This chapter is for those of you who got all hot and bothered during the last K/S scene, where they were THISCLOSE to doing it. This particular installment is not intended for children. Be warned. Hahaha. Like that would stop you.


Chapter 15: A Foreboding Fulfillment

"Helplessly melting as I stand next to the sun, and as she burns me, I am screaming out for more."

-Maroon 5

It's been a while since they made love. Every night, Annette would come home to find Sebastian locked in his study or developing photographs, their once warm townhouse now felt cold and empty even though he slept beside her. She was, by nature, a light sleeper and he wasn't a sleeper at all. But when she would be awakened by the slight, jerking movements he sometimes made during the few hours he actually slept, she would open her big blue eyes to glance at him. Her Sebastian, looking so frighteningly still and pale under the illuminating yellow streetlight that shone outside. She wanted to reach out and touch him, because he looked like the ill-reputed untouchable Sebastian Valmont he was when he still seduced various women as he slept. His pouty mouth was closed as he breathed evenly, the mass of dark blonde curls matted against the pillow as he slumbered with an impassive expression. It's been a week since he'd shoved Kathryn in the pool, and even Annette herself shuddered at the memory of his stepsister's blood mingling with the water, it was as if Kathryn had tainted it with her blood and as Sebastian jumped in to save her, she was reclaiming him again. Her blood in his clothes, her scent in his arms… Oh, God… She shuddered, wanting so badly for Sebastian to wake up so he can reassure her that she was being ridiculous. He loved her, didn't he?

As if he knew he was being watched, his eyes shot open and he looked back at her with a surprised look on his handsome face.

"Annette? What's wrong?" his voice sounded alert, having slept for only a couple of hours.

She forced a smile, "Nothing. I was just thinking."

He smiled slightly, the slight crease at the corners of his lips appearing and for the briefest second, he looked like the man who'd ran after her at the train station. "What about?"

It was the most they'd talked since he came home reeking of alcohol, and even though Annette wanted to scream at him, to yell at him for being so distant, she didn't. She'd become one of those women who chose to ignore the blatant signs of a steadily dying relationship because of selfish reasons. She wanted to keep Sebastian with her, she hated Kathryn Merteuil with everything she had and her pride dictated that if she were to lose him, it shouldn't be to her. Kathryn was the proverbial pink elephant in the room, and even though she wasn't there, Annette could still hear her jeering thoughts, cruel and sarcastic, mocking her.

A virgin and a martyr, could you be more pathetic? That cold, condescending voice of the heartless bitch who almost had Sebastian killed rang in her thoughts while her boyfriend looked at her expectantly.

Hold me. Kiss me. Make love to me, Sebastian. Give me something to show that I shouldn't be having these thoughts, give me something that won't make me think about getting involved with Trevor because I just want to be wanted again. You did want me once, didn't you? When I was pure and chaste? Did that end when you were inside of me, leaving your mark on my body? Or did that only begin the moment Kathryn laughed at your face and ridiculed you for developing an attachment to me?

"Can you go with me tomorrow? They're having a meeting for the Hamptons Fashion Show at your Aunt Helen's house and I'd feel better if you were there, you know, since…" she didn't finish her sentence and he immediately understood. Being in the presence of Kathryn Merteuil had never been particularly easy for Annette.

"Sure." He answered, closing his eyes again. "Goodnight, Annette."

"I love you, Sebastian."

He never replied, and Annette reassured herself that he had fallen asleep.

---

"Stop talking and come back to bed." Kathryn ordered, frowning as Mathieu paced her room back and forth, speaking rapidly in Italian as he gave one of his business associates further instructions. There was a slight frown on his face as his honey colored eyes flashed, his lips tight with annoyance and he actually glanced at her before resuming his conversation. Oh, he wanted to play that game?

"Mathieu…" she whispered, parting her legs to give him a better view. "Come back or you're going to sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight… Alone… And possibly very horny because of what I 'm about to do."

At this, he focused his attention on her, a slow smile starting to form on his mouth as he watched her in fascination.

"Come here." She mouthed, her green eyes sparkling mischievously as she trailed a finger down her breast, biting her lip teasingly.

"I'll call you back." He switched to English, closing the silver cell phone and sighing as he smiled at his fiancé. "Kathryn, you do realize that you may have just lost me a fifty million dollar deal just now, right?"

"Really?" she purred, pulling him closer. "What a predicament…"

"Predicament is right…" he replied, giving in to her once more. As he slowly took off her clothing, he couldn't help but remember her words the week before. How she indeed hated Valmont, and as if she read his mind (because she was Kathryn Merteuil and somehow it's in her nature to understand your deepest doubts and unanswered questions), she spoke.

"I'm going to do it tomorrow." She ran her fingernails down his back, causing him to wince slightly in pain as he kissed her lips (delicious candy colored mouth of passion and complexity).

"Tomorrow? Don't you have lunch at your Aunt Helen's for that Hamptons event your mother made you arrange?"

"Why do you think I was so adamant on it being at her house? Of course Sebastian would be there, Annette would probably ask him to go drive her there anyway."

He paused, breathing heavily as he stared at her. The truth of the matter was, Mathieu felt a bit relieved that she seemed to be acting like her old self, even possibly as vindictive as she was beautiful, which was saying a lot. Her dark hair felt soft to his touch as he gently cupped his hand on her cheek, staring in wonder as she threw him a wicked smile.

"Is somebody jealous?" she teased, chuckling at Mathieu's serious reaction.

"Hardly. I think we both know Sebastian's merely the pawn in our chess game, Kathryn. I just don't think you'll be able to fuck him that fast, the last time you spoke to him you threw your stepfather's fifteen hundred dollar wine glass collection against the wall."

She arched her back as he started kissing her neck, the familiarity of Mathieu giving her comfort. "Don't… underestimate… me." She said between gasps as his hands wandered all over her body. "Not only can I get him to cheat on that virgin twit, I can also get him to propose to me if I wanted to."

At this, at hearing her voice emanate that confidence he had when he made that wager with Belinda, Mathieu pulled back again, smirking. "Aren't we arrogant?"

"I got you, didn't I?"

"Yes, but it took three years. You have, what? A month or two to get the most fickle minded playboy who's currently devoted to a holier than thou virtuous virgin? Even you can't manage that. Sure, you can get him to leave Annette, but Sebastian would never propose to you."

"And if I do get him to? What do I get?"

He thought for a moment before giving an answer that made his usually impassive fiancé push him back and give an excited squeal.

"The Château de Bordeaux. The one you've been admiring for a long time."

Her pink mouth dropped open, her gaze boring into his to check if he was being serious. The Château de Bordeaux had been one of her favorite places during her stay in Paris ever since Mathieu had rented it for the weekend, spanning about five hundred square miles of lush, green land filled with exquisite flowers that took thousands of francs a year to maintain, there was a singly, solitary castle that stood in the midst of the splendor and Kathryn had never seen anything like it. As she walked inside, dazed at the mind spinning beauty of the antique paintings and the polished parquet floors, he had casually commented that acquiring a place such as this would be next to impossible, because the upkeep alone of the Château had to be worth more than any man could earn in a lifetime. Not to mention the taxes alone would kill him. She could buy the place on her own, but it would take up half of her inheritance and besides, wasn't it better for somebody else to get it for her? Now here he was, offering to get it for Kathryn. It was the only place she'd ever felt at peace and dammit, she was going to have it.

As if she hadn't heard his reply or if he'd somehow spoken the wrong English phrase, she decided to make sure. "Voulez-vous répéter cela, s'il vous plait?" Could you repeat that please?

He laughed at her surprised reaction, stopping his ministrations for a moment to see him observing him with a gleam in her green eyes. "I don't think there's any need for French, Kathryn. The… Château…de… Bordeaux. It's yours if you get him to propose to you in three months."

"Two months." She said quickly, smiling wider at the thought of the place being hers.

"I'm being a gentleman and you haggle for less?"

"Two and a half." Kathryn surrendered, giving an excited grin.

"Do we have a deal?"

"Oui, Monsieur De Comte." At this, the fierce dark haired stunning creature he loved spoiling pulled him down again. As he entered her, he realized that it was the last time he'd get to before Valmont got his hands all over her. An inexplicable chill ran down his spine as he felt her engagement ring brush against his skin. It was a cold, cold feeling that emanated from her fingers as she mewed sounds of pleasure from his touches, her eyes half shut and her even teeth clamped down her lower lip. Would Valmont initiate the same reaction from her?

"Promise me." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her up from the bed. Her long hair touched his forearms as she gave him a surprised look.

"What?"

"That you'll never make the same mistake he did."

She stopped biting her lip and the dazed, lust filled look disappeared from her face. Frowning slightly, she scrutinized him further before answering.

"You have nothing to worry about."

---

Helen Rosemond's magnificent estate was of immense proportions, and even Sebastian had to admit that of all the places he'd been in, it was his Aunt Helen's house he probably liked the most. Granted, his aunt saw him as the good little seven year old he was when he'd first stayed there and although acting all nice and pleasant tired him, he liked the kindness and the genuine concern she felt for him. As he and Annette were led to the grounds by the butler, they already saw the various organizers and several anorexic looking albeit beautiful models (Belinda included, of course) and a few female socialites who had chosen to flaunt their name and status by partaking in the event as well. And was it just him or were almost all these women his former conquests? Typical Kathryn to do that, of course. Once a bitch, always a bitch. Not that he minded, he never felt awkward about it, and Sebastian felt a twinge of triumph at the knowledge that his stepsister's immature ploy had probably backfired. He just couldn't wait to see the look on her face when…

Wait a minute. He backtracked as Aunt Helen cordially greeted Annette while the other women gave her a once over, and upon deciding that she wasn't enough of a threat, resumed their various conversations with each other. Just where was she?

"Sweet pea!" The elderly woman gave Sebastian a hug and he tried to smile, but he only managed a smirk when all the women he'd fucked noticed he was there and resorted to giving him something between a death glare and a lust-filled look.

"I've missed you!" he said as cheerfully as he could, trying to hide the laughter at the look in his former conquests' faces. How he missed that sort of power, the knowledge that he'd fucked with their mind and their body and still have them want him. Oh, fuck. So maybe Kathryn had a different purpose for including all these women.

Helen Rosemont gave him a knowing look, "You're still with Annette, huh? Do I hear wedding bells in the near future?"

Almost all the women at the table stopped talking and glanced intently at Sebastian, each one of them thinking (even the ones he didn't fuck) that it would be such a waste for him to tie the knot and yet at the same time they each wanted to be the one to get him to commit.

Annette gave a strangled laugh, that telltale red color appearing on her cheeks. "It's still too early to tell, Mrs. Rosemond."

"Oh, you're already like family, dear. Call me Aunt Helen."

She smiled graciously, "Thank you… Has the meeting started? Sebastian couldn't find his keys earlier so we ran a bit late."

"Not at all." Aunt Helen gently pushed them toward to the vacant chair, her voice rising above the chatter of the other occupants of the table. "We're just waiting for Kathryn to arrive."

"And you won't have to wait any longer." Said a warm sounding, lighthearted voice that was so unlike the speaker to actually use that tone.

"My favorite niece!" Aunt Helen practically swallowed her up in a big hug, having always been fond of the petite dark haired beauty, saying Kathryn reminded her of her favorite porcelain doll she'd had as a child.

Kathryn smiled widely, and it took all of Annette's strength not to roll her eyes at the obviously fake display of mirth Kathryn was showing. Miraculously, there seemed to be no trace of any scars on her pale, petite body and she looked even better than she did when she'd arrived. Not that he'd noticed, of course. "You look beautiful, Aunt Helen."

"Honey, look at you! You look absolutely stunning… Just why did you leave for Paris, anyway?"

Her green eyes swept over Sebastian for a moment before resuming her Marcia Brady act. "I needed something to… challenge me."

"Oh, I completely understand. You've always been a very bright girl, Kathryn." Aunt Helen replied, not really understanding at all. "I'm sure you've decided to continue your matriculation with a school that proved to stimulate you?"

Kathryn smiled, putting more meaning into Helen's words. "You could say that. I did get some form of… stimulation while I was away from home."

He had to bite his tongue to avoid saying something snide and sarcastic when his mood worsened as that arrogant asshole fiancé of hers came strolling along, looking so fucking smug and sure of himself. Mathieu was wearing a dark Armani suit with a cream colored tie, matching Kathryn's off white little Ms. Perfect Chanel dress that accentuated her petite curves. Christ. They were already coordinating their outfits?

"Aunt Helen, I'd like you to meet Mathieu De Comte, my fiancé."

Aunt Helen's kind eyes widened at the word and beamed as the tall, dark haired man kissed her hand and charmingly smiled at her. "Kathryn's very fond of you, Mrs. Rosemond."

"Oh, please, call me Helen." The old lady blushed and Annette stared uneasily at Sebastian, who was unknowingly glaring at Mathieu.

Mathieu smiled, "As you wish."

As they all sat down, Mathieu whispered something in her ear that made her smile. That was her real smile, the secret smile she only used when she was around people she trusted. Her green eyes sparkled as much as the large diamond adoring her dainty finger and after being ogled at and envied by the other giggling twits Kathryn called friends yet secretly ridiculed behind their backs, she started with the business at hand.

"Dear, you didn't tell me you'd be meeting them here." Tiffany Merteuil commented in an icy voice that made everybody else shut the fuck up and pay attention. "I thought the education in Paris enhanced your intelligence, not your stupidity."

The smile disappeared from her daughter's face as she stood up, stoically kissing her mother's botox-filled cheek. "I'm sorry, mother. I had no idea you would be visiting today."

"Mrs. Merteuil-Valmont, I'm Mathieu De Comte. Kathryn's fiancé"

At the mention of the De Comte name, Tiffany warmed up instantly to Mathieu, "De Comte… Philippe De Comte is your father?"

And as Mathieu nodded, she smiled as though her face would crack. "Please, call me Tiffany." She placed her clammy hand on his wrist and squeezed it, much to Belinda and Kathryn's disgust as they watched their mother make a complete ass out of herself.

The older Merteuil finally took a seat beside Belinda (her favorite daughter for the moment since her popularity in the fashion industry merited Tiffany a few envious glances at the country club) and Kathryn continued outlining the schedule for the show. Sebastian was amazed at how quickly she worked, it seemed as if all the models had to do was show up and strut around and everything would be done. He had to admire her efficiency, whether it was for her own ruthless pleasure or one of those society/charity functions she despised, Kathryn managed it quite well.

"And the photographers?"

"Five on standby to photograph the guests for the society pages, five on the models when they go onstage."

"And what about for each individual model for a special feature on the Hamptons Magazine?"

Kathryn visibly flinched, "You failed to mention that, mother. It's too late to book the good ones now; even Belinda would have trouble finding one."

"Well, maybe I should have asked her to arrange this instead of you." Tiffany snapped, failing to see Kathryn recoil once again. "Sometimes your incompetence amazes me, Kathryn. I've spent millions of dollars to get you to the best schools and you just—"

"Stop being such a bitch to her." Sebastian suddenly interrupted, glaring at his stepmother.

Everybody at the table was surprised at his outburst, and both Belinda and Mathieu exchanged a look. Sebastian had a look on hatred on his attractive features as he clenched and unclenched his fists on the table.

"Excuse me?" Tiffany hissed, her eyebrows rising up so high they could disappear in her hairline at any second.

"You heard me." He snarled, not backing down from her furious gaze. "Quit being such a bitch to Kathryn. Can't you see she's doing her best to pull this stupid crap off and she doesn't even like it? Don't you see she'd rather be off doing something else than your work? Oh, yes, Tiffany I know you're supposed to be the one arranging this but you're just so fucking lazy and you would just prefer to spend my father's money on your ugly face, so you pass it on to her, knowing she won't be able to say no to you. So you know what, shut the fuck up and let her do it."

Belinda's mouth had dropped open at his sudden outbreak and her gaze traveled from Annette (who looked as shocked as everybody else in the table, including their Aunt Helen, who had always viewed Sebastian as a sweet young man) to Kathryn, who seemed to be the only one not experiencing any form of surprise at the sudden turn of events. Even Mathieu looked mildly surprised, and Belinda knew for a fact that he didn't surprise easily. His brown eyes were glancing intently at his Kathryn, who was watching Sebastian with an unreadable look in her emerald eyes.

"I will not be spoken to in that manner!" Tiffany screeched, her eyes tilting wildly as she attempted to intimidate the younger man.

He was no longer intimidated at the thought of being sent to military school as he was in his younger days, and both he and his stepmother knew it. "She once told me she never wanted to be like you… Well you know what, Tiffany, Kathryn's smarter than you'll ever hope to be. I have no doubts she'll turn out to be something better." And with his heart pounding and his face aloof, he stood up, giving a small apology to Annette. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going out for a walk."

His girlfriend quickly got up to go after him but Belinda grabbed her wrist. "Let him go." She whispered in the uncomfortable silence of the table. The delicious aroma of the perfectly prepared food wafted through their nostrils unnoticed as everybody shifted uneasily at Sebastian's abrupt exit. After a few seconds of stillness, Tiffany finally cleared her throat and turned to Mathieu, smiling as though her face might crack.

"So how did you and Kathryn meet?"

---

Nighttime had already fallen yet there was still no sign of Sebastian. As the blue eyed blonde strode back and forth into one of Helen's lavish guest bedrooms, a million possible scenarios ran through her mind, had he been kidnapped? Lost? Hurt? There was a fierce downpour of rain outside, flooding the roads and leaving her, Mathieu, Kathryn and Belinda (the Merteuil sisters had stayed because of Helen's insistence that she bond with her 'favorite niece' and her 'newfound niece', not really aware that they would have stayed either way) stranded in the estate until the roads got cleared up in the morning. As for now, Annette shivered as she took a look outside the window, noticing how the leaves of the trees weren't spared by the howling wind's unbelievable lack of mercy as it heaved breath upon breath of strong proportions. Sebastian's prized car had safely been parked in the garage but it did nothing to reassure her. If he hadn't left, then where was he? Belinda, Mathieu, and his evil bitch stepsister Kathryn were in their respective rooms, not seeming to care at all if Sebastian was lying bloodied and bruised in a ditch somewhere.

Mrs. Rosemond's weatherbeaten face was etched with worry, "Oh, dear." She said, the concern in her voice was for Annette as much as it was for Sebastian. She watched as the pretty blonde chewed on her fingernail, one of Annette's nervous reactions. "It's too dangerous to send out for a search party now, with this weather and all… But I'm sure he's alright, Annette. Why don't you try getting some sleep and I'll wake you up when he arrives?"

This was all Kathryn's fault. The younger woman thought angrily as she stomped up to her room and barged in without knocking to find Kathryn and Mathieu in the midst of making out.

"What the fuck?" Kathryn glared at her, tugging to pull up the fallen strap of her dark lingerie. "Just because you're not getting any tonight doesn't mean you have to deprive the rest of us, you freak."

Annette ignored the embarrassing blush as she noticed Mathieu wearing only his boxers and focused her anger on Sebastian's stepsister. "You're a piece of work!" she replied angrily. "It's your fault Sebastian leaves and you're not even the least bit concerned about finding him!"

"I'm sure he's fine, Annette." Mathieu interrupted patiently, putting on his pants. The slight muscles on his biceps rippled under the moonlight and had Annette been any other woman, they'd have ogled in delight at this particularly delicious looking morsel. "Why don't you go try to sleep—"

"I can't sleep! He could be lying dead somewhere!"

Kathryn laughed mockingly, rolling her gold flecked green eyes at the hysterical Annette. "Fuck off, will you? Sebastian's fine. He's too much of an asshole to die. At least, not yet anyway."

"You're such a bitch!"

"Tell me something I don't know." The brunette shot back, watching in amusement as Mathieu finally steered a livid Annette outside. When he came back, he was wearing the same look of amusement as his fiancé.

"I do love watching you interact with her." He commented, sitting down next to Kathryn. "I wonder where he is and you really don't seem to be concerned."

"He's fine." She replied, shrugging. "He's probably in that cottage on the far south of the grounds. In fact, I believe this is the perfect time to start earning my ridiculously expensive French dream house."

If Mathieu was disappointed, he didn't show it. "You can't go out, not in this kind of weather, Kathryn. It's not safe."

But she wouldn't listen. Putting on the blue dress that brought out the color of her sea green eyes, she smiled thinly at Mathieu, who watched her with interest. Leaning over, she kissed him on the mouth, her tongue flickering over his for the merest of seconds before answering.

"Honey, the only thing that isn't safe to go against is me."

Minutes later, there was a knock on Belinda Van Ryan's door and she was only glad to answer it. She'd been going insane trying to find something to do in this beautiful but boring house, even contemplating the fact that she'd rather have a lame bedmate like Trevor just to pass the time. As she opened it, Mathieu came in sans Kathryn, and Belinda could only surmise that her sister had indeed started going after Sebastian. Finally. It was about fucking time anyway, Kathryn had been so distracted before Mathieu arrived. Now it seemed as if his mere presence reminded her of what she'd came to do, and when Kathryn Merteuil had a task, she fastidiously, ruthlessly executed it.

"I knew she knew where he was. She was probably laughing to herself while Annette went ballistic in front of the old lady."

He didn't reply and instead walked to the window and stared outside, the torrential hammering of the falling rainfall obscuring a lone figure of the infamous dark haired woman, her chin set high, green eyes flashing in the darkness like a predator searching for her prey. She walked briskly, unbothered by the possibility of getting lost or being blown over by the angry storm. As far as Kathryn knew, there were worse things in life to be scared about.

"Because I never loved you."

What those worse things are, she didn't even bother to know. Tonight was a night of revenge, and she wasn't going to let herself be distracted once again.

---

A pair of blue eyes glanced listlessly outside the window, the heavy pattering of the rain hitting against the two story cottage somehow soothing him. Finally, a weather that matched his mood, Sebastian thought to himself, fiddling with the keys of his Jag and thankful that he'd been smart enough to park it in his aunt's garage. He was about to get out a change of clothes that had been left in the closet when he stayed years ago when an unmistakable pounding against the wooden door made him jump slightly.

BAM BAM BAM! The fists that were slamming against the door were petite and dainty, but the insistent anger, however were not.

"What the hell—"he muttered to himself, thinking who would be insane enough to go outside in such dangerous conditions.

"Open the fuck up, you idiot! I'm freezing out here!"

The curious frown on his face deepened as he recognized the angry tone before he recognized it was her. Deciding to poke some fun at her despite the pouring rain outside, he called out. "Sorry, I don't like buying cookies from persistent girl scouts."

"Oh, but you've certainly fucked your fair share of their young mommies." The voice volleyed back with equal sarcasm. "I'm serious, Sebastian. Let me in or I might die out here."

"In that case, I think I'm going to wait about an hour more, just to be sure you've stopped breathing."

Her profile suddenly appeared in the window and he felt the sarcasm slip away from him as he saw her drenched from head to toe, her brown hair sticking to her face the way it did when he pushed her into the pool, her big green eyes half angry and half imploring him, her skin looking ghastly pale in contrast to the blurry surroundings outside and her mouth pouted into an angry pout as she angrily banged her fist against the glass so hard he thought it would break.

"Alright, you psycho!" he yelled out, opening the door and quickly sidestepping as she stumbled in, her teeth chattering and her entire body shivering from the cold.

"Kathryn, what the hell are you doing here?"

She slammed the door shut and grabbed a towel from the downstairs shelf, glaring at him as she wrapped it around herself. "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" he asked, flabbergasted.

"Defend me in front of my mother." She demanded, "Why?"

"Because." He snapped, not at all knowing the reason why he did either.

"Because?" she raised her eyebrows, "Whatever happened to the articulate and sarcastic asshole that was my stepbrother?"

"Listen, you stupid bitch, you have no right to come barging in here and—"

Without warning, she kissed him, the towel dropping neatly to the floor as her lips played with his, her scent in wafting through his nose, her hands around his neck…

Sebastian quickly responded, his hunger for her equaling the passion she felt. His mind had permanently left while he rubbed his palms across her side in an attempt to bring warmth to her cold body. "You're so fucking beautiful." He murmured, his crystal blue eyes never leaving hers while he undid her dress. Kathryn. This was Kathryn! His mind yelled but somehow, Sebastian knew he was doing something right. The joining of their mouths, the reestablishment of the bond he'd broken three years before. The fierce look that was usually present in her eyes were gone as she stared back at him with equal longing before their mouths once again joined hungrily. There was nothing gentle about their kiss but Kathryn had never done gentle in her entire life and she wasn't about to stop now. They struggled to climb the stairs but it proved to be too far and Sebastian hastily swept the various unopened books aside from the coffee table, kicking it aside as they fell into the large couch, their hands and mouths unable to stop touching each other. Lips on lips, eyes on eyes, skin on skin… In hindsight, there was nothing about Kathryn that wasn't without some sort of ulterior motive, but as he touched her, as Sebastian's gentle hands traced the contours of her perfect body, everything just made sense with Kathryn. They were Sebastian and Kathryn. Kathryn and Sebastian, it had always been just the two of them and now, it seemed like it would be that way again. She was moaning softly, giving out sighs of bliss as he lowered his head to her breasts, those temples he'd often touched but never properly worshipped. She was his sacrilege, the religion in his blood, the craving of his soul… Kathryn Merteuil was the eternal Holy Grail of immense lust, the embodiment of Sebastian's insatiable need, she was too important to be considered as merely a conquest. She had been his deepest desire ever since they were fifteen and they first met in the same exact cottage, as well as the unidentified answer to his feelings of discontentment in his younger days, when sex was about sex and not fulfillment. As she whispered his name over and over again, it seemed as if he was being reborn. Renewed in her eyes, the dormant emotions he'd suppressed in his attempt to change catapulted with such a dizzying speed he momentarily forgot that such a woman called Annette Hargrove was probably worrying about him for the moment. Her body reacted well with his as she buckled her hips while his tongue ran down lower… and lower… Until she gave a loud gasp that made him look up and smile at the sight of his normally bitchy stepsister flushed and panting. It was all happening so fast, their clothes lay rumpled and abandoned on the floor and they were staring at each other the way they did so many years ago, when they secretly wanted nobody else but the other.

"Don't stop." She ordered breathlessly, her fingers clutching the discarded pillows tightly as he gave a light chuckle.

"Really? What would you do if I did?"

With surprising speed, she used her hands to push him and they both fell to the carpet with a dull thud, causing him to cry out in pain as her naked body fell on top of him. His back broke their fall and a smirk crossed her face as she saw Sebastian wince, "Too rough for you?" she asked innocently, yet there was nothing innocent about the question. It was an unspoken challenge and Sebastian knew it.

"Never." He used her arms to roll Kathryn over so that she was once again under him, her mouth red and bruised from their kissing and her green eyes alive and vibrant as they were in the past. He poked at her waiting entrance, a moist, dripping gateway to the ultimate nirvana he had yet to experience, teasing her.

"Quit being such an asshole, Valmont!" she hissed impatiently, trying to put matters into her own hands and pushing her hips toward his, only to have him back away with a gorgeous smile on his more than handsome face. He let go and kissed her once more, never tiring of the way Kathryn tasted and always wanting more. Their sexes rubbed against each other, tantalizingly, giving a sweet, sweet torment to the two as they ravished each other's bruised mouths and tongues, the sounds coming from their throats only fueling them. Three years was a long time.

"Kathryn, about what I said…" he began, truly wishing he could just say it, another apology that would rectify what he'd done to her.

He felt her tense at his words and she kissed his neck, lightly licking it before biting his earlobe lightly.

"It's too late for apologies, Sebastian." She whispered.

"But—"

"I want you inside of me. Now." She murmured, impaling herself on top of him with one, swift move. She gasped as she took him in his entirety, her body quickly adjusting to having him inside of her. He was right; they did fit together even more than they did with anybody else. She bit his shoulder in pain and gratification while Sebastian slowly eased himself from her, the apparent ache on her face worrying him. He slowed his pace, the thrusting uncharacteristically gentle and loving as she finally opened her eyes and that wicked smile he loved so much appeared.

"What the fuck do I look like I'm made of? Glass?"

"Fortunately not." He gasped as she bit down harder, already feeling the slow trickle of blood running down his back but Sebastian too caught up to notice. In the midst of the much awaited for and inexplicable sense of pleasure, the raw, primeval hunger for Kathryn's touch, her body, he failed to see that she had already begun burying herself into him. Kathryn had starting drawing out tangy crimson blood she'd been out for, she was imprinting herself deeper and deeper into his soul, his body, and even more treacherous, his heart.

---

Inside the Rosemond house, Mathieu De Comte was seated on the piano bench with a scotch in one hand while staring at the tickling grandfather clock that reminded him of the painful minutes she was with Valmont. Finally putting down his drink, he set down and ran his fingers across the keys again; only this time the music he played wasn't that of a sad and hollow tone, but rather, of a mysterious and poignant lullaby that disturbed as much as it soothed the other occupants of the house. It was the music of an unequivocal foreshadowing, the plantation of the tiny seed of emotion being placed within the unsuspecting and somewhat hopeful heart of the curly haired blonde man Mathieu would soon recognize to be an opponent rather than a mere pawn. He picked up his cell phone and called her, a rush of relief at hearing her voice overcoming him.

"Fuck him yet?"

"Just about." She answered and he could see her smile even from where he sat.

"Don't tell me you've called it 'making love'."

"I believe the real estate developer handling the Bordeaux property resides near the place. Remember, I want the drapes blue."

---

"You can put whatever you want, but you at least have to own it first." She heard the distinct impeccable playing of the piano that could only mean he was alone, the melody bringing her back to the days when he was the one who reassured her, he was the one who showed her that retribution, the best ones, took time and commitment. She remembered the days when she was alone and craved for something more than a temporary satisfaction of sex, how he'd understood her, how he had done so many things for her.

"You might as well make the call. I've taken the liberty of putting Jean Pierre Beaxbont's number on your speed dial; he's the one I've spoken to when I expressed my interest in the property."

Mathieu laughed, "Good night, my merciless fiancé."

Kathryn closed the phone quietly to hear his sleepy, tired sounding voice speak.

"Kathryn, who was that?"

"You can never compare that because I never loved you."

"So I assume you've come here to make arrangements."

His rejection of her advances. The careless way he'd pushed her head back and that nonchalant blue eyes' stare of indifference. "Some other time."

"What happened to us?"

"It's just a bet."

"You were going to leave school a legend. Now you're going to leave a joke."

"I-I'm willing to take my chances."

"Don't do it, Sebastian."

She turned away from him, from his questioning gaze, from the safety of his arms, his touch, the distraction she was avoiding. No mistakes this time. She'd kissed him with her eyes opened, wary of the implications that might bring her if she'd been blinded by lust once again, up close she'd seen his thick eyelashes, the thin light covering that were his eyelids, the arched eyebrows that furrowed in the intensity of their physical involvement. He'd tasted familiar, the favorite sweet she'd had as a child before her mother caught her and made her throw it away. There was no room for error, and before Kathryn could be tempted in watching him sleep, she closed her eyes and imagined the blue drapes of her magnificent Château de Bordeaux with Mathieu by her side.

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update, I just wanted to make sure their first time would be FUCKING AWESOME. Here's an extra long chapter since I'm having my midterms next week. NOOO! Hahaha. However, be assured that I'm spending my extra time meticulously planning the next delicious chapter of this story as fastidiously as Kathryn might be planning her revenge against gasp Annette.

Okay, I just added this part. Guys, I'm going to be taking a break from updating AIE for a while. So, so, sorry but I promise I'll finish it someday.

Katie: You're funny. Haha, I think you're like the first Mathieu/Kathryn shipper there is. Ever. Well, maybe a little on my part, after all I did create the guy, but you, on the other hand… Shame on you… Lol, but isn't it fun, liking someone you should hate with the 'fire from a thousand suns'? But at least you get an idea of how Kathryn feels in this story. ;-)

Nicole: Hmm… One moment I'm evil now I'm good? Kind of makes an interesting combination, don't you think? Haha

Heavenleigh: It's great to give poor little virtuous Hargrove a bit of temptation on the side.

Sam: I barely scraped by with this installment. I'm going insane trying to build up the plot. Grr. I'm in front of a major roadblock as of the moment. Gimme some of the creative spark by updating a certain story I'm very fond of... -hint-...

Feyechelon: You flatter me. Well, not really. Well, maybe just a wee bit. Haha. Don't worry I have a feeling they'll hook up puhretty soon… Oh wait, they already did. Hahaha!

WashedOut: Nasisiyahan ako dahil nagugustuhan mo ang mga kabalbalang sinusulat ko. Haha. Sana ganito rin ako magsulat in Filipino. (I can only wish... -sigh- Unfortunately this apparent gift only extends its grasp in English. ;-P)