" Have you seen my husband ?" Blair asked as she waked up to Lily, who was holding an squirming, restless Eve and Serena who was trying her hardest to talk her mother into handing the baby over to her.
" Nate snagged him and ushered him off to his study." Serena answered, stomping her foot at her mother and holding her hands out ridiculously.
Eve took that moment to decide she'd finally had enough of everyone touching her and she let out wail that sounded out loudly over all the voices in the crowded room.
Blair reached out and took her daughter, bringing her into her arms and cradling her carefully. " She needs a break." She announced. " You can hold her later.
As if she somehow knew she'd just been rescued, Eve snuggled into the crock of her mother's arm and immediately began to close her tired eyes.
Serena looked as if she were about to stick her tongue out at her.
" Later." Blair repeated a touch more firmly and Serena finally relented and began talking about Eric with her mother.
Blair took the opportunity and get away and go off in search of her wayward husband.
She found him only a moment later sitting with his best friend in his study.
She hadn't bothered to knock on the door before coming inside and both of them turned their heads to look at her in startled surprise.
" You two look like you're up to something. What are you scheming ?" She asked as she went to the bassinet in the corner of the room and put the baby down gently so as not to wake her since she was already fast asleep.
She was such a good baby. Never fussy, never picky. She was quick to fall asleep and didn't often wake in the middle of the night anymore. She didn't mind strangers and she accepted that she was much loved and took to being held quite well usually. Apparently the day had just been too much for her. Blair could understand that. It had been too much for her as well.
She watched Chuck cut his eyes sharply to his friend and Nate immediately sat up a touch straighter in his chair.
" We were just catching up. We haven't talked in a while." Chuck lied and she knew it. He might be one of the best at fooling others. But she had long since figured out all his 'tells', no matter how subtle and nearly imperceptible they were.
She gave her daughter one last look and pulled the pink chenille blanket around her a little tighter. She always seemed to sleep better when she was securely tucked in.
Then she stood and pulled at the waist of her black, perfectly tailored Stella McCartney jacket. Then she planted her hands on her hips and began to tap one black, high heeled, Prada covered foot at them.
" What ?" Chuck shrugged unconvincingly.
" Something is going on, Bass. You know better than to try to lie to me. What is it ?"
He let his shoulders slump and a slow, nonchalant smile spread across his handsome face. " Nothing for you to be concerned about. You have enough to worry over."
Her eyebrows shot to her hairline. " That just means there is something to worry over. Just tell me before I have to find out from a Gossip Girl blast."
Neither man spoke for a moment. She narrowed her eyes at her husband, but his stony features told her it was useless to try to stare him down. So she shifted her attention to his best friend and fought the smile that was threatening when she saw him shift uncomfortably. Narrowing her eyes even further she set her lips in a tight frown and continued to glare at him without mercy. Until finally he leaned forward, dropped his eyes to the highly waxed, cherry wood floor at his feet and said, " Jack's in town. I saw him at Grand Central today." His voice was rushed as if he just couldn't take the torture she was putting him through any longer and Chuck let out an exasperated puff of air.
Nate glanced up at him with a sheepish expression. " What ? I'm sorry. She's scary when she wants to be. I don't know how you do it, Man."
" Years of practice." Chuck muttered under his breath.
" Your Uncle Jack is town ?" Blair exclaimed, stepping back towards her sleeping daughter in a protective move as if saying his name was enough to make him jump out of the shadows and attack them.
" I'll find out what he's doing here and get rid of him." Chuck assured her, getting to his feet and walking towards her.
" I don't want him anywhere near us. I don't want him on the same continent we're on." She told him as his arms came around her and he drew her into his chest.
" The feeling is mutual." He said in a quiet voice that was meant to sooth her. Unfortunately knowing Jack was near them was more than any dulcet tones from him could quell.
" We should leave. We can take a vacation. It's been forever since we visited Nua Parthas." She announced, referring to the castle in Ireland that Chuck had given her as a wedding present.
He held her tighter. " We are not running away from him. We have no reason to suspect he's even here because of us. Give me a chance to find out what he's doing here before you pack us off to Europe."
" Actually a vacation might not be such a bad idea." Nate interjected and Blair could see the steely eyed glare her husband was giving him reflected back in the blueness of his eyes. " I'm just saying that after everything you've been through recently, getting away might be a good plan."
" I have a company to run." Chuck told him and there was a warning tone to his voice as he spoke. "Besides, Lily and Eleanor would not be happy with us taking Eve away from them for any amount of time."
" Our mother's will understand." Blair protested, warming more and more to the idea of running as far from Jack Bass as she could possibly get.
" I'll see what I can do about taking a short leave." Chuck finally caved at hearing the determination in his wife's voice.
" I'll get everything ready." She smiled and nestled herself further into his solid chest in satisfaction. She did love to win.
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" Where are you heading ?" Chuck asked two days later as he spied Blair standing beside Dorota who was setting up a stroller for Eve.
" I thought we might take a walk in the park. I know you're busy getting things together here. So we are getting out of your hair for a while." She answered, coming to him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
" I appreciate the consideration, but it really isn't necessary. Having you and Eve around is never a bother." He smiled before kissing her tenderly.
She laughed. " I know that, but she could use some fresh air and so could I. Besides, maybe the activity will tire her out and she'll go to sleep early." She teased as she began to play with the top button of his shirt. " We desperately need some alone time."
" Now that does sound nice." He brushed his lips along her jaw before kissing her again. " How about a grown up night ? We'll go to dinner, maybe dancing."
She tightened her arms around him and very nearly squealed in his ear. " I would love that. We haven't been alone in weeks." Then she darted her eyes behind her too see how close Dorota was to them, before lowering her voice to a seductive purr that almost made him decided to take her upstairs to their bedroom on the spot. " I need you. It's been so long." She let her voice brush over his ear and he strengthened his hold on her waist in response.
" Are you sure you don't just want to stay here and let Dorota take her out ?" He asked in the same quiet whisper.
" I thought you had things you need to do." She said, trailing her lips along his jaw in answer to his teasing. He upped the stakes by grinding his hips into hers and letting her know exactly what she was doing to him.
" It'll keep for a while. I have time and there is certainly nothing as important as this at the moment."
Her breath caught in her throat when she looked up at his face. Then she turned abruptly to her maid and gave her a smile. " Dorota, would you mind taking her to the park alone ? Chuck just reminded me of something I need to take care of before we leave tomorrow."
The older woman sighed as she hefted the designer diaper bag on her shoulder and finished securing Eve in the stroller. " Of course not, Miss Blair. I take good care of her. You take care of whatever you need to take care of." She rolled her eyes, letting them both know she knew exactly what pressing business needed to be attended to.
The elevator doors were barely closed behind them before Chuck hefted her into his arms. She squealed in delight and he realized it had been far too long since he'd heard her make that sound. Days had passed without more than a few kisses shared between them. Between Harold and Eve, his business and their family, there just hadn't been much time for them to be alone.
He intended to make the most of the few hours they might be able to garner for themselves.
Taking the stairs with her in his arms, he was amazed at how easily he made the trip. He had never been what one would call the athletic type, but apparently clean living could do wonders for a constitution. He couldn't remember the last time he'd consumed more than a glass of Scotch before bed and he had long since given up anything more than alcohol.
Finally spying their bedroom door at the end of the hall on the second floor of their penthouse, he sat her down and intended to take her hand and pull her along for the rest of the journey.
She had other ideas and before he knew it, his back was against the wall and her body was crushing into him with a force that literally took his breath away.
She ripped at his tie, tugging it from his neck and letting it fall to the floor unnoticed. Her coat followed it with a rustle of material. His hands tugged at her navy cashmere sweater, pulling it from her skirt and bunching it up under her arms. She felt him trying to haul it over her shoulders and raised her arms to help aid his progress. Once it was gone, he covered her breasts with his palms, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples through the material of her lacy bra.
She sighed into him, her lips never leaving his for long as they continued to work at each other's clothing desperately.
" We should," she began but had to pause to kiss him again before she could finish her thought. " go to," another pause and another heart stopping kiss." the bedroom. What if someone decides to drop by ?"
" Then they'll get the show of their lives and learn to call first." He answered, grabbing her leg behind the knee and pulling it up to his waist. She took the hint and in a swift move she was settled around him, clinging to him with her arms around his neck and her legs securely around his waist.
He pulled away from the wall, taking her weight as if it were no more of a burden than Eve might be and began to walk them towards their closed bedroom door. He paused only long enough to grab the knob and fling it opened.
Once inside, Blair reached behind him and gave the door a swift shove, closing it with a slamming echo that rang out through the quietness of the apartment.
His fingers moved to the clasp of her bra and he deftly made short work of with while his other hand stayed splayed over the small of her back, holding her steady.
" God!" Blair groaned when he set her down on the side of the bed and pulled the remains of her bra from her arms. " It's been so long since we've done this." She threw her head back and let out a low growl as his head dipped down and attached to her nipple.
Every part of him shivered as her hands clutched at his shoulders. She was right. It had been far, far too long. He needed her so badly he ached. His want felt like a heavy weight resting in the pit of his stomach and everything ceased to exist besides her. Nothing else matter in that moment other than feeling her wrapped around him shouting his name to the heavens.
He shifted, bringing his hips into contact with her center and he almost jerked away from the heat coming from her. It felt as if she was scalding him even through the lace of her nearly useless panties and the stouter material of his pants.
" Blair," He groaned before shifting to her other breasts and lavishing it with the same attention he'd given the first one.
Her hands were in his hair, pulling at it a trifle roughly and he nipped at her flesh in response.
Suddenly she was pushing at his shoulders and urging him away from her. He pulled back and almost asked her what was wrong when he felt her tiny fingers grab hold of the waistband of his slacks and begin to work frantically at the bindings. Once the zipper was down, drawing a grunt of pure lust from him when her knuckles brushed his length in the process, she pushed at him, silently demanding that he step back and rid himself at the rest of his clothing.
When he did as she insisted, she took advantage of the space separating them to rid herself of her panties, the last of her own clothes.
Coming back into her arms, he intended to slid her body back towards the center of the bed, but again she had other ideas and again before he realized what was happening, she turned them so that he was against the bed and she was pushing him down by the shoulders, forcing him to sit on the edge of the mattress. In a flash she climbed over him, wrapping her legs around his waist again and immediately sinking down over his hardness.
He hadn't been expecting it. He hadn't had a chance to brace himself for the feeling of having her surround him so completely. And because of that, he threw his head back and almost howled in response to the abruptness of the move.
She was smiling when he found her eyes. Her body grinding onto his in slow motion. It was hardly more than a gentle rocking of her hips and it was driving him mad. Her inner muscles convulsed around him, sending tiny shocks of pure pleasure throughout his body.
There was a noise coming from somewhere close to them, a whimpering sound that reminded him of a dog begging for attention and he was almost embarrassed when he realized the noise was coming from him.
Feeling as if any second he could lose control, he grabbed her to his chest and rose from the bed, before turning sharply and dropping her down to the softness of the bed. Her lips found his again and her tongue darted into the recesses of his mouth as he began to rock into her. The bed was the perfect height, raised from the floor just enough for the optimum angle. They hadn't planned it that way, but he was certain they would have if the thought had occurred to them when they picked out the antique, mahogany, four posted bed.
He grabbed hold of her hips, tugging her just a touch more forward and pulling her into him in the same instant. She nearly bite his tongue in surprise.
Then unable to take the teasing pace they were currently enjoying, he raised his upper body away from her even as he slammed his lower half into her with teeth jarring force.
Her eyes held his as he continued his almost punishing rhythm, until finally she threw her head back against the bed and let out a wail that sounded like it might have been his name before every inch of her began to shudder and her legs tightened around his waist, heels digging into his ass and urging him deeper.
He complied, feeling as if he was hitting bottom with every thrust of his hips. His movements became frantic and he relished in the feeling of sweat covering his body and her legs around him and the sounds of her cries of pleasures filling the room and echoing off the walls. It was too much for him. She was too much for him and he felt the orgasm ripping through his body so hard and quick it was almost frightening. He held onto the vision of her thrashing under him for as long as he could before he collapsed over her in a useless, spent heap of arms and legs that refused to work for a time.
Her arm came around him slowly, cradling him to her breast and bringing him back to reality with a fluttering easy that made everything inside him relax and give a contented collective sigh.
" We should do that more often." She murmured, running her fingers lazily through his hair while he remained draped over her, panting and blissful.
" Yes, we should." He agreed, raising up finally and rolling to her side. He pulled her into his arms and dragged them both to the center of the bed. Her body shifted into its familiar comfortable position, molded to his side, her curves and mounds fitting perfectly to his planes and angles.
He never felt more peaceful and serene than he did when he held her in his arms. It was almost euphoric the way their bodies meshed together. If he had been a different man, a man taken to such fantasy and illusion, he would have called it magical. But he was too practical to believe in such nonsense. The way he felt for her, while more powerful than anything he'd ever imagined wasn't magic, it wasn't whimsical, it was love. He loved her with everything inside him, needed her like he needed air to breath. She meant everything to him or she had at one time, now that everything was extended to included the most precious thing she ever could have given him.
Eve was a gift. He couldn't believe how worried he had been when Blair first announced that she was pregnant, how scared. And not just about the baby. He knew that now, looking back. He had been terrified of losing the woman in his arms. He had lost his mother during his own birth. And the fear of something similar happening to his wife had kept him awake for nights on end, though she never knew it. He was careful to hide such dark thoughts from her. She was the one that believed in magic and fantasy and needless superstitious worries. She would have deemed his fear an omen. She would have dived headlong into it with him and neither of them would have gotten any rest.
But the minute the doctor put his tiny, wiggling, crying daughter into his hands, it was over. Or maybe instead of over, it had changed. Now his worry was no longer just for his wife. Now it encompassed the helpless baby he was responsible for as well. And he had never considered himself a worrier before. But he was. He worried every minute she was out of his sight. Even now, nearly lost in the post coital bliss he was enjoying, even knowing that Dorota was with her, willing to lay down her life in sacrifice to keep her safe, there was a part of his mind that knew his daughter was out there in the city and she didn't have him by her side to protect her.
" She's fine, Chuck. Dorota has her." Blair said, as if she could read his mind. She leaned up and pressed the softest of kisses against his lips.
He chuckled and pulled her in tighter. " How do you do that ?"
She smiled and pressed herself more firmly into his side. " It's easy since we share the same brain." She joked. " I was just thinking about her myself so I knew you were either ahead of me, or not far behind."
He raised his head in order to see her face and his eyes grabbed hold of hers. " I love you, Blair. And I'm sorry I don't say it often enough anymore."
She rolled her eyes at him. " You say it all the time."
" Not enough." He whispered before leaning up further and capturing her lips with his.
" I love you, too, Chuck. Always have, always will." She told him in that simple yet completely earnest way she had that made him feel her words all the way down to his toes.
He moved, rearranging his body so that he was laying on his side, facing her and his nose brushed against hers they were so close. " We have time before they get back." He murmured with his lips against her collarbone. " Are you ready for round two ?"
She gave a breathy laugh as her hands tangled in his hair and held him close to her body. " I'm always ready. The question is, are you ?"
He moved his lower body into hers, letting his already hardening member push into her thigh. "Absolutely." He answered resolutely, before diving his head back down to her breast.