Trip On Love

Summary: Sebastian puts into motion a devious plan in hopes of breaking up Kathryn and Jackson for good.

Chapter 9: Be Careful What You Wish For

Eavesdropping is really an underrated little hobby. Sure it's somewhat morally repugnant, invading one's privacy and all that but how else are you suppose to gain the upper hand? Besides it's my house, I have every right to put my ear to the door of the guest bedroom if I so choose to.

Still when one of the upstairs maids passed by I made as if I was just loitering in the hall, on the chance that she might blab to Kathryn about my activities. I couldn't risk her getting suspicious, especially if things went as I hoped tonight. If the yelling coming from the other side of the door was any indication, I'd say everything was on schedule.

"You son of a bitch!" Kathryn screamed "we had plans, plans that you promised me you wouldn't break. AGAIN. It's my birthday for fucks sake!"

Nice going moron, breaking plans on her birthday of all days. She's likely not to forget this mistake anytime soon. Oh well his loss, my gain.

"Kathryn, baby, I'm sorry but it can't be helped. I promised my father MONTHS ago that I would go to this meeting. He's trying to land this deal and he thinks by bringing me along they'll be impressed and sign on. I'm obligated to go and you of all people should understand family obligations. This is important-

"More than me?"

Leave it to Jackson to create an excuse that gets him out of trouble and strokes his massive ego at the same time. Asshole. Still something told me she wasn't going to let him off the hook just yet. In fact if I knew Kathryn she would let him suffer for a good long time.

Scrambling to find an excuse Jackson replied "no, it's just-

"Oh shut up! I don't care anymore. Just get the fuck out!"

"Wait!" he called out. "Don't you want your birthday gift?"

There was a long pause before she asked cautiously "what is it?"

Another long pause followed by the sound of tissue paper and then, BAM! Whatever it was smacked against the door causing me to jump back in surprise. I snickered to myself as I regained my position by the door. It sounded like a small jewelry box. What an amateur.

"What? You don't like it?" Jackson demanded.

"It's lovely" Kathryn replied with snide sarcasm. "It will go along with the hundred others I have just like it. Now get out, go to your fucking meeting."

There was a sigh of defeat from Jackson before he told her, "I'll stop by afterwards. Maybe we can go out for a late dinner or something."

"Don't do me any favors!"

When I heard Jackson's approaching footsteps I quickly jolted down the stairs to the first floor parlor and waited for him to pass through. Tossing myself down on to an armchair with a copy of the latest New Yorker, I counted down the seconds until he appeared. "Five, four, three, two..."

"Spoiled pain in the ass" he muttered to himself as he shuffled past by me completely oblivious that I was even there.

"Trouble in paradise?"

Jackson stopped and looked over at me exasperated. "She's acting like a complete brat just because I had to break our plans tonight."

"Well" I sighed "it is her birthday. You only turn eighteen once."

"Yes I know" he spat impatiently. "Which is why I bought her this ridiculously expensive diamond bracelet. What does the little bitch do when I give it to her? She tosses it across the fucking room!"

I had to stifle a snicker at this. That's my girl; always hold out until you get what you really want. Kathryn didn't want diamond trinkets for her birthday; she wanted someone to spend it with. Of course Jackson was too dense to realize this.

"This meeting is important. I promised my father, she has to understand that."

Getting to my feet I pretended to ponder this a moment before saying "that's funny I could have sworn your father was in San Francisco with mine with weekend. Or at least that's where they claim to be while there's shacked up in Vegas for three days gambling and groping show girls. I can't believe your father would actually cut all that short just to come to some business meeting."

I stared Jackson down, indicating that I knew his excuse to Kathryn was bullshit. He stared blankly back at me a moment before rolling his eyes and sighing, "okay fine, there's no meeting."

"I'm shocked" I snickered sarcastically. "So what are you really up to tonight?"

He turned away from me then, obviously trying to hide the guilty expression that was covering his face. "I'm going to...God even by my standards this is a shitty thing to do. I'm spending the night with Helena Kovac. You remember her, the slightly older, leggy blond from your parents party."

"Yeah I know her, she's a friend of my mothers. She's also got to be pushing forty."

Jackson whipped around, "she's also completely hot!"

Shaking my head at him I asked, "okay let me get this straight. You're ditching your girlfriend, the one you claim to love, on her birthday of all nights just so you can go live out some Mrs. Robinson fantasy? You're right, this is one of the shittier things you've done."

"I'm aware okay?" he huffed tossing himself down on the lounger. "But look she's only in town for tonight before she has to head back to Miami and besides which it's not like I'm getting any satisfaction from Kathryn at the moment. I need this. And wasn't it you that said I should check out all my options before getting serious with Kathryn?"

"I did say that didn't I?"

"Yes you did" Jackson got to his feat now more calm as he stood before me a pleading man. "Look it's only this once and it's not like Kathryn's ever going to find out about it, right?"

I pretended to look shocked, "are you insinuating that I would tell her?"

He looked me over then snickered, "it wouldn't be the first time. I know you two are friends and I just want to make sure you don't decide to get all noble on me, do something stupid like tell her where I really am. Because if you did do something like that the only person it's going to hurt is Kathryn and we both don't want to see that happen do we?"

I let Jackson's threat go with a simple nod as if I agreed with what he was saying about Kathryn. To a degree I did but I sure as hell wasn't about to let that prevent me from getting what I wanted. When he seemed at ease that I wouldn't say anything to her Jackson once again became pleasant, "so what are your plans tonight?"

"Oh I have a big date"

"Really? Anyone I know?"

"You might have met her before" I hinted vaguely.

Realizing he wasn't going to get any more info from me he turned to leave, "I have to get going. Helena's plane arrives in a few hours and I want to be ready. See you later Valmont." Looking back at me he gave me a funny look as he said "and enjoy your date."

When he finally left my smile turned into a smirk and I muttered "oh I plan to."

Heading back down the hall I stopped in front of Kathryn's bedroom once again. Before raising my fist to knock I removed a white envelope from my jacket and examined the contents briefly with a pleased smile. Rapping gently on her door I waited for her typical pleasant response but instead got, "WHAT?!"

I grinned actually quite pleased that she was angry. It meant she still hadn't forgiven Jackson and therefor she might be in a rather agreeable mood. Opening the door I found Kathryn reclining back on her bed, a hard expression on her face as she twirled the diamond bracelet around her finger. "Bad time?" I quipped.

She tossed me an annoyed expression, "what do you want?"

"I just came to wish you happy birthday" I explained taking a seat across from her on the bed. Taking the bracelet from her hand I examined it with little interest. "Was this Jackson's gift? Such a paltry consolation prize for not getting to spend such a special day with the person you supposedly love."

Kathryn raised an eyebrow and smirked "eavesdropping again Sebastian? Such a pathetic little hobby."

"I didn't need to eavesdrop, the whole house could hear you screeching at him" I sneered tossing Jackson's gift carelessly aside. "Besides your boyfriend filled me in about his...plans."

She regarded me suspiciously as I said that last word. Sitting up Kathryn studied me a moment as she asked "what are you trying to get at?"

"Nothing"

Slowly her hard expression melted into a cool look of indifference. "Still trying to persuade me away from Jackson? Only you would be stupid enough to think that by dropping a few Iago like comments I would suddenly jump to the conclusion that Jack was cheating on me. Well say what you want but it won't make a bit of difference. No matter what you think I know he loves me and he certainly would never cheat on me, especially not on my birthday."

Oh how tempted I was to wipe that superior look off her face with the knowledge of what her boyfriend was really up to tonight. However if I did it would throw quite a wrench into my plans so instead I simply snickered equally coldly, "fine believe what you want. I was going to give you your birthday gift but since you're obviously not interested maybe I'll go find someone who is."

As soon as I stood up I felt her arm reach out and grab hold of my jacket. "Wait" she said "you got me a gift? I don't see anything."

Looking down at her I slowly took the envelope from my jacket and then handed it to her. Kathryn regarded it curiously a moment before peaking inside. When she pulled out the two thick pieces of paper she grinned up at me like a little girl "tickets to the opera?"

I nodded "yes, box seats as well. Happy birthday Kathryn."

With an excited little squeal that sounded so strange coming out of her mouth Kathryn threw her arms around my neck and pulled me back down to the bed. Seemingly completely oblivious to the situation we were in she happily hugged me, nuzzling her face against my neck. I couldn't help but laugh, "I take it you're pleased then?"

"Very" she cooed. "Oh I can't wait to tell Jackson. He's never been to the opera before..."

My face went dark and I rolled my eyes at this but still continued to embrace her. Finally I replied "actually that might be a problem. The tickets are for tonight."

Slowly she pulled away from me "what? Tonight?!"

"Well yes I got them assuming you would want to go on your birthday"

"Yes but Jackson is busy tonight"

I grinned up at her "then go with me."

Kathryn's eyes narrowed at me and then she abruptly pulled away. "Oh I should have known" she huffed. "You did this on purpose didn't you?"

"Did what?" I inquired innocently.

"Don't play dumb" she spat. "You got those tickets for tonight knowing Jackson wouldn't be able to take me and you would go in his place."

"No it was a complete coincidence." Even as I said it though I couldn't hold back my grin that told her it was a complete lie.

Kathryn rolled her eyes in frustration, "just get the tickets for another night."

I shrugged "sorry can't. I all but had to kill a small child just to get these. Nope if you want to go you're going to have to go tonight-and with me."

She pulled herself up to a sitting position and crossed her arms to her chest in a huff. I could see her brain working, trying to figure out a way that she could go and not get herself into trouble with me. The amusing thing was I knew as much as she protested otherwise she still wanted me to take her. "Oh come on Kathryn" I sighed sitting up. "I know you want to go, so why the fuck not?"

Her eyes locked on mine as she said seriously "you know why not. You think if you took me it would be like...like a-"

"Date?" I finished for her. "That would be nice wouldn't it?"

"No!"

I laughed "relax Kathryn I promise I won't do anything-well only if you want me to anyway. Besides didn't you have fun the last time we went together?" Leaning into her I whispered "and Jackson doesn't have to know anything about it."

Kathryn's eyes lit up and I knew then I had her. "Okay then I'll go" she told me "and you promise you won't say anything to Jackson about it?"

"Of course" I agreed. Now I had two secrets to keep, both of which would ultimately help me gain what I wanted. If Kathryn only knew how deep my little game of deception went, she would be pissed. Then again she might also be somewhat impressed. This was Kathryn after all, she wasn't wired like other people.

"And you're not going to try anything, right?"

"Promise" I replied before grabbing her by the back of the neck and pulling her into a hard kiss. She was too shocked to respond but that was okay. I had a feeling she'd be responding plenty to me tonight. Breaking away from her with a smirk I tapped her on the head and called out as I left "I'll pick you up at seven."

I heard her let out the breath she had been holding in as she muttered "I hate you."

Turning my head I winked at her "hate you right back luv."

A slow smile spread across her face as I said that. We both knew what that statement really meant but both of us would die before admitting it. Some things just couldn't be said out loud.

* * * * * *

"Enjoying your birthday thus far?"

Kathryn glanced over at me, somewhat dubiously before responding primly "it's okay."

Leaning over the balcony I used the eye glasses to spy on the patrons below as they rose up from their seats during intermission. The opera was half way over with and although I knew Kathryn was enjoying herself she was still freezing me out. I suppose one reason she did this was because she enjoyed tormenting me but I suspected she had another reason. "You know being a bitch to me isn't going to convince me you're not interested." Pulling the goggles away from my face I leered at her, "I know you are."

"God could you be anymore delusional?" she huffed. "You were making more sense when you were drunk off you ass using my balcony as a balance beam. In case you missed it the first time: I.Don't.Want.You. The only reason I came tonight was to see the opera."

"Fine then" I sighed as I stood up abruptly. "If you insist on being so disagreeable all night I'll leave you. I think I see someone down there I known. I'm going to go sit with her. Enjoy your box-alone."

I enjoyed the momentary shocked expression written all over Kathryn's face before starting to leave. She let me get just out the door before letting out a frustrated sigh and following after me. "Why do you have to make things so difficult?" she demanded grabbing hold of my jacket and pulling me back into the box. Kathryn sat back in her seat and indicated for me to do the same. "How much more clearer do I have to make it to you? I love Jackson and nothing more can happen between us. If he already knew what we've done..."

As she trailed off she looked down at the crowd below and away from me. "He doesn't make you happy" I told her.

"What? Of course he does"

"No he doesn't" I said with just a hint of sympathy. "Because if he did you wouldn't be sitting here with me right now. If he was really all you wanted you would have torn the tickets up, told me to go to hell, and then you would have waited until after his meeting for him to take you out. The truth of the matter is he doesn't give you everything you want and somewhere deep down you're afraid to acknowledge that I just might be able to. Kathryn you may indeed care about him and want to have a life with him but don't confuse that with love. If you truly loved him you wouldn't have given me a second thought."

After I said all this I leaned back in my seat waiting for a response. Kathryn however just stared at me her face expressionless but her eyes wide in thought. We stared at each other for a long moment but before she could say anything to me the music started back up and the lights went down. Slowly she turned her attention back to the stage but my eyes remained on her.

Moving closer to her I reached out and took Kathryn's hand. To my delight she didn't pull away but rather wrapped her fingers around mine. Feeling encouraged I leaned over and gently nuzzled my nose against the nape of her neck. I could have sworn I heard her groan slightly but I couldn't tell over the music. Her body definitely reacted though, it tensed under my touch and although her eyes were on the stage her attention was fully directed at me. Kathryn was waiting for me to go further but I held back. If she wanted this she was going to have to make the first move.

Ever so slowly she turned her head back to face me. When her vibrant green eyes burned intently into mine and the music started to swell she suddenly jolted forth and kissed me. It was so urgent and demanding it damn near knocked me over, in fact I needed a moment just to catch up with her. The glasses I had been holding dropped from my hand as my arms wrapped around her small quaking form. As we kissed it occurred to me we were in full view of the whole theater, anyone could look up and spot us. Kathryn had either forgotten this or simply didn't care.

Pulling away from her mouth I moved to the floor as if looking for the glasses. Kathryn groaned as we broke apart then demanded "what are you doing?"

"I thought I'd give you the second part of your birthday gift" I explained maneuvering my body between her legs.

She stared down at me in confusion until I began moving her dress up her legs. Her eyes went wide and she hissed, "Jesus, here? Now? Someone could see"

I chuckled "then you'd do best to keep it down."

With my back against the five foot wall I met no resistance as I pushed Kathryn's thighs apart and pulled her panties aside. I waited only a second before diving in and going down on her. As I did she squirmed only slightly in her seat and kept her moans down to a minimum. Glancing up at Kathryn briefly I smirked when I saw her jaw clenched and her eyes closed as if she was trying her best to hold back what she was feeling. "Open your eyes" I ordered her.

She looked down at me through heavy eye lips and muttered "don't stop."

I went back to work on her, trying to locate that place that I knew would make her scream. It wasn't like I wanted us to get caught by someone but I did enjoy watching her loose control, especially on account of me. When my tongue flicked against her clit at last she grabbed hold of my hair and tugged as she started to coo and moan. I could tell even before she started to whimper my name that she was on the verge of coming.

Before she could reach a climax however something happened. Kathryn's body suddenly became incredibly rigid and I realized that she no longer was moaning, in fact she was completely silent. I looked up to find Kathryn looking at something over my shoulder with a horrified expression. Slowly I turned around to find we weren't alone. It was Jackson.

He was staring back at us with an equally horrified look on his face. You can't imagine how pleasurable I found that expression. With a cruel smile I didn't even bother to wipe his girlfriends juices off my face as I said "hey Jack, how'd the meeting go?"

Staring back at me with searing hatred then back at his girlfriend he snarled, "I fucking knew it!"

Without another word he stormed out of the box. Kathryn quickly pushed me aside, fixed her dress and ran out after him leaving me to collapse against the floor. However I wasn't angry, on the contrary I was quite pleased. I couldn't have planned that better myself.

Oh wait, I did.

* * * * * *

It was an amazingly simple operation to set up. Remembering back to the night of my parents anniversary party I recalled what I saw happen between Jackson and that woman in the shadows. After Kathryn had abruptly left my bed I investigated and found out the woman he had been fooling around with was Helena Kovac, a wealthy widowed friend of my mothers who lived in Miami. Seeing as she was the only woman I knew for a fact Jackson cheated with I gave her a call.

Surprisingly she had been quite sympathetic to my plight. I explained to her that Jack was a cheating scum bag and his girlfriend deserved much better-namely me. Would she mind terribly coming back to town and distracting him a little bit? Of course not, in fact she seemed quite eager to have another go around with him. Something told me it wouldn't be too hard for her to persuade him back to her bed.

Afterwards I instructed her to get rid of him around nine o'clock. I knew Jack would go back to my place and discover from one of the chatty maids that I had taken Kathryn out for the night. I figured he would be able to find us once he got there and I even wondered if I could perhaps manage to get Kathryn into a compromising position when he did but I never would have thought I'd be this lucky. Not only does Jackson find us messing around but Kathryn was willing letting me pleasure her. There was no way she could talk her way out of this!

I was so pleased with myself I practically skipped down the hall on the way to my bedroom. I figured Kathryn was probably still out begging for forgiveness from Jackson so when I opened the door and found her sitting at my desk I was pleasantly surprised. Her back was to me as she stared out the window. I grinned and was about to call out to her when she turned around, with tears in her eyes.

My smile fell immediately as I tried my best not to gawk at the sight in front of me but it was hard. This was Kathryn after all and showing emotions wasn't exactly a big thing with her. This was the first time in the three years I'd known her that I saw her cry. I was rather surprised she knew how.

After closing the door behind me I stepped further into the room. "Kathryn what's wrong?"

Yeah it was a stupid question, I knew what was wrong and yet I asked it all the same. Wiping her eyes she huffed "what do you think?"

"I take it things with Jackson didn't go well. What happened?"

Rising up from her seat Kathryn grabbed her drink that looked like scotch but I couldn't be sure and gulped it down in one sip. She slammed it back down on the desk with a hard thud before remarking "he dumped me of course."

"What do you mean of course?" I asked walked over to her side of the desk. I tried to hug her, comfort her some how but she pushed me away.

Stepping back she hissed "how did you expect him to react when he found his best friend between my legs? What was I suppose to say, that you tripped and fell? He knows! Apparently he's suspected for some time that you and I were screwing around. Tonight he got his proof."

I sighed "Kathryn I'm sorry."

"No you're not" she spat angrily. "This is exactly what you wanted! Jackson out of my life for good so you could swoop in and claim me. Well what the fuck are you waiting for?!"

I stared at her rather dumbstruck. Not five minutes ago I was walking on air, thinking I was about to receive everything I wanted but now here I stood before this girl who I adored so much and just seeing her be torn apart with hurt. So I guess this is what they mean by be careful what you wish for.

Just for the briefest of moments I considered telling her everything. About the set up, where Jackson really was that night (cause I'm sure he didn't let that slip) and even how I lied about Jackson's feeling for her. However even though I knew it might ease my conscience a little it would only hurt Kathryn more.

"I never wanted to see you get hurt" I told her soothingly as I moved closer to her. "Your right I do want you and Jackson to break up, I'm not going to deny I'm not just the slightest bit thrilled about that but I don't like seeing you in pain."

Kathryn's eyes fell to the floor as tears once again began to well up in her eyes. Reaching out for her I pulled her into my arms and she soon melted into my embrace. "I'm sorry" she said in a voice barely a whisper. "I shouldn't have blamed you, I know you're not responsible for this. Well not all of it anyway."

"Apology accepted"

She moved away from me then and I thought she was going to turn away. Instead however she pulled me down for a kiss. I returned it only for a moment before breaking away. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" she asked coyly, tears still evident in her eyes. Once again she drew me into a kiss this time even more urgent than the last. Gripping onto my body tightly she pushed me back into the bed and I went along with it. She felt good and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't even a little bit aroused by this but at the same time I knew it was wrong. I was more than eager to relive that first night we shared together but I didn't want it to be like this. Not when Kathryn's mind was somewhere else. The thought that she could be pretending she was with that prick when she was with me was enough to turn my stomach.

"Wait, stop" I pulled away from her breathlessly and explained "we can't do this."

"Why not?" she demanded. "I know you want this, I know you want me."

"Not like this"

"Well beggars can't be fucking choosers" Kathryn hissed grabbing me by the lapels and pulling me down on top of her. "I want to fuck."

Removing her hands from my jacket I got to me feat and sighed defeated "well I don't. Look you know how I feel about you but I don't want to use you when you're valun-"

"Shut up!" she yelled getting up suddenly. "I know exactly what I'm doing and what I want, which at this moment is to get laid. I want to forget Jackson and everything else. Now if you won't help me do it I'll just find someone else who will."

Without another word she turned on her heels and stomped out of my bedroom. With a frustrated sigh I chased after her "Kathryn, I'm sorry. Kathryn!"

It was too late, she already disappeared into her room. I thought about going over there and knocking (I was sure she locked the door) but I decided it was best if I gave her some time alone. Somberly I walked back to my room wondering about what I just did. Did I really turn down sex with Kathryn? God I really was starting to go soft. Still I knew if I went through with it there was a possibility I would regret it in the morning. Besides I told myself now that Jackson was out of the picture I had all the time in the world. Kathryn was now alone and she wasn't going anywhere.

* * * * * *

The following morning before I even showered and dressed I decided to go check on Kathryn. Actually what I really wanted to do was make sure she hadn't done anything stupid like mix one of Blaine's party favors with some alcohol. Crossing over to her room I expected to find her still asleep or at the very least awake and nursing a hang over. However I found neither, in fact I found nothing at all.

The room was completely empty, not just of Kathryn but all her things as well. Quickly I dashed around the room and adjoining bathroom, searching through drawers and closets. Everything was empty, there was no trace of her.

My first thought was she went back home so I quickly called the Merteuil townhouse only I got no answer. Feeling increasingly frustrated and a tad nervous I rushed out of the room and down the stairs. On my way down I nearly ran over my mother. Gathering herself up she huffed "Sebastian what is your hurry? What ever it is there is no reason to run around like a wild animal."

"Mother Kathryn's gone" I exclaimed expecting her to be equally alarmed.

However she just nodded calmly and replied "well of course she is, her plane left well over three hours ago."

"What?!" I yelled "Plane? Where the fuck did she go?"

"Didn't she tell you? Oh dear I just assumed she told you yesterday. Sebastian she went to London to stay with her mother for the rest of the summer. Apparently she just decided last night."

"London?" I repeated my brain not really comprehending what she just told me.

My mother stared at me with concern "is something wrong?"

I didn't bother to answer her as I ran back up the stairs and into my room. Picking up the phone I quickly dialed JFK and barked into the phone when a pleasant voice greeted me, "yeah when's your next flight to London?"

- to be continued (Please Review)