Dance Beneath the Moon
By Michelle Harris
aka Lady M. Harris
A Sailor Moon Romance Story
Part Two
"Good evening, Dr. Shields," Serena greeted Darien as she sailed into his office, unannounced. A slight grunt answered her and she noticed his nose buried in his notes. As usual, open books and papers littered his already cluttered desk, a steaming cup of coffee placed comfortably within his reach. "I hope you had a good weekend," Serena began, knowing that his thoughts were elsewhere as usual. Mostly on his work, she knew. He was so dedicated to his work and patients that she understood now why Crossroads Central went through so much trouble to attain him at their hospital. But this was her usual greeting at the start of every shift. It was also her unofficial check-in with Dr. Shields.
She took a deep breath and blew the dust off of some his books that were, miraculously enough, still shelved on the bookshelf, next to the closed curtains. "I know, I did," she started again. "My parents took me to dinner Saturday night for my birthday," He really did need to dust his office, Serena thought to herself. She made a mental note to take the duster from Molly's desk and to make sure that she dusted Dr. Shields' office by the end of the week. While I'm at it, I might as well straighten up this mess of books over here, she thought again as she headed to another shelf by the filing cabinet.
"The funny thing was I had about two hours to kill after dinner. And you know, there's this cool place next to my apartment, called the Tattoo House," she said, sliding her glance nervously toward Darien's bent head, and continued. "Well, they've never offered metallic colors before . . . it's not really metallic, they just call it that," she picked up a fallen plague and straightened it, smiling slightly in the process. "And there was this really wicked, cool design of the moon and earth; it was the moon that captured my attention first. I don't know why I'm so fascinated with the moon," she said out loud to herself, as her fingers skimmed over more plagues of his, brushing off more dust. Her other hand still held the patients' charts that Dr. Shields normally asked for at the beginning of her shift.
Darien glanced up from his papers, Serena's words not quite registering in his mind, but reluctantly enjoying the sound of her melodious voice. Another sentence jumped out of the paragraph that he had been previously reading and pulled his attention back into the file. Running his fingers through his dark hair, his thoughts returned to the article before him.
"Well, I couldn't resist. I know it's not the thing to do, but lots of people do it all the time! Especially, you know, the teenagers. And I'm an adult, so . . . I did it," Serena sighed, loudly. There, she had said it. It was all out in the open now.
"How old are you, Serena?" Darien asked suddenly, glancing up from his papers. Now, why did he ask that, he thought to himself? He looked up from his pen that he had been idly rolling between his index finger and thumb. He ignored his patient charts for the moment that lay around him in scattered disarray, hiding the fact that he had a polished, mahogany desk underneath the mess. A couple of documents and a patient file lay before him, now only capturing some of his coherent thoughts.
Serena stopped her nervous chatter before him, completely lost at the sudden start of a conversation. A slight flush erupted across her animated features. "Dr. Shields?" She asked hesitantly, wondering why he would suddenly ask about her age. She looked down her crisp, striped uniform, suddenly at a loss for words. Well, of course he would ask what your age is, when you've only been going on and on about your birthday, you big, ninny, she thought to herself.
Darien shook his head, smiling slightly and said, "Never mind that, you don't have to tell me." Serena stood before him, with the charts still clasped to her chest, as if she was using them to shield herself from him. He smiled, dryly. She obviously was nervous about something and she had come to him, out of all people who knew her so well. Determined not to waste any more time, he stated, "You may put the charts in my in-box, Serena," nodding his dark head toward the overflowing brass tray. He then returned his concentration to the patient's summary before him, effectively dismissing her. She did as she was told but after a moment of silence, Darien realized that she still stood nervously before him.
As he expected, she cleared her throat. "May I-I ask you something, Dr. Shields?" she stuttered slightly, hands nervously fidgeting with her skirt.
Darien looked up at her, a slightly bored look playing across his handsome features. He was the last person at the hospital she would have come to. The problem was that, she was on a first name basis with practically everyone who worked at the hospital, except for Dr. Shields. Also, his reputation as a professional physician was impeccable and she knew her stupid secret would be kept safe with him.
"What is it, Serena?" Darien asked, arching one dark brow slightly, intrigued by her play of nervousness.
"I can't go to anyone else about-about this medical problem," she stammered again, blushing profusely as she looked away from his probing, hard gaze.
"Are you pregnant?" Darien bit out suddenly. The instant he said the harsh words, he regretted them. Christ, he thought to himself, just because she was popular with the guys around here, didn't mean she'd been to bed with all of them. "I'm sorry, I just automatically assumed---"
"No-no! That's okay," she laughed, shakily, releasing some of the tension she was feeling. "I mean, that's not . . . no, I'm not pregnant," she chuckled, quietly again. Fat chance, she thought to herself, bemused about what he had thought of her. She had no social life where men were concerned.
Compared to the rumors she had heard about Dr. Shields' glamorous night life. She shook the disturbing thoughts away. She didn't believe in rumors, even if some of them were true. "It-It's . . . I did something stupid on my birthday last weekend. And I think I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life. IgotatatooonmybuttandIthinkit'sgotteninfected,butIcan'tseeitandIwouldjustdieofembarrassementifIhadtogotoDr.Hamilton!" she rushed through her problem all in one breath, flushing like ripe tomatoes. She turned her delicate profile away from him and then stared down at the floor as if she was waiting for it to open up and swallow her at any moment.
Darien was tempted to laugh, but refrained from doing so when he realized that she was serious and that the whole situation did embarrass her, thoroughly. Instead, his lips twitched for a fraction of a second before he got control of his emotions. He put down his pen that he was still holding, and stated, "So you came to me about this? You realize, that this is highly irregular."
"I . . . I . . ." she began, swinging her clear, bright blue eyes back in his direction.
"I couldn't examine you without another female in the room. It goes beyond my sense of professionalism, not to mention the ethics of the situation," he sighed, watching her through his narrowed gaze.
"Then-then, that's okay. I'll just find a way to get it cleaned, somehow. Just forget I even mentioned it," she said hastily. Now she was thoroughly humiliated; she had just shared this with a stranger, well not a complete stranger, but almost. And he had refused to help her. Yet, she definitely understood how he must feel. He was a through and through professional.
"Thank you for your time, Dr. Shields," she said, wondering why her voice was wavering, and turned blindly toward his office door to escape his now confining office. Oh God, I'm not going to cry! This is stupid, she thought to herself.
"Wait!" he said sharply, capturing her wrist in his strong grip.
"No-no, really, it's okay. I understand," Serena said, as her blurry eye shot down to where his hand had captured hers, and then stared back up into his hard face.
Darien felt his breath catch for a moment as he gazed into those large, lovely blue orbs of hers, shining with large, unshed tears. For a moment, he felt his heart melt at the sight of her tears. No wonder the male technicians and male doctors flocked to her like birds. He wondered for a brief moment, if she looked at all the guys like that. Then, the softness disappeared, and he let the wall of hardness close over his features again. Of course she did, he thought to himself. "Why don't you show me that tattoo, and I'll be the judge of whether or not you really need some medical attention, humph?" he said, suddenly turning away and facing his desk. His voice was back to its normal professional and eloquent monotone.
"Twenty-six." He heard her say, suddenly and softly.
"What?" he asked, totally forgetting that he had asked about her age a few minutes ago. He reached over to the front of his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pair of latex gloves.
"You asked me what my age was. I turned twenty-six, last weekend," she stated as he turned around to look at her, pulling on a glove at the same time. Her features were serene, the watery eyes now gone.
Sweet, innocent, and twenty-six, he thought bemused, for the moment. Then sighing again, he thought, but old enough to know . . . Old enough to know what, Darien thought to himself? He was doing it again, putting her in the same category as Beryl and Melissa. She doesn't deserve that, especially from a cynical guy like myself, he thought, suddenly. Had she been like Beryl or Melissa, he would have known exactly what she was trying to get at. When he turned around to finish his thoughts, he was momentarily dumbfounded to find that Serena facing away from him, her skirt already unzipped, ready for him to examine her.
She looked very provocative, with her creamy skin peeking through her striped, volunteer skirt. Had she been Beryl, he would have known that the thrust of her shapely buttocks would have been intentional. But she was not, as he noted the slight trembling in her limbs. The laughter from earlier was completely gone, and he wanted her to be comfortable in his presence.
"Perhaps, Serena," Darien began, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He reached over and gently pulled her arm, leading her over to his desk. She looked up at him, blushing profusely, her blue eyes wide as they questioned him. "You should lean up against my desk, like this---" He maneuvered her body against the front of his desk, and had her place her hands in front of her, her body now supported by her hands against his desk. He snapped on his desk light and directed it toward her backside. Darien then unzipped and pulled part of her skirt back. He immediately saw the problem.
Her skin was obviously very sensitive. The tattoo design was expertly done and exquisite, even though he wasn't into tattoos. The design was a silver, metallic-looking crescent moon interlocking with another metallic larger, blue-green earth tattoo. Darien reached over on his desk to pick up the antiseptic and gauze that he placed there after retrieving his latex gloves. Neither was the tattoo quite on her buttocks as she had stated earlier, but located on her lower hip.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Moon Goddess, it's something like a Greek Mythology?" Darien asked, feeling Serena's body stiffen as he began swabbing the tattoo. He knew that conversation was a good way to soothe patients who were nervous.
"Yes," Serena replied, her voice somewhat muffled because she was facing Dariens's desk and the golden curtain of her hair acted like a barrier. "My mother told me about that fairy tale a long time ago, probably when I was a little girl. For some reason, I've taken the time to know the story by heart."
Darien smiled at the comment. He continued swabbing her tender skin, cleaning away any excess ink that was bleeding through her skin. "How long ago did you say you got this?" he asked, frowning slightly as he gaze touched on her the lacy top part of her panties that was only partially visible by her skirt. He pointedly ignored her smooth, creamy skin and the fact that his senses were filled with her subtle and delicate perfume that reminded him pleasantly of spring flowers.
"It's been about four days. Is it infected?" She asked, hesitantly.
"No, but your skin is very tender at the moment and you need to keep a loose bandage on it, until it heals a bit more," he replied, dabbing up some of the excess antiseptic. He leaned over his desk to reach for a bandage, which was next to the gauze. He smiled reassuringly to Serena as her gaze caught his underneath the waterfall of her golden mane. Serena reached over to push the bandage toward him as it was just out of his reach, when suddenly his office door opened and in strolled Nurse Johnson and Nurse Young, both of them in a deep conversation.
"Dr. Shields, Nurse Young wanted to know---oh! Oh, my God! Excuse us!" Nurse Johnson exclaimed as her eyes took in the scenery before her. Nurse Young immediately flushed, staring at the couple before her. They both backed up, bumping into each other at the same time as they scrambled to leave Dr. Shields' office as quickly as they had entered it.
"Wait, Serena," Darien said sternly, pushing her back down as Serena tried to jump up from her position. Darien quickly bandaged up Serena's tattoo, and zipped up her skirt efficiently.
"Dr. Shields, thank you, but---" She began, her face now as red as beets. Oh my God, Serena thought with dismay. What they must be thinking!
"Don't worry about those two," Darien cut in, frowning as his gaze went toward the closed door. "We did nothing inappropriate, Serena. Except for no other female being present. If something should come up because of this, tell me. I'll be the one to handle it, okay?" he asked, his hard gaze boring into hers, silencing any protest.
Serena wanted to groan in frustration. Of course, Dr. Shields wouldn't think anything of it. He never listened to the rumors that circulated around the hospital. Nurse Johnson was the biggest gossip and Nurse Young was jealous of the fact that Serena was Dr. Shields' assistant and that she was also in love with John. John didn't want to have anything to do with her and had bated Serena as competition for his affections, which at the time, had only caused some annoyance to Serena. She considered John as a friend, and nothing more.
"Serena?" Darien prodded, seeing the uncertainty in her face.
"Yes, and thank you, Dr. Shields. I'll keep what you said in mind," Serena nodded her head as she headed toward his door and left him leaning against his desk, staring after her.
Three days later . . .
Darien looked up at his closed office door, a slight frown marring his brow. He glanced at his watch again. It was almost eight p.m. and there still was no sight of Serena. He knew that she was periodically late, but an hour? He didn't have any patients checked into the hospital at the moment, but he did want to pick up a couple of patient charts that needed to be closed out. He knew that Serena had taken those particular charts home to work on organizing the mess that records had done to them. Darien was just reaching for his jacket, when Dr. Hamilton burst into his office, anger staining her pretty features. Serena reluctantly trailed in behind her, her usually bright eyes, downcast.
"Dr. Hamilton?" Darien acknowledged her, still reaching for his jacket.
"Serena?" It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her where she had been, when Dr. Hamilton interrupted him.
"I demand an explanation of exactly what is going on between you and Serena!" Amy burst out with barely contained anger.
"What is going on between Serena---?" Darien asked, confused by what she meant. He looked over at Serena, who smiled apologetically.
"I tried to tell her that nothing's---" Serena began, blushing, but Amy immediately cut her off.
"That's no explanation, Serena and you know it! I won't have your reputation ripped to shreds by this man! I've known him just a bit longer than you," Amy replied as she frowned at Darien. "Let me tell you exactly what has happened. Serena's reputation has been put on the line at the hospital."
"What are you talking about, Dr. Hamilton?" Darien asked, harshly.
"Have you heard the rumors, Dr. Shields?" Amy asked, frustrated at Darien's nonchalant attitude. And Serena was no better, acting almost as if she was protecting him from the rumors that were spreading like wildfires. Rumors of Serena and Dr. Shields in his office, doing the unmentionable and in an unmentionable position!
"No, I don't. Why should I?" Darien asked, dryly. He smirked at the thought that here was a professional such as Dr. Hamilton asking him such a thing.
"Because, Serena's date for the Christmas party has just dumped her without so much as an explanation. The doctors are snubbing her and the nurses' tongues are being malicious," Amy finished, her face fierce with anger.
Darien's hard, blue gaze narrowed on Serena's. "I thought I asked you to come to me if something like this got--" He was cut off again by the sound of Mr. Jefferson's sharp voice interrupting them on the intercom.
"Dr. Shields, I would like to see you and Serena, when you find her, in my office right now," Mr. Jefferson demanded.
"We'll be there, sir," Darien replied, turning toward Amy and Serena. "I'm afraid that we'll have to cut our conversation short, for the moment, Dr. Hamilton," Then turning toward Serena, he said, "we've been summoned to Mr. Jefferson's office. Shall we go?" He motioned the women toward the door.
"You still owe me an explanation," Amy replied sharply, staring daggers at him. Serena pointedly ignored the two of them, preferring to hide behind her emotions.
"As you please, Dr. Hamilton," Darien politely inclined his head toward her as they left his office.
"Dr. Shields, as you know, you are very well respected in this hospital," Mr. Jefferson began as he angrily addressed Darien. Serena stood next to Darien, nervously bunching up her hands, gazing at everything within Mr. Jefferson's office, except for director himself.
Darien sighed with the utmost impatience. He was becoming very annoyed with these rumors already.
"Would you and Serena care to explain, why the two of you were caught in comprising positions within your own office, Dr. Shields?" Mr. Jefferson asked, but not allowing Darien a chance to speak, he continued, "I don't care what you do with your social life, Dr. Shields, but this hospital has an impeccable reputation to maintain. And I will not have it tarnished by the thought of one of my most respected doctors-not to mention that you have a seat on the board here Dr. Shields-by conducting clandestine affairs in my hospital!" He finished harshly. He turned his back on the two silent figures before him, preferring to gaze out into the evening, waiting for their explanations.
Serena peeked up underneath her lashes at Darien and thought she caught the telltale beginnings of a smile before it was gone. The smile however, never seemed to reach his eyes, for they remained as hard as granite. She wondered for a moment, what Dr. Shields could be thinking.
"Would you care to elaborate, Dr. Shields? And what about you, Serena? I haven't even heard a peep out of you, yet," Mr. Jefferson asked, displeasure still tinting his voice.
"I . . . I . . . " Serena nervously stammered and then stopped, when she suddenly felt a heavy arm reach across her shoulders, squeezing her arm tightly.
"I will take full blame for the incident," Darien began loudly over Serena's heated protest. She felt Darien squeeze her arm tightly, pinching a nerve, until she had to suppress a grimace of pain. "Unfortunately, I let my passionate affections for my fiancée-uh-carry me away. It won't happen again, sir." Darien coughed, adding to the effect, with an almost sardonic tone to his voice.
Serena could only stand there, disbelief on her face, staring at Darien as if he had grown another head, her mouth gaping open like a fish, stunned by the turn of events. What in the name of . . . oh God, what is he thinking, she thought with growing alarm?
"Fiancée, you say?" Mr. Jefferson asked, as stunned by the news as Serena was. Then he chuckled. "Well . . . now, that makes complete sense. But, it still doesn't excuse your behavior, Dr. Shields," Mr. Jefferson replied.
Darien inclined his head, acknowledging the statement.
Serena's eyes had grown wide with apprehension, wondering what was next. Open your mouth, thought the stunned Serena. Say something, now! But despite her mind's command, her vocal chords remained inactive, numb with shock, and nothing escaped her suddenly dry throat.
"You realize now that Serena will not be able to volunteer here. Seeing as it goes against company policy for romantic partners to be working within the same organization or even close vicinity of each other," Mr. Jefferson continued . . .
It was nearing one o'clock in the morning when Darien and Serena finally left Mr. Jefferson's office. Serena walked silently toward the front of the hospital's entrance, her mind in a daze. She ignored the hospital staff's looks and whispering as they noted Darien and Serena's departure from the hospital. Seeing them together only confirmed the rumors that were still circulating like a brush fire around the hospital.
Darien watched her slumped shoulders and bowed head; even her little balls on her head seemed to be drooping.
"Serena, let me take you home. The bus has already quit running for the evening and it's the least I can do," he offered as she continued to walk slowly toward the bus shelter.
Serena rounded on Darien, anger flushing her lovely features as she found her voice. "Your fiancée? Dr. Shields, have you gone plain mad?! What were you thinking?!" She cried out. "And what was I thinking, going along with you, for heaven's sake! I could have handled the situation just fine without you."
"Serena, your reputation was getting ripped to shreds. And it certainly It didn't look like you were doing a very good job of 'handling the situation'," Darien replied, sarcastically.
"But your fiancée, Dr. Shields? How are we going to get out of this?" she asked, still astonished. "Why?"
"Serena, I don't go around giving out little favors," he said, his voice taut and low.
"What do you mean, by that?" Serena asked tentatively. She didn't trust the sound of his voice at the moment, a certain feeling of dawning horror by his statement.
"It means that, everything I do, has a meaning to serve my end, Serena," Darien replied, his gaze narrowing dangerously, before masking the coldness from her. It was so subtle that she wondered if she had witnessed the impervious chilliness or imagined it.
What kind of man is he, Serena thought suddenly as she continued to stare at him beneath the moonlight.
"Why do I get the feeling that you want something from me? And that-that this whole charade with me being your fiancée is part of it?" Serena stammered, suddenly feeling apprehensive about her future.
"Your cooperation in this little "charade" will entitle the funds for the community recreation center to be built. And I will make certain that it is built exactly where you've been lobbying for it, right next to Crossroads Elementary School," he answered her inquiry as they started walking toward the hospital parking lot.
Serena uttered a startled smother of expletives. "How-how do you know about that?" she gasped out, staring at him with wide, new eyes.
Darien gave her a sardonic grin. "Have you ever heard of Shields Financial Corporation?" He watched her eyes grow wider, this time in understanding as she connected his surname with the large corporation that held the funds for the recreation center to be built. "When my parents died, they left me a large fortune," he answered the questions forming in her eyes. That was understatement, Darien thought, but he didn't elaborate. "Currently, my grandfather controls everything. He will give up the rights gladly, as stated in the will, but not without me fulfilling the stipulations enclosed in the will by my parents," he sighed.
Serena stared at Darien in awe. He was the heir to the Shields Financial Corporation. It boggled one's mind just thinking about it. His family was stated to have millions, mostly in overseas investments and computer software technology. She had heard of his grandfather, and who hadn't?
He was one of the most powerful figures within the circle of bankers and the government. Not only did Dr. Shields have good looks, and a brain, but money too. "You're doing this for money?" she asked amazed, it seemed kind of lame to her.
"The money is just icing on the cake, Serena," Darien chuckled as they stopped in front of a luxurious, red sports car. There was also the mansion, the only part of the will that he really coveted, although he didn't understand why since it didn't hold very many good childhood memories for him. However, he did know that his grandfather fiercely loved the piece of property and wanted him to have it.
"My grandfather has made many excellent lucrative decisions in controlling the money. A lot of the money goes into charity organizations, with the stipulation that the charities reinvest within the corporation to fund their ventures."
"I read about that in the papers," Serena stated, fascinated by the idea and momentarily forgetting her current predicament. It was one of the reasons why the Crossroads district was so financially well off. It was a win-win situation all around, for the corporation and the charity. No wonder so many charities solicited the Shields Financial Corporation. It was a trend that was catching on among the wealthy families of Tokyo as well as other financially well off companies. "But what does this have to do with me or what has happened, Dr. Shields?" she asked, still overwhelmed by everything she was fast learning about the private Darien Shields.
Darien gazed at her for a long moment, before unlocking her side of the door, "The stipulation in the will states that I should have a fiancée." At her groan of dismay, he continued over her protests, "And that it must be convincing that I'm marrying for love. At least, to my grandfather," he laughed dryly.
"So I get you for this? But why me?" Serena cried out, shuddering a little in renewed horror. "I mean, what-what about Beryl or this Melissa?" she lamented still standing outside of his car door.
"Get in, Serena," Darien stated, quietly and authoritatively.
She got into the car quickly, staring forward in amazement. She wondered briefly why she seemed to be going along with his ordering about, as if he was addressing a child. This can't be happening to me, she thought. I wish . . . I wish I never met Darien Shields, she thought vehemently, as her mouth turned down.
"Let's just say, that they wouldn't work for the part I have in mind for you," Darien stated diversely, as he drove out of the hospital parking lot and onto Tokyo's streets. The 911 Porsche purred like a contented cat, hugging the road with its sleek design.
"You're blackmailing me, Dr. Shields!" Serena accused him.
"No, I'll be insuring that the funds get used toward your recreation center, by influencing my grandfather," Darien finished, smiling slightly as they pulled up to Serena's apartment building. He knew Serena's address and had memorized it, when he came across her personal information at the hospital, some time ago.
"I . . . Dr. Shields---" She said, in sudden defeat. Oh God, but she wanted that recreation center bad for those kids. She couldn't let that dream die in her hands, not when she could do something about it.
"Darien, Serena," Darien sighed, a little impatient. His gaze turned toward her in the dark car. She looked up at him again, with those incredibly huge eyes of hers. He couldn't tell the color in the darkness of his car, but he knew with a certainly that were wide with anxiety. He could almost feel the blueness of them and the emotional roller coaster taking place within her.
"There's another reason why I choose you . . . Serena," he said quietly, almost to himself.
"Another reason? What other . . . ugh . . . I give up!" She cried out, feeling slightly desperate. Then, as his gaze changed subtly, the way his dark eyes seem to almost smolder like warm fires and somehow she knew something was suddenly different between them as her heart began a hard throb within her ribcage with enough force to silence a thunderstorm. There was a certain feeling of overwhelming heaviness, and a kind of charge apparent in the environment of his car, as they continued to gaze at one another.
"I don't know . . ." he said to himself out loud, his voice suddenly deep and low and husky all at once. His large hand reached out to trace the curve of her delicate jaw line.
Serena froze, shocked and unable to believe that Dr. Shields-no Darien-was touching her face with his fingers, intimately, the way-the way a lover would.
"There's something about you . . . Serena. . . ." Darien ground out slowly, liking the sound of her name on his lips. There's a certain pull . . . attraction about you, Serena. . . . I want to . . . to touch you. . . "I want to kiss you . . ." he murmured, the raw sound of his voice trailing off into the darkness, his hand now gently gripping the back of her head and pulling her face slowly toward him.
I'm going to kiss Dr. Shields-no, Darien, Serena's dazed mind said to herself. Like in a trance, she wondered if she was still in the same dimension or that if she had entered the Twilight Zone. This isn't real, Serena's mind screamed at her as her eyes continued to gaze at Darien's lips hovering dangerously close to her own and getting closer with each rapid breath she took. This isn't happening, this-and then after that, all that mattered was the feel of his sensuous lips brushing against hers in a fleeting kiss of discovery. She sighed softly underneath the persistent pressure of his kiss.
Expertly, his lips explored her honeyed lips, savoring the sweet and lingering taste of her nectar. Liking the taste of her, he coaxed her lips apart and then his tongue delved into her sweet mouth, eliciting a helpless moan of fusing desire from her.
"Serena . . ." Darien pulled back suddenly, staring at her swollen lips. He wondered why he had let himself get so out of control.
"Darien . . . " Serena whispered back, still caught up in the fire, her heavy lids slowly opening.
He felt his body respond swiftly to Serena's passion-filled gaze. Her deep blue eyes smoldered with an unquenched fire. He ignored his body, but he was unable to resist kissing her one last time, hard and swiftly. "You should get in, Serena. Before I do something that we'll both regret later," he said, his voice sounding a bit harsh, but steady.
Serena's eyes snapped open with clarity. Her lips still tingled and felt swollen from the touch of his lips on hers. She touched them, with trembling fingers, still a little dazed about what had just happened. When she gazed back at Darien, she realized that it wasn't just some fantasy that she had been daydreaming about. His hard, lapis-blue eyes still smoldered with some unknown emotion as they continued to gaze at one another. She could practically feel the heat rising from him and from herself. To have tasted his lips, oh it was short of sheer bliss, Serena thought desperately as her eyes once more dipped to those sensual lips of his, unknowingly caressing them.
"Don't do that, Serena . . . or as God as my only witness, I'll take you right here and now." He gritted out, almost painfully, his body now clamoring for the feel, the touch of hers against him. Hopefully, that would scare her away, he laughed ironically to himself.
"I . . . Oh . . . I'll go," Serena panicked and she yet felt challenged by his threat, almost compelled to find out exactly what he meant to do if she continued to tempt him with her desire for him, but her hands fumbled to grip the door handle and awakening her to reality. She quickly got out of the car, suddenly grateful for the darkness of the night. It shielded her now flushed face as the cool, morning air touched her heated cheeks. She ran up the small steps to the glass doors of her apartment, her hands shaking from the emotional turmoil within her. She gazed back over her shoulder, toward his receding car, still wondering if she was going to waken to reality and to the insistent beeping of her alarm clock any moment now.
Stay tuned to part three, coming soon!
By Michelle Harris
aka Lady M. Harris
A Sailor Moon Romance Story
Part Two
"Good evening, Dr. Shields," Serena greeted Darien as she sailed into his office, unannounced. A slight grunt answered her and she noticed his nose buried in his notes. As usual, open books and papers littered his already cluttered desk, a steaming cup of coffee placed comfortably within his reach. "I hope you had a good weekend," Serena began, knowing that his thoughts were elsewhere as usual. Mostly on his work, she knew. He was so dedicated to his work and patients that she understood now why Crossroads Central went through so much trouble to attain him at their hospital. But this was her usual greeting at the start of every shift. It was also her unofficial check-in with Dr. Shields.
She took a deep breath and blew the dust off of some his books that were, miraculously enough, still shelved on the bookshelf, next to the closed curtains. "I know, I did," she started again. "My parents took me to dinner Saturday night for my birthday," He really did need to dust his office, Serena thought to herself. She made a mental note to take the duster from Molly's desk and to make sure that she dusted Dr. Shields' office by the end of the week. While I'm at it, I might as well straighten up this mess of books over here, she thought again as she headed to another shelf by the filing cabinet.
"The funny thing was I had about two hours to kill after dinner. And you know, there's this cool place next to my apartment, called the Tattoo House," she said, sliding her glance nervously toward Darien's bent head, and continued. "Well, they've never offered metallic colors before . . . it's not really metallic, they just call it that," she picked up a fallen plague and straightened it, smiling slightly in the process. "And there was this really wicked, cool design of the moon and earth; it was the moon that captured my attention first. I don't know why I'm so fascinated with the moon," she said out loud to herself, as her fingers skimmed over more plagues of his, brushing off more dust. Her other hand still held the patients' charts that Dr. Shields normally asked for at the beginning of her shift.
Darien glanced up from his papers, Serena's words not quite registering in his mind, but reluctantly enjoying the sound of her melodious voice. Another sentence jumped out of the paragraph that he had been previously reading and pulled his attention back into the file. Running his fingers through his dark hair, his thoughts returned to the article before him.
"Well, I couldn't resist. I know it's not the thing to do, but lots of people do it all the time! Especially, you know, the teenagers. And I'm an adult, so . . . I did it," Serena sighed, loudly. There, she had said it. It was all out in the open now.
"How old are you, Serena?" Darien asked suddenly, glancing up from his papers. Now, why did he ask that, he thought to himself? He looked up from his pen that he had been idly rolling between his index finger and thumb. He ignored his patient charts for the moment that lay around him in scattered disarray, hiding the fact that he had a polished, mahogany desk underneath the mess. A couple of documents and a patient file lay before him, now only capturing some of his coherent thoughts.
Serena stopped her nervous chatter before him, completely lost at the sudden start of a conversation. A slight flush erupted across her animated features. "Dr. Shields?" She asked hesitantly, wondering why he would suddenly ask about her age. She looked down her crisp, striped uniform, suddenly at a loss for words. Well, of course he would ask what your age is, when you've only been going on and on about your birthday, you big, ninny, she thought to herself.
Darien shook his head, smiling slightly and said, "Never mind that, you don't have to tell me." Serena stood before him, with the charts still clasped to her chest, as if she was using them to shield herself from him. He smiled, dryly. She obviously was nervous about something and she had come to him, out of all people who knew her so well. Determined not to waste any more time, he stated, "You may put the charts in my in-box, Serena," nodding his dark head toward the overflowing brass tray. He then returned his concentration to the patient's summary before him, effectively dismissing her. She did as she was told but after a moment of silence, Darien realized that she still stood nervously before him.
As he expected, she cleared her throat. "May I-I ask you something, Dr. Shields?" she stuttered slightly, hands nervously fidgeting with her skirt.
Darien looked up at her, a slightly bored look playing across his handsome features. He was the last person at the hospital she would have come to. The problem was that, she was on a first name basis with practically everyone who worked at the hospital, except for Dr. Shields. Also, his reputation as a professional physician was impeccable and she knew her stupid secret would be kept safe with him.
"What is it, Serena?" Darien asked, arching one dark brow slightly, intrigued by her play of nervousness.
"I can't go to anyone else about-about this medical problem," she stammered again, blushing profusely as she looked away from his probing, hard gaze.
"Are you pregnant?" Darien bit out suddenly. The instant he said the harsh words, he regretted them. Christ, he thought to himself, just because she was popular with the guys around here, didn't mean she'd been to bed with all of them. "I'm sorry, I just automatically assumed---"
"No-no! That's okay," she laughed, shakily, releasing some of the tension she was feeling. "I mean, that's not . . . no, I'm not pregnant," she chuckled, quietly again. Fat chance, she thought to herself, bemused about what he had thought of her. She had no social life where men were concerned.
Compared to the rumors she had heard about Dr. Shields' glamorous night life. She shook the disturbing thoughts away. She didn't believe in rumors, even if some of them were true. "It-It's . . . I did something stupid on my birthday last weekend. And I think I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life. IgotatatooonmybuttandIthinkit'sgotteninfected,butIcan'tseeitandIwouldjustdieofembarrassementifIhadtogotoDr.Hamilton!" she rushed through her problem all in one breath, flushing like ripe tomatoes. She turned her delicate profile away from him and then stared down at the floor as if she was waiting for it to open up and swallow her at any moment.
Darien was tempted to laugh, but refrained from doing so when he realized that she was serious and that the whole situation did embarrass her, thoroughly. Instead, his lips twitched for a fraction of a second before he got control of his emotions. He put down his pen that he was still holding, and stated, "So you came to me about this? You realize, that this is highly irregular."
"I . . . I . . ." she began, swinging her clear, bright blue eyes back in his direction.
"I couldn't examine you without another female in the room. It goes beyond my sense of professionalism, not to mention the ethics of the situation," he sighed, watching her through his narrowed gaze.
"Then-then, that's okay. I'll just find a way to get it cleaned, somehow. Just forget I even mentioned it," she said hastily. Now she was thoroughly humiliated; she had just shared this with a stranger, well not a complete stranger, but almost. And he had refused to help her. Yet, she definitely understood how he must feel. He was a through and through professional.
"Thank you for your time, Dr. Shields," she said, wondering why her voice was wavering, and turned blindly toward his office door to escape his now confining office. Oh God, I'm not going to cry! This is stupid, she thought to herself.
"Wait!" he said sharply, capturing her wrist in his strong grip.
"No-no, really, it's okay. I understand," Serena said, as her blurry eye shot down to where his hand had captured hers, and then stared back up into his hard face.
Darien felt his breath catch for a moment as he gazed into those large, lovely blue orbs of hers, shining with large, unshed tears. For a moment, he felt his heart melt at the sight of her tears. No wonder the male technicians and male doctors flocked to her like birds. He wondered for a brief moment, if she looked at all the guys like that. Then, the softness disappeared, and he let the wall of hardness close over his features again. Of course she did, he thought to himself. "Why don't you show me that tattoo, and I'll be the judge of whether or not you really need some medical attention, humph?" he said, suddenly turning away and facing his desk. His voice was back to its normal professional and eloquent monotone.
"Twenty-six." He heard her say, suddenly and softly.
"What?" he asked, totally forgetting that he had asked about her age a few minutes ago. He reached over to the front of his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pair of latex gloves.
"You asked me what my age was. I turned twenty-six, last weekend," she stated as he turned around to look at her, pulling on a glove at the same time. Her features were serene, the watery eyes now gone.
Sweet, innocent, and twenty-six, he thought bemused, for the moment. Then sighing again, he thought, but old enough to know . . . Old enough to know what, Darien thought to himself? He was doing it again, putting her in the same category as Beryl and Melissa. She doesn't deserve that, especially from a cynical guy like myself, he thought, suddenly. Had she been like Beryl or Melissa, he would have known exactly what she was trying to get at. When he turned around to finish his thoughts, he was momentarily dumbfounded to find that Serena facing away from him, her skirt already unzipped, ready for him to examine her.
She looked very provocative, with her creamy skin peeking through her striped, volunteer skirt. Had she been Beryl, he would have known that the thrust of her shapely buttocks would have been intentional. But she was not, as he noted the slight trembling in her limbs. The laughter from earlier was completely gone, and he wanted her to be comfortable in his presence.
"Perhaps, Serena," Darien began, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He reached over and gently pulled her arm, leading her over to his desk. She looked up at him, blushing profusely, her blue eyes wide as they questioned him. "You should lean up against my desk, like this---" He maneuvered her body against the front of his desk, and had her place her hands in front of her, her body now supported by her hands against his desk. He snapped on his desk light and directed it toward her backside. Darien then unzipped and pulled part of her skirt back. He immediately saw the problem.
Her skin was obviously very sensitive. The tattoo design was expertly done and exquisite, even though he wasn't into tattoos. The design was a silver, metallic-looking crescent moon interlocking with another metallic larger, blue-green earth tattoo. Darien reached over on his desk to pick up the antiseptic and gauze that he placed there after retrieving his latex gloves. Neither was the tattoo quite on her buttocks as she had stated earlier, but located on her lower hip.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Moon Goddess, it's something like a Greek Mythology?" Darien asked, feeling Serena's body stiffen as he began swabbing the tattoo. He knew that conversation was a good way to soothe patients who were nervous.
"Yes," Serena replied, her voice somewhat muffled because she was facing Dariens's desk and the golden curtain of her hair acted like a barrier. "My mother told me about that fairy tale a long time ago, probably when I was a little girl. For some reason, I've taken the time to know the story by heart."
Darien smiled at the comment. He continued swabbing her tender skin, cleaning away any excess ink that was bleeding through her skin. "How long ago did you say you got this?" he asked, frowning slightly as he gaze touched on her the lacy top part of her panties that was only partially visible by her skirt. He pointedly ignored her smooth, creamy skin and the fact that his senses were filled with her subtle and delicate perfume that reminded him pleasantly of spring flowers.
"It's been about four days. Is it infected?" She asked, hesitantly.
"No, but your skin is very tender at the moment and you need to keep a loose bandage on it, until it heals a bit more," he replied, dabbing up some of the excess antiseptic. He leaned over his desk to reach for a bandage, which was next to the gauze. He smiled reassuringly to Serena as her gaze caught his underneath the waterfall of her golden mane. Serena reached over to push the bandage toward him as it was just out of his reach, when suddenly his office door opened and in strolled Nurse Johnson and Nurse Young, both of them in a deep conversation.
"Dr. Shields, Nurse Young wanted to know---oh! Oh, my God! Excuse us!" Nurse Johnson exclaimed as her eyes took in the scenery before her. Nurse Young immediately flushed, staring at the couple before her. They both backed up, bumping into each other at the same time as they scrambled to leave Dr. Shields' office as quickly as they had entered it.
"Wait, Serena," Darien said sternly, pushing her back down as Serena tried to jump up from her position. Darien quickly bandaged up Serena's tattoo, and zipped up her skirt efficiently.
"Dr. Shields, thank you, but---" She began, her face now as red as beets. Oh my God, Serena thought with dismay. What they must be thinking!
"Don't worry about those two," Darien cut in, frowning as his gaze went toward the closed door. "We did nothing inappropriate, Serena. Except for no other female being present. If something should come up because of this, tell me. I'll be the one to handle it, okay?" he asked, his hard gaze boring into hers, silencing any protest.
Serena wanted to groan in frustration. Of course, Dr. Shields wouldn't think anything of it. He never listened to the rumors that circulated around the hospital. Nurse Johnson was the biggest gossip and Nurse Young was jealous of the fact that Serena was Dr. Shields' assistant and that she was also in love with John. John didn't want to have anything to do with her and had bated Serena as competition for his affections, which at the time, had only caused some annoyance to Serena. She considered John as a friend, and nothing more.
"Serena?" Darien prodded, seeing the uncertainty in her face.
"Yes, and thank you, Dr. Shields. I'll keep what you said in mind," Serena nodded her head as she headed toward his door and left him leaning against his desk, staring after her.
Three days later . . .
Darien looked up at his closed office door, a slight frown marring his brow. He glanced at his watch again. It was almost eight p.m. and there still was no sight of Serena. He knew that she was periodically late, but an hour? He didn't have any patients checked into the hospital at the moment, but he did want to pick up a couple of patient charts that needed to be closed out. He knew that Serena had taken those particular charts home to work on organizing the mess that records had done to them. Darien was just reaching for his jacket, when Dr. Hamilton burst into his office, anger staining her pretty features. Serena reluctantly trailed in behind her, her usually bright eyes, downcast.
"Dr. Hamilton?" Darien acknowledged her, still reaching for his jacket.
"Serena?" It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her where she had been, when Dr. Hamilton interrupted him.
"I demand an explanation of exactly what is going on between you and Serena!" Amy burst out with barely contained anger.
"What is going on between Serena---?" Darien asked, confused by what she meant. He looked over at Serena, who smiled apologetically.
"I tried to tell her that nothing's---" Serena began, blushing, but Amy immediately cut her off.
"That's no explanation, Serena and you know it! I won't have your reputation ripped to shreds by this man! I've known him just a bit longer than you," Amy replied as she frowned at Darien. "Let me tell you exactly what has happened. Serena's reputation has been put on the line at the hospital."
"What are you talking about, Dr. Hamilton?" Darien asked, harshly.
"Have you heard the rumors, Dr. Shields?" Amy asked, frustrated at Darien's nonchalant attitude. And Serena was no better, acting almost as if she was protecting him from the rumors that were spreading like wildfires. Rumors of Serena and Dr. Shields in his office, doing the unmentionable and in an unmentionable position!
"No, I don't. Why should I?" Darien asked, dryly. He smirked at the thought that here was a professional such as Dr. Hamilton asking him such a thing.
"Because, Serena's date for the Christmas party has just dumped her without so much as an explanation. The doctors are snubbing her and the nurses' tongues are being malicious," Amy finished, her face fierce with anger.
Darien's hard, blue gaze narrowed on Serena's. "I thought I asked you to come to me if something like this got--" He was cut off again by the sound of Mr. Jefferson's sharp voice interrupting them on the intercom.
"Dr. Shields, I would like to see you and Serena, when you find her, in my office right now," Mr. Jefferson demanded.
"We'll be there, sir," Darien replied, turning toward Amy and Serena. "I'm afraid that we'll have to cut our conversation short, for the moment, Dr. Hamilton," Then turning toward Serena, he said, "we've been summoned to Mr. Jefferson's office. Shall we go?" He motioned the women toward the door.
"You still owe me an explanation," Amy replied sharply, staring daggers at him. Serena pointedly ignored the two of them, preferring to hide behind her emotions.
"As you please, Dr. Hamilton," Darien politely inclined his head toward her as they left his office.
"Dr. Shields, as you know, you are very well respected in this hospital," Mr. Jefferson began as he angrily addressed Darien. Serena stood next to Darien, nervously bunching up her hands, gazing at everything within Mr. Jefferson's office, except for director himself.
Darien sighed with the utmost impatience. He was becoming very annoyed with these rumors already.
"Would you and Serena care to explain, why the two of you were caught in comprising positions within your own office, Dr. Shields?" Mr. Jefferson asked, but not allowing Darien a chance to speak, he continued, "I don't care what you do with your social life, Dr. Shields, but this hospital has an impeccable reputation to maintain. And I will not have it tarnished by the thought of one of my most respected doctors-not to mention that you have a seat on the board here Dr. Shields-by conducting clandestine affairs in my hospital!" He finished harshly. He turned his back on the two silent figures before him, preferring to gaze out into the evening, waiting for their explanations.
Serena peeked up underneath her lashes at Darien and thought she caught the telltale beginnings of a smile before it was gone. The smile however, never seemed to reach his eyes, for they remained as hard as granite. She wondered for a moment, what Dr. Shields could be thinking.
"Would you care to elaborate, Dr. Shields? And what about you, Serena? I haven't even heard a peep out of you, yet," Mr. Jefferson asked, displeasure still tinting his voice.
"I . . . I . . . " Serena nervously stammered and then stopped, when she suddenly felt a heavy arm reach across her shoulders, squeezing her arm tightly.
"I will take full blame for the incident," Darien began loudly over Serena's heated protest. She felt Darien squeeze her arm tightly, pinching a nerve, until she had to suppress a grimace of pain. "Unfortunately, I let my passionate affections for my fiancée-uh-carry me away. It won't happen again, sir." Darien coughed, adding to the effect, with an almost sardonic tone to his voice.
Serena could only stand there, disbelief on her face, staring at Darien as if he had grown another head, her mouth gaping open like a fish, stunned by the turn of events. What in the name of . . . oh God, what is he thinking, she thought with growing alarm?
"Fiancée, you say?" Mr. Jefferson asked, as stunned by the news as Serena was. Then he chuckled. "Well . . . now, that makes complete sense. But, it still doesn't excuse your behavior, Dr. Shields," Mr. Jefferson replied.
Darien inclined his head, acknowledging the statement.
Serena's eyes had grown wide with apprehension, wondering what was next. Open your mouth, thought the stunned Serena. Say something, now! But despite her mind's command, her vocal chords remained inactive, numb with shock, and nothing escaped her suddenly dry throat.
"You realize now that Serena will not be able to volunteer here. Seeing as it goes against company policy for romantic partners to be working within the same organization or even close vicinity of each other," Mr. Jefferson continued . . .
It was nearing one o'clock in the morning when Darien and Serena finally left Mr. Jefferson's office. Serena walked silently toward the front of the hospital's entrance, her mind in a daze. She ignored the hospital staff's looks and whispering as they noted Darien and Serena's departure from the hospital. Seeing them together only confirmed the rumors that were still circulating like a brush fire around the hospital.
Darien watched her slumped shoulders and bowed head; even her little balls on her head seemed to be drooping.
"Serena, let me take you home. The bus has already quit running for the evening and it's the least I can do," he offered as she continued to walk slowly toward the bus shelter.
Serena rounded on Darien, anger flushing her lovely features as she found her voice. "Your fiancée? Dr. Shields, have you gone plain mad?! What were you thinking?!" She cried out. "And what was I thinking, going along with you, for heaven's sake! I could have handled the situation just fine without you."
"Serena, your reputation was getting ripped to shreds. And it certainly It didn't look like you were doing a very good job of 'handling the situation'," Darien replied, sarcastically.
"But your fiancée, Dr. Shields? How are we going to get out of this?" she asked, still astonished. "Why?"
"Serena, I don't go around giving out little favors," he said, his voice taut and low.
"What do you mean, by that?" Serena asked tentatively. She didn't trust the sound of his voice at the moment, a certain feeling of dawning horror by his statement.
"It means that, everything I do, has a meaning to serve my end, Serena," Darien replied, his gaze narrowing dangerously, before masking the coldness from her. It was so subtle that she wondered if she had witnessed the impervious chilliness or imagined it.
What kind of man is he, Serena thought suddenly as she continued to stare at him beneath the moonlight.
"Why do I get the feeling that you want something from me? And that-that this whole charade with me being your fiancée is part of it?" Serena stammered, suddenly feeling apprehensive about her future.
"Your cooperation in this little "charade" will entitle the funds for the community recreation center to be built. And I will make certain that it is built exactly where you've been lobbying for it, right next to Crossroads Elementary School," he answered her inquiry as they started walking toward the hospital parking lot.
Serena uttered a startled smother of expletives. "How-how do you know about that?" she gasped out, staring at him with wide, new eyes.
Darien gave her a sardonic grin. "Have you ever heard of Shields Financial Corporation?" He watched her eyes grow wider, this time in understanding as she connected his surname with the large corporation that held the funds for the recreation center to be built. "When my parents died, they left me a large fortune," he answered the questions forming in her eyes. That was understatement, Darien thought, but he didn't elaborate. "Currently, my grandfather controls everything. He will give up the rights gladly, as stated in the will, but not without me fulfilling the stipulations enclosed in the will by my parents," he sighed.
Serena stared at Darien in awe. He was the heir to the Shields Financial Corporation. It boggled one's mind just thinking about it. His family was stated to have millions, mostly in overseas investments and computer software technology. She had heard of his grandfather, and who hadn't?
He was one of the most powerful figures within the circle of bankers and the government. Not only did Dr. Shields have good looks, and a brain, but money too. "You're doing this for money?" she asked amazed, it seemed kind of lame to her.
"The money is just icing on the cake, Serena," Darien chuckled as they stopped in front of a luxurious, red sports car. There was also the mansion, the only part of the will that he really coveted, although he didn't understand why since it didn't hold very many good childhood memories for him. However, he did know that his grandfather fiercely loved the piece of property and wanted him to have it.
"My grandfather has made many excellent lucrative decisions in controlling the money. A lot of the money goes into charity organizations, with the stipulation that the charities reinvest within the corporation to fund their ventures."
"I read about that in the papers," Serena stated, fascinated by the idea and momentarily forgetting her current predicament. It was one of the reasons why the Crossroads district was so financially well off. It was a win-win situation all around, for the corporation and the charity. No wonder so many charities solicited the Shields Financial Corporation. It was a trend that was catching on among the wealthy families of Tokyo as well as other financially well off companies. "But what does this have to do with me or what has happened, Dr. Shields?" she asked, still overwhelmed by everything she was fast learning about the private Darien Shields.
Darien gazed at her for a long moment, before unlocking her side of the door, "The stipulation in the will states that I should have a fiancée." At her groan of dismay, he continued over her protests, "And that it must be convincing that I'm marrying for love. At least, to my grandfather," he laughed dryly.
"So I get you for this? But why me?" Serena cried out, shuddering a little in renewed horror. "I mean, what-what about Beryl or this Melissa?" she lamented still standing outside of his car door.
"Get in, Serena," Darien stated, quietly and authoritatively.
She got into the car quickly, staring forward in amazement. She wondered briefly why she seemed to be going along with his ordering about, as if he was addressing a child. This can't be happening to me, she thought. I wish . . . I wish I never met Darien Shields, she thought vehemently, as her mouth turned down.
"Let's just say, that they wouldn't work for the part I have in mind for you," Darien stated diversely, as he drove out of the hospital parking lot and onto Tokyo's streets. The 911 Porsche purred like a contented cat, hugging the road with its sleek design.
"You're blackmailing me, Dr. Shields!" Serena accused him.
"No, I'll be insuring that the funds get used toward your recreation center, by influencing my grandfather," Darien finished, smiling slightly as they pulled up to Serena's apartment building. He knew Serena's address and had memorized it, when he came across her personal information at the hospital, some time ago.
"I . . . Dr. Shields---" She said, in sudden defeat. Oh God, but she wanted that recreation center bad for those kids. She couldn't let that dream die in her hands, not when she could do something about it.
"Darien, Serena," Darien sighed, a little impatient. His gaze turned toward her in the dark car. She looked up at him again, with those incredibly huge eyes of hers. He couldn't tell the color in the darkness of his car, but he knew with a certainly that were wide with anxiety. He could almost feel the blueness of them and the emotional roller coaster taking place within her.
"There's another reason why I choose you . . . Serena," he said quietly, almost to himself.
"Another reason? What other . . . ugh . . . I give up!" She cried out, feeling slightly desperate. Then, as his gaze changed subtly, the way his dark eyes seem to almost smolder like warm fires and somehow she knew something was suddenly different between them as her heart began a hard throb within her ribcage with enough force to silence a thunderstorm. There was a certain feeling of overwhelming heaviness, and a kind of charge apparent in the environment of his car, as they continued to gaze at one another.
"I don't know . . ." he said to himself out loud, his voice suddenly deep and low and husky all at once. His large hand reached out to trace the curve of her delicate jaw line.
Serena froze, shocked and unable to believe that Dr. Shields-no Darien-was touching her face with his fingers, intimately, the way-the way a lover would.
"There's something about you . . . Serena. . . ." Darien ground out slowly, liking the sound of her name on his lips. There's a certain pull . . . attraction about you, Serena. . . . I want to . . . to touch you. . . "I want to kiss you . . ." he murmured, the raw sound of his voice trailing off into the darkness, his hand now gently gripping the back of her head and pulling her face slowly toward him.
I'm going to kiss Dr. Shields-no, Darien, Serena's dazed mind said to herself. Like in a trance, she wondered if she was still in the same dimension or that if she had entered the Twilight Zone. This isn't real, Serena's mind screamed at her as her eyes continued to gaze at Darien's lips hovering dangerously close to her own and getting closer with each rapid breath she took. This isn't happening, this-and then after that, all that mattered was the feel of his sensuous lips brushing against hers in a fleeting kiss of discovery. She sighed softly underneath the persistent pressure of his kiss.
Expertly, his lips explored her honeyed lips, savoring the sweet and lingering taste of her nectar. Liking the taste of her, he coaxed her lips apart and then his tongue delved into her sweet mouth, eliciting a helpless moan of fusing desire from her.
"Serena . . ." Darien pulled back suddenly, staring at her swollen lips. He wondered why he had let himself get so out of control.
"Darien . . . " Serena whispered back, still caught up in the fire, her heavy lids slowly opening.
He felt his body respond swiftly to Serena's passion-filled gaze. Her deep blue eyes smoldered with an unquenched fire. He ignored his body, but he was unable to resist kissing her one last time, hard and swiftly. "You should get in, Serena. Before I do something that we'll both regret later," he said, his voice sounding a bit harsh, but steady.
Serena's eyes snapped open with clarity. Her lips still tingled and felt swollen from the touch of his lips on hers. She touched them, with trembling fingers, still a little dazed about what had just happened. When she gazed back at Darien, she realized that it wasn't just some fantasy that she had been daydreaming about. His hard, lapis-blue eyes still smoldered with some unknown emotion as they continued to gaze at one another. She could practically feel the heat rising from him and from herself. To have tasted his lips, oh it was short of sheer bliss, Serena thought desperately as her eyes once more dipped to those sensual lips of his, unknowingly caressing them.
"Don't do that, Serena . . . or as God as my only witness, I'll take you right here and now." He gritted out, almost painfully, his body now clamoring for the feel, the touch of hers against him. Hopefully, that would scare her away, he laughed ironically to himself.
"I . . . Oh . . . I'll go," Serena panicked and she yet felt challenged by his threat, almost compelled to find out exactly what he meant to do if she continued to tempt him with her desire for him, but her hands fumbled to grip the door handle and awakening her to reality. She quickly got out of the car, suddenly grateful for the darkness of the night. It shielded her now flushed face as the cool, morning air touched her heated cheeks. She ran up the small steps to the glass doors of her apartment, her hands shaking from the emotional turmoil within her. She gazed back over her shoulder, toward his receding car, still wondering if she was going to waken to reality and to the insistent beeping of her alarm clock any moment now.
Stay tuned to part three, coming soon!