The Diamond Suite

by verotruth

What happened in that hotel room in Monte Carlo? How did that diamond make it around Blair's neck? Answered. MANY lemons. One shot.

Show of hands, who else wanted more Chair in Monaco in 6X01? Blair had a fever and Chuck was starving. What exactly happened in that hotel room in Monaco? How did that Harry Winston shine make it to Blair's neck? Well, I set out to answer those questions and more. There will be smut, there will be lemons. A lot of smut. A lot of lemons. Like, a lot, a lot. Lemony Smutnet: A Series of Mature Bassian Events? You've been warned. I hope you enjoy.

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Images to follow along: tinyurl dot ( c o m ) /bdzazaxu

The Diamond Suite

The room was filled with the perfume of fine cigars and expensive aftershave; swirls of smoke danced in the air. She could hear the sounds of the small balls turning in the roulette wheels as she passed them, the flipping and dealing of cards, the clapping of chips as they were gathered and moved around tables. Black had just won and a small crowd erupted in cheers. In the distance, there was the pinging and musical sounds of slot machines as they gave and took money.

A few dealers eyed her as she approached, wondering if she was going to sit at their tables. Her eyes slid past them swiftly, a small smile of acknowledgment on her lips. The Naeem Khan dress clung closely to her body, keeping her range of motion tight, forcing her to take even more steps to get to the other side of the casino.

She could see him as she passed the Blackjack tables – his dark wavy hair coiffed above one of his many impeccable tuxedos, probably a Dior, knowing him. Just a few more steps and she would be at his table. As she approached, there was suddenly an overwhelming urge to begin running. Ever since she'd stood in her bedroom with her mother a few days before, when she looked in the mirror and really stared at herself, asking herself the questions she was afraid she'd always known the answers to, she'd wanted to run to him. She'd known that she had to make a decision, and yet when she finally had, she realized there wasn't much of a decision to make in the first place; her heart had always known where it belonged and who it wanted.

Keeping herself restrained, she walked a little faster in her new pumps rather than breaking out into a full run. The dealers stared at her a little more closely as she passed, but she paid them no mind. Her eyes stayed focused on the man wearing a black tuxedo and white bowtie. He placed a bet and pushed a few chips into the center of the table. He took a drink of his scotch and swallowed slowly, watching as his cards were turned over. She reached his table just as he put his glass back on the felt top.

There was so much she wanted—needed—to say to him right then. Even though she'd tried that night on the roof of The Empire, he didn't believe her. As he'd said, she'd bet against him every time. When he had changed for the better, making himself the man she'd always wanted him to be, she accused him of having underlying motives. When he was selfless, she pushed him away and accused him of trying to make others look bad. But no more. She was finally seeing who he really was without being afraid of how vulnerable it would make her.

"Is there a seat available?" she asked, stopping next to him.

Chuck turned, shocked to see her. His mouth opened slightly, speechless.

"Here, take mine," Jack said, patting the back of the chair he was leaning over. He stood up straight and pulled the seat out for her.

Chuck's neck turned as Blair walked behind him, following her with his eyes as she sat.

"Thanks for the call," she said, thanking Jack.

Pulling her dress beneath her legs to make sure it didn't wrinkle under her, Blair sat, setting her clutch and her chips down. She could feel his dark eyes on her and she was greedily anticipating the moment she could look into them, really look into them. Finally, she turned. His eyes, so familiar, so unique in their deep espresso brown, were filled with too many questions to speak aloud.

"You've fought for me all year," she said, her expression softening. "I've come to fight for you."

Chuck's face still wore the same shock as when he'd initially seen her.

"Will you be joining the game?" the dealer asked Blair in a thick French accent.

Chuck looked from the dealer to Blair, anxious for her answer, for an explanation as to what she was doing so far from New York, in Monte Carlo, in the casino, next to him.

With a small smile, Blair turned to Chuck. "You said I always bet against you. This time I'm all in." She pushed her stack of yellow chips into the center of the table, answering the dealer's question.

Chuck could only stare at the chips she'd bet. Those small squares held so much more meaning than the dealer realized. The chips were not just pieces of plastic; they were her, her trust.

"Your bet, sir," the dealer said, making Chuck finally look up.

Blair stared at him, waiting for him to respond. He looked from the dealer to her finally. She smiled at him softly, willing him to believe her, hoping he would. His eyes studied her, pressing into her, taking her in.

"I'm all in," came his smooth voice. His eyes did not leave hers.

Blair smiled tenderly, not breaking his gaze.

The dealer flipped his cards and tapped the felt affirmatively. "The gentleman wins," he said.

Chuck looked back at the dealer and Blair just continued smiling at him. They lingered in silence, the dealer awkwardly waiting for further instruction. He glanced between the two, waiting to know if he would be dealing a new game.

"Ahem," Jack said, clearing his throat. He walked over to the dealer and swung his arm around his shoulders. "Do you get a break? Let me buy you a drink," he said, gently leading the dealer away from the table. "Chuck, why don't you cash out while you're still ahead, huh? Don't give the house a chance to take it back." He winked as he led the dealer towards the bar.

With both Jack and the dealer gone, Chuck and Blair slowly slid off their chairs without a word. They stood in the center of the casino, silently staring, waiting for the other to go first. It was excruciating how heavy the silence around them hung, but they couldn't stop staring at each other. Of all the times they'd looked, stared, at each other, and yet, it felt as if they were looking at each other for the first time. No matter how long had passed and what had happened between them, Chuck was still looking at the enticing girl putting on a show at Victrola, and Blair was seeing the boy who came to her aid with an Erickson Beamon necklace and his heart in his hand on her birthday all those years ago.

"I never expected to see you here," he said, finally breaking the tension.

Blair smiled meekly, thinking back to a few nights before when he'd left her on the roof of The Empire. She tried not to show the pain she felt when she walked away from her.

"Who doesn't love Monte Carlo in the spring?" she said, looking down, clearly deflecting.

Chuck nodded, a false smile on his lips. He knew Blair hated heavy-tourist areas in the spring and summer.

"Join me for a drink?" he asked, hopeful.

Blair looked over to the bar. Crowded and surrounded by cigar smoke, it didn't look particularly appealing.

Seemingly reading her mind, he offered, "I have a suite just down the street… if that suits you."

Blair turned back to him, relieved. Though the idea of being alone with him sent butterflies from her stomach into her chest. "I'd love to," she said all too quickly.

Just as they were about to walk away from the table, Chuck placed his hand to Blair's arm to stop her from moving. He turned back and pulled his winnings from the table, stuffing them into his jacket pockets. The line to exchange chips for cash was far longer than he was willing to wait to be alone with Blair. Perhaps, he would ask his concierge at the hotel to cash them out for him later.

Gesturing to the entrance of the casino, Chuck placed his hand on Blair's lower back. "Shall we?"

The limo ride was quiet, both Chuck and Blair sat awkwardly. Their history with limos had them both silent in their shared memories. The tension rose with each second that passed. For a brief moment, Blair thought back to having her fingers tangled in his hair as he licked her neck. Chuck shuffled in his seat as he remembered the way she moaned his name in his ear. Over and over again. Thankfully for both, the short ride only lasted but a few minutes.

The limo came to a stop and a valet quickly opened the door. Blair stepped out carefully and headed up the few steps leading to the front door. She waited for Chuck to reach her before turning to him. "Chuck," Blair said, almost chastising, "we could have walked."

It was true—it would have taken perhaps 10 minutes to walk from Casino Monte-Carlo to Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

He looked down with a smirk, gesturing to her shoes. "I wouldn't want you to ruin your shoes."

Blair pulled at her dress a little, just enough to raise the hem above her shoes, showing them off. The rose gold wings picked up the light around them.

"Alaïa?" he asked, admiring them, his eyes lingering on the curve of her ankle.

"Giuseppe Zanotti," Blair corrected.

Chuck mentally kicked himself. He should have known – though, it had been a very long time since he'd taken the time to peruse over women's shoes to find something she would like. And he made a mental note to send a thank you gift to Mr. Zanotti in appreciation for the way the delicate structure of the shoes enhanced the curvature of Blair's ankles.

On their way through the lobby, Chuck explained to Blair that he and Jack had come to Monte-Carlo to potentially double or triple their money. Jack, always trustworthy for his less-than-legal ways, was attempting to teach Chuck to count cards. If they could increase their holdings enough, Chuck and Jack would join their finances and take Bass Industries back from his father.

Blair simply shook her head when they stopped at the elevator doors. "You really think a few games of cards will put you ahead of Bart? Bass, you should know better than to underestimate your father."

"Well…," he sighed, "when you put it that way…"

With a ding, the elevator doors opened and Chuck ushered her inside. He placed a keycard into a slot above the buttons and the elevator began ascending to the 7th floor. The heavy silence engulfed them again. Chuck was desperately trying not to notice how good she smelled. He couldn't believe how much he'd missed the lingering smell of Chanel No. 5. Blair was trying not to look at the perfect knot in his bowtie. It was deftly crafted with practiced fingers. His fingers were very practiced…

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a beautiful lounge area with a fantastic view of Monaco Harbor through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Blair just stared at the room with wide eyes as she sat on the settee opposite the in-wall plasma TV. She could hear the clinking of glasses as Chuck poured at the bar in the corner.

"Chuck, this is gorgeous." She couldn't stop staring at the fine furnishings and the stunning view of the marina.

Chuck walked over from the bar, two glasses of a deep amber liquid in his hands.

"It's the Diamond Suite," he said, handing her a glass.

Blair stood to receive the glass, clinking the rim against his. She placed the glass up to her nose, taking in the heady scent of the cognac. She knew, because she knew him well, that it was no doubt a very fine bottle. As she breathed in the smell, her eyes locked on his. Chuck stared at her as he took a large drink and he hungrily watched as she took a small sip. Her tongue came out to lick her lips and she swallowed slowly, her eyes never leaving his. He'd always found it extremely sensual to watch her drink, and she knew just how to play him.

"It's also called the Princess Grace suite," he said, his eyes still on the tumbler pressed up to her mouth.

Blair stopped, her attention finally pulled from the way his Adam's apple moved in his throat as he swallowed cognac. "Grace Kelly?" she clarified, suddenly star struck. She knew the answer and again looked around, noting the finery of even the small details; the abstract light fixture above them, the blue and white stripped carpet, the thick white linens around the windows, the gold trim around every doorway.

Chuck watched as she eyed everything in wonder. "Care to see the upstairs?" His eyes fell to her mouth and lingered on the curvature of her bottom lip.

Blair allowed the rim of the glass to hang on her bottom lip, pulling it down slightly, before she answered. "I'd love to."

Chuck made quick work to place their glasses back down on the bar before turning back, gesturing for her to follow him to the stairs. Blair took his hand, walking the few steps to his side. He had the sudden urge to pull her entire body flush against his, but he quelled it and forced himself to take the stairs one step at a time.

When they reached the top of the spiral staircase, reluctantly, they released their hands. Blair's breath caught as she took in the lounge on the second floor of the suite. It was even more beautiful than the one downstairs. She moved through the room to look at the terrace, her mouth hanging open. She looked back to Chuck, absolutely amazed by the beauty of the room.

He smiled at her and gestured to the right. "There's a pool just through the patio there."

Blair moved through the living room to the adjoining room and slid open the large glass door that lead to the patio. Chuck followed her and watched as she flitted from room to room. As she stepped out onto the patio, he stood against the doorjamb, watching her with an amused smile on his face.

"There's a Jacuzzi, too," he said as she leaned down to allow her fingertips to skim the surface of the water.

She stood and turned back to him with an accusatory brow. "Are you trying to get me naked, Bass?"

Chuck's eyes darkened as he stared at her but he gave no response to her question. Blair looked over the patio with a smile and began walking back inside, sauntering past Chuck. His eyes followed her until they no longer could when she'd walked far enough back to the lounge.

"This suite is gorgeous," she said, still in awe.

He followed close behind her as she went through the dining room and living room. She stopped in front of the large windows again. "And this view… it's stunning."

"Yes, it is," he said, his voice soft.

Blair turned to face him, her face softening and eyes darkening at the same time. "Chuck…"

And with two quick steps, he reached his hand out to her cheek and pulled her mouth to his. She reeled in near shock, but she quickly pressed her body flush to his, wrapping her arm around his waist. She allowed her lips to feel him fully, moving against his mouth, laving at his tongue. She felt herself buckling against him and his arm was quick to wrap around her body. The hand he'd put to her cheek slid up and his fingers moved into the hair at the base of her neck, pulling her against him even more.

Her head was quite possibly floating several feet above her shoulders. His body against hers felt so familiar that she just fell back into a remembered rhythm. And yet, it had been so long that she reveled in the comfort she felt in being pressed against the strong lines of his body again.

Chuck held her against him, drowning in how good it felt to feel her again, to kiss her again. He held onto her bottom lip for a second, nipping it. She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed that, and how much she loved that he knew that she enjoyed it. Pleased, she moaned against his mouth and he responded with an immediate growl. His hands pulled her closer, hungrily, and if possible, she could feel him grow even harder against her hip.

He wanted to pull her closer with not a sliver of air between them. His hands couldn't touch enough of her. He couldn't kiss her or taste her enough. His hands slipped up the sides of her body, tracing her shoulder blades, blindly looking for a zipper or a clasp. And then it stopped.

Blair pulled back abruptly. In his head, he could almost hear a record scratch. Her hand was to his chest, pushing him back. Disappointment coursed through him. He cursed himself for moving too quickly. He needed to find his words to apologize, but he was distracted with how gorgeous she was before him. Still with her hand to his chest, she was at arm's length, her eyes closed, her mouth open and red, her chest heaving.

"Blair," he said, trying to find the words that would keep her from running. "I…"

And with a swift movement, she bunched his shirt in her fist and pulled him back to her, crashing his mouth to hers. He groaned in surprise, too happy to be kissing her again, feeling her again. And just as quickly, she stopped and pulled back again. Chuck thought he might cry, but she took his hand and was suddenly stepping backward in the direction of the bedroom.

He followed eagerly, beckoned by his siren's silent call. Blair dropped his hand and stepped further into the room, closer to the bed. Chuck stopped, resting against the doorjamb, staring at her. For months, all he could think about was having her again. And she was suddenly in front of him, inches away from his bed, her hand outstretched.

"Come here," she said, her voice deep.

With no hesitation, Chuck left his post and crossed the room to her, taking her hand. They both pulled at each other, colliding. Their mouths found each other fiercely almost immediately, teeth and lips and tongues and groans.

Blair's hand immediately went to the perfect white bow tie around his neck and pulled. It slid through his collar easily and fell to the floor. Chuck pulled her body close, his arms circling her waist, his hands climbing to the back of her neck. His fingers fumbled and pulled and the zipper hummed as it slid down her back. With a quick tug, the sleeves were spilling over her shoulders.

As he peeled the dress from her body, Blair suddenly wished she'd worn something other than the plain black Fleur du Mal lingerie set. She was practically embarrassed as he pulled the dress down and over her hips, letting it hit the floor in a gold and blood orange puddle. The simple silk panty she chose was great to preserve the lines of the dress, not so much for seducing old lovers. She thought back to the fabulous corset she'd just gotten from Kiki de Montparnasse. He would have adored the transparent mesh paneling, not to mention the fact that it was open-breasted. Perhaps another time.

Chuck watched as she toed off her heels, standing and allowing him to stare for just a minute. His mouth hung open, shocked that he'd gone so long without seeing so much of her. Blair smirked when she saw the familiar twinkle of appreciation in his eye and pushed him back onto the bed. He sat and scooted backward, waiting for her to join him. Before he could invite her, Blair climbed on top of him, pushing him on his back, straddling him, finding his mouth with hers.

He moaned into her mouth as his hands moved over her half-naked body, squeezing and grasping. Just as he was about to unhook her bra, she tilted her hips and he nearly came. With lessening control and the unfathomable desire to be inside her, Chuck had to take action. Quickly, he rolled on top of her and as he removed his jacket, the chips he'd forgotten he'd stuffed in his pockets rained all over Blair. She squealed with delight and Chuck tossed the jacket behind him.

Blair sat up slightly, her hands immediately working on his belt buckle. His heart pounded as he watched her. Digging in his pocket, Chuck pulled out his wallet and tossed it on the bed. With a few quick movements, his pants were open, and as Blair gave a swift tug, she pulled them and his Balenciaga boxers down, freeing him. Frenzied and ready, needing him, Blair pushed the silk panties she wore down somewhere around her ankles.

His eyes, darker and darker, lingered on her, falling to the glistening apex between her legs. Without moving his eyes from her, his right hand picked up the red wallet Blair identified as Bottega by the woven crosshatch pattern. He pulled something out and before she could question or stop him, with a very-practiced deftness, he tore through the package with his teeth, slid the condom on, and fell into her.

Their eyes locked and their breaths stopped; they were feeling each other again. There was so much they both wanted to say, but everything seemed to be overpowered by the relief and shock they felt at connecting again. Nothing said could have been enough. Blair grabbed him by his collar and brought his mouth to hers gently. Chuck's hand went to her cheek, stroking down to her neck and then back up as he kissed her.

As if they'd both been torn from their shock, they began moving against each other. Blair locked her legs around his hips, pulling him in deeper. They found their familiar rhythm easily. Blair knew exactly how to meet each of his thrusts, rotating her hips beneath his. Chuck knew how deep and shallow to thrust his hips, how to play with his motion, and soon, he could feel her body begin to tense. Though he couldn't wait for his release, he knew it was too soon. After only a few minutes, despite their desperation, he would not let it end there.

Chuck snaked his hand between them. She was slick and sticky and his finger slid around until it found the tiny pad of flesh he knew so well. Blair tossed her head back in a loud moan and her hips bucked against him as he found her clit. He was gentle but firm, sliding his fingertip around it with the pressure he knew she liked. Still thrusting his hips, he stroked slow then fast then slow and Blair's fingertips were pressing into his biceps in frustration. Chuck leaned down and licked a trail from the center of her chest to her neck.

She pulled at his shoulders frantically, her thighs squeezed his waist, and her breathing shook through her chest. Chuck groaned as he felt her moving against him, biting his lip to keep from climaxing. She was close and he would make sure that he got her there. Knowing what she liked, he moved his hand lower, this thumb taking over where his forefinger had been, his middle finger sliding into her, squeezing into the space next to his erection.

"Chuck…" His name shook from her mouth like a loud prayer.

He couldn't take it much longer. With his finger sliding against himself, with her warmth tightening around him, Chuck was just about to lose all control. His thumb pressed down hard and his hips moved faster, thrusting faster and deeper, the force slapping against her.

"OH… MY… GOD!" she screamed as she came.

Her orgasm tore through her and stiffened her entire body. With a groan muffled into the crook of her neck, Chuck finally let himself go. He kissed her shoulder and rolled to her side. She panted as she tried to catch her breath and Chuck quickly got up from the bed. He kicked off his loafers and let his pants and boxers fall from his ankles. Blair didn't watch but she heard the snapping latex as he removed the condom and knew he had tossed it in the bin in the corner. When he came back to bed, he moved close to her, his heart still pounding.

Blair found her breath enough to speak again. "Do… that… again," she commanded.

Chuck moved sweaty hair from his forehead. "What's the rush?" he asked in a huff. "We have all the time in the world."

It had been too long without him; too long without being near him, too long without feeling him against her. She couldn't believe how much she'd missed it, or how she'd ever lived without him touching her. And she needed more. With a shaky breath and her body still humming, Blair barely had the energy to lift her arm and roll herself over and above him.

Chuck's eyebrow lifted as she straddled him and his hands immediately went to her hips, an all-too-familiar response with her. She smirked down at him and with a quick jerk of her head to toss her hair over her shoulder, she descended on him, taking his mouth with hers. He was eager to meet her, his hands pulling her hips against him harder. She couldn't get enough of kissing him. His lips were soft and moved against hers expertly, biting when least expected.

He couldn't believe he'd allowed himself to go so long without seeing her entire body, especially her breasts. It was not a mistake he was going to make again. Chuck slid his hands up her back and with an expert twist, the strapless bra fell from her body and exposed her to him. Blair sat up straight, eyeing him, barely moving against him at all. His mouth went dry.

Her perfect, taught nipples pointed directly at him, taunting him. He wasted no time in sitting up to take one in his mouth, teasing her with his tongue and sucking with his lips.

Blair rocked against him. She gasped when he lightly bit down and she ground her hips down further. He stared up at her as he drew nonsensical words with the tip of his tongue, watching as her mouth fell open and her eyes rolled back.

Her skin felt amazing – Chuck couldn't stop rubbing his hands up and down her back and over her arms. He moved to her other breast, squeezing the one he left in his palm. She moaned and pressed her fingertips into his head. He loved when she goaded him on. Even though he'd had her nipples in his mouth, it wasn't enough. With a swift motion that made her squeal, Chuck rolled and switched their positions with her beneath him. When she quirked an eyebrow in question, he smiled.

"I want to taste you," he rasped.

And before Blair's eyes could even roll back into her head, Chuck was between her open thighs, her hands were deep in his hair, his mouth was hot against her, and his tongue began swirling in circles until she found herself moaning and writhing.

Her body tensed and shook with every lick, jolting her closer into his mouth. When she started getting far too sensitive, her thighs started squeezing around him and her hips moved higher and higher in an effort to get away from him. But Chuck used his palms to press her legs down against the mattress and force the impending pleasure on her. Forced down, her back arched off the bed.

She moaned his name loudly, near a scream. She said his name again and again and when the sensitivity began to border on pain, Chuck shocked her by sliding a finger into her and pressing his fingertip as far up as he could.

And then, with a loud moan and shakes through her legs, she combusted.

Chuck moved up her inner thigh and laid light kisses against the soft skin as minor waves rippled through her body in twitches. Just as she started to relax, Chuck smiled and lowered back to touch the tip of his tongue against her achingly swollen clitoris. She jolted against him and pulled him up to her.

She could taste herself on his tongue and she pulled it further into her mouth. His hands were back squeezing her breasts and she moaned. Chuck's mouth moved down her neck where he sucked and laved his tongue. He could feel her reach down to wrap her hand around his rehardening erection. Tasting her had definitely sped up his recovery time. Blair squeezed where she knew he liked, loosened where she knew he needed, and pulled with just enough tension that his mouth hung open.

Spurned by how well she still knew him, how much power she had and would always have over Chuck Bass, she pushed at his chest and rolled over him. Straddling him and beginning to position herself just above him, Chuck tried to stop her.

"Here, let me get—" he said, trying to reach over to his wallet, but she cut him off.

"Don't you dare," she said in a breathy command. And then she lowered herself onto him slowly and until she could go no further.

A soft moan escaped his lips as he threw his head back in pleasure. He could feel every delicious ridge and curve and warm crevice inside her body that had been hidden from him before. No matter how many times he'd been inside her, every time felt like the first time. He couldn't believe he'd gone so long without feeling her like that.

Still not moving up or down, Blair rocked her hips against his, feeling him fully deep inside her. He reached in places she didn't know she had. Every move up left her feeling somewhat empty, and every time she moved back down on him, he filled and stretched her. It created an intoxicating rhythm for them both.

Blair shifted from moving up and down to rocking against him back to front. Chuck let out a guttural groan and he slid his hands up the sides of her thighs, up her waist, and over her breasts. She sucked in a loud breath when he squeezed. She threw her head back, jutting her chest further out at him. He pinched her nipples and she bucked against him.

Blair swiveled around him, rotating her hips in circles. When he bit his lip in response, she began rocking back and forth, back and forth. Slow and fast. Slow and fast. And then faster. And then slow. She toyed with him and loved every time he winced slightly in disappointment. She always enjoyed teasing him.

"Blair….," he sighed, pleading, moaning.

Chuck loved her speed, and he hated it. She knew exactly how to stoke his fires, and just how to cool them when he least wanted.

Frustrated, Chuck grabbed her hips and stopped her movement. His fingers gripped deep and he pulled her forward, and pushed her back, and again and again, creating his own rhythm. Blair put her hands above his and allowed him to guide her. Her eyes bored into his, watching him watch her. Her mouth hung open and his opened in the same silent breath.

Every single slide, every pulse, every twitch, every move and Blair's breathing picked up as she felt herself grow more and more sensitive, and she unconsciously increased her speed to start bouncing against him. She fell over him to leverage his chest. Her hair spilled over his shoulder and he pulled her face down to his to kiss her. Their tongues battled, their lips pulled and sucked, and they lost themselves completely.

Chuck could feel Blair's thighs tighten around his hips and he smiled when she bit her lip. He loved this part – Blair was about to let herself go, and he watched every magnificent second. She put her hands on either side of his shoulders, planting herself. Her movements against him became faster and shorter. With every slide over him, her breathing quickened and soft moans escaped her throat. She sat up straighter and her movements changed to shallow up and down and her head went back a little.

Chuck slid his hands up to her breasts and flicked her nipples with this thumbs. She moved even faster in response. As much as he wanted to explode, he wanted to watch her. There was a flush beginning to spread up her chest and to her neck and she never looked more amazing. She was almost there. She started bucking and he pinched her nipples and within a second, a deep guttural sigh left her throat and she stopped moving and began jerking in short twitches.

Chuck sat up, folding his arms and legs around her. Blair wrapped her arms around him and found his mouth with hers. She slid her fingers against his scalp as she kissed him and hummed deep in her throat.

"God, Blair," he sighed. He tucked her hair behind her ears and kissed her again softly.

He was still hard inside her and Chuck pulled her lower back towards him, grinding her against him. Blair let out a breathy sigh next to his ear when he moved her again and again.

"Oh…. Oh God…" she panted, shaking her head in protest.

Chuck moved her even faster and she mewled almost painfully.

"Again," he commanded in a deep breathy voice.

She whimpered. "I… I can't…. I can't…"

"Again, Blair." Chuck kissed her under jaw and sucked. "I want to watch you come for me again."

She shook in protest and extra sensitivity.

Chuck pulled her bottom towards him at the rhythm he knew would be her undoing. She slid against him, her eyes shut tightly as the sensations washed over her. Her mouth hung open and her breathing turned to short huffs and mewls that grew louder and louder.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh," she moaned spastically. Her rhythm increased to short, spastic bursts until she let out a guttural scream and jerked in stiff movements.

Blair collapsed her arms on Chuck's shoulders and used him to brace her weight. He rubbed his hands up and down her back, feeling the shakes still twitching through her body. He felt her pounding heart against his shoulder and rocked her back and forth, soothing her down from her explosive high. He kissed her up her neck to her jawline and laid a trail up to her mouth before taking her lips with his. He kissed her softly, deftly.

"You're gorgeous," he whispered to her between kisses. "Stunning."

Chuck wrapped her in his arms tightly and pivoted her to the side, laying her down on her back. Rather than resting next to her, he surprised her when he rubbed her thighs softly to part them and position himself above her.

"You're not still…?"

He chuckled in his throat. "You drive me wild," he said, leaning down to suck on her jawbone. "I'm nowhere near finished with you."

And to prove it, he pushed into her and she threw her head back in a low moan. The still-pulsating orgasm softly quivering around him pulled a deep sigh from his mouth.

"How do you feel so good?" he asked, pulling back and thrusting back into her. "It's always so good, Blair."

He looked down and watched as he slid in and out of her, the very image hardening him and urging him forward.

Blair, loving the dark look that came over his face as he watched himself moving into her, grabbed her boobs and squeezed. She loved how much she turned him on, and it lit a new fire deep in her belly.

Chuck fell over her, his chin resting on her shoulder, and his speed picked up. He gyrated against her, his hips pounding quickly, and Blair rose her hips to meet him, a fast slapping sound echoing into the room.

"Fffffffuckkkkk, Blair," he moaned close to her ear.

Chuck turned his head and stuck out his tongue, licking her bottom lip until she welcomed him into her mouth.

They moaned back and forth, in and out of each other's mouth, their tongues sliding and fighting and accepting. And with a tiny jerk that radiated from his neck down to his stomach, Chuck came.

They kissed as they both rode it down and Blair pushed sweaty hair from Chuck's forehead. When he pulled out of her, they both felt the immediate regret of being apart – empty and cold.

Chuck got up and walked over to the accompanying bathroom and Blair's eyes watched his very well-defined posterior muscles move. He helped her clean up with a hand towel and she shivered at the sensitivity. When he climbed back into bed and pulled her against him, she snuggled to his chest and laid a small kiss over his heart, just as she did years before when they curled into bed together for the night. It was such a small gesture, so routine and innocent, and before they drifted off to sleep, they both had similar hope that perhaps things could go back to how they used to be.

---

In the early morning hours, before the sun came up, Chuck rolled to his side and in the sliver that his eyelid opened, he caught sight of Blair's body next to him. He blinked his eyes slowly, allowing them to open and his pupils to adjust. He took her in. On her back, her neck turned away from him, her chest moving with each breath, she was absolutely breathtaking to him.

As his eyes moved over her neck, his favorite exposed spot, he scanned down her chest, to her pale nipples, to the creamy skin over her stomach, and lower, he felt the familiar throb in his groin as he began to stir. In her sleep, her lips parted as she breathed and even that he found arousing.

Unable to stop himself, he reached out and gently caressed the skin of her arm. She was always so soft. His fingertips moved to her chest, to her breast, and down her abdomen where his finger found her clit and slowly, ever so slowly, he began to rub small circles.

Chuck watched her intently for a response. Her breathing quickened, she remained sleeping, but he could feel her responding arousal on his finger. He grew even harder against her and he propped himself up to kneel between her legs. She let out a soft moan when he moved his finger to grab her hip. He positioned her and propped one of her legs on his shoulder. He loved how she was laid out before him, open.

God, she was gorgeous. And God, how he needed her.

He again slid his finger against her clit, enjoying her response. He felt her skin warm and he watched her lips part again. She felt more than ready and he softly positioned his tip just at her entrance, watching her. He entered her slowly until he could go no further. He pulled back and filled her again and this time her mouth hung open in a soft moan. He moved again and was greeted with a breathy moan. His hand traced up her abdomen to her chest to her face, stroking the side of her face. As he moved in and out of her slowly, her breath quickened. His thumb traced her bottom lip before he leaned down to kiss her.

Blair kissed him back, the haze of her sleep lifting. As her mouth moved with his, consciousness slowly returned and her eyes finally opened when he pulled back. She could make out the lines of his body above hers in the darkness, and she felt him moving between her legs.

"Mmmm," she hummed, as she realized where she was and who she was with.

Chuck leaned down to kiss her again, this time deeper, his tongue moving along hers in the same undulating rhythm that his pelvis was making against her. His hand cupped her breast and fondled, squeezing as he kissed her. His pace picked up and she took in a sharp breath.

He licked a finger and placed it against her clit, rubbing as he moved in and out of her, his speed increasing. Her breaths increased and deepened and she clutched at the pillow behind her head, preparing as her body was beginning to tighten. But it wasn't quick enough for him.

Chuck repositioned, pushing both her legs back so her knees rested flat against the mattress and he took her hand and placed it where his finger had been rubbing her.

"I won't last long," he explained in a quick breath.

As a general rule, Chuck did not allow himself to finish before his partner did, especially when that partner was Blair. She took over pleasuring herself and he pumped in and out of her, faster and faster. Her breaths turned into moans and they became more and more shallow as he increased his speed. She moved her hand faster in pace, stroking herself and as soon as he felt her vaginal walls begin to flutter and contract, he grunted deep in his throat and came inside her.

Blair's hips jerked against him, and her breaths came in short and spastic sounds. Softening, Chuck still moved inside of her slowly, feeling her convulse around him. He leaned over to kiss her. She moaned into his mouth as their tongues slid against each other. His movements slowed until they stopped and he finally left her before falling to rest at her side. She turned to look at him, a smile on her face.

"Mmmm, good morning," she sighed.

Chuck smiled and kissed her again.

"Sorry I woke you," he said. His hand rubbed her breast and his thumb flicked her nipple. "I just needed… just absolutely needed to have you right then and there," he said, no remorse in his voice whatsoever.

Blair smiled and chuckled in her chest before she rolled to her side and pulled close to him.

"Waking up with you inside of me has always been my favorite way to greet the day."

Chuck kissed her neck. "Greet the day… spend the day… end the day."

She nodded against his chest with a smile, blissfully content.

"Rest up," she said in a yawn. "I want you again before sunrise."

Chuck reached down and cupped her pubic mound with his palm. "Aren't you sore?"

Nodding with a smile, Blair looked up at him sleepily. "Bass, it's never enough. I hope you did your yoga."

He quirked a brow at the challenge.

"I may not have many bodily fluids left, but I'll always rise to meet you, Blair."

She stroked the hard line of his jaw, wondering to herself how she ever slept without him next to her. They both quickly dozed off, limbs completely entwined.

---

Blair opened her eyes slowly and looked around the room. She stared up at the dark ceiling and to her side, at the grayish green hue of the barely-lightening day outside the large windows.

Monaco, she thought. That's right.

She turned to her right and saw Chuck sleeping on the pillow next to her, his arm reached over her middle, his soft breath cascading over her cheek.

She turned to look back up to the ceiling and replayed the last few hours in her head, taking a mental inventory. Completely naked and without anything to cover her but Chuck's arm, her skin was chilled. She felt a slight tension and soreness in her hip flexors, and as she thought, she realized she was slightly sore in her vaginal area. God, how long had it been since she'd felt that delicious strain of overuse.

She smirked to herself and replayed certain moments from the past few hours, lingering on specific moments especially.

That first moment that he first pushed into her after so much time, the way his eyes never left hers as he did it. And even though he wore a condom, there was still something so comforting and familiar about feeling him within her.

When he went down on her, never ceasing to amaze her with his skills. She would always appreciate how much he valued her orgasms, and how he gave them to her generously.

And when she rode him to one of those orgasms before, he held her against him steadfast and forced her to come again and again, despite her protests.

"Ughhhhh…," she moaned, into the silence.

Without realizing it, she'd raised her hand to her own nipple, squeezing and tugging as she thought of how much pleasure Chuck had brought her body recently.

Blair turned to look at Chuck still sleeping. She turned to face him fully and she reached down. She took him in her hand and slid up and down, stroking in an undulating movement that he'd taught her years before. She could feel him already starting to harden. With a smile, she leaned close to him and put her lips to his ear.

"Chuck," she whispered, still stroking him.

She pulled his earlobe into her mouth and sucked briefly.

"Chuck," she whispered in a sigh.

She stroked faster and could feel him hardening even more, nearly full ready for her.

"Chuck," she whispered again, kissing his earlobe.

She squeezed him in her hands and he moaned as he opened his eyes. She squeezed him again and licked his jaw.

"Take me now," she spoke into his ear.

Chuck reached out for her, rolling on top of her.

"Gladly," he responded in a whisper. He kissed her then, deep and strong.

She moaned into his mouth. Her hand hadn't stopped stroking him and she squeezed again, growing impatient.

"How do you want it?" he asked, pulling back from her slightly.

He took over for her hand and guided himself to her entrance, but only barely. He toyed with her, sliding himself along her folds, up and down.

"Tell me what you want, Blair."

She sighed when he wouldn't give her what she wanted. She pushed her hips up towards him. "Now, Chuck," she pleaded.

Chuck pulled his hips back against every instinct he had.

"Tell me what you want, Blair," he insisted.

She moaned in frustration and again lifted her hips to meet his. "Bend me over," she quickly breathed out.

Chuck nearly growled in his throat and quickly flipped her on to her front, slapping the side of her behind all in one move.

"Gladly," he said, pulling her hips up to put her on all fours.

Again he teased her and glided himself along her folds. Blair circled her hips in response, trying to get him exactly where she wanted him.

Chuck leaned over her and whispered next to her ear, "Say it, Blair."

She pouted and circled her hips again. She huffed in frustration, pushing back trying to find him.

Chuck slid his fingers against her scalp and gently tugged at her hair until her head leaned back towards him.

"Say it, Blair," he pressed again.

"Fuck me, Chuck! I want you to fuck me! Please!" she begged in a breathy whimper, near a yell.

Satisfied and incredibly turned on, Chuck gave absolutely no warning as he immediately pushed all the way inside her, taking her by surprise. But he would give her what she wanted and then some.

He gripped her hips and pulled out quickly before slamming back again. Again. And again. And again. They both moaned into the air of the room, the only other sound accompanying them was the slapping of their skin.

He felt every single ridge and pulse, she felt every slam and slide. She curved her back and the angle he was hitting intensified. She pushed back against him, her back flush to his chest, and he took advantage to roam his hands over her body.

"Does this satisfy you, Blair?" he whispered in her ear.

She nodded and bit her lip in response. "More," she managed to whisper out.

The elation in his chest was palpable as he leaned her over and snatched her hips back, tight against his. He forcefully pulled her back on him as he thrust forward and she groaned into the mattress.

He did it again.

"More," she insisted in a breath.

Chuck pulled her hips up higher so her shoulders were against the bed. He slammed into her harder, again and again and again. Her moans were accompanied by the sound of their skin slapping.

"Yessss," she managed out between moans.

And Chuck lost himself. He plowed forward into her over and over and over and with her moans and whimpers, his orgasm tore through him white hot and left him bucking and shuddering against her until he collapsed against her back, the sweat from his chest sticking their skin together.

Chuck huffed against her shoulder blade as he attempted to catch his breath, his heart pounding against her back. They breathed together, both coming down from their mutual high.

"That was…" he said between pants.

"Fantastic," she said just as he answered with "A little rough?"

They laughed and Chuck flopped onto the bed as he kissed her lips.

"You know I like it a little rough, Bass."

He smirked. "Oh, I know."

She snuggled into his side just as he flashed back to a few memories of them exploring the rough side when they'd moved into The Empire. His erection was in a near threat of returning as he thought back to her in black stockings and a riding crop. Or the Hermès scarves he'd used to tie her to his Barcelona chair. Perhaps later.

---

Chuck barely slept at all that night. As the sun came up slowly, and spread light across the room in gold and orange, he watched how the light and shadow slowly danced on her skin.

Years before, he could have drawn every freckle and curve of her body by memory. But it had been years since he had been able to appreciate the porcelain expanse of her back in the light of a new day. There was a new beauty mark on her left shoulder blade that he'd never seen before. He reached out his hand and let the pad of his thumb greet it, letting his touch linger on her skin, still so grateful to feel her again. He focused on it, memorized its shape and size, and hoped that he would never experience having to relearn her body; he wanted to know it better than his own.

The new day changed the color of the sea outside—the water going from steely gray to green, to a light blue. Chuck briefly wondered if he should rent a yacht for the week to give them both some time to rediscover each other, to remember that they should never be apart again. Perhaps he should buy a yacht. Why bother with paying by the week and messy rental details? It would be nice to have a yacht in the south of France. Blair would love it, no doubt. What would she name it? It would have to have an Audrey reference, surely.

As much as he tried not to, Chuck couldn't help but think about what was to come next. It wasn't like they had spent much time talking the night before. Chuck sighed as he realized that prolonging the hard conversation of what was to come next by floating in the Mediterranean Sea for a week or two was definitely not what they needed, and it was not going to make sure that he would never be without her again.

His heart pounded suddenly, strong like a drum against his ribs. It was there in the dark recesses of his mind, beckoning him, begging him. But… was it time? Was it right?

He looked back at Blair, and the way that her breathing softly expanded and contracted through her body told him that she was still deeply asleep. He knew from experience that her breathing grew less deep as she began to wake.

His fingers made one soft stroke down her spine before he got out of bed as quietly as he could. With a practiced deftness he'd learned after many mornings-after, he scrunched the band of his discarded Balenciaga boxers between his toes and tossed them up with a quick flick of his ankle, catching them in his hand before slipping them on. Nearly naked, he realized that he was not in a state to leave the suite just yet. While it would certainly be easy, he couldn't very well put on his now-wrinkled tuxedo from last night.

Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, a smile broke his lips at what he saw hanging in the walk-in closet. He'd asked the concierge to have a shopper fill his closet with a few things.

"Nicely done," he whispered, walking by a few Prada and Gucci suits, some finely-picked Hermes ties, and beautiful Bottega and Ferragamo shoes.

Chuck made a mental note to tip his shopper very generously. He or she definitely had an eye for style. Perhaps he would request the shopper go on another purchasing excursion, this time with an eye for Chanel and Louboutin. Though, he thought to himself, he preferred shopping for her, imagining how she would look in a certain dress, and even more enjoyed imagining it on the floor later.

In the far corner of the closet, a small dark safe drew him in. Turning the dial to the digits of Blair's birthday was habitual, easy, and barely even thinking about it, the small blue velvet box was sitting in the palm of his hand. He opened the top of the box, a deep sigh escaping his chest as he revealed the ring. Every time he looked at it, it caught his breath, just the same as the woman it was intended for. Perfectly clear, stunningly bright, and precisely cut, it truly was a wonder.

His heart pounded again.

He'd almost died for the ring, and he would have. Because it was so much more than a ring. It was them, it was everything they were and would become – it was their future. It was her.

God, how he'd missed her. The past year without her had been hell. He'd had to tell himself that he just needed to focus on himself, his life, his work, but it proved impossible when she was part of him, half of him. How could he focus on himself when he wasn't truly whole without her by his side? But now… had that changed? The truth was that despite what had happened last night—many times—he still wasn't sure.

He and Blair were chemical, magnetic. When they were together and really able to be together, conversation was not on the forefront of their minds. But they did need to discuss what was to come next. And there was a part of him that wanted to flee in the opposite direction rather than have that conversation.

Chuck Bass had never truly known fear until Blair Waldorf. He was afraid of his love for her because it had the power to cripple him, because it made him vulnerable when nothing else could. And there was still a possibility that no matter how they'd spent their night, he may have to watch her walk away yet again. And he couldn't bear the thought. By not having that conversation of what happened next, he was protecting himself. But staring at the diamond that he'd only dreamed of finally giving her, he realized that he hadn't bought it because he wanted to protect himself; he'd bought it because he wanted to be dangerous and go on a limb, he wanted to throw out of all his fears and doubts and put faith in the love he knew he and Blair shared.

Still, he thought, was it right?

He closed the blue box and carried it over to the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him. It was odd—he almost felt dirty for taking it from its sacred space in the safe. Chuck placed the ring on the marble countertop as he slipped into the shower.

As the water poured through his hair and over his body, he remembered what it felt like to have Blair's hands touching him again. The steam around him reminded him of how hot her mouth was against his, how deeply she moaned. He couldn't believe he'd gone so long without feeling her skin against his, without being inside her, without feeling her around him. Now hard, Chuck wanted nothing more than to run back to the bedroom, wake her up, and slip into the heat of her body, surrounded by nothing but sunlight. The thought alone made him nearly cry out in orgasm just standing in the shower. And as tempting as it was, Chuck also knew that he couldn't. Until he figured it all out, he couldn't talk to her about what happened next. And until they talked, he couldn't be with her. He couldn't do that to her, and he couldn't do that to himself, or to his heart.

When he got out of the shower, the ring still sat there, waiting for him as if a blinking light forcing his attention. He felt trapped; Blair was behind the wall to his left, the ring was on his right. And just as suddenly as he realized that Blair was just on the other side of the wall next to him, able to wake up and walk in on him at any moment, Chuck scrambled to dry himself off and put the ring back into the safe where it belonged.

His heart was pounding and he could hear the onslaught of blood in his ears. He was suddenly terrified that Blair would wake up and know exactly why his heart sounded like it would escape from his ribcage on its own. He peaked around into the bedroom to see her still sleeping soundly. Her breathing was still rhythmic and soft. Then again, he thought to himself, after the workout from the night before, she would be sleeping for at least another hour to recover.

Quietly, he slipped into a teal Prada suit and bright white shirt, deciding to go sans tie, and carefully stuffed a copper-colored pocket square into his breast pocket. He would need to break in the new Ferragamo croc loafers, but they were definitely worth it. Grabbing his wallet and his Piaget watch, he stole one last glance at Blair's sleeping form, fought the urge to touch her again, and closed the door to his suite with a whispering click.

Guy, his private concierge, greeted him just outside his suite, popping up from his chair quickly.

"Good morning, Mr. Bass. How was your evening?"

Chuck couldn't help the smile that began to tug at the corners of his lips. The images of the night before, the moans and the sighs and the waves and waves of pleasure… and weirdly, he felt color on his cheeks. He cleared his throat.

"Fantastic, thank you."

"Glad to hear it," Guy responded. "Shall I call up some room service? Did you have a particular request?"

"No, thank you. Um," he said, gesturing back at the door, "Ms. Waldorf, my guest, is still sleeping. Would you be sure not to disturb her?"

Guy teetered on his toes and dramatically put his hands to his chest.

"Of course, of course, Mr. Bass." He seemed almost offended that he needed to be asked not to disturb a guest, as if he would.

"Thank you, Guy."

Chuck patted him on the arm as he walked by, a smile still pulling at the corner of his lip.

"Oh," he said, spinning around to face him again. "The shopper…," he said gesturing to his suit, and touching his thumb to his forefinger in a circle, "excellent."

"Wonderful, Mr. Bass. I will let her know that you enjoyed her work. She studied with Lagerfeld, you know," Guy said, beaming.

Nodding, not surprised, Chuck smiled. "Please be sure to pass along my compliments." And with that, Chuck headed down to the main lobby of the hotel.

To be honest, he wasn't really quite sure where he was going. All he knew was that he couldn't think straight with a beautifully-sleeping Blair in his bed on one side and a very important diamond on the other.

A bellhop nodded at him and called him by name as he walked through the lobby and into the connecting Pavilion. Even though still early, tourists were already busying about. He saw a very French man walking with a fresh baguette and immediately remembered a great boulangerie where his au pair had taken him when he was a child. Though it had been years, the short walk to Boulangerie Costa was easy to recall. The closer he approached, the smell of fresh bread grew stronger and stronger in the air.

A few minutes later, with a bag of pain au chocolat and croissants in hand, Chuck began walking the short distance back to the hotel. Part of him hated the idea of leaving her alone in the room, terrified if she woke without him there, but there was also a part of him that was terrified of actually being there when she opened her eyes. He knew those brown eyes would be full of questions, and they were questions he didn't know how to answer.

What should he do? What should he say?

He walked past Chanel and Louis Vuitton and wondered if Blair would enjoy a new bag. Perhaps a Piaget watch from across the street? He looked in the Cartier window and wondered if she might like a new pair of earrings. What woman wouldn't want some new sparkle first thing in the morning? Croissants, coffee, and diamonds? She did love Hepburn, after all.

But he wasn't trying to buy anything from her. Though he loved buying her things and making her happy, Chuck knew that he couldn't buy the responses to his questions that he wanted with gifts. He wanted to be with her, finally, totally, and a new bag and jewelry weren't going to make that happen if it wasn't what she truly wanted – that much he knew.

Just as he took a few steps in the way of his hotel, he stopped, an idea quickly spinning in his mind. Perhaps it wasn't right just yet… but maybe soon? It didn't take long and within a few minutes, he walked out of Cartier with a small red bag accompanying his croissants.

Guy popped up from his seat just as he saw Chuck walk off the elevator on the 8th floor. He smiled and nearly ran over to open the door to the suite.

"Thank you, Guy," Chuck said, whispering now that the door was open. "Also, would you ask the shopper to bring me an outfit for my companion – size 2, and some shoes, size 6? Nothing formal. Accessories, a bag, whatever she feels is appropriate. I leave the choices to her." He paused for a moment, his hand going to his mouth before speaking again. "Oh, and lingerie as well, please." He paused and weighed continuing. "A selection of lingerie, please."

"Of course, Mr. Bass. Right away."

Chuck nodded in thanks.

"Also," he whispered, "would you call up some espresso, please? Romano."

"Right away, Mr. Bass," Guy answered quickly.

Chuck moved through the suite quietly, stepping carefully across the plush flooring. Blair still slept, not having moved since he'd left her. It made his heart ache to see her sleeping in his bed. There was something so warm and welcoming to see her there.

He placed the croissants on the bench at the foot of the bed, careful with the crinkling sounds the bag made. He watched her for a moment and headed back to the safe with his Cartier bag.

Again he pulled the blue velvet box out and he gingerly pulled the top open, once again revealing the diamond to the dark corner of the closet. With a deep sigh, he placed it down on top of the safe. Quickly, listening for any movement from Blair in the other room, he opened the Cartier bag and pulled out the thin red box. The sound of the small hinge on the box cracking seemed far too loud as he opened it.

Inside the black velvet was a thin platinum chain, bright in contrast. On a whim, he'd had the idea of getting the necklace and asked the jeweler for what he'd had in mind. He figured it would have to be custom-made so he was surprised to find that there was such a chain in house ready for purchase.

Carefully, Chuck removed the ring from its bed of blue velvet and cupping it in the palm of his hand as if holding a baby bird, he looped the chain through the end and clasped the end closed. The ring felt heavier on the chain than he remembered it being. There was a part of him that wondered if it would be too heavy for her to wear. Worse – would it be too heavy for her to wear on her finger one day? Then again, Chuck thought, she powered through the most painful shoes ever made without the slightest outward hint.

He delicately tucked the chain into the blue velvet and set the ring where it had been. He breathed hard, his heart dropping and jumping all at once, and he closed the box before slipping it into his right pocket. He was no stranger to feeling the box in his pocket, but after everything that he and Blair had been through, after everything that had happened the night before, it suddenly felt heavier than ever.

There was a light rapping coming from the front door of the suite. Chuck rushed over as fast as could before it woke Blair. He shuffled past her and nearly ran to the door, opening it quietly. Guy stood next to a small linen-covered cart carrying a carafe of the requested espresso and two cups and saucers.

"Your coffee, Mr. Bass," Guy greeted.

Chuck nodded with a smile, stepping back and ushered him.

"Quietly, please," he urged.

"Of course, of course," Guy whispered hoarsely, moving the cart extra slowly to avoid the clinking of porcelain and silverware.

He wheeled the small cart through the lounge and into the dining room, leaving it close to the table before setting two places with linen napkins, saucers and cups, and spoons.

Chuck cleared his throat. "Guy, might I trouble you for a fruit platter and some champagne? Perhaps some macarons as well?"

"Are congratulations in order, Mr. Bass?" he asked, his eyes wide.

Chuck's heart flipped again. "We'll see."

Guy bowed his head with a smile. "Of course, my pleasure, Mr. Bass. Do you have a particular vintage in mind? Any requests for the platter?"

Again a smile pulled at the corner of Chuck's lip. "Dom Perignon '95, please—chilled. And anything on the platter is fine, just make sure it has strawberries." He turned his wrist up to check the time on his watch. "About 20 minutes, please."

"Absolument, Monsieur Bass," Guy responded. He beamed, only too happy to help, and scurried out of the room as quietly as he possibly could, his footprints leaving quick imprints in the plush flooring.

Chuck headed back to the bedroom and walked over to Blair's side, toeing around her dress, shoes, and discarded casino chips. He sat near her, watching her face as she slept. Remnants of last night's makeup showed in the light red stain on her lips and the dark smudges around her lashes. And even with her tousled hair and light lipstick smear on her cheek, she was stunning to him.

He scooted a little closer to her, his hand going to her back, rubbing softly. Chuck bent close to her ear, brushing his nose close to her hairline, breathing her in.

"Blair…," he whispered, placing a kiss below her earlobe.

Without opening her eyes, a soft moan escaped her lips as she slowly rolled onto her back. The sound and the open view of her naked chest went directly to Chuck's groin. He cleared his throat and squeezed his thighs together.

"Blair," he whispered again, his hand stroking her shoulder.

She rubbed at her eyes, smudging even more glittery makeup and mascara across her cheek. It took a moment, but Blair finally opened her eyes. The sun was bright and her eyelids fluttered open and closed several times before her pupils adjusted. Slowly, she focused first on the ceiling, then on the marina and the sea to her left, and then finally on Chuck. His hair was styled nicely, a light spattering of stubble on his jawline, his eyes warm in the sunlight.

"That color suits you," she said, gesturing to his suit coat, her voice slightly hoarse from sleep. Her lip lifted in a slight smile. "It brings out your eyes. Prada?"

Chuck smirked knowing that he shouldn't be impressed. "You would know." He sighed, still smiling.

"I saw the collection highlights from Milan," she said, clearing her throat. "I thought of you when I saw the menswear last spring."

Her admission hung in the air, staining the moment. Last spring, she and Chuck were not together, let alone a possibility. Last spring she had been with Dan Humphrey, a muppet of a man who had wanted her to become the character version of herself he had envisioned, an exaggerated and lacking idea, rather than stay true to herself.

Chuck cleared his throat and Blair sat up slightly. The sun coming in from the wall-sized windows made the glittery eyeshadow on her face sparkle like miniature stars. She wanted to apologize for bringing up the time they were apart, but she wasn't quite sure how or why. Rather than speak, her hand went to his thigh, rubbing back and forth.

"Come back to bed," she said, her eyes growing darkly hypnotizing.

Every nerve in Chuck's body agreed and urged him to heed her request. His hand went to the empty space between her collarbones, that fine little dip just below her neck. He wanted to lose himself in that small space, swim in it. His fingers dragged ever so slowly down her chest to the expanse between her breasts, just over her sternum. Up and down, softly.

"Mmmm," he purred, toying with the idea. "Perhaps later," he said, his voice strained, his body virtually yelling at him. "I got you some breakfast." He hoped it sounded enticing enough because he truly had no will if she were to suggest getting back into bed with her again.

Blair smiled. "Do I smell coffee?"

Chuck rose, headed into the bathroom to grab a robe.

"Mmm," he affirmed, "espresso."

He held the robe open for her as she stood from the bed. He welcomed her into the warm robe, folding it around her body.

"I made sure to order you some sucre en morceaux and lemon peels—your favorite."

He pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek as he tied the robe closed.

"And," he said, leaning down to pick up the bag of pastries, shaking it in front of her, "pain au chocolat."

Smiling, Blair took his hand as he led her from the bedroom and out into the rest of the suite, following the footprints like breadcrumbs left in the plush flooring. The lounge area was open and bright in the sunlight. Blair raked her fingers through her hair as she admired the deep aqua color of the marina. It really was a stunning view. Dropping Chuck's hand, she walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling window of the living room.

"I forgot how beautiful Monte Carlo is," she said, sighing.

Chuck smiled softly. "With you here, how could it not be?"

She paused and turned to stare at him. How was it that after so much time, after everything they'd been through, he was still capable of disarming her with a simple phrase?

Blair went to him, her arms encircled his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. Soft at first, the kiss soon escalated to involve tongues and teeth. Dropping the pastry bag to the floor, Chuck's hands pulled at her hips, urging her closer to him. Every line of their bodies matched up perfectly and it was not lost on Chuck that she was very naked beneath the robe. All he had to do was untie it…

Chuck pulled back with a sharp clear of his throat. He needed every ounce of strength to pull away.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked, hoping to distract her.

With a dark smile, she grabbed his belt buckle and pulled his hips into hers. "Starving."

Chuck was certain he'd spontaneously combust if she did that again. "Then," he said, finding the last scrap of willpower he had left, "let me feed you." And before he could stop himself, his eyes immediately fell to her mouth. On its own accord, his hand reached out, his palm against her cheek, his thumb gently stroked the curve of her plump bottom lip.

Blair pulled the pad of his thumb into her mouth and swirled the tip of her tongue around his finger. His mouth fell open and just when he thought she was going to be merciful, she bit down and the jolt of electricity that surged through his entire body in response caused him to jerk his arm from her and take several steps back. Smirking at him, she turned her head and expertly twisted her hair over to one side, revealing the lovely curve of her neck.

"Blair," he said, coughing, nearly begging.

She slowly traced a fingertip across the nape of her neck, teasing him.

His throat shook out another breath. "Blair," he pleaded. "You know… that's my kryptonite."

He tried to convince himself that he wasn't suddenly thinking of latching his mouth to that curved spot, sucking as if he were a vampire, pulling her body against his, his hands gripping her breasts, listening to her moan as he laved his tongue from her earlobe to her shoulder. He tried.

Blair craned her neck a little more, exaggerating the curve to her shoulder, stroking the skin with the back of her hand. "Oh, I know."

Suddenly very warm, Chuck removed his suit jacket and threw it over one of the dining chairs, hoping one less layer of clothing might help him cool off. He tucked his hands in his pockets and planted his feet to solidify himself.

"Please. Coffee first," he insisted.

When she realized that he was not going to give in for the moment, she pouted and finally relented. "Fine," she sighed, tossing her hair back over to cover her neck. "Coffee first."

Chuck retrieved the discarded bag of pastries from the floor and emptied its contents onto a plate on the table. Blair sat and watched him pour the espresso. She tried not to focus on the way the teal pants fit him perfectly or the way his crisp white shirt hugged his torso with his movements.

Her heart leapt in her chest when he remembered how many sugar cubes she took, and she smiled when he twisted the lemon peel to rim her cup before placing her prepared espresso in front of her. "You remembered," she said softly, beaming.

He sat next to her, smiling in response. To imply that he could have forgotten anything about her nearly insulted him. "I remember everything," he whispered.

Blair took a small sip from her espresso and stared at him over the rim of the cup. While he was looking at her, he wouldn't meet her eye. She reached for a pain au chocolat and with deft fingers, tore at the flaky pastry before popping a bite-sized piece in her mouth.

"What is it, Bass?"

His eyes finally met her face. As he was going to ask what she meant, he realized that just as he knew exactly how she took her coffee, how she would inevitably tear through the pain au chocolat before licking the excess chocolate from her fingers, she knew him equally well, and she could tell that there was something on his mind.

Chuck wanted to blurt out all kinds of responses; champagne and breakfast and diamonds and safes and naked skin and casino chips and… Dan Humphrey? But he wasn't quite sure where he wanted to start.

"Do you… do you regret…," she began, her head tipping back, gesturing towards the bedroom.

Chuck immediately grabbed her hand with both of his, shaking his head. "Blair," he said quickly, "no. No."

"Then…?" she pressed.

He took in a deep breath and exhaled loudly through his nose, his mind still scrambling to figure out where to begin with everything he wanted to say and everything he wanted to ask.

"I love you," he said simply, the words stumbling out before he could organize his thoughts.

There was a sudden release of breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, like a balloon letting out air. Blair smiled at him in relief.

"And I love you," she said, squeezing his hands. He squeezed back.

"Last night," he began slowly, "I realized that I have no idea how… how I ever lived without you this past year, how I breathed without you."

"Chuck," she tried, her breath starting to quicken.

"No, Blair, please, let me finish." He paused and looked down at their intertwined hands. "I… I'm yours, Blair. I hope you know that."

She offered him a small smile and her hand gingerly traced along his jawline.

Chuck thought back to the way her fingers stroked down his cheek before she left him one night. "Do you remember the Saints and Sinners party?"

She nodded and suddenly hung her head in shame. "I was so stupid," she said quickly.

"No, we both—"

She cut him off. "No, I was too proud and I was greedy. If we had left that party together…"

Chuck laughed under his breath. "You would never have become a princess."

Blair rolled her eyes at herself in shame and shook her head quickly. "No Louie, no wedding…"

"No Humphrey," Chuck said, sighing.

"I…" she started quickly, her mouth hanging open. "Chuck, I'm… so sorry." She squeezed his hands again and when they locked eyes, they found each other both on the edge of tears.

"There were reasons why we needed to walk away from each other that night, Blair. I get that now."

As she thought back to the darker, more painful times of their relationship, she closed her eyes and a lone tear slid down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, too, Blair, for all of it; for the lies, the schemes, for Jack, for Jenny…"

Blair flinched at the mention of Little J and more tears slid from her eyes. Chuck's hands were quick on her face, wiping away her tears, his lips offering silent apologies against her forehead.

"I love you," she said quickly, offering him a sad smile. "All of that is in the past. This," she said, raising her hands to hold his against her face, "this is real, this is now."

Chuck's heart pounded at her words. He pulled her to him, his lips taking hers, his chest aching to pour everything he felt into his kiss. When he finally pulled back to breathe, he rested his forehead against hers, breathing her in.

"I want my future to be with you," he said.

Before she could respond, his thumb caressed her lips and she watched as he suddenly stood, his hand only dropping from her face to dig into his pocket.

Clearing his throat, he pulled out a small box. Before she knew what was happening, Chuck was on his knee before her, a blue velvet box she'd held once before being proffered to her.

"Blair," he began in a deep whisper, "Without you, I was lost, floundering. You make me want to be a better man. You do make me a better man. And I will continue working to be worthy of you."

He paused to look down at the box and gently opened it. Blair gasped as she found herself staring into the glittering facets of the diamond she'd seen only once in Harry Winton's Paris shop.

"I know," he began, his voice tender, "that our ambitions may pull us in different directions. I know that everything is still so uncertain… but not this, not us. And so…," he whispered softly, taking the ring out of its velvet bed, pulling behind it a platinum chain, "will you wear this as a sign that, even though we're not where we'd like to be now, we will be in the future, together? Until we've accomplished what we need, until I can put this on your finger, will you wear this ring as a promise that we'll always find our way back?"

Blair's chin quivered through a smile. When she nodded quickly, a few silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

As if crowning her, Chuck reached up and slid the necklace over Blair's head, gingerly letting the stone fall against her chest.

Blair stared down at her new adornment and gently touched the ring. When she looked back up to Chuck, she found he was smiling through fresh tears.

"I love you, Chuck Bass."

Chuck took her hands in his and kissed both sets of knuckles before he looked up at her.

"Blair Cornelia Waldorf… I want you to hear me." He took her face between his palms. "You are everything to me. Everything."

Another tear spilled through Blair's eye. She gingerly reached her hand up and let her fingertips trace down his cheek and over his bottom lip.

"Chuck Bass," she said slowly, "Body and soul, I'm yours. I always have been."

Weirdly, the image suddenly flooding his mind was that of a human heart beating inside a chest, growing and swelling, pounding even faster. Perhaps it was his own heart growing in response to what she'd just said.

He smirked as a memory took over. "Always have, always will?"

The memory of her teenage self dating Chuck's best friend made a small laugh escape her mouth and she smiled, swiping a small tear from her lashes.

"I do," she said softly, smiling. "And I will."

The swelling heart image was back in his mind. Slowly, still holding her hands in his, he stood and pulled her up with him. He wiped another tear from her eye with the pad of his thumb.

"I'm sorry I made you cry."

With another small laugh, Blair fell on his lips in response, kissing him gingerly. Slowly, the kiss deepened and she pulled him tighter and tighter against her, so tight that she could feel his weakened resistance against her pelvis, straining.

"Chuck," she said breathless, pulling back with swollen lips.

Chuck's mouth was red and he opened his eyes slowly to see hers staring into his, boring into him. Not breaking eye contact with him, Blair tugged at the tie around her waist and let the robe fall to her feet, revealing her body fully to him.

"Make love to me." It was a command, a request, a wish, a dream, a secret, and all at the same time. "Show me."

It felt like suddenly everything slowed down and all sound was sucked from the room. Chuck pulled her body to his and lifted her by the knees, carrying her. Their mouths quickly found each other and with slow and deft steps, Chuck walked her back into the bedroom. As he laid her on the bed and finally pulled his lips from hers, he began unbuttoning his shirt, one button a time. She watched his fingers moving, her breathing even.

The casino chips and strewn clothing were a nod to the desperate need they felt only hours ago. In place of that desperation was something different now - calm. While they still wanted and needed each other just as desperately, there was a new sense of peace and calm that surrounded them this time. Chuck was able to see her body glow in the reflection of the sea outside, with the dazzling sunlight illuminating her skin. Blair focused on his eyes and how the brown color grew warmer and lighter in the sun, turning into an amber that intensified the way he looked at her, into her, to her core.

As Chuck undressed, slipping his shirt from his shoulders and finally moving to his belt and his pants, his eyes lingered on Blair, on her body, and he took all of her in. The stretches of skin up her thighs, to the expanse of skin across her belly, to the pebbled skin of her nipples, to the Harry Winston ring now dangling between her breasts, above her heart, where it belonged, finally home.

Chuck stared at the ring, at the facets of the diamond in all colors, cascading the sunlight around the room in a prism of colors and light. There was a tightening in his chest as he stared at the ring he'd carried for so long and had put so much hope into finally being worn by the woman who'd inspired the purchase.

Blair held her hand out to him in invitation. With a quick shrug, he removed his shirt and took her hand before gently crawling onto the bed next to her. Chuck watched as she reached down to unbuckle his belt and undo his pants. Blair sat up to pull them from his legs and finally discard his boxers.

Before he could ask or reach for his wallet, Blair straddled his hips and he sat up to hold her against him. She crossed her legs behind his back, enveloping him.

"Nothing," she whispered. "I want nothing between us, Bass." She finished her words against his mouth and they were kissing before they realized.

Without warning or hesitation, Blair positioned herself and sunk down onto him completely. They both let out guttural exhales, parting their kiss only to breathe.

They were finally home, together.

As they moved, the ring around Blair's neck bounced against them, mimicking their rhythm. Blair moved faster and faster against him, rocking her hips into him as if riding a horse into battle. Chuck grit his teeth and had to hold her hips firmly to slow her down, causing the ring to swing back and forth, thumping into each of them.

Chuck took control and paused her movements, halting her hips and their assault against him.

"Greedy," he whispered against her mouth. "Slow down."

She whimpered as he kissed her, annoyed that he'd made her slow down.

"But I–" she tried before he cut her off with a kiss.

"Shhhh," he commanded as he slid his hand between them and immediately found her clitoris, slippery and swollen. He stroked softly with the pad of his pointer finger and he felt her pulse around him.

Blair let out an unintelligible sound. She rested her forearms on his shoulders to help brace herself as she rocked up and down, mewling at his very pleasant assault.

"I… I…," she tried to make out, but he cut her off again.

"Shhhh, just feel, Blair. Feel how I touch you. Feel my skin against yours. Just feel this."

Chuck exercised every ounce of self-discipline he'd ever had as wave after wave of her orgasm pulsed through her and had her walls convulsing around him. She was shaking and panting against him, whimpering in pleasure and begging him to take her. But she'd asked him for something, demanded it, in fact, and he would oblige.

Blair eventually came down from her high and opened her eyes. She found his brown eyes staring into hers, hunger behind them. Her chest was flushed and her legs were shaky, but he somehow made everything fade into the background into nothing but noise.

"Now," Chuck said, laying her down gently, "let me make love to you." He gingerly touched the ring resting between her breasts. "Let me show you."

He slowly leaned her away from him and took his place behind her as the big spoon. Chuck wrapped her in his arms and he let his hands explore every inch of her body–her breasts, her tight nipples, her smooth legs, the sharp dips of her hip bones. And while he explored, he sucked on her neck, kissing and sucking.

Blair was still sensitive from the last orgasm he'd given her and her nipples were practically buzzing with electricity. When he kissed her neck and played with her nipples, she moaned and squeezed her legs together tightly, afraid that he'd make her come again.

"Oh God, Chuck," she managed to breathe out.

She turned her head to kiss him and she reached down to take him in her hand. Of course, he was just as rock hard as he'd been inside of her.

"Tut tut," he whispered as he moved her hand back over to her front. "Slow down, Blair."

She would have protested but the sound got caught in his mouth as he kissed her and pinched her nipple at the same time.

Chuck tilted her jaw up and whispered close to her ear, "I'm going to make you come two more times before you can have me inside you."

And again before she could protest, Chuck's fingers slid down her body and assaulted her clit. She was sticky and wet and very swollen. When Chuck slid his finger against her clit just once, she threw her head back and nearly screamed. And Chuck played her like an instrument.

Blair's hips bucked against him but he kept his movement steady, touching her how she liked. He massaged one of her breasts with one hand and used his other to keep his finger moving against her clit. He could feel her muscles tightening and knew she was close. He kissed and sucked on her neck again and he could feel her orgasm pulsating through her, vibrating across her skin.

Blair hummed to herself as the waves of pleasure subsided enough for her to open her eyes. She was absolutely soaked between her legs and could feel her arousal trickling down her thigh.

"Oh God," she said, breathless.

Chuck smiled and kissed her lips.

"One," he said, his voice heavy with satisfaction.

She shook her head violently and reached back for him again. She squeezed and pulled her hand down the shaft, repeating how he would like.

"No, now."

"Greedy," he said again, a smirk in his voice.

Blair squeezed her hand again and turned to look at him over her shoulder.

"Bass, now."

Chuck leaned down to kiss her. It was long and languid and it was as if he were reading her stories with his tongue. And then swiftly, before she knew it was happening, he lifted her leg over his hip and entered her from behind. She came immediately.

Even though he felt her convulsing around him, Chuck did not stop. He moved in her, his hands roaming her body at the same time. He felt how the muscles in her legs stiffened, how her abdomen clenched, how the goosebumps on her arms spread and tightened her nipples hard enough to hurt.

And then she calmed, finally.

The sense of relief that flooded her senses helped her relax. Blair reached behind her and laced her fingers in his hair, pulling him to her, kissing him. The kiss was similar to the way he was moving inside of her, rhythmic and give and take. They moved together like a dance that their tongues mirrored.

The desperation was gone now. It was slow and soft and breaths and tongues and moans and whispers. And Chuck knew exactly what he'd have to do to get her to relax enough to allow him to make love to her. He wanted to feel her, all of her, and he wanted to show her what that meant to him.

As he slid in and out of her, his hands roamed and squeezed over her body. She moaned over and over and just when she thought she'd learned his rhythm, he'd grab her hips and enter her hard a few times before disappointing her and slowing down. It both taunted and excited her at the same time.

Chuck could not get enough of her. He sucked on her neck, he squeezed her nipples several times, slid his finger along her swollen clitoris over and over, and he loved the dip of her hip into her pubic bone and his fingers ran up and down there several times. Occasionally, he'd lose himself in how good she felt and he'd grab her hips and forget that he was supposed to be taking it slower. It was maddening and so exciting to not give in to his deep desire to flip her over and take her hard and fast.

"Chuck," she moaned.

He grabbed her breast and squeezed his palm around the soft skin. He turned her to kiss him and as she slid her fingers against his scalp, he reached down and fingered her clit. She threw her leg back over his hip, wanting more. And, God, how he wanted to give her more. And, God, did she feel good.

Chuck's eyes stared deep into hers, his hips not stopping their rhythmic assault on hers, sliding in and out. When he pushed in harder, her mouth dropped open in a silent moan.

"I love you, Blair," he said between thrusts. "So much."

Between strained breaths, Blair looked up into his eyes and responded softly, "I love you, Chuck Bass."

Chuck slowed to a stop and kissed her deeply. His kiss moved from her lips to her neck to her ear. He sucked on her earlobe before whispering, "Now lose yourself."

His hands were rough yet gentle on her skin as he squeezed her breasts, pinched her nipples, rubbed down her abdomen, and slid his finger between her legs. He hummed at her moaning response.

Chuck lifted her leg high above his hip and pounded into her from below. She arched and moaned and mewled, and in response, Chuck only kissed her shoulders, her neck, her ear, her cheek. When her body began tensing, he turned her to kiss him and when she broke away as she opened her mouth to cry out, he stared into her eyes as she came and he finally spilled himself into her. He allowed himself a few seconds to close his eyes to soak up the feeling, his entire body buzzing.

Blair panted, her arms reaching and grabbing for sheets, for Chuck, for her hair, until she was able to calm down. She pulled Chuck's face down to hers and kissed him in thanks, in praise, in absolute awe.

She twisted her body so that she was facing him fully. Chuck touched the ring laying between then, absolutely loving to see it against her skin.

"I will put this on your finger one day, Blair. I swear it."

Blair put her hand to his cheek and made him look into her eyes.

"I believe you, Bass."

For some reason that neither fully understood yet, a sadness came over them. Perhaps it was because they both silently understood that the reason the ring had to remain on a necklace signified their inevitable parting soon.

"You know," she said softly, her breathing beginning to even out, "I'm assuming the coffee's cold now."

Chuck immediately leaned up. "I'll get you more."

Blair pulled him back down. "I'm kidding, Bass. There is nothing else I could want right now."

His arm snaked around her waist a little tighter and pulled her closer. "Nothing?"

"Just you," she clarified, reaching up to kiss him.

Chuck reached down between her breasts and pulled up the ring he'd given her, looking into the sparkly facets.

"You have me, Blair. All of me."

Blair laid her hand over Chuck's heart and snuggled up to him as close as she could, breathing in him deeply. Within minutes, both blissfully exhausted, they fell asleep in the glittering light of a new day reflecting off the sea.

---

The next 48 hours were a repeat of moans and kisses, caresses and groans, orgasms and ecstasy. Guy knocked on the door a few times when Blair got a little loud. Chuck had grabbed a pillow to cover his crotch as he answered the door and one look at his disheveled hair and pillow coverup were enough to quell any worries Guy may have had.

At one point when Blair was sure Chuck would pass out from exhaustion, she got up to get the long-forgotten tray of strawberries and a room-temperature bottle of Dom '95 from the dining room. A few bites of fruit and a sip of champagne to wash them down and their strength was renewed enough for them to shower. Chuck requested that their room be refreshed and sheets changed while they were in the bathroom and when they returned to the bedroom, their newly-cleaned skin did not last long.

Blair's throat was dry from moaning and screaming, while her ribs and hips were starting to hurt from where Chuck would pull her to him. Truthfully, though, she didn't mind. They had so much time to make up for, and she also knew that the time would come soon when they'd have to part ways, and the very thought of leaving him made her cling to him that much harder.

"I have to leave tomorrow," she whispered against his chest.

Chuck said nothing and his chin rolled on her head as he nodded silently.

"If she hasn't already, I'm sure my mother has already reported me missing to Interpol."

Chuck fingers lightly traced up and down her arm.

"She's probably already changing her mind about me running her company." She paused and waited for him to comment. "I mean, is she insane? Me running a fashion house with no business experience? My only fashion experience is shopping, which I doubt counts for very much."

Chuck exhaled slowly and lifted her chin so her eyes met his.

"Blair, you are the most formidable woman I have ever known. There is nothing you can't do."

Blair let go of a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding.

"But what if–"

With a finger to her lips, he cut her off.

"You're Blair Waldorf. You can do anything. And you will."

---

The next morning, Chuck donned a silk robe to answer the door to the suite. He ushered in a tall woman with golden hair and dark brows pushing a luggage rack holding dress bags and some shopping bags of some very familiar ateliers in the area.

Blair covered herself with a sheet as best she could, but she knew the woman would not be staring at anything she wasn't supposed to.

"This is great," she heard Chuck compliment from inside the closet.

With the way he said "exquisite", Blair was already looking forward to the lingerie he was surely going to ask her to model for him.

"Of course, Mr. Bass," came the woman's voice as she exited the closet.

Chuck ushered the woman through the bedroom and to the front door of the suite. He made mention of needing a few more pairs of shoes and Blair giggled. His kryptonite was the nape of the neck, but a high heel with lingerie was definitely a second contender, she knew.

When Chuck reentered the bedroom, he quickly discarded the robe and fell back into bed with Blair. He kissed her and smiled.

"Your wardrobe has arrived, Miss Waldorf." He kissed her shoulder. "There's some Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, and of course, lingerie."

Blair smiled. "Is there anything I can model for you, Mr. Bass?"

"I noticed there were some panties with a bow in the back that I'd like to untie."

Just as Blair was about to jump up to find the new lingerie to be untied, Chuck pulled her back into bed.

"But first, a shower," he offered. "I want to clean you before we get dirty again."

Eager, Blair leaned up. "Or maybe, we can get dirty in the shower?"

Gingerly and with a smirk, Chuck removed the necklace Blair wore and placed it on the nightstand. He didn't want their activities in the shower to damage anything. And given the size of the diamond, he was afraid it might damage the tile.

Within minutes, Blair was leaned over, her face and hands pressed against the shower glass wall, Chuck pulling her hips back towards his over and over again. Blair's fingers flexed against the glass, every single inch ricocheting inside of her in pleasure.

"Oh, oh, oh," she moaned into the humid air.

Blair's hair was wet and plastered to her neck in thick strands, while Chuck stood under the rainfall showerhead, the water pouring over his body as he slammed into her from behind. He took a step closer to Blair and reached one of his hands up to her breast, teasing her nipple in rhythm with his thrusting.

Blair leaned back against him and widened her stance to allow him to continue to penetrate her deeply. The angle made his eyes roll back and he slid his hands over her wet body, over curves and lengths of soft skin. His lips lavished her neck and his mouth moved to her ear.

"God, I love you, Blair. I love you so much." His voice was soft in a hoarse moan.

Before she could respond, Blair bent forward again and used the glass wall for leverage as his thrusts increased. She moaned loudly and her body jerks were followed by the feeling of Chuck pulsing and emptying himself inside her. She turned to kiss his lips as the orgasms passed them and they held each other under the rainfall shower.

"I'm going to miss this," she whispered against his shoulder.

Chuck's thumb stretched from her cheek to her lips. "Shhh," he commanded. "We're here now. That's all that matters."

Blair nodded with a sad smile and kissed him again.

After lingering under the showerhead and enjoying the warmth of the bathroom together, they finally used the provided La Mer bottles and rinsed off.

Chuck supervised while Blair perused her new clothing options in the closet and she especially lingered over the lingerie. She found the black Fleur Du Mal panties with the bow in the back and slid them up her thighs methodically as Chuck's eyes followed her movements.

"What do you think?"

Naked except for the panties, she turned so he could admire the bow that made the back of the thong, pointing her toes out to the sides to tease him.

Chuck nodded slowly. "I think… you should come with me."

He took her hand and led her out of the closet and back into the bedroom. Chuck pulled at the ribbon and undid the bow on the thong and pulled the scrap of lace fabric away. Just as she was about to ask him what he was doing, Chuck sat Blair on the settee opposite the bed and he knelt before her. His mouth was hot on her sex and she could feel his tongue entering her while his thumb took over on her clit.

All words escaped her. Her hand took its place in his thick hair, guiding his head while she threw hers back.

Neither thought about time as he pleasured her, licking and sucking and kissing and tugging and rubbing. Blair moaned over and over and over and several orgasms left her panting and shaking. Chuck's tongue was practiced and deft in its movements and torture against her. He had started counting, but lost track at the fourth orgasm before he finally stopped.

"You're really good at that," she said, breathless.

He kissed her thigh. "I know."

Slowly, gently, Chuck inserted his middle finger into her, sliding it in and out torturously slow.

"Chuckkkkk," she breathed out, half a warning, half a request.

He could feel her quivering around his finger and finally left her and stood up. Without a word, he undid the belt on his robe, slid it off, and pushed himself into her. Blair opened her legs further and took in a shaky breath.

"I want you to feel this, Blair," he said, slowly pushing in and out of her. "I want you to feel me. All of me." He slowly slid in every inch, and then slowly slid out. "I want you to remember what I feel like. When I'm inside you. I want you to remember this."

Blair was still reeling and extremely sensitive from the many, many, many orgasms she'd had in the previous two days. Him sliding in and out of her, ever so slowly, and she was at the brink of exploding yet again.

Chuck fell onto her, bracing his weight on his forearms, and he maintained his rhythm, slow and steady. It killed him to stay so slow, but he felt the low vibration of her walls around him and her panting chest below him were indicators that it would be over quite quick if he went any faster. And he wanted to savor every moment they had left.

Blair pulled at his shoulders, begging him to increase his speed and give her that teased release, but he maintained with every ounce of self control he was struggling to hold onto. She kissed him deeply, slowly, and she whispered his name.

"I can never forget what you feel like, Chuck. This is where I belong."

He kissed her again and spread the kisses over her lips, her cheeks, over her collarbones.

"Please, Chuck," she begged. "Please… I want to come. I want to come so bad," she mewled.

With a few more slow strokes, Chuck caved, picked up his pace, and gave her another body-shattering orgasm that left her twitching and gripping onto him.

Chuck collapsed on her, his face falling into the crook of her neck, and she held him to her, smoothing his hair. Their hearts beat frantically against each other until they finally began to calm and they could both regain their regular breathing.

"One for the road?" she asked with a small smile.

Chuck smiled. "I love the idea that you'll have some of me inside you later."

Blair hummed, agreeing. But there was a sudden emptiness in the room as they both realized that their time together was coming to an end. They held each other silently, absolutely no words needed. The yachts passed outside and the sun's position moved across the plush flooring before they slowly started to part from their embrace.

"You trust this shopper, do you?" Blair finally asked, hesitant to leave Chuck's side.

As she got up from the bed, Chuck held onto her hand for as long as he could before she walked far enough towards the closet.

"Well, you did approve of that suit I wore."

She thought back to the deep teal suit he wore and remembered how fine a choice it was for him. Perhaps the shopper did know what she was doing.

"I'll be the judge," she called out from inside the closet.

Chuck waited in the bedroom for her, silently pondering on the last few days. They'd made months worth of memories in just a few hours, and while he knew it would be enough to sustain his lonely nights to come, he knew thinking of Blair as often as he did would test every inch of patience if he was to live without her until they could finally be together.

His stomach growled and he realized it had been days since his last proper meal. Somehow feasting on Blair's body hadn't been enough to sustain him and he made a mental note to ask Guy for some proper food soon.

Though she was in the closet, Chuck could hear Blair whispering to herself with soft exclamations of "I love that!", "That'll do.", "I wouldn't have picked this but I like it." He smiled to himself and imagined her flitting from one thing to the next, opening shoe boxes and matching bags. As his stomach growled again into the now-quieter room, Chuck rose from the bed and slipped into a silk Derek Rose blue paisley robe hanging behind the bedroom door before heading out in search of sustenance.

The platter he'd requested 2 days earlier had remnants of their eaten strawberries and a few macaroons that had gone stale. He took a swig of stale Dom Perignon and opened the door to the suite to find Guy already at the ready for orders.

"Monsieur Bass, may I assist with anything?"

Chuck pacified him with a gentle hand and smiled. "Guy, will you have the chef send something up, please? Anything is fine. I'm starved."

Guy nearly bowed in response. "Of course, Monsieur Bass. A table for two?"

There was a slight pang in his chest when Chuck realized that Blair would be leaving soon and he'd be dining alone.

"Only for one, Guy. But perhaps… a small bag of macaroons for Miss Waldorf before she leaves?"

Guy smiled and nearly ran to the elevator to head downstairs in search of his requests.

Chuck turned back into his suite to find Blair fully dressed, standing in the doorway of the bedroom. She leaned against the doorjamb, her legs crossed at the ankles. Her eyes locked on his from across the room, silently daring him to look at her.

There was something so quintessentially Blair when she was donned in fine clothes that spoke to the powerful woman she was inside. The confidence oozed from her in such perfect femininity that he felt disarmed.

Chuck's eyes immediately went down her legs, to the sheer black heels that didn't seem to have backings. The small length of skin from her ankles was the beautiful cream he was all too familiar with. His eyes slowly went up her legs to the band of lace hanging below her knees. It was tantalizing - he could see just enough of her skin through the lace and it was suddenly obstructed by the dress as his eyes continued pursuing up her legs. The silk dress that went up her torso was inky black, hiding her from him. As his eyes continued up, he then saw the small triangular scraps of lace covering her breasts. Nothing beneath, just as the band of lace at her legs, her breasts were just barely visible beneath the top of her dress. Her rosy, pebbled nipples just held back by sheer, thin lace.

He growled low in his throat.

"What do you think?" she asked softly.

As he crossed the floor over to her, he reached out and circled her in his arms.

"I like the shoes," he said, eyeing down. He kissed her. "I like the dress." He kissed her again. "I'd like them even more on the floor." And he kissed her neck long and soft, being sure to suck at small points.

"Uhhh, Chuck," she sighed, throwing her head back.

He pulled her body closer to his. To an onlooker, it would look like they were dancing in the center of the room with how they moved.

Chuck walked her back into the doorway of the bedroom, pressing her against the doorjamb. Swiftly, he used one hand to pull open the belt on his robe and the other pulled the lace down from her breast and he cupped her in his hand.

Blair pushed robe from his shoulder, discarding it to the floor. She lifted her leg around Chuck's hip and he effortlessly moved her lace panties to the side, allowing himself to slip in. Blair clutched at his neck, holding onto him and he used the wall as leverage to hold onto her. With no words, with little noise, they danced against the wall like that, with muffled sounds of sucking and kissing, soft moans and desperate sighs.

This would never be enough. They would never have enough of each other.

No matter how ready they may have thought they'd be ready to part, their history always proved that the further they strayed from each other, the stronger the pull back would always be.

"I don't want to go," she whispered through heavy breaths.

Chuck's heart nearly broke. "I don't want you to."

They clung to each other hard, their movements against each other and into each other becoming stronger. Their orgasms were both approaching and Chuck took over holding Blair's leg around his hip as he felt her leg begin to shake.

Chuck used the wall for leverage as he thrust into her a few more times, kissing her over and over again as he came yet again. They stood there like that for a long time, clinging to each other in silence, arms wrapped around bodies, sweaty foreheads pressed together, breaths shared.

"We found our way back," Blair finally said, her voice breaking in a cry.

"Hey," he said, using his finger under her chin so she would meet his eyes. "We will again. We will."

They were quiet for a long time, just holding each other against the wall. There was too much to say, too much not to say.

Blair sniffed and wiped under her eye and laughed in her chest. "I guess I need another shower."

Chuck kissed her forehead. "Can I join you?"

She put her hand to his chest and walked backwards to the bathroom.

"Bass, if we don't stop, I'll never be clean enough to leave."

He quirked his brow at that and silently wondered if that was a challenge. Chuck Bass would always arise to a challenge. Given that they were parting soon, he knew he would need to bolster his memory collective.

"Don't even think about it," she said, already unzipping her dress behind her. She closed the bathroom door so he wouldn't follow her.

With a disappointed smile, Chuck put his robe back on and waited for her on the bed, trying to ignore the hunger now permeating his senses. He grabbed his long-forgotten cell phone from the nightstand drawer. After he plugged it in and gained a few percentage points of battery life, he saw he had several missed calls and a voicemail from Jack.

"Hey, nephew! Tried you again, but it would seem that you've taken attention with the lovely Blair. If I know you… and her, I guess, you won't be leaving that suite anytime soon. Listen, I'm heading to Paris on business. I have a contact who might be interested in joining our team. Give me a call when you've emerged. Also, coconut water. Good for hydration. Take care, nephew. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it."

Chuck smirked at Jack's message and realized that it had been days since he'd last thought about his and Jack's quest to exact revenge on his father. With Blair leaving, Chuck knew he would need to concentrate on what needed to be his purpose and keep his promise to move the ring to her finger.

He typed a quick message to Jack and let him know that he'd leave Monaco soon to meet him in Paris. As with most things, Blair was right - their counting card venture was never going to amount to what they needed to buy out Bart Bass. Chuck rolled his eyes as his own naivete.

Just as he was about to get up to head to ask Guy for some coconut water, Blair emerged from the bathroom, fresh and in a new dress. As much as Chuck appreciated the black YSL number, he knew well that Blair would never have gone out in public like that, and he was more than happy to be on the receiving end of her barely-covered breasts. The new dress, however, was much more Blair; creamy white covered in black and pink patterned stripes making up the top and a pink and green floral making up the skirt. With sheer nude heels accented by crystalized flowers on the toes, and a blush pink quilted bag to bring it all together, her demure femininity was firmly in place, guarded only by her confident poise.

"I must say I'm impressed with this shopper you've discovered. She's made some great choices."

Chuck again drew his eyes up the line of her heels to her ankles, and up her legs until he could see no more skin.

"I'll have Guy send you her information. Perhaps for when she's in New York next."

Chuck stood from the bed and reached his arms out to her. She walked into them, though she kept her distance. She traced her hand down the silk at his chest in appreciation.

"Well Paris may be an easier commute for her," Blair offered.

Chuck said nothing of his own plans to be in Paris and he silently wondered if he should disclose to Blair that they would be in the same city after he rejoined Jack.

"My mother wants me to learn the business from her atelier in Paris. Plus, Daddy and Roman have been asking when I'd stop by to see Cat."

He knew that they'd made promises to each other and the only way either of them would be able to keep them, to keep the promise that they'd find their way back together, would be for each other them to make sure they accomplished what they set out to do on their own, in their own time, without distraction.

The sooner he took down his father, the sooner he could be with Blair without restriction.

"Where are you going, then? I'll call for a car," Chuck said, not addressing Paris at all.

Blair reached up and grazed his jawline with her fingertips.

"I've already texted my driver. He should be downstairs now."

Chuck smiled. "I'll have them send over everything the shopper picked out to your father's place in Paris. It should make for a nice little summer wardrobe."

She nodded with a smile and it faded quickly.

The moment was now. They both knew it. It was time for their few days of passion to come to an end.

There was a heavy silence and invisible elephants in the room. They both noticed the quiet, and yet neither attempted to break it. Their hands were still locked when Chuck stepped around her and headed for the bathroom. Their fingers broke their link at the very last second, as far as their arms could stretch. Even such a small parting was hard.

A second later, Chuck came back into the bedroom holding the ring and necklace he'd given her two days before. They both stared into his palm, as if transfixed and frozen.

"You said," Chuck began, pulling the necklace with his other fingers and holding it out for her, "that you were all in this time."

Blair's lip quirked upward in a slight smirk as she recalled meeting him in the casino a few days earlier, not knowing just what would happen.

"It's going to be hard, Blair," he said, a warning in his voice.

She nodded. "I know."

"There's still so much that we need to do… so much to make our own way."

She nodded again.

He took a step closer to her and reached the necklace over her head, slipping it over her hair and then finally letting it rest on her chest, just barely seen under the top button of her dress.

"No matter what, Blair… I want you to know," he said, softly brushing the diamond that now hung over her heart, "that my bet's on us. To win. Always."

Chuck pulled the ring between his thumb and forefinger and lifted it to his lips, where he placed a kiss on the flat exterior of the diamond. Blair watched, hungry. Her mouth hung open in response and Chuck eagerly took her bottom lip with his.

Despite the desperation they both felt, the kiss itself was soft. Blair's hands reached up to his neck, holding him to her, and he pulled her waist close. Their lips broke only for whispers of seconds for air, their heads bobbing left and right, mirroring each other in movement. With each passing moment, softness was being replaced by the intense passion that had overtaken them the past few days.

Against every instinct, physical and emotional, Chuck forced himself to pull back.

"Blair," he whispered close to her mouth, his eyes still closed. "You have to go." It was a plea more than instruction.

She nodded in agreement. "I have to go."

But neither let go. They held each other, their breaths cycling into each other's mouths.

"I promise," he said, his voice firm. "I promise you, Blair."

She nodded again. She opened her eyes to stare into his.

"And I promise you, Chuck - we'll find our way back."

He kissed her forehead. "We will."

Reluctantly and yet all-too-willingly, they each released each other and took a step back, widening the gap between them. Blair offered a smile as she headed for the door to the suite. Her heels echoed in staccato through the silence only accompanied by Chuck's heartbeat.

As she grabbed the handle on the door, she turned back for one last look at Chuck, his outline illuminated by the glittery sea outside. They both held the stare for a beat and Blair finally turned back to the door and walked through it.

Chuck let out a long breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Every instinct in him was aching to run after her. If the past few days had taught him anything, it was that not having her in his life had been the darkest time in his life, and he wasn't quite sure how he'd survived it. It felt nearly suicidal to watch her walk away again, and to let her.

But, Chuck realized, they had to trust each other and take a gamble that they would do what they needed to do. No matter what came at them, no matter how hard it might be or how long it would take, Chuck and Blair were all in on their future together.

Chuck turned towards the turquoise sea outside his windows and nodded to himself in silent affirmation.

"My bet's on us."

---

So…? Be kind, this was the first Chair fic that I was comfortable sharing.

Also I did warn you about all the smut. But this is Chuck and Blair, right? The best sex of anyone's life.

This story required research on my part. Everything mentioned really exists – from hotels to shops to fashion to the layout of the freaking suite. Google and have some fun if you'd like.

And yes, I know, it's long. But I don't write any other way. I guess that explains why I sometimes talk a lot.

All of you Chair lovers, thank you for being you, I appreciate you. For all you Chair writers, thank you, I appreciate your words mucho. Kate, should you read this, I love you and I'm waiting for that next chapter, woman. _

Peace, love, and Chuck Bass,

Sophia