Title: Inc-Chapter 7
Author: MarshAngel
e-mail:watsonma@hotmail.com
webpage: http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm


When Serena awoke the next morning the first thing she saw was the 
sparkle of the diamond as the sun streaking through her bedroom's 
curtains hit its multifaceted surface. It was an instant reminder of the 
previous night. After he'd given the ring to her things had become 
incredibly tense between them and the most of the rest of the evening was 
spent in silence punctuated only by the short bursts of conversation. It had 
made the ending of the night rather odd.

She remembered he had walked her to her door, which had made 
her so nervous not knowing what would come next. At some point during 
the evening it had seemed that their outing had turned into something of a 
first date; a rather unusual first date in which she had become engaged. 
She had wondered how he'd end the evening. Would he kiss her goodnight, 
like a real fiance? Would he shake her hand like the business partner she 
technically was? It had been a mystery until it happened.

He had done a rather brilliant combination of both really. It hadn't 
been too much and at the same time it affected her even more than if he'd 
taken her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. It had made her wonder 
about just how things would really be in the future. Maybe just maybe they 
could be more than just business partners... and that was the thought with 
which she was left to consider for the rest of the night when he'd gently 
taken her hand into his own and while never taking his eyes of her face 
kissed the back of her hand gently. For that moment he'd made her feel 
like a princess and he was the handsome prince with the brilliantly 
beautiful eyes and stunningly gorgeous smile. Fortunately she was able to 
restrain herself before she took the fantasy to an entirely new level.
Willing herself to get out of bed, she padded to her front door to get 
the newspaper in which she knew she'd see the announcement of her 
engagement. It got more real by the second and somehow more 
acceptable. She wondered what everyone else would think when they found 
out. Unexpectedly, she found herself amused by the imaginings of stunned 
reactions, not from her close friends who already knew but from her 
coworkers and other relatives.

It suddenly occurred to her that she had never told her mother about 
this. She doubted her father had either. It would be typical of him not to 
inform her. If he had, she would have called to say something, anything at 
all. 

She picked up the paper and turned to the society section where 
separate pictures of her and of Darien stood out under the announcement 
of engagements. He'd certainly been thorough, she commented to herself 
wryly. It seemed he wanted everyone to know and be sure of the fact that 
they were now an official couple. Just as she put the paper aside to make 
herself some sort of breakfast, the phone rang and it continued to do so all 
day. A few of her friends call to offer their somewhat muted congratulations 
on Darien's acceptance but the first person however, was her mother.

It was a rather one-sided conversation. Her mother said quite a bit, 
cried happily and gave her an enormous guilt trip for not having told her 
before, and having had to read the news in the newspaper like a stranger. 
She didn't bother explaining that it was a business deal because her 
mother seemed awfully content to believe that Serena had tastelessly 
dumped one fiance for another. Once she'd gotten past Serena's 
'unladylike' behavior she chattered a bit about true love and whatnot. 
Serena wondered if somehow her mother hoped for more for her than she 
herself had had. She suddenly realized that maybe her mother wasn't 
everything she had always thought her to be. Maybe she had always held 
some secret hope for her daughter to marry the man she loved like she'd 
never had the chance to.

Darien called too and they had a civil conversation without the snide 
remarks that had started their meeting on the previous day.  It wasn't a 
long conversation but it was one that had left her pondering, for the rest of 
the day, why her heart had suddenly sped up at the sound of his voice on 
the phone or why she'd suddenly got that nervous shakiness in the pit of 
her stomach. Was it a good thing to be marrying a man whose very voice 
made her nervous?

	Serena skipped work on Monday rather than face any 
questions any of her coworkers might have had. The day off also allowed 
for her to be suckered into a lunch with her mother. Her mother was 
suddenly very curious about what was going on in her life. She wanted to 
know everything there was to know about Darien, sadly Serena knew little 
about him on a personal level. Her mother would be surprised to find 
herself in the position of finding all about Darien from the man himself. It 
would save her the inadequate explanations she would have given. Darien 
was also meeting her for lunch; he'd invited himself along. He was turning 
into a regular fiance. 

He had called her everyday since they had dinner and she had to 
admit he was turning out to be a very nice guy. She wondered if she 
shouldn't be grateful for having been tossed into this situation with him. 
Especially when she considered that under normal circumstances he would 
never have looked at her twice. She didn't feel very grateful however, she 
felt inadequate. She felt that somehow he was being cheated. 

While she was doing this for, what she had convinced herself to be 
noble reasons he was entering into a relationship, which he never would 
have even considered, solely for the purpose of profit. She felt sorry for him 
that he would do this. He couldn't possibly have thought this out 
thoroughly. Didn't he care that he would be spending the rest of his life 
possibly regretting ever marrying her and all for a bit more money that with 
his brilliance he could have probably made on his own?

Maybe he planned to ditch her once the papers were signed. Being 
married hadn't stopped many men from having relationships with other 
women. Her aunt's husband for example had a mistress in the grand 
tradition of many wealthy men. She didn't want to even think about 
whether or not her father had one of his own, it certainly was a possibility.
 She wasn't sure if she could handle knowing her husband cheated 
on her. He had demanded her loyalty when he had vehemently let her know 
he wouldn't tolerate her cheating on him. He hadn't however, made any 
promises of his own.

Serena met her mother and Darien at a small bistro. He stood up to 
greet her running his eyes over the flowing white tunic and matching pants 
with a certain possessiveness that, much like the sound of his voice, made 
her nervous. She could barely contain her wide-eyed surprise when he 
kissed her on the cheek as though it were the most normal thing in the 
world.

"Hello sweetheart," he said huskily, still staring at her. She resisted 
the urge to glare at him for the show he was putting on for her mother who 
sat across from him looking like a rather pleased puss. The smile that 
spread across her face when Darien greeted her was so grand; she couldn't 
quite recall having seen one like it for a long time. Apparently Darien had 
charmed her to an extent to which Andrew hadn't even aspired. She 
wondered if he had even told her that it was merely a business 
arrangement; by the look on her face her guess was no.

"Darien was telling me all about himself, Serena. It's quite ironic that 
Andrew introduced you two isn't it? Seems you two hit it off right away. 
This wonderful man is the reason you broke up with Andrew isn't it? I can't 
say I blame you although quite frankly sweetheart, your method leaves 
something to be desired. 

"The whole family is talking about it! Your grandmother is having a fit 
you know, and your cousin Tammy is positively green with envy. The least 
you could have done is let your family know! Although I can hardly blame 
you for wanting to keep him for yourself, I can't understand how you can 
help not boasting about a wonderful catch like this.

"It's positively romantic, in a modern way of course. I bet we can 
keep the same wedding planner. When are you two going to tie the knot? 
Will it be soon? You must let me know so I can get a head start..."
Serena was staring in a rather stunned air-headed way at her mother 
who continued rambling on an on in her excitement. Darien merely sat 
back and stared at Serena in amusement. It had begun all over again. 
Eventually Serena gave up on really answering her mother's questions and 
paid much more attention to the meal before her although it was a rather 
difficult task with Darien sitting across from her looking at her as though 
she were the only woman around. 

She found herself daydreaming, wondering what life with Darien 
would be like. She found herself considering the positive benefits of waking 
up next to him every morning. She wondered what he looked like when he 
was sleeping with those extraordinarily long lashes of his resting against 
his cheeks. Did he wear pajamas; cotton, silk, nothing at all? Her face was 
slowly painted red as her thoughts drifted. Just then she looked up at 
Darien and her face was even redder. Why was he still looking at her and 
smiling?

Darien couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. There was something 
about her that made his thoughts run on her constantly. There was the 
obvious fact that she was beautiful. He couldn't help goading her just to 
see her blue eyes widen. It certainly was no excuse to stare at her as 
though she were the only one around. He hadn't even heard much of 
anything Helen had said in the past few minutes. 

He wondered what Serena was thinking. She didn't seem to be 
listening much to her mother either, not that Helen noticed. His curiosity 
heightened when he saw her face deepen in color. She looked up at him 
and her face turned darker. He would have given a fortune to know what 
thought had caused the embarrassed look he'd seen on her face.
Helen was still rambling on and on when she was interrupted by a 
petite woman in a red suit. The woman's hair was a rather unnatural shade 
of red and she wore an excess of makeup that wouldn't have looked so 
unbelievably unnatural if it weren't for her penciled eyebrows and spider 
lashes. She greeted Helen with a rather high-pitched screech that could 
raise the hairs on a cats back.     

Helen gave the woman a rather brilliant fake smile and returned her 
greeting. 

"I don't believe I've met these two beautiful young people," the 
woman said, forcing an introduction. By the look on her face, Darien had no 
doubt that the woman had a very good idea who he was.

"Amanda, this is my daughter Serena and her fiance Darien 
Derencourt."

"It's very good to meet you. You two make a wonderful couple." Her 
eyes glinted mysteriously. "Well it was lovely seeing you again Helen. 
Maybe we can get together sometime."

"Yes of course," Helen replied non-committal. 

"Who was that Mom?" Serena asked when the woman had left.

"A rather annoying gossip columnist who fancies herself a friend," 
Helen replied. Darien frowned but said nothing. 



A little while later Serena's mother excused herself from the two 
'lovebirds'. She of course had to attend to the details of a wedding that had 
no set date. Serena was curious as to why Darien had not returned to work 
and asked him as much.

"I'm not in the habit of leaving beautiful women alone," he replied.

"Believe me I noticed," Serena whispered.

"You need to watch more closely then. No other woman is here but 
you, and I am not going anywhere."

 Serena gasped, unwilling to believe he'd actually spoken those 
words to her. But truly what surprised her was that he would abandon the 
business that seemed to be his life, for which he was sacrificing his 
bachelorhood, just to spend time with her.

"Don't look so shocked. You're making me look like an ogre who 
never pays his fiance any compliments." Serena continued to stare at him 
silently. Trying to figure out if he was teasing her or if he genuinely wanted 
to be with her as his words implied."

"If you don't say something soon I believe I'm going to have to bring 
your mother back just for someone to listen to and by the expression on 
your face while she was chit chatting away you wouldn't particularly enjoy 
that."

"Sorry," Serena said quietly. "I was just surprised you said that. It 
sounded almost flowery. I never would have guessed you were the flowery 
type," She teased, smiling gently, relieved to have her brain finally at work 
once again.

 "Flowery? That hurts." He placed a hand over his chest in a pathetic 
attempt to look wounded that made Serena laugh. She had no doubt that 
even in a situation where he was truly hurt he'd still look proud and 
unconquered. 

"Welcome back to reality. You haven't really said much since you 
arrived."

"I was too stunned by how quickly you managed to charm my 
mother."

"It must be my floweriness." Serena smiled again something he was 
beginning to realize he enjoyed seeing. He still hadn't gotten that toothy 
grin out of her he wanted to see and he hadn't made her laugh yet.

"What exactly did you say to her? She seems like she's ready to take 
you for her own."

"Well it's not so much what I said as what I didn't say. I just didn't 
bother telling her about our arrangement so as far as she and everyone else 
is concerned we are a happily in live soon to be married couple."
Serena sighed. "So she thinks we fell in love at first sight and I 
dumped Andrew so I could have you. Just great. Everyday my character 
takes a beating."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. Notoriety can give you a 
certain amount of power. Believe me I know."

Serena shook her head. "How do you live like that? You are the only 
businessman I have ever known or heard of with whom the press is so 
enamored. How do you go through every day knowing that there is always 
someone watching you waiting to see what you do next? 

Darien shrugged. You get used to it I suppose. I certainly never 
expected to be 'famous'. It isn't something that happens in the business 
world. At first I was annoyed by the fact that it seemed there was always 
someone watching, waiting to see what I did next; whether it was the SEC, 
the finance journals, or journalists with nothing better to do, there was 
always someone. I still haven't figured out just what is so fascinating about 
me that makes me newsworthy."

"You don't know?" Serena asked incredulously, unwilling to believe 
that anyone as beautiful as he did not sit and admire themselves in the 
mirror. Were she that gorgeous, she supposed she might be horribly 
conceited. It wasn't even so much his good looks but the fact that he 
emanated this aura that was just utterly sensual. He was the romance hero, 
every woman's fantasy brought to life in a manner that outdid any of the 
feminine imaginings and heroic fantasies of all the romance novelists who'd 
ever written of their vision of the perfect man.

"Why? Do you?" Certainly, she couldn't subscribe to the unreal 
fantasies all the women he'd known held about him. Of course she didn't. 
She'd made that plainly obvious.

 Serena was a practical woman; she had no time to put him up on 
the pedestal of romantic hero come to sweep her off her feet. She certainly 
didn't want him and somehow that made her all the more fascinating if a 
bit frustrating to him. He couldn't help basking in the irony of strangely 
coming to want the one woman who didn't seem to want him.

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" She questioned, unwilling to 
believe he did not recognize himself as the most handsome CEO to ever sit 
on the board of directors anywhere. She' looked through a good hundred or 
so stock portfolios, been to a good dozen conventions and almost every top 
executive in the country was a white haired old man with a pot belly and 
the personality of a goat. Darien was the ultimate exception and therein 
laid the fascination with everything he said and did.

Until now she had not even given much thought to just who this man 
was who waltzed in to the business world, swooped down like a hawk, and 
captured the much desired position of one of America's most successful 
men and sexiest bachelors. Now that he was supposed to be hers she 
found herself dabbling in the same fantasies that just weeks before she 
would have credited as being utterly ridiculous. 

Somehow, even though she now had the one man half the women in 
the world seemed to want, she found herself in a rather distressingly ironic 
situation. She had the man every woman wanted and he didn't even love 
her.  Worse yet she felt herself being drawn into his alluring web of 
attraction. It would be far too easy to fall in love with him and she couldn't 
face a lifetime of loving a man who didn't love her.

"I know I'm handsome Serena. I have been told so, so often that I 
often wonder why it hasn't gone to my head completely. I seriously doubt 
that I am the only handsome man in the business world! Why aren't they 
fascinated with Andrew, or your father's right hand man, what's his name?"

"Davidson?" Serena asked frowning at the thought and secretly 
wondering if Darien was out of his mind. "He has no Charisma." And 
besides, Serena added to herself, he does not quite meet your level. "As for 
Andrew, he was born into this society. You are new and therefore of 
significantly more interest."

"You make it sound as though I just joined some club."

"That's what it feel like sometimes. It's an entire social club of the 
rich. They try to exclude anyone who doesn't have their 'breeding'. 
Unfortunately for them the twentieth century arrived and they don't have 
the same power anymore."

"Don't they? If they don't why are you marrying me, knowing that 
divorce isn't even an option? You are being loyal to the very traditions of 
that society despite your personal desires." He watched her face and saw 
she was about to object. He knew what she'd say. She'd reiterate the same 
nonsense of loyalty to her family and that was certainly the last thing he 
wanted to hear. He raised his palms before her, signaling her silence. 

"I know what you're going to say. You're being loyal to your family. 
But your family is the top dog in this little social club and you are their 
princess. When you marry me, you secure the position of your family, and 
in turn the backbone of that society. This is hardly about you and me really. 
I just find it ironic that to save themselves they must sacrifice the purity of 
their bloodlines and assimilate those they disdain." Oddly he didn't sound 
bitter considering his words. 

"And yet you still agree to this proposition. Why is that? Why do you 
choose to allow this merger? Why do you voluntarily become a member of 
the Kyler family if you know just how our society works? You are already 
wealthy and successful. Why did you bother to proceed on this rescue 
mission, it couldn't possibly be out of the goodness of your heart?" Serena 
stared at him, daring him to answer the questions that had been running 
through her mind ever since he had informed her he would marry her.

Darien raised an eyebrow and paused a moment before "Maybe I'm 
really a romantic hero after all. Maybe I want to rescue more than your 
family. Just maybe, I want to rescue you."



Serena had been stunned by his answer, not to mention confused. 
Just what, did he suppose she needed rescuing from? She had asked that 
question but he hadn't answered. Maybe there really was no answer and 
he'd merely said it for its effect rather than any inherent meaning. The 
response he had given was as intriguing as anything he might have said. 
He'd kissed her hand and offered her dessert. She didn't bother to ply him 
for an answer. 

Not being one to refuse any type of dessert, Serena accepted his 
offer. They didn't stay at the bistro, however. Instead they began walk 
around the city, stopping by a ice-cream parlor on their way. The rest of the 
day was spent walking and talking enjoying each other's company to the 
fullest. Before they knew it four hours had passed and Serena's feet ached 
despite her comfortable sandals. Fortunately by that time they were down 
at the bay. For a long time they stood there quietly just taking in the beauty 
of the Pacific Ocean, until Darien finally spoke.

"I meant what I said this weekend at your apartment. We can make 
this marriage as real as any out there. I want that for us; it's the best thing 
for us both." Serena was silent for a moment. For a while she thought. The 
question wasn't whether or not she could love him; that had become very 
obvious to her today. It was whether he would love her the way she desired. 
The solution was simple. She would be damned if she didn't try to make 
him fall in love with her as she already found herself falling for him.
While she hadn't been looking at him, he had been staring intently at 
her and was surprised to see her smile brilliantly. 

"I think I'd like that." The words were more than music to his ears. 
He turned to her and smiled one of the brilliant smiles staring deeply into 
her soft blue eyes. As though there were a magnet between them, they 
drew closer together their eyelids drooping as their heads moved in 
towards each other. Their lips met gently at first before seemingly melting 
into a wondrous explosion of passion. The kiss sent chills rushing down 
Serena's spine and a heat rushing from her toes to where her tongue 
connected to Darien's, both dancing together in their shared moment of 
ardor.


Serena was still glowing even when she woke up the next morning, 
practically on cloud nine. Lunch had led to dinner and they'd parted ways 
late last night only to spend the rest of the evening on the phone like 
smitten teenagers. She got to her office smiling all the way and greeted her 
secretary brightly. 

"Hi Molly!" Molly simply stared at Serena for a moment stunned. 
Serena was not exactly a morning person. She then remembered what she 
had read in the newspaper and returned Serena's brilliant smile with one of 
her own as well as an addition.

"Congratulations Serena! I read about your engagement in the 
newspaper. What a catch! He is so handsome! That gossip columnist was 
so rude though. I couldn't believe the things she said!"

"What gossip columnist?" Serena could feel that number nine cloud 
slowly beginning to dissolve beneath her feet.

"Amanda Messier; she implies that you dumped Andrew for the 
better catch. She also claims that you and Mr. Derencourt must have been 
carrying on some secret romance for quite a while even while you were 
planning to marry Andrew." Serena clenched her jaw in anger. She picked 
up the newspaper on Molly's desk to see a small picture of her and Darien 
kissing at the docks. Below the picture was the paragraph dedicated to her 
and Darien.

...before news of the break of Serena Kyler's 
engagement to the son of shipping magnate 
William Davenport, her engagement to multi-
millionaire playboy businessman Darien 
Derencourt was announced just this past 
Sunday. There had been no evidence of a 
prior relationship between Ms. Kyler and Mr. 
Derencourt, which leads one to believe that 
whatever relationship they had must have 
been highly secretive and possibly carried on 
throughout her engagement to Davenport, as 
her newly acwuired fiance Derencourt, just 
two weeks ago, was seen with supermodel 
Ambrose...  Interestingly enough it seems 
Davenport and Ms. Kyler have remained 
friends and Davenport has also formed a 
relationship with Ms. Kyler's new love 
interest. It certainly makes for an interesting 
relationship between the three. Ms. Kyler has 
been a very very busy young woman...

"I just met the woman yesterday and the vicious harpy is already 
trying to rip me to shreds! I refuse to let her ruin my day!" 
Just then, a deliveryman arrived asking for a Serena Kyler. Serena 
turned to accept the delivery that turned out to be a rather large bouquet of 
red and white roses. Molly oohed and ahhed over the romantic gesture 
Darien had bestowed on her. She opened the small note. 

 "Just a little something, hoping and wishing you feel as good today as I 
do and really it's because of you."

Everyday was turning out to be a new pleasant surprise and it was 
actually a wondrous feeling. She didn't give another thought to Amanda 
Messier. Cloud nine solidified beneath her feet again.


"Her father visited later in the day and they had a short but pleasant 
conversation. The information about the merger would be revealed to the 
board a little while before the wedding but not sooner. He did suggest that 
wedding be over with sooner rather than later but that was all. Before the 
morning was over she received many congratulations by phone and in 
person from her co-workers. It annoyed her however that they all seemed to 
be extremely curious about her relationship but none were so rude as to 
ask. They women all gave her these subtle impressions that she had 
achieved the great feat of capturing 'The Man'. It reminded her too much of 
her cousins.

At midday she was invited, along with Darien, by Lita to a late dinner 
that evening. It would be their first outing as a couple and something of a 
celebration of their engagement. 

For anyone else this dinner would be very awkward and certainly 
anyone who didn't understand the situation would expect it to be. Her 
closest friends would be there and that included Andrew. How many people 
could say that they were having an engagement celebration with their ex-
fiance of less than a month present? It gave her something to look forward 
to for the rest of the evening.



Serena dressed for dinner to impress. Of course she had a specific 
person in mind. Technically this was a date so he was picking her up and 
she had this distinct impression he would be on time. Punctuality seemed 
a part of his personality. That was the reason she had begun to get dressed 
almost an hour before he was due to arrive. 

It was all in vain however. The doorbell rang before she even had the 
chance to pull the beige silk dress over her head and settle its sheer, white-
flower-spotted layer into place. She needed a necklace to fill the wide, low 
neckline but she wouldn't have time to find one before getting the door. 
When Darien saw her he have an appreciative glance over her body. 
She noticed and turned to give him the full impression.

"You like?" 

"I like. You know there are women who would kill to raid your closet."

"I take pride in my collection. You should probably sit down I'm 
nowhere near ready."

"There has to be something about you being barefooted every time 
I'm here," he said noticing her bare feet. 

"It's comfortable."


It took another half hour before Serena was ready and they were of 
course the last to arrive at Lita's restaurant. 
Andrew winced painfully when he saw Serena enter the restaurant 
laughing with Darien. She was happy with him, not that he should have 
expected any less. From what he'd seen Darien Derencourt was what every 
woman wanted. Serena was happy and that should make him happy and it 
did somehow but it wasn't enough. He wanted her to be happy with him. 
He sighed and frowned but no one noticed besides Mina who knew 
everything and had been understanding. But there were problems helpful 
little sisters couldn't solve.

It was a great dinner. Everything was going perfectly. Serena's 
friends teased the couple and they reacted warmly, teasing back. It all 
made for a wonderful atmosphere. Andrew had a mask of laughing 
amusement on his face that he put on for her. She didn't need to see him 
hurting when she was so happy.

He was forced; despite the pain it caused, to admit that she seemed 
happier than she had been in a long while, happier than she had been with 
him. There was just something about the way she touched his hand even by 
accident that caused her to turn and look at him as though she had never 
seen him before. The way she got nervous every time he touched her. The 
way she seemed in a daze half the time and smiled ever so slightly when he 
spoke, listening so intently as though he were the only one there.
They had known each other most of their lives and he had never seen 
her react this way to anyone. She was in love, and for her, it was the first 
time. Darien seemed equally intrigued. Not being one to say much he 
sometimes simply sat back and watched as she talked as if entranced by 
her every movement. What he wouldn't have given to be in his place. It was 
comforting to know that she would be happy. He would love her; that much 
he could see.

Serena was enjoying herself. Her friends had greeted her and Darien 
as if they were an old couple. No mention was made of their situation and it 
had been for the best. For the first time she felt as though Darien was her 
fiance; the one she had fallen in love with of her own free will under 
normal circumstances. She didn't doubt her friends were wondering just 
what had happened between them.

She hoped her friends didn't notice what she was beginning to think 
was an obsession: staring at Darien. He had been talking once and she had 
found herself staring, entranced by his mouth. As if he'd felt her eyes on 
him, he'd stopped and turned and looked at her. He'd given one of those 
slow sexy smiles that made her flush from head to toe when he realized she 
hadn't heard what he'd just said to her.

She didn't even eat that much which for her was unusual. Her 
appetite was 'healthier' than most. Eating to her was an art form that 
required precision and a wide array of different foods in large amounts. Her 
friends considered watching her eat an event, wondering just where she put 
the food away in her tiny body. Tonight however her mind was engaged in 
an entirely new and all that more fascinating art form, watching Darien.
Despite all the 'wonders' of the evening she couldn't help sensing 
something was wrong. It didn't hit her until the evening was almost over 
just what that was. She had been so caught up in 'everything else' that she 
had paid little attention to anything else. She hadn't even taken note of 
what she was feeling coming from Andrew. 

He wasn't as happy as he was intent on having everyone believe. She 
knew him too well to fall for that. His eyes were distant. Something was 
wrong. She didn't get a chance to speak to him that night; 'Other things' 
had her attention. She pushed away her thoughts for the moment, making 
a resolution to talk to Drew, later. 

Darien had other things on his mind and all of them involved Serena 
in someway. He had spent the entire evening in a rather unusual state. 
Every time she touched him, his skin tingled as if she had just shot him 
through with electricity. He could feel her eyes on him and it made him 
smile. He found that of all the women he knew, he liked it when she looked 
at him.

 It pleased him to know she found him attractive and he smiled when 
he thought of what she'd say if he'd told her. "As if your ego needs any more 
help!" It was strange that he knew exactly what she would think; he even 
knew how she felt at this very moment. It was all so very strange.

He'd fancied himself in love once in high school. Like every other 
woman he'd ever known, she'd merely wanted to prove that she could have 
him. He'd felt used, but over the years he had come to accept the feeling 
as the norm. Women didn't want him; they wanted what they saw, not who 
he was. 

Serena was different. For one thing, most of the time he doubted she 
even wanted him and unlike anything else he'd ever known, the very idea 
angered him. When she looked at him the way she had tonight however, it 
was everything. He knew she wanted him, not just what she saw, but 
everything. And maybe he was selfish to want so much from a woman, to 
want her to see him and only him but somehow he knew that if he could get 
Serena to love him she would do just that. 

She was loyal, devoted, and honest. She would give him everything. 
Tonight he wanted her more than ever before. The last few days had 
been a test of will. One that he hadn't been sure he would pass. Right now 
he could only hope she felt the same way because cold showers were even 
far less fun than they were purported to be. 

At the end of the evening, Darien walked Serena to the car. He had 
waited impatiently as they said goodbye to her friends. It was almost 
twenty minutes before he had her alone in the car. 

Serena couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. As the evening 
had come closer and closer to an end she had grown more and more 
nervous. Every part of her shivered with anticipation of just where this 
evening was going and for some reason it only seemed natural. 

She had taken extra time saying goodbye to her friends as they all 
stood outside in the restaurant parking lot, delaying the inevitable. It 
wasn't that she was scared of what might happen between them when they 
were alone she was just very, very nervous. She smiled nervously as he 
opened the car door for her.

 His hand brushed against hers as she stepped around him to get in. 
They both froze as they felt the sensations they'd been feeling all night 
intensify as skin brushed against skin. Serena turned around to face him 
for the moment frozen by the hungry look she recognized in his eyes, a look 
she knew was mirrored in her own. Her heart was pounding and her 
stomach seemed to have developed a pulse. 

And once again as if by some compelling hypnotic force, they were 
pulled together and she wasn't aware either of them had moved until she 
felt his hand on her waist and the cold metal of the car through the back of 
her dress. His head came down to meet hers and when their lips met it was 
as if the world exploded behind her closed eyes.

The taste of her was amazing. She tasted impossibly like berries and 
sunshine. It certainly wasn't the usual to have a woman melt in his arms, 
but melt it seemed she had. She had relaxed in his arms and he held her 
close to him trapped between his hard body and the car. It seemed like 
they moved together knowing each other's every movement and if he didn't 
stop now it was going to be very difficult to in just a few more minutes but 
it was hard to stop kissing her, so very hard.

When they finally pulled apart they were hot, flushed, and breathing 
hard. They were also suddenly aware that they were in a parking lot and 
her friends had all seen that. She peeked around his enormous body to see 
them staring at the both of them in shock. Her face turned so beet red, 
even her ears were hot. She quickly ducked back behind the safety of his 
body where she couldn't see them anymore.

Darien chuckled at her embarrassment and kissed her on her 
forehead lightly.

"Why don't you get in the car before I embarrass us both again," he 
said huskily.

To say they hurried to her place would have been an understatement. 
At any moment Serena had expected a cop to pull up behind them. They 
made it safely though. 

Later Serena would almost swear he had her half undressed before 
they even got through her front door. It would have been an exaggeration 
however. The door closed behind her before he started kissing her. She 
wasn't undressed until they actually got to her bedroom door. But then 
they were far too busy to record the actual events in proper sequence or 
timing. All either of them truly remembered was that it was wonderful, 
absolutely wonderful.

Early the next morning, far earlier than she was used to being awake 
to prepare for work, she stood in the shower as the water beat down on her 
body. Darien was in her kitchen hunting down a source of chocolate. She 
smiled as she remembered how he'd just about demanded chocolate of her 
this morning as though it were a life's necessity, something she could 
understand. He should be able to find some, while she was often lax about 
food shopping she never forgot to buy chocolate.

 She shivered despite the almost scalding hot water pouring over her 
body. She had never felt the way she had last night, the way she felt now. 
Kissing him was so overwhelming. She felt as though she had never been 
truly alive until just then. When he touched her she felt complete and at 
times it was scary. She was beginning to need him and she couldn't 
remember ever truly needing anyone since she was a child and it was 
disconcerting.

A few more nights like that and she certainly would need him. He 
could definitely become an addiction.

Darien found his chocolate source in a jar of M&M's in Serena's 
cupboard. Last night had been something else. She was even more 
beautiful than he had already noted. It was unnerving how badly he wanted 
her. She was a distraction. If he didn't stop thinking about her, as he didn't 
doubt he would be for the rest of the day, he wouldn't be able to get much 
work done.  

He was actually in the middle of cracking eggs in a bowl to make an 
omelet. It was the only western meal he ever attempted to cook. Somehow, 
he didn't think Serena would eat noodles or rice for breakfast the way he 
usually did.  Eggs and a few other things were all she seemed to have in her 
refrigerator. 

Last night had been something new for him. He had never spent the 
night at a woman's place before. He'd always been in control and therefore 
sex had always been on his turf. Last night however, had no precedent. He 
had never experienced anything like that.

He found himself at the point where she was becoming an obsession 
for him, one that had started the moment he met her. Even now he could 
remember what she smelled like, what she felt like, how she tasted. That 
line of thought wasn't very productive. It seemed he'd recorded her face in 
his mind the day he'd met her, it was so easy to remember her every 
expression.

 For the first time in his life everything felt right. He felt complete, 
satisfied.  If he hadn't been sure he wanted to marry her before, he was 
quite certain now. There was something exceedingly strange about this 
situation. Situations like this didn't happen in real life. You didn't just meet 
the woman of your dreams and marry her. It was too perfect, too 
wonderful. Any moment now he'd wake from this dream and discover there 
was no perfect Serena with the long blonde hair. Blue-eyed angels didn't 
just walk into your life and request your hand in marriage. But it had 
happened to him and it seemed unreal.

He was about to pour the eggs into the pan when the phone rang. He 
did what seemed natural and logical; he answered. 
"Hello?" There was nothing but silence. "Hello?" he repeated but all 
he heard on the other end was a click. He frowned annoyed but went back 
to his eggs, whistling as he cooked. 

A few minutes later Serena entered the kitchen, trying to sneak up on 
him. She failed pathetically even though she had been quiet. Her peach 
scented shampoo was just too fragrant to escape his notice. 

"You smell good," he said kissing her wet head. He put his arms 
around her fuzzy bathrobe-covered shoulders. 

"You smell like chocolate," she returned, resting herself comfortably 
against his broad, bare chest. 

"I don't suppose we could spend all day in bed could we?" Darien 
groaned against her hair.

"I'm turning you into a weak man."

"You definitely are, and I can't see myself resisting it."

"Unfortunately we both have to go to work."

They had breakfast, a new experience for Serena. Darien lectured her 
on the importance of the first meal of the day. She was surprised he 
actually had time to eat breakfast in the morning. She always woke up late, 
just in time to get dressed and rush out the door. There was never anytime 
for breakfast. Of course it was easy for him o be early for work when he 
only had to take the elevator down a few levels.

She teased him about what a good boy he was and how proud his 
mother must be. He took that as a compliment and proudly informed her 
that Ikuko was very, very proud of her only son. She gagged at how 
nauseating that was and informed him that a 'normal' family like his was 
absolutely unreal not to mention abnormal. "Dysfunction is the key to 
normality;" that was her motto.

An hour later, she kissed him goodbye. It seemed she was doomed 
to be late because even as she closed the door she realized that if she 
didn't get dressed, she would be late for work. She rushed around the 
apartment tossing on the first suit she could find in her closet and brushing 
blush on her cheeks while shoving her feet into high heels. She grabbed her 
purse and flung open the door, keys in hand, ready to face a day of 
obsessing about her fiance while sorting through too much paperwork.
