Chapter 11
"Blow the Candles Out"
A Smallville story by Xica
Characters: Clark, Chloe, Pete, Lana, Lex, and Mari
Disclaimer: All the usuals apply. All I own is my poor Smallville infested brain and the characters that are created from it.
A little Chlark fluff. Happy New Year Everyone!
"Yeah Pete, I'd pretty much say you royally screwed up".
"Thanks for the vote of confidence pal" Pete replied sarcastically, slumping back onto the dusty couch.
"But its not unfixable I guess" Clark replied, looking at his friend earnestly, "I mean maybe you could just tell Erica the truth. I mean it can't be that bad, you must have had a good reason to leave her there"
Pete hesitated, wondering exactly how much he should tell. "Well I had a reason, but I'm pretty sure it won't get me back in Erica's good graces".
"What was it another girl?" Clark asked jokingly but when Pete groaned and buried his face in his hands, he knew this wasn't a joke. "Pete tell me you didn't drop Erica to go chasing after someone else, that's not your style".
"I know man!" Pete said, exasperated, "but I just couldn't control myself. When I saw her with him I just lost it".
"Saw who with who? Pete stop talking in riddles and just give me the story".
"Mari, with your buddy Lex Luthor".
Clark was momentarily speechless. Mari and Lex? Surely Pete must be mistaken.
"I was hanging with Erica and next thing you know I see Lex coming from upstairs, looking smug as all hell. That's when I took off to find Mari…". Pete continued with the story, ending with the kiss.
"Wow that's some story" Clark said, astonished.
"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't witnessed it myself. Mari and Lex Luthor" Pete said, punching the arm of the couch.
"Clark, in the name of our friendship you've got to tell me you had no idea this was going on".
"Pete I swear I had no idea. I mean I know they knew each other in Metropolis, but I didn't even think they were friends, let alone…"
"Don't even say it Clark, I don't think I could handle it".
"Well we could just be overreacting, I mean we don't really know what happened up there. Maybe I'll talk to Lex".
"Or maybe you'll just keep your noses out of other people's bedrooms".
Clark and Pete turned and found Chloe standing on the landing, looking at them admonishingly.
"Chloe!" Clark exclaimed, "How long have you been standing there?".
"More than long enough to hear you two gossiping like two old women".
Clark blushed and Pete looked away.
"Did you know? About…this?", Pete asked.
"No, as a matter of fact I didn't. I was a little concerned with my own life at the time. And even if I wasn't, I'm sure if it was something that Mari wanted me to know about she would have told me".
"Well why do you think she's hiding it?" Clark asked.
"Clark! Why do you assume she's hiding anything? Just because she's not broadcasting it from every rooftop doesn't mean she's hiding".
"Yeah, I guess you're right"
"I always am" Chloe said, her scowl being replaced with a smile as she took a seat in Clark's lap.
******************
"Clark, do you think Pete is going to be alright?" She and Clark were snuggling in Clark's hammock basking in the sunlight streaming into the barn.
"He'll be fine" Clark said quickly, for as much as he was concerned about the state of affairs between his friends, he was more interested in spending some one-on-one time with Chloe.
"Okay, okay" Chloe laughed, "I know when someone's trying to change the subject".
"Sorry, I just think there are more pressing things for me to deal with right now", he said, nuzzling his face in Chloe's neck.
"Clark, you're tickling me", she said, grabbing his head and brushing her lips against his.
Clark grabbed Chloe and pulled her closer. Chloe shrieked and pretended to pull away when the hammock tipped dangerously to one side.
"Clark, no!" Chloe yelled, but it was too late. The hammock flipped and dropped them onto the bar floor , with Clark hitting first and Chloe crashing down on top of him.
"Are you alright?" Clark asked.
"Yeah Clark, I'm fine. Luckily I had a farm boy around to break my fall. Are you okay?"
"Never better" he responded his eyes locking with Chloe's.
Chloe smiled and leaned in, capturing Clark's mouth in a slow kiss. Chloe slowly eased her tongue into Clark's mouth and he moaned at the contact. Clark's hands ran up Chloe's body and underneath her blouse, his fingers caressing the smooth creamy skin. His fingers crept father until he reached the clasp of Chloe's bra, and he hesitated, not sure where this was going.
Chloe pulled away from him and sat up, straddling him. The mischievous glint in her eye sent a shiver throughout Clark.
Chloe's eyes surveyed him hungrily, and Clark decided that at this point she could do anything she wanted to him and he would never complain.
"Clark, open your eyes and look at me". Clark's eyes shot open; he hadn't realized they were closed. Chloe's face was flushed a deep pink, her hair slightly disheveled, her green eyes wide. Her tiny fingers, trembling slightly, crept towards the buttons on her blouse. She undid the first and then the second and continued on as more and more of her flesh was exposed. Clark's eyes darted back and forth between Chloe's steady gaze and her unsteady fingers. His heart sped up rapidly and he wondered how it was possible that the walls weren't rattling because of the pounding.
Finally the last button was undone and Chloe dropped her hands to her thighs. Clark returned to a sitting position with Chloe still straddling him. Without hesitation he undid the buttons on his flannel shirt, tossing it aside. He grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and yanked it over his head.
Chloe stared at him silently, her eyes roaming over every muscle of the body she had dreamed about for the better part of her adolescence. She needed to touch him, to hold him close to her, to melt into him. Chloe reached behind her and unclasped her bra, tossing it gently to the side. She bit back a smile as Clark's eyes instantly left her face and she almost swore she could feel the heat of his gaze on her bare breasts.
"Chloe god…you are so beautiful" Clark said, his voice barely above a whisper. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him and kissing her firmly. Chloe's hands traveled up Clark's back tracing every muscle, marveling at the tautness of his slightly bronzed skin. She gasped as Clark's hand made contact with her left breast and softly caressed it.
"Clark, I think I might die if you keep doing that, but I know I'll die if you stop".
Clark chuckled against Chloe's lips and hugged her tighter. "Well that doesn't leave me with a lot of options Chloe. You think you could be a little more specific?"
"I'm sorry, but no. Apparently somewhere between falling on the floor and the tandem striptease I think my brain cells melted".
"How tragic"
"Indeed".
"Well maybe we should cool down, give them a chance to regenerate. I like my Chloe with beauty and brains".
Chloe's heart flipped at his words, "my Chloe". 'I could definitely get used to that' she thought to herself.
"CLARK, honey lunch is ready!" his mother yelled from outside. "If Chloe and Pete are still here they're more than welcome to join us".
"Alright Mom!" Clark yelled back and then groaned, "mom has impeccable timing as always"
"Well at least she didn't come up here, that would have lead to the most unpleasant lunch in Smallville history".
"Seriously! I can hear my dad now, serving up a mound of platitudes with the chicken salad". Clark reached up and started plucking a few strands of hay out of Chloe's hair. When he was done his kissed Chloe quickly.
Chloe smiled and stood up to started collecting her clothes. Clark followed suit and soon enough they were dressed.
"Ready?" Clark asked.
"For anything" Chloe replied, slipping her hand into his and they set off hand in hand towards the Kent home.
Meanwhile outside a very different family home…
Mari pulled her car into the driveway turned off the ignition, but returned her hands to the steering wheel, gripping it tightly. She looked at her watch and saw that it was exactly 12:28. She switched her gaze upwards to gaze at her reflection in the rear view mirror. On the outside she was prepared. Make-up: subtle, but perfect nonetheless. Hair: gleaming and full, soft waves cascading over her shoulders. The tight black lace top was completely see-thru, but saved from being tacky by the spaghetti strapped tank underneath. Dark denim and black stiletto-heeled boots finished the equation. The only thing that betrayed her confident exterior was her eyes. She had eschewed her collection of variously hued contacts in favor of her own dark browns, and they told the tale of how she was truly feeling inside. She saw the excitement, uncertainty, and worry that was boiling inside her and for one second she considered turning around and going back home. She had just slid the key into the ignition when she heard a tapping on the window. A very serious looking man without an earpiece handing from his ear was standing outside her car. Mari rolled down the window.
"Good afternoon Ms. Wesley. Mr. Luthor asked that you be taken directly to him upon your arrival. I will take your car and park it in the garage".
"Oh, um thanks" she said, feeling incredibly stupid.
The security guard helped Mari out of the car and took her keys. "Have a pleasant afternoon madam", he said crisply.
"Thanks" she replied weakly. Mari thought that he would take her cue and leave, but he stood there rooted to the spot, obviously he had been told to make sure that she went directly to the mansion. She turned and headed towards the door and she heard the guard behind her tell someone that she was going inside. Immediately the front door whipped open, with another security guard coming outside.
"Good afternoon Ms. Wesley, if you'll follow me, Mr. Luthor is waiting in the dining room".
Mari took a deep breath to compose herself. She knew that this dog & pony show Lex was putting on was completely unnecessary. Lex was trying to prove a point, but Mari wasn't exactly sure what that was. Mari decided that she would not be intimidated. She gave the security guard her most serene smile, something she'd learned from her mother, and nodded for him to show they way.