* 2021-12-16

My stories are PG18+++, there is graphic violence, coarse language, sexual situations and triggers as my stories deal with characters who deal with past emotional, physical or mental traumas. Read at your own risk. Enjoy.

Late Night Escape

Chapter 3

No matter how hard Serena tried to drown back into the blissful nothingness of the moment; she couldn't. Darien's eyes were on her, his gaze roaming her figure. The intensity making her feel naked under his scrutiny. Their usual interaction flipped a hundred eighty degrees.

Having caught a couple heated looks that he tried to hide over the years, Serena knew that her physical attraction was reciprocated to some degree. But suddenly finding herself on Darien's attraction radar instead of forever sworn nemesis was unnerving. To say the least.

Right behind that big revelation was annoyance. Annoyance, that he only showed that interest after seeing her at the club.

Thank God for the weeks of getting hit on mercilessly by every single hot-blooded idiot at the club. It had taught her the art of seduction, of teasing, of playfulness. And best of all, of cold-blooded indifference!

Even if his intense stare got under her skin and was making her see red, she dropped Darien into the same inconsequential category of men who'd hit on her only because she had a nice body and could dance provocatively. That was only a side of her personality. Underneath it lay more layers than any guy could handle. And Darien suddenly became even less than her nemesis.

Failing to stifle the little emotion of disappointing that tried to surface, Serena had to admit the truth to at least herself. Yes. Even if he drove her up the walls, she would have, maybe, potentially, hypothetically, in an alternative universe, wanted something more with said Jackass.

But not this way...

If the club had showed her anything, other than how to release her anxiety and frustration, it was people's less sunshiny side. Not all guys swooped down to the rescue like Tuxedo Mask without asking for anything in return. Nope. Sadly. It revolved more around instant gratification. There were few gentlemen in the world and even fewer in the clubs. Wolves in sheep clothing.

Just like not all girls wanted a Prince Charming and 2.5 kids. Or world peace. Some were insecure looking for validation in all the wrong places, others crude and unrepenting but working it, and some twisted enough to lived off others pain.

The funny and sad part was that as Sailor Moon, she would protect even those sorts of people from the monsters unleashed by the Negaverse. Something in her was just programmed that way.

And while her running thoughts were welcomed in their effort to block out Darien, they still didn't puff him into a cloud of dust. No! Glitter. That would hit his masculine pride, she mused. Deciding to find Lita and getting the hell out, the blond sighed as her sanctuary became too tainted and plummeted her mood. Getting away from the jerk was her best option. Even if she had to think of a way to get her worst enemy, her constant tormentor to keep her secret.

But as Serena opened the cage's door and tried to head for the stairs, her path got blocked. Of course, by none other than his royal highness, The Asshole.

The spiteful glare that had made other guys back away failed to work on him, as the blond knew it would. Because the self-proclaimed confident jackass lived for their verbal sparring matches. And usually, she was too. But tonight, it was the last thing she wanted and she definitely wasn't in the mood. Other than maybe pushing him down the balcony. He'd be fine, right? Nothing could dent an ego as big his.

When his full lips curved into an amused smirk as she moved to flip him off, Darien grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side. Serena tried to yank out of his grasp with her superheroine strength without success. What should have sounded red flags was lost at having his body pressed flushed against hers, his arms locked around the small of her back.

Her heart rate accelerated, about to burst. Her breath shortened and arduous. Her senses hyper aware of every smell, feel and touch. And talking about touch… Her breast pressed against his toned defined pecks. Her stomach against his tight abs. Her groin against his… 'Oh my God.' He was hard. And from the intense focus on his face, she was the cause. Her cheeks turned scarlet red; she prayed the clubs lights hid this fact from him.

The two enemies stared at each other for what could have been hours, but really had been seconds. The tension reverberating in the air around them. As startled as she was, the truth was plain to see in their eyes. They couldn't deny it anymore. They were attracted to each other. It was the only reason why they both felt the electricity between them. The lust building like a damn waiting to burst. The heat scorching their bodies. Why they bicker like cats and dogs all the time.

But as tempting as the devil looked right then, and Serena didn't kid herself, he was one in her books, she pushed against his torso and pulled herself away when his grip relaxed.

"Stay away from me Darien!" She hissed as she turned to escape his proximity.

Darien gripped her hand before she could run down the steps toward Lita and closed the distance between them. Lowered his lips next to her ear, letting his jaw caress the side of her face, he inhaled slowly. Serena felt an unfamiliar shiver go down her spine at his forwardness. She could only pray he didn't notice.

"I'll keep your secret," he paused for a moment, letting his lips lightly graze her ear, "on one condition."

"What do you want?" Serena's brows were scrunched in a glare as she twisted her face to look into his eyes. "I'm not interested in playing your stupid games tonight!"

His teasing lips were seriously disconcerting. Those lips looked like they were made for kissing; NOT talking. 'Focus Serena,' she mentally slapped herself. 'FOCUS! What happened to the disappointment, to the annoyance? Hm?'

"One dance, and I'll not tell a soul. I'll even convince Albert that it's not you." His eyes were alarmingly captivating while his firm grip burned her skin.

Serena knew she should say no. Everything in her was screaming danger, flashing red billboard signed, but… She wasn't the sweet little innocent her in this club. And after three long years of having to suffer his constant teasing and mocking remarks, payback was only fair. And payback, was a Bitch! And today, she was out for retribution and blood.

Hiding her evil smirk, the blond suddenly really liked his idea. Oh, yes. She would tease and toy. She would bait the great unmovable Darien. Only to leave him when he thought he had the upper hand.

"Fine." Her smile turned seductive as she looked back at him, her look inviting, while her eyes remained calculating.

He let go and straightened. His confident sexy smirk faltered for a split second at her response, feeling a slight unease. His ego wouldn't have that and it bounced back with masculine satisfaction thinking the game was over and he had won. After all, Al had insisted the vixen had rejected all the guys who had asked her to dance.

Darien could seriously grow to like this new confident side of his sweet obsession.

Intertwined her fingers with his, Serena pulled him towards the dance floor knowing it would be easier to lose him in the mass of bodies. With every step, her mind formed a plan, her senses ready to weave her web as eyes followed them. The girls blatantly envious, eying Darien like a tasty steak. The guys she had refused seething with jealousy.

'Oh, the perfect, intoxicating smell of imminent disaster. Darien, you really have no idea what you're getting yourself into,' she smiled knowingly.

But as they finally stopped in the middle of the dance floor with Darien pull her close, she questioned the soundness of her plan. Especially as her arms snaked around his broad shoulders to the back of his neck, where her fingers played with his ebony soft hair. 'Shit.' He was pure maleness. The lean muscles, the towering height, the strong arms that held her pressed to him.

Serena had felt this before in Tuxedo Mask's embrace but never to that degree. Sizzling, boiling, lava erupting degree. The way they swayed and gyrated to the music left nothing to the imagination. It was a game of slow seduction. Each trying to win the upper hand.

As Serena turned to press her back into his body, she swayed her hips in the most distracting way. But Darien refused to be outdone, his fingers switched from holding her hips firmly to roaming the sides of her stomach and hips. His lips teased down from the nape of her neck to her exposed shoulder. Serena's arm draped over the back of his neck, as she let the reggae beat take over her body. Her torso, hips, thighs moving to the beat in perfect unison with her nemesis.

The real problem with this whole plan, the sad part, this was her first dance with a guy. Her very first intimate touch. And while she had flirted, teased, and dance provocatively at the club, this was a completely different ball game. Yet, even without experience, Serena knew instinctively what was happening.

Desire burned in the pit of her stomach, her back arched out, her breast perked, and her muscles tingled. She was walking the fine line of a blade. Serena was about to fall into the devil's hands and let him do whatever he wanted with her. Then thank him and plead for a repeat.

Darien focused hard on her jasmine smell, her smooth skin, the feel of her surprising athletic yet curvaceous body. Anything, so he wouldn't embarrass himself by coming right there like some inexperience teen. Never had he been so out of control. Never desired to ravish, yes, ravish, a girl before. But the little minx of a blond was driving him nuts.

It wasn't just her body. Though seeing her in leather was something else. No, it was the confidence, the sassiness, the provocation, the playfulness, just to list a few. The fact he didn't know her as well as he thought he did was driving him crazy. His whole focus had shifted to wanting nothing else but uncover the mystery that was Serena. In more ways than one.

And just as he thought he would snap or come, he couldn't tell anymore, Serena pushed him back into the throng of bodies and weaved her way through the crowd. Out of his grasp. Out of his reach. It took a moment for his brain to snap out of it and realize she was gone. She gave him a triumphant knowing smirk over her shoulder as she got to a side exit, stuck out her tongue at him in victory, then followed Lita out.

Darien rushed through the crowd as fast as he could, but being bulkier than her, his progress was laborious. It didn't help that a couple of girls who had ogled him during the night tried to get his attention. In the most frustrating way possible. By draping themselves on him. And to top it off, he got a couple of shoves and elbows on the way to the exit, probably from resentful guys that had an eye out for his girl.

But he wasn't going to let her escape. Let her run. Let her win. He had waited too long.

Unfortunately, as Darien burst outside into the alley, his little bunny was no where to be found. Hopeful, he sprinted toward the main street, but there was no sign of her in either direction. "Fuck, she's fast." His frustration apparent as his finger pulled at his dark glossy hair.

"This isn't over Serena, not by a long shot," he cursed aloud suddenly feeling the pull to turn into Tuxedo Mask. 'Why now!?'

"Darien!" Albert had followed him outside, radiating with victory and plain envy. "It's HER. I knew it!"

"No." Darien lied easily. "Can't you tell the difference. The vixen is clearly at least 20. She's taller, definitely more voluptuous, the eyes are darker and her voice is huskier."

"But she looks like Serena! You're lying to me!"

"Nope. That's definitely not her. She's Serena's cousin, that's why they look alike and that's why she knows Lita." The irritated man shrugged as indifferently as he could manage and started to head home. He really REALLY needed a cold shower after he dealt with the Negaverse situation.

"Stop lying!" Albert cursed as he had grabbed his classmate's shoulder, only to retracted his hold instantaneously when Darien gave him a chilling glare.

"Alan, think with your head and not your dick for a second. I wouldn't have danced like that with her if it had been Serena. I don't need to get familiar with a jail cell. Secondly, there's Andrew. If I didn't end in jail, Andrew would definitely kill me. Anyways, it's Meatball Head we're talking about! She couldn't have pulled those moves without falling flat on her face. And that my friend, is the truth."

After studying his buddy for several moment, the freckled jock agreed dejectedly. "Yea… I guess you're right."

"See you on Monday. Hopefully we passed our assignment." He waved without looking back and hurried home, muttering uncomplimentary things as he tried to reign in his ragging hunger.

Darien was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to sense he was being watched. Sailor Moon stood in the shadow on the roof of the adjoining building watching his retreating figure. She had won this round, but she knew the war wasn't won. Their bickering was about to get real interesting.