(waves flags while fireworks go off behind her) HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!! (person comes up and whispers in her ear) What? (drops flags and fireworks stop) You mean I'm too late? It's the 5th?! Why didn't anybody tell me BEFORE I ordered the 50 foot American flag?!

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Down with Love

Chapter 9

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus

---------------------------------- (Darien pov)

Stupid. Stupid. STUPID!

What was I thinking? This was going all wrong. The plan was to seduce her and get my story put on the front page of the paper. Somehow she had gotten one up on me and had turned everything around. It was time for plan B.

Dinner and conquer. I invited her over to dinner at my place. I had it all worked out with Andy. My place was to bachelor for a simple country guy like Catcher. Andy promised to watch the place while I seduced Serena.

Plan B is in action.

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The doorbell rang signaling her arrival. I took my slow time answering the door. I needed to make her sweat.  I opened the door and paused to look her over. The greeting I had spent thinking about died on my lips.

She was beautiful.

Snap out of it, Darien! She's just like all the others. Just another notch on the headboard. The closer I get to getting her to love me, the closer I get to another notch and ending this Down with Love fiasco.

I took her jacket and invited her in.

"I'm sorry I'm late Catcher. I hope dinner isn't cold." She turned around and her eyes twinkled in amusement. What was she thinking? Just then I noticed her eyes stray to the big bowl of chocolate I had on the table.

That was just a coincidence. No more. No less.

She sat own and helped herself to a few. I got the dinner and set it on the table in the dining room. I saw her eyes stray to all the food and I could practically see her mouth watering. Food isn't the way to a man's heart. It's the way to a woman's. They automatically think of the prospects of never having to cook again.

Heh.

Serena sauntered over and sat down in the nearest chair. I smiled what I hoped to be a heart-melting smile. This always got 'em. She didn't even bat an eyelash. I was surprised to find myself to be disappointed. I almost wanted to be the one to put that smile on her face.

Must be something I ate.

"Well, Serena. Dinner is served."

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Dinner was done. We had now migrated ourselves over to the couch. After an hour of conversation the awkward silence came back. It draped over us like a blanket. Serena cleared her throat and I let out an uncomfortable sigh. What a night.

Her hand summoned electricity when I felt it on my thigh. I think she felt it also. The look of astonishment in her eyes was proof enough. Her closeness could have been unintentional, but now I wonder. I let my gaze travel up to her face and into her clear blue eyes. Bad move. Note to self: Never look into her eyes!

The pull was magnetic as I closed my eyes and closed the distance between our lips. One chaste kiss and it was the beach all over again. I nipped her lip and heard her let out a mew of passion. I wasn't enough.

I needed more.

I nipped my way down to the first button. Her hands traced the hem of my shirt before moving underneath it. I felt her hands trying to memorize every dip, ridge, and muscle she could find. I let out a shudder. It felt like she was trying to memorize every part of me. I had the same idea.

I traced patterns along her bare skin while slowly inching my way up. I refused to break contact even for a second. I memorized every crevice of her mouth with my tongue. Nothing was left unexploreded. She returned the kiss whole-heartedly. Her hands were moving lower. I felt her hand fidget with the buckle before letting out a cry of victory. I felt her grab me and stifled the moan that threatened to escape.

I lifted my hand to her swell of her breast and- "Stop, Catcher!"

She pushed me off and fixed her clothes. I tried to clear my mind of the passion to hear what she was saying. She gave me a humorless smile and stood up. "I can't do this. I'm sorry Catcher! This isn't what I want. I hope you can understand." Her eyes pleaded with me. Who was I to say no? "Of course I understand. Will I see you again sometime?" The smile she gave me could have melted the arctic.

"How about next week?" she wrinkled her nose as if she was in deep contemplation. "Can't. I have a fitting for a bridesmaids dress. I'll call you when I know."

I watched her as she walked out the door. I rushed to the balcony looking for her. I didn't stop looking till her cab was gone. I cleaned up the dishes and put away the Champaign bottle. I took the bucket of ice and walked back onto the balcony. I looked up at the moon and got the chill of a lifetime.

When I poured the ice over my head.

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I'm sorry its so short! I have to go babysit. I will finish the other guys later and do reviewer responses. I didn't think this would be so hard or take this long to write, Do ya like it? I'm a beginner at citrus…..