A/N: Sorry for the late update. Just so you know, Jade4813 and I are still working on this fic. Few chapters have been written and needs editing, but we will be keeping this baby alive. So, enjoy ;)
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Chapter 23
Lex smiled as he led Chloe a little away from their table, to an area with a little bit more space. He didn't know why she was letting him do all the things she was letting him do, but her certainly wasn't going to complain.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he caught her free hand in his and pulled her close to him. "I think we should go slow for our first dance, don't you?" he murmured in her ear as he cast a significant look towards the orchestra and the woman in the black beaded gown who had been halfway through a refrain about love gone wrong. Though she clearly wasn't used to such behavior, she also obviously knew which side of her bread was buttered because she abruptly stopped the song she had been singing and turned to whisper emphatically to her orchestra.
Immediately, they began again, this time a song that was low and full of longing. Her voice was like velvet as it travelled over the audience, and Lex began to sway as he held Chloe in his arms.
It's not the pale moon that excites me It's not your sweet conversation
That thrills and delights me
Oh no
It's just the nearness of you
That brings this sensation
Oh no
It's just the nearness of you...
Oh, she was good. She was very good. Her voice was low and seductive, and it hit Lex and Chloe like they were the only two in the room. At the end of the evening, he made a mental note to make sure she got a very good tip for her performance this evening. Perhaps he'd buy her a car. The song itself was also perfect, and though, given that it was Lex Luthor for whom she was performing, the song Cold, Cold Heart might have been more appropriate, he certainly wasn't going to complain.
Ow. Okay, well, for the most part, it was perfect. Except that Chloe had just stepped on his left foot for the second time. He didn't know if she always danced like this or if he just made her nervous, but it was definitely a first for him. Normally, he didn't have to worry about leaving the dance floor with broken limbs when he danced with a woman. On the other hand, the women he danced with were usually so well lacquered that everything about them seemed canned. Including their dancing.
Tilting his head back, he considered teasing her about her fumble, but then he saw the high color in her cheeks. Clearly, the fact that her foot had landed on another foot rather than floor more than once had not gone unnoticed by her, and she was feeling embarrassed by it.
In that moment, Lex would have sworn that, if he'd been capable of it, he fell in love. Right then and there, on the dance floor, as his right foot got trod upon and began to share the abuse of his left. Of course, he reminded himself, he wasn't capable of love, so there was no way he fell for her right then. But he was capable of being charmed, he was capable of finding her charming, and he found himself swept away by both of these things.
She was absolutely the most adorable thing he had ever seen, let alone held, and he was absolutely captivated by her.
Though his feet might regret it tomorrow, the rest of him wouldn't, and he pulled her even tighter against him, slipping one foot between both of hers as he slowed down the rhythm a bit. "Relax," he whispered, and at that moment, he forgot that it was a game and that he wasn't allowed to feel anything. For that brief dance, he allowed himself to pretend that it could be more.
When you're in my arms
And I feel you so close to me
All my wildest dreams
Came true
How could it be that dancing with Chloe felt so right? Was it merely the loneliness inside of him that called out more desperately tonight than usual, seeking for anything to fill the void and finding her conveniently near at hand? Or was there something about her, in particular, that he needed - that he craved, in fact? No, he decided as he looked around. He wasn't holding her in his arms because he wanted to hold someone and she was convenient. He'd done that before, many times; he knew what it felt like.
This felt like...something else.
Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek on her head as he swayed with her in his arms, no longer even noticing the occasional abuse to his feet. She could do the cha cha on his toes if she wanted, just as long as she didn't pull away.
This felt...right. Perfect. Like everything he'd been waiting for. And it scared the hell out of him.
"Chloe?" He murmured her name as if he was asking her something, but he didn't know what. Maybe he was asking her to give him what he'd never had, for what he'd always wanted. But he'd gone for so long without, he no longer remembered the words to ask. The memory of what he so longed for was so distant, so faded, it was almost like a dream, like a fantasy his brain had long ago concocted, a product of childish whimsy.
"Yes?" Chloe replied in a whisper, feeling like they were the only two persons in the whole restaurant. It felt like their bodies were made to meet. Like two pieces of a puzzle made for each other.
Suddenly, Lex spun Chloe out of his arms and back into them again, and though that got his feet a quick "one-two" of punishment, he didn't mind. Instead, he tilted his head forward and let his lips brush against the soft skin of her neck as he kissed his way from her shoulder to the shell of her ear.
I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me
The right
To hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night
The nearness of you
Yes, the song the singer had chosen couldn't have been more perfect if she'd written right there on the spot with Chloe and Lex in mind. Because Lex had long ago realized how pathetically easy romance could be for one who could buy and sell anything he chose. There was no mystery to romancing a woman, he would have said with a laugh of derision; there wasn't even a difficulty to it. All it took was music and flowers and soft lighting, and most women were swept off their feet by the fantasy of it all.
But Lex had never before felt what he felt now with Chloe in his arms. So was it possible that this was what everyond had waxed so poetically about since time immemorial? Was this what he'd never dreamed existed? Could it be that the fantasy actually had a reality to it, after all?
He was still kissing her, he realized as the song drew to its end, and he nuzzled the soft skin pressed up against his own. Her neck, her cheek, the delicate curve of her ear. He had cupped her cheek in his hand and tilted her head to the side, his lips barely a breath away from hers when the last note of the song carried over them. Wouldn't that just figure? With a wry smile, he wondered at his sudden heavy breathing as he asked, "Would you care to dance again?"
**
That definitively wasn't a 'my turn to kiss you back' kiss. Chloe's eyes shut completely, and she couldn't help but feel the intensity of the moment rise exponentially as his kisses trailed up to her ear. Now she was in her own world where there was no one but them. Chloe's hand, which had been on his back, moved up to his neck to caress his skin with her fingertips. She definitively wanted him. Right there, right then. Only his voice brought her back to reality, which included 40 something other customers, and a band, waitresses and bus boys.
Had she been daydreaming? By the sound of clapping from pretty much everyone in the restaurant – except perhaps those who were completely in shock that Lex was dancing so close with a woman who clearly wasn't with his wife – Chloe realized everything had really happened. Now if a passionate kiss in front of the restaurant would make page 20, this dance would certainly be worthy of page 2 or 3. Maybe even the cover of some gossip magazine.
Chloe's cheeks were burning as she felt the heat of the moment and turned back to Lex. If the situation had been different and they weren't under scrutiny, Chloe would probably have accepted another dance. And another. And another. Instead, a mix of lust and embarrassment in her eyes, Chloe declined. "I.. erhm… I think… Maybe we should leave…"
Her head was starting to spin as she thought about her friends. Was she letting them down? Lana seemed unstable enough, Chloe could believe her somewhat former best friend could be able to get vengeance. On both of them. She was going straight down to hell.
"I don't think I want to make Entertainement Tonight's show tomorrow…" She added more lightly, not wanting to make it sound as a rejection, because, frankly, did she look like someone about to reject Lex Luthor?
**
He had pushed her too far; he could tell. Maybe it was the look in her eyes or the fact that she wanted to leave, but he could tell that, in his eagerness, he had definitely overplayed his hand. He wished he could undo what he'd done, that pushed her this far. But it hadn't been planned, kissing her as he had. It had just happened.
He was, however, disappointed that she would be so eager to leave. Of course, he knew she had more than her share of good reasons to not want to stay. All things considered, he was the last person she should want to be seen with, particularly doing what they had been doing. There were a hundred reasons why it made total sense that she should want to go, but somehow, none of those one hundred reasons really mattered.
What did matter was the oddity that it actually hurt a little, the thought that she would be so eager to be free of him. So reluctant to be seen in his presence.
You were married to her best friend.
I know. But still.
And her other best friend kind of hates you.
Thanks. I didn't exactly need the reminder.
For good reason.
I hate you.
Just saying.
Of course, the voice of reason was all well and good, but it didn't do any favors. His reaction wasn't well-reasoned. It wasn't rational. It just stung a little bit. More than it should have. But, then again, Lex should be used to that by now.
Because she'd spoken quietly to him, he was able to lean in to return the favor, though he was cautious not to move in too closely. "We can't leave yet, I'm afraid. If we leave now, they'll feel like you're running from them and they'll smell blood in the water. In my circles, you never want to let anyone see you sweat."
Taking her hand, he gave it a quick squeeze and lifted it to his lips to brush a kiss on the back for the benefit of the audience. Though he knew she'd probably want him to release her as soon as possible, he had to keep up appearances. So he didn't release her hand as he led her back to their table and gestured to their waiter that the two of them were ready to be served.
"Sorry to put you in such a position," he said stiffly with a false smile, ignoring the nearby tables that were still staring openly at them. "I'm afraid I didn't think. We can leave soon, but if we leave now, I assure you that everyone in this restaurant will assume I'd be taking you straight back to the Mansion." If only I could. If only you'd let me. Let it go, Lex.
As if the evil voice in his mind hadn't spoken, Lex said evenly, "We'll not stay long, if you don't want; I know I've put you in an impossible position tonight. At the very least, though, you should stay to try some of that cake I told you about." Then he smiled again, that well rehearsed smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Sitting there, putting on appearances, Lex tasted the bitter taste of disappointment. For a few minutes, he'd allowed himself not to pretend with Chloe, and it had blown up in his face. Now she wanted to go back home (probably running as fast as her legs would carry her, if she had her way) and he was back to pretending like he didn't give a damn. Good thing he was very, very good at it.
Still, it was a bitter pill to swallow, and Lex looked around impatiently as he searched for his waiter. He should have thought to order the cake when their food delivered, but he hadn't thought about it. They should just get the damn cake and go. He'd take Chloe home now except he'd been telling the truth; everyone would assume he was taking her home to take advantage of her. And, really, it wasn't without cause. He did have that sort of reputation, didn't he? Though really, it was absurd. It was one thing to think it; it was another thing to act upon it. And he couldn't imagine acting upon his urges now, particularly given that she'd just made it very clear how little she'd be interested in reciprocating.
Plus, she was younger than him. And best friends with his ex-wife. And his ex-best friend. Who now hated him. There were a hundred reasons why, flirtation aside, he wouldn't touch her.
A thousand.
To hell with it.
He should take her home and he knew it, but they had to time it properly. Good thing he was very, very experienced at this. They would leave after enough time had passed that it wouldn't seem like Lex was taking her back to his lair like some creature of the dark, to lock her innocent and virginal self away in the tower that he was sure most of Metropolis assumed he had. And when they left, Lex would be very sure to feign good humor with her, for the benefit of the tables around them. Not too much, because that would again raise speculative eyebrows. But if he showed too little, it would seem like he had tired of her already (it had happened that quickly before, with other girls), and that would open her up to an entirely different sort of prying speculation.
No, Lex had to be careful about it, but he wasn't terribly worried. He was very, very good at this, after all. It wasn't like he hadn't had practice.
Though his thoughts were dark, he made sure not to let them show on his face. Instead, as the cake arrived and was put gently on the table in front of him, he made sure to make light, casual conversation. If they were going to avoid further speculation (heaven forbid Chloe should have her name tainted by being linked with his any further), he had to get her to relax. So he chatted, he joked, he even laughed.
And if someone didn't know him very well, they would likely buy it. Someone who couldn't recognize the invisible wall he'd erected between himself and his "date." Someone who wasn't watching him closely enough to see the smiles that didn't reach his eyes or the way he no longer leaned in quite so far when she spoke, as if his body was unconsciously trying to be close to her.
No, nobody who wasn't very close with Lex would notice anything different.
So it was probably a damn good thing, he reflected, that nobody was very close with him. Lonely at times, to be sure. But at times like this, it was the only thing that salvaged his pride. It might have stung a little, that Chloe had her opinion of being linked with him so painfully clear. That she had pulled away from him, just when he'd allowed himself to relax and be himself around her, instead of always putting on that act that was second nature to him by now. Yes, it hurt. But he'd be damned if he admitted as much to anyone.
He was Lex Luthor. And he was very, very used to this.
**
Chloe was actually a little relieved that Lex wasn't taking it too personal. She softly sighed at his statement. He was probably right. They shouldn't leave too soon. She had freaked for a moment out on the unplanned dance floor. Everything she had been avoiding had come rushing back to mind. Clark. Lana. Lex's true colors, at least according to most people and even herself at times.
She was actually also relieved that she had been able to stop before it had gone too far. She didn't know what had gotten into Lex to make him kiss her like that on the dance floor, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know where it could have led. It was a possibility too dangerous to consider. So yes, Chloe was glad that she still was in control of her urges and that she had taken a step back.
Instead of replying to Lex, she nodded. She tried to not look embarrassed by the kiss on her hand, but the blush on her cheeks couldn't lie. It probably was best, so the improvised spectators would get what they want.
Back at the table, Chloe put a napkin on her thigh as the food arrived, timed with the end of the song. "It's okay, Lex, really. You don't need to apologize." Did he? Did he need to apologize for the kiss? Should she get mad or embarrassed? Was there a code between two former enemies? Perhaps she really was a little clueless, because deep down (though not so deep), she hadn't minded. But she was afraid of crossing a line. In fact, she suspected she'd already crossed it. Maybe Lana was right. Maybe Chloe wasn't such a good friend. She should have been more supportive of Lana's troubles and taken Clark's side at all cost. If it hadn't been for the fact that Lana had aborted her baby on purpose to get away with her former lover, maybe things would have been a little different. Maybe she would have trusted her friend more. Maybe…
"Really, Lex, I'm fine." Chloe added with a small but genuine smile. "And I can never say no to cake." She actually was starting to feel a little better, not paying attention to the remaining spectators who were still watching, waiting to see some good gossip.
The food was actually really good and the conversation had remained somewhat light, avoiding anything that had to do with Lana, Clark, the end of the world, corruption, and LuthorCorp. Seeing Lex so relaxed had made her relaxed as well. They didn't seem to be under scrutiny or she had simply forgotten all about the other diners and allowed herself to actually enjoy their dinner.
Of course, if it had been a date, she wasn't sure she would haft felt like she'd gotten to know the person in front of her better, since nothing really personal had been discussed. But then again, they had a lot of history together, and with other people that they both knew very well. She didn't pretend to know him perfectly, but she certainly had learned a lot about him over the years – through research, discoveries, or secrets spilled by Lana or Clark. And he probably knew her, as well. He had protected her a whole summer, after all. And he was Lex Luthor. He knew pretty much everything. But she was Chloe Sullivan and she usually found her way to find out whatever she needed to know herself – another thing they had in common. Beside their friendship – or former friendship – with some people.
"Ok so now I hope my stomach can take any more food. That cake better be good." Chloe added with another smile of hers, not aware that she had hurt Lex's pride moments ago. She had almost even forgotten that she had asked to leave.
For a moment there, she felt like they were friends. Or something close to that.
**
Well, wasn't that lovely, Lex thought sourly. Chloe enjoyed her cake. He was rather surprised that she didn't choke on it, being as she was, so desperate to get rid of his company. But no, she was sitting there, laughing at some joke he'd just made (heaven knew what he'd said) from across the table, as if absolutely nothing was wrong.
How did she DO that? How did she make it so clear that she wanted to be well rid of him one minute and act like everything was fine the next? Clark used to do that all the time, he recalled. Lana was a pro at it. He'd have never thought it of Chloe, but now...
"We should go," he said tersely as soon as she finished the cake. Then, realizing how short he'd sounded with her, he offered her a smile to take the sting from his words. No doubt she was feeling eager to leave and return to the sanctuary of her apartment above the Talon, but he couldn't afford to let anyone else at the restaurant know. She nodded in surprise as he rose to his feet. "Shall we?" he asked, moving around the table to help her from her seat.
To Chloe's surprise, before he left, he threw a few hundred dollar bills on the table. He had probably put on the table what she usually made in a week! But she didn't comment, and to him, the amount he'd spent wasn't terribly unusual. In fact, it was intended merely to cover the tab, the tip, and something extra. He hadn't forgotten that he wanted to tip the singer something special, but he'd have it delivered to her later, when he thought of something appropriate. Like rat poison.
No, that was unfair. Just because Chloe had become repelled by him during the course of the song didn't mean that he should take his anger and mild self-loathing out on the singer. She'd done her job; he had been the one who had screwed up. So instead, before he'd left the restaurant, he'd tracked down the singer's name and had sent a message to his office via his phone to have an appropriate gift - likely a car - delivered to her apartment. There, his debts had been settled.
While they were in the restaurant, he made sure to behave graciously towards Chloe. To her credit, she was clearly a very good actress, because she didn't make it clear, as he led her to the door, that she was just awaiting her first chance to run like a startled rabbit away from him.
How lovely.
'You really are a bastard sometimes, you know that, Lex?' the little voice inside him asked.
Yes. Yes he did.
It was dark outside and the temperature had dropped while they were in the restaurant, and so Lex took Chloe's arm to block her from the burst of cold air as he escorted her to the car, which had been kept nice and warm in the interim. Lex graciously helped her into her seat and then walked around to the driver's side, where he got in.
As he took his seat, Chloe turned to him. "Thanks for the dinner. It seemed like it cost you a fortune though. That's something I'm not really used to." Avoiding any mention of their kiss made things a little easier.
Lex ignored her comment, given out of courtesy. Though his mask had stayed in place all throughout the rest of dinner and as they'd left, in the privacy of the car, he let it fall. There was no sense in pretending for her any longer, not when she was the one who was so desperate to get home.
"You did very well in there," he praised her in that cold, rather remote way he had. It was polite, but it lacked warmth and it certainly didn't encourage any feeling of closeness with the speaker. It was a voice he used often, to keep people at a distance. But, then again, it was a voice he'd heard often from his parents when growing up, so he certainly knew what it sounded like. "You should be proud."
Throwing the car into gear, he pulled out into traffic with a screech of tires. Keeping his eyes straight ahead, he said conversationally, "I'm afraid I can't get you home as fast as I'm sure you'd like, but I'll do what I can." Although this time, he wouldn't be stopping the car to kiss her, so she had that cold comfort, at least. No point in having a painful silence fill the car, though. Not when it could be filled with painful conversation, instead. "Did you enjoy dinner?"
Chloe's smile faded, melting into a frown as she tried to decipher Lex's comment. "Excuse me?" she asked, feeling somehow insulted. He was talking to her as if she were nothing more than an actress he'd hired for the night.
Seeing the cold features of his face, Chloe couldn't believe the change in him. A minute ago, she'd been having a lovely evening, and now she officially felt like she was just an accessory. Did he think she was playing a role? Or was it that this whole dance and kiss situation was planned? "Gee. Thanks."
Chloe crossed her arms, wondering why it had gotten so cold again. She sighed at his last statement, a little annoyed. "Gosh Lex, are you mad or something? Are you mad that I asked you to leave earlier? I freaked out, okay?" she snapped. Raising a shoulder, she explained, "It just seemed like I was waking up from some dream and…I don't know…I panicked. I'm not used to be under scrutiny like that." She also wasn't used to be kissed by her best friend's husband. But she didn't feel like getting into at subject at the moment. As it was, it was going to be a long ride back home.
Chloe sighed and looked out at the window. "And for you information, yes, I enjoyed the dinner," she said stiffly. As she spoke, she put her seat belt on, and she felt her hands brush against a bottle of what turned out to be water. Well, that would be handy, she figured idly as she picked it up.