A/N: Hello! Thank you all for your support and feedback! I appreciate it. This chapter is in Blair's perspective. I hope you all enjoy the chapter! Be back soon.
Blair very nearly falls over when she sees Dan standing in the middle of the party; sipping champagne and laughing with Serena like it's nothing. Like he didn't have to make a decision, book a ticket, get in a cab, go to the airport, check in, go through security, wait for his flight to be called, board the airplane, fly across an ocean, land in Paris, and somehow be brought to this party where he is now standing and talking to Serena like he hasn't fucked her best friend. All decisions he made while also deciding not to call her and give her a warning. Her fingers tighten around the stem of her champagne flute. She finishes her champagne before she sets the glass on a table. She looks down at her dress and smooths the skirt, she checks her hair, she stops primping because there is no need to primp. She marches over to them and stands casually beside Dan, as if she doesn't even know he's there.
"S, I think it might be time for us to go to the next party." Blair comments breezily. "This one is starting to feel a bit…..stale."
Dan clears his throat. "Nice to see you too, Blair." He says sardonically.
She turns her head to him slowly and bats her eyes. "I had no idea you were here, Humphrey." She smiles tersely. "How would I?"
"Uh, well, for one thing, you're practically standing on top of me." His eyes scan her body and she feels their proximity coursing through her veins.
"Again, I didn't know you were here." She mutters and turns back to Serena. "Ready to go?" She grabs Serena's hand.
"Oh, Blair." Serena laughs and pulls back. "Dan just got here. I'm sure he's not in the mood for party hopping after his flight."
Blair arches an eyebrow. "That's perfect then because I had no intention of dragging this Brooklyn bargain, which is truly saying something, around with us." She cuts her eyes to him. "No offense."
"None taken." Dan shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. She purses her lips and narrows her eyes while he smirks at her. He's taking control of this situation and it's pissing her off.
"Blair, what has gotten into you?" Serena asks in amusement. "You've been so peaceful and almost pleasant since you came back." Blair feels herself flush and hears Dan choke on his drink. Serena shakes her head. "I guess it was nice while it lasted."
"Whatever—" Blair starts defensively until Dan interrupts her.
"Actually, I'd like to hear more about this peaceful and pleasant Blair." Dan makes a face that conveys his shock and interest all at the same time. "She sounds lovely."
Blair rolls her eyes. "It's Paris. It brings out the softer side of me." She pouts and looks at Dan as he nods his head congenially. It makes her uncomfortable.
"No, because before you went back home to see Dorota, you were pretty down most of the time." Serena says thoughtfully. "You even said—"
"Serena!" Blair interrupts in frustration. "Forget it." She snatches Dan's drink from his hand and gulps it down. "I'll just have to suffer here." She snarls at Dan one last time before she walks away.
She manages to dodge him for a whole hour before he rests his elbows against the bar right next to her. "If I'd known my presence would be so distressing for you I wouldn't have come."
"You have nothing to do with my emotions." She takes a sip of her champagne before she looks at him. "Don't flatter yourself."
"Ok." He says with a nonchalance that only rattles her more. "Whiskey." He says to the bartender who's standing in front of them expectantly. "You want anything?" He asks Blair.
"No. I can get my own drinks." She snaps.
"Noted." He says on a light laugh. She watches as he struggles to pay between the price being told to him in French and being uncertain of French currency.
"Good Lord." Blair huffs and takes Dan's money from his hands to help him. She hands the bartender a bill to cover the cost and a tip, an admittedly very generous tip, before she shoves Dan's money back at him.
"Thank you." He smiles at her. "That was almost pleasant." He gives her a conspiratorial glance.
"Yeah, well, it won't happen again." She goes to hop off her barstool, but Dan's hand lands on her arm. It's not like electricity. It's more like warmth and comfort. She moves her eyes to his slowly.
"It's good to see you, Blair." He says softly, almost hesitantly. Fuck.
She watches as he uses his free hand to take a sip of his drink while his thumb smooths over her skin. She'd never tell anyone that she somehow finds herself getting lost in Dan Humphrey and his endearing genuineness every time she's near him now. She certainly wouldn't tell anyone that she's missed him. "Follow me." She says softly, almost hesitantly. He nods his head and lets his hand drop from her arm. She starts moving and turns her head to see if he's following. His eyes are following her. He finishes his drink before he starts moving behind her.
She leads him to a bathroom on the second floor. He kisses her before she shuts the door all the way. "Patience, Humphrey." She admonishes with a frown.
He pulls his face away from hers. "Excuse me, Waldorf." He takes a step back from her and puts his hands in his pockets. Well, she hadn't meant for that to happen.
She rolls her eyes and grabs his shirt to drag him to her. "You are such a drama queen."
He scoffs loudly. "That is hilarious considering the source."
"I was just trying to remind you to be a little more careful." She starts pushing him with her body toward the wall. "Anybody could have seen you kissing me."
"There's no one up here but us." He says incredulously. "How careful do I need to be?"
"More careful than you would be with a signed Simon & Garfunkel record, Humphrey. Or whatever your kind is trying to make relevant these days." He gives her a bored look. "I am just trying to ensure that this potential life ruining mistake does not get out. I am looking out for both of us."
"You know, I just got here." His voice gets a little louder, like he's annoyed and she can't deny that it turns her on. "Could you at least let me get over the jet lag before you start with this routine?" She pushes him into the wall, hard. He narrows his eyes. "That hurt, Blair."
"Oops." She says flatly. "I don't care if you just got here or why you're even here, for that matter, you are not going to out us—me with your reckless behavior." She finishes sharply and leans in to kiss him but he moves his head away.
He narrows his eyes and she widens hers in annoyance. "You want to know why I'm here?" It sounds like an accusation more than a question.
"No." She says easily and tries to kiss him again. He moves his head again. She makes a frustrated sound. "You have one more of those and you will have flown across an ocean to not get fucked."
He laughs and shrugs. "That's fine." Her mouth falls open a little. "I didn't fly across an ocean to get or not get fucked."
"Great!" She balls her hands into fists, twisting his shirt and amusing him. She's going to snap. "I don't care why you're here." She takes a deep breath. "As we've established."
"Hmmm, I think we've established the exact opposite." His eyes dance with hers.
She knows he's messing with her and yet she can't stop herself. It's like she wants him to mess with her. Oh, God. What does that mean? "What on earth gives you the impression that I care about your silly life decisions?" She asks with a furrowed brow.
"Your little side comment about not caring about why I'm here when we weren't even talking about that." He finally touches her again and rests his hands on her waist. She feels herself relax slightly.
"That is so stupid, even for you." She shakes her head. "I can't believe that's your proof."
"There's also the attitude you've been giving me all night." He squeezes her waist. "You're pissed about something."
She laughs loudly. "What? Attitude is my default and you know that."
He rolls his eyes. "If you can't be honest about even this then I don't know why I'm here." She arches a triumphant eyebrow. "I mean in here. In this bathroom in Paris with someone who can't even admit to basic curiosity." He pushes her back gently and walks to the door. "I didn't come here for you and thank God for that." He shakes his head as he looks back at her, his hand on the doorknob. She crosses her arms and manages to restrain herself from stopping him from leaving.
It's a long, awkward car ride back to the chateau. Serena's chattering on obliviously while Blair and Dan follow along distractedly until Dan laughs, really laughs, at something Serena says. She turns her head and glares at him though she's not sure he can even see it in the dark car. She's not sure if she's more upset about him laughing when they're supposed to be upset with each other or about the fact that she's able to discern his different laughs. "Serena, next time you invite a guest to stay at a place we are renting together, you might ask first." Blair interjects loudly over their jokes.
"I'm sorry, B." Serena sighs and reaches a hand over to rest on her arm. "I've been so bored when you go out with the prince. I was talking to Dan the other night and, I don't know, I just asked him to come. It was all really last minute." So she and Dan just gab on the phone like a couple of old ladies and make impulsive plans together? She feels herself flush with anger and embarrassment. He came here for Serena. Of course he did.
"The prince?" Dan clears his throat and she can feel his eyes on her.
"Yes, Humphrey, I've been spending time with the prince of Monaco." She says proudly and sits up a little straighter. "It's been quite a fairytale." And she launches into a detailed account of their thrilling evenings together.
He and Serena have the decency to wait to laugh until the car has stopped in the chateau driveway and she can make a frustrated exit.
"Go away, Serena!" Blair yells at the knock at her door. She is not in the mood for apologies and hair braiding. Her phone goes off.
*It's me and you and your loud mouth are about to blow our cover.* The ding of her phone startles her and then excites her once she realizes it's from Dan.
*You cannot seriously think I am sleeping with you after everything that happened tonight.*
*I'm not trying to sleep with you! Is that seriously all you think that I think about?*
*I don't really care. I'm sure Serena's door is open and ready. Go bother her since you did come here for her afterall.* Oh, damn. She wishes she could get that one back.
*Blair, open the door so we can talk about this like the mature, evolved people who decided to have uncomplicated sex.*
*Why should I?* That's childish, but she doesn't care.
*Oh my God. Nevermind. I'm sorry for….tonight and anything else that may have upset you, your highness. Have a good night.*
Oh, so now he's just going to leave? And with dignity and grace? Over her dead body. She throws open her door, fully prepared to chase him down, only to see him standing there with a small, knowing grin. She rolls her eyes and yanks him inside her room. "I'm not going to comment on how well I played that because I am fully aware that we are on the second floor and I see now that you have a balcony."
"Oh, so you do have a brain!" She says happily before she shoots a glare at him.
He sighs and gives her an apologetic look. "I really am sorry."
"For what?" She runs a hand through her hair with feigned disinterest.
"For my part in the bathroom debacle, for not just telling you I was coming here and why, and for laughing at your fairytale." She eyes him when she notices him stifling another laugh. He clears his throat. "Sorry."
"I don't blame you for not telling me." She shrugs a shoulder and watches him. "I'd be embarrassed to admit that I was still following my ex around like a lost puppy in the hopes she might notice my presence."
"Ok, first of all, have you always been this hypocritical and I just somehow missed it because of your many other charming attributes?" He looks at her like she's crazy and doesn't give her a chance to defend herself. "And, second of all, Serena invited me here as a friend and that's the invitation I accepted. I'm not so much of a creep that I would come here trying to get back together with Serena and then sleep with you at the same time."
"Of course you say that now that I've caught you!" She argues. "And Chuck and I are completely different than you and Serena."
Dan scoffs. "That's the first true thing you've said all night."
"You know what?" She starts toward him and he slowly moves backwards. "Why did I even let you in here? I knew better than to talk to you at that party and to—to…" She stumbles over her words as she decides how much to share with him.
"To what, Blair?" He asks quietly and tilts his chin back.
"It doesn't matter." She grumbles as she calms down. "You should leave."
"Ok, but, for the record, you didn't catch me in anything." He runs a hand through his hair. "I would have told you that Serena asked me here if you had simply asked, like we both know you wanted to, in the bathroom."
She makes a loud, animalistic screech and launches herself at him. "I'm going to kill you!"
He laughs as he covers his head with his arms and tries to dodge her. "Calm down! You're going to wake Serena up." He tries to grab her but her arms are flying in every direction.
"I don't care!" She gets a shove in and he stumbles back into the wall with a huff. "I don't care who knows what because I am going to ruin you." She presses herself against him.
He furrows his brow and darts his eyes around the room. "For what? For being honest with you?" She raises her arm and he grabs it before she can do anything with it. "I think you need someone like me in your life."
Her mouth falls open and she shakes her head. "To drive me absolutely insane? No, thanks, Humphrey, you've been doing that just fine from a distance for years."
"Yeah, but I've never gotten this out of you." He remarks thoughtfully.
This time she looks at him like he's crazy. "Do you like your women on the edge?"
He shrugs and smiles at her. "It's kind of hot….and funny." He shrugs a shoulder nonchalantly. "I think you need to be challenged. I think you like it." He says with the subtlety of an elephant.
She feels her eyes flash and sees his light up in amusement. "I am going to ruin you." She doesn't know if it's a threat or a warning.
"Maybe I want to be ruined." He locks his eyes on hers before he lands a rough kiss. He breaks away and begins kissing down her neck.
"Maybe you don't deserve to be ruined." She says breathlessly when she feels his teeth graze against her skin. She moans and fists her hand in his hair.
He pops his head back up to smirk at her. "I was so annoying today though." He kisses her lips again.
"Exactly." She murmurs between kisses.
"Oh…." He rests his forehead against hers and takes a deep breath. "I'll make it up to you then." His hands work her robe off of her shoulders and roam over her skin.
Now his lips are brushing against her shoulder. "…How—could you possibly?" She asks in a daze.
He breathes roughly against her skin and pulls her even closer to him. His lips kiss a path to her ear where his teeth tug on her lobe and she grabs onto him a little tighter. "I could do that thing you like." He whispers against her ear.
That's it. She moans his name before she moves her head to kiss his lips. He lifts her into his arms and places her on the chaise where he does that thing she likes, repeatedly.
"So, what was really going on with you earlier?" He asks hesitantly when they're tangled in one of her bedsheets on the floor, looking out at the Paris night through the open balcony doors. He adjusts down so he can see her better.
She pouts her lips. "I loathe surprises and you appearing at a party, talking to Serena, without warning, after—everything, is an awful, awful surprise."
He watches her closely, like a patient chess player. "Which part is awful?"
"You could have told me you were coming." She says softly. "I wouldn't have gotten mad."
"Would the prince?" He asks with a joking tone that doesn't fully land.
She props herself up on one elbow. "I'm not so much of a creep that I would sleep with you while dating somebody else." She uses his earlier words and rests a tentative hand against his chest when he looks up at her. "We're just friends."
"You and I or you and the prince?" He runs his hand down her arm. She darts her eyes away.
"The prince and I are just friends and you and I are just fucking." She says slowly as she slides her eyes from his torso to his face. Then she flashes him a grin. He grins back at her as she slides a hand under the sheet. She moves to straddle him. "Don't go getting all confused on me now." She adjusts herself against him and his eyes close as his head presses back against the floor.
"I would have told you before but I thought it might freak you out or ruin your vacation." He manages between breaths.
"I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you only did one of those things." He laughs roughly as she moves her hips.
"Mmmm, any chance of you telling me which one?" His hand travels to her breast.
She smiles and shakes her head. "I think you can figure that out yourself."
"Fine." She picks up her pace and he takes her by surprise when he sits up quickly to kiss her. "I just—one moment of complete honesty…" He runs a hand through her hair and grips it as he looks at her. She's not sure who he's talking to, her or himself. She keeps moving. "I didn't want to tell you I was coming because I didn't want you to leave." She pauses and watches him for a moment. "I—"
She kisses him. "Stop talking." He looks at her guiltily. "You'll ruin everything." She whispers before she kisses him and starts moving again.
"B!" Serena calls jovially when Blair steps out into the backyard to join her and Dan for brunch.
"Good morning, Serena." Blair smiles at her friend as she takes her seat and spreads her napkin in her lap. "Humphrey." She says politely. Damn, he looks good today in his button down shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Really good. She frowns.
"Good morning, Waldorf." He says with a smile in his voice and on his face and she ignores the effect that it has on her. She starts filling her plate with fruit and a muffin.
"You're getting a late start today. Dan and I had almost given up on you." Serena teases and takes a stab at a piece of fruit.
"I had trouble falling asleep." She says calmly and takes a sip of her mimosa.
"Oh, that's too bad." Dan says and leans back in his chair. "You seem to be in good spirits all the same." He observes with the nonchalance of a helicopter.
She rolls her eyes behind her sunglasses and sets her champagne flute on the table carefully. She'll have to warn him about this kind of thing. "Yes, well, once I was able to fall asleep, I slept like a baby."
"Sounds nice." Dan says with a warm smile and the sincerity makes her soften.
"It does." Serena yawns and stretches. "I fell asleep fine but I kept hearing noises throughout the night that woke me. I don't know, I think this place is so weird sometimes." She comments and tosses her hair over her shoulder.
Blair chokes on her scone. "I'm sure it's your imagination, S."
"I think Serena might be on to something." Dan puts his hands behind his head and smirks. "I didn't sleep well either. It was like something just kept waking me up."
"Humphrey!" Blair shouts. "You are a guest and staying here for free. Try a little tact, hmm?" She kicks him under the table.
"Just an observation." He shrugs.
Serena pushes her sunglasses onto her head. "I wonder if we need to try to rent a different place." She looks between Dan and Blair with worried eyes.
"Serena." Blair says comfortingly and rests a hand on top of hers. "Humphrey is just being his usual, troublesome self. I'm sure this place is not haunted." She smiles at her friend. "And, if it is, we'll just offer him as a sacrifice."
Dan snorts. "Thanks."
She flashes him a smile. "Just trying to make your life a little more meaningful."
"Alright, you two." Serena interjects. "Don't chase off our guest, B. I did feel a little better knowing you were here last night, Dan." Serena squeezes his hand before she gets up from her chair. "I'm going to grab a sweater and then we'll hit the town." She's off with a flurry and shouts over her shoulder. "Try not to kill each other, please!"
Blair leans back casually in her chair. "Humphrey, what do you think she honestly thinks you would do if there was an intruder, supernatural or no?" She laughs lightly and drinks more of her mimosa.
"Hey, I would protect you." He says defensively.
Blair smirks. "Would you protect her though?" She jerks her head toward the house.
"Of course." He says calmly.
"Who would you protect first?" She purses her lips and arches an eyebrow.
"You are so twisted, Waldorf." He shakes his head.
"Seems like an easy enough question: the love of your life or the girl you hate but are fucking?" She laughs again.
"It's really not that simple." He plays with his empty glass.
She watches him for a minute and realizes he's actually uncomfortable. "It's ok, Humphrey. We both know your answer." She drains her glass. "I was just teasing."
"Sometimes I think you spent way too much time with Chuck." Her heart beats a little faster and her stomach twists; he has no idea.
She laughs like she's bored. "Shocker." She can't keep the edge out of her voice. They sit in a loaded moment of silence before he rises from the table and grabs his glass and plate to take inside. She gestures to the dishes in his hands. "I see you haven't completely forgotten your station in life."
He looks down at the dishes in his hands before he smiles at her. "I haven't." He goes inside without another word. She looks at her hands folded in her lap and feels the sharp, unfamiliar pang of guilt.
Somehow the three of them manage to spend the day together without a major incident. It's actually been a nice day.
"Ok, kids, I need a nap if I'm going to be any fun tonight." Serena announces after a late lunch. "Anyone want to come back with me?"
"No, thanks, I think I'm going to go to the Louvre." Dan says as he gets his wallet out to pay. Of course he is, she thinks to herself.
"Of course you are." Serena smiles. Blair's jaw tenses. "I can't wait to hear what you think of it. B?"
"Oh, no." She says distractedly as she considers Serena's interactions with Dan. "I'm going to do some shopping."
"Alright, I'll meet you guys at the house later then." Serena looks over at Dan messing with his money. "Do you need help with that?"
"Oh, yeah." He laughs self-consciously. "I just can't get this currency difference. Sorry."
"It's ok." She waves it off and takes his money and his check to help him. Blair can't help but notice that Serena is a bit nicer to him than she is. And that's an understatement. "There you go." She smiles and holds it out for him. "Bye." She says breezily before she strides out of the restaurant. Dan tosses the cash on the table and gets up.
"Going so soon?" Blair looks up at him.
"Yeah." He smiles at her. "I'm actually really excited to get to the Louvre."
"I believe you, Humphrey." She says quietly and rests her head against her hand as she watches him.
"Alright, well, I guess I'll see you later….." Dan watches her for a moment before he starts to leave.
"Oh, I almost forgot that there's only one car available to us so we'll need to ride back to the chateau together." She lies casually and runs a finger around the rim of her glass.
He narrows his eyes and cocks his head to the side. "Ok. Should I call you when I'm ready?"
"If I don't call you first." She arches her eyebrow. "You have my number."
He laughs lightly. "That I do." He says and she feels herself flush. He gives her a nod before he walks out the door.
For some ungodly reason, she finds herself standing outside of the Louvre. She frowns down at her traitorous feet for leading her here. She debates with herself on the merits of actually going inside and finding Dan. Before she can even reach a decision, Dan is walking to her.
"Hey." He smiles at her. "What are you doing here?"
She presses her lips into a straight line. "The same thing that you and everyone else is doing here." He looks at her skeptically. She grips her purse handles tighter. "Appreciating history and artistry, Humphrey."
"Oh, well, enjoy it." He nods his head and starts to walk toward the entrance. Without her.
She grimaces and runs to catch up to him. He's not going to make it easy on her. "Fine, I came to help you." She says when she's by his side again.
He turns his head to look at her. "Help me? With what?"
"With….the history and art." He furrows his brow with amusement. "And the culture." She waves her hand for effect.
"Yeah, I don't need help with that." He looks straight ahead and laughs as he shakes his head.
"Humphrey, I thought for certain you were evolved past pride." She comments and purses her lips as she glances over at him.
"No more than you've evolved past ignorance." He retorts with a smirk.
"Humphrey!" She clicks her tongue against her teeth and swats his arm with her free hand. "I'm starting to think you're less intelligent than I had previously given you credit for. I am an expert on these exhibits." She shrugs and sighs. "I just want you to have a good Louvre experience."
"I've been around art my entire life." He looks over at her again. "I can handle this without your help."
She scoffs. "Oh, you mean your father's local Brooklyn gallery?"
"That and my mom is an artist. I also have an education that is not dissimilar to yours. I've probably been exposed to alot more art and culture than you have in your stuffy Upper East Side castle." He gets into the line to go in. "In fact, I know I have."
"That is actually insane." She crosses her arms.
"It's not." He turns to her suddenly. "Blair, I want to enjoy this and if you're going to insult me the entire time then I think we should split up." He says calmly. She winces and adjusts her sunglasses. He reaches a hand out to touch her arm and she jerks it back. "I'm sorry. You know I don't normally mind your attitude but—"
"No, I'm sorry that you're insulted by truth and facts." She shrugs. "As it is I'll simply provide my input as needed."
"It's not needed." He returns flatly.
"I'm trying to be nicer to you!" She stomps her foot. "I stopped my own shopping to come and help you with this. You are entirely ungrateful!" She huffs.
"I didn't ask for any of this!" He looks around in exasperation. "We, as you have pointed out many times, are not in a relationship!"
Her mouth falls open. "I have never said we are not in a relationship!"
"What?" He laughs and yells at the same time. "You have actually lost it."
"I have not! Saying we are not in a relationship has certain implications itself. We are not even friends, Humphrey!" She glares at a group of people enjoying their outburst. Dan follows her line of vision and does the same. She feels something like pride but she pushes it aside. "We are most certainly not in a relationship and I did not think that needed to be said. Until now!"
"Oh my God!" He lets his head drop back dramatically. "That is—you're arguing semantics and that is the epitome of desperate."
"Desperate?" She sputters. "What exactly do you think I'm desperate for? I only have to look at you and you're ready and willing to go." He opens his mouth in protest and she cuts him off. "Not to mention that I am not desperate for you—or anyone—anyway!"
"I didn't mean that kind of desperate." He moves closer to her. "Though you certainly could have fooled me. You initiated it pretty much every time we've had sex." He moves with the line distractedly. "Not to mention you initiated all of this!" He gestures wildly with his hands.
"Humphrey!" She pushes him and he stumbles back. "I am not the one who flew to a different continent for a booty call!"
"Neither did I!" He shouts defensively and she scoffs. "I'm over this." Her heart starts beating even faster. Wait, he's over this? Over what? "Why don't you just call Chuck or your supposed prince and torture them with your attention for a little while?" She purses her lips and tries to think of a clever reply.
It doesn't come. "Fine!" She shouts and storms to the end of the other line.
"Fine!" She hears him shout back. She rolls her eyes. She refuses to be disrespected by Dan Humphrey.
She jumps when he stands beside her a couple of hours later. "The car is here." He says softly.
She looks at him blankly. "That's lovely."
"There's only one and we're supposed to meet up with Serena." He says slowly.
She looks at him in confusion. "There is not only—" She remembers her lie belatedly and now he looks like he's confused. "I'd rather walk." She looks back at the painting.
"Blair, I'm not leaving you stranded in Paris." He says with obvious battle fatigue.
She looks at him in disbelief. "I think I can manage, Humphrey."
"Just come with me." He says seriously.
"No." She looks at him with a furrowed brow.
"I don't want to…." He scrubs his hands down his face. "I don't want Serena to worry about you."
She turns to face him now. "Serena knows that I am not an incompetent damsel in distress who can't find my way around a city I've spent half of my life in." She says adamantly.
"Ok." He rocks back on his heels and nods. "You are so impossible." He mutters and starts toward the exit.
Her eyes widen. Is he really starting with her again? "You are unbelievable, Humphrey." She says as she falls in place beside him.
"I guess I'll take that as a compliment from you." He shakes his head as they step outside.
"That's wise seeing as how I have nothing else to compliment you on." She remarks with clear irritation in her voice. She's irritated with herself too for finding him this irritating.
He opens the car door for her and she glares at him as she gets in. "I knew—I knew—sleeping with you was a horrible idea and I did it anyway." He says once the car door is closed. "What is wrong with me?" He looks at the roof of the car.
She shoots him a look. "Spare me the righteous indignation. You slept with me multiple times with what sounded and felt absolutely nothing like regret." Her voice loses a lot of its bravado by the end.
"Yeah, well, I won't be doing it again." He says as he finally moves his eyes away from her and looks out the window.
"Grow up, Humphrey." She spits out. "You know next to nothing about mistakes."
He groans loudly. "Grow up?" He looks at her again and slides closer to her in the car. "You can't even talk about anything that you're feeling. Instead you just drop weird little cryptic hints about your tortured life and ignore reality because you're so scared and insecure." That is too close. He's crossing lines.
"You regret this? No, I regret this!" She shouts and turns in the seat to face him. "Maybe I've done things I'm not proud of and maybe I don't let myself feel things but at least I don't overanalyze every single little thing someone says or does." She purses her lips together. "Sometimes people are actually saying what they mean." She sees his jaw tense.
"I assume we're going to the chateau?" The driver asks in the long silence.
"Yes!" They both shout at the same time and maintain eye contact with each other.
"You are beyond infuriating." He says quietly and runs his hand over his jaw. She notices that his stubble is starting to come in.
She can't help herself and her tongue darts out to wet her lips. His eyes follow the movement and stay focused on her mouth. "I can't stand you." She whispers in frustration but she's mostly frustrated with herself because she wants him so much. "Oh, fuck." She murmurs as she leans in to kiss him. She sees the beginnings of a smile on his lips just before they connect.
He pulls her into his lap and leans back against the seat as they kiss. "The driver…." He whispers against her lips.
"That is not what I want to hear right now, Humphrey." She teases and continues kissing him. Just kissing him like this is enough to start chipping away at the tension between them.
He laughs and runs his hands through her hair. It nearly drives her crazy. "How do you roll up the window thing?" His eyes dance with hers.
"It's called a partition." She rolls her eyes as she slides off of his lap to crawl over to the button to roll it up. She feels Dan's hand trailing up her leg and her eyes close in anticipation. She stops rolling it up and sits back to look at Dan. "Take the long way." She shouts to the driver with a devilish grin at Dan which he returns. She reaches behind her to finish rolling up the partition as he makes his way to her. He smirks at her before he kisses her and slides to the floor in front of the seat. He takes her shoes off her feet and places them gently on the floor. He kisses her ankle then begins moving his hands up her legs switching his gaze from her legs to her eyes. She leans forward to kiss him again as he moves his hands up her thighs and slips his fingers down the sides of her underwear to move them down her legs. "You do this a lot." She observes as he pushes her back against the seat. "Even when you don't need to."
He shrugs a shoulder. "I like it." He slides one of her breasts out of her bra and dress. "Would you prefer I didn't do it a lot?" He asks distractedly before he kisses her skin.
"Mmmm, no. No, no, no." She sighs as he moves his hand between her legs and his mouth stays focused on her breast. His stubble tickles her skin and she's already arching against him. "I'd prefer if you'd never stop." She whispers.
She feels him laugh against her skin and she flushes. She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but he's so good at this. "I'm glad we're on the same page." He nips at her skin before he sits up again.
She raises her eyebrows as she watches him. "Then why are you stopping?"
He laughs and leans down to kiss her thigh. "I'm just starting, Waldorf." He places her legs over his shoulders and raises her dress up. She gasps loudly and reaches for the seat behind her to hold onto when his lips and tongue touch her center.
"There isn't only one car available to us." She says breathlessly as she hooks her legs around his shoulders.
"What?" His floppy haired head pops up from between her legs.
She groans and shifts restlessly. "I'm being honest with you." Her eyes stare into his and she feels a little reckless, feels like she owes him something. "I wanted to ride back with you so that I could be alone with you—well, without Serena—just for a little while."
He smirks and lowers his head back to her center. She cries out and grips his hair to try to keep herself tied to reality in some way. "Did you want to be alone so that I could do this?" He whispers against her and peaks up at her with a grin.
She lets her head fall back and she laughs. "Yes and—" She moans loudly. His tongue makes her forget her words. He didn't need to know that anyway.
"That's why I didn't say anything when you asked." He kisses her skin gently as his fingers pick up where his mouth left off.
"What?" She asks dazedly.
"I'm catching on to your lies, Waldorf." He kisses the inside of her thigh and looks up at her with playful eyes.
She rolls her eyes and pushes his head back down. "I like you better when you can't talk." His laugh against her sends her over the edge.
"We have to go inside." She says with a grin as she looks over at him. She thinks she nearly broke him. It was well earned though all things considered.
He turns his head slowly and smirks at her. "I'd love to go inside." He leans over to kiss her and his hand threads gently through her hair.
She laughs into his kiss. "Horrible." She breaks away and gives him a playful shove. He laughs and pulls his shorts up. She sighs and stretches as she sits up. Before she can even get her underwear back on, Dan's fixing the top of her dress for her and leaving kisses across her back and shoulders. The tenderness of the gesture is enough to make her cry. "So I'll see you tonight?" She turns to face him.
"Mmmhmm." He nods and yawns at the same time. Damn it, she's starting to find him cute. She swallows hard as she realizes what that means. This can't go on much longer. It doesn't have to end just yet though.
She rests a hand on his cheek. "Wake up or you'll get us caught." She slips her hand from his cheek to his jaw and she grips his chin before she tugs his face closer for a quick kiss. She pulls his hair and gets out of the car. She leans back into it. "Come on now. It's suspicious if we go in separately."
He groans and begins sliding toward the door. "I still hate you." He says with an arched eyebrow.
"And I still can't stand you." She says as she grabs his arm and yanks him out of the car. She gives him a playful shove when he falls in step beside her. He smiles at her and gives her a nudge. All this smiling. She tries to stop it but when she can't she decides to look at the ground.
She wasn't expecting the prince to be at the party. She's been wrapped up with him most of the night. Dan has been wrapped up with Serena. That's why he's here after all. Still, knowing everything she knows doesn't stop the jealousy from creeping in. She tries to tell herself it's his suit. It's making him seem like he's someone other than a hipster college student who hails from Brooklyn, New York.
"May I have this dance?" She turns to see Dan's outstretched hand. She looks up at him to reject him, but he doesn't let her. "Serena suggested it. She said you love this piece and since Prince Louis is tied up for the moment…." Dan gestures toward Louis with a group of diplomats.
"I get you." Blair intends for it to come out wryly but it doesn't. Not even a little.
"You get me." He says softly. She sighs and places her hand in his to let him lead her to the dance floor. He pulls her closer and holds her a little tighter than the last time they did this. "I—uh—I also wanted to apologize for today."
"Is that why you've been staring at me all night?" She arches an eyebrow.
He locks his eyes on her. "If you've noticed then you must be staring too."
She widens her eyes before she darts them away. "Flawed logic." He smirks at her knowingly. She clears her throat. "You are on quite an apology tour since your arrival."
He chuckles. "I am. I'm not saying that I'm taking full responsibility, but I apologize for my part and for some of the things I said." She furrows her brow as she looks up at him and they sway to the music. "For instance, I do not regret….our arrangement. I never have. Not really." She sees him swallow hard and he squeezes her hand.
Her mouth falls open and she looks away to keep a hold of herself. "You don't have to say things like this." She looks back at him and feels like her eyes are pleading with him to not do this.
He smiles and ducks his head. "I know and I know I shouldn't for so many reasons." He sighs and shrugs a shoulder. "I just didn't want to leave that out there."
She's already kicking herself for what she's about to say. "I don't regret anything either." She says softly. He only nods and pulls her even closer.
"May I be completely honest with you?" He watches her intently.
She glares at him. "It seems I can't control you so I don't know why you're asking."
He rolls his eyes. "This is a perfect example of what's going on." She furrows her brow. "The truth is I just don't know how to balance all of this. One minute we're arguing the next we're having sex then we're having a—a moment or something where I think maybe we don't completely hate each other but then it all gets shot to hell." He shrugs his shoulders. "I can't keep up. I—I don't even know how to."
"There's nothing to keep up with, Humphrey." She smooths her hand over his shoulder blade. "We both know what this is."
He looks away for a moment. "We do." He finally agrees. "That doesn't mean we have to fight like cats and dogs all of the time." His eyes pass over her face. "I was hoping it might mean the opposite. Maybe we can try to be actual friends."
"So you've said." She says tersely.
He laughs quietly, bitterly. "But it's what you've said that counts." He says sadly as he turns them.
"You'll thank me when we're not in over our heads when it's time for this to end." She says sharply.
"And we'll both be sorry when you realize that saying the words, whether you mean them or not, doesn't make anything so." He says pointedly and holds her gaze for a beat before he kisses her cheek. "You're beautiful; that's why I've been staring." He whispers against her ear. "Louis is a lucky man." He smiles as he releases her from his hold when the music comes to an end. She's speechless. She walks toward Serena as Dan makes his way to the bar. She can't keep her eyes off of him.
"That looked like quite a dance and conversation." Serena says with a tight smile. "You two must have had quite a day."
Blair shakes her head and scrunches up her face. "It was awful. All of it." She grabs a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and takes a sip. "Never inflict your charity on me again please." Serena smiles and Blair can tell she doesn't mean it. She swallows hard. "He mostly talked about you and other fairy tales that no one believes in anymore." She feels bad for lying but she doesn't want Serena to know and this is the logical way to throw her off.
"Really?" Serena asks with some skepticism but Blair can see her softening because this is what she wants to hear.
"Truly." She says and looks at Dan at the bar. "He has his head in the clouds, S."
"I've always liked that about him." Serena says with a brighter smile and a shrug.
Blair loses her breath from the jealousy for a moment. It must be nice to be that open and happy. She shakes it off and gives Serena a smile. "Good for you." Words do not make anything so.