A/N: Nope, no ownership implied or stated here of Yu-gi-oh…only my plot line

Chapter 7

Chocolate Mousse

Seto had quite an interesting conversation with Serenity Wheeler. He only needed to twist Tea's words a bit to make the young girl spill every bad thing Tea had ever managed to do. He found it quite amusing that the two girls were such amazing friends seeing as betrayal was so easy to come by. He smirked as he looked at the set table under the stars at the back of the ship.

The scene was set. Ever since he had dragged a waterlogged and slightly injured blue-eyed brunette out of the ocean he could hardly keep his thoughts off of her. Originally he was quite concerned that she would become very ill from the nettles, but now that all danger had passed he could think of other things. Like how amazing her legs were. He enjoyed the exploration of her body a little too much for his own taste. It was suppose to be strictly to help ease her pain but it had quite an effect on him.

He made his way back to his cabin to collect his date. She had no idea of his plan, which made it a bit delicious and naughty. He was sure she would enjoy the soft atmosphere of an evening under the stars so much that she might actually forget he was her enemy. This could be quite fun, for him.

He knocked, appropriately, and waited for her to bid him entrance. She took a minute to respond then yelled out 'come in'. He entered and was surprised to find her curled in a chair reading a book while intermittently staring out at the ocean. There must be some intelligence in her head and he liked that fact. She had practically devoured the book. She was close to finishing it.

"Are you still hungry?" He asked as she slipped a finger between the pages she was reading and closed the book. It wasn't hers and seeing as Kaiba was so anal she knew he wouldn't appreciate her dog earring the page.

"I'm famished," she smiled up at him. "Did you bring the food?" She asked a bit confused. She expected a sandwich but now wondered where it was.

"Plans have changed. You'll have to go to the food." He smirked at her confused expression. She stood up slowly. She pulled her leg out from under her and smiled up at him. It wasn't that bad, her situation, she was able to read and relax and now she would eat. Who else would have the chance to sail on a luxury liner and be pampered by none other than CEO Seto Kaiba?

"Where are we going?" She asked as he led the way out of the room.

"Would you rather stay in the room or would you rather get some fresh night air?" He asked as they walked out onto the back of the ship. She nearly gasped as she looked up into the dark night sky. She by passed the table and went straight for the railing, the ocean had taken on a dark mysterious quality, gone was the crisp blue. The sky was also quite dark, a full moon was halfway up the sky and a million stars could be seen.

"When you're this far away from civilization the sky isn't interrupted by the lights of the cities. You can see the stars the way they were intended to be gazed upon." Kaiba stated matter of factly. It was strange, he admitted to looking at the stars but he did it so analytically it was amusing. She sighed, how romantic.

"I didn't realize there were so many stars and the night sky seems to stretch on forever." She whispered as she looked at him. He wasgazing out over the water, standing quite close, she could feel the heat radiating off of his body, even though they weren't making any physical contact.

"One would think the universe was infinite on a night like this." He murmured.

"Isn't it?" She whispered, taking on his quite reverent tone.

"Where there is a beginning there has to be an end. I'm under the firm belief that if the universe is expanding, which science dictates as fact, then there is an end somewhere." He shrugged and turned to look at her.

She swallowed hard, his eyes were on her and she could almost feel his gaze on her skin as if it were something tangible. It was quite disconcerting. She knew his touch from earlier in the day and now it was haunting her. If she looked up at him, met his eyes, would he touch her? Would she want that?

"Are you ready to see what dinner is?" He asked in a tone she recognized as disappointment. Did he want her to look at him?

"I guess so," she turned, purposefully away from him, not wanting to be caught.

They walked, in silence, to the table. He pulled her chair out and she sat down as he pushed her chair in. He was being a gentleman and that scared the hell out of her. When did Kaiba ever care about someone else's feelings, let alone chair? He sat, opposite her, and placed his napkin across his lap. She followed suit. The cook came out with a large tray and placed two plates on the table, one before each of them. She smiled and thanked him as he turned away and left them to their solitude.

The food's aroma was like heaven. As she brought the first fork full to her lips she brought her eyes up and noticed Kaiba's stare. She stopped, before taking the food in her mouth and frowned at him. Why wasn't he eating? Was it poisoned?

"I'm beginning to feel like a lab specimen," she commented as she rested her fork on the fine china.

"I'm just curious to see if you enjoy your first taste." He reached across and lifted her fork. He knew she thought he was up to something. He took the first taste, off her utensil,to ease her concern. She broke out into a smile as he chewed her food.

"I wasn't afraid of being poisoned Kaiba." She giggled apprehensively, "but thanks for the reassurance." They ate their meals in relative silence. The food was delicious and watching him wasn't bad either. She blushed at her own thoughts. When they finished the cook brought out chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce.

"I don't think I could eat another bit," she admonished to her silent dining partner.

He lifted her spoon and scooped up some of the decadent dessert. He brought it to her lips, "you can't insult the cook Gardner." She was so caught up in how his eyes looked that she parted her lips for him without hesitation. Her eyes closed as she savored the velvety sweetness.

"That's delicious," she purred with appreciation. When she opened her eyes she realized he had closed the distance between them. She gasped.

"I agree," he smirked at her as he watched her lick her lips in appreciation.

"Why are you looking at me like that Kaiba?" She finally managed, albeit a little breathlessly.

"I'm considering what tastes better, you or the dessert…" He didn't give her time to respond as he sought the answer for himself. Quickly he captured her mouth with his. She attempted a quick protest, but his hand slid to the back of her neck to hold her tight to him. She slid a hand up to his shoulder to push him away, but instead dug her nails into his shirt. He slanted his mouth over hers and she quickly gave up all resistance. This was insane, she knew it, but was powerless to fight him.

He had started this game to prove that friendship was a ridiculous notion based on trust that couldn't ever be there completely. Tonight he managed to get Serenity Wheeler to betray her friend's confidence. He brought down years of friendship with a few twisted words. Tea hadn't realized the betrayal yet, but once she did he was sure there would be no more contact between them. It was almost regrettable.

He pulled away, but kept his chair close to hers. She smiled, shyly, as she looked back down at the dessert. Did she want more of it or him? She had to come up with something quick or else he might take her silence as a request for another kiss.

"Can we talk about your problems? I mean, I did come here on assignment." She asked, trying to change the subject and steer the topic onto areas where he wouldn't want to kiss her again.

"Not tonight Gardner." He answered simply.

"Where is Mokuba?" She asked, not for her story but because she genuinely cared.

"He's somewhere safe. I needed for him to be where the press wouldn't hound him." He quirked his eyebrow at her to drive the idea, of how annoyed with the press he was, home to her.

"How will you know when it's safe to return home? I know you haven't been receiving calls and your laptop has been off." She rested her elbows on the table, her chin settled on her intertwined fingers.

"I'll know." He was watching her with a cross between curiosity and annoyance.

"How?" She continued.

"I thought I said not now." He almost growled.

"Will you grant me an interview?" She smiled at him, dying to get to the problems he now faced. This would be the story that would make her a high-demand reporter. No more flower shows or obituaries…

"Gardner…steer the conversation away from my business problems." He stood up and moved away from her. The magic of the evening had been shattered. Had she been too persistent? Would he now regard her with hatred? She hoped not. She almost enjoyed the company of Seto Kaiba when he wasn't being the pompous jerk he was infamous for.

"What would you like to talk about?" She asked.

"Do you feel a need to continue talking?" He asked her as he leaned closer.

She began to see where this was going and decided that she didn't have enough mental strength to resist him. Well, maybe mental, but her pounding heart and raspy breath let her know that if he perused she would fall.

"I think I would like to go to bed." She offered.

He smirked at her statement. "Moving a bit fast aren't you Gardner? Not that I mind a forward woman…" His blue eyes were full of mischief. She decided he never looked more arousing, and dangerous.

"Alone Kaiba." She smiled at him while her cheeks flushed madly.

"You know you're being a kill joy right?" He commented but didn't push.

"I'm not the casual type."

"Are you implying I am?" He asked, mocking surprise.

"I don't know what your…er… 'habits' are." She fumbled.

"Well, we should be out here long enough for you to learn them." He stroked a lock of hair away from her eyes. She looked at him with wide eyes before she pulled away. She would not be a mere distraction for him while he was bored out here. Back in Domino he hated her. When did distain turn to interest?

"Not if we were out here forever Kaiba." She stood up, attempting to evade his touches.

"I might just have to test that theory Gardner." He led her back to her room, which had once been his. He slept in the one across from her. He needed to keep the two girls separated or else they could compare notes and then his fun would be brought to an end. Hmmm, he contemplated, what type of a dinner mate would innocent little Serenity make? Maybe strawberry mousse tomorrow night would be appropriate...