Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
Author notes: This is a revised chapter. I have added a few
things. It has also been edited by my beta-reader Turtle Recall. So if you want,
read it again. I would like to hear your opinion on it.
Chapter Four
"I can't decide Lita," Serena whined, looking from a pale pink sleeveless sundress with a squared collar to a periwinkle crochet dress with spaghetti straps and a rounded collar. "Well, what do you think?" she asked, looking over at her friend.
Lita put a hand to her chin as she glanced from dress to dress. "I don't think either one will do," she said nonchalantly. "But that one over there is perfect!" she said, noticing one on the bed and walking toward it. For me, she thought to herself, picking up the two-piece skirt outfit with a twinkle in her eye. "This is beautiful. When did you get it?" she asked in awe.
"Brad bought it," Serena began. "He wanted me to go to this
dinner with him and my aunt. Her agent had arranged this meeting plus dinner
with Revlon, and Brad asked her to bring me along. At the last minute, she
decided I would have just been bored, so I didn't go.
"Perfect," voiced Lita in response, as she smiled and nodded her head slightly.
Serena put on her perfectly matching shoes, and sat down on the sofa. There were butterflies in her stomach and her heart was pounding rapidly, as the clock slowly ticked down the minutes until Darien's arrival. When the doorbell rang, she almost jumped out of her skin. She glanced at the clock. It read 6:35. She shot Lita a panicked look as she rose to get the door. "He's early!" she whispered.
"Chill out Sere," Lita stated, brow furrowed as she noticed the fear in her friend's eyes. She shook her head slightly. "Don't forget your purse," she commented mildly. Serena walked to the door, and after looking through the spy hole, she let out an annoyed sigh and opened the door.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, resting one hand on her hip. She stared into the all-too-familiar brown eyes, and then noticed that their attention was focused on all the wrong parts of her anatomy. "Well?" she asked, growing angry as she forced Brad away from his less than innocent thoughts.
He stared into her eyes for a moment before responding; "Beryl's going to be out of town for a few days. She asked me to keep an eye on you while she's away." He then changed the subject. "So where are you going in that dress?" he asked, in a parental tone subtly mixed with something indefinable.
Serena let out a disgruntled sigh. "I have a date if you
must know. And what is wrong with
this dress?" she asked, anger apparent from her tone. Why did he buy it if he didn't like it?
"With whom?" he asked, stepping toward her and completely ignoring her previous question.
"I don't see how that is any of your business," she said, each word dipped in ice. She began to regret her statement as she saw his jaw tighten, eyes glazed with fire. He stepped even closer, staring down into her eyes. He pushed the door close behind him.
"You don't see it, do you?" he stated his eyes softening slightly. "Serena I-"
"So, what's your name again?" Lita asked, completely out of the blue. Brad looked up in surprise, giving the impression that he had forgotten she was even there.
"Mr. Maples" he responded, glancing up at her. Her head was turned and she was still flipping through a magazine.
"Oh yeah - Brad. So when is Beryl coming back?" Lita glared over at him from her seat on the sofa.
"Wednesday," was his curt reply, as he returned his attention to Serena. "I can give you a ride home. When will you be back from your date?" he asked, tone wavering and eyes clouded.
"I won't need a ride. My date can drop me off," she stated in a huff. She turned to open the door for him when he blocked her path.
"When will he drop you off?" he asked, obviously not going to let it go. He put a hand on her arm, caressing it lightly. He looked at her eyes, which were now crackling with anger. "I am responsible for you until your aunt returns," he informed her, dropping his hand to his side.
"Darien Shields is picking me up and dropping me off after dinner" she stated, obviously tiring of the conversation.
"Darien Shields!" he all but growled, causing both girls to jump. He quickly regained his composure. "You are not going out with him," he stated in a tone as calm and factual as a comment on the weather.
"The hell I'm not!" she shouted back, sick of the game. "You can't tell me what to do! You're not my father!" she shouted, well aware that she sounded about six years old. Her anger was finally getting the better of her. This guy has some nerve, she thought as she glared up at him.
"I don't want to be your father, Serena! Believe me, I don't," his tone dropping. "I just don't want you to get hurt," he almost begged, eyes pleading for her understanding as he stared down at her.
"I can take care of myself, Brad," she countered, her voice barely masking her anger. "And I think it's high time for you to leave," she concluded, walking past him and opening the door. He looked at her for a moment, then to the doorway, wearing a nasty smirk on his face.
"Darien Shields, I presume," Brad questioned the man in the doorway whose hand was slightly raised in preparation to knock. His eyes shone in amusement at the look of disbelief on Serena's face, as she looked at an equally confused Darien in the doorway.
"Yes, have we met?" he asked, brow arched in query as he entered the home. He gave Serena a questioning look.
"Not really. Serena was just telling me how you two have a date this evening." Brad's cold eyes locked in a staring contest with Darien's. "So when will she be home?" he asked, taking the parenting tone once again. He vaguely registered the gasp that escaped Serena at his question.
"Brad," Serena said slowly, now seething, glared at him in warning. His attention returned to her, then to her surprise, he reluctantly took the hint and left it alone.
"I was just leaving," he spat as he exited. I'll see you later, Serena, he told himself, closing the door behind him.
"Who-" Darien started.
"Nobody, believe me," she interrupted, shaking her head. "Shall we go?" she asked with a bright smile, hoping not to get into another uncomfortable conversation. She was thankful when he seemed to let the matter slide.
"Nice seeing you again Lita," he said in acknowledgement of her presence on the sofa. She waved to him, looking as annoyed as Serena if not more, over the whole situation.
"I guess we should get going," Darien said, looking into Serena's eyes, then over her appearance. "You look beautiful," he added.
"Thank you," she replied, as she gave him a dazzling smile. Giving Lita a quick, "See you later," they headed out the door.
Serena was surprised to see that once in his car, they were headed out of the city. The conversation she had with Lita came to mind for a second. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she glanced at her escort. He wore a dark Armani suit that complimented just about everything about him. He had left a few buttons loose on his shirt, giving him a raw, masculine sex appeal. In fact, his whole appearance made her shiver slightly with an unfamiliar feeling. Damn if he's not a regular Adonis. This is so not good, she thought, as she felt the warmth rise in her cheeks.
"Are you originally from New York?" he asked, pulling her back from her reverie. He glanced at her quickly with a slight smile.
"Uh…oh no…I was born in Paris. I lived there until three years ago, when my father passed away." She choked slightly on the words; they were clearly still difficult for her to say. "My Aunt Beryl took me in, and I've been living with her ever since." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "How about you?" she asked, curious to know more about the man next to her.
"I was born in Florence…Florence, Ohio, believe it or not. My mother's family lives there, and she was visiting when she went into labor. Well…that's what my au pair told me, anyway. My dad didn't talk about my mom much." He paused in thought, "He did, however, insist I go to St. Paul, and then to Harvard. At the time, I was either in school or at the office, 'bonding' with dad."
Serena glanced out the window. "I know what you mean. My dad spent a lot of time on business trips. I spent most of my time under the care of my nanny." She sighed. "So where are you taking me, anyway?" she asked, abruptly changing the subject.
"I told you before, it's a surprise. I think you'll like it," he said, eyes twinkling. "As a matter of fact, we're here," he said, while turning the car onto a private road.
Serena looked on in awe as he pulled up the drive, revealing an absolutely amazing house. The austere beauty of the historic mansion made it look like something out of a movie. This is straight out of a dream, she thought, her head tilting to look out the window of the car, in attempts to see if the roof reached the clouds. When the door opened she blushed slightly in embarrassment. Darien smiled, taking her hand and helping her out of the car. He led her up a flight of brick steps that lead to large double doors. Serena's eyes grew large as he opened the doors to reveal a large foyer with dark marble floors. She tried to hide her awe as they stepped down into the dining room. She looked up into a cathedral ceiling, her mouth slightly ajar.
"I take it you like the house?" he asked with a broad grin, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Y-yes, it's lovely," she stated with a slight blush, knowing he already knew the answer. She then noticed a large table with a mouthwatering spread. "Wow," she gasped, looking over the delicacies arrayed before her. "Everything looks so good," she whispered as he pulled out a seat for her. Sitting, she placed a napkin in her lap.
"I'm happy you approve," Darien whispered in her ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine. He then seated himself opposite to her. As they ate the food, Serena has to suppress a moan; it was so good that it was almost seductive. Even the vegetables tickled her taste buds and aroused the senses. Once they had completed the meal, to Serena's surprise several men in tuxedos came out and removed everything, placing a bowl of chocolate covered strawberries in a delicate pastry shell in front of her. Serena grinned with anticipation as she dug in. After desert, they sat in the Great Room before a large natural fireplace with a blazing fire. Darien turned on some music as they talked of their past, family, and future plans.
"What do you want to be Serena?" Darien asked, taking a seat next to her on the plush sofa.
"A doctor. I have always been really interested in medicine," she stated, turning slightly toward him so their knees touched.
"What kind of doctor?" he asked.
"A pediatrician" she answered without hesitation. "I've always wanted to be a doctor so I could help people. But I like working with children the most. They need the most help sometimes. There's also the fact that I've always wanted a large family. That probably had something to do with it," she concluded with a giggle. He looked deep into her eyes. Her laughter sounded like music to his ears.
"I think you'll make a great doctor, Serena," he whispered gently, holding her hand.
He pulled her toward him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips that soon turned desperate. He felt her moan into his mouth as his hands wandered to her waist. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he pulled her even closer. A moan grumbled in his throat, giving Serena a sense of satisfaction. I'm affecting him. If not as much as he is affecting me I'm still getting to him. He wants me like I want him. She felt his hands begin to gently explore her body. Her hands traveled down his chest. She began to undo his buttons. Her sensibility, scattered to the winds by the passion of the kiss, began to return. What the hell am I doing? She fought with herself. This is way too fast. Isn't there something I was supposed to tell him? But she forgot all that, as his lips traveled to her chin, then her neck. She closed her eyes, letting her head fall back. His hand played with her top, and she felt him pull her strap down, planting kisses on the exposed skin. Oh so soft, he thought, continuing his exploration. Just like satin. He placed one hand on her breast, testing. He slowly slipped a hand under her top. Unbelievable, he thought, a low moan escaping his lips and his finger grazing her nipple.
My age! That's what I have to tell him!" she remembered, suddenly trying to regain control. Oh yeah that's good, really good. She mentally shook her head. Damn it, Serena tell him! She thought, forcing her lips to move.
"D-Darien…UMMM…oh I need to t-tell you." Oh my, that's naughty. She cleared her mind of her wayward thoughts as she pushed him slightly away. "I need to ask you something," she stated, looking into his darkened eyes.
"How old do you think I am?" she asked. He looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Well, I'm not eighteen, if that's what you thought" she continued, not getting or really expecting a response. "I'm actually…um…in fact I'm …sixteen." she finished in a whisper, looking into the fireplace. Ok, it's out there, she thought.
At first there was just silence, then an agitated groan was heard. She looked to see him leaning back into the couch, finding something on the ceiling fascinating.
"Are you mad?" she asked carefully.
"Well, I'm not exactly happy. You're underage, Serena! I can't believe this!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "I'm 26 years old."
"I know I'm young, but I still want to be with you Darien," she said in a whisper, her body still on edge from their embrace. He turned to look at her, conflict clear in his eyes.
"I want to be with you too" he sighed, once again laying his head back. "But I'm not sure we're thinking on the same level, Serena," he mumbled. As the fire started to die down, Darien got up to put another log on. He poked at the fire for a while, and then leaned the poker against the hearth.
Serena watched his actions from her position on the sofa. A myriad of new emotions surged through her. He had ignited a fire within her, a craving for something, anything to quench it. She stared at his chiseled form, golden in the firelight. The need to be near him, touch him, feel his hands upon her once again coursed through her veins. Slowly standing, she walked toward him, not sure what she would do or what she really wanted from him. One thing she was certain of: she didn't want this feeling to end. For this to end in silent acceptance that whatever they might have been was no more.
Hearing a slight noise behind him, Darien turned to find her standing before him. He stared deep into her eyes. Her proximity made his heart race in his chest. She gently ran a hand from his stomach to his chest, reveling in the slight quiver caused by her touch.
"Darien…"she began, her hands reaching his shoulders. "I think I know exactly what we're talking about," she whispered huskily, lips brushing his chin. "I want you," she mumbled, placing delicate kisses on his chin and moving slowly down to his neck. She pressed close to him as she placed kisses down his throat, she could feel a rumble beneath her lips. She could feel him stiffen when she reached his chest. His hands clasped into fists at his side.
"S-Serena," he groaned hoarsely, as if finding his voice for the first time. "We shouldn't d-do this," his mind losing the inner battle, each soft touch of her lips tingling his senses. His body surrendered to her charms as he felt his heated reaction to her touch.
"Do what?" she asked innocently. I've never wanted anything more in my life, she thought as she ran her fingers down his chest to his waistline. She was taken back when his hands clasped her wrists, putting them to her sides.
"I think…I know I should take you home now," he said huskily, his breathing ragged. He walked by her, running his fingers through his hair.
"You don't want me?" she asked softly, confusion and hurt evident in her voice. He turned to face her.
"Don't want you?" he asked incredulously before walking swiftly to her. "Serena…I…I want you so much I ache inside." His voice was broken with uncertainty; the words felt foreign to his lips. Is it possible she can't see what she's doing to me? He wondered. Sixteen he reminded himself, closing his eyes.
"Then why do you want me to leave?" she asked, still shaken from the intensity of his words. She stepped toward him, placing a hand on his chest. He grabbed her hand before it could make contact.
"I don't want you to do something you'll regret later. That I'll regret later. Serena, you're too young-" She silenced him with a finger to his lips.
"I know what I want, Darien" she said, looking into his eyes. "Do… you… want… me?" she asked, as her lips drew ever closer to his. He watched her, captivated, her words igniting a fire within him that was raging out of control.
"Yes, Damn it… yes." His lips violently captured hers, delving into her mouth with all the repressed passion within him. He pulled her to him almost violently as she moaned softly into his mouth.
To be continued…
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