Rent A Fiancé
Chapter 2
DC: Wow I don't have anything quirky to say…go figure…..so I'll just say….I don't own SM but I have had my eye on Darien for quite some time now *wink wink nudge nudge* hehe
I was going for 8 pages but didn't quite make it lol
Darien had a restless sleep. He could smell her perfume on his skin even though he'd showered twice. Just the thought that she was a few rooms over irked him. Finally he couldn't stand it anymore. He had to go to her. He jumped up out of the bed, clad only in his boxers and rushed out of the room. Once he was in front of her door he didn't know what to do. Knock? No. He quietly opened the door and peered inside. What he saw took his breath away. The window was open and a slight breeze was blowing. The moonlight was shining on her face and it gave her profile a look of angelic innocence. Oh how we ached to reach out and touch her. He figured that if he could just kiss her again, then she would be out of his head. He wanted her simply because…because…well he didn't know why. But he was so sure just one taste of her to satisfy his hunger and leave everything like it was before. Or maybe it was that this was one of the most meaningful relationships he'd had since Rei. Of course he'd had plenty of one night stands, but this was just different. The fact that just a kiss had ignited such passion and that it went unquenched. He just didn't know. And just staring at her wouldn't make the answer come to him. Brilliance hit him. He'd make her fall in love with him. He'd romance her until she couldn't take it anymore. He'd instigate advances and then withdraw. He knew from that kiss that she couldn't resist it, and he could tell that she didn't like the fact that he'd pulled away first and not her. He couldn't wait to mess with her….he didn't plan on sleeping with her, then he'd go too far and wouldn't be able to get her to fall out of love with him. He smiled to himself as he crawled back into his bed and sleep finally came to him.
*********
Serena awoke to the sound of Darien's voice. But why would she be hearing his voice. Was she dreaming? "Ouch" no she wasn't dreaming.
"Rise and shine sunshine." Said Darien
"ugh what time is it?" asked Serena
"Why time for us darling lovebirds to start our day."
"Darien honey, did you hit your head this morning or did slip something in your coffee?"
"I haven't had any coffee. All I had to do was think of you and I brightened up like a light." Darien couldn't believe how easy this came to him. He ripped the covers off of her. She had been sleeping in an old grungy t-shirt. "Wow nice pjs."
"I usually sleep in the nude." Said Serena dryly. And smiled when it stunned Darien just a bit.
"Well I'm glad you didn't last night, or we would both be naked right now." Darien grinned at her expression
"Like I'd be in the bed if you stripped naked" Serena wasn't so sure of herself
"Oh really….If a kiss almost got us hot and sweaty, imagine our bodies rubbing against one another." Darien was relieved when she didn't retort, he had to stop or he would get in the bed with her.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" asked Serena
"We are having lunch with my mother."
"What?!?!" Serena sat forward, exposing her creamy legs, Darien had to look away. "Doesn't that sound a little official to you Darien?"
"Relax. My mom has seen so many women pass by in my life that she won't take it anymore than that."
"But….doesn't she know we are engaged?"
"Yes. But she told me over the phone that she believed it impossible for me to fall in love and be with one woman for the rest of my life. So we are in the clear. When our engagement ends, I'll hear a couple of 'I told you so-s' and that will be the end of it. Your father knows it's a hoax and the rest of your family doesn't even know my existence."
"I don't know Darien…..you are a big head in business….if anything leaked out…."
Darien stepped forward, crouching down to her level, and took her chin in his hand. "Don't worry ok. If anything leaked out, it would be me in hot water, not you."
Serena didn't know if it was his cologne, or just looking in his cerulean blue eyes. But she couldn't stop herself. In a flash, her lips were on his and his arms where around her. She thought her heart was going to pound out of her chest. He ran his fingers through her hair, causing her to gasp on impulse, and he took her mouth captive with his tongue. Warning bells were going off in her head. Here they were getting dangerously erotic and here she was in nothing but a ratty old t-shirt and panties. Suddenly she remembered her plan. Her goal was to get him to fall in love with her. With all her strength, she pushed off the bed, where she was towering over him, causing him to have to look up to keep their lips in contact.
Darien could feel the heat of her skin through the fabric of her shirt. He could also tell she was wearing nothing underneath. In their position it would be so easy to pull her shirt over her head, revealing everything he'd dreamt about underneath. He could feel every texture of the fabric of his clothing against his skin. If this went on too much longer, he wouldn't be able to stop. Even if she protested, he wouldn't be able to stop. He pushed her back on the bed and stood up. For a moment he contemplated jumping back in on her. But the surprise in her eyes turned him away. "Um Serena…..I don't know what to say…..well we've got lunch at noon, so I suggest you go take a shower." 'And I need a cold shower' he thought to himself.
Serena was outraged. He'd done it again. Left her high and dry. Perhaps it was for the best. She felt like throwing something at him. It was obvious there was an attraction between them. But he shrugged it off so easily. True she was good at hiding her feelings, but at least she had some. She found herself wanting him, wanting him badly. He wasn't going to get away so easily. If he could brush off their "supposed engagement" so easily, she just had to make it hard for him. She'd go take her shower. She'd have lunch with his mother. She'd be the sweet, innocent, polite angel that she was, so unlike Darien's type, and his mother would start to believe that she'd managed to capture his heart and hold it. And then, Darien would break his mother's heart, by having to break Serena's, and his mother would never let him live it down. Revenge was sweet on her tongue…..but a little bitter-sweet on her heart, though she wouldn't admit it now.
Darien stood under the icy cold stream of his shower. Wowzers. One kiss could have this effect on him. He'd scrubbed himself three times and he could still smell her. Still taste her. Having to live like this was dangerous. The line between them was growing smaller inch by inch, more on his side. He wouldn't be able to hold himself off her with many more kisses like that. And this time it was Serena that had kissed him. He admitted, if she hadn't kissed him, he'd have eventually kissed her. He stepped out clad only in a towel and watched his reflection in the mirror. He'd had countless one-night stands and many women, why couldn't he let himself have this woman, when she wanted him too. Its not like she is an innocent angel. She'd admitted she had her experience with men. Why did the thought of just attraction and sex drag at his heart so? He turned suddenly at the sound of footsteps behind him. He shut his eyes and knew he'd made a bad move when the towel slipped to his ankles.
Serena was about to knock when he turned towards her. "Darien I was just wondering……" She stood agape at him when his towel fell to the floor, revealing all that she'd fantasized about. Serena had nothing on but her robe, but it did conceal her intimate secrets. "I…I uh….wow. You have a really nice….err package Darien." And with that she spun on her heal and back to her room and shut the door.
Darien opened his eyes and watched her retreating form. He quickly picked his towel up and concealed himself once again. He chuckled to himself. 'She thinks I have a nice package' Darien thought to himself as he winked to his reflection. Her seeing him nude sort of put her on a level of intimacy with him. He was going to have fun with her now.
~~~~~~~~
Nothing was said about the incident in his bedroom. But he could tell when she was thinking about it when a slight rosy tint came to her cheeks. Serena gasped when they arrived at is mother's house. More like a mansion. "By God Darien, what is she worth? Billions?"
"eh Dear old mom. This is the result of 3 rich husbands, each one in their grave. Though she has admitted to me that the only one she really loved was my father, who was dirt poor I might add."
"I guess loves funny that way."
"Yes. She came from a wealthy family and he came from a trailer park. Just shows you that you find love in the last place you are looking for it." Darien stared in her eyes for a few moments until she turned away.
"So what's she like?"
"She's witty and sarcastic. But she's got a good heart. Her life hasn't been filled with the best decisions but she always had good intentions. She had an eye for a lie though. She spanked my britches every time I told her I brushed my teeth and hadn't."
"I believe I would too."
"Ok Serena, just be yourself. She's not going to judge us if we have an occasional bicker or witty retort for one another."
"What relationship is perfect Darien." Said Serena as she stepped out of his truck.
For the first time since this morning, he'd really looked at her. She wore a light pink skirt and white blouse. She had taken her hair down and gave it a slight curl. She had very subtle make up on. She looked so innocent, so beautiful. He was woken up out of his thoughts by her staring at him. She had the impatient look in her eyes that she was famous for. He sighed, got out, and followed her. He took her hand in his and lead her up the walk…..
~~~
"So Mrs. Caldwell—" Serena Started
"Please call me Martha. That's what my maid calls me."
"Martha, I can see where your son gets his charm from." Said Serena finishing her sentence
"He can charm the pants off any girl is what I am told." Said Martha sipping her wine.
"Mother, please. Don't tell her all my dirty little secrets, I'm afraid she'll take the engagement back."
"Hmm…if she does it will be your fault for keeping such dirty little secrets. So Serena. I hope you won't feel offended, but you don't seem like my son's type. I'm used to seeing him with ditzy, big-chested bimbos."
"Mother!"
"But you Serena, you are intelligent, polite, and quite sweet. Why in the devil are you with my son?" Said Martha laughingly
"He intrigued me, he was something I wanted but never let myself have. I'm glad I did this time though." Said Serena
"Well I can see your point, but Darien, you never seemed mature enough to handle a woman just as pigheaded as yourself."
Darien burst out laughing and then took Serena's hand over the table. "She had me from Hello."
~~~~
Serena gave Martha one last hug before getting in the truck with Darien.
"Now you two don't be shy and come back real soon. Serena, don't let him boss you around, and Darien…" Said Martha
"Yes mother?"
"Don't let this one get away." Said Martha before she gave him a kiss on the cheek and began walking back up the drive.
The whole ride back to Darien's house, they were silent. Darien, thinking about his mother's last words, and Serena, thinking how much she would love to have Martha as her mother-in-law.
Darien stared at the yellow lines in the darkness of early evening. His mother's words were eating at him. "Don't let this one get away" she said. Did this mean that his mother actually really liked Serena. He sighed when he acknowledged that she wasn't the only one….
Serena started out her window, the cool breeze ruffling her hair. She positively adored Martha. When she did get married, she hoped her husband's mother was like her. So open and straightforward. Well she admitted that any mother-in-law would be perfect. She missed her mom so much. Her mother was always the voice of reason for Serena. She was sure that she disapproved heavily of the scheme she was playing with Darien. "When you play with fire, you are bound to get burned." One of her mother's favorite quotes. "The thief wanted the jewel so badly that he lost his own hand to get it." Now where did that come from? She never remembered her mother ever saying that. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized that it came from her own conscience. She wanted her restaurant so badly, that she was risking her heart to keep it.
~~~~~
Darien opened the front door and led them into the dark hallway. He flipped the light on and watch as Serena went right past him and slumped on the couch, hugging one of the pillows against herself.
"What's wrong Serena?"
"Oh I was just thinking about my mother."
Darien remembered that she lost her mother to cancer. He walked over and sat down beside her, not touching her. "I didn't think meeting my mother would make you said about your own."
"Oh no, its just. Well I know that my mother is looking down on me right now and I feel so guilty of so many things. I know this scheme doesn't sit well with her. And just being with your mother, I just….Darien?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Hold me." Said Serena
It wasn't a plea, it was a demand. And without thinking, he took her in his arms and she laid her head against his heart. And that's how they stayed for what seemed like hours. Darien was scaring himself. He was feeling amazing warmth from her. It wasn't just attraction….it was something more.
Serena felt safe and secure in his arms. She never wanted this to end. She wanted him to hold her forever. She felt her eyelids growing heavy and was giving in to the warmth surrounding her heart.
Darien could feel her going limp in his arms. Not wanting to sleep on the uncomfortable positioning of the couch, he gently lifted her and headed for the stairs. He admitted to himself that he liked this feeling. He felt like he was her protector, her savior. She looked to him for comfort and security. When he approached her door, he felt cheerless at the thought of having to leave her. He laid her on the bed and began to pull the covers over her when he heard a soft murmur.
"Darien."
"Serena? Are you awake?"
"Darien, I have a confession."
"A confession of what?"
"a confession….I want to kiss you so badly. I want this warmth to last more than just a
few moments when I get cold from being out of your arms."
"Serena, you have no idea how much I want to kiss you."
And with that, he sat next to her on the bed, and without the intensity of their last encounters, gently took her hand and kissed it, before capturing her lips. The mood and the feelings were just right, even they knew they couldn't stop themselves tonight.
AN: Ok I think this chapter sucked…but don't worry I have a big twist coming up. I just have to get to it you know hehe. All creative criticism welcome.