Chapter 2: Starting Obsession

        Darien strode over to her, like a great cat stalking its prey. With each step he took he wanted her more, and when she glanced over and smiled at him he thought he would just about die right then. When he reached her he said,
        "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met miss - my name is Darien." She looked him straight in the eye and said,
        "I recognize you, you are the Earl of Bath, yes?" her clear voice rang like a bell in his ears. She turned away from him started walking towards another group of men. Wait - she turned away from me?!? Me? Women fall over me, why is she turning away?
        Serena had to turn away, his presence was almost too much. She had been doing this for quite some time and her composure was a reflex, but through the colder exterior her heart was beating double time and her knees felt weak. She felt like an idiot. Here she was, a renowned "enchantress of men", with a schoolgirl crush. Darien grabbed her arm just then, causing her to whirl around to face him. He looked at her for a second his mouth open as if he were going to say something and she waited. Finally he said,
        "Well, aren't you...um...going to tell me your name?" He ran a hand through his jet black hair in frustration. Serena itched to touch it, and decided, since she was playing her role, she might as well. She reached up and ran a hand through his hair, ignoring him, although it was hard to do so. She stopped and looked him in the eye saying simply,
        "No." and promptly walked outside onto the balcony. The group of men she left groaned and lightly punched Darien. One of them grinned foolishly and said to him,
        "I wish she had done that to me!" Darien turned to him and asked,
        "Do you know her name?" the other man shrugged and said,
        "No one does, but most like to call her Angel. She does look like one, doesn't she?" he sighed and looked at Darien and continued with a sly wink, "I myself believe she is more like a devil, if you know what I mean." Darien looked surprised at first and then asked,
        "Is she really then?" The man looked at him and said seriously,
        "She doesn't like to be caught. A few have been lucky enough and come back with stories of stolen money, but all say it was worth the night she spent with them. You can't catch her friend, she won't let you, you have to be caught by her."
        "Oh, I don't know about that. There isn't a woman in London I can't have."
        "And there isn't a man in London she can't have - you would be wise to remember that." Darien shrugged, and asked the man's name,
        "I'm Edward, Baron of Dansfield, I take it you are the Earl of Bath? What brings you to London?" Darien looked around pointedly at the beautiful women around the room. Edward followed his eyes and chuckled, answering his own question, he said,
        "What else, right?" Darien and he shook hands and parted. A few seconds later Edward turned around and saw Darien heading for the balcony. He whistled under his breath and said quietly,
        "He just doesn't get it, he's getting in over his head with that one."

        Serena stared out across the manicured lawn, a light breeze ruffling her hair and the leaves of the delicate tree just out from the ledge. There were a few other people out, but they soon went in. It was getting late, the moon rode high and bright, calling to her, she just knew it. She always loved the night, then again, she loved the day too. But lately the night held more excitement for her. She never denied it, she loved what she did. But still...the risk was always there, if she got caught she would be ruined completely. Every man I'm with thinks I sleep with him - more the fools they! It was a risk every night she did this, but it was exciting. Those men looked at her like a woman, a desirable woman - something she had never felt before. They certainly didn't treat her like a child! She grinned at that. She rested her elbows on the cold stone railing of the second story balcony and simply stared at the moon.
        She was not expecting the arms that wrapped around her waist from behind. She jumped but the arms did not let go. She spun around, her dress not exactly carrying along with her, leaving it tightened across her body, outlining her form. She almost jumped again when she saw it was Darien. She cleared her throat and asked calmly,
        "Dare I ask what you're doing?"
        "Holding you."
        "Obviously, but doesn't one usually ask permission?" she cocked an eyebrow. He looked so handsome, she almost begged him to forget she said anything.
        "Of ladies, but you aren't a lady - wait, are you?" he quickly released his arms from around her, Serena almost died from the lack. Instead she looked at him with a wry smile.
        "No, I am no lady." Never was really. Clumsy, meddlesome, loud, a tomboy till the age of 15 - not a lady at all. She still felt clutzy wherever she went, it was only at night she felt at ease but she was no lady then either. Serena didn't really see herself as the woman every man wanted, in other words, see didn't see the truth. She saw Darien was staring at her strangely.
        "You sound almost like you are mocking yourself." Serena simply shrugged and said,
        "So?" Darien shook his head. Any other woman would have denied it or explained it, but that reply was just strange. But, truth be told, Darien wasn't thinking to heavily about her unique answer, but rather more of the soft feel of her in his arms. She smelled so good, like lemons, he wondered casually about how such a thing was possible. He murmured into her hair,
        "I want you, let's get out of here Angel." he closed his eyes, but they flew wide open when she responded,
        "Did it ever occur to you that I don't want you?" A lie. She did, of course want him more than she wanted to breathe - but he didn't need to know that.
        "Not really."
        "It should." she replied.
        "Why?" she almost killed him but instead she reached up and pulled his mouth to hers, giving him one of the most passionate kisses of his life. She laid his hand softly on his neck, judging his heart rate and happily discovered he was close to having a coronary. She decided that she was mad enough to put him over the edge and gently licked along the seam of his lips and slipped her tongue in when he opened his mouth. He groaned and pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms even tighter around her as she did the same. She had never intended it to go this far though. God she felt like she was being consumed! I am no Angel, for Heaven could have no fire such as this! With all the other men it had simply been detached, they were there and she was somewhere else - but this! Never in her young life...She had to stop it. She drew away from him, breaking the kiss before it got worse or better... her mind silently added. His eyes opened when he realized she had left him and he felt suddenly cold.
        "Why end it there?" he regained his composure.
        "Because I want it to - that's why." he looked at her strangely and said,
        "Oh I think not. Why won't you come home with me and we'll talk about it there."
        "I told you no."
        "Why?" Darien was getting angry. The first woman he had felt such a raging possessiveness for and she rejected him. It was not sitting well on him.
        "Because," she leaned close to him and looked up, gripping his shirt lightly. Reaching up as if she were going to kiss him again, Darien leaned down slightly, expecting a kiss. At the last minute she stepped back suddenly and continued lightly with a small smile, "I'm all booked up." She grasped his face between her hands and gave him a chaste peck on the cheek before walking gracefully back inside to charm again her bevy of admirers. Darien had been stunned when she said that but as soon as she was around the corner he snapped out of his daze and threw a glass ball that had been lying near his hand. It made a satisfying crash but did nothing to relieve his evident frustration. By God she is a mysterious one. Maybe Edward was right and I should give up - but then again, where's the fun in that? his frown was replaced by a wolfish smile. Now she had tempted him and rejected him. Sweet Lord the chase would be fun!