Title: Should the Teacher Stand So Near?
Part: 3/?
Author: Cam
Author's email: Camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lex
Summary: Lex tutors Chloe
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
A/N: Hope you like it!
*~*~*~*
After exchanging pleasantries with Enrique, Chloe headed to Lex's study. This was the first time she'd been to the manor since that disastrous interview.
She was nervous. Even though she defended Lex to Pete, he had planted some doubts in her head.
Chloe wasn't naïve. She had done her research on Lex Luthor, and probably knew as much about her as the Daily Planet society editor. He'd had his less-than-shining moments.
Nonetheless, she liked Lex. She liked his outlook, his steadiness, and calm temperament. Not to mention the fact that he was very handsome.
But that didn't mean Pete wasn't right.
Chloe walked into the study apprehensively. Then stopped breathing. Handsome? No, Lex wasn't handsome. Lex was Gorgeous.
He stood before a bookshelf, giving Chloe a great view of his profile. Sleek, soft black pants rode low on his hips, breaking at his bare feet. (Very nice feet, Chloe's head added). An equally soft looking heather blue long sleeve tee completed the outfit. The sleeves were haphazardly shoved up mid-forearm. He was holding a book.
He was speaking softly, Chloe suddenly realized. Reading aloud.
"'We have lingered in the chambers of the sea,'" Lex murmured. "'By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown.'"
Chloe knew the end.
"''Til human voices wake us," she said softly, approaching him. "And we drown." The end was whispered, almost a prayer.
"Chloe," his smile touched the corners of his eyes.
"Hey, Lex."
"You read Eliot?" He held the book up.
"Definitely. 'Prufrock' is one of my favorites, 'Sweeney Erect' being a close second."
"You like the bawdy innuendo, eh?"
"Of course," Chloe smiled. "The nurse and Mercutio had the best lines in 'Romeo and Juliet.'"
Lex smiled, sliding the book back into the shelf.
"Ah," he tugged at his shirt lightly, "pardon my appearance – dad's in Manila, so I can afford to be casual." Lex paused at Chloe's odd look. "I know, he's blind. But even so, I get the feeling he can see right through me, sometimes," he smiled ruefully.
"It's ok – you look, um, normal," Chloe said, stepping closer to the bookshelf. She could almost feel the energy humming under his skin, despite his deceptively languid movements.
"I guess that's a compliment," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "So, what can I do for you? Lunch? Coffee? Put on some shoes?" He wiggled his toes when she glanced down.
Chloe laughed. "Actually, I like your feet. They're pretty nice."
"Thanks," he gestured at a sofa, and waited for her to sit before following suit.
Chloe felt like he was waiting. Which made sense, since it was her turn to speak.
"Lex," she began, "I just wanted to thank you for all the help you've given me. I wish I could thank you, but I'm not sure what I could give you."
"Chloe, your happiness and success are thanks enough," Lex said smoothly, pulling a leg up onto the sofa. "If you're wondering what I'm getting out of this agreement, the answer is simply this: an opportunity to know you better."
She had never seen anyone look so relaxed, uncoiled, even. He was comfortable. He was comfortable with HER. And after all the awkward conversations she'd been having recently with Clark, the easy silence was a welcome change.
"What's this?" She noticed a book half-hidden beneath a cushion. She pulled it out. "'Tao Te Ching.' This is an amazing book."
"I'm not surprised you think so. It was a gift from your father. He said I've been reading too much Machiavelli lately."
Chloe laughed. "Well, Lao-Tsu was the opposite of Machiavelli. He believed it was better to be loved than feared." She looked at him. "Which do you believe?"
"Good question. I've never been loved by my employees. So I guess I'd have to take feared."
"Hmm," Chloe murmured. Somehow, she wasn't particularly shocked. "Look at this . . ." She wanted to show him a passage her father used to recite on occasion.
She leaned over closer to Lex, and although they weren't very far apart, he moved his head next to hers.
"'He who has power over others cannot empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures,'" Chloe read. "Dad repeats that over and over again when he's stressed out over work."
"Smart man," Lex said, looking at her. "Doesn't leave much hope for me though, does it?"
"Oh, Lex," she looked at him. They were a breath apart. Chloe forgot what she was going to say, and although she was certain it was terribly profound, she was equally certain it could not possibly matter more than Lex's lips so close . . .
"'And indeed there will be time to wonder, "Do I dare?" and "Do I dare?"' . . ." Chloe wasn't sure which one of them said it.
And even though it seemed like neither of them moved, Lex's lips were touching hers. Soft as it was, the pressure was shocking, yet reassuring. Warm steadiness gently moved over her.
When she finally pulled away, Chloe's couldn't stop smiling. Lex had kissed her. She looked at him, but now, he was no longer looking at her.
Part: 3/?
Author: Cam
Author's email: Camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lex
Summary: Lex tutors Chloe
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
A/N: Hope you like it!
*~*~*~*
After exchanging pleasantries with Enrique, Chloe headed to Lex's study. This was the first time she'd been to the manor since that disastrous interview.
She was nervous. Even though she defended Lex to Pete, he had planted some doubts in her head.
Chloe wasn't naïve. She had done her research on Lex Luthor, and probably knew as much about her as the Daily Planet society editor. He'd had his less-than-shining moments.
Nonetheless, she liked Lex. She liked his outlook, his steadiness, and calm temperament. Not to mention the fact that he was very handsome.
But that didn't mean Pete wasn't right.
Chloe walked into the study apprehensively. Then stopped breathing. Handsome? No, Lex wasn't handsome. Lex was Gorgeous.
He stood before a bookshelf, giving Chloe a great view of his profile. Sleek, soft black pants rode low on his hips, breaking at his bare feet. (Very nice feet, Chloe's head added). An equally soft looking heather blue long sleeve tee completed the outfit. The sleeves were haphazardly shoved up mid-forearm. He was holding a book.
He was speaking softly, Chloe suddenly realized. Reading aloud.
"'We have lingered in the chambers of the sea,'" Lex murmured. "'By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown.'"
Chloe knew the end.
"''Til human voices wake us," she said softly, approaching him. "And we drown." The end was whispered, almost a prayer.
"Chloe," his smile touched the corners of his eyes.
"Hey, Lex."
"You read Eliot?" He held the book up.
"Definitely. 'Prufrock' is one of my favorites, 'Sweeney Erect' being a close second."
"You like the bawdy innuendo, eh?"
"Of course," Chloe smiled. "The nurse and Mercutio had the best lines in 'Romeo and Juliet.'"
Lex smiled, sliding the book back into the shelf.
"Ah," he tugged at his shirt lightly, "pardon my appearance – dad's in Manila, so I can afford to be casual." Lex paused at Chloe's odd look. "I know, he's blind. But even so, I get the feeling he can see right through me, sometimes," he smiled ruefully.
"It's ok – you look, um, normal," Chloe said, stepping closer to the bookshelf. She could almost feel the energy humming under his skin, despite his deceptively languid movements.
"I guess that's a compliment," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "So, what can I do for you? Lunch? Coffee? Put on some shoes?" He wiggled his toes when she glanced down.
Chloe laughed. "Actually, I like your feet. They're pretty nice."
"Thanks," he gestured at a sofa, and waited for her to sit before following suit.
Chloe felt like he was waiting. Which made sense, since it was her turn to speak.
"Lex," she began, "I just wanted to thank you for all the help you've given me. I wish I could thank you, but I'm not sure what I could give you."
"Chloe, your happiness and success are thanks enough," Lex said smoothly, pulling a leg up onto the sofa. "If you're wondering what I'm getting out of this agreement, the answer is simply this: an opportunity to know you better."
She had never seen anyone look so relaxed, uncoiled, even. He was comfortable. He was comfortable with HER. And after all the awkward conversations she'd been having recently with Clark, the easy silence was a welcome change.
"What's this?" She noticed a book half-hidden beneath a cushion. She pulled it out. "'Tao Te Ching.' This is an amazing book."
"I'm not surprised you think so. It was a gift from your father. He said I've been reading too much Machiavelli lately."
Chloe laughed. "Well, Lao-Tsu was the opposite of Machiavelli. He believed it was better to be loved than feared." She looked at him. "Which do you believe?"
"Good question. I've never been loved by my employees. So I guess I'd have to take feared."
"Hmm," Chloe murmured. Somehow, she wasn't particularly shocked. "Look at this . . ." She wanted to show him a passage her father used to recite on occasion.
She leaned over closer to Lex, and although they weren't very far apart, he moved his head next to hers.
"'He who has power over others cannot empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures,'" Chloe read. "Dad repeats that over and over again when he's stressed out over work."
"Smart man," Lex said, looking at her. "Doesn't leave much hope for me though, does it?"
"Oh, Lex," she looked at him. They were a breath apart. Chloe forgot what she was going to say, and although she was certain it was terribly profound, she was equally certain it could not possibly matter more than Lex's lips so close . . .
"'And indeed there will be time to wonder, "Do I dare?" and "Do I dare?"' . . ." Chloe wasn't sure which one of them said it.
And even though it seemed like neither of them moved, Lex's lips were touching hers. Soft as it was, the pressure was shocking, yet reassuring. Warm steadiness gently moved over her.
When she finally pulled away, Chloe's couldn't stop smiling. Lex had kissed her. She looked at him, but now, he was no longer looking at her.