Chasing Shadows part 10 ~ Unpredictable Hearts
"Are you sure you need to have so many people under your thumb?" Chloe asked, glancing over Lex's shoulder at a list of names. "How do you keep track of them all?"
He chuckled low in his throat. Putting the paper down, he swiveled slightly in the chair to place his hands at her waist. "It comes naturally. When did you become so jaded to accept the less than virtuous side of how I do business?"
"When I had to become less than virtuous to get out of your father's clutches," she replied, resting her hands on his shoulders. She met his gaze with an intensity that caused a knot to form in his throat. Then, she smiled for him, her expression relaxed, her eyes grew soft. "But, do you honestly think you need all these contacts?"
"If we were dealing with any one of those names on that list, I would say no. But, we're referring to my father, we need every connection we can get."
"I don't deny that, but, I think you're spreading yourself too thin. If any one of those people backstabs you, we're done. Game over."
"Chloe, I've been setting up the pieces for this game for a very long time. It would take more than a few pawns to break the strategy." A slight chill went up her spine at his hard tone. "Getting chills?" he asked, his brows raised with slight amusement.
"Imagine that," she whispered softly with a shy smile. "After all these years you can still effect me with the simple tone of your voice."
"I imagine that's not necessarily a bad thing," he replied, his voice just above a whisper. He pulled her closer to stand between his knees. "Have you thought about my proposal?" he asked, his voice dropping to barely audible.
"Which proposal are you referring to?" she asked suggestively with a smirk, wrapping her arms around his neck, and leaning closer to him.
He turned his face momentarily to the side to avoid her lips as she moved to kiss him, then met her gaze when she paused to look at him. "You know which proposal, Chloe."
"Lex," she breathed heavily, pushing back from him. "Why do you insist on bringing that up 'every' time we get close to each other?"
His hands remained clasped at her hips, keeping her from completely retreating from him. "I haven't mentioned it at all until now."
She refused to meet his eyes for a moment. He was right, he hadn't mentioned his suggestion to marry him since that day in the arboretum. But, it weighed heavily on her mind every time they shared the smallest of affections. She wanted to say yes with all her heart, but it was also her heart that refused to take the chance.
Her and Lex had the perfect arrangement. They shared a fondness for each other, they worked through their problems, they had become confidants for each other. She was in love with him, and he was the only man she would ever truly be able to be herself with. But, to marry him? No, the illusion would fade. The dream would shatter. She would become nothing but a shadow to him as his wife, something Lex just couldn't understand.
"Give me more time, Lex?" she asked him with heartfelt sincerity.
"You hold the hourglass, Chloe, I'm just the sand between your fingers."
"I hate when you do that!" she exclaimed, pulling away from him completely. "How are you capable of being so damn sentimental when at any given moment your as shrewd and devious as that bastard we call your father?"
"Chloe, you know how I feel about you," he replied, standing to follow her, knowing she would move to leave the room. He knew he put her on the spot which meant she would try to get as far from him as possible. He grabbed her by the arm before she moved two steps. "What the hell are you so afraid of?" he half shouted, turning her to face him. "We share so much with each other, Chloe, why won't you be my wife?"
"Because my love for you isn't strong enough for me to become a Luthor!" she spat back at him, pulling her arm free as tears streaked her cheeks.
Lex remained unmoving as he watched her rush from the room. Squaring his shoulders he took a deep breath before he returned to his desk. 'Nice try, Chloe, but I don't believe that excuse for one second.'
XxXxX
"Ah, Megan," Lionel sighed as she walked into the room with a couple packages. "I see you've went 'shopping'." Putting emphasis on the last word.
"You say that as though it's a bad thing," she replied with a purr. "I needed something to wear to the social dinner tonight."
"I thought I made it clear what I wanted you to wear this evening."
"But, Lionel," she pouted prettily. "that dress is so old, and I've already worn it twice! What would people think?"
"You purchased it last week, and wore it only for me," he countered airily.
Sudden realization dawned on her. "You're not upset with me about going shopping, are you?" she more so stated. "You don't care what dress I wear at all."
He chuckled low in his throat, the sound alone confirming her suspicion. "It has been brought to my attention that you haven't been as honest with me as you would lead me to believe."
"What are you talking about? I have done nothing wrong by you!"
He studied her for a moment, noticing adeptly how her cheeks flushed indignantly, her hands resting on her hips. How infuriated she became with each passing second at being wrongly accused of something. With a deep sigh he casually turned his attention to his desk, more specifically a report folder lying on top. He was once more faced with a pang of indecision where Megan was concerned, a fact he didn't like one bit.
"Then you deny making secreted phone calls, using pay phones at the college?"
"No, I don't deny that at all. I call my family. I've always kept in touch with them."
"Then why the secrecy, Megan?"
She shifted uncomfortably and diverted her eyes from him. "Because, I know you have my phones tapped, and my step-father belittles you unmercifully. I was just trying to prevent you from hearing what he says about you."
"I know what he says about me, Megan," he chuckled. "There is nothing to protect me from."
"I wasn't protecting you, Lionel," meeting his eyes with hers. "I was protecting him."
Her admission caught him slightly off guard. He didn't like the idea of her acting on behalf of another man, no matter who he was. He also didn't like his own inward reaction. Nothing so trite had effected him in ages, and it didn't sit well with him. Lionel couldn't afford the distraction, especially now with Lex stirring a ruckus for control.
"Go change for this evenings dinner, I trust I will approve of whatever outfit you have purchased."
She smiled, bright and full of warmth before collecting the bags, and leaving the room.
After the incident outside Smallville, Lionel questioned her during the ride back to Metropolis. She told him of Lex's instructions to slip him the laxative, though she claimed to have no idea why Lex wanted her to do it. Lionel knew why. Just to see if she would. The fact that she had followed Lex's instructions still bothered Lionel greatly, no matter how the girl still tried to make amends for it.
She had further explained that Lex expected her to return to the mansion by a specific time, and how he threatened her if she didn't show. She admitted calling Lex out of fear for her life. Lionel had confirmed that fact by listening to the brief recorded conversation personally. He didn't put too much into the phone call, but was reassured that she at least sounded afraid.
Megan swore that no one expected Lionel to escort her back to Smallville personally, and that the roadside incident had been completely an unplanned coincidence. Lionel disagreed. There was no room for coincidence; it had all been planned perfectly. Too perfectly in fact. But, he had kept his observation to himself, not letting Megan know how much of a pawn she had been that night.
Lionel closed his eyes, catching a whiff of Megan's perfume that lingered from her presence a few minutes before. His heart constricted and he gritted his teeth against the emotion that filled him at the mere thought of her. 'How dare she?' he asked himself, not for the first time.
He stood from his desk and went to his bedroom. Standing just outside the opened doorway, he watched as she laid her new dress across the bed to be donned after her shower. She reached up her back and undid the zipper letting the silken material fall from her shoulders to pool at her bared feet. She stepped from the dress he knew held her scent, she pulled her long locks back, and gathered them atop her head as she stepped into the private bathroom, closing the door behind her without knowing she had been observed.
With a deep breath he entered the main room, and picked up her discarded dress from the floor. Sitting heavily on the edge of the bed, mindful not to disturb her gown for the evening dinner, he held the still warm material in his hands. Caressing its softness with his thumb.
"How dare you?" he whispered within a breath through his lips.
XxXxX
"You know I don't like it when we're not speaking to each other."
"And whose fault is that, Lex?" Chloe asked flippantly from behind the computer.
Lex turned his head to the side, silently working his jaw in thought. He knew what he should say to smooth things with Chloe, but wasn't able to get the words out. He knew she wouldn't accept an apology. She would know that he wouldn't mean it, and that would set her off even more than she already was.
"What do you expect from me, Chloe?"
"I expect you to go about your business as you normally would," she stated, her attention on the computer monitor in front of her. "and, not mention anything about our relationship again."
"Fine. If that's the way you want it," he replied with an edge to his voice. "But, I 'will' have you, Chloe, I promise you that."
"You already have me, Lex, I don't need a ring on my finger to prove that."
"It's not proof that I want, it never was."
Chloe looked up over the monitor just in time to see him walk out of the room. She forced herself to remain at the desk, and not go after him. She wanted nothing more at that moment to corner him and make him explain exactly what he meant by his words. But, she knew he would twist things around to suit himself, and before he was finished, he would have her give a promise for something she wasn't ready to give. With a deep controlled breath, she put her attention back to the computer, and made herself busy so as not to have to think about Lex for the time being.
XxXxX
Chloe had refused to join him for dinner, only accepting a platter made for her by the maid. He had waited, patiently, for her to come to bed. At one hour past midnight, he thought her simply being stubborn, and remained patient. At two hours past midnight, he remained unmoving, but fought with himself to not go to her, and bring her back to their bed; by force if need be. By the third hour he deemed that she must have fallen asleep at the computer, again, and went to retrieve her; secretly looking forward to the opportunity to hold her close against him.
More than halfway through the penthouse he heard the rhythmic sound of her fingers on the keyboard. He shook his head, thinking how easy it was for her to delve into an article, or research, and completely lose track of time; ignoring her own body when it told her she needed food or sleep.
"It's after three," he announced quietly from the doorway. She either hadn't heard him, which was possible, or she chose to ignore him, which was also possible. He stepped further into the room to see the opened books all over the desk, discarded balls of paper that had missed the trash basket littered the floor, and the pot of coffee burning oil on a table nearby.
She looked up at him as he approached her side, her expression showed first surprise, then turned apologetic. "I'm sorry, I have to get this done, Lex."
"It's after three, Chloe," he repeated, knowing for certain she hadn't heard him the first time.
"There's nothing I can do about it. I 'have' to get this done!" she stressed, but without anger or malice. "It's bad enough I'm not attending my classes, I can't shirk on the assignments, too."
"I suppose that's somehow my fault."
"I didn't say it was your fault." She looked up at him, her eyes were so tired, her forehead wrinkled with the headache he knew she had throbbing in her head. "I was given the assignments for my finals today, and with everything concerning Lionel going the way it is, I just want to make sure they get done."
"So, you want to make sure you have a passing grade in case you die."
"That's not even funny. We really have to work on your humor, Lex."
A smirk curled the corners of his mouth. "I'll leave you alone, then." He turned and left the room, a full smile spreading on his features just for knowing that she wasn't mad at him anymore. He segued into the kitchen for a drink before returning to bed, and heard the phone in his office down the hall ringing. Curious, he headed toward it to listen to the message being recorded on his answering machine.
"...was hospitalized for asking too many questions. Something's wrong, and I can't find out what it is. I'm sorry I let you down, but, I haven't given up yet. I promise, I will get you answers."
The caller hung up without leaving a name nor a forwarding number, but Lex didn't need either. The call was from Jake, one of his father's previous thugs whom had, in his own way, protected Chloe from serious harm when others wouldn't have shown her any mercy.
With a thoughtful frown Lex turned back towards the kitchen, once again to obtain a drink, when his mind remembered the night Jake showed up at Chloe's dorm. A more pleasant smile graced his face as he reached the kitchen, and retrieved a bottle of wine and two glasses.
XxXxX
"Come on, Lex, these are my finals!" she complained when he closed her books and took over the mouse to close her programs, saving everything before shutting the computer down.
"I'm more than well aware of that," he replied easily, gently moving her out of his way.
"What are you up to?" she asked, her tone betraying her uncertainty of what his answer might be.
She knew she had pushed him to a limit earlier, and was more than aware that he was restraining himself with practiced patience, something she counted on him for many, many times over the years. But this... this was unexpected. This was him being unpredictable. She hated it when he was like this!
Then, he turned and looked at her, his blue eyes held her in place, making her catch her breath in her throat. The look in his eyes sent a chill throughout her being, causing her to swallow hard.
"I want you."
A short breath escaped her lips. It was desire in its simplest form, Lex Luthor style. It was rare for him to be so blatant about it, but, it was definitely not the first time. He demanded so nicely, that refusing him was never a thought in her mind. Another breath escaped her lips as he wove his fingers into her hair at the side of her face, and closed his mouth over hers.
XxXxX
He took a nipple gently between his teeth, kneading the other one between forefinger and thumb. Her head was thrown back as far as it would go, and still he made sure her upper body did not touch the floor as she arched her back over his arm.
He knew that his boldness alone acted as an aphrodisiac as he lead her to the entertainment room in the penthouse. His lips not leaving her skin for more than a few seconds at a time only enhanced her arousal so that the bottle of wine was completely forgotten by the time he had her before the fake fireplace. She practically purred for him as he lowered her to the throw rug. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave herself to him in pure abandonment.
He wanted this forever. The feel of her hands on his bare skin as she removed his clothes. Her lips touching his flesh, her tongue teasing, her teeth gently grazing the more sensitive areas of his body. This is what he wanted, these moments when nothing else existed but her. He wanted her promise that these moments were his, that she was his, and his alone.
She pushed his shoulders back to lean against the sofa as she raised herself up to straddle his hips. Easing herself down on him while claiming his lips in hers. Her hands cradled the sides of his face as she swayed her hips in a rocking motion, his hands comfortably cupping her ass.
He felt her tighten around him and took a sharp intake of breath. She wasn't anywhere near a climax and he knew it, but, only by knowing Chloe herself. Her eyes were full of passion when she pulled back to stare down at him, but, he saw the challenge for him to break his control as she rode him hard. Her eyes narrowed to half slits at the smirk that formed on his lips, letting her know it wasn't going to work this time.
She bent over his shoulder and took his earlobe between her teeth, licking at it with the tip of her tongue, moaning softly with pleasure as she took him deeper inside herself. He felt her half smile when he clenched his jaw, and his body shuddered slightly in response to her attentions.
He ran his fingernails slowly up her spine, taking the skin at her neck in his mouth to suck on it savagely, holding the spot gently with his teeth when she arched her back. Thrusting onto him in reflex, she threw her head back to the side to give him more access. He heard her moan deep in her throat, but knew she tried to hold it back.
He bit down harder on her neck, grabbed her ass more forcibly, and thrust his hips into her with quick repetition before she could pull him down to lay on the floor. He knew she would want to wrap her legs around him, rake her nails down his back, and let him bring her to climax, taking him with her.
'Not this time.' He swore to himself. 'This time you come alone.'
"Lex?"
'No!' he thought before opening his eyes. Her tone had been questioning, pleading, begging him to give her what she wanted. He met her eyes with his to find them questioning, hurt, and confused. Somehow she knew what he was planning, and she wanted to know why. 'Dammit!' He rolled to his side, letting her shift beneath him as her back lay onto the rug.
He positioned himself above her. Her eyes slid closed as she enveloped him within her arms and legs. Her breaths were warm and uneven in his ear as she met his thrusts, letting herself go.
"Lex!"
'Don't tell me you love me, Chloe, god dammit, don't say it!' he demanded silently.
"I love you!"
He gritted his teeth as the wave washed over him, his body joining hers in fulfillment. His shoulders sagged to rest upon hers in defeat. She limply lay beneath him, completely spent and satisfied. The triumphant one to a challenge she didn't know existed.