I know, I know...I was supposed to update a long time ago. But I had to take two AP tests and if you are a high school student in America, you'll know what I'm talking about. These killer tests are 3 hours each...painful. And then there were the lovely SAT's and SAT II's. But thank goodness it's all over and I'm finally on SUMMER VACATION! Woot woot! Which can only mean one thing...more updates! Anyways, enough of my boring life and back to the story (with characters I do not own)...

Chapter Three: The Unexplainable

xxxxx

"Tell me that wasn't good."

Darien turned around to face the blanket clad beauty besides him. He caressed her face softly with his fingertips. She grabbed the finger closest to her mouth and brought it to her mouth, nibbling lightly.

"It was." Darien knew better to give in to her fancies than to upset her.

She stretched her body and moaned out loud. "I thought so."

"Why don't you sleep for awhile? I'll wake you up in an hour or so. Then we can go meet up with our parents and do some damage control." Darien shifted his position and secured the blanket around her body before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

She opened her eyes lazily and winked at him, "They won't notice that we're missing."

Darien let out a low rumbling chuckle, "In that case, I'll just enjoy your sweet little body again."

"Mhm..." She agreed before closing her eyes to rest her utterly exhausted body. Making love was as tiring as any other sport. And it was her favorite sport.

Checking on her sleeping form, Darien sank deeper into his pillow, eyes focused on the pale blue ceiling of his office suite, conveniently located one floor above his spacious office.

It had happened again. It had been happening repeatedly, nearly every time he had sex with her.

NO! Please don't! Please...I'm begging you.

Loud sobs could be heard but they were soon muffled by the increasing darkness.

I'll give you anything. Anything...just please let me go.

They laughed at the pathetic pleas for mercy. They were ready and nothing was going to stop them. Nothing.

No...no...don't...please don't! Noooo... AHHHHHHHHHHH!

He shook violently, unable to move, paralyzed by the sounds playing over and over again in his head. Who was begging for help and why? Trying unsuccessfully to understand the voices in his head, he finally surrendered to the needs of his body, falling into a restless slumber.

Thousands of miles away, a lone scream could be heard in the dead of the night.

xxxxx

"Darien, honey. Wake up. Time for work." A soft voice whispered in his ear. He mumbled a few inaudible words to himself before turning on his stomach, covering his head with a plump pillow.

"Rise and shine." The voice announced. The antique curtains were thrown open, allowing the bright sunshine to seep in.

Unable to sleep with the sun shining uncomfortably on his naked back, Darien finally opened one sleepy eye but closed it immediately, cursing fluently under his breath. Why did she always have to open the curtains so wide. Sitting up slowly, he opened his eyes, adjusting to the intensity of the morning sun. He glanced around the room before focusing on the woman standing elegantly by the window with her back to him.

"Ber..." She turned around. "MOM? SHIT!"

"Excuse me?" Renée Shields frowned disapprovingly at her son's inappropriate language.

Darien grimaced, trying desperately to cover up his mistake and surprise. "Oh, sorry Mother. It's just that you surprised me. I wasn't expecting to see you so early in the morning." He hoped she would buy his excuse.

Perhaps she didn't but she certainly didn't show it. "Early? Care to check the clock?" She asked, pointing to the clock next to his bed.

Darien turned to his right and groaned loudly. The red numbers stared rudely back at him. There was no mistake. It was one o'clock. PM, mind you.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"

"I tried to but I couldn't find you. Lucky I remembered that you have a suite in the office building or else who knows when you'll wake up. Now get up and get dressed. You have a meeting in half an hour."

"Huh?" Was his confused reply. "What meeting?"

"The one with that pharmaceutical company we're trying to purchase. Remember?"

A few seconds later, Darien finally came to his senses. "Right...but I thought you were going to handle it because of my honeymoon."

"Well, are you still on your honeymoon?"

"Technically..."

"Are you?"

"Well..."

"Good. Now get ready. I'll come for you in ten minutes. If you're not ready by then, I'm assuming that you're ready to suffer my wrath." Renée Shields walked swiftly to the door to let herself out.

"But..."

She turned around sharply and held up her hand, interrupting his attempt at a lame excuse. "Don't you dare complain. You're the one who left your poor bride alone in Florida. Serves you right for being inconsiderate."

"Mom..."

She slammed the door on him.

"Shit. Why do these things always have to happen to me?" Darien stretched his body, ready to get up when he realized that he had forgotten about something or rather, someone. His eyes searched the room frantically, "Damn, where is it?" He pounded the bed angrily and all of a sudden, a small corner of a piece of stationary paper peaked out from under the pillow next to his own. "Bingo."

Hey babe. Sorry I had to leave early. I wish I could stay here with you but I have some important matters I must attend to. I want to see you again tonight. Call me.

He stood up and walked over to the opened window. He ripped the note up into pieces and scattered it in the gentle breeze. That was too close. Who knows what she would've done if she had seen the note. Hell would've broken loose, that's what. And that damn wife of mine. Just thinking about her gives me a headache.

He rubbed his temples and walked to his enormous walk-in closet to get dressed. It was going to be a long day, a very long day indeed. He picked an intense crimson shirt. Her favorite color, he noticed. He smirked, making a mental note to call her up later for some fun. It won't be such a bad day after all.

xxxxx

Thank you for reading. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are welcome. Also, I'm not sure but should I change the rating? I'm not going to put any intense sex scenes but it seems a bit intense for PG-13. What do you guys think?

Ladie of Avalon