Hey all! So here's the next chapter to the story. I'm so glad to be getting such great feedback. The end of this chapter will seem familiar to the show and you'll see why ;-) but don't worry I'm going to change it up a bit. And i think some of you guys got the impression that Chuck and Blair's deal (her helping him with his father and Victrola and he helping her find who Nate is interested in) is the Cruel Intentions aspect of this fic. Don't worry, I wouldn't let it be that "soft" of a deal. I will definitely be doing a Cruel Intentions type of deal, coming most likely in the next chapter. :-)

Once again i would like to thank: kleipoppetje, 3venst4r, flipped, :D, pisaniel, midnight blue08, madroxj, Zoe, Crystal, poptartphreak, helenaxgal, Syrianora, Kimberly Ramone, Ashlyn13, WolfGirl1618, Blood Red Kiss of Death, princetongirl, Kensley-Jackson, suspensegirl, Lauren1102. Thank you guys sooooooo much for your reviews. I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying the story so much. And all your suggestions, ideas or guesses at where I'm taking the story motivate me and even give me direction for my next chapters. Thanks so much!

Ok well Reviews as always equal Love. Happy Readings!! xoxo


"You could have let me speak up for myself," Chuck whispered to Blair as they headed up the stairs later that evening, arm in arm for appearances sake.

Blair rolled her eyes at him. "Well I saw an opportunity present itself and I took it. Why are you angry? I thought you'd be happy I got you what you wanted. I did what I set out to do. Your father loved the idea, and now he likes us both a little bit more. Now you just have to fulfill your end of the bargain."

They stood in the middle of both the doorways to their respective bedrooms. Chuck smirked as he reached out and touched her face softly. She was right. The evening had been a complete success. Blair had mingled and schmoozed the business into Bart's lap and made it seem as if it were a deal he just couldn't pass up. Bart had opened up to Blair, had even smiled and hugged both Blair and Chuck by the end of the evening. Honestly, Blair had held up to her end of the deal and thensome. "You know you're a piece of work, Waldorf. I have no clue why Nathaniel would give you up. If you were mine..."

Blair crinkled her nose as she tried to pull away, only to have Chuck reach out and clasp his hand around her arm. "I don't have the strength to deal with your pervvy comments tonight, Bass. Dealing with one of the Bass men is exhausting enough."

Chuck's smirk widened even further as he closed the gap between their bodies and rubbed his hands down her arms. "Oh you don't know the half of it. I'll take you beyond exhaustion, Princess. And you'll love every minute of it," he murmured against her ear, feeling her stiffen underneath him and unconsciously stroking her body against his hips. His body instantly responded, the nearness of Miss Waldorf, her scent, her soft skin beneath his touch, knowing that soon she'd be safe in her room scantily clad and between the sheets with only a pitiful door separating them had his blood immediately rushing to cause a painful erection between them.

"Chuck!" Blair gasped in shock as she felt his hardness press against her and stared up into his intensely, darkened eyes. "Get off!"

"If you'd only let me..." he smiled a seductively charming smile that she was pretty sure he used for all his other conquests.

"You're heinous," Blair scoffed as she pushed against his chest hard enough to get away from him.

"Yes. You don't tire of reminding me, but I have a feeling you won't resist me for much longer."

Blair turned to him as she reached out and grabbed the handle for her door. "There's nothing to resist. Rest at ease, brother," Blair annunciated pointedly.

Chuck glared across the dimly lit hallway from her and growled, "Not just yet. And even then, only legally. Nothing criminal about it."

They both stared down at each other, taking in the words that had been flung. Turning abruptly and at the exact same time, they went into their rooms and shut the doors.

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xoxo

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Later that week...

Chuck was pressed against and looking down at a blond Constance bimbo when Blair found him in the school halls. Squaring her shoulders she walked over determinedly and pulled him away from the girl to draw his attention. "We need to talk. Now!"

Chuck stared at her hand around his arm and then met her eyes angrily. "I'm sorry..." he said as he stared back at the blond.

"Jenny," she offered incredulously, annoyed that he hadn't even cared to learn her name.

"Right. But my sister and I must have a talk," Chuck offered as he smiled politely and grabbed his bag.

"You two are related?" Jenny asked in disbelief.

"Not yet and not by choice," Blair scowled at the girl, "Now are you done asking questions, because we really have more important things to deal with."

Jenny's face flushed in embarrassment as she forced a smile and turned to walk away.

"Nice going, Waldorf. You just cost me a good night of sex," Chuck bit out as he turned to face her.

"Oh please. That's Jenny Humphrey. Freshman Virgin. She won't put out. At least not for you," Blair laughed.

"Sounds like someone I know," Chuck mumbled as he stared down at her. Blair took a deep breath and let it out as she turned to walk away from him.

Chuck's eyebrows narrowed in annoyance as he cursed under his breath and followed her. "So what stick do you have up your ass, Waldorf?" he asked against her ear as he caught up with her.

Blair turned angrily at him as she pushed him into a narrow opening of the hallway and stabbed her finger into his chest. "I got you Victrola. I've yet to hear from you. I want to know who this person Nate's seeing is sometime before graduation if you don't mind."

Chuck rolled his eyes as he stared over to the bustling hallway. "You know people might get the wrong idea when they see us like this," he turned back to her and looked at her with amusement in his eyes.

Blair looked over nervously and pushed open the only door that was near them, pushing him inside.

"Ah... the Janitor's closet. I've become very familiar with this place, I just didn't think this would suit your high class needs," Chuck joked as he placed his hands on her waist.

Blair slapped his hands away and pulled herself back against the shelves of the closet. "I'm serious, Chuck. Have you found out anything yet?"

"It's a work in progress," he lied. "But I told him to come to the party at Victrola on Friday night. Maybe you should come..."

"Why?" Blair asked as she held the books closer to her chest. The air was stifling in this little room, and frankly it smelled atrocious.

Chuck reached out blindly into the dark room and found her shoulder. "Well, Waldorf, he might just bring his new squeeze around."

Blair stood still for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Fine. Yes. I'll be there."

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xoxo

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Friday Night...

The music was intoxicating and the lights brought an almost erotic/exotic feel to the atmosphere. She was entranced. The moment she'd stepped into the club, a strange fire began coursing through her veins. Blair smiled as she spotted Chuck talking to the bartender, shouting orders over the music. Creeping up beside him she stood on tiptoes and pressed her body against his as she spoke into his ear. "Nice work, Bass."

Chuck turned and grinned at her with a new light in his eyes that caught her off guard. She had never seen that look in his eyes, not in all her years of knowing him. "I owe it all to you, Waldorf," Chuck whispered as he leaned in close and pressed something against her chest, almost touching her breasts.

Blair gasped as she looked down between them to find a champagne flute lodged between her breasts and took the glass from his hands. "Thanks," she said shakily as her stomach fluttered nervously from the feel of his fingers grazing her so intimately.

Chuck nodded as he picked up a drink for himself and placed a hand on her lower back to guide her further into the club.

Blair swayed slightly as they entered another section of the club where a stage lined an entire wall and dancers were swaying hypnotically with the music. Bringing the alcohol to her mouth, she felt a jolt hit her as the cool liquid hit her stomach and Chuck's hand traced the curve of her back to wrap his arm around her shoulder.

She could feel his lips graze her ear as he pulled her close in order to be heard over the loud music and cheering crowd. "I haven't seen Nathaniel as of yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do."

Blair nodded hurriedly, incapable to form sentences when her mouth had suddenly dried at the feel of Chuck's hands caressing her body in a long stroke. It's the alcohol, Waldorf. The alcohol and the music... Just focus and find Nate so that you can get out of here...

"We should have a seat and relax for a while. I'm sure he'll call me as soon as he's here," Chuck whispered against her ear again, causing her to shiver slightly at the contact.

Chuck pulled away and stared down at her, catching her looking at him from the corner of her eye and sipping her drink nervously. "You OK, Waldorf.?"

Blair turned and faced him then, smiling and shaking her head. "Of course. Let's sit."

They took a seat before the stage and soon the waitress brought a bucket of iced champagne, as they sat back to watch the performers on the stage. "You were right. This is the perfect place to come escape."

Chuck grinned as he laid back on the couch and saluted her with his drink. "And what demons are you escaping from tonight?"

Blair smiled as she downed the rest of her drink and turned to him. "I'm sitting next to one, so I can't really say I'm escaping them can I?"

Chuck chuckled deep in his throat and leaned close. "Did I tell you you look ravishing tonight?"

Blair's smile fell from her face as she gulped down and shook her head. "No..." she breathed softly. What the hell is wrong with you, Blair? Relax. It's only Chuck. Stop being such a blubbering fool.

Chuck pulled back and filled her empty flute with more alcohol. "Well you do," he said simply as he refilled his own drink and leaned back against the couch.

Blair smiled as she took another sip from her glass and leaned back against the couch as well. "You clean up pretty good yourself, Bass."

Chuck laughed again, causing her pulse to quicken at the sound of his husky chuckle. "Are you flirting with me, Waldorf? Because we can skip all the pleasantries..."

Blair straightened her back and leaned forward in her seat. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."

Chuck smirked at her and watched her tense shoulders as she stared up at the stage.

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xoxo

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"You know...I've got moves," Blair whispered as she stared up in awe at an increasingly erotic dance the dancers had picked up. She was certain there was too much alcohol in her system and that the music was having an unwarranted affect on her. But she didn't mind at all. She felt surprisingly... good.

"Really?" Chuck smiled at her words, the idea of Blair Waldorf dancing exotically bringing dangerously wicked thoughts to mind. "Then why don't you get up there?" he teased, knowing how to push the lady's buttons.

"No-ho," Blair laughed at Chuck's words. "I'm just saying I have moves." Her head continued to bob in time with the consuming music.

"Come on...you're ten times hotter than any of those girls?" Chuck pushed on. He knew Blair. And therefore he knew she never backed out of a challenge. Maybe, just maybe, he'd get her up there.

"I know what you're doing, Bass," Blair cut in dryly, rolling her eyes at him and then turning her attention back to the dancers. Suddenly a thought struck her. "You really don't think I'll go up there."

Chuck smiled smugly, excited to have gotten Blair exactly where he wanted her. "I know you won't do it," he threw back, further igniting the flame that had begun to burn behind her deep, dark, chocolate orbs.

Blair hesitated momentarily, shocked Chuck would challenge her. Knowing that he knew she never backed out of a challenge. Breathing incredulously, she turned to him as she placed her champagne flute down on the table. "Guard my drink," she smiled at him wickedly as she sashayed off the couch and began walking toward the stage.

The blood in her veins was beginning to run intensely hot. She could feel her heartbeat thrumming in her ears. The music was intoxicating, achieving a level of drunkenness that the alcohol hadn't achieved. She stepped onto the stage, swaying her hips rhythmically. The crowd cheered and she felt her inhibitions escape her as the spotlight fell on her and she caught the eye of the Upper East Side Bad Boy staring at her as if she were the only woman on the stage. She felt wild, and free, and wicked. She felt beautiful, desired, wanted. The look in his eyes as he stared up at her told her that. The exchanges between them these past few weeks further confirming the fact. And so she put on a show just for him, ignoring the entire club.

Catching his eyes and smirking secretively at him as she stripped away her headband, throwing it in his general direction as if she were stripping for him, and began to move with the music. Her beautiful dress soon puddled on the floor, and she noticed Chuck rising to his feet and staring at her with an intensity she had seen in him before. That night in the hallway when he'd pressed himself against her and the evidence of his arousal was between them. Chuck Bass wanted her. Then and now.

And so she turned around, escaping his fiery eyes and began to gyrate her hips much to the delight of the crowd. And when she finally turned and glanced over her shoulder, she saw the look of utter stupor on his face and a small smile of defeat play across his lips as he spoke to one of the show girls in the club. Blair turned around smiling at him, claiming her victory in their little challenge. And she continued to dance flirtatiously, as he saluted her with his drink, the light of amusement back on his face and she felt herself relax a bit and began to enjoy the show she was putting on once more.

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xoxo

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Blair hopped into the limo, exhausted after having been on stage dancing and drinking for hours on end. The thought of Nate had completely vanished from her mind as she'd danced away her inhibitions and conservative attitude. Chuck had asked her what demons she had been trying to escape, and she came to realize that those demons were very present in her life and that at least for tonight, she had done away with them all: Nate, society, propriety. Chuck Bass gave her the ability to let loose. No judgment. Pure escape. Just as he'd promised...

"You were...amazing up there," Chuck rasped out, his voice dark and seductive. His eyes were pinned on hers, making her feel appreciated and wanted once more. His simple words brought her to snap out of her thoughts as she faced him once again.

His eyes were boring into her, reaching down and grabbing on to somewhere deep within herself and it shocked her to feel so wired, so connected, so in tune with this man. And so she shuffled closer to him, her eyes never leaving his, her face leaning closer in his direction. Chuck drifted closer as well, both meeting halfway until their lips gently grazed across each others.

"You sure?" Chuck asked as he broke the light, feathery kiss.

He was giving her a chance. Allowing her to pull away and ignore what had just happened. If she had been stronger at the moment, Blair believed she just might have. But there was something different tonight, between her, between him, inside of her, inside of him. And so she pushed forward and brought her mouth down to his once more...