Instead of answering, Darien reached up to trace long fingers lightly over her face, holding her chin gently in his hand, his thumb brushing her lips in a light caress. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted softly on a silent gasp at this intimate gesture. His gaze dropped briefly to them, and something appeared in his eyes that both frightened and fascinated her. How often had she dreamed of a man looking at her like that...had she dreamed of DARIEN looking at her like that? "If I kissed you now, would you hate me?" he suddenly asked, his voice a low murmur. His breath stirred the hair on her forehead, and heat flooded her cheeks at the question, but she shook her head, only once. How could she hate him when she already loved him? He smiled. His hand moved to cradle the back of her head, and his other hand rested gently on her lower back, pulling her close against his strong body. She let her arms hang, uncertain as to where to put them, before shyly resting them on his shoulders. He was lowering his head now, and his black-lashed lids slipped over eyes as brilliant as stars. Serena instinctively let her eyes close, as well, waiting for the moment she'd been anticipating for days. His lips were like warm silk when they brushed her own, in the softest of touches, and immediately all the feeling flooded from Serena's legs, turning them to butter. Only the strong arms supporting her kept her from falling, and he used her sudden shift in weight to pull her even closer to him, slipping both arms around her in an almost fierce embrace. Again his lips brushed across hers, leaving a trail of fire that burned the whole way into her stomach. She had never known a simple touch could do such incredible things! The third time their lips touched, she responded, trying to prolong the contact. She could feel his surprise as her arms slid around his neck and pulled him closer again, and his own arms tightened in response. Then all thoughts were firmly swept away as Darien's lips brushed her own yet again...and stayed there, turning the brief touch into a deep kiss, filled with passion and love and everything Serena had only read about in books. Her breath left her, and her head spun, and she felt tears slip from her eyes at the beauty of it. Never, ever let this end... * * * * * Darien could hardly believe that he was there, holding his angel so tightly, kissing her so passionately, as he'd dreamed of doing for such a long time. It was everything he'd hoped...and then some. His arms were filled with light, and her tender lips were warm and yielding and so soft against his own. She was the missing half of him, the light that filled his empty soul, making him complete. He would never let her go, not ever again. They belonged to each other. When he finally raised his head, after endless moments of pure heaven, they were both gasping for breath. Serena gazed up at him, her cheeks burning with heat and her lips rosy and swollen from his kisses. Her eyes had never looked so luminous as they did then, gazing wondrously into his own. He thought that she had never looked more beautiful. She looked as though she was struggling to say something, but he was afraid that words would only break the spell they'd cast, and he didn't want it to end just yet. He silenced her with another soft kiss, whispering her name through the kiss. She sighed blissfully, murmuring against his lips, and his eyes suddenly flew open wide. WHAT had she just said?! * * * * * Serena was startled as Darien suddenly pulled away, looking up at him in confusion. Had she done something wrong? She tried to recall... She had been melting into his arms, thinking how much she loved him... Her eyes grew large suddenly. She HAD only been THINKING those words... hadn't she? But...the look on Darien's face told her that maybe those thoughts hadn't been so silent, after all... "What did you just say?" he whispered to her, his gaze locked on her own, seeming to burn right though her. "I...uh...nothing," she replied quickly, pulling herself out of his arms. Her cheeks still burned, but it was no longer from the heat of his kiss. **Stupid, stupid, STUPID!** she screamed at herself. **What have you DONE! You told him you LOVED him?! Are you CRAZY?! He'll laugh at you for certain now!** Shivering from more than the cool, night air, she stepped away, her eyes cast to the ground. "Serena, tell me what you said," he commanded quietly, in a tone that brooked for no argument. Serena shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She could never repeat those three words she'd spoken, not if she expected to keep him as a friend. Even if he tormented her and called her Meatball Head until he was blue in the face, at least he would still talk to her. But if she ever told him how she really felt...his rejection would tear apart her soul. A warm hand was suddenly lifting her chin and her eyes flew up to meet Darien's concerned gaze. "What's wrong?" he asked softly. "Why won't you tell me what you said?" She bit her lip. **Because I don't want to ruin this magic between us,** she thought. **Because I still want you to tease me and make me mad and make me walk on air when you smile at me. Because I don't want you to laugh at the silly little schoolgirl who thinks she's in love with you...** Out loud, she merely said, "It was nothing important. Never mind." She was glad that her voice didn't break. Darien gazed at her another long moment, and she knew the expression on his face. It was his "I'm determined to get my way and nothing you say will stop me from getting it" expression. She had seen it on his face many times before...and every time, he HAD gotten what he wanted. She wouldn't stand a chance against him if she didn't leave. If she stayed, then her relationship with Darien would be over before it had even begun. "I...I have to go home now..." she whispered, preparing to back away and run. She never had the chance. Darien's arms were around her again almost before she'd even seen him move, and then he was kissing her with such tender force as to make his other kisses seem like a peck on the cheek in comparison. She felt her world tilt crazily, and realized that part of that was because he had dipped her back so that she was supported fully in his arms, his hand stroking her back as the other cradled her head again. He pressed his lips to her own in a hundred tiny, fluttering kisses before trailing them across her cheek and down to her neck, making her gasp as soft, black hair brushed her face. His breath was warm against her skin and he was doing incredible things to her neck, and her arms were once again around him, her hands gripping the back of his jacket for support as she gazed blindly up at the full moon. **Wh...what is he doing to me?** she cried silently, shivering as she felt his lips bury themselves against her throat, kissing her there deeply. **Oh...Oh, saints, please don't let him end this...** Finally, she felt his lips lift softly from her neck, although he didn't raise his head. His breath was harsh, and she could feel him trembling under her hands...or was she the one trembling? She honestly didn't know anymore... "Serena," she heard him whisper, and his voice sounded pleading. "Will you tell me what you said?" Her eyes flew open, and she fought back indignation. All that had been a ruse just to get her to repeat herself? She tried to step back, but his arms tightened around her, refusing to let her leave. Brilliant sapphire eyes rose to meet hers and she met his gaze helplessly, trying to understand the foreign emotions she saw burning in their depths. He was so very close...a mere tilt of the head from either of them would send them falling into another kiss... "Please?" he whispered, and at that moment Serena understood what it was that shone in his eyes. It was love. Pure, unadulterated love. Her breath caught, then quickened. Was...was she imagining things? Could it possibly be...? He was moving again, his head lowering just enough so that their lips were once again connected, a mere touch. "Please?" he whispered yet again, turning the touch into another kiss that quickly grew into something much more heated. She could feel his desire, though he was controlling himself fiercely, and she moaned softly, helplessly. She'd been right. She didn't stand a chance, and the words he so wanted to hear were dancing on her tongue, just waiting for their chance to escape...