Last time in the Bassverse: Chuck gave Blair the Erickson Beamon necklace. She told him she loved him. He told her he loved her. They shared a wonderful night. But then she left him without a word. To keep tabs on her suspect (and her missing love), Blair began following Chuck. She lost him, only for them both to turn up at Nate and Serena's, where they shared dinner, a ride home and perhaps a reunion. Still, Chuck has questions that need answers.

"Then why did you leave me, Blair?" Chuck needed to know.

She ducked her head and turned away. She was not ready to deal with this now. She might never be.

"Talk to me. I've asked you a thousand times over the last few days. Don't you think I deserve an answer?"

He did; it was inarguable. Still, she hesitated.

"And please don't ask me to leave it alone, because you know I can't deny you anything…."

"That's a lie!" The hesitation was gone. "How many times have I asked you to trust me? To let me help with this necklace thing? But what do you do? You steal another necklace!"

"Trust you?! Why can't you trust me? Don't you understand that maybe I want to take care of this myself? That I don't want to put you at risk? That I want to be able to come to you without any encumbrances? I wasn't expecting this to happen, you know."

"Do you think I expected to fall in love with you when I decided you were the prime suspect? I hadn't even met you yet."

"What if you had?" His tone was quieter this time, but it was a serious question and he wanted the answer.

"I would have stolen that necklace back, returned it, and saved us both a bunch of trouble!" She was still angry.

"You wouldn't want to not be in love with me?" He despised how vulnerable this question made him sound.

"Newsflash, Bass: I've always known you took that necklace and it didn't stop me from falling in love with you or even slow me down. Oh, I tried to run from it the other night. I've tried to fight it. But I can't…and I don't want to anymore."

His response was to take her face in his hands and slowly, reverently kiss her lips. Hope and happiness rose in his chest as she kissed him back with just as much dedication.

"But…."

He should've known this was too good to be true.

"There's no way I can win in this situation." Her tone was sad but resigned. "My job, my reputation, my future and even my freedom are all on the line here."

"You know I'll protect you. I'll do everything in my power to." He kissed her hands in turn.

She smiled then. "I know you'll try, but the keywords here are 'in your power.' It may be out of our hands."

"In case you've forgotten…I'm Chuck Bass."

"I could hardly forget that! But that's perhaps the scariest thing of all."

"Why?" She had lost him here.

"Because you've never been in a relationship. I'm just one woman, Chuck. What happens when you inevitably become bored with me?"

"I could never be bored with you. You're the only woman I need or want. Besides, you told me you would teach me about relationships. This retreat thing, though, was perhaps not very educational."

She sighed. "I'm afraid I can't teach you about love. It's recently been brought to my attention that I may have never actually been in love before, so I'm just as new at this as you are."

"I refuse to believe that there's anything you can't master." He pushed a lock of her hair back from her face. "I confess, though, the Blair Waldorf thing is a little intimidating."

Her nose wrinkled in confusion. "How so?"

"I don't have an old money past or a grand political future to offer you. I can't make you a princess or even give you a title. As you said, I do live very comfortably, but is that enough?"

"All I want is you."

"Then we are on the same page."

"I'm scared it's too much to ask," she confessed.

"Are there any other obstacles you can foresee?"

"Aren't those enough?" She was aiming for levity, before becoming serious once more. "Actually, there is one more, but I can't tell you about it right now. Will you just trust that I love you and I'm on your side?"

"Will you also trust that I love you and give me a little more time to deal with this necklace thing?"

"One word, 3 letters: yes." What else could she do?

"3 words/8 letters," he countered.

"Which ones?"

"All of them. You and me. I love you."

"Deal."

"Shall we seal it with a kiss?" He was doing that sexy whisper thing again.

"I feel like this needs to be properly consummated. I'm afraid I'm going to need more than a kiss."

He didn't need to be asked twice. "Arthur?" Chuck rolled down the partition. "Before we drop Miss Waldorf off, we'd like to go for a drive. A very long drive, please."

"He-Hello?" Blair was breathless when she pick up the phone.

"Blair? Is everything okay? You sound tense." Serena was playing the concerned best friend card.

"Well, I'm not. I'm just trying to get ready. Chuck is picking me up soon and I'm not satisfied with my outfit." Blair was clad in only a silk slip and it looked like a runway had exploded all over her bed.

"You have a date this morning? That's wonderful. I guess this settles the debate between Nate and me."

"Debate?"

"Nate felt there was some tension between you and Chuck at dinner last night, but I know for a fact that Chuck couldn't keep his hands off you."

"How do you know that?" Blair was neither confirming nor denying.

"Oh, please, you two didn't really think you were being subtle, did you?"

Blair rolled her eyes. "Serena, I really don't have time for this."

Serena sighed. She had rather been enjoying roasting her friend and was reluctant to stop. "Alright, but you have to tell me what you're up to today."

"We're going to brunch."

"That sounds lovely."

"At his stepmother's," she added quietly. Maybe too quietly.

"Ooh, 'Meet the Parent' time!" This was even better than she and Nate had thought. "Blair, is that why you're having trouble getting ready? Are you…nervous?" It was inconceivable.

"What?! Nooo," Blair scoffed. "Well, maybe a little."

"But—but you're Blair Waldorf. You don't get nervous; you make other people get nervous. You've been to political fundraisers…the Met Gala…. You know royal protocol, for goodness' sake."

"I know, it makes no sense. But Lily and Jenny are important to Chuck, so…."

"They're going to love you. You just need to relax. Isn't there something that would help you relax?"

"Chuck!" The word came out as a breathy sigh.

"Ack, too much information! Go finish getting ready and call me later with all the details about the brunch."

Blair ended the call and went back to surveying her wardrobe choices. If she was going to 'relax', she would need something with easy access…

That would seduce one Charles Bass…

But would allow her to present herself well to his family…

It was no small feat.

But she was Blair Waldorf.

When Chuck arrived a half hour later, Blair was ready to make her entrance. She paused midway down the stairs and Chuck, who'd been chatting with Dorota while he was waiting, looked up and took her in with his gaze…and promptly froze.

He stopped talking, stopped moving, possibly stopped breathing.

She was wearing a dress of conservative length, but that was the only conservative thing about it. It was sleeveless and one shoulder was bare, though her long straightened locks covered it. The dress itself was white with a bold geometric pattern of giant polka dots in shades of black, pewter and light grey. The bodice was tight-fitting and was cinched into a cummerbund-style belt in matching fabric. The full skirt flared out and floated down past her knees. Her legs were accentuated by nude silk stockings and shiny black patent Louboutins. Dangly silver earrings completed her accessories. Her makeup was light with a sheer, understated red lipstick highlighting those perfect lips.

She looked smart, chic and sexy, and he was ready to kiss every bit of that lipstick off her.

She raised an eyebrow and gave him a little smile. Mission accomplished.

They lasted exactly two minutes until the elevator doors slid closed behind them.

Then his arms came round her waist and pulled her close.

Her fingers slid over the dark grey superfine wool that perfectly showcased his shoulders before moving to his geometric print silk tie. She grasped it by the ends and pulled him even closer.

Their lips met and clung, tongues danced, and suddenly the whole place was on fire.

The heady feelings produced by the kiss combined with the movement of the elevator were making Blair dizzy. In an attempt to gain some control, she reached out and pushed the Emergency Stop button.

The car came to an immediate stop, as did Chuck's heart when Blair's fingers found the tab on his zipper and slowly, deliberately lowered it.

If he hadn't already been head over heels in love with her…

She was suspended in his arms, her hands grasping his shoulders and entangling in his hair. His lips were tracing trails down her neck and across that one bare, silken shoulder…

Then he was inside her, worshipping her body with slow, deep thrusts…

The butterflies he always inspired in her were floating higher, higher…

She felt as if she were flying…

Flying…

Soaring into the sun….

And Chuck was right there with her.

Now she was relaxed and sated.

Thank God for thigh-high stockings and full skirts.

By the time they made it downstairs and through a 20-minute traffic jam, Blair felt very relaxed indeed.

"I feel…so good."

"Yes, you do," he agreed without hesitation.

She ignored the double entendre.

"I love this dress. Can I just live under your skirts?" He was loath to leave.

"After we get through brunch," she promised, smoothing her skirt before reapplying her lipstick.

Blair Waldorf did not walk into Lily's apartment; she sailed in with a smile on her face and Chuck's hand gently supporting her back. They made a striking couple, a fact that was not lost on the three ladies who were awaiting them.

"You must be Blair," Lily already had a hand extended and was beaming.

Grandmama CeCe stared in frank curiosity at Charles' lady friend.

Jenny hung back a bit, but was equal parts warmth and fascination.

And Blair charmed them all.

She complimented Lily on her amazing brunch spread and kind hospitality.

She discussed French classical authors with CeCe.

And then she answered a myriad of fashion questions from Jenny after the ladies complimented Blair's ensemble.

Chuck just sat back and watched her work the room with perfect poise. Truly, he was proud.

A flawless, cool exterior…

Then she dipped a plump strawberry into a dollop of clotted cream before raising it to her lips and discreetly swiping her tongue over the treat while her eyes met his.

But, oh, the fire below!

She might not be perfect, but she was absolutely perfect for him.

His mouth went dry and he wondered if it would socially acceptable to throw her over his shoulder and carry her down to the limo.

Chuck was drawn out of his reverie by the ladies laughing at some witticism Blair had just shared.

She had them all, Chuck included, eating out of her hand.

By the time the meal concluded, Lily was making plans for a family dinner and inviting Blair.

CeCe had pronounced Blair 'enchanting.'

Jenny was thrilled when Blair promised she would show her mother some of Jenny's fashion sketches.

And Chuck Bass was more than content to be known as the man who had accompanied Blair Waldorf to Lily Bass's Sunday brunch.

It was late afternoon late day when Chuck and Blair strolled into the Waldorf penthouse. They were holding hands and laughing at some private joke.

Neither noticed the figure descending the stairs.

Until she spoke.

"Blair, there you are! Along with…." Eleanor Waldorf reached the bottom of the stairs and stood expectantly in front of the couple.

Blair recovered from the shock first. "Mother, this is Charles Bass."

Chuck immediately had his hand extended.

"And Chuck, this is my mother, Eleanor Waldorf."

Eleanor shook his hand briefly, all the while inspecting him from his carefully coiffed head down to his shiny shoes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Chuck was at his most charming.

A lesser woman might have simpered and swooned. Eleanor simply continued her visual inspection. "I've heard a great deal about you, Mr. Bass," she said evenly.

Uh-oh. She was clearly talking about more than conversation with Blair.

"Please, call me Chuck. Mr. Bass was my father." He gave her a little smile.

"Ah, yes, your father. He was quite the bastard, wasn't he?"

"Mother!" Blair was well and truly shocked.

Chuck was not. "I would have to agree. You knew him then?"

"In passing," Eleanor admitted. "Would you two care to join me for tea?"

Blair started to make an excuse, only to be interrupted by Chuck. "We'd love to."

She shot a glance at him, as if to ask if he was sure, but he was already leading them into the living room.

Chuck's eyes flicked over the grand piano before he took a seat on the sofa. Blair noticed his interest but said nothing, sitting down beside him, crossing her legs demurely and then boldly taking his hand and interlacing their fingers.

Their linked hands rested on her leg, in full view of Eleanor, who took a seat on the backless settee, her back ramrod straight.

So…Blair was not ashamed of him. Maybe, Chuck considered the radical idea, she might even be proud of him. Suddenly it was very important that she always feel that way, that their relationship not be something to stay hidden. He wanted to walk down Fifth Avenue holding her hand in the afternoon sunshine. He wanted her in all the pictures from his business dinners. He wanted her to stay over at his home and never leave.

And until they got this damned necklace fiasco handled, none of those things could happen.

It was ironic. If he'd met her in high school, he'd probably be paralyzed with fear of the intensity of his feelings for her. And it was new…strange…terrifying. But it was nothing compared to the fear of losing her. Chuck could not, would not let that happen.

He had to figure out how to get that necklace back in a way that Blair would still maintain her reputation and keep her job and so that neither of them would be suspects. When he'd told Blair that he could stop the investigation with one well placed phone call, he had not been exaggerating. But that was before they had searched his home and office. He was too serious a suspect now to be able to call off the dogs. His relationship with Blair just complicated his relationship with the police. Perhaps if he had tried to return it sooner… If Blair suddenly turned up with The Empress now, she might be going to jail right along with him.

It was like being at endgame on the losing side in a game of chess.

He needed to step up his game before he completely lost control of the board.

Suddenly, Chuck realized that while his mind had been wandering over the problem of the necklace, Dorota had brought in a tea cart and beginning to pour for Eleanor.

"I just want tea," Blair specified. "Mom, you would not believe the amount of waffles at Lily's brunch. More carbs than I eat in a month!"

Chuck grinned as he recalled Blair's carefully concealed dismay as she discreetly passed half her waffle to him.

"Lily was Lily Rhodes, was she not? We were at school at Constance together."

"I'm sure she'd love to see you again. You'll have to come to brunch with us next time."

Eleanor snorted impatiently.

Chuck took a tea cup from Dorota and raised it to his lips, shocked that it seemed to contain a hearty shot of hundred year old scotch along with the tea. He flashed a look at the maid, who gave him an almost imperceptible smile and a discreet wink. At least he had an ally here today.

Blair was still chattering about the brunch. "That reminds me, Lily's stepdaughter Jenny is just finishing up at Parsons and is looking to go into fashion design. She showed me some of her sketches and they look like they have promise. I told her I would show them to you."

"Fine," Eleanor heaved a sigh. "Be a dear and put them in my bag upstairs. I'll look at them on my flight to Milan tomorrow."

"You're leaving so soon?" Blair looked disappointed.

"I'm afraid so. Fashion Week isn't going to prepare for itself. Now run along while I get to know Charles a bit better."

Blair took a last look at Chuck before disengaging their hands and going upstairs.

When her daughter was safely out of earshot, Eleanor turned to Chuck. "I apologize for foisting this little get-together on you when you've already been socializing with family all day, but I was curious, you see."

"Curious?" Chuck raised an eyebrow.

"Since you've been together, Blair has been…different. Happy. I'd like her to stay that way."

"As would I."

"Look, I know you're handsome and charming. And my daughter finds you very intriguing just now. But she's brought home handsome and charming men before. Nate was handsome and charming. Her prince was handsome and charming. Even her father is handsome and charming," Eleanor mused. "But where are they now? They didn't have what it takes. I need to know if you do." She was staring at him with single-minded intensity.

"Look, Mrs. Waldorf, I'm not sure what you're getting at. I can only tell you this: I'm in love with Blair and no one wants her to be happy more than I do."

"What are your intentions towards her?" No, she was not done grilling him yet.

I intend to love her until the day I die. "As I said, I intend to make her happy. Anything else about our future will be decided by both of us together. When we make any decisions, you'll be among the first to know."

She was quiet for a moment, but she seemed to accept his words.

"You're taking this awfully well," she observed with suspicion.

"This is hardly my first talk with one of Blair's loved ones. In fact, it's my fourth."

"Fourth?!" Eleanor's jaw fell open.

"Yes, I've already been set straight by Dorota, Serena and Nathaniel."

"Nate? Ha, that's rich! I wish he had cared so much about my daughter's happiness when they were in high school."

"I'm actually glad he didn't, because it means that Blair is here with me now."

"Hmm," she digested that thought for a moment. "I like you, Chuck," she confided.

"The feeling is mutual, Mrs. Waldorf." He couldn't entirely suppress his grin.

"Call me Eleanor."

Blair appeared at the top of the stairs and smiled at them both as she descended. "What did I miss?"

It was several hours later when Blair's phone began playing "King of Anything."

"Good evening, Bass. Miss me?"

"Always. Listen, I just discovered I need to go to Paris tomorrow to resolve an issue in our offices there. Wanna come with me?"

Blair groaned.

"I'll be working a lot of the time, but I'm sure we can squeeze in a river cruise down the Seine, maybe a visit to Versailles, and definitely some very decadent and delicious meals." There should be a law against the tempting way he said 'decadent' and 'delicious.'

She gritted her teeth. "Chuck, you know I want to go. You also know why I can't say yes."

She expected him to argue or to become even more persuasive, but he didn't. He just sighed and said, "I know. I guess I'll see you when I get back."

Her resolve almost wavered then. She wanted so much to go. But she had to stay strong. For both their sakes. "Goodnight, Chuck. I love you."

"Goodnight, Blair."

She should have felt empowered. She had resisted him this time. Instead, she still felt conflicted.

Even after Blair went upstairs and turned in for the night, she tossed and turned. Sleep was elusive. The situation was impossible. Why wouldn't Chuck work with her? Why couldn't he trust her? Surely they could figure this thing out together.

She went over various scenarios in her mind that she could present to him when he returned. She thought about what things might be like if they had met under different circumstances. What if their eyes had met across a crowded room? What if they just went native and lived on Chuck's island from here on out?

It was a beautiful fantasy and she found her eyelids become heavy…heavier…finally falling closed. She was having the most wonderful dream about the tide washing over her and Chuck as they lay kissing on the sand….

Suddenly, the dream became more vivid. She could hear the crash of the waves, feel the weight of Chuck's body against her…. Her eyes flew open. "Chuck?!"

"Shh," he breathed in her ear. "I couldn't sleep. And I hadn't told you those 3 words/8 letters I wanted to tell you in person. I love you, Blair."

"I love you," she whispered back. "Come under the covers with me."

"As tempting as that is, I'll just stay out here." He was still fully clothed and only missing his shoes as he curled around her blanketed body and pressed kisses down her partly bare shoulder. "I just want to spend every single second with you until I have to leave."

She nuzzled closer.

"I'll probably be gone when you wake up, but I'll call you from Paris, alright?"

"Mm-hmm." She felt warm and safe and loved.

Chuck had hoped to be home within a couple of days, but it was nearly a week later when the Bass jet touched down in Manhattan at almost midnight.

He was longing to see Blair, but it was so late and he was exhausted. He'd go see her first thing in the morning. He had a longing to see her face that no amount of texts and sexy phone calls (of which there had been many) could allay.

A seasoned traveler, Chuck was usually the type to feel at home anywhere, but this time felt different. He was actually relieved to be back in Manhattan and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He woke up an hour later to insistent beeping coming from his phone on the nightstand. The home security alarm was going off.

Someone was in his house.

Adrenaline pumped through his veins and he was instantly awake.

He decided to leave the room in darkness, as it gave more advantage to him in being familiar with the room's layout, but suddenly there was a dark figure crossing the threshold and moving toward the bed.

Without hesitation, Chuck reached over and turned the switch on the bedside lamp. The room was filled with soft light that chased away the darkness and illuminated the mystery figure.

He was dreaming. He had to be. Because he'd never seen anything like that in his life.

It was Blair, but from some other dimension.

She was wearing a black patent leather cat suit with knee-high boots. The suit was skin tight and shiny.

How had she gotten into that thing? How could she breathe in that thing? More importantly, how could he breathe looking at her in that thing?

Her hair was down and flowing over her shoulders in waves. Her eye look was smokier than usual and a bright crimson lipstick showcased that perfect pout.

He couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe.

"Good evening, Mr. Bass," she all but purred the words, slowly advancing toward the bed.

Yes, he was definitely dreaming, but he'd never had a dream quite so vivid before. He could smell her Chanel No.5.

"We need to talk." She was standing right in front of him now. "You know, they say it takes a thief to catch a thief."

Something silver flashed through the air and before he knew it he was shackled to the cast iron bed frame with a pair of handcuffs.

"I'm afraid you've been Bassnapped."

Crime had never sounded so desirable.

"And I'm not going to let you go until you tell me where that necklace is and we come up with a plan to fix this." She pushed him back on the bed and then climbed on top of him, straddling his upper legs.

"You had me at 'not going to let you go'."

She leaned down and placed a light kiss on his lips.

Then a deeper one.

Chuck's response was to spread his legs, sweeping her legs out from under her and causing her to collapse onto his chest.

It knocked the wind of her and she didn't get a chance to catch her breath before his lips were on hers once more, teasing them apart with his tongue.

She made a little happy noise and let her tongue come out to play with his.

They kissed until they were both breathless.

"You don't seem so scary now," he pointed out.

"I'm just getting started." Her hands went to the buttons on his silk pajama shirt and she unfastened them quickly. Then she started at his neck and began kissing her way down his chest.

He was suddenly ready to confess to anything and everything.

And that was before she unknotted the tie on his pajama bottoms and pushed them out of her way.

He was already hard and ready for her. So much the better. Her hand came around his cock and ghosted up and down, varying speed and pressure and watching the effect it had on him.

"Blair, I swear, if you don't unlock these cuffs right now…." He sounded a bit breathless…

But not breathless enough.

Her lips came down and closed around the tip, tasting him and running her velvety tongue over him and drawing him further into her mouth.

He couldn't do anything. He was completely at her mercy. Chuck Bass, who was always in control—and if asked, would tell that was how he liked it, found himself completely surrendering….

Well, maybe not completely.

Reflexively, his hands reached for her. He needed to touch her, if only to entangle his fingers in her hair, but his range of motion was limited.

Blair slapped his hands. "Bad hands!"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I think we both know I am very, very good with my hands. As your body well knows. Perhaps you need a reminder?"

She slapped his hands again. "Bad hands take what doesn't belong to them."

"But don't you belong to me?"

He let out the breath he'd been holding when she answered, "Always!"

"Blair, I think there's something you're forgetting."

"What's that?" She tilted her head as she considered the possibility.

His lips came up to fasten onto the soft skin of her neck, licking his way down over her collarbone and descending her décolletage, while grinding his hardness against her core.

Even through the thick suit, she could feel every inch of him. Her eyes closed in bliss and she let out a little cry.

"You see, even though I'm very good with my hands, I'm perfectly capable of pleasuring you without them. Wouldn't you agree?"

Blair could not argue.

"I really like tonight's ensemble," his eyes roamed appreciatively over her cat suit, "but I'm especially looking forward to your not wearing anything at all."

"Hey, I call the shots here," she reminded him.

"But if you were naked, I could…," he whispered a very naughty possibility. "Also, I'm prepared to beg."

"You better be." The words might have been sharp, but they came out as a sigh.

"Please?"

How was she supposed to resist the look he was giving her. "Well, since you asked so nicely…."

She slid off him and stood beside the bed.

One by one, she unzipped both boots and kicked them aside.

The side zipper on her suit was next.

The sirens of old might have lured men to their deaths with the sound of their singing, but Chuck Bass was ready to fall on the rocks for the sound of Blair Waldorf lowering a zipper.

Then she slowly, sensuously peeled the garment from her body, her eyes never leaving his.

When she standing in front of him in a pair of barely there lace panties, Chuck Bass felt like he was finally home.

The lamp caught a flash of light around her neck. The key to the cuffs was hanging on a delicate chain between the valley of her breasts. A fact he hadn't noticed while under the influence of her neck. It was his kryptonite. He was so close…

"Blair, uncuff me."

"Why?" She wanted to draw this out just a little bit more."

"So I can be holding you when I make love to you. I've been waiting all week."

And with that, she broke. Without a word, she took the key and unfastened the cuffs.

Immediately, his arms came around her and pulled her atop him.

"I missed you," he seemed to pull the words from her mouth.

"Not as much as I missed you, baby," he murmured in her ear.

Was anything so magical as the little endearments he used when they were together like this?

His fingers slid down her waist and pulled at the lace of her panties. They came apart in his hands and he pulled the finely knit remnant away from her body. Then he flipped her and paused for a moment, just looking down at her.

"We're the perfect partners in crime, you know."

"How so?"

"Well, you do the breaking -."

"It wasn't breaking," she protested. "I had a key."

He grinned but was not distracted. "I'll do the entering."

And then he was inside her and she was gloriously filled with him. The sensation went through her from head to toe. They were moving together, their bodies dancing, communing together, remembering, celebrating each other.

"I love you." She hadn't even realized she'd said it first until he responded in kind.

Everything was going faster, faster…

They completely lost control…together.

After, when they were lying skin on skin, catching their breath and basking in the warmth of each other, Chuck let out a breath. "I have to concede that you are the master thief here."

"I am?"

"Certainly. You stole my heart, didn't you?"

To Be Continued in Chapter 15

Author's Note:

A belated birthday shout-out to the delightful mercury1893. You are a treasure!

Special thanks to my reader-reviewers of Chapter 13: Shrk22, vale1103, pianogirl1, Trosev, Kananox, Almaloney33, mercury1893, Klarobass and purplebowties.

Thank you for the theories that were suggested. They were certainly intriguing, though I will neither confirm nor deny…yet.

More revelations are coming soon.

I am really excited to share this chapter with you and would love to hear your thoughts. Reviews make me giddy. Please drop one into the magic text box.

Xoxo