Reputations

Chapter 14:

The Most Effective Weapon in her Arsenal

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"Kathryn, are you a virgin?"

It was lucky she was straddling a 1500lb animal at that moment, because if she hadn't been Kathryn very likely would have stumbled at the audaciousness of the question. Her reputation being what it was, she was used to a certain level of respect from her peers. No one was ill mannered enough to broach such a personal topic with her. Ever. Leave it to Cecile Caldwell to be the first.

Grasping the reigns, Kathryn drew her horse to a stop, waiting for her companion to do the same before leveling a reprimanding look at her. "Cecile, it's not polite to inquire about such private matters," she gently admonished.

The young girl at least had the grace to appear embarrassed. Blushing, she looked down at her hands fidgeting nervously against her saddle. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered inelegantly before exclaiming in a rush, "But, um, I mean, are you?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue causing the horse to resume walking. Cecile followed along beside her, her big brown eyes, wide and inquisitive in her heart shaped face as she shot Kathryn furtive glances while they rode in silence. Finally, when Kathryn thought the other girl had stewed enough in her anxiousness and uncertainty, she answered, "No Cecile, I'm not."

This was not exactly a secret. She had spent years cultivating her reputation to reflect a certain kind of girl. One who was kind and generous, but also, and this was important, worldly. It wasn't enough just to be articulate and charming. She also had to reflect an air of wisdom, that came from long held experience. People trusted that sort of girl and thus they wouldn't think twice about spilling their secrets to her.

Much like the little dingbat beside her was doing.

"Really?" Cecile asked dumbly. "Um, who did you, I mean—"

"His name was Bryce Crawford," Kathryn explained before she could stumble through her question. "I was seventeen. He was older, more experienced. I dated him before Court." She paused for effect before adding in a prim tone, "It was very nice."

This was a lie of course. She had been thirteen. It had been with Charles Hanover, an old friend of her mothers who she let seduce her out of curiosity and boredom one summer. The first time had been uncomfortable, the second a revelation.

As Cecile silently mulled this information over, her nonexistent poker face giving every one of her stupid thoughts away, Kathryn prodded, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you so curious?"

Cecile worried her lip between her teeth, an anxious look clouded her eyes as she admitted in a sudden rush, "Um, it's Court. I know he used to be your boyfriend and it might be kind of weird…but you're the only person I can talk about this with…and…well…"

"What is it Cecile?" Kathryn asked impatiently.

The younger girl hesitated a moment before angling her horse closer and whispering, "Lately he's been, pushing, you know for…sex."

"That's not exactly surprising" she remarked dryly. "He is a teenage boy after all."

"I know, it's just, well my mother says I have to wait. She says good girls don't do that before marriage. She says—"

"Has it occurred to you Cecile," Kathryn cut her off, "That your mother might have her own motives for keeping you celibate?"

"What do you mean?"

"She wants to secure an advantageous marriage for you. Most likely with Court."

"But I'm only fifteen!"

Kathryn laughed lightly. "Relax, I doubt she plans on marrying you off next semester. She's only thinking of the future. Your mother is from a different generation. She probably thinks keeping you innocent will hold a man's attention, but the truth is in this day and age it won't." Thinking back on Court's cruel world about her being 'broken in' she added, "Guys expect a girl to have a certain level of experience."

"Really?" This news of course only appeared to make the other girl more anxious. "But I-I don't know how—"

"Don't worry Cecile, I'll help you."

The anxiety on her face immediately vanished, replaced by giddy gratitude. "You will?!" Squealing the excited girl stilled her horse then threw her arms around Kathryn, nearly knocking them both to the ground. Kathryn quickly steadied herself, rolling her eyes as she awkwardly patted the nit wit's arm. "Thank you Kathryn."

"Of course what are friends for?" she replied through clenched teeth as she peeled the exuberant girl off of her.

"Best friends!"

Kathryn only smiled serenely at the proclamation before tugging on the reigns of the horse and trotting out of the woods bordering the Rosemond property and into the welcoming early May sunshine. When the large, looming estate came into view she couldn't repress a small smile. There was something about this place that called to mind so many memories. Both good and bad.

But it wasn't sentiment that brought her all the way out there today. Her intentions were more practical as Kathryn needed to kill two birds with one stone. Seeing as Helen Rosemond was so important to Manchester, and the UES as a whole, she was by association important to Kathryn. So once a semester she took a pilgrimage up to Long Island to visit the old bat, this time she invited Cecile along. Kathryn needed to get the little idiot away from the prying ears of Court and her insufferably mother long enough to further her plan.

As Kathryn approached the house, Cecile finally caught up with her. "So how are you going to help me, you know, get more experience?"

Kathryn smirked inwardly at the excitement in her voice. The poor girl was just dying for it, which really just showed how useless that ex of hers was. If he was as talented as he believed himself to be, he would have popped that cherry months ago. "Well if you really want to please Court, and by extension your mother, you need to get all the experience you can."

Cecile pulled a face. "Wouldn't that make me a slut?"

"Of course not. Court has slept with many girls; would you call him a slut?" This of course stumped her so Kathryn continued, "However it's important that you keep this quiet Cecile. A woman's affairs are private and if they become public knowledge they can be used against her, do you understand?"

She nodded, still looking confused. "So when do I get to have sex?"

Kathryn laughed at her eagerness. "Down girl. First, we need to find you the perfect tutor."

Cecile's face lit up. "How about Ronald?!"

"No," she replied quickly, before having a sudden change of heart. "Well, not yet anyway. You like Ronald right?" When she nodded in the affirmative Kathryn continued, "You want to make him happy so why don't you wait until you have a little more practice under your belt before going to him. He'll appreciate you more afterwards."

She had originally intended to keep her away from the music teacher, but what the hell? It would be an added bonus to see Cecile dump Court for someone else and who was she to stand in the way of that humiliation? So long as Sebastian got a crack at her first.

Cecile seemed to mull this over a moment before nodding. "Okay, but then who will I…?"

Kathryn pretended to think about it. "Let's see we need someone experienced, someone discreet…I know. How about Sebastian?"

The other girl's eyes bulged at the suggestion. "S-Sebastian? But he's you're…I mean—"

"He's my lover," she interjected, while cringing inwardly at that word. As much as it pained her to admit it though, she couldn't think of a more appropriate term. Fuck buddy would scare Cecile off and boyfriend was too hearts and flowers. "Most women have several lovers. Of course some are more prominent then others."

"How many lovers do you have Kathryn?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself," Sebastian called out, surprising them as he rode up alongside them in a golf cart.

Kathryn had heard the golf cart approaching them from behind but she had assumed it was just the stable hand coming to collect the horses. She was wrong.

Wearing charcoal slacks and a tight fitting black polo and shades, he looked annoyingly attractive. However, his smug smirk was a helpful reminder that she was currently angry with him. Or at least pretending to be.

Dropping her act for a moment she demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"Well it is my family estate," he replied airily, one hand on the wheel the other stretched out against the top of the passenger seat. "And it's such a lovely day, why waste it in the city?"

Kathryn was about to rebuke that explanation, but Sebastian had already moved on, looking past her to the girl riding alongside her. "Good afternoon Cecile. Don't you look fetching."

She blushed and looked away, a smile peeking out around the corners of her mouth. "Hi Sebastian," she mumbled in greeting.

Pulling back on the reigns, Kathryn brought her horse to a stop, her eyes fixed on Sebastian as she tried to decipher what he was up to. He stopped the gulf cart. Snapping off his sunglasses, his expression strangely serious. "We need to talk."

She had been giving him the cold shoulder for nearly a week after overhearing him with Court. It wasn't as if she was honestly angry with him. Even she wasn't that much of a hypocrite. However, she realized she could exploit the opportunity for her own gain, use it to get Sebastian on board with her plan for Cecile. Assuming of course he still wanted her. Judging by the way he was looking at her it wouldn't be a problem.

Smiling sweetly, she lightly chastised him, "Don't be rude Sebastian, I have a guest. Whatever you wish to discuss can wait."

He smiled back blandly at her. "Of course." Getting out of the gulf cart he came around beside her and petted her horse. "So what was it you girls were gossiping about before I came along? Something about lovers?"

"Yes, Cecile is thinking about expanding her horizons," Kathryn explained, smiling assuredly at her victim.

"Is that so?"

Cecile squirmed uncomfortably in her saddle under their attention, her cheeks bright red. "Um, yes, I guess so."

Running her hand through Sebastian's hair Kathryn purred, "I told her you'd lend her some of your expertise."

He kissed her wrist, his gaze hot and hard on hers. "I'm at your service."

The way he looked at her sent that familiar shiver of anticipation shooting up her spine. God, it had been days…

"Miss Caldwell?"

The three of them turned as one of the servants approached them. "Yes?"

"Your mother called while you were out miss. She said it was imperative you call her right away."

Cecile rolled her eyes. "She's probably upset I blew off Court to come here," she sighed. "I better go call her back."

The stable hand appeared to help her off her horse. Kathryn dismounted as well. Sebastian lent a hand, of course using the opportunity to grope her ass as he did so. She shot him a look over her shoulder, but he just grinned back mischievously.

Removing her riding helmet Cecile turned back to them. "So you guys are going to come next weekend, right?"

"Of course, wouldn't miss it," Kathryn told her with a fixed smile.

Slinging an arm around her shoulder Sebastian pipped up, "Where are we going?"

"Cecile has invited us to join her and Court at her house in the Hamptons next weekend."

"I see. Well, sounds like fun."

The younger girl nodded in ascent. "I better go call my mom back. I'll see you later Kathryn. Bye Sebastian."

As they watched her scramble up the staircase to the main house, Kathryn shrugged out of his hold and turned away. Sebastian let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh come on Kathryn, I thought you were done with this freezing me out shit."

"Then you're even more naïve then she is," she said over her shoulder

"I told you, I only made that deal with Court because I was pissed at you."

"And you thought nothing of double crossing me?"

"You're being dramatic." He rolled his eyes. "It's not like I actually did anything."

"Exactly. I ask you for the simplest favor—"

"It's not so simple and you know it. Jesus, why are you so hung up on making this happen?"

Whipping back around she hissed, "You know why. Court humiliated me. I invested precious time and energy into that asshole. I degraded myself only to be cast me aside, used and abandoned like last season's Gucci loafers. And why? So he can get into some fifteen-year old's panties. I think I'm more than a little entitled to my revenge." Turning away from him she tossed over her shoulder as she petted her horse, "If you don't want to help me I'm sure someone else does."

Kathryn waited for him to acquiesce to her demands only as always, he saw right through her. "You're trying to guilt me into going along with this."

She smiled in spite of herself. It was annoying that he could read her so well but on the other hand she had to admit she liked it. "Is it working?"

"Maybe"

Running her hand along the horse's powerful body she admired the elegant animal. "I love this horse. Do you know I learned to ride on Sugar?" she mused before adding pointedly, "He's the only creature I've ever fully trusted."

Leaning over the other side of the horse Sebastian smirked.. "Short of you going full Catherine the Great with old Sugar here, I don't really care about your super special relationship."

"You really are into some kinky shit aren't you?" she sneered, amusement buried under her haughty annoyance.

"Care to find out?"

"Maybe"

When she started to walk away he pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame. "I get it. You don't trust me."

"You haven't really given me a reason to," she countered. "Were you ever going to tell me about that video?"

"Probably not," he admitted, without missing a beat. "You'd only use it as an excuse to push me away."

"Stop psycho analyzing me Valmont," she huffed, struggling against him, with no real fight. "It's annoying."

"It's the truth and you know it."

Kathryn was self-aware enough to acknowledged he probably had a point but she wasn't about to admit to anything with him. Luckily Sebastian didn't force the issue. "Are you serious about us going away for the weekend with the fuckwit twins?"

"Most certainly"

He let out a long sigh before starring off for a moment in contemplation. "And if I agree to your insane plan? Will you be making it worth my wild?"

A slow, wicked smile crept across her face when he finally gave in. "Oh I think you can count on it," she purred, while her hands twined around his neck, drawing him closer.

Sebastian leaned close, hands flexing against her hips as he went in for a kiss. Their lips barely brushed when they heard someone clear their throat behind them. They both turned, startled to find Helen Rosemond standing in her riding gear, shielding her eyes from the sun. Her smile was almost unbearably pleased. "Well isn't this a nice surprise."

Out of the corner of her eye, Kathryn spotted the faint trace of annoyance around Valmont's pout but it vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by a phony beaming grin. "Aunt Helen! It's so good to see you," Sebastian exclaimed as he rushed out of her arms and into his aunts. He hugged the older woman tightly, cooing "I missed you so much!"

When they were children, Edward had always stressed to his son the importance of keeping in his aunt's good graces as she was essentially the gatekeeper to the family after Sebastian's grandfather died. Indeed, if it hadn't been for her who knows what would have become of the Valmont name. Money could only get you so far, even the Valmont billions.

Sebastian was being so obnoxiously insincere Kathryn had to physically stifle a laugh. I mean really. Sebastian's had many tools in his arsenal to charm and manipulate girls, but apparently subtlety wasn't one of them.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Oh something tells me you haven't been looking that hard," she teased, winking at Kathryn over his shoulder. Stepping away from her zealous nephew, she embraced Kathryn even though they had visited earlier. "I always suspected you two would end up together," she whispered in her ear.

Kathryn's back stiffened at the revelation, her smile becoming tighter. She suddenly felt uncomfortable, but she couldn't be sure why. Maybe because she hadn't yet been able to reconcile what she and Sebastian were outside of her and Sebastian. Everyone seemed to have all these expectations, expectations that she wasn't sure jelled with reality.

"I remember all those summers you two spent here. Chasing each other around the grounds, causing all sorts of havoc. I told Jeffrey, mark my words, one day those two will fall in love."

By that point Kathryn was smiling so tightly her mouth was beginning to hurt. Her apprehension must have started to show because Sebastian, looking as unaffected as ever, sidled up to her, tossing an arm around her shoulder. "You're very wise Aunt Helen," he remarked, dropping an affectionate kiss on Kathryn's head, while giving her a side long look.

"Well, I want to hear all about it," she exclaimed brightly.

They exchanged a look, both opening their mouth's to tell her some sort of bastardized version of the truth (or in Kathryn's case an out and out lie). Luckily they were saved momentarily when yet another servant arrived in need of his aunt's attention. "If you two excuse me, this will only take a moment," she told them before turning away to discuss something in confidence with the butler.

"You might want to unclench," Sebastian instructed her through a smile. "I thought you were having a stroke."

Kathryn sneered at the implication, gearing up with her own cutting retort when she considered a different method. "Actually, I was in the midst of considering something."

"Oh?"

Leaning in close she whispered in his ear, "I was thinking of letting you have my ass." Pulling back, she enjoyed the stupefied look that covered his face., "Assuming of course you're interested."

"Yes," Sebastian replied automatically and then after a beat, as her words sunk in his mouth curved in a knowing smirk. "Yeah, most definitely." He was clearly picturing it now.

"Pervert."

"You're the one offering it up"

Aunt Helen returned, her expression expectant and excited. "Sorry about that. I'm in the middle of planning the end of the year brunch and it's one minor crisis after another." Clasping her hands together she asked, "So tell me, how did this all happen?"

Kathryn opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Sebastian. "It's a fascinating story aunt Helen, but unfortunately it's going to have to wait."

Her smile crumbled in disappointment. "Oh?"

Slipping his hand in hers Sebastian was already leading Kathryn away, explaining over his shoulder as they passed the older woman, "Yes, something suddenly came up."

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Ten minutes later they were half naked, rolling around in the same bed they used to take afternoon naps in as children. Kathryn was kind of tempted to point this out to him, or at least she would have been had she not been so distracted. He was just so very good with his mouth.

Sebastian was currently on top of her, his strong hands kneeing her tits while his mouth suckled her tender nipples. Kathryn withered restlessly under his attentions, reaching and grasping the bedpost, her manicured nails digging into the wood. "You missed this," he rasped from between her breasts, shooting her a cocky grin. "Admit it."

"Get over yourself Valmont," she breathed, her voice sounding needy even to her own ears. "It's been barely a week."

But yes she did miss this. She missed his hands and his talented mouth and his endless ingenuity. Sebastian was so above and beyond his peers when it came to sex that Kathryn was genuinely concerned she'd never be able to find anyone to match him.

As he sat back on his hunches, to remove her riding boots, she admired the way the mid-afternoon sun creeping in through the heavy half closed draperies hit his bare chest and his face made him appear nearly angelic. The look in his eyes however was anything but.

"You look so hot in your little riding outfit," he teased. "It's almost a shame to take it off."

Kathryn looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Oh, does it remind you of your aunt?"

Sebastian grimaced at the implication then abruptly flipped her on her stomach. She shrieked in surprise as he yanked off her tight riding pants and underwear with one violent yank then slapped her ass. "I guess so," she giggled into her pillow.

Slipping a hand between her legs, he dipped his fingers into her teasingly, before sliding further to say hello to her clit. Kathryn moaned and pushing back against him, seeking more friction. When his thumb brushed her puckered back hole her breath hitched. "Are you really going to let me have this?"

She looked over her shoulder at him. Sebastian's face was intense, like he feared she was playing with him. "I suppose," she sighed, her tone arch. "Although you haven't done a thing to earn it."

"Consider it a down payment." His finger penetrated her and she licked her lips at the sharp burn. "How many guys have had you here?"

"Ballpark?" she teased.

She knew what he wanted to hear. That he was one of the few, the proud. That it was special, but the truth of it was Kathryn liked anal sex and she wouldn't apologize for that. Especially to him. The only reason she hadn't allowed him this particular privilege yet was she was holding off until she needed it as it was one of the more effective weapons in her arsenal. Not that she hadn't been tempted. She was well versed in Valmont's skill set. She knew he'd make it good.

For a brief fearful moment when he didn't say anything, she thought she might have put him off, by telling him that he wasn't the first, but then she felt him behind her. Even through his pants she could feel him hot and hard as he pressed into her back, his mouth nipping at her neck playfully. "It doesn't matter," he laughed against her ear. "You're mine now."

Something in her fluttered a little at that statement, but before she could consider it too closely, he distracted her again. This time trailing kissing down her spine. His hands ghosted over her sides as he made his way down her body. Sebastian spread her open and rimmed her hard, using his tongue and his mouth and oh god his teeth. Kathryn found herself clutching the burgundy and gold silk sheets in her shaky fist as he made her pant and tremble. Heat gathered in her belly, her body went tight. She could feel herself peaking. Reaching blindly behind her, Kathryn grasped a handful of his short hair and tugged as she pushed back against his mouth. "There," she ordered, her voice broken and desperate. "Right there."

He had his tongue in her ass and two finger in her clenching pussy when she finally came, moaning loudly into the pillow. Sebastian pulled back and slapped her ass, the sound reverberating loudly in the room. Kathryn whimpered then looked over her shoulder. His cheeks were pink and his expression was smug as he tugged off his pants. "How many of your fuck boys did that for you?"

"Not nearly enough," she rasped. It was sadly true. None of them ever took the time to prepare her so thoroughly. Fuckers.

"Come here," he ordered, his voice a low sexy command. He had his hand around his cock and he stroked himself while his gaze raked over her.

Kathryn's limbs felt like jello but she found herself anxious for him. She crawled across the bed, and when she was within arm's reach Sebastian grabbed her, kissing her fiercely.

He maneuvered her to the end of the bed, on her knees, her hands gripping the mahogany footboard. Sebastian took her from behind, one hand on her shoulder, the other on her ass when he slowly penetrated her lubed backside. Kathryn grimaced at the initial painful stretch, the feeling of being so full you could barely breath. She ordered herself to relax into it, to concentrate of the faint sparks of pleasure as she rubbed her clit. Behind her Sebastian's breath was coming short and fast and when he pressed up close to her she could feel his heart hammering in his chest. Kathryn took immense satisfaction in this.

He fucked her slowly at first, his thrusts carefully measured as if fearing he'd hurt her. Luckily it didn't last long, either because Sebastian grew impatient or he finally remembered who it was he was fucking. Kathryn didn't do slow or gentle or measured. Save it for your virgin princess Valmont.

Fingers digging into the shoulder blade as his grip tightened he slammed into her hard, earning a grunt of approval from her. It burned but in the best way. Sebastian brushed her hand aside and rubbed her clit with his thumb while sliding two fingers inside her. Kathryn whimpered his name, bucking her hips against his thrusting cock. She could already feel the beads of sweat trickling from her forehead. Sebastian licked her neck then bit down, nearly puncturing her skin. "Tell me you missed this," he husked in her ear.

Kathryn's eyes fluttered shut and she cooed coyly, "I've never had this."

Sebastian slapped her ass, drawing a mewl from her. "Say it or I'll stop."

He was bluffing of course, he couldn't stop any more than she could, but still she found herself reaching back for him. In between open mouthed kisses Kathryn murmured, "I missed you." Which wasn't exactly what he asked, but there it was. Only in these moments would she allow herself to be anything approaching honest with him. Sebastian stilled momentarily, pausing to kiss her long and hard before resuming his thrusting.

The ancient sleigh bed was creaking now, the headboard hitting the wall, proving a strange accompaniment to the vulgar sounds of their bodies coming together and their rambling half-finished musings.

"Yes…god…fuck…harder, there, harder dammit…"

"If I go any harder, you won't sit right for a week…goddamn Kathryn…you're so…"

Before he could finish his thought a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. They both went still. Kathryn couldn't remember if she locked the door or not.

"Kathryn," Cecile's whiny voice called from the other side of the door, "I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

Rolling her eyes, she yelled back, trying to keep her annoyance at bay, "Not right now Cecile. I'm kind of…in the middle of something."

"Maybe you should invite her in," Sebastian chuckled softly against her neck as he resumed his thrusting, "You did want to expand her horizons."

Kathryn shot him a look over her shoulder. "The door," she hissed.

"Is locked." He kissed her briefly. "Relax."

She did her best but Cecile wasn't getting the hint.

"It's important. Ronald called and he wants to see me tonight? What should I do? I know you told me to wait."

"Who's Ronald?" Sebastian murmured, low enough for only her to hear.

"Not now."

Kathryn was usually an excellent multi-tasker, but getting ass fucked while trying to dislodge the Caldwell girl was beyond even her considerable skill set. Gritting her teeth, her eyes slammed shut and she tried to ignore her and concentrate on the pounding her body was taking, but she wouldn't shut the fuck up.

"I reallllllly want to see him," she wailed, "What should I do? Please Kathryn."

"Fuck," she gasped when Sebastian thrust sharply into her, hitting some previous unexplored spot while his hands mauled her tits.

"Huh?"

"Cecile…just…" she tried to think of something but she was having trouble on focusing on anything besides the cock in her ass, the hand on her cunt or the bastard behind her who was whispering filthy things in her ear. She was so close. "Go see Ronald…just don't…oh god…don't do anything…no matter how good it feels…"

"And it does feel good doesn't it baby," Sebastian laughed, squeezing her breasts, pinching her nipples. "Oh fuck, you're so tight like this."

Kathryn leaned back and nipped at him catching his ear. "Cecile just keep your legs shut," she called out, desperate to get rid of her. This was probably terrible advice but at the moment she could give a fuck. "I'll talk to you later."

"Um. Okay."

Sebastian slammed her harder, ramming his cock into her backside with the force she was looking for. It was enough to get her there. That familiar sensation began to build, starting at her core and then spreading throughout her entire body, until she could no longer hold back.

By that point Sebastian knew her body well enough to know when her cum was approaching. His hand sped up on her clit and he shoved two fingers gruffly inside her cunt, curving them upwards. The added sensation triggered her climax, sending her over the edge. Kathryn cried out sharply and jerked back against him violently as she shuddered in orgasm. Sebastian whispered soft words against her ear, but she was too far gone to really hear what he was saying.

Her body continued to tremble even after her orgasm peaked. Everything felt vaguely blurry, like she was drunk. Sebastian continued fucking her, coming moments later, his arm wrapped tight around her waist, his face buried in the curve of her neck. He repeated her name like a mantra, like a prayer, before coming inside her, filling her with everything he had.

They collapsed back on the mattress, sweaty and satiated and thoroughly exhausted. Sebastian mumbled an astonished, "Fuck," under his breath as he wiped at his eyes while Kathryn rolled over onto her stomach, her ass too tender to rest on. He reached for her, tugging her closer. She had never liked cuddling after sex, or even touching really but Sebastian did and she found herself growing accustomed to it. Perhaps even liking it.

He hummed softly as she nuzzled against his sweaty chest. She gazed down his body at his cock, now soft and pink and resting against his stomach. Kathryn had the urge to play with it but she suspected he would object.

"Are you sore?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

Sebastian reached across the night side table, looking for a smoke but came up empty. "I wouldn't know. I've never had the pleasure."

This made her curious. "Really?" Reaching under him she teased his puckered back door. "You mean to tell me no one's ever popped your cherry?"

"No," he laughed, squirming away from her.

"Well we're going to have to do something about that. I have lots of toys."

Sebastian ruffled her hair. "I know I've seen your arsenal."

Kathryn nipped at his chest playfully and he laughed low in his throat before kissing her briefly. "Have you popped a lot of cherries in your time?"

He said it playfully, but she could hear the undercurrent in his tone. "Not nearly as many as you."

"Court?"

Her brow furrowed. "What's with all the questions?

"I'm just…curious"

It felt like judgment but maybe she was just being paranoid. She was about to answer the question when he changed the subject abruptly. "Who's this Ronald?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "That would be Cecile's music teacher. It seems she has a crush."

Sebastian's face lit up. "Well that's perfect. Why don't you have him fuck her? I'm sure that—"

"No," she cut him off quickly. "It has to be you."

"Why?"

As her mind quickly scrambled for an answer she found herself wanting to admit the truth. Maybe if she confessed now, when he was soft and satiated and looking at her like that, it would cushion the blow. Perhaps they would laugh about it, her silly little bet, how it brought them back together. How it was nothing. Truly.

Before she can think about it too closely, she sat up a little, leaning into him. "Actually, the thing of it is…"

"Yes?"

Kathryn opened her mouth only to be interrupted by the sharp shrill ring of a phone. They both turned in the direction of his cell sitting on the bedside table. He reached for it, scowling at the screen. Curious she looked to see who it was. Ann.

Of fucking course.

Well if one was to believe in signs, there it was. Deflated, Kathryn sunk back into the mattress. "Well," she drawled, lacing her tone with boredom, "Aren't you going to answer it?"

Sebastian stared at her, then stared at his phone. The temptation was written all over his face. After what felt like an eternity, he hit something and the phone stopped ringing. Setting it aside he reclined back into the bed, his expression clearly distracted. "You were saying?"

Whatever she was going to say died on her tongue. Clearly the moment had passed. That fucking phone had been just the wake up call she needed. If Sebastian were to ever discover the true nature of their reunion it would not be met with laughter. He would not be amused, he'd hate her. No matter what she tried to tell herself it the was the cold, ugly truth. He would leave her and run right back to his little blonde princess.

"Kathryn what is it?" he asked, his attention now fully at her disposal. He looked concerned.

"It's nothing," she replied shaking if off. "It's just…I need you to do this for me Sebastian. No questions asked. Please."

Sebastian flinched no doubt caught off guard by her plea. Kathryn never asked for anything, she demanded.

Reaching for her arm he tugged her closer. "Alright. Whatever you need."

"Thank you."

"But I think you're forgetting something. Court's little home movie. If I fuck his girlfriend he'll post it."

She had considered this of course. "He'll post it either way. I just need to destroy it before he has a chance."

"It sounds like you already have a plan."

"Tuttle has a friend who's working on hacking his phone. I'm not worried about it."

Sebastian traced two fingers up the veins on the delicate underside of her writs eliciting a shiver. He kissed her open palm. "You're so smart."

"One of us has to be."

His eyes narrowed slightly and he glowered at her silently for a moment before launching himself on top of her, tickling her sides. Kathryn shrieked and scrambled to get away from his attentions. "Stop! Stop!" she begged.

"Say you're sorry," he laughed.

Desperate to make him stop she gave in. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. You're smart, you're brilliant!"

Sebastian at last showed her some mercy and stopped his assault. "Was that so hard?" he teased, before leaning in to kiss her playfully on the mouth, then on the jaw. "You're such a mean girl."

Kathryn cupped his cheek, searching his face. "You like it," she said with more confidence then she felt.

"I do," he replied easily. Brushing the hair from her face he asked, "You up for a bath?"

She nodded. "Yes, that sounds nice."

Sebastian kissed her once more then lumbered to his feet. Sitting up a little she watched him as he headed to the bathroom, tossing her one last smile over his shoulder as he departed.

Kathryn had a sudden revelation at that moment and it scared her to the bone. She was happy. Truly happy for the first time in her life and that terrified her. Because if there was one thing she knew it was this: nothing lasted.

Sinking back into the bed something akin to dread settled unwanted in her stomach. The other shoe was about to drop and she was nowhere ready for it.