Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel @ AI and ASMR
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
= Going back in time
... = Going forward in time
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Three - Dealing With Memories
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Darien's fingers stilled in mid-air. Did he just hear
correctly? Why would a gorgeous woman like her say something like
that? Gazing into her eyes, he asked, "Whatever happened to Diamond
Lathrop?"
Serena gazed up at him. Well, shit; Diamond was always a snag
in her plans. Pushing herself up and pulling out from under him,
she asked, "How do you know about Diamond? I haven't heard anyone
talk about him for about five years."
Darien mentally smacked his forehead. Obviously Serena didn't
remember that summer ten years ago. The summer of his undoing, just
by learning she existed...
"Raye, can you hand me the sun tan lotion?" Serena asked as
she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. This summer was
the first she was allowed to not travel with her parents to Europe.
Mike had been able to escape a few years earlier, when he ran off to
Hollywood to become an actor.
"Yeah." Raye Carlson handed her best friend her lotion. Raye
wondered if she should tell Serena about this guy she had met; maybe
later. "I'm glad you get to stay here for the summer, Rena. You
might even get to meet my workaholic half-brother."
Serena squirted some lotion onto her hand, "Who wants to meet
some twenty-year-old anyway?" Serena smeared the cream along her
fair skin and made sure she smeared it on her face. She never
tanned, only burned. The curse of being blonde. Smiling, she
added, "Besides, Diamond is supposed to come to the party tomorrow."
Raye perked up. "Diamond's coming here?" Now Raye wouldn't
stick out like a sore thumb if she invited Chad... Raye arched an
eyebrow, "Your boyfriend is coming to my house to see you? All the
way out here?" Raye stared in disbelief at Serena. She knew
Diamond was devoted to Serena--and vise versa--but this was pushing it. The only reason she could see him coming out here would to...
"You two don't plan on... well, you know... at least not in my
house."
Shaking her head, Serena replied, "No. He's feeling lonely
since his parents went away and your parents are having that party
in a few days. He was invited, so naturally he'd see me." Serena
grabbed two hair ties and flopped onto the patio chair. Putting her
hair in to two little buns, she laid down and dozed off dreaming of
Diamond.
* * *
"I'm home!" Darien dropped his bags in the hallway. He was
on vacation from New York University and this was the first time he
had been able to see his mother in months. "Ana, where's Mom and
Raye," Darien asked, putting his arms around the housekeeper. The
small Spanish dame had been a second mother to him and Raye as they
grew up.
Ana smiled back at Darien. Maybe now that he was home, Mr.
and Mrs. Carlson would not fight as much. "Miss Raye is
entertaining a friend by the pool and Mrs. Carlson is in the
library."
Darien picked up his bags and went up to his room. His room
was sparsely furnished compared to his dorm at NYU, but a welcome
relief all the same. He set the bags down and moved to open the
curtains. It always felt a little stifled in here. Taking a moment
to gaze out the window, he was awed by what he saw.
Sitting in a chaise lounge was a golden-haired goddess, her
bright blue bikini barely covered anything. She looked like she was
sleeping, but perked up when she saw Raye coming. She whipped her
sunglasses and began chattering at whatever girls chattered about.
Darien slowly backed from the window. So this was Raye's
friend. He looked down at himself and became slightly disgusted as
well as slightly puzzled. There was no reason to get excited over a
sixteen-year-old--amend that, a good looking sixteen-year-old--when
he had enough problems with women his own age.
He went into the bathroom and turned the water on. Turning
back toward the window, Darien resigned himself to having cold
showers for the next month. It's the only way he'd escape the state
he was in at the moment.
* * *
"Rena, do you really have to wear that?" Raye asked as she
got a peak at her best friend. Serena was wearing a pink tube top
and a tight pink sarong, showing not only a prodigious amount of
cleavage as well as her long slim legs.
"Well, of course, Raye," Serena said. "It's summer and we're
going to be eating outside." Serena didn't see what the big fuss
was about. Raye's mom, Angelina, loved her and her dad...well, he
was just a lecherous man.
Raye just shook her head at her friend. There was nothing she
could do now, but go along with it. Grabbing Serena's hand, she
took her downstairs to the patio. Stopping before she opened the
doors, Raye smoothed her skirt. Giving Serena one last look, she
opened the door and walked in.
"Raye, Serena, come in." Raye's mother, Angelina Carlson,
rose and hugged the girls. "Dare or your father won't be joining us
tonight," Angelina said once the girls sat down.
"Why not? Did Dad get called in? Does Dare have some essay
to write?" Raye asked, settling her napkin on her lap. Her half-
brother had been home less than eight hours and he was already doing
schoolwork. It was a nice thought that her brother wanted to work
for his place in life, but he needed to take a break every once and
a while.
Serena turned her head toward Raye. "What does he plan to
do?" Serena looked up at second-story window as she asked. There
was a man standing in the window, the sunlight gleaming off his
hair. There was something about the way he was standing that made
her shiver with delight. Dark blue jeans molded his muscled thighs
and a white T-shirt molded his chest and arms.
"He's studying to get his business degree," Raye giggled
behind her napkin. "He wants to out do his father in that aspect."
"His father?" Serena asked confusedly. "I thought your dad
was a doctor."
"Oh, no," Angelina said shaking her head. "I divorced Dare's
father when Dare was a year old." Shivering, she added, "The most
controlling man I'd ever met."
With Serena in the room, Raye couldn't ask the question that
burned her mind. What was the real reason Darien wasn't coming down
for dinner?
* * *
She had seen him in the window. He felt the palpable way she
looked at him with appreciation and anticipation. She obviously
wasn't what she seemed. He saw the way her lips parted in desire,
and he wanted her. Oh, Lord did he want her.
He could imagine the way she'd feel. Soft skin that smelled
like peaches would envelop him and entrap him. Her eyes would turn
an almost violet color as her legs would coil around his waist. Her
lips would be full and a cherry red from his kisses.
Darien sat and put his head in his hands. She'd never notice
him, though. He overheard Raye telling his mother about Diamond
Lathrop and Serena. That spoiled brat would just take a flower like
Serena and ruin her; ruin her fragility and innocence. Darien would
need to find her out tomorrow and put a stop to that relationship.
He shook his head in disbelief; he was getting jealous already.
Darien stalked out of his room and went into his
study/library, stopping short when he saw Serena there. She sat,
perched on the end of his desk in that outfit of hers, reading a
book. Funny, he didn't figure her as the bookish type.
The hair on Serena's neck stirred. Someone was in the room
with her. Aware of a tingle in the pit of her stomach, Serena kept
reading, all the while aware of the figure behind her. She needed a
dark, handsome stranger in her life, Diamond just wasn't cutting it.
Darien maneuvered behind her. He covered her eyes and took
the book out of her hands. He softly whispered into her ear, "Don't
be afraid." He softly kissed her temple and was pleased when he
heard a soft gasp.
Serena was still. She would bet that the voice belonged to
the man she saw earlier. It was rough and gravelly; a bedroom
voice. She tried opening her eyes, only to have him ask
plaintively, "Please, keep them closed." She shivered in delight
and did what he asked of her; she didn't want to ruin wherever this
game was going.
He slowly inched her off the desk, bringing her to stand in
front of him. He looped her arms around his neck and brought his
lips down on hers. She tasted like peaches and, surprisingly, a
touch of brandy. Chuckling softly to himself, he prodded her to
part her lips.
Passion ignited in Serena. Even Diamond had never kissed her
this way and this definitely wasn't Diamond. Where Diamond was
soft, this man was hard. She could feel his muscles through his
shirt, as well as his...endowments. His hands were rough as he
slid them down her arms and pulled her closer against him. She
shyly parted her lips for him and gasped when his tongue was warm in
her mouth.
Darien was hanging on by a thread. He was so close to just
laying on the floor and taking her. His little one was full of
passion and he wanted, no needed, to teach her himself. Anything
she did with that boy was probably just groping in a closet during
a dance.
Serena writhed in his arms. It felt so good to be this close
to someone, and to have them reciprocate some feeling, even if it
was just lust.
"Serena?" Someone called from the hallway.
Darien tore his lips from hers. Raye was the one who was
probably coming and he didn't want her to find them doing...this.
In a roughened voice, he said to Serena, "I'll see you tomorrow
night, here at ten o'clock."
Serena stood there, in his arms, with her eyes still closed.
She slowly nodded, only knowing that they would meet here again, and
again, until they were both satisfied. Her mystery man gave her a
light kiss and disappeared.
* * *
The party was teeming with people. Darien was mingling,
making sure that every guest was comfortable, all the while looking
for Serena. She had pounced on Diamond the moment he had set foot
in the house. She was polite to the guest he had brought, a redhead
named Emerald. Serena had been on Diamond's arm all night and
remained there when Raye introduced them.
"Rena, this is my half-brother, Darien Chaucy. Darien, this
is Serena Blade."
Darien did the polite thing and bowed. On his way up, he
slightly winked at Serena. Diamond just smirked and tugged Serena
along before she could fully appraise his...personality. Darien
hoped he trip over his ego and take his little guest with him.
Serena looked back at Darien and winked saucily at him. If
Diamond hadn't pulled her along, she might actually get to meet
someone. Or someone she might have already met... "Diamond, why
didn't we stop and say hello to Darien?"
Diamond threw his head back and laughed. Still chuckling, he
said, "Darien is the heir to the fastest failing business. Bourne
and Chaucy, Inc. is failing fast" Patting her hand he added, "The
only reason I'd even be civil to him is that Raye is his sister and
I have the utmost respect for her."
Diamond's partner added, "That and the fact that Raye's your
best friend."
Serena stood there and gapped at him. He was being so callous
and cold, not at all like his normal self. She had never seen him
be this petty of what someone was worth.
"Diamond, will you come with me please?" Serena asked him.
When Emerald started to follow, she said, "That doesn't mean you,
Hun."
Darien watched Serena and Diamond go into the house without
his companion. His heart sank as he followed them into the house.
She was taking Diamond to the study they were in last night.
Obviously it hadn't meant anything to her. Resigning himself to
never having a taste of her again, Darien went upstairs and started
to pack. Tomorrow he would be back in New York and would begin to
build his life anew.
* * *
"Serena, what is the meaning of-," Diamond was cut off by
Serena launching herself at him. He let her linger a moment, then
pulled her away from him. Looking at her quizzically, he asked,
"What's wrong with you?"
Serena choked back a sob. He definitely had changed, and not
for the better. She couldn't tell Diamond that she had fallen in
love with a mysterious stranger. He'd only try and force her into
things she didn't want to do, like he had two months ago. Serena
shook her head and stiffly walked out of the room, feeling as if she
had aged five years.
He could never let her know how he knew of Diamond. If she
didn't want to remember, it wasn't his fault. "I ran into him a few
days ago and remembered Raye saying that you and him had gone out a
long time ago." It was lame, but would do for now.
"Oh. We did, for a while." Serena shook her head, then
continued, "He cheated on me with this chick named Emerald and that
was the end of that."
They sat in silence for a few moments--each collecting their
thoughts--before Serena blurted, "I'm hungry. Can we get something
to eat?" Not hearing his answer, she dashed out the door, wincing
when she heard a crash behind her.
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
= Going back in time
... = Going forward in time
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Three - Dealing With Memories
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Darien's fingers stilled in mid-air. Did he just hear
correctly? Why would a gorgeous woman like her say something like
that? Gazing into her eyes, he asked, "Whatever happened to Diamond
Lathrop?"
Serena gazed up at him. Well, shit; Diamond was always a snag
in her plans. Pushing herself up and pulling out from under him,
she asked, "How do you know about Diamond? I haven't heard anyone
talk about him for about five years."
Darien mentally smacked his forehead. Obviously Serena didn't
remember that summer ten years ago. The summer of his undoing, just
by learning she existed...
"Raye, can you hand me the sun tan lotion?" Serena asked as
she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. This summer was
the first she was allowed to not travel with her parents to Europe.
Mike had been able to escape a few years earlier, when he ran off to
Hollywood to become an actor.
"Yeah." Raye Carlson handed her best friend her lotion. Raye
wondered if she should tell Serena about this guy she had met; maybe
later. "I'm glad you get to stay here for the summer, Rena. You
might even get to meet my workaholic half-brother."
Serena squirted some lotion onto her hand, "Who wants to meet
some twenty-year-old anyway?" Serena smeared the cream along her
fair skin and made sure she smeared it on her face. She never
tanned, only burned. The curse of being blonde. Smiling, she
added, "Besides, Diamond is supposed to come to the party tomorrow."
Raye perked up. "Diamond's coming here?" Now Raye wouldn't
stick out like a sore thumb if she invited Chad... Raye arched an
eyebrow, "Your boyfriend is coming to my house to see you? All the
way out here?" Raye stared in disbelief at Serena. She knew
Diamond was devoted to Serena--and vise versa--but this was pushing it. The only reason she could see him coming out here would to...
"You two don't plan on... well, you know... at least not in my
house."
Shaking her head, Serena replied, "No. He's feeling lonely
since his parents went away and your parents are having that party
in a few days. He was invited, so naturally he'd see me." Serena
grabbed two hair ties and flopped onto the patio chair. Putting her
hair in to two little buns, she laid down and dozed off dreaming of
Diamond.
* * *
"I'm home!" Darien dropped his bags in the hallway. He was
on vacation from New York University and this was the first time he
had been able to see his mother in months. "Ana, where's Mom and
Raye," Darien asked, putting his arms around the housekeeper. The
small Spanish dame had been a second mother to him and Raye as they
grew up.
Ana smiled back at Darien. Maybe now that he was home, Mr.
and Mrs. Carlson would not fight as much. "Miss Raye is
entertaining a friend by the pool and Mrs. Carlson is in the
library."
Darien picked up his bags and went up to his room. His room
was sparsely furnished compared to his dorm at NYU, but a welcome
relief all the same. He set the bags down and moved to open the
curtains. It always felt a little stifled in here. Taking a moment
to gaze out the window, he was awed by what he saw.
Sitting in a chaise lounge was a golden-haired goddess, her
bright blue bikini barely covered anything. She looked like she was
sleeping, but perked up when she saw Raye coming. She whipped her
sunglasses and began chattering at whatever girls chattered about.
Darien slowly backed from the window. So this was Raye's
friend. He looked down at himself and became slightly disgusted as
well as slightly puzzled. There was no reason to get excited over a
sixteen-year-old--amend that, a good looking sixteen-year-old--when
he had enough problems with women his own age.
He went into the bathroom and turned the water on. Turning
back toward the window, Darien resigned himself to having cold
showers for the next month. It's the only way he'd escape the state
he was in at the moment.
* * *
"Rena, do you really have to wear that?" Raye asked as she
got a peak at her best friend. Serena was wearing a pink tube top
and a tight pink sarong, showing not only a prodigious amount of
cleavage as well as her long slim legs.
"Well, of course, Raye," Serena said. "It's summer and we're
going to be eating outside." Serena didn't see what the big fuss
was about. Raye's mom, Angelina, loved her and her dad...well, he
was just a lecherous man.
Raye just shook her head at her friend. There was nothing she
could do now, but go along with it. Grabbing Serena's hand, she
took her downstairs to the patio. Stopping before she opened the
doors, Raye smoothed her skirt. Giving Serena one last look, she
opened the door and walked in.
"Raye, Serena, come in." Raye's mother, Angelina Carlson,
rose and hugged the girls. "Dare or your father won't be joining us
tonight," Angelina said once the girls sat down.
"Why not? Did Dad get called in? Does Dare have some essay
to write?" Raye asked, settling her napkin on her lap. Her half-
brother had been home less than eight hours and he was already doing
schoolwork. It was a nice thought that her brother wanted to work
for his place in life, but he needed to take a break every once and
a while.
Serena turned her head toward Raye. "What does he plan to
do?" Serena looked up at second-story window as she asked. There
was a man standing in the window, the sunlight gleaming off his
hair. There was something about the way he was standing that made
her shiver with delight. Dark blue jeans molded his muscled thighs
and a white T-shirt molded his chest and arms.
"He's studying to get his business degree," Raye giggled
behind her napkin. "He wants to out do his father in that aspect."
"His father?" Serena asked confusedly. "I thought your dad
was a doctor."
"Oh, no," Angelina said shaking her head. "I divorced Dare's
father when Dare was a year old." Shivering, she added, "The most
controlling man I'd ever met."
With Serena in the room, Raye couldn't ask the question that
burned her mind. What was the real reason Darien wasn't coming down
for dinner?
* * *
She had seen him in the window. He felt the palpable way she
looked at him with appreciation and anticipation. She obviously
wasn't what she seemed. He saw the way her lips parted in desire,
and he wanted her. Oh, Lord did he want her.
He could imagine the way she'd feel. Soft skin that smelled
like peaches would envelop him and entrap him. Her eyes would turn
an almost violet color as her legs would coil around his waist. Her
lips would be full and a cherry red from his kisses.
Darien sat and put his head in his hands. She'd never notice
him, though. He overheard Raye telling his mother about Diamond
Lathrop and Serena. That spoiled brat would just take a flower like
Serena and ruin her; ruin her fragility and innocence. Darien would
need to find her out tomorrow and put a stop to that relationship.
He shook his head in disbelief; he was getting jealous already.
Darien stalked out of his room and went into his
study/library, stopping short when he saw Serena there. She sat,
perched on the end of his desk in that outfit of hers, reading a
book. Funny, he didn't figure her as the bookish type.
The hair on Serena's neck stirred. Someone was in the room
with her. Aware of a tingle in the pit of her stomach, Serena kept
reading, all the while aware of the figure behind her. She needed a
dark, handsome stranger in her life, Diamond just wasn't cutting it.
Darien maneuvered behind her. He covered her eyes and took
the book out of her hands. He softly whispered into her ear, "Don't
be afraid." He softly kissed her temple and was pleased when he
heard a soft gasp.
Serena was still. She would bet that the voice belonged to
the man she saw earlier. It was rough and gravelly; a bedroom
voice. She tried opening her eyes, only to have him ask
plaintively, "Please, keep them closed." She shivered in delight
and did what he asked of her; she didn't want to ruin wherever this
game was going.
He slowly inched her off the desk, bringing her to stand in
front of him. He looped her arms around his neck and brought his
lips down on hers. She tasted like peaches and, surprisingly, a
touch of brandy. Chuckling softly to himself, he prodded her to
part her lips.
Passion ignited in Serena. Even Diamond had never kissed her
this way and this definitely wasn't Diamond. Where Diamond was
soft, this man was hard. She could feel his muscles through his
shirt, as well as his...endowments. His hands were rough as he
slid them down her arms and pulled her closer against him. She
shyly parted her lips for him and gasped when his tongue was warm in
her mouth.
Darien was hanging on by a thread. He was so close to just
laying on the floor and taking her. His little one was full of
passion and he wanted, no needed, to teach her himself. Anything
she did with that boy was probably just groping in a closet during
a dance.
Serena writhed in his arms. It felt so good to be this close
to someone, and to have them reciprocate some feeling, even if it
was just lust.
"Serena?" Someone called from the hallway.
Darien tore his lips from hers. Raye was the one who was
probably coming and he didn't want her to find them doing...this.
In a roughened voice, he said to Serena, "I'll see you tomorrow
night, here at ten o'clock."
Serena stood there, in his arms, with her eyes still closed.
She slowly nodded, only knowing that they would meet here again, and
again, until they were both satisfied. Her mystery man gave her a
light kiss and disappeared.
* * *
The party was teeming with people. Darien was mingling,
making sure that every guest was comfortable, all the while looking
for Serena. She had pounced on Diamond the moment he had set foot
in the house. She was polite to the guest he had brought, a redhead
named Emerald. Serena had been on Diamond's arm all night and
remained there when Raye introduced them.
"Rena, this is my half-brother, Darien Chaucy. Darien, this
is Serena Blade."
Darien did the polite thing and bowed. On his way up, he
slightly winked at Serena. Diamond just smirked and tugged Serena
along before she could fully appraise his...personality. Darien
hoped he trip over his ego and take his little guest with him.
Serena looked back at Darien and winked saucily at him. If
Diamond hadn't pulled her along, she might actually get to meet
someone. Or someone she might have already met... "Diamond, why
didn't we stop and say hello to Darien?"
Diamond threw his head back and laughed. Still chuckling, he
said, "Darien is the heir to the fastest failing business. Bourne
and Chaucy, Inc. is failing fast" Patting her hand he added, "The
only reason I'd even be civil to him is that Raye is his sister and
I have the utmost respect for her."
Diamond's partner added, "That and the fact that Raye's your
best friend."
Serena stood there and gapped at him. He was being so callous
and cold, not at all like his normal self. She had never seen him
be this petty of what someone was worth.
"Diamond, will you come with me please?" Serena asked him.
When Emerald started to follow, she said, "That doesn't mean you,
Hun."
Darien watched Serena and Diamond go into the house without
his companion. His heart sank as he followed them into the house.
She was taking Diamond to the study they were in last night.
Obviously it hadn't meant anything to her. Resigning himself to
never having a taste of her again, Darien went upstairs and started
to pack. Tomorrow he would be back in New York and would begin to
build his life anew.
* * *
"Serena, what is the meaning of-," Diamond was cut off by
Serena launching herself at him. He let her linger a moment, then
pulled her away from him. Looking at her quizzically, he asked,
"What's wrong with you?"
Serena choked back a sob. He definitely had changed, and not
for the better. She couldn't tell Diamond that she had fallen in
love with a mysterious stranger. He'd only try and force her into
things she didn't want to do, like he had two months ago. Serena
shook her head and stiffly walked out of the room, feeling as if she
had aged five years.
He could never let her know how he knew of Diamond. If she
didn't want to remember, it wasn't his fault. "I ran into him a few
days ago and remembered Raye saying that you and him had gone out a
long time ago." It was lame, but would do for now.
"Oh. We did, for a while." Serena shook her head, then
continued, "He cheated on me with this chick named Emerald and that
was the end of that."
They sat in silence for a few moments--each collecting their
thoughts--before Serena blurted, "I'm hungry. Can we get something
to eat?" Not hearing his answer, she dashed out the door, wincing
when she heard a crash behind her.