An Entirely Different Thing'

Part 2

'You are disgusting.'

She stared blankly at her features in the mirror of her bathroom and wondered idly how it was possible to look so unchanged after everything had turned upside down. Chloe had never really thought that she would metamorphose into an entirely different individual after she finally had sex. But since she had always linked the act to a One Great Love, then she expected that she would probably radiant, blooming, glowing with untold softness.

But she looked the same at best. At worst, tired.

'Appearances are always deceiving.' Even for Clark, the guy she had always thought of as being so openly genuine that there was nothing in him he would not share with the world. 'He has the biggest secret of them all. And that secret led to this.' She didn't know if she should curse him or bless him.

Chloe splashed cold water on her face and looked up again. She watched the droplets of water make their haphazard way down her cheekbones and her chin. The phone rang, a discrete series of beeps that Lana had placed over the shrill ring that Chloe had installed. She took the towel and rubbed her face. Her skin was tingling and she relished the abrasion now, like she did when she rubbed her entire body with soap and a loofah earlier.

Her skin was soft and tender and for several seconds she felt that, rather than his demanding hands all over her, taking. She shook her head and waited for it to clear. Right now, it was only her. And then later, when her skin finally blew away the abuse she heaped on it with the rather rough towel, it was all Lex again. His lips, hard and insistent on her cheeks and her neck. His teeth, nipping not so gently on her earlobes. His fingers moving where they shouldn't be. And there was his palm pressing and pushing in places she did not invite him to.

Chloe walked out of the bathroom and glanced at the clock. The drive home yesterday convinced her that there was no way she would go so low as to go to Lex Luthor's house. All day in school, she kept shaking away feelings and memories of touches. It was seven thirty and she was home. She won this battle after all.

The phone was still ringing and she hoped it wasn't him. But then again, she was not important enough for him to call. She picked up the phone.

"Lana," Chloe greeted with forced cheerfulness. "Where are you? Really? Okay." Chloe replaced the phone in the cradle and blinked away the sudden pain that stung her. Just in case she fell asleep before her dad arrived, she took a pad and wrote swiftly. 'Lana called to say she'll be home late. She has a date with Clark.' She almost swore at her own hand that trembled when she commanded it to include a cheerful exclamation point. '…has a date with Clark!'

It was the doorbell now. 'Won't everyone just leave me alone?' Chloe ran down the stairs. Her father was so absentminded that he usually left his own key in the office and would wait outside for Chloe to arrive so he could enter his own house. She had repeatedly told him to leave a copy under the pot. He said that it wasn't safe, to which she replied that everything was safe in Smallville. She hadn't realized until this past year how dangerous it was, especially to young women with notions of romance and ideals.

Chloe opened the door. There wasn't much drama to it. And she saw him standing outside looking displeased. And then she wished back the moment she pulled open the door. This guest required a slow climactic entrance. But she could not very well shut the door on his face, could she?

"I had the impression that you should have been at the castle thirty minutes ago."

"And you decided to drive all the way to remind me?"

Lex Luthor stepped inside uninvited, forcing her to step back and let him in. But then again, what was new? "Explain to me what you're doing here, dressed like that."

Chloe looked down at her sleepwear. She found it odd to be dressed like it so early in the night, when she would usually still be chasing stories and laughing with friends. Things change. "I was going to bed."

"And you were not even telling the person you had an appointment with?"

She only met his gaze. "I don't like who I become when I'm with you," she told him.

Lex nodded at this. It was an answer easily accepted. He had that effect on people. "Can I at least have some coffee?"

Chloe looked at him oddly before going to the kitchen. She set the still hot water from earlier to a boil. She felt him move behind her, where she couldn't see him. It was discomfiting, but she said nothing. She stiffened when she felt his fingertips trace her nape, sending goosebumps all over her arms. "How do you take it?"

"Bare," he breathed in her ear. And then he easily slid down the garterized waist of her pajama bottoms, taking her cotton underwear with it. The garments fell easily to the tiled floor.

Chloe bit her lower lip when he grabbed her waist and pushed into her from behind. She gripped the counter and took him inside her. His rough movements pushed her against the hard sink. The kettle of water in front of her whistled.

"Lex," she gasped. "The water."

He pushed inside her deeper and reached between their bodies, seeking for the specific point. With one flick, she sent her vision of the kitchen spiraling, and she tightly closed her eyes.

"Chloe!"

Her eyes flew open. "My dad!"

"Chloe, honey, why is the front door open? You know that's not safe. Where are you?"

"I'll—I'll be right there," she choked out. "I'll be right there, dad!" she shouted back. Lex pounded inside her. From his erratic movements she could tell he was oblivious to anything else. "I'm—I'm coming… right out!"

Lex wrapped his arms around his waist and jerked on last time. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. Chloe pushed him away and reached to turn off the stove. "Zip your pants," she commanded sharply.

"Are you in the kitchen, honey? Why is Mr. Luthor's car out front?"

"Yes, dad!" Chloe bent down and picked up her pajamas and replaced them.

When Gabe Sullivan walked into the kitchen, he asked his daughter, "Did you forget to close the door, honey? You know it's dangerous. Strangers might just wander in."

"No strangers, dad," she assured her father. She had sunk onto a barstool, her knees too weak to support her.

"Mr. Luthor?"

Lex nodded at Gabe where he sat at the other side of the bar. "I dropped by to talk to you about the plant."

"I was at the plant, Mr. Luthor," Gabe told him in confusion. "You asked me to stay. I was waiting for you."

"I didn't realize, Gabe. I apologize."

Chloe met Lex's eyes but couldn't read his expression. She hated this man. She hated him so much. She had to get away. "Dad," she said. "I have to go to my room and take a nap. But I wanted to tell you before I went to bed that I—I need to go to Metropolis tomorrow."

Lex's face registered a pleased surprise at her excuse.

"I have a project. And I have to interview someone from the Planet."

"Chloe," Gabe said. "That's marvelous."

Chloe's lips parted. "Really?" Finally. Distance was the best way she could think of so that she can stay away from Lex. She did not trust herself to follow her own rules when he was within reach.

"Mr. Luthor is planning a trip to Metropolis tomorrow too. That's why he needs to leave some details with me for while he's gone. At least I know that you have someone to look after you there."

"We wouldn't want the young men of Metropolis having a feast day with you," Lex drawled out. His smirk was enough to drive her sanity to the edge. "Why don't you run up and tell your friend Clark that you'll be gone for the weekend, Chloe?"

"Yes, Chloe. Go on while I meet with Mr. Luthor about the plant."

"I can't," she bit out, looking at Lex. "He's on a date." She stood up and kissed her dad on the cheek. "Night, dad."

"Goodnight, Chloe," two male voices replied at the same time.

tbc