'So scared of breaking it that you won't let it bend'.
Blair woke to warmth; the heat of someone's chest behind her and hot breath against her neck. Not someone. Chuck. Chuck was in her bed, one arm heavy on her ribs.
Oh God.
Him staying the night had definitely not been part of the plan. Well, sleeping with him at all had never been part of the plan. Where was the control? Sleeping with him twice had definitely not been part of the plan. Where was the restraint? She was supposed to be teasing him. Not...moaning his name. Definitely not clinging to him in her sleep. But it didn't change the fact that she'd wanted him. That she wanted him. But hadn't she always known that?
Her spine stiffened as she attempted to ease herself away; and it was so hot and comfortable, his body so hard against hers, that one tiny part of her ached to press back into those arms and stay there.
She was confused, she realised as her eyes lingered on the shadows that played across his cheekbones. Dark hair messy, ruffled and in need of his expensive cut - but something about the slant of his eyes and his arm thrown across the space where she'd been - it made her ache. Even as muscles of his bare chest, the dark hair that trailed downwards under the sheet, made her neck prickle. She didn't know what this was. It was all very well flirting with him and acting like his girlfriend, but admitting to him that she wanted to sleep with him -
What was she supposed to do now? Blair Waldorf was never confused. And she was suddenly scared, she realised. She hadn't meant to go that far. Had she? (She'd wanted to). But she wasn't supposed to go that far.
Chuck confused her. Chuck...scared her. What if he'd noticed her holding on so tightly while she slept? She was suddenly gripped with the thought of having to face him when he woke up. Those amber eyes on hers. Eyes that had seen...all of her.
Out.
She turned and slipped out of the door, heart thumping.
"Oh dear." There was movement from between the sheets; a head popped up. "Did we have sex last night?"
Carter stretched languidly on his back. "I believe we did."
"How did that happen?" Tish sighed.
He glanced at her, smirking. "If memory serves, you threw yourself on me in the back room."
"Oh dear," Tish sighed again at how unfortunate it all was. "Maxxie won't be very happy." She swung her long legs over the bed, reaching for the nearest item of clothing. "You know the rule is never twice with other people."
Carter lifted an idle brow. "Twice? Not that I'm counting, but I think last night takes us up to four. Maybe five."
Tish pulled a face. "It can't happen again, darling." She draped Carter's shirt over her as she drifted to the door. "And you mustn't tell Maxxie."
Carter rolled his eyes and watched as she left the room, all legs. He hated to say goodbye, but he did love to see her go...
"Tish?" Chuck appeared, most unwelcome, in the beauty's place. He regarded Carter with a cocked head. "Again?"
"What can I say?" the other boy drawled. "Apparently coke makes me irresistible."
Chuck snorted. He was already moving into the room, though, reaching for his suitcase. "Well, I'll leave you to your post-coital bliss." He'd pulled out a fresh set of clothes and was heading out. "I'm sure you'll be busy avoiding Max."
"And where are you off to?" Carter enquired.
Chuck shrugged. "Time to get dressed."
Carter noticed, then, that he was still in his clothes from the other night. Or rather, his vest and pants. His brow arched. "What did you get up to last night?"
"Serena passed out again," Chuck muttered in response. "Though not before throwing up all over my shirt." He was already out the door. "I need a shower."
Chuck didn't bother showering; he threw on the clean clothes and headed straight out. He'd woken up to an empty bed. Given the amount of girls he'd left in the same way, the irony was not lost on him.
Last night had left him with a roiling stomach and a physical need to see her, touch her, taste her and smell her again. He knew watching her sleep was not Chuck Bass. (He also knew he'd do it again, knew that if she wanted him in the darkness he'd stay up all night).
He was more than aware that something very dangerous was going on with his feelings - Chuck Bass wasn't even supposed to have feelings - something dangerous that made him feel sick and restless and hungry.
Some part of him was screaming that all of this was inevitable (ChuckandBlair and their whole childhood - and Blair; when he'd kissed her, what else was there that was more right?) - while another part was blanching at the fact that this wasn't some girl, it was Blair. But the largest part - be it lust or that ache he got whenever he even thought about her - was quite clear.
Blair Waldorf did not get to escape that easily. And he needed to see her. Now.
"I was worried about you," Serena sighed sleepily as she helped herself to yoghurt. "We checked in on your room when we got back, and it was empty."
Even as relief flooded Blair - at least Serena hadn't seen Chuck - apprehension did too. He was up. Up and about. And she didn't know where. She'd run into the blonde in the corridor, and had managed to convince her to go to breakfast. Breakfast in the safe seclusion of a rooftop cafe. It was practically hidden. There was no way that -
"You know, if you wanted to avoid me," (Blair froze in her seat, equal parts dread and tingling at the sound of his voice), "A roof wasn't the smartest place to pick."
He nodded at the waiter to bring over a chair, sliding into it without being asked. He'd changed, but his hair was still ruffled from its place on Blair's pillow. An image she swiftly tried to banish. An easy smirk graced his lips, his eyes impossible to read.
Not that she looked. In fact, the menu really was very interesting. Not to mention a great barrier.
"Who's avoiding you?" Serena laughed, glancing between the two of them. "Blair?"
Blair fixed a sweet smile on her face. "Do I need a reason to avoid him?"
The blonde raised an eyebrow. She couldn't wait till she got Botox, Blair decided irritably. "Ok." Serena sighed. "What happened last night?"
She hadn't missed the way Chuck's eyes hadn't left Blair, or the glitter in them as he sat back now, expectant. Waiting for her answer.
"Last night," Blair replied crisply, "Your dragged me to a foam party. And the only reason I haven't killed you is because it was Tish's dress that got destroyed and not one of mine."
Chuck remembered the destroyed dress, damp and clinging to her body as she danced. He remembered the slide of its zip as he pulled it from her body and let it pool to her bedroom floor. He wondered if it was still lying there now - he hadn't checked - and was met with a furious glare from the object of his recollections. His smirk darkened. So she knew what he was thinking. Which meant she was thinking the same thing.
Serena rolled her eyes. "Fine, but what happened after the foam party?" She glanced between the two of them again, wishing that Nate was there. Chuck and Blair were impossible to interrogate alone. "You disappeared. Both of you," she added, for emphasis. "Together."
"I had a headache," Blair retorted. "Which, by the way, was also your fault." Her eyes narrowed. "No more tequila, S."
The blonde tilted her head. "So Chuck walked you home?"
Chuck opened his mouth, eyes alight, and Blair hastily cut him off. "Yes. And then he left."
"To go to bed?" Serena enquired. The doubt in her voice was obvious.
Blair paused. She was floundering. She couldn't deal with this. Not when she could feel his eyes on her and she knew Serena would explode. "Yes," she managed at last. "With Tish."
Serena's eyes widened in horror. But at least they weren't on Blair any more. "Ew, Chuck! Tish? Seriously?" She couldn't hide her disappointment as she stared at him. Why the hell was Chuck wasting his time with that girl? No wonder Blair was so pissed. She'd really thought he was getting his act together. That he was getting Blair back - not pushing her further away.
Chuck's eyebrows slanted dangerously. "I slept with Tish." His voice was low, deadly - and it was his turn to glare at Blair now. She was seriously going to play it like this?
But Blair had decided on her course of action - her lie - and it no longer mattered how insane it was. As long as it saved her from having to talk about what had happened last night. As long as it deflected the heat from her so that she could get back in control. (And not think about how much she wanted to do it again).
"Can we stop talking about it now? It's putting me off my breakfast." Her untouched breakfast. She tossed her hair, and Chuck's eyes flickered, seething, to the nape of her neck that was revealed. "More to the point, S, where did you and Nate go last night?"
And she proceeded to firmly ignore one burning gaze as Serena started on a story that she didn't actually process a word of.
Chuck went to grab her when Serena stood up, fully intending on keeping her at the table with him - but she slipped out of his grasp. And then her arm was linked, all too firmly, with the the blonde's as she frog-marched her away.
"Spa-time awaits, Serena!" She didn't look back, though she wasn't any less aware of Chuck's glower as she left.
Once they'd been shown into the cool interior of the spa and were sitting in silk dressing gowns surrounded by soothing music, Serena turned to her with a sigh. "I'm really sorry, B."
Blair took an innocent sip of her ginger and lemon tea. "Sorry for what?"
The nonchalance didn't work for a second. Serena sighed again. "He's an idiot."
"He is," Blair agreed, more than a little desperate to change the subject. Serena could be oblivious about some things, but when it came to her best friend she had an annoying habit of being oddly perceptive. Blair had hoped her time away would lessen it - apparently not.
"And," Serena added dutifully, "Tish is a slut. You know sex doesn't mean anything to Chuck. And a one-night stand in Ibizia? Not exactly classy." She was sure that was what Blair wanted to hear - sure it was the kind of thing the brunette would say.
Blair had paused. Her lips tightened, slightly, over her tea cup. "Well, it's a free country."
Serena blinked at her in disbelief. "What?"
"I mean," Blair cleared her throat, primly. "If Tish wants to sleep with Chuck, then that's her choice. There's no need to be judgemental about it."
Serena stared. Then she gave a little laugh. "Ok - who are you, and what have you done with Blair Waldorf?"
Blair's hand tightened on the cup once more. The soothing music was doing nothing for her. "You're not exactly in a place to judge yourself." Stop, Blair. Stop now.
The blonde's mouth dropped. She was clearly waiting for Blair to apologise - Blair did no such thing. She sat, very still, in her seat. What the hell was she even saying?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Serena asked at last. Her voice was very quiet.
Blair just gave her a look. She was being a bitch and she knew it - she didn't even mean it - but she couldn't stop now. Panic still welled inside of her as she forced herself to bite, "Just that one night stands are your specialty." Was that was last night had been? A one-night stand?
Serena's eyes widened, and she was shaking with anger now. Hurt. "Yeah," she answered. "They were." Blair felt a nasty stab of guilt that she fought back. "Which is how I know now that sex with the right person means something."
Blair swallowed.
It meant something.
Oh, this was so not what was supposed to happen.
"You're right," she choked at last. "Of course it does. Tish is a slut." Quickly, she climbed to her feet. Massage time. "And I'm not even going to talk to that Basstard again. Ever."
She meant it. Really.
"Where were you last night?" Nate yawned.
Chuck bit back a grimace. "Sleeping with Tish, apparently."
His best friend blinked in confusion, then, sparing him a look of surprise. "Tish? Seriously?" The blond looked like he couldn't quite make sense of that. It was far too early in the day. "But I thought..."
"What?" Chuck snapped.
Nate scratched his head. "What about Blair?"
"Trust me," Chuck said drily. "It's better this way." His mouth twisted. "I'm pretty sure Blair would agree."
Was Nate missing something cryptic? Sometimes he wished his best friend would just speak...like a normal person. "Ok, man." He could at least sense that now was not the time to push.
"Now," Chuck sighed. "Are we going to play basketball, or what?"
He needed to avoid Carter, and he could do with something to take his mind off all his pent up frustration. Particularly as Blair was currently otherwise engaged. And while he was playing, he could work out his strategy.
"Thank you, Lara."
Serena smiled at the masseuse as she climbed to her feet, basking in the pleasure of relaxed limbs. The massage had cleared her head - now all she needed to do was locate her best friend. Clearly Blair was hurting. Why else would she have lashed out like that? Serena sighed. Damn Chuck. She was going to give him a piece of her mind when she next saw him. What the hell had he even been thinking last night?
She was just about to move into the other room when the door swung open, and one of the last people she wanted to see wafted in. Tish noticed neither Serena nor the the cold look she was giving her.
The blonde cleared her throat pointedly. "Did you have fun last night?" she enquired.
It took a moment for Tish to even realise someone was addressing her. She barely spared Serena a smile when she saw who it was. No, she was sure she wasn't a fan of that one. "Of course," she shrugged. (Did they talk now, or something?)
"Well," Serena said coolly. "I hope it meant as little to you as it did to him."
There - that would show her. No one got away with treating her best friend like that.
(She missed the look of faint bewilderment on Tish's face. Carter knew where they stood, didn't he? Was the blonde girl jealous, or something? She'd been sure that other blond was her boyfriend. She supposed there was no pleasing some people.)
Unfortunately, Blair picked that moment to walk into the room. She paused when she saw who was in it. The effects of her massage were suddenly non-existent. And she paused when she saw the look Serena was giving Tish. Oh, great.
"Blair," Tish smiled, oblivious. "Darling, you looked sensational last night. We must swap clothes again some time."
She was also oblivious to Serena's glare of outrage. In fact, the blonde was on the verge of saying something - so Blair grabbed her arm, quick.
"We should." She was already frog-marching the blonde out for the second time that day. "Come on, S."
Serena allowed herself to be led out for Blair's sake, though she was still bristling. Tish was driving her best friend out of rooms now? She was definitely going to have words with Chuck.
The masseuse didn't need to listen to the slamming door to pick up on the tension. She raised an eyebrow at Tish once the girls were gone. "What was all that about?"
The red-head lifted a shoulder. "Frankly? I have no idea." She sighed. "Americans are so odd. Particularly the blonde ones."
It was not Chuck or Blair's day.
Or Carter's, for that matter.
Blair was fully set upon returning to her suite once they'd left the spa - (at least she could lock herself in, and with any luck housekeeping had changed the sheets; if not, she'd steal Serena's room) - except they had to walk past the basketball courts.
Blair saw him at once, of course. Even from that distance. Sadly, so did Serena. Before Blair could dig her heels in, the blonde was already spouting some nonsense about talking to Nate - not that she was believed for a second. Blair knew damn well that her beloved, misguided - and transparent - best friend had clearly decided it was time to talk to Chuck.
No way was she going up there. The Bass-hole currently had his back to her - if she left now, maybe she'd stand a chance of sticking to avoiding him. Forever. "Fine," she smiled tightly."I'll just wait-"
"Well well." A delighted voice sounded from behind them. "Where are you girls off to?" Max had loped apparently out of nowhere, two arms reaching for their waists. He grinned lazily in the sunlight; and Blair glanced between him and the basketball courts before deciding on the best escape.
"I'm just going to have a word with Max," she announced.
Serena paused for a moment, but the need to sort Chuck out was too great. She was already jogging in the direction of the courts as Max draped his arm around Blair, happily, watching the blonde's skirt as she ran.
Blair managed to repress a sigh.
"Chuck." Serena was on a mission the second she arrived in front of the boys. She didn't even let the sight of her boyfriend's muscles, gleaming with sweat in his vest - not to mention his rather adorably ruffled hair - distract her. Well, not for long. "We need to talk."
Nate glanced between the two of them, but Chuck had already spotted Blair in the distance. And he'd spotted who she was with. It seemed she was going to new levels to avoid him, if that was Max's arm around her.
"Later." His teeth were ground as he went to move past her. Serena tried to grab him, but they were distracted by Carter's arrival.
"Oh, Jesus."
Carter's plan of hitting the courts had been to stay out of Max's way - and now, seeing the same thing as they did, he swore. In fact, why were they all out here? This early? Carter had been sure the pretence of physical activity would keep him safe. Not that Carter cared about Max's feelings, but it was an effort.
"Chuck," Serena was insisting now as she looked to Nate for support. She was putting her foot down, and she didn't care if Carter was there or not. Chuck deserved it. With any luck, Blair was currently making him jealous with Max. "You need to tell me what the hell-"
"Gosh, what's going on here?"
The familiar voice carried even over to the courts.
Carter flinched, trying to retreat as Chuck tried to advance and Serena tried to hold him back. Nate wavered in the middle, pretty sure he should be doing...something. Saving his best friend? Or helping his girlfriend?
Tish had finished in the spa.
They watched her talking to Max and Blair. They watched as her gaze moved over to the courts and then as she started to make her way towards them, waving brightly. She appeared fully unaware of Blair's reluctance as she dragged her in her wake. And, as she arrived, still unaware of Serena's anger. "What are we all doing?"
Blair avoided looking at Chuck's hair, dark with sweat, or his even darker eyes. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. Her senses were over-heightened if she honestly thought she could smell his natural tang from so far away.
He took in her perfect spa glow with equal parts burning desire and dislike. Did she have to look so delicious all the time?
Meanwhile, Tish finally seemed to have picked up on an edge of awkwardness with Carter. Perhaps having he and Max so close after last night wasn't the best idea. The blonds were still confusing her, so she figured Chuck was a safe bet. "And how was your night?" she asked him with a vague smile. "I feel like I missed out on all the action."
Blair froze and Serena bristled in sheer disbelief. Nate paused, wary.
Chuck wasn't looking at anyone but Blair, his face still expressionless. "I'm sure you didn't miss much." He gazed at the brunette. "Did she?"
Blair glared back at him. "No."
"Come on," Max begged. "Where did everyone go last night?" He pouted. "I feel like I hardly saw any of you. Tell me there's gossip?"
Serena's eyes narrowed. "I'm sure Tish could tell you."
At long last, the red-head actually looked at the blonde. Well - how rude. Was the bitch trying to get her into trouble? Just what was her problem, exactly? Maybe she did want Carter for herself. Tish wrinkled her nose - they'd be entirely unsuited. "Oh, no," she sighed. "I had a quiet night. One too many, I'm afraid."
"Really?" Serena seethed. She could feel Blair sending her daggers - frantic warning signals - but she ignored them. Tish didn't get to do this to her best friend. And she wanted to see Chuck squirm now. She may not have done vengeance like Blair Waldorf, but injustice did make her upset.
"Really," Carter cut in. His tone was dry. "You know what Tish is like on Sambuca."
"You could blame it on the alcohol," Chuck agreed, still watching Blair.
She stiffened. "Clearly Ibizia's a dangerous place." Her voice was little more than a snap.
Serena, of course, was having none of that. "I think some people just have no self-control," the blonde corrected firmly. There was a beat of silence.
Blair tried very, very hard to prove just how much self-control she had by not letting her gaze slide to Chuck's - but it was no good when she could feel his eyes on her.
Carter and Tish smoothly avoided each other.
"Well," Tish trilled at last, taking Max's arm. "We'd best be off. Maxxie needs to take me shopping before we go. See you tonight." She was already disappearing.
Serena went to round on Chuck once they'd left, but Nate, ever loyal, had managed to get between them. "I'm starving," he attempted. "Let's eat."
His words fell on deaf ears.
"Chuck-"
"Actually, that sounds like a good idea." Carter was not in the mood for another Max/Tish avoidance - and he definitely didn't want to deal with Chuck's inevitable smarminess. And was it just him, or was Serena being extra annoying today? He'd never known her to be quite so judgemental. Or persistent about it. His sister was looking like the best choice of company at the moment. "Come on, I'm treating you."
The message was clear as he nodded for Blair to follow - no one else. And Blair did not look at Chuck - no, not once - as she slipped past him. She really did deserve some kind of award. (Especially given the current churning in her stomach).
Chuck watched them walk away, face tight.
"Ok," Serena fumed. Now she was really going to let him have it. "Chuck-"
"Serena," he snapped. And he stalked off.
"I'm telling you," Serena whined. "Nate, he went too far. You didn't see how crushed Blair was!"
Her boyfriend couldn't quite keep the look of doubt off his face. Blair, crushed? He knew the brunette as well as Serena did. Even if she was crushed, it was unlikely she'd let anyone see it. And he was sure she hadn't exactly seemed crushed at the basketball courts. He wasn't certain what it was - but it didn't seem like heartbreak?
"For her," Serena ammended with a sigh. The two of them had slipped back to their room and were currently making use of their freshly made bed - but even midday sex wasn't enough to stop her worrying about Blair. "I think she's really hurting."
Nate scratched his head. "Look, I don't understand why he did what he did either." He knew Chuck wasn't into Tish. "Maybe he got scared?"
Serena snorted. "Scared?"
"You know, of...feelings."
She considered this. Admittedly, that sounded like Chuck. "But why did he have to mess everything up?"
She'd been looking forward to double dates. She'd been looking forward to the four of them together - like it was always supposed to have been. And she wanted Blair to be happy.
Nate looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe we can fix it."
At that, Serena's eyes lit up - and it was worth it for that. "Matchmaking?" she asked hopefully.
"We need to get them to talk," Nate decided; Serena was bobbing her head. The two blonds exchanged grins.
"We need a plan."
Chuck had his own plan.
It involved stalking.
"So what did happen last night?" Carter sighed, leaning back against his chair. They were alone in the cafe, and he could finally relax. He was already getting a headache. "I hear it was messy."
Blair paused. "No." (Messy? How could he possibly have-)
Her brother raised an eyebrow up at her. "So Serena wasn't her usual drunk self?"
"Oh." Blair managed an eye roll. "Of course she was." She paused again, eyes narrowing as something occurred to her. Max may have missed it, but she'd been aware of her brother's reluctance to see Tish. "What did you do last night? Actually," she reflected grimly, "I don't want to know."
Carter's face twisted for a moment in a faint smirk. "Are you looking forward to going home?"
"Of course," Blair lied.
He tilted his head at her.
"Well...I'm looking forward to crushing the Columbia freshmen. And I have missed my wardrobe."
This earned her a proper smirk. Carter knew his sister. "Have you worked out where you're going to live?" he asked, slowly. He helped himself to some olives, but he was watching her.
Blair lifted a brow back. Returning to the penthouse. They both knew it would be for the first time in six years - she'd managed to avoid it every holiday since. "Not dorms," she retorted. She'd had more than enough of communal showers in boarding school. "S wants me to live with her."
"And Nate?" Carter enquired. "Chuck?"
Blair took a very determined gulp of her water. Oh, no. She could not deal with these questions at the moment. Not when the mere thought of Chuck was making her face heat. "I don't know."
"I'm sure Evelyn wants you all cosied up together," Carter drawled. "I think she mentioned something about buying a place."
"I'm sure she did," Blair snapped back; her brother pulled a face.
"So," he pressed as he regarded her. "What is going on with Chuck?"
Blair scowled at him. "Nothing."
"Then you're not in love?" Carter enquired, nose wrinkling at the mere thought. "I don't have to put Bass in his place?" The question was light, but his eyes were slanted.
Blair snorted. "What is this, the Godfather? What are you going to do, have words?" The idea of Carter actively making an effort at physical intimidation was laughable. Still, the idea that he might pay someone else to was not. And, judging from his expression now, it wouldn't be beyond him. She knew how capable he was of making people 'disappear' - violence wasn't needed with kind of dirt her brother could dig up. But then, that was people - not Chuck.
And this was Carter and Chuck they were talking about.
"Thank you for your concern, big brother," she said drily. "But trust me, Chuck is the last thing on my mind." And she was officially the world's biggest liar.
"Well," he sighed. Pointed. "Our penthouse is always there." He wasn't against the idea of living with his sister - having her home.
She cleared her throat, neatly getting to her feet. "Excuse me."
She needed to splash some water on her burning face before Carter looked at her properly. And, with any luck, the subject would be dropped by the time she got back.
She couldn't help the faint sigh of relief as she found the bathroom empty, pressing her back against the cool marble wall. Finally. She was safe. She paused in front of the mirror, checking her make up as she reached into her bag for her foundation. All she needed to do now was -
"Feeling flushed? I wonder why."
Her brush clattered to the floor as a pair of dark eyes met hers in the mirror. Chuck leaned against the wall like he owned the ladies bathroom, arms folded. She went to move past him - but he wasn't letting her go. Not this time.
"Oh, no."
He'd already blocked the door with his body. They moved for it at the same time, but he got there first, locking it - her fingers brushed his wrist and she yanked them back, scalded.
"You're following me into bathrooms now?" she managed to sneer. "How romantic."
"Well," Chuck replied through ground teeth, "Maybe I'm not in the mood to play Where's Waldorf all day. If you stopped running away, this wouldn't be a problem." He glowered at her. "Honestly, cowardice doesn't become you."
Blair folded her arms. "And you're not hiding from Carter in here?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
She made a point of ignoring him, reaching for her handbag. "If you don't leave, Bass, I'll scream."
"Oh," he agreed as he advanced on her. "You better believe you will. If it's anything like last night-"
"Last night," Blair said quickly, "Is obviously not going to happen again. In fact," she added, "You're not even going to talk about it again. Or think about it."
"Too late for that," Chuck smirked. His gaze was still intense, though, and he made no effort to move away from her.
"Have you ever heard of something called personal space?" she snarled, trying to dodge him once more.
"Yes," he sighed. It wasn't like he was that much bigger than her, but he suddenly seemed to be everywhere. She couldn't even slip past without touching him in some way. Which shouldn't have been a problem, but her traitorous body was refusing to obey her. Why on earth had her heart sped up? "But you know, when you were purring in my ear last-"
"What did I say about last night?"
"Right." Chuck gave her a dark look. "I forgot. I was sleeping with Tish."
Blair wrapped her arms around herself.
"You know," he pressed further - because fine, if that was what she wanted, then it was exactly what she was going to get. "Maybe I should sleep with her. Then at least we wouldn't have to lie."
She swallowed. "Maybe you should," she shot back anyway.
Chuck leaned in a little closer to her, hating that he could see the curve of her throat as she swallowed once more. Her back stayed up, head raised to his.
"Fine," he said, silkily.
"Fine," she snapped.
She forced out the painful image of Chuck kissing Tish - kissing anyone - like he'd kissed her last night. Forced herself not to think about his touch or the feel of his hands on her skin. Last night hadn't meant anything. Too much pent-up frustration from boarding school. It was best that they didn't repeat it again. Chuck could sleep with whoever he wanted.
(Chuck could slide off someone else's dress like he'd slid hers off; his hand could wrap around someone else's thigh and his teeth scrape the nape of someone else's neck; his lips could burn into someone else's and oh God there was bile rising in her throat now-)
"I'll see you later, Waldorf."
He seemed to have been waiting for her to snap, watching her intently - and when she refused to, he turned on his heel. He sauntered out of the room like his face wasn't immobile. And she watched him go like she wasn't aching to race after him and - hit him? Pinch him, kick him, drag him back into the room with her? - and the two of them went their separate ways like they were just fine.
Blair paused, hand stilling in her bag.
Serena glanced at her. "What's wrong?"
"I don't have my passport." She frowned. "That's impossible. I know I put it in my purse."
The blonde's expression was innocent as Blair emptied the bag, muttering furiously. That was all she needed. To be stuck in Ibizia. They were almost at the airport now - the jet was fuelled and ready to leave. The limo pulled to a stop, and Blair still couldn't find it.
"We need to turn the car around."
Serena's eyes widened. "We can't, B! It's ready to go! Tish and Max are waiting."
"I'll call Carter," Blair snapped. Carter had opted not to fly back with them, claiming he'd run into a friend. Blair suspected it had more to do with Max's sudden frown and the rumours that had reached him from one of the bouncers in the back rooms. He was looking with increasing suspicion at Tish, and Carter clearly didn't fancy the several hour flight home with the two of them.
"He's probably busy," Serena pressed. Damnit. Carter staying had not been part of the plan.
Blair ignored her as she climbed out of the car, reaching for her phone. Serena turned quickly to the other car - with any luck, Chuck should be realising he was passport-less about now too. Then all she and Nate had to do was suggest that the two of them -
"Looking for these?" Chuck enquired drily.
In his hands were the two passports.
Serena gaped - and a thoroughly crestfallen Nate hurried out next. "He went through my bag," he explained, miserable, to his girlfriend's look.
"S," Blair said sharply. "Nate. What are you up to?"
The blonds exchanged hasty glances. "Um, nothing."
Chuck was glaring at them too. "Nice try. Leave the scheming to the experts, will you?"
And he tossed Blair her passport and stalked off. Blair, matching glower, did the same.
They gazed after the retreating brunettes in dismay. So much for that idea. "We tried," Serena sighed.
"Plan B?" Nate suggested, half-hearted. His shoulders were slumped too.
All right, they didn't have a Plan B.
"Did you know," Serena attempted as they took off, "That there's a pool table on here? And a games room."
Blair lifted one eyebrow, magazine still very much in front of her face. "And?"
"Come on," the blonde protested. "Don't be a spoilsport."
"How old are you?" Blair groaned. "Five? I'm not being a spoilsport. There's nothing fun about a table covered in felt."
Serena folded her arms. "Well, there's nothing fun about watching you pretend to read when you're in a bad mood."
Her best friend rolled her eyes. "If you're that excited about it, go play with Nate."
"I'm sure Serena would be more than happy to play with you," Chuck was snapping in the cabin next door.
"I'm bored of watching you brood," Nate pointed out.
Chuck's expression darkened even further. "I do not brood." Tish took that moment to walk in. He glanced up, realising he couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. His face was grim as he regarded her. "But if you're that bored of my company, I'm sure I can find someone else's time to occupy." He got to his feet, ignoring Nate's protests, and moved into the other room with the red-head.
The blond let out a groan, sending a frantic text to Serena.
SOS. Plan falling apart - he's with Tish.
Tish had also got wind of Max's suspicion. Perhaps she and Carter should have been a little more discrete. Although she was pretty sure doormen were paid to keep their mouths shut. Could no one get good service any more? Anyway, she was now avoiding Max and all too happy to flop down onto the sofa with Chuck. Chuck was easy. She knew people thought she was stupid - and probably she was, she didn't care much either way - but if there was one thing she knew, it was sex.
And Blair was sporting a post-sex glow if ever she'd seen one. Obviously the two of them weren't telling anyone (though the others really were dense not to have noticed). Tish wasn't fussed about that. But a fixated Chuck was the least effort to talk to, and she found it vaguely entertaining too.
Chuck, meanwhile, had no intention of making a move on Tish. He just wanted Blair to think that he was. He wanted to make her squirm, damnit.
He closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the cushion. He couldn't get her out of his head. He couldn't get last night out of his head. She'd come to him - not the other way round. All right, possibly their lips had met half way. And he'd been dragging her into the cab and up into the bedroom as much as she was. But the fact remained that she'd been the one crawling into his lap and whimpering his name. It had been her choice, and what was he supposed to do about that? He was Chuck Bass, and he didn't know what to do other than take.
And they'd been told enough times that they were meant to be, and she'd spent the last few weeks driving him crazy. He'd been all too happy to play with her - and obviously he'd been delighted to see how hot his childhood friend had turned out. This was Blair.
And maybe some part of him had fantasized about her all those years - but the fantasies were glimmers, a flash of brown eyes and pale hands clenched in her lap, the sting of tears mingling with her sweetness. She'd always been the one girl who had any place in his heart (if he even had a heart). When he'd thought of her, it had always been her headbands and prissy white dresses and her smirk as she sat opposite him, legs tucked neatly underneath her mid-scheme; her curls and the tilt of her head and the bows on her swimming costume that first pool party - her warm limbs next to his as she curled on the pillow during sleepovers - and her scowl as she stamped her little feet and pinched his arm.
The darker parts too, but that went without saying.
And when she'd come back, it had been every little trait of hers he'd missed, all her banter and bitchiness combined into something so delicious it was still making his head throb.
And last night -
Jesus.
"Chuck?" Serena was suddenly standing over him, looking between him and Tish with obvious disapproval. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Chuck made no effort to get up. "Talk away."
"Privately." The blonde folded her arms, and Chuck suppressed an eye roll. He still didn't move.
Serena glared at Tish; the red-head just blinked. Honestly, what was that American girl's problem? Did she want Chuck as well now? Surely she could see that was a lost cause? If Tish weren't quite so selfish, she might have bothered pitying her. Was it daddy issues?
"Chuck," Serena said in a low voice. "I need you to talk to Blair. Please. She's in the games room, and I can't get through to her. She won't come out."
Chuck's face betrayed nothing. "And?"
"And," Serena insisted, "I thought you cared about her?"
"Waldorf's a big girl now," Chuck drawled in response. "She can look after herself."
Serena looked at him in disbelief. "Fine." Her lips pressed together, final disappointment written all over her face. "That's great, Chuck."
She turned out.
Chuck focused on pouring himself some scotch, heavy silence in the room. Oh, for fuck's sake. Blair was refusing to come out of the room? She probably thought it was the best way of avoiding him. He was already getting to his feet as he slammed the scotch glass down.
Tish watched him go with mild interest. "Do try and keep it down, won't you?" she reflected. "Only the games room isn't soundproofed."
Serena ran into Nate just in time to see him locking the games room door. She stared. "What are you doing?"
He covered her mouth with his hand, cocking his head at the door. Chuck had just gone in. "Improvising."
Realisation dawned and her eyes lit up. They grinned at each other like two naughty school children. Then Nate was tugging at her hand, and they tumbled into the other room just as they heard the games room door handle twist, and a noise of anger.
But by then it was too late.
Chuck and Blair were locked in.
"What do you mean we're locked in?" Blair's voice echoed in sheer disbelief, almost shrill. She shoved past him - hard - and seized the handle for herself. Nothing. "Oh no no no. This is not happening." She turned on him, furious. "This is all your fault!"
"My fault?" Chuck's lip curled in outrage. "You were the one refusing to leave the room."
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? I was waiting for Serena."
Realisation flashed between them. Serena. Chuck clenched his jaw, eyes closing. That was it. The second he got out of here, he was going to kill the blondes.
"They better be prepared for a long, painful demise," Blair said between gritted teeth. She sent him another glower. Chuck made a point of ignoring it as he leant back against the mini bar. He needed another scotch. Fast.
"Well," he snapped. "Looks like it's going to be a long flight."
Blair stayed where she was, stiff by the door. She refused to go anywhere near him. Because she couldn't. At the moment, she was so tense that she couldn't even bring herself to sit down. What had happened to that blissful sense of release last night? Her face was one of disgust as she folded her arms. "Great."
"And to think," Chuck sneered. "I could be in bed with Tish by now." He was still determined to get under her skin, and seeing her hide a flinch gave him a sick twist of pleasure.
"You chose to come here," she bit back. "If you're so desperate to sleep with her, why did you leave her?"
(Because why had he come to the games room?)
There was a hard silence.
"I have no idea," Chuck growled at last. Blair looked at him for a moment, eyes narrowing. But before she could say anything, he'd downed the glass in his hand and was reaching for another.
So she folded her arms again and climbed primly onto the bar stool. This was going to be the longest flight ever.
There was quiet as Chuck regarded her, so upright on the seat as she refused to even look at him. If she sat any straighter, he reflected, she'd break her perfect spine. And still he couldn't tear his eyes away from the pale delicate neck that held her head so fiercely erect.
He knocked back another mouthful of scotch. "Drink?" he asked sourly.
Her eyes slid to his lips before she could stop them. Tequila, lemon, salt and his lips on hers -
"No thank you."
Alcohol was definitely not a good idea. In fact, she was never drinking again.
His eyes darkened as he remembered their conversation earlier too - blaming it on the alcohol - and what she'd said about Ibiza being a dangerous place. Well, they weren't in Ibiza now.
She let out a deliberate sigh as she shifted on the stool. His eyes followed the lift of her skirt. Of course she saw, and of course she glared. If she hadn't gone quite so far last night, then him trying to catch a glimpse of her thigh would just be something else to tease him with. But he'd seen all of it last night. And still he didn't even blink.
"If you're bored," he mused, "I'm sure I can think of a way to pass the time. In fact, since we're both here..."
Her eyes met his, furious. "Don't even complete that thought."
He smirked. But his eyes were serious. Still hungry, and still intense. It made her shift again, pulling her own gaze away to fall on the pool table instead. She scowled. Damn Serena.
Chuck was glancing at the table too. He arched an eyebrow at her. "Well?" he enquired.
She looked between the pool table and the locked door, and rolled her eyes. "I don't even like pool." But she climbed with great reluctance off her stool - anything was better than sitting there under Chuck's gaze.
He leaned against the bar as his mouth turned up, faintly. "Then how about we make it interesting?" He was still watching her. She wrapped her arms around herself but kept her cool. Blair Waldorf did not back down from any challenge.
"Interesting?"
"One ball..." He leaned a little closer, eyes sliding along her figure. "One piece of clothing."
Her reaction was expected, right down to the furious jerk away from him. "In your dreams."
"Why?" he smiled. He was still just as close. "Scared?"
"No," she bit back, acidic. "Just not an idiot." Seriously, he thought she'd fall for that? (No way in a million years was she taking off anything in front of him. Her clothes were proving a flimsy enough barrier as it was).
He sighed. "You're telling me you never played strip poker at school?" She hadn't, which she suspected he knew damn well. Blair Waldorf did not strip. "It's not like I haven't seen it all before," he added aggravatingly. Blair opened her mouth in absolute fury, but he cut her off. "I'm not talking about last night." His eyes gleamed. "Mind out of the gutter, Waldorf." No, he was referring to the times when Blair Waldorf did strip. When she was finally relaxed enough to take off some of her layers - and that was the only exception - when it was the four of them. "You never minded before," he pointed out. "What's changed?" He moved even closer. "You want to act like last night never happened?" His gaze was alight now, waiting. "Prove it."
Blair's mouth almost dropped. For once, she didn't have a comeback. He had her, and he knew it. This was ridiculous. She shouldn't even be contemplating getting anything like naked in a room with him - not ever again - and now if she didn't, he'd know why.
(Because she couldn't trust her own body).
No. No, Blair Waldorf was in control. Always. She gave him a cool look, lifting her chin. "Fine." She'd do it just to prove to him that she could - but, more importantly, because she was confident she was wearing enough to make her point without actually revealing too much.
She would beat him.
"My my, Waldorf. You really can't play pool, can you?"
There was amusement in every inch of Chuck's voice as Blair stared in outrage at the ball that had dared miss the hole. So far all he'd had to take off was his watch - she'd failed to get a single shot since. (Not that she wanted him to take off his clothes. Obviously).
He proceeded to take his own shot, deliberately brushing past her to a spot that was far too close for comfort. Under the guise of getting a good angle for the ball, of course. Which - naturally - went straight into the hole. Seriously, since when had he been any good at pool?
She scowled as she slipped off her shoes. She was cursing her decision to only ever wear a few pieces of tasteful jewellery. If she wore half as many necklaces as Serena did, she wouldn't have this problem.
A smirking Chuck leaned casually on his own cue, now an annoying head taller than her without her heels. She did not want him towering over her. "You're up."
He watched her lean over the table, and she was so focused on taking aim (because the shiver when he'd brushed past her was not acceptable, and there was no way she was taking off her cardigan) that for once, he didn't even think she realised the picture she made. Or the fact that his mouth had gone dry as he took in the fierce, adorable crease of her brow and her lower lip trapped between her teeth. Her eyes lit up in sheer triumph as the ball rolled towards the hole - only to darken in wild fury as it struck the side of the table instead. He snorted, but there was still that twinge in his heart, even amused, at something so Blair.
She whirled round to face him. "You're cheating!"
Chuck rolled his eyes. "Like I said. It's not my fault you're terrible at this."
Was it possible? Had he found the one game he could beat her at?
"I don't want to play any more," she declared as she folded her arms. "I'm bored."
Oh, no. She wasn't getting out that easily. "We're finishing the game." His gaze narrowed before she could refuse. "I didn't think 'surrender' was in your vocabulary, B."
He dragged out her pet name like an insult - but the mention of surrender was a bigger one. No, she didn't surrender.
"Fine," she snapped.
But she didn't play fair either. She edged closer, waiting till he'd lined up the shot before she suddenly slipped against his back, jolting him. The shot went wide. She smirked, delighted - she got to keep the cardigan now - and her breath was snatched away as his grip tightened on her wrist and he pulled her into him.
"Let go of me, Bass." She struggled to keep her voice even - he had her trapped against the table.
He did no such thing. "Now who's cheating?" he growled.
She blinked up at him, innocent. "I slipped."
He gazed down at her for a moment. (He was pissed; he'd wanted that cardigan off). Then his mouth curved. "All right." He suddenly turned her around, forcing her front against the table as he pressed her cue into her hand. "Then I'll make sure you don't slip again."
She squirmed - but he was pressed, hard, against her back, his arms surrounding her. And he wasn't letting go.
"Come on," he purred into the shell of her ear. Her back half arched against her will, into the heat of his body, her heart pounding at his hot breath against her neck. "I'll help you with your shot." His hand covered hers over the cue.
"Chuck-" it was a hiss in her throat, but she couldn't stop her eyes fluttering closed as his mouth pressed against her ear again. She swallowed, hard, and she felt him slot chin over her shoulder. His fingers slipped over her elbow, and she realised he was still positioning her for the shot.
Except her legs were so weak, all of a sudden, that she couldn't even really see the ball. She could just feel his hips pressed against hers and the hard curve of his jaw.
"Perfect."
His voice was a low murmur against her skin, and it took her a moment to realise the ball had actually gone into the hole.
His lips moved to her cheek, somewhere between teasing and nuzzling as his grip tightened. "So...what do you want me to take off?" It was almost a whisper. She couldn't rip her thoughts away from the hardness pressed into her lower back, a zipper just a hand stretch away -
She let out a strangled whimper - or was it a moan? - twisting in his grasp with every intention of breaking free. But instead she found herself face to face with him, still in his hold, their noses practically brushing as she gazed up at him. She was literally crushed against his chest, and she could feel his heart thump with hers under the fabric of his shirt.
Then she was kissing him.
(And every nerve in her body wad thrumming with sweet release at the taste of his lips).
And his hand was tangling in her hair as he was lifting her, hoisting her up onto the pool table - and her last coherent thought was that the felt had better be good for something.
Nate and Serena exchanged glances of trepidation as they waited on the other side of the door. They were going to have to open it.
"There are witnesses," Nate tried to reassure her. And himself. "Max and Tish know we're here."
"And we're landing in twenty minutes," Serena attempted.
They both swallowed. Nate's hand found hers. And then he turned the handle. He frowned. "That's weird." He pulled at it again, trying and failing to twist it open. Serena tried too, but -
"It's like it's stuck."
Shit, had they broken the door? That was it. They were dead. If they had to get maintenance to come over, there was no way Chuck or Blair would ever -
And then, just as abruptly, the door swung open. And Blair appeared, straightening her dress. Serena and Nate half held their breaths (were they going to find a body?) - but then Chuck appeared behind her. Alive and intact. He smoothed down his hair as the two of them fixed the blondes with shared looks of disdain.
"Real mature," Chuck drawled.
"Really," Blair added. "Congratulations. You've both reached new heights, even for you."
Serena and Nate looked at each other, and then back to their best friends.
"Ok, more importantly," Nate ignored the insult, "Have you two made up?"
"Chuck?" Serena pressed.
They received blank - haughty - looks. "What are you talking about?"
Nate rolled his eyes. "Is it safe to be in a room with either of you now?"
The swiftest of glances passed between them, but Chuck and Blair were already making their way to their seats without bothering to wait for the blondes.
"Let's just say we've reached an...agreement."
Luckily, neither Serena nor Nate managed to catch their matching smirks.