when　Blair　suddenly　grabbed　his　pink…and…white　checked　shirt；　nearly　ripping　it　off　his　body。

？Kiss　menow　；？　she　told　him　urgently。　Of　course　it　was　sort　of　unexpected？they？d　only　just　met

yesterday？but　didn？t　that　make　it　all　the　more　romantic？

Or　all　the　more　bizarre。

？Because　somebody？s　looking　or　because　you　want　me　to？？　Lord　Marcus　responded　with　an

amused；　irresistible　smile　that　made　it　very　clear　he　didn？t　care　either　way。

？Both。？　Blair　closed　her　eyes　in　anticipation　of　the　kiss。　Of　course　she　wasn？t　in　love；yet。　It　was

theidea　of　Lord　Marcus　she　loved。　But　their　first　kiss　lasted　longer　than　an　on…screen　kiss；　tasted

better　than　steak　frites；　and　felt　better　than　a　day…dream？waybetter。　It　certainly　wouldn？t　take

much　for　her　to　fall　genuinely　in　love。　She　was　definitely　almost　there。

A　cab　pulled　to　a　stop　beside　them　and；　his　lips　still　pressed　against　Blair？s；　Lord　Marcus　raised

his　hand　to　flag　it。　But　the　cab　was　already　occupied　by　a　very　tense　Nate　Archibald。　Nate　opened

the　cab　door；　and　Lord　Marcus　and　Blair　stepped　aside　to　allow　Serena　to　breeze　past　them　and

into　the　backseat。　She　pulled　the　door　closed；　looking　up　at　Blair　and　Lord　Marcus　through　the

window　with　her　huge　blue　eyes。　Blair　stared　back；　her　body　pressed　against　Lord　Marcus。　Serena

lifted　her　hand　to　wave　at　them；　her　perfect　lips　parting　in　a　smile　as　the　cab　took　off　toward　Fifth