In the end, a whole lot of things came up and Rin didn't have a chance to speak with Gerard for the next four days and when she did his own plans made it impossible for them to meet for another couple of days, which meant that in order to fulfill the twice a week clause of their Contract they had to meet two days in a row.
Rin would have preferred to avoid that if at all possible. She didn't trust Gerard one bit and made sure to check both her mind and body for tampering extensively.
Nothing strange came up now, beside the fact that she was more relaxed, as far as the body went. However, being subjected to his whims twice in a row gave him more opportunity to mess around with her and gave her a smaller timeframe to check herself for strange things.
It was with such thoughts that she found herself yet again at his Workshop's doorsteps. As usual the door was open and just like the two other times he was waiting for her at the entrance, idly reading over a book.
"Good afternoon, Rin."
"Gerard," she greeted for the first time upon entering. Perhaps it was because it was the third time, or perhaps it was his behavior, but she didn't feel like mustering her usual hostility. "So, are we going to finally try this ritual today or what?"
Gerard closed his book slowly and stood, examining her with an inquisitive eye.
"Yes," he finally said. "You don't look like you are about to snap and tear me in two anymore."
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Saying it isn't exactly helping your case."
He shrugged, unconcerned.
"We are Magi. Honesty isn't exactly a virtue to us, but neither is sugar-coating the truth. I won't lie to you about this Rin, I'm not a better person than you think I am; actually I'm probably worse. I'm looking forward to this for reasons that are not wholly professional and let me tell you, you are not going to enjoy yourself more than strictly necessary. It's only natural that you'd hate me."
"Well," Rin blinked at his forwardness. She thought he was trying to lull her in a sense of false security. "Of course I hate you."
"Good. Hold onto that feeling cause you're likely to hate me even more at the end of the year. Now come, we have things to do and far too little time."
Nodding, she followed after him.
In spite of what he just said, she felt reassured. This was the way things were supposed to be.
Of course, this was exactly what Gerard wanted. Saying the things she wanted to hear, that he was Magus and a lowlife at that, which he was, while behaving exactly the opposite. It was something Rin herself did, minus the lowlife part.
Besides, if he played too nice, she would be looking out for traps. If everything about him fit her vision, at least superficially, she could not blame him for the emotion he was about to evoke in her.
She probably would anyway, at least outwardly. Rin was the kind of person who denied her feelings first and foremost to herself, but underneath she wasn't able to completely dismiss them for what they were. It was a cage of her own making and a delicious duplicity that would serve Gerard well.
He took her to a bedroom, this time. Rin was more relieved than she thought she would. Doing something like that on a slab of stone was going to be very uncomfortable.
"Alright," she said. "How are we going to do this?"
She didn't undress right away and Gerard was glad for that. On her first visit, Rin acted mechanically, forcing her pride aside. If they had done it back then, regardless of how good he made her feel, she would have been able to detach herself from it.
This, however, was the real Tohsaka Rin. Headstrong, proud and fearless at least on the outside.
Time to begin cracking that hollow shell.
Wordlessly and with confident slowness, Gerard stepped into her space and brushed her hair behind her head. A gesture that spoke of familiarity. Rin followed his every movement, but did not shy away from his touch. The previous three session had paid off, both physically and mentally.
He helped her slid her coat off, folding it and carefully placing it on a nearby chair. This too was meant to induce tranquility, as one usually treated people better than their things. Another piece of a carefully constructed façade.
"Rin, I'm giving you one last chance to back off for this," he said when he turned to her again.
"What do you mean?" she frowned. "We can't back off from anything, we are under geass."
"True, but the way we have worded it, if we don't go along with the ritual you'll be only bound to come here a couple of hours a week."
"W-why are you asking this now?"
"I'm not sure myself," he shook his head. "Maybe I just like chasing you more than I like getting you."
It was a lie, of course, but a very good one. By giving her a chance to back off, acting against his own interest, he posed himself as a better person. He wasn't, of course, and if she backed off he would still be able to manipulate her into it at a later time.
Rin sighed and shook her head, the corner of her mouth twitching, however slightly.
"I wouldn't be here now if I hadn't already made up my mind. Stop wasting my time."
"Alright then," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist. She closed her eyes, slightly tilting her head backward. Gerard leaned in and kissed her mouth.
Rin forced herself to reciprocate, but it was a very awkward thing. His hands slid behind her and caressed her back, slowly. After a minute, her shoulders relaxed and to her surprise their kisses became more natural.
She did not allow herself to enjoy it, however she noticed that her shirt was unbuttoned only when he was already at her stomach.
'When...?' she briefly wondered, but soon discarded needless thoughts. If this was going to happen anyway, she wouldn't just stand there like a dead fish.
She went for his shirt, fumbling with the buttons. Her shirt was already completely open by then and his hands brushed against her stomach causing a shiver, God help her, not at all unpleasant to run up her spine.
She quenched down that thought and then forced herself not to. The ritual required her enjoyment, at least at a physical level. If she clamped down not only it wouldn't make her crime less heavy, but it would make it useless to.
'Forgive me, Saber, Shirou,' she pleaded in the confines of her mind. Sensing her resignation, his tongue slid past the boundaries of her lips, engaging into a slow dance.
Her breathing started to become more labored. 'From the lack oxygen', she told herself.
She let him take away her shirt, which joined her coat along with his.
Now skin against skin, Gerard kissed her neck while he kept caressing her back, warming up her body.