My Mistake

It was night when I finally come too. I find myself in my favourite pyjamas, bathed, my breath minty fresh and me lying in a bed I instantly recognised as Darien's – a bed that both Trista and I have shared with him - on separate occasions that is.

This wasn't what I was expecting when I awoke, neither was expecting the sight of a sleeping Darien lying on his side of the bed facing me with his fingers entwined with mine. Or was that my fingers entwined with his? No matter. I don't want him touching me, or vice versa.

So why wasn't I moving away?

I turn on my side to quietly study him. For a fleeting moment I wondered where the others were and how I got to be here but then I reach out and run my fingers along his cheek and across his strong jaw line and forget.

He really does look like a prince out of those silly fairytales I used to read and believe in. After all, our very own story was pictured to be a fairytale until it all went horribly wrong to rival the best sellers of Stephen King.

I knew what I was contemplating was a huge mistake on my part but I couldn't help it. I hold my breath, watched for signs of wakefulness and slowly lean forward 'til my lips grazed his.

Soft.

Warm.

Perfect.

I begin to pull away when I feel him responding. But Darien follows and I won't break contact. Maybe I am stupid like they say. Nevertheless, a primal instinct claims me.

I want him.

I want to reclaim him as mine.

Only mine!

And via our link I was sure he knew it, but most likely he caught on after I ripped his shirt, sending buttons flying everywhere. Oh boy, there goes my top...my fingers make quick work of helping him out of his jeans...bye-bye pyjama pants.

My back arches as I feel him join me. He feels so good. My nails scratch along his smooth strong back causing him to hiss. I like it. I'm driving him nuts. He leans up on his forearms, staring directly into my eyes. I want to look away but I can't.

"I love you." He whispers with tender honesty.

"I love you too." Damn it! I was not supposed to say that.

I quickly flip us over and reclaim his mouth before he could get me to say something else that was imprudent. I capture his hands holding them above his head, my hips driving down on him with impatient force. I had one goal in mind, to make him crazy with desire and me reigning Queen.

Later...

I lie here watching the sunrise.

What started as a way for me to dominate later ended up being gentle sweet lovemaking with whispers of love and promises from both of us, leaving me now, raw and exposed and uncertain on how to feel?

Darien is still asleep, spooning me from behind, obviously worn out by our crazed sex marathon. His face buried in the crook of my neck and our legs and fingers tangled...and still we were intimately joined. My favourite way to be held when I slept.

Safe.

Secured.

Loved.

The phone rings but the answer machine catches. It's Zack. "Darien man. Where are you? We're all at the shrine. Are you alright?" I can faintly hear Raye in the background. "Is he hurt? What did Serena do now?" It's always me. So easy for you to lay blame on me...eh...Raye? You never do wrong. "Listen mate, call us, the girls are going nutso, 'specially Trista. Bye."

Back to reality.

No afterglow here.

I try removing Darien's arm from my waist but it's like a band of steel.

He's awake. "Don't go."

"You better shower and dress and get down there before they all come storming through your door. They probably think I've killed you."

"After last night you probably have since I'm unable to move." His attempt at a joke falls flat.

"Let me go." Shit. No tears. Be strong.

"I can't." He whispers brokenly. "Serena please don't shut down on me. Not after last night."

"Last night was a mistake." With every ounce of strength I have I get out of bed. Darien's groan at the loss of body contact thankfully drowns out my own. I fumble about in the sheet covering my nakedness, stubbornly ignoring his amused look of 'I know every inch of you so why are you hiding?' "Where are my clothes? Nevermind." I'm surprised to see them clean, pressed and folded in a chair in the corner.

"You don't mean that Serena. I know you don't." Darien stands. Typically without the decency of clothing himself. "Not after what we declared to each other."

"Nothing but sex talk Darien. I was just trying to get some."

"That wasn't what it was!" He's angry.

"Now you're being stupid if you believed anything that I said."

"Well what about what I said?"

"That was your libido speaking Darien. And even if it wasn't, do you expect me to believe a word you say after everything that has happened?"

"Quit being stubborn." He pulls on a clean pair of black trackpants.

"And quit being pig-headed from facing the truth that it's over!"

"Not while I'm still breathing Serena. It will never be over. I love you. You love me."

"But I don't trust you!" I scream. Fed up with us going around in circles. "Without trust there is nothing! You slept with Trista! My supposed friend and guardian and apparently the real mother to your future daughter whom she fobbed off as mine."

"But I didn't know about Rini." He sits on the edge of the unmade bed with his head in his hands.

I sigh and sit next to him. "I know Darien. I know."

"I truly believed she was ours. I never thought Trista could do something like that."

'Your daughter died.' How could she have been so cruel to have swapped my baby? I didn't even get to grieve for her. Did she at least give my baby a proper burial? But then she didn't do it all alone.

"Darien!" Someone yelled followed by a persistent banging on the front door. We look at each other and then move out from the bedroom and into the sitting room in time to see Nathan and Zack kick open the door.

Trista steps inside visibly relieved to see Darien alive. She moves quickly towards him but to my amazement he avoids any contact with her. I soon realise we didn't even touch on what happened yesterday while I was unconscious.

Mina is standing to the side and sums up both our dishelved appearances. In typical Mina fashion of not being discreet she yelps. "Oh my gosh. You both had sex didn't you?"

Our stony silence confirms it.

The inner senshis are utterly dumbfounded and shoot disapproving looks at Darien. The outer senshis look positively outraged and goes to comfort a miserable looking Trista. The generals, men being men whistle and smirk the 'you go boy' smirk which I want to slap off their smug faces.

Darien though is ignoring everyone and looking steadily at me. He senses what I'm about to do and is helpless since his generals and the senshis have unknowingly blocked his path. I take this opportunity to salute him goodbye and simply walk out the door, disregarding his loud plea for me not to leave.

To Be Continued.