gaze from her excited her. She felt like she mattered. It was thrilling.
She accidentally bumped up against his leg under the table, and she was about to apologize when she decided to be bold and let her leg rest up against his. It felt like electricity was singing through her body from the touch. She flicked her eyes up to his, and warmth grew in the pit of her stomach. His eyes dilated, and he pressed his leg up against her's.
Before she knew what she was doing, she started tracing her fingertips against his forearm. She felt so drawn to touching him. She didn't want to stop. Every sensation she felt was foreign to her but spectacular.
"Serena, what…" Darien swallowed hard and grabbed her hand before she could pull away. She suddenly looked nervous, and he realized it was his fault. She had moved her leg too. Damn. He needed to fix what he'd accidentally done.
He held her hand and said, "Look at me. You misunderstood me." He pressed his leg up against her again. "I don't want you to stop touching me. I was clumsy trying to ask you what you'd like to do next. I don't want to take you home yet."
He watched her eyes soften and lock on his. "We could go for a walk. There's a nice park not far from here."
"I'd like that." Darien paid and escorted her out of the door. He laced their fingers together, and they headed in the direction of the park.
"It's unusually warm tonight. I'm glad." She smiled up at him. "This is nice."
They got to the park and started ambling among the paths. Darien only had eyes for her. He was utterly lost for her. She was kind, charming, loving, joyful, and just plain wonderful. He couldn't believe such a perfect woman existed.
"Serena, if you could have any job you wanted, what would you do?" He unlaced their fingers then put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer up against him. He sighed in contentment when she was pressed to his side.
"That's the thing." She grumbled and leaned her head against his arm. "I got terrible grades in school. I was more interested in hanging out with my friends than bothering to do homework. Now, I realized I think I'd enjoy being a counselor and helping people. The problem is that I don't have the right transcripts to get into University for that now."
He thought about that. "You could always volunteer. You don't like your job, but you have one. You could help people in your spare time. It wouldn't exactly be counseling, but-"
"Oh my gosh! Why didn't I think of that?" She lifted her head from his arm and looked up at him. "That's brilliant. I just need to figure out where to volunteer."
"Um… you could volunteer at the hospital. I'm a resident now, and I could talk to the woman in charge of arranging the volunteers."
"Would that be taking advantage of your kindness?"
"No, honestly, it would be nice to see you at work."
Serena stopped in her tracks and looked up at him. "What is this between us? I feel… it's something big, isn't it? I don't know how I know." She dropped her gaze to her feet. "I sound crazy, don't I?"
He let go of her and faced her. "You have no idea how glad I am that you feel like this. I'm already falling in love with you, Serena."
He hesitated and started removing his watch. "I need to show you something. Until I met you this afternoon, it was in black and white."
He put his watch carefully in his pocket and held out his wrist. He'd made sure they stopped under a streetlight in the park. He made sure his mark was apparent in the lamplight.
"What?" Serena was in shock. "Is that a soulmate mark?"
"Yes. I never dated because I didn't see the point. I knew you were out there somewhere, and I was happy to wait until I found you."
She reached out tentatively and pulled his wrist towards her. "That's me?" She looked up at him with hope in her eyes.
"That's you. Even if it didn't change colors today when I met you, I would have known. You're the only woman who's ever interested me."
"Oh, thank goodness! I'm not heartless. My heart was just always meant for you."
He reached up with his right hand and stroked her cheek. "You have no idea how much I've looked forward to this moment."
He then leaned down and kissed her. He slid his tongue against hers and plundered her mouth. He then pressed her up against his body. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands slid down, and he grabbed her ass. He pressed her against his erection. He felt so good to have her pressed up against him. He growled deep in his throat, and he continued to taste her.
When he pulled back, her lips were kiss swollen, and her eyes dilated with desire. He wanted nothing more than to put her over his shoulder and take her back to his apartment. He wanted to touch and kiss every square inch of her body. His breath came out in ragged pants, and he couldn't get his desires under control.
"I want you so much, Serena. I better take you home before… I should take you home." He pulled back, and it felt like it took all his strength to separate from her.
Serena didn't help him by pulling away. "Whose home do you want to go to?"
"What?!" He looked at her in shock.
She smirked at him. "I'm your soulmate, right? They're incredibly rare, and they always work out. Or am I wrong?"
He shook his head, "No. You have that right."
"Am I the only one turned on right now? I'm so wet for you already."
Darien swallowed hard. His right hand snaked up, and he laced his fingers through her hair and gently pulled on her hair, tipping her head back. "If you come to my place with me, I'm going to want to bury myself in your tight wet heat. Also, I'm not going to let you leave. The moment I make love to you, you're moving in with me. I waited for you for so long that I won't be able to let you go."
"Let's stop and pick up some of my clothes, and we'll take them to our new place." She winked at him. "It seems I'm moving in tonight."
Darien walked into his apartment with Serena by his side. He pulled the spare key from the drawer in the hall, handed it to Serena to put in her purse, and then carried her bag to the bedroom.
He didn't even bother trying to figure out how he got her there. She was, and she wanted him. He was just going to go along with that incredibly wonderful occurrence.
She followed him into the bedroom, and he smiled at her, and he said, "You can unpack tomorrow."
She gave him a sultry look, "Oh? What did you have planned for tonight?"
He pulled her up against his body and bent down, and just before he kissed her, he whispered, "Tonight, I plan on making love to you." He then kissed her and moaned into the kiss when he felt her grind her core up against his hard cock. He wanted to rip their clothes off and thrust himself deep inside of her. She was driving him to the edge of his sanity.
Getting her naked and feeling her bare skin against his own almost made him cum right there. He felt such bliss his cock throbbed. He needed her in every way. He mumbled sweet nonsense into her ear as she kissed along the column of his throat.
"Serena, you're everything to me." He ran his hands over her skin and felt the curve of her ass. He then brought them to her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. He watched them pebble. "I won't ever get enough of you. Fuck, do I want you."
She moaned and arched her back. "Every touch drives me wild. I'm yours, Darien."
He touched and tasted and teased her. She was wrecked over him. He rolled her onto her back, and he watched her spread her legs for him. His cock twitched. It excited him that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
He made love to her. They were both virgins, so he was careful with her. He had worried he wouldn't know what he was doing, but as she screamed in pleasure, he realized they were made for each other. She raked her nails down his back, and it just made him even hotter for her. He lost all finesse and began thrusting hard into her. That was exactly what set her off. She orgasmed, screaming out his name. Two thrusts later, he spilled himself into her.
Thank goodness for birth control.
He laid there half on her. He'd managed not to collapse right on top of her. They were panting for breath.
"Wow," Serena whispered. "That was amazing."
He nodded. "So worth the wait."
She smiled at him. "I'm so glad you already insisted I move in with you. I don't ever want to leave."
"Mine." He whispered. They were soulmates, but he still had things to tell her about himself. A lot. One he'd start to mention now. "I've been all on my own for so long. I'm not anymore."
"No. From today on, I'm going to be by your side. It's the two of us forever. I'm yours, but that means you're mine too."
"All yours." He kissed her damp forehead.
"And lots of sex. I will insist on that."
He smirked. "I guess I can agree to that if you insist." He laid on his side and pulled her into his arms, and held her.
She chuckled, "Thanks for making that concession."
"Serena. Seriously, I'd do anything for you. I fell in love with you over dinner. You aren't just my soulmate to me."
She smiled up at him. "I fell in love over dinner too. I was just so afraid because it happened so fast. I didn't want to sound weird and scare you off." She kissed his chin. "But now I just want you to tell me when you can go again. I want more sex."
Andrew called Serena the following day. She'd left her phone in her purse, so she missed the call and had to call him back. She'd pulled on a shirt of Darien's and listened to the phone ring.
When he answered, she asked what was up.
"I wanted to check if you're okay. You didn't say what happened last night."
"Turned out he was married. His wife and six-month-old son showed up. It was awful."
"I'm so sorry. What a jackass! Not all men are like that."
"Don't worry, Andrew, I know. In fact-"
Darien snatched her phone out of her hand and spoke to Andrew. "In fact, I've managed to convince her to date me. I need my girlfriend back."
Andrew burst out laughing, "You're jealous she's talking to me right now and not paying attention to you."
"Got it in one. Bye, Andrew." He then hung up.
Darien tossed her phone on the couch and focused his gaze on Serena, "Now, as much as I like my shirt on you, and it's really hot, I think it would look better on the floor right now." He stripped her naked and carried her back into their bedroom. He wanted to hear her scream his name again.