I Wanna Be Bad: 7 Deadly Sins

Envy

"Envy is the art of counting other fellow's blessings instead of your own." - Harold Coffin

"Guess what!" Lily said with a smile as she came over to Rufus, who was sitting on the couch reading the morning paper.

Rufus set the paper aside and grinned at his wife as he held his arms out to her. "What?"

Lily sat down in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I have a surprise for Jenny when she returns home next month."

Rufus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"

"Well, you know how Serena is still complaining about how Jenny has her old room?"

Rufus nodded. "How wouldn't I know that when Serena makes sure we all hear about it first thing in the morning? I also believe she moves a new part of her wardrobe into Jenny's closet every day. Then she moves a part of Jenny's wardrobe into her new room. She probably thinks if she does it gradually, we won't notice her moving into Jenny's room and moving Jenny into her new room. Wait. That sounds kind of confusing."

Lily smirked, and gently stroked some hair out of his eyes. "It's okay. I get it. I've noticed that too. Anyway, I was thinking, you know that extra room next to Serena's new room that we've been using to store all our junk?"

"Hey, those are some priceless artifacts!" Rufus protested.

Lily rolled her eyes. "I'd hardly count your platform shoes and Mr. T Mug as priceless artifacts."

Rufus licked his lips. "Well, what about your eighties workout uniform? I do think you look quite sexy in leg warmers. I'd hate to see you get rid of that or even the rest of your eighties and nineties clothes. We shared a lot of memories with you in those."

Lily smiled. "And how would you even remember them? You never let me stay in them for long."

Rufus nodded. "True. Still, Lil, do we really have to get rid of them?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "That is how we differ. I prefer to be out with the old and in with the new. You prefer to be a pack rat."

"The second I get rid of things, I always end up wanting them at some point. That is why I never like to get rid of things," Rufus said in defense.

Lily sighed. "Well, they all have to go. We never use them, and most likely never will. I need the room so that the contractor I just hired can knock out the wall and add an in-room bathroom. I'm going to have him make Jenny a room she will be begging to move into. Then, Serena can have her old room back and everyone can be happy."

Rufus smiled, and gently stroked Lily's cheek. "Won't Serena gripe about not having a bathroom of her own?"

Lily grinned. "She's getting her old room back. That is good enough. If not, then she can find her own place and we will have a new storage room."

Rufus sighed. "Not that I'm not touched by your gesture to my daughter, Lil. I'm just surprised you think Jenny deserves all this after what she's done to you—to us."

Lily shrugged. "She's a teenager. It's normal to go through phases like that. Besides, she's apologized for what she did to us. I believe she is truly sorry, and has learned her lesson. As for Serena, she is older. Now that we know my cancer is gone, she'll be moving out on her own soon anyway I'm sure."

Rufus stroked Lily's hair, and kissed her forehead. Well, I'm sure Jenny will love and appreciate her new room. Thanks for doing this for her, Lil. I really appreciate it."

Lily smiled at him. "I'm happy to do it! In a way, she's my daughter too now that we're married."

Rufus put on his best puppy dog look. "Can we at least keep the stuff in my old room at the loft instead of throwing it out?"

Lily sighed. "I don't know, Rufus. We don't need it! It will just be sitting there."

"Please?" Rufus asked, adding a little puppy whimper.

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh, all right, fine. You're lucky I can't say no to you."

Rufus grinned. "It's because you love me as much as I love you. Thank you."

Lily took his face between her hands and nuzzled their noses together. "Mm, I do."

They kissed.

"When does the contractor come?" Rufus asked.

"Not until tomorrow," Lily answered. "He's really good, and comes highly recommended."

Rufus wrapped his arms around Lily's waist. "Well, since we have the house to ourselves for a little bit, what do you say we do a little building of our own?" He kissed down the side of her neck.

Lily moved her head to the side; offering Rufus more of her neck. She briefly closed her eyes. "Mm, and what kind of building might we be doing?" she asked.

He brushed his lips against her ear. "The building of climaxes."

Lily smiled. "Well, then, by all means, lead the way."

Rufus grinned.

They both got up the couch, then headed hand-in-hand up the stairs, Rufus leading the way.

Lily hung up the phone. Vanya had just called up informing her that the contractor was on the way up. She felt bad for the contractor, whomever he was. It was a hot one that day! It was a good ninety degrees outside, and was hot inside even with the air conditioning. She'd hate to have to build anything, let alone on a hot day. She made a mental note to make him some lemonade or something. Rufus was out having lunch with Dan and Eric, and Serena was off with Blair probably buying more clothing than they really needed, so she was on her own with the contractor.

The elevator doors opened, and Lily walked over to greet him, a smile on her face. Her smile got even bigger when she got a good look at the guy. He looked to be about six feet tall. He was wearing a black wife beater, which displayed his impressive biceps. They weren't too big, yet not too small either. He had blonde, spiky hair and lips that looked like they'd be very nice kissing lips.

He was wearing khaki-colored cargo shorts that went just past his knees. He had on a black cotton belt with a D-ring buckle. On his feet were a pair of black sandals. Around his wrist was a black leather cuff. He looked to be no older than early to mid thirties. He was gorgeous. He looked like a sun god.

He grinned, displaying a set of teeth so perfect and white that Lily figured he either had to have had work done on them, or he brushed his teeth three times a day—possibly more—since they day he was old enough to start brushing his own teeth.

"Hello," he said, extending his hand out to her. "You must be Lillian Humphrey. I'm Casey Woods. I'm here to knock out that wall and build the bathroom for you. How do you do?"

Lily shook his hand, smiling not only to be polite, but also because she liked how soft his skin was, and how well kept his nails were for a construction worker. She wondered if he got manicures. She loved a man who wasn't too into his masculinity to get a manicure. "Yes, but you may call me Lily. It's a pleasure to meet you, Casey."

Casey grinned again, and kissed her hand. "The pleasure is all mine." He winked at her.

Lily fought back a giggle. She felt like a school girl with a crush. She loved Rufus and only Rufus of course, and that would never change. Still, it didn't hurt to admire some living artwork, she figured. "Here. Let me show you to the room you'll be working on. Don't you have any partners?"

Casey shook his head and followed Lily into the room. "Nah! I run my own company. Everyone else was off on another job, so I had to take this one on myself. It's a busy season for construction work."

"People want to get some last minute work done before summer hits and they are off on vacations and such I guess," Lily said.

Casey nodded. "Most likely." He surveyed the room.

"This is the wall I want knocked out, then I figured the bathroom can go in the corner over there or something," Lily explained, pointing out the places as she spoke.

Casey looked in the other room that was on the other side of the wall. "I can do that. This shouldn't be a problem at all. I can get the wall taken down today, then, tomorrow I can start work on the bathroom. Did you just want a half bathroom or a full one?"

"What would you suggest?" Lily asked. "It's for my teenage daughter."

"Well, it depends on how much room she wants. Since this is two rooms she is going to be having, I'd go for a full bathroom. I have a teenage sister, and therefore I know that teenage girls want a bath for times they want to relax, and a shower when they want a quick wash and go. She'll have a little less to the actual room part of her room, but, her room being a combination of two rooms will still leave her with a lot of room," Casey explained.

Lily nodded. "A full bathroom it is then! You know what you're doing, and I believe you're correct. Now that you mention it, Jenny does like both baths and showers for the very reasons you mentioned."

Casey grinned. "All teenage girls are alike, I guess."

Lily nodded. "Apparently! So, are you sure can get the wall taken out all in one day?"

Casey nodded. "It won't be a problem at all! I just have to go back down to my truck and get my tools if you don't mind. I wanted to meet you first and see what I'd be working on before I brought them up."

Lily nodded. "Of course!"

So, Casey went back down to the parking lot, and Lily went to work at making some fresh-squeezed lemonade. After all, she wouldn't want such a hardworking man to get overheated—especially when he was as good looking as Casey was.

Rufus came home from lunch tot he sound of Lily giggling. It had been a nice lunch with his sons, and he had enjoyed it a lot. However, both boys had to get back to their classes, and so their time had come to an end for the time being. He wondered what was making Lily giggle. He hadn't heard her laugh like that since, well, high school. He followed the sound up the stairs and down the hall. He found her in the spare room with some incredibly good looking guy that looked straight out of a soap opera. She had her hand over his shoulder and was doubled over in laughter.

The guy laughed. "I bet that's the last time he ever tries to feed a duck!"

Lily laughed. "I'm sure. Would you like some more lemonade?"

The guy nodded. "Sure, please."

Lily poured some lemonade into his glass, then her own. Next, she set the pitcher back down on a card table that was in the room.

They clinked glasses without toasting to anything, then drank up.

Rufus cleared his throat, and walked into the room.

Lily finally noticed him. "Rufus, my Darling. How was your lunch with the boys?"

Rufus walked over to her and placed a hand over her lower back. "It went well, but the boys had to get back to their classes. Who's this?" He nodded at the soap star lookalike.

"He's our contractor. He is going to take the wall down today and start on the bathroom tomorrow," Lily explained.

"Well, maybe he could start working on the bathroom tonight too if he didn't wast time drinking lemonade and chitchatting," Rufus muttered.

Lily's mouth dropped open. "Rufus! Don't be rude. It is hot in here, so I let him take a break and have a drink. He was just telling me a funny story about a nasty ex-coworker of his getting bit by a duck."

"Sounds hilarious," Rufus said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Rufus, what is wrong with you today?" Lily asked, a hand to her heart.

Casey set his glass down on the card table and held his hands up. "You know what? He's right. I need to get back to work. Thank you for the lemonade, Lily."

Lily placed a hand over Casey's shoulder. "You're welcome! Sorry about this." She removed her hand from Casey's shoulder and glared at Rufus. "My husband usually isn't so rude." She then ushered Rufus out of the room and down the stairs. "Rufus, why on earth were you being so rude? Casey is a very nice man!"

Rufus snorted. "Why? Because he's good looking?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "No. He has been very nice and helpful. He has a teenage sister, so he was able to suggest things that Jenny might like for her room like a full bathroom instead of a half bathroom."

Again, Rufus snorted. "Of course he did! He probably doesn't even have a sister. He just knows you're rich and wants to milk you for all he can get."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, please! Casey's not like that!"

Rufus shook his head. "And how would you know that, Lil? You've known him since what? Noon?"

Lily smiled. "I know what this is all about—you're jealous!"

Rufus looked away. "Why would I be jealous of that?"

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. "You tell me!"

Rufus glared at her. "You're being ridiculous! I'm not jealous. There is nothing to be jealous of."

Lily nodded, her eyes locked on Rufus'. "You're right. There's not."

Rufus sighed, then took Lily into his arms. "I'm sorry for being so grumpy."

Lily smiled, then kissed him, her arms wrapped tightly around him. "It's all right. You're cute when you're jealous." She rubbed her nose against his.

"I'm not jealous," Rufus insisted.

Lily smirked. "Mm hm. Of course you're not."

Rufus ignored her, and chose to kiss her instead of responding.

The next day, Serena had Blair over. Serena was happy to be getting her own room back, and was even happier when she saw how good looking Casey was. In fact, she was so impressed by his looks, that she had Blair come over right away.

"Who needs Nate and Chuck when we could have that?" Blair asked with a smirk as she and Serena watched from the doorway.

"Sh! He'll here you!" Serena whispered, playfully shoving Blair. Both girls giggled.

Rufus rolled his eyes. What was it about a young, blonde guy with muscles that had grown women acting like preteens? It was pathetic.

Lily came over with some lemonade. This time is was the pink kind. Rufus didn't know why, but that ticked him off even more. "Ooh! Look at those muscles," Lily whispered to the girls.

"Mm, Lily, we've already noticed them—trust me," Blair told her.

"Among other things," Serena said as they all watched Casey bend down a couple yards ahead of them and pick up a tool he had dropped.

The three girls giggled.

"You gotta love a man that's not afraid to wear Daisy Dukes," Blair stated, referring to Casey's blue denim cutoff shorts.

Rufus crinkled his nose. The shorts went to the guy's mid calf. No guy should wear shorts that short. It was disgusting.

"And you gotta love the way that T-shirt hugs his pecs," Serena said, eyeing Casey up with her arms crossed over her chest and an appreciative look on her face.

"Not to mention how you can see his abs through it," Lily added.

The girls nodded.

Lily brought the lemonade in then.

Casey smiled at her when she handed him a glass. "Thanks, Lily! Hey, I'm getting really hot. Do you mind if I take my shirt off? I know you have air conditioning, but I get hot so easily. Working like I am always overheats me even with air conditioning."

Lily shook her head. "Not at all! Go right ahead."

"Thanks!" Casey took a long swig from his glass, chugging half of it down in one go. Next, he set the rest on the card table, then pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside.

Lily smirked at the girls, who did all they could to keep their squeals low enough so that Casey couldn't hear them.

Rufus rolled his eyes. He had had enough. He turned to the girls. "I'm going for a walk. I'll be back."

"Yeah, whatever," Blair said absentmindedly.

Serena nodded, her mind also preoccupied by someone else. "Have fun."

Lily wasn't paying any attention at all to him. Her eyes were glued to Casey's abs.

Rufus turned and headed down the stairs, then took the elevator down to the lobby. He gave Vanya a quick greeting, then took off down the street. He needed to cool down. And it certainly wasn't because of Casey's abs!

"Well, that was fun! It's too bad He's only going to be here a few more days," Serena said once Casey left.

Blair smirked. "At your place anyway." She smiled as she rubbed her hands together. "I'm sure I'll find something for Mother do have done at the house."

Serena shook her head, but smirked. "I'll be there!"

Lily smirked at the girls. She remembered the days of being their age, so into boys and dating much older guys. She was glad she didn't have to go through any of that anymore. She had already found the man of her dreams. Casey was cute, sure. But he wasn't Rufus. Far from it in fact. Rufus was completely different from Casey, and he was everything she needed. She looked around. She suddenly felt bad for not giving Rufus much attention. She guessed she had been caught up in the Casey hype. It had just been fun to act like a teenager again. "Hey, have either of you seen Rufus?" Lily asked the girls.

"He said something about going for a walk," Blair answered.

Serena looked at her watch. "Yeah, but that was three hours ago."

Lily was starting to feel a little worried. What if something had happened to him? Before she could reach for her cell phone, however, the elevator doors opened, and in walked Rufus. Or at least, she was pretty sure it was him. She smiled. "Rufus, what are you wearing?" She walked over to him and placed a hand over his shoulder. "And are those blonde highlights in your hair?"

Rufus nodded. "They're going to make my hair more blonde each time I go in. The hairdresser said she didn't want to shock me by doing it all at once."

Blair laughed. "You had your hair highlighted and spiked?"

Serena snickered. "And are those Daisy Dukes you're wearing?"

Lily hid a giggle behind her hand. Rufus was wearing the same outfit Casey was wearing that day. He even had his hair styled like Casey's with highlights the same color as Casey's hair. She knew where he was going with this.

"Do you like the new digs?" Rufus asked, turning around in a circle so that they could see his outfit from all angles.

"I think that shirt is two sizes too small for you," Blair stated.

"Well, I'm hot from that long walk anyway. I'll just take it off. Do you mind?" Rufus asked.

"Um, actually..." Serena tried to protest.

Rufus took his shirt off anyway without waiting for a response.

Blair smirked. "Hot, but you're about ten years too late. I, for one, will never be one who likes way older men. They just strike me as pervy, going after younger girls and all. Not that you're a perv or going after younger girls. I just meant..." Blair trailed off, then turned her attention to Serena. "Um, yeah, so I'll see you tomorrow, S. I'm looking forward to the return of Casey." She grinned, and moved her eyebrows up and down suggestively. She then picked up Rufus' shirt and handed it to him. "I'd suggest you only take this off in front of your wife—not your stepdaughter and her friend." She turned to Lily, and gently pat her shoulder. "See ya, Lily." She mouthed "good luck" to her, then left in the elevator.

Serena smirked. "I'll let you two be alone. I suddenly feel really uncomfortable. I'll be at Nate's. Don't wait up!" She walked past her mother and stepfather, then let the elevator take her down to safety.

"Well, now I just feel like an idiot!" Rufus said, moving to put his shirt back on.

Lily stopped him. "Don't. The girls may not have appreciated the view, but I sure do."

Rufus looked away. "Even though I'm not as well-built and young as Casey?"

Lily moved his chin so that he was forced to look her in the eyes. "Rufus, I'm sorry I was all gaga over Casey. I just liked acting like a teenager again. The truth is, Casey isn't my type."

Rufus raised an eyebrow. "No?"

Lily shook her head. "For starters, I prefer brunettes to blondes." She ran her fingers through Rufus' hair. "The highlights are going to have to go. Thank God your hair grows fast, because the spikes have to go too."

"I'm listening," Rufus said; curious now.

Lily tugged at Rufus' shorts. "I do love tight clothes on you, but let's save that for the privacy of our bedroom. Your normal attire is more you—more the man I fell in love with. Which brings me to the final reason why you're more my type than Casey is."

"Why's that?" Rufus asked, gently Rubbing Lily's back.

Lily batted her eyelashes, and ran her hands up over Rufus' abdominal muscles, all the way on up over his pectorals. "Casey is a boy." She brought her lips to Rufus' left ear. "You, on the other hand, are a man. A man who knows what I like." She kissed over one pectoral. "And what I need." She kissed the other one. She then tangled her fingers in his hair again, and brushed her lips against his right ear. "You know how to take care of me."

His eyes lowered. "That I do." He glanced at the wall clock. "Eric is still at Elliot's for a while. Do you wanna...?" He trailed off.

"Mm, you better because you're getting me so hot in your Daisy Dukes—especially with no shirt on." She nibbled at his left earlobe, and ran her fingers over his pectorals again. "Make love to me," she whispered.

Rufus' eyes lowered. "Are you sure you don't want Casey to?" he joked.

Lily smirked. "No. I can tell just by looking at the comparison of yours and his shorts that you're going to be able to please me far more than he ever could."

Rufus grinned widely. "Very good answer!"

Lily giggled as he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder as he carried her up to the bedroom. "My big strong man!"

Rufus grinned. "And don't you forget it!"