This　wasn？t　exactly　true。　A　few　months　ago　she？d　stolen　a　pair　of　cashmere　pajamas　from

Barneys？　men？s　department　to　give　to　Nate　as　a　surprise　gift　when　they　were　having　problems。

But　when　they？d　broken　up　for　real；　Serena　had　convinced　Blair　to　put　the　pajamas　back。　She？d

never　even　gotten　caught。

Owen　chuckled　and　picked　up　his　drink。　He　was　wearing　gold　cuff　links　with　a　blueY　stamped

on　them　to　match　his　blue…and…gold　Yale　tie。　？See；　you？re　just　the　kind　of　girl　Yale　needs；？　he

joked。

？And　I？m　a　virgin；？　Blair　blurted　out；　fluttering　her　eyelashes　at　the　randomness　of　her　remark。　It

was　strange。　Even　though　Owen　was　extremely　dashing　and　she　really　wanted　to　see　what　it　felt

like　to　kiss　him；　she　was　a　little　afraid　of　what　she　was　doing。

？I？m　sure　Yale　needs　more　of　those；　too；？　Owen　laughed。　He　crossed　and　then　uncrossed　his　legs

and　Blair　could　see　she　was　making　him　nervous；　which　wasn？t　what　she？d　intended。

She　reached　under　the　table　and　slipped　her　small；　trembling　fingers　over　his　warm；　tanned

hand。　？I　don？t　mind　if　you　kiss　me；？　she　murmured　in　a　low；　breathy　voice　that　sounded　exactly

like　Marilyn　Monroe　inSome　Like　It　Hot　。

Owen　put　down　his　drink。　？e　here；？　he　said　gruffly；　wrapping　his　free　arm　around　her　and

pulling　her　toward　him。

His　chin　was　rough　and　scratched　Blair？s　face　as　they　kissed；　but　she？d　never　been　kissed　so

expertly　and　powerfully　in　all　her　life。　Plus　he　smelled　faintly　of　Herm？s　Eau　d？Orange　Verte；

which　was　her　all…time　favorite　men？s　cologne。

Blair　had　thought　she？d　be　plagued　by　guilt　the　moment　their　lips　met。He？s　a　friend　of　Dad？s；

she　reminded　herself。He？s　old。　But　Owen　was　s