"Serena, why are you crying?"

….

Darien had been shocked when Serena walked into the arcade quietly and sat down in the back corner facing the wall. Andrew noticed too and offered to keep an eye on Darien's things while he went and talked to Serena. "Why should I go? You're like a brother to her."

"I'm working," Andrew replied, hoping that was enough of an excuse. He didn't think he could say that he believed she opened up more to Darien than she did to him. For one, Darien would argue, and two, he didn't want to get his own hopes up that they would get together. He thought Serena was precisely the kind of woman Darien needed in his life. One that would love him without fear and with total abandon, a woman Andrew could trust not to hurt or use his friend.

"Fine, but if I start floundering over there, then I'm waving you over."

Andrew rolled his eyes, making sure Darien saw him. "It's not hard. Just ask her how she's doing, and don't pick on her."

"Why would she open up to me?"

"Because you're friends, and you know it." He had to bite his tongue to keep from saying that she trusted Darien more than most.

"Fine," he answered petulantly. "I'll go."

"Do me one favor? Drop your walls. She'll open up more that way."

"You act like that's easy." He didn't even pretend that his walls weren't constantly up.

Andrew shrugged, "With her, it is. She's Serena. Do you really need them around her? She's trustworthy."

Darien made a noncommittal noise and moved away. Secretly he felt he needed his walls around her more than anyone else. He was falling… he had fallen in love with her, and he was trying to at least be honest with himself. He figured it was more practical that way to keep track of his feelings and his weaknesses. She was a huge weakness for him.

He made it back to the corner with some of his walls down. Andrew was right, and he had to be more open with her if he wanted her to open up to him. What he saw made his gut clench.

"Serena, why are you crying?"

She looked up at him and tried to wipe her tears away. "Umm… It's not important. How did your big test go yesterday?"

"Really well. I got my grade back, and I was top in my class."

She gave him a weak smile but said with genuine warmth, "That's amazing, Darien. I know you studied really hard. I get that you're brilliant, but you put in the work too."

"Thanks! I…" he trailed off and sighed. "You're purposely getting me off track, aren't you?"

"From what?"

"I asked why you were crying."

She shrugged, "It really wasn't important. You know me, I'm a crybaby, Crybaby Serena, that's my name…."

He lowered himself and sat in the seat across from her. He looked her in her watery eyes and said, "Stop deflecting. What's wrong?"

"Nothing-"

"Serena," he interrupted. "Do you not trust me enough to tell me? Is that it?"

"That's not fair! Of course, I trust you."

"Please, tell me what's wrong."

She laced her fingers together and looked down at them, and sighed, "I had a fight with Raye. It's just annoying to be constantly reminded about my bad grades and my inability to show up to school on time, and she called me a slacker. Just because it's true doesn't keep it from hurting."

"And let me guess, all the girls are at the temple right now."

"Yeah. I had detention because I was late, and I didn't want to show up at the temple late from detention after what she said yesterday. I just feel… lonely sometimes. I mean, I know I have a lot of friends, but… I don't know," she sighed. "I just wish they would stick up for me when she says things like that."

She suddenly sat up straight and looked panicked. "Oh my gosh! Don't say it, please. I can't take it. What am I doing complaining to you about all of this?! You're about to tell me she's right. After all, I had detention today because I was late. AGAIN!"

She slid her chair back and grabbed her school bag. Before he knew what she was doing, she was out of her chair and walking away from the back table.

He stood quickly and grabbed her arm, "Where are you going in such a rush?!"

"Home?"

"Is that a question to me?"

"I don't know where I'm going! If I go home, my mom is going to yell at me, if I go to the temple Raye will, and if I stay here…" her shoulder sagged. "Go ahead and say how lazy I am. I've earned, it after all. I don't know what I'm running from. It's true."

Darien looked at Serena, and it looked like all the fight had gone out of her. She looked defeated.

He gently moved her to sit back down. "Stay there. I'll be right back. Don't move. Do you promise?"

"Wha…?"

"Promise me to stay there a bit. I'll be right back."

"Fine. I'll stay."

He took what he could get. He then crossed to Andrew and pulled him aside to whisper to him, keeping Serena in his sights. "Raye is being mean to her. I… I want to get her out of here and take her to relax at my place. Tell me if that's a dumb idea."

Andrew held back his smirk, "Well, since Raye being so mean to her is your fault, I don't know."

Darien looked at him in shock. "How is it my fault? Because I tease her?"

"Because you pay attention to her and ignore Raye. She's incredibly jealous of the attention you give to Serena, and she can't take it out on you, the guy she's crushing on, so she's mean to Serena."

Darien rubbed his forehead, "Seriously? She's mean to that amazing woman out of jealousy? It's not like I'd even know her name if she wasn't friends with Serena."

"If you take her to your place, Raye will get worse."

"So you think it's a bad idea?"

"No, I think it's a great idea." He smirked, "Just make it worth her while for when Raye gets to be more difficult."

"How do you suggest I do that?"

"Make out with her on the couch."

Darien's eyes grew wide, and his jaw dropped open. "What?!"

"Maybe, if you're bold enough, you could touch her boobs." Andrew shrugged, "If you have the guts."

"Are you crazy?!"

"No. Take a chance with her, Darien. She's the only woman you ever notice; the thing is you're the only guy she really talks to at all that doesn't make her a milkshake."

Darien gave him the side-eye, "Don't tell anyone I took her to my place, and Raye won't be a problem for her."

Andrew chuckled and said, "Women always find out. I don't know how, but they do."

"Can you make her a chocolate milkshake to go? Put it on my bill."

"I'll have that ready. You go ahead and pack up."

Darien put his things away and walked over to Serena while Andrew made her milkshake. "Let's head to my apartment. Then you can cry if you want to and you won't feel stared at."

"Won't you be staring at me?"

"No. Come on, you can relax there, and you don't have to worry about running into anyone you don't want to see."

She stood slowly, and before she could grab her bag, he did and looped it over his shoulder. "Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah…"

As she started to walk out of the arcade, Andrew handed her a to-go milkshake, and she looked at him in confusion. "Darien ordered it for you to-go. I hope your day gets better."

She gave him a confused smile, "Thank you."

Once they were out of the arcade, she held up her cup and looked at Darien, "You got me a milkshake? Thank you for that."

"I thought you could use some cheering up."

She cast her eyes to the ground, "Don't I deserve to feel this way? She was right."

"You don't deserve your friend being mean to you for any reason. Who needs enemies with a friend like that?"

She took a sip of her milkshake and sighed in happiness. "Am I shallow that this cheers me up?"

"No, Serena. You're not shallow at all. You're the most caring person I know, and no one measures up to you."

She shook her head and took another sip. Then she said, "I just can't get motivated by anything. What's wrong with me?"

Not a damn thing. He wanted to shoot back. Instead, he said, "You do get motivated by things, just not academically. You're the most emotionally intelligent person I know."

"Then why is Raye mean to me, and why do all my friends fail to stand up for me!?" she stomped her foot in frustration.

"Raye's jealous of you, and if her temper is aimed at you, she's not aiming it at anyone else. They ask too much of you."

She took a huge sip of her shake and winced in pain. She then held her hand to her head, "Ouch, brain freeze!"

Darien smiled down at her and took her cup from her. "You're drinking it too quickly. Let me."

He then held the straw to her mouth so she could sip from it and then pulled it away before too long. "I'll help you."

Suddenly, Serena didn't have to worry about the cold. Her whole body heated up, and she felt flush. He was feeding her. She tried to ignore the slight dampening of her panties.

They walked in silence while he fed her the milkshake periodically. When they got to his building, she heard a woman comment on what a cute couple they made, and that made her blush. She looked up at him surreptitiously and noticed he didn't look annoyed, and he was smiling, and she couldn't be sure he even heard the comment.

They made it into his apartment, and he let her take another sip of her chocolate milkshake. She moaned in approval.

What she didn't know was that Darien had been cursing himself for suggesting feeding her in the first place. As soon as he held it to her and she opened her mouth to accept the straw, he realized what a stupid idea it had been. He tried to play it cool and not draw attention to the fact that every time she opened her mouth, he was thinking of his cock being inserted between her perfect pink lips instead of the straw.

By the time they had made it halfway to his building, he was as hard as steel, and his pants were incredibly uncomfortable. He tried to look away every time she sucked on the straw. Then he heard a woman comment on what a cute couple they made, and he smiled. He wanted her to be his girlfriend, and it was nice that she assumed Serena was. It made him happy. Then she took a long suck, and he was back being sexually tortured.

When she took a long sip of the milkshake in his apartment, she was looking up at him. He'd locked eyes with her, and then she fucking moaned from the taste of it. His brain short-circuited, and all he could hear in his head was Andrew telling him to go for the boobs -his cock was in full agreement.

He had set the drink on the table in the hall, and her boobs were firmly in each hand, and she was pressed up against the wall before his brain said internally to him, "Maybe this isn't a good idea."

"Now, you fucking speak up!" he thought back to himself.

Darien dared to look up and lock eyes with her. He knew she could see the panic in his eyes. His brain still didn't process that he could let go of her breasts. He kept a firm hold of them and waited for her to flip the hell out at him.

He watched as she slowly closed her eyes, arched her back, and then moaned out. It was the sexiest noise he'd ever heard.

His brain supplied that it was his move, next. After all, she was very clear that she liked where his hands were. He'd had so many wet dreams of her. He almost didn't know what to do next. He left one hand grasping her breast, and he moved the other one up to her neck. He thumbed her pulse point and watched it beat out a rapid rhythm. He then slid the hand back down, past her breast and slid it up under her shirt, and grabbed her other breast over her bra. It was satin, and it felt so erotic to know what kind of bra she was wearing.

"Want to kiss and touch on the couch?" she asked playfully.

"Yes!"

He released her breasts when she spun to walk to the couch. His brain registered that he was relieved that if she had wanted to get away, she could have.

He swallowed hard when he saw her remove her shirt and toss it to the floor. She then climbed onto the couch and tucked her long legs under her, and she beckoned him to her with her finger. "You coming?"

That got him moving and onto the couch. He had his lips locked to hers before he fully sat down. He groaned when she climbed into his lap. His hands then went back to her breasts.

When they both broke for breath, he stared down at her while he massaged her. "I can't believe I get to touch you. They're perfect."

She reached behind her, unhooked her bra, and then tossed it across the room. "Better?"

He couldn't answer; his mouth was full of her tit. She arched her back and moaned while she held his head to her. He suckled on her, and her panties were drenched with her desire.

She rocked her core up against his hard cock to get some release. It made her feel good to feel how much he wanted her.

He released her boob with a sucking sound and looked up at her the moment she had rubbed against him. She was nervous until he said, "Unless you didn't mean to do that, don't stop. Please." She rocked against him again, and he moaned out in pleasure.

He shocked her by suddenly flipping her to her back and kneeling over her. His knee was between her legs, and she couldn't help herself. She rubbed against it stimulating her clit. She let out another moan.

Darien grabbed her hair gently, but enough to get her attention. "Look at me." She complied and locked eyes with him. "This isn't just some fuck to me, and I know you're not like that. I've never… You're it for me." He rested his forehead against hers. He then growled out, "You have no idea how much I want you. If you let me tonight, I'll give you all of me. You have to give me all of yourself in return. No half measures. I love you, only ever you, Serena."

"I love you too, Darien." She smiled up at him and rocked her core against his knee again. "I'm on the pill, and we're both virgins. We're covered, right?"

"Yeah. But I want to get you uncovered, Serena." He then moved and pulled off her skirt and panties, tossing them to the side. "And now you're naked. Good day."

She giggled, "And you're still dressed. That's a problem."

"Not from where I am. You look incredible. I love looking at your boobs and your pussy."

"Yes, but if you stay clothed, that makes sex impossible."

"Can you suck on my cock at least once the way you sucked on that straw?" He asked as he pulled off his clothes. He was naked for her now.

She stroked his cock, "You're so huge!" She then looked up at him in confusion, "Wait, the straw?"

"You sipping on your milkshake was torture. It was the moan at the end that got me to snap and grab your boobs."

"That… affected you?"

"It was so uncomfortably hard halfway home." He choked on home because that was the moment he felt her warmth on his cock for the first time. Her mouth engulfed him, and her pretty pink lips slid down his cock. Then she sucked, and his hips stuttered, and he cursed out loud. He was trembling with pleasure as she sucked his cock.

He pulled her off of him, "I won't last like that, my love. Can I take you to my bedroom? No pressure, though."

"So you got your cock sucked, and now I don't get-"

"I didn't mean that. I'm so sorry!"

She placed her hand over his mouth, "I was teasing you. Relax." She watched the tension bleed out of his shoulder. "Take me to your bedroom. I want everything you want."

He scoffed, "You want to marry me? I doubt you're there yet."

"You want to marry me?"

"I'm about to make love to the woman of my dreams. I want to marry you."

"Well, that's good since I want that also."

He lifted her up and pinched her butt, "First, I make love to you. Second… well… I will make love to you again. But eventually, we'll talk more about marriage."

She giggled and ran her fingers through his hair, messing it up. "I think you'd look good with sex hair."

He moved his face and sucked on her tit and then said, "Let's find out. I'm looking to experience all sorts of new things with you. Can I lick your pussy?"

"Yes." She laughed out loud when he began moving them quickly to his room.

He then laid her on the bed, pushed her legs open wide, and licked her clit. He groaned from pleasure as she fisted his hair and pressed his face to her pussy. "More!" she demanded of him.

He was more than happy to comply. She was writhing, and he devoured her cunt and thrust his tongue into her and fucked her with it. She arched her back and opened her legs as far as they could go offering up her pussy to him. He took all she offered and brought her screaming into an orgasm. He then licked up all her juices and moaned.

"I can't believe I was able to get you to orgasm like that."

He looked up at her and chuckled. She was holding up her hand for him to wait, and she was panting out hard with her eyes closed and her head thrown back. Her hair was draped haphazardly all over his bed, and her legs were still wide open. Her pink pussy exposed to him and how wet she still was.

He did that to her. He growled out loudly and grabbed her hips. He felt so dominant and sexually virile. "That good?" He couldn't help himself. He had to ask.

She just nodded adamantly and dropped her hand on the bed. "Sofuckinggood."

"I'm glad I pleased you."

She locked eyes with him and was finally able to talk, "You went past pleasing me and went right to earth-shattering. Seriously, I think I almost lost my mind over that."

He crawled over her, and his aching cock, and his desire couldn't resist how sexy and wrecked she looked for him. He thrust in deep, breaking her barrier. "You're mine."

"I was yours long before this, Darien. Sex doesn't make me belong to you." She caressed his cheek lovingly.

"I wasn't talking about your heart. You already told me that was mine. I'm talking about your body." He rocked his hips and started by setting a slow rhythm. He then locked eyes with her as his cock penetrated her over and over. "Right here, between your legs, deep inside of you. This is my place. The place for my cock that only I get to experience. And my cock, it's yours. It will only be for your pleasure. Only you, my love."

She scratched down his back, and he moaned. "Every bit of me is yours, my heart, my body, everything. I promise you." And because she knew him, she added, "I promise you're safe with me. Trust me and rely on me to be there for you. I won't fail, and I'm not going anywhere."

"I'll be your biggest defender."

He then thrust into her harder. "I won't hold anything back from you. Not my heart or my trust. I will drop all my walls for you."

"And I will never make you regret it."

He opened his heart the rest of the way and let his desire run free. His hips stuttered, and then he began taking her hard with all the passion in him. He kissed her hard and made love to her mouth, and he took her body.

Serena wrapped her legs around him and dug her heels into his ass. He moved his mouth and whispered into her ear, "You're everything to me."

He then chased their release with a single-minded focus. The feeling of her tight walls stroking his cock drove him half-mad.

He felt her orgasm. She dug her nails into his shoulders, arched her back, and screamed out his name in pleasure. As she milked him, he came hard inside of her and grunted out his release. Collapsing on her and panting out for breath. He smiled when he noticed her panting for breath too.

….

Andrew looked at him smiling, "So you're dating?"

Just then, Serena walked in with Raye, who was giving her a hard time for the grade she got back on her math test.

"I hope she's okay," Andrew said, looking concerned.

Darien smirked, "I made sure it was worth it to her to have to put up with Raye's jealousy. Trust me." He smirked and then added, "Can you make her a milkshake and charge it to me?"

"Did you go for the boobs?"

Darien burst out laughing, "Yeah, we'll just go with that."