Chapter Three
Chloe was just slipping on her strapped heels when she heard the knock on the door. Quickly standing, she took one last look in the mirror and hurried to answer. She didn't have to check the peephole to know who it was.
"Eight o'clock, prompt as ever, Lex."
She stepped aside so her friend could come inside, silently checking out his suave appearance. Even in a long black dress coat the man exuded a kind of energy that excited the senses. Some might call it intimidation; she called it power.
He turned to her, his eyes slowly traveling from the top of her gently curled hair to the toes of her copper toned shoes, and back up again. She'd been nervous about wearing the delicate concoction of deep copper; it was just a simple spaghetti strapped sheath of shimmering silk. But when she'd seen it in the window of Killinger's she hadn't been able to resist it. She'd managed to stave off her guilt about paying so much for one dress by reminding herself that she would wear it to the next five formal events she went to. That should give her a good two years to build back up her nest egg.
Now, as she watched Lex appreciate her, she knew that she'd made the right impulsive decision.
"Do I meet with your approval?" she asked with a smile.
He nodded, saying nothing as his eyes landed on her neck. "You wore it."
How three little words could sound so pleased she didn't know. But they did, and she felt herself warm.
"Well, you did say it was my third chance to wear it." She touched the diamond for a quick second, glad now that, besides the charm bracelet her father had given her, it was the only adornment she wore.
She nearly lost her breath when a full, heady smile slipped across his face. It was a rare treat to see him grin like that; and it was definitely a potent one. She'd never questioned how Lex Luthor managed to gather women around him like so many pretty flowers; and with the full wattage of his smile turned to her she could see why several had sworn undying love.
"You – you clean up pretty well yourself, Mr. Luthor." She let her gaze roam over him again, enjoying the way his presence reached out to cloak her.
"You're easily impressed," he teased as she picked up her clutch. "Wait, turn that inside out."
She gave him a quick look, one that she hoped looked appropriately appalled. "What?"
"Your purse, Ms. Sullivan. I'd like to see what's in there," he replied smoothly.
"Just my lipstick, some tissue, a comb…" He lifted his eyebrow speculatively as her voice trailed away. She knew she was caught. "Oh, alright."
With a sigh, she pulled out a small tape recorder and tossed it onto the couch. Lex crossed his arms over his chest, silently telling her he was prepared to wait all night for the rest of it. With a defeated growl, she yanked out the small notebook and pen.
"Okay, all clear, Mr. Luthor. Satisfied?"
There was a sudden gleam in his blue eyes, one that heated them like an electric flash of lightning. Before she could consider it, his gaze was back to the gently amused look she'd grown used to.
"Thank you, Chloe. Now, shall we go?"
She twisted her mouth wryly, her glossed lips slipping together as she took her coat off the couch. Before she could work her arm into the opening, Lex was behind her, carefully holding the velvet garment up for her. An odd tingle worked its way down her spine as she slipped into the coat, her body enveloped with his warmth and partially held by his arms. Swallowing against the shock, she shakily worked the single large button at her waist together.
She stood for a moment, afraid to move, but strangely yearning to turn to the man behind her. What would it be like to be pressed against him, she wondered. How would it feel to be cradled against his chest, to have his strength and his deep, masculine scent completely encompassing her? Her memories churned, bringing up the few times when he'd held her, giving her the comfort she needed at the time. But if she turned to him now, it would be for different reasons. She just wasn't completely sure what those reasons would be.
The thick silence was interrupted when he moved around her, quietly holding his elbow out. "The ball awaits, Ms. Sullivan."
Determinedly shedding her decidedly inappropriate thoughts, Chloe slid her hand into the crook of his arm and let him lead her out.
Lex couldn't remember the last time he'd actually felt proud of the woman on his arm. Chloe was standing by his side, a gorgeous, petite figure in her elegant gown. The other women here were draped in jewels, the blinding light of them garish against their over sequined dresses. But the woman he'd brought was confident enough in her beauty to know she didn't need anything to accentuate her looks. Because of that she stood out, a graceful rose among pretentious flowers.
She shifted slightly, sending her natural spicy vanilla scent wafting around him. He'd never forgotten her aroma, or how it made his gut clench and his loins tighten.
"Wow, this is amazing," she whispered in his ear. "I can't believe all the people that are here."
He pulled her slowly into the lazily moving crowd, smiling benignly as he nodded briefly to a few of his business acquaintances. "Charity events help people make connections, whether they want them or not."
She gave him a quizzical look before she sent him a lopsided smile. "I guess you have to be careful who you schmooze."
Her green eyes were twinkling, emeralds in warm sunlight, and he had an almost uncontrollable urge to lean down and lay a kiss on her upturned lips. Checking the impulse, he gave her a small smile in return. "Would you like to hide? I think there's a large display of native lilies just up ahead; you could duck behind them for a few hours."
She lifted one finely arched eyebrow and gently bumped him with her hip. "No way, Lex; if I can't play reporter tonight, then I'm going to at least enjoy watching you suffer through mundane chit chat. I think that could be highly entertaining."
Biting back a chuckle, he led her over a softly arched bridge, watching as she stared down at the water underneath them and the plants that grew in it. He could hear the gentle music of a live orchestra just ahead, the strains of the violins and cellos muffled by the trees and flowers. When they finally stepped into the far dome of the building, they were greeted by a sedate dance floor and soft lighting. Overhead, the glass reflected the glimmer of the party below, all but blocking out the natural shine of the stars and full moon. Along one side wall was a large buffet table, decorated with a scattering of bright wildflowers. Small round tables swathed in white were staggered around the room, the centerpieces of floating candles in delicate crystal bowls lending ambiance. It was obvious to Lex that this room had been created for events like this, while the other two domes and attached walkways had been built for regular use. But even here there were beautiful plants encircling the boundaries of the room, their velvety purples, reds, and blues inviting and exotic.
Chloe pulled him close again, her warm breath cascading over his ear and cheek. "Look, there's Mayor Hull and his wife talking to Commissioner Gordon. And it looks like…is that Michael Akins? I thought he was MIA after he resigned his post as commissioner and Gordon took over again."
He could feel her growing excitement and merely shook his head. You could take the reporting tools from the reporter, but you couldn't take away the innate need to know. He found he didn't want to at any rate, not when it was one of the most attractive things about her. "There are rumors that Jeremiah Arkham is trying to court him into becoming head of security for Arkham Assylum."
"God knows they could use better security," she muttered. "Who didn't they invite to this thing?"
"I'm not sure; I wasn't privy to their guest list."
She gave him an aggravated look and steered him towards the buffet. "Come on, smart a, I'm starving."
Her complete and sometimes naïve honesty was one of the things he liked the most in her. If Chloe Sullivan was hungry, she ate; if she was angry, she yelled. She simply didn't have the heart to play games, and he found it not only intriguing, but refreshing as well.
She lifted one bone white china plate and handed it to him, then carelessly lifted another for herself. He didn't say a word as she surveyed the food. A moment later she was diving into the cold shrimp and cocktail sauce.
"So, Lex, is there anyone you're trying to avoid tonight?" she asked, laying several large, sauce coated shrimp on his plate.
He looked down at his plate with a slightly wrinkled brow. "No, not in particular. Why, were you going to rescue me if I was?"
She turned to give him a dazzling smile as she slid crab puffs first onto her plate, then his. "That's me, the poor man's Batwoman."
"I thought it was Batgirl," he teased, blinking as she placed toast points with caviar beside the shrimp.
"We're in the twenty-first century, Mr. Luthor; don't be a chauvinist." She looked at the chocolate dipped strawberries, tilted her head as if deciding something, then plucked a few up. "You're not allergic to strawberries, right?"
All he could do was stare at her, a bit bewildered. "Uh, no, not that I'm aware of." She gave a satisfied nod and put three fat pieces of the fruit on his plate. "Chloe, what are you doing?"
"Huh? Oh, well, I'm making sure I have enough to eat," she said with a beguiling smile. "Taking two plates would make me look like a hog, so I figured you could stand beside me and I could pick off of yours."
He opened his mouth, closed it again, then lifted his eyebrow at the wicked gleam in her eyes. In that moment he knew her gesture was meant as a nicety, a friend being kind to a friend.
He c0cked his head and let his amusement show. "And if I'd been allergic to strawberries?"
"I would have told you to be careful."
They stood on the outside of the crowd rather than sit as they slowly ate. Or rather, as he slowly ate, Lex amended. Chloe dove into her food just like she dove into nearly everything else: with breath stealing gusto. He enjoyed listening to her unveiled comments about some of Gotham City's most prominent citizens. It was even more entertaining because what she said was the absolute truth.
He was handing her a second glass of champagne when Bruce Wayne seemed to appear from nowhere.
"Lex Luthor, I'm surprised to see you here," he said amiably.
Lex had the sudden, satisfying image of plowing a fist into the billionaire's face. Instead he sent the other man a cool look.
"I was in town, so I thought I should do my civic duty." He couldn't ignore the quick glance Bruce cast towards Chloe. "I believe you've met my date, Chloe Sullivan."
"As a matter of fact I have. Ms. Sullivan," he emphasized the last name with a slight inflection, "asked me a very interesting question the other day."
"Yes, she's full of interesting questions," Lex replied quietly. He watched the other man through narrowed eyes, carefully balancing his champagne flute.
As far as men went, he supposed Bruce Wayne was good looking. He epitomized the ever popular tall dark and handsome, but there was something else about him. Something that had an edge he was sure not many people saw.
"Do you mind if I borrow your date?" the man in question asked.
Lex shrugged negligently, determined to keep his cool façade in place. "If she doesn't mind."
Chloe shook her head and put her glass down on a nearby table. "I'll be right back."
He lifted his eyebrow as he watched the pair blend in with the other couples that swirled around the dance floor. Taking a sip of his champagne, he kept his eyes trained on them as Bruce pulled Chloe into his arms. He ignored the desire to rip her away from the other man, passing his feelings off as childish. She would be back; she'd promised she would. And if she didn't come back soon enough…well, then, he'd deal with that when the time came.
Bruce held her loosely, enjoying the way she fit in his arms. She moved with him, trusting him to lead her as they circled the dance floor. He'd been preoccupied with her for the past two days, curious about exactly who Lois Lane was. He'd been disappointed when he'd found out she was engaged to one Clark Kent, then confused when he'd pulled up an image of her. She wasn't a petite blond, but a slender brunette, and that had peaked his curiosity even more. He'd been weighing various ways to meet the reporter again, and luck had been on his side. When he'd looked up to see her standing just across the room, he'd known he had to talk to her again.
"So, Little Red, Lois Lane…Chloe Sullivan? Which is it?" he asked with a small smirk.
"It depends on the day and time," she replied with a tilt of her head.
"And do you try on names and personalities, Little Red? Are you trying to see which one sticks?"
He found himself holding his breath as he waited for her answer. He wasn't sure how he would feel about becoming involved with a woman that was afflicted with the same condition he had.
"You're the only one that calls me Little Red, Mr. Wayne, and my other names have perfectly reasonable explanations."
He waited again, then lifted his eyebrows when she simply smiled back. The little chit knew she was teasing him, and she seemed dmn proud of herself.
He leaned in closer, his gaze swimming in her faceted green eyes. "All I would have to do is make a few phone calls to get to bottom of it, you know."
"And would you do that?"
He had the feeling she was asking him as a woman, not as a reporter, and that pleased him nearly as much as the feel of her body against his. "I won't lie to you; I'm…fascinated by you. I'd rather hear the truth from you, but, yes, if I have to I'll use whatever sources I need."
She stared at him for moment before her features eased. "You certainly are honest, aren't you?"
"Is that good or bad?"
"That's a definite check in the plus column," she said with a smile. She waited a beat then replied. "Lois Lane is my inom de plume/i; Chloe Sullivan is my given name."
"So, no deep, dark secrets involved? I think I'm a little disappointed," he joked.
"Hmm, and what about you, Mr. Wayne? And deep dark secrets you'd like to tell me about?"
Her look was amused curiosity, and he fought away the wild urge to look away from her probing eyes. For the first time he was sorely tempted by a woman to reveal the part of himself that he kept so cautiously hidden. It was unnerving to say the least. But then, so was the sudden desire to taste her, to run his lips along the column of her throat and savor the hollow between her neck and shoulder. He would bet she tasted like rich confection, all deep and creamy, sweet and fulfilling. His mouth began to practically salivate at the idea of it. By the quiet look on Chloe's face, he would have to say that she'd seen a glimpse of his thoughts in his eyes.
He was pulled from his rapidly heating thoughts by a solid smack on his shoulder. Bruce wrenched his gaze from the woman in his arms and found himself staring into the seemingly relaxed face of Lex Luthor.
"I'd like to reclaim my date," he said congenially.
His act didn't fool Bruce for a second. He'd lived most of his life studying the subtle body language of the people around him; it had literally saved his life on several occasions. And what he saw in the other man's face was annoyance with a good dose of anger.
Instead of pushing the matter, Bruce graciously stepped aside. "Of course. Thank you for the dance, Ms. Sullivan. It was…enlightening."
"Mr. Wayne," she said, then gave him a soft smile.
The moment Bruce moved away, Lex pulled her into his embrace, holding her closer than was necessary. He'd been patient, he thought; he'd given them over half the song to dance…to touch. In his mind that had been more than enough time.
"You couldn't find some gorgeous brunette to maul?" She linked her arms around his shoulders and grinned up at him.
"I thought we'd already established that I wasn't using the gardens as a pick up bar." He tightened his hands around her waist. "Besides, I'm already with the prettiest girl at the ball."
She lifted a dubious eyebrow and chuckled. "Wow, practicing your lines on me, Mr. Luthor? I'll warn you I'm a tougher sell than other women."
And that was yet another thing that made him want her so badly. She never gave in, not easily, and especially not after having her heart cracked because of her crush on Clark. Chloe was the kind of woman a man had to earn. He couldn't remember wanting to win anything more in his life, including freedom from his father. But because of a twist of fate and the quirks of nature, he knew that Chloe deserved better than he had to give. Still, it didn't stop the desire.
She looked up at him then, c0cking her head and sending the soft curls of her hair cascading over her shoulder. "You know, I don't think I've seen you schmooze one single person tonight. I thought I'd at least get the pleasure of seeing you squirm in your oh-so-cool way."
The word squirm brought a whole other image to his mind, one that involved her underneath him, gasping his name as he slid his palms over her bare, slick skin. He knew how passionate she was; he could well imagine how magnificent she would be when she gave herself physically. She would be hot, wild, a storm under his manipulation. He thought of how wet her mouth would be, how her scorching walls would open to welcome him, expanding, cradling his c as he slipped inside of her.
He felt himself engorge against his pants and flexed his hands against her back. He had a quick fantasy of dragging her behind a corner display of scarlet flowers, sliding his hands up her thighs, ripping her underwear away. He'd take her right there, with her back pinned against the wall as he drove in and out of her.
"Lex? Lex? Hello?" She had her brow wrinkled curiously and was staring at him with laughing eyes. "Where'd you wander off to?"
He snapped up a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry, I was distracted."
Chloe's eyebrow lifted in a move that had become familiar and cherished. "Wow, am I that boring."
Boring? If she knew exactly what was going on in his overactive mind she would probably smack him soundly across the face. "Not at all; I was just thinking about a…merger."
"A merger, huh? Well, I hope it's an important one," she teased.
"Oh, it is, Chloe. It definitely is."
