A/N: Okay, seriously? I've been getting tons of story alerts/favoriting, but I'm lucky if I get 5 reviews…in a week, for any of my stories. That's not normal for me. So, while I appreciate that you all want more updates & love reading my fics, I really really really would appreciate it if you would take that tiny extra step and give me some of your thoughts. =) Thanks.

*I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

"I thought you might be ready for a break."

-Eva (4x02)

4x02—More than Looks

He hadn't tried to make her jealous on purpose, though he could see how she would see it that way. He was dancing with who most men in the room would view as one of the sexiest women in all of Manhattan. She did have a flawless form, he had to give her that, but it wasn't where he wanted to be right in that moment. He wanted to be next to Blair, his girlfriend. It had been out of nothing but obligation that he'd allowed himself to be motivated enough to dance with the woman who was daughter to his late father's most highly valued client. He didn't know they were going to be at the same society gala. He should have thought it through better, but he blamed Blair solely for that. She clouded his thoughts almost on a constant basis.

The twitching eye producing an almost demonic glare across the room was no mistake though. As gracefully as he could, he excuse himself from the 'attractive woman' and made his room across to Blair, who, conveniently, had decided she needed to get a drink suddenly. He followed her, determined to make his point. He ordered his regular scotch and grabbed her arm firmly before she could decide there were lovelier places than the marble bar to drink her cocktail at.

"Taking a break?" she asked neutrally, spinning the contents of her drink around in a slow motion. He watched her carefully, knowing that if he was an onlooker – say, if his and Nate's positions were currently switched – he would find the situation extremely humorous, and a part of him did. But Blair being in denial of her obvious frustration and no doubt hurt state wasn't good for anyone.

"From what?" he asked innocently. She looked up at him, her glass half-way to her lips, and could not seem to shut her mouth. I hung open for a few long lingering seconds.

"Your bitch," she finally said, annoyance lighting up her eyes. The corner of his lips slipped into an easy smirk, one that sent uneasy shivers up her spine.

"I believe she's right here in front of me," he said, taking a good long gulp of his scotch. He could tell she was tensed from the tight grasp she held on her glass, but he wasn't going to say anything further until she dropped the façade. Finally, she huffed and slammed her glass down on the table harshly.

"Fine, go back to your whore. See if I care."

She strutted after her panicking for about half a second as she stormed through the room towards the door. Her slight almost fall by the entrance told him that she was just a wee bit tipsy and that would be in his advantage. He wondered why she wasn't acting so very lighthearted then, but decided he'd see to the matter later. He had a date to save.

"Jealous doesn't look good on you, Waldorf," he told her, pulling her into a secluded hallway.

"We're not having sex, Chuck Bass!" she nearly shouted. Luckily, there were no overly important people nearby. She was about to screech out something else but he placed a hand over her face to silence her. Her brows narrowed but he spoke before she could.

"Obligation, Blair. Not love or lust." He kissed her possessively before she could deny him even again. Her face had softened when he lifted his head.

"Really?" she asked, needing reassurance.

He smiled. "Really," he said, kissing her again, this time more tenderly. "Dance with me?" he asked simply. He never asked to dance with her, only demanded it. The fact that he was giving her an option made her even more bubbly inside.

"You're tainted," she said airily, one last burst of jealousy rising to the surface. His hands tightened around her waist.

"Only by you," he said. She smiled a little and let him guide her to the dance floor. He didn't so much as acknowledge the other girl for the rest of the evening. She didn't seem to particularly want anything to do with him either, and frankly, he didn't give a damn.

She was looking at him expectantly. Finally, he jolted himself out of his memories.

"I have to ask first," he said earnestly, turning to her uncle and listening to the dialogue as it continued on, somewhat detached from himself. It was somewhat strange to have to ask for something he would have demanded before or simply done without question. He wondered if that should mean something to him.

Blair and Eva were completely different in every possible way. He wondered if in giving up what he thought was his right to anything had lessened even the passions in his life, the belief that demanding something and fighting for it were almost the same thing, if the prize was deserving enough. He had never had to fight for Eva, or demand her either. But Blair was a different story, and unlike his current girlfriend, she never ceased to leave him alone, even during an honest day's work. Maybe Paris wasn't the best place to live after all.

…

A/N: Not sure if that last part came across just right, but, I tried. *shrug* I'm not feeling real motivated at the moment, so the last couple chapters might be up before the episode, but don't hold your breath. ;p