A/N: I don't own Yu-gi-oh, only my plot line. This chapter is out early due to VSM…I believe the hypnosis worked! LMOA...

Chapter 14

"Contrary to some beliefs I am a man and my blood runs hot. However, in this instance I'll divulge nothing until you do." He caught her mouth again and released her hands, which she immediately buried in his hair. She couldn't get close enough to him and he felt her desperation. Slowly he separated from her enough to start unbuttoning her shirt. Their kiss broke as his eyes drank in the skin he was slowly exposing. She watched his face, not sure of anything anymore.

"I have to tell you something Kaiba," she whispered. His eyes left her body and settled on her eyes, if anything he was even more beautiful now. She had to find the courage to tell him of her innocence.

"I've never done this before…" The words hung in the air.

Kaiba ceased all thought and finally had to remind himself to breathe. She was innocent, he had an idea that she was, but until now he had no way to prove his theory. She had boasted about knowledge but was now admitting to having none. He wanted her. He also knew she wanted him. He stared down into her honey brown eyes that held so much trust. He couldn't imagine how that was possible when he was her brother's worst enemy. Suddenly the vendetta he held against the Mutt was forgotten. He found he couldn't take out his aggression on this girl. Slowly he eased himself onto his back tugging her against his chest.

"I shouldn't have said anything." She whispered on the verge of tears. "If I hadn't said anything…"

"I'm glad you did." He responded, willing his body to calm its reaction to her. "I thought, well, that is you claimed you had 'friends' when you were in New York."

"I did that so you wouldn't treat me like a baby. Everyone treats me like a fragile simpleton and I hate it." She looked into his eyes, "everyone except you Seto Kaiba. Why is that?"

He honestly didn't remember much of her from the Battle City days; the only thing he did know was that she wasn't a little girl anymore. The way she kissed, the way she flirted and the way she reacted to his touch set his mind on fire. Could he steal her innocence and then set her aside? He didn't have room in his life for complications like a girlfriend. She would certainly want more from him if she surrendered that gift. Could he give her more? He was, for the first time, unsure.

"Are you angry with me?" She asked timidly.

"I'm angry with me." He answered harshly.

She softly kissed his lips, he responded but kept his passion in check. His feelings had changed. His original plans of destroying the Mutt through her had to be abandoned. He felt her arm snake around his neck as her fingers buried themselves in his hair. She was gently stroking his neck as she nibbled his top then bottom lip. Why was she so damn soft? All of his alarms went off, he stopped this once, barely able to keep back from the edge, but he was human and next time he might not be able to.

"Serenity…no." He untangled her hands from his hair and held her tightly against his chest. She didn't know what to do now. Crying was a definite option.

"Why?" She asked deep blue eyes which were quickly losing their heat.

"I don't think I would like myself much in the morning."

"Should I leave?" She tried to pull away, but found he tugged her closer with each attempt.

"I want you to stay here, with me." He was experiencing such a difficult inner struggle. He ached for her now. If she stayed that ache would turn to torment.

She slid one leg between his two and curled against him. His arms tightened around her as she drifted off to sleep. He would give her a few more days of getting to know him, that would either send her running for cover or would make her tremble with need. He would reserve his decision for a few days. He just wanted it to be for the right reasons not for revenge. He had to make sure he wasn't going to hurt her, damn it, when did he start to care?

He was cold and calculating. Merciless was a word synonymous with the way he treated people. Girls like Serenity Wheeler were chewed up and spit out without extending a second glance. When had he grown a conscience? This was a dangerous thing. She was foolish. He remembered how she mocked him constantly. The way she ridiculously imitated him on their walk to the hotel, but he also remembered holding her and carrying her. He should have thrown her over his shoulder not carried her in his arms. Why had he done that?

She had kissed him in bed. It was quite a demanding kiss at that. Now here she was curled up around him breathing softly against his skin. She was willing to surrender to him, almost cried when he ceased the passion that had been building ferociously. What should he do with this girl? There was no time for romance in his world, hell, even Mokuba was disgusted with the way he always took a back seat. Mokuba knew he was the priority, but Kaiba had a corporation to run and meetings to attend and designs to create.

Serenity shifted, draping her leg across him; her arms were already wrapped tightly around his chest. It seemed like she couldn't get close enough. He had let people in when he was younger but Gozaburo had put an end to that. The terror that became his waking hours had left scars on his mind and heart. Could this beautiful red head heal him? Could he let her in to try? He wasn't sure if it were possible to melt a glacier and that was what she was up against.

Several times during the night Serenity attempted to roll out of his arms, but his hold was like steel.

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He awoke to an empty bed. When had she left? He felt the spot she should have been in, but the sheets were cold. He rubbed his eyes, willing himself to come awake. The digital clock read 9 am. He never overslept. This was ridiculous. Where was she?!

Serenity sat on the edge of the small dock. She wanted to sit in the grass but it was too wet from last night's storm. She contented herself with sitting on the wooden planks with her hands in the grass.

Her original intention was to simply watch the sun rise. It had a few hours ago, but she couldn't seem to pull away from the lake. There were waves due to the storm last night and she related with the turbulence. Confusion was not an emotion she was accustomed to.

Last night she would have given Kaiba her soul on a silver platter if he had demanded it. Heck, all he needed to do was ask. A shiver raced down her spine. She rubbed her arms trying to warm up. In truth, it wasn't chilly out it was quite warm. It was warmer in Kaiba's bed, but she knew the dangers of lurking there too long. Waking up beside him was something she never thought would happen. The fact that it had now happened twice was incredible.

Girls dreamed their whole lives about finding their ideal love. Could Seto Kaiba be her's? If that was remotely possible it was a castle in the sky. His heart was cold, and sealed off. If he felt anything for her it was lust not love. Besides, this was too early to be labeled love anyway. She sighed. She remembered seeing him in the airport and smiled. It was easier then, just a simple game of cat and mouse. She recalled being the cat in the park. When had she become the mouse?

"So," his voice caused her to jump. "I close my eyes for a moment and you run away?" He stood, towering above her. She shielded her eyes as she turned her face up to him.

"I couldn't take your snoring anymore Kaiba." She replied before turning away from him.

"I don't snore." He folded his arms defensively across his chest.

"You do. I heard it." She stated matter of factly.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked as he looked over the lake. It was dangerous to be outside, even though he was fairly sure no one knew where they were hiding. It still didn't seem like a good idea to linger in the open.

"I needed some air." She giggled, "you should try to take in some air too, maybe then you wouldn't look so pale and sickly."

"I didn't hear you complaining last night about how sickly I looked."

"The light from the fireplace suited you. Daylight doesn't." She snickered.

"You think it suits you?" He was getting annoyed with her insults…he didn't snore and he wasn't 'sickly' looking.

"You don't?" She asked, turning to gaze up at him again.

He wanted to say no, but the way the sun played on her hair made her look like she was on fire. Damn her, he couldn't find an insult to throw her way.

"Would you like to sit down or do you want to sulk?" She asked. Her reward came when he sat down beside her. Her heart fluttered softly in her chest. She could feel his eyes on her, funny how his stare was almost as tangible as his touch.

"I'm not good at this." He stated flatly.

"You not good at something? I should write the date and time down. Surely this is a historical moment."

He eyed her skeptically, "what are you saying Wheeler?"

"You're a very vain man Kaiba. You think you're the most amazing duelist, no one can touch you in the business world and, well, you probably know about your looks." She blushed deeply at her confession.

"You put more weight on me than I do," he countered.

"Do you deny it?" She asked raising an eyebrow in challenge.

He clenched his jaw. She saw it and smiled. She was winning this one.

"I am an amazing duelist. As for my business prowess a man twice my age with infinitely more experience couldn't handle Kaiba Corp. the way I do. As for my looks I've had more women than I care to mention sing my praises." He smirked, "Millions of women couldn't be wrong…could they? Then again, we both know what women are good for, don't we?" His voice was quite sarcastic.

Serenity, who was leaning back on her hands, grabbed a glob of grass from where her hands were resting and threw it at him. "You!" She yelled as she hit him, dead in the face with the muddy dirty grass.

He opened his eyes in surprise and pulled the grime out of his mouth. "You will pay for that move Wheeler." He growled as he moved towards her with stealth.

Serenity backed away fearing what punishment he would now administer. She started to rise, but he grabbed her bare ankle and held it.

"No!" she cried out as he descended on her. There was true fear in her eyes, but it soon changed to shock as he started to…tickle her. She was more surprised than anything else, but then she began to giggle. She tried to draw her knees up to her chest to prevent the assault, but he was stronger and faster as hands stroked her ribs.

"Take it back!" He growled as she wriggled beneath him. "I am not vain!"

"You are! You are the vainest man I have ever met! From your perfect hair to your flaring trench coat! You're more vain than a woman!" She was thrashing below him as peals of laughter escaped her lips.

"Please! I can't stand it anymore!" She begged.

Kaiba stopped momentarily as he lowered his face to within a breath of hers, "Do you admit defeat?" She felt his hands tensing as if preparing to assail her poor aching ribs again.

"No, but you may not be as vain as I first thought."

"That is a sorry apology Wheeler."

"It was caused from torture."

"What are you doing to me?" He asked her seriously. "You bait me and push me until I want to snap your neck, then you come to my bed and I can't seem to stop touching you." He looked so confused.

She brushed a hand down the side of his face, her fingertips tracing his lips gently. "You aren't the Kaiba I remember."

"You aren't a child." He whispered. He bent and touched her lips with his. They were sun warmed and sweet.

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"I think we should rent a boat and drive around the lake," Max suggested. "Rich people love their privacy and access might be easier from the lake."

"Do you even know what we're looking for?" The short man growled, hating the idea of being on the storm-roughened water. He wanted to keep asking around the small town, but, as Max pointed out, it hadn't done them any good up until now.

"If you don't get in the damn boat I swear I'll shoot you here and drag you behind the boat." He was deadly serious and the short man flinched at his choice.

The two quickly boarded the small craft and set out onto the water.

A/N: How far out of character did I go?! That was bad huh? Next chapter I will bring him back to the Kaiba we all know and lust. There is a method to my madness. Hope you all enjoyed. Please review, if you don't I'll know I've failed miserably and will stop writing this story…