IMPROBABLE EDEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
I want you now
Tomorrow won't do
There's a yearning inside
And it's showing through
Reach out your hands
And accept my love
We've waited for too long
Enough is enough
I want you now - Depeche Mode
Time had stopped. Lex had no idea how long he had been standing there, holding Cady in his arms, kissing her until she seemed incapable of standing on her own, her hands clutching to him tightly - behind his neck, against his shirt - soft whimpers occasionally issuing from her throat. With each one, Lex found himself falling deeper into the feeling of euphoria that was Cady. Her honest and innocent reactions to each new sensation held him captivated and wanting more. When his slipped his tongue past her lips, she had moaned softly against his mouth, tentatively meeting his with her own and Lex had crushed her to him ever more closely, devouring the sweet taste of her.
Lex was uncertain how much time had passed since that moment had taken place or when he had found the strength to pull her over to the leather chair and on to his lap. He currently held her possessively against him while his mouth moved away from her lips to caress her cheek and jaw, down to her neck where he grazed the skin lightly with his teeth. The girl/woman in his arms shivered against him at the touch, arching her neck against his mouth and Lex smiled against her skin at the reaction. Moving his hands down her waist, over her hips and thighs, he forced himself to take a deep breath and slow down. Just because Cady had kissed him - had obviously given leave for him to do the same to her - did not also mean she was expecting him to ravish her on the leather chair in his study on Easter Sunday. Inwardly he simultaneously chuckled at the image and sent a silent apology to Clark for whatever it was occurring between himself and his best friend's cousin. God forgive him but he never wanted it to end.
Of course, good intentions had a way of flying out the window, especially when his hand snaked under the edge of her sweater to brush against the soft skin of her stomach and Lex felt Cady tremble against him once more. She was currently raining light kisses across his cheek and. Lex felt a resulting shiver of his own when her lips pressed against his ear. Cady hesitated at the reaction, and suddenly her warm breath was fanning over the shell.
"Do you like that?" She whispered.
Lex felt his eyes closing at her words. What could have been a sensual, teasing question out of any of the many other women he had been with, had actually been spoken with pure curiosity and a sense of discovery by the female in his lap. He clenched his hands against her. "Yes," he told her quietly in reply, waiting for her to continue.
Tentatively, Cady leaned in and kissed the edge of the delicate shell, growing bolder as her lips moved down to the lobe and her tongue darted out to sweep over it. Hearing a sharp rush of breath escape from Lex, she was encouraged to continue, marveling at the simple touches that could elicit such a response from the normally staid man holding her. Cady would be the first to admit that she hadn't realized she would be quite so responsive to something as basic as his fingers touching her belly or that his lips against her neck could dissolve her entire body into liquid form. Of course, the entire moment seemed like a dream - the only difference being that the reality was so much better. Her dreams had always been vague, the sensations and emotions hard to pinpoint. But this moment, being in the castle, in Lex's arms, the scent of him - leather and liquor and the musk cologne he wore - engulfing her, far exceeded the fantasy. Again, her preconceived perceptions of Lex Luthor had been far off course. She had never believed that his kiss could be so gentle, his touch so tender, his reactions so honest. Mask upon mask seemed to dissolve away, leaving a Lex that she had previously only imagined.
Cady didn't want to allow herself to believe that it was all some trick to get in to her pants. Then again, she wasn't entirely naïve. She knew the way of the world and had been warned enough by her own parents about how careful a girl needed to be with a guy who knew that she was interested in them. Especially when said guy was as worldly and experienced as Lex Luthor. He could have her completely wrapped around his finger and she would never know what hit her. And at the moment, Cady really didn't care one way or the other.
Lex's mouth returned to her neck and coherent thought immediately left her. Cady decided that this was now her favorite thing in the world - having Lex's lips drawn over her skin, at the point where neck and shoulder met, feeling the warmth of his tongue move against her, the light grazing of his teeth. Yes, Cady was quite certain she could have died happily then and there. All thoughts of the exploration of his ear left her as he drew her skin into his mouth and suckled at it, his hands moving further beneath her shirt to caress her skin. Goosebumps broke out on her skin at the combined sensations and she could have sworn she felt Lex's lips move in to a smile against her neck. One hand, warm and gentle, moved up under her sweater and over her back, cradling her in his embrace, while the other continued to splay across her stomach, moving slowly, maddeningly. His fingers danced across her ribs, then down to the hollow of her stomach and back up again, tracing lightly just along the edge of her bra. Cady sucked in a breath at the touch, her eyes opening wide as she felt his fingers skim across the underside of her breast. She shook but this time it wasn't entirely from desire.
"Shhhh." She felt Lex whisper soothingly against her neck, obviously more in tune to her body's reactions than she was. "This won't go any further than where you want it go, Cady."
Another misconception. Cady could clearly hear her uncle the night she had informed them of the date to Metropolis, when he said that Lex Luthor wanted only one thing from her - and being in his presence alone for more than five minutes would guarantee that. Wow, the argument that had broken out over that remark had not been pretty. And here she was, alone in Lex's presence for a hell of a lot longer than five minutes and his hands were on her and she was much too relaxed to do anything about it and he was assuring her that she was in control of the situation. She felt like she needed to apologize or something.
"Cady?" Lex pulled away from her neck to meet her gaze.
For a long moment he just stared at her, the thought crossing his mind how he had always considered her very pretty, not classically beautiful, but enough to cause one to look again. There had always been a certain 'something' that had kept him sneaking stolen glances at her, kept him wondering what it was that made Clark's cousin stand out when there was nothing particularly stunning about her appearance. Sure, her eyes were very bright in color, captivating in shape and size, but there were other more beautiful women with equally striking eyes. Cady did have a perfect mouth, but the lipstick she wore was generally either a simple gloss or a natural pink that tended to lessen their impact rather than draw them out. The rest of her facial features were fairly simple and nondescript.
Except for at the moment. Her lips were swollen and bruised from their kisses, and slightly parted for the shallow breaths she was taking, her nostrils slightly flared with each breath. Her eyes were large with wonder but glazed over with passion, the green more smoky than bright, her dark hair mussed. There was pure sensuality there, a combination of innocence and natural instinct, mixed with a lack of artifice - which was lacking in Lex's experience - that made Cady more beautiful in his eyes than he had ever before considered her. In fact, Lex couldn't remember the last time he had wanted someone quite this strongly and that alone complicated matters between them.
Taking a deep breath to calm the raging desire running through him, Lex prompted once more, "Cady? Are you all right?"
Cady nodded, reaching up to touch his cheek, running her fingertips down it lightly, smiling a little when Lex leaned in to it. "I. I was wondering something."
"What is that?"
"What. what if I don't where I want this to go. or not go?"
Lex smiled, his thumb on her back gently caressing the skin beneath it. "There are no expectations, Cady. No pressure. I highly doubt that either of us was expecting this to occur when you came over today?" He paused as she slightly shook her head. "Have you been enjoying yourself so far?'
"Yes," Cady replied quietly, a smile crossing her face. "Very much."
"Then that's all that is important," he told her before leaning in for another kiss. This one was more like the gentle kisses at the beginning, as Lex tried to soothe her fears and convince her to relax once more. Moving his hand back to her stomach, he continued to slowly caress her, accustoming her to his touch and the associated sensations.
And then. what?
In the past, this encounter could only lead to one place - be it here on the chair, the pool table, the floor, the staircase on the way to the bedroom. Sex was the logical and obvious step from the desire that was more than prevalent between himself and Cady. It was what had been expected in the past, with women like Victoria Hardwick who, Lex had no doubt, had been experienced in the art of manipulating sexual encounters long before Cady even knew the meaning of the word sex. But Cady wasn't Victoria and Lex had already promised her that this would only go as far as she wanted it to, which suddenly put to mind some very difficult questions. Where was this going? If this wasn't going to lead to sex, what were they doing here? Cady deserved more than a casual romp on the floor of the study in the Luthor Castle. Not to mention, Lex doubted that her uncle and cousin would be very appreciative of such an act. Neither did Lex find himself accepting the idea that he just wanted to steal a few kisses and then he would be over this infatuation he had with Clark's cousin. He could be honest enough with himself in this situation to admit that he wanted her, and now that he'd had a taste, he wasn't going to stop there. Luthors took what they wanted - it was what he had been taught from birth - and now that the door had been opened, he wasn't about to walk out.
Except for one minor snag. He was in unfamiliar territory. The implications of what he had said, of what Cady would be looking for, were not lost on Lex. A relationship. Or that long-dreaded term that had luckily never been applied to him - boyfriend. Lex mentally cringed at the thought. In fact, it quickly rid him of all thoughts of lust and debauchery as easily as a visit from his father would have. Snapping back to reality, Lex broke the kiss, moving to stand while he gently set Cady on her feet and walked away from her, ignoring the look of confusion on her sweet face.
Relationship. Boyfriend. Commitment. Lex prided himself on staying away from such terms. Beyond the fact that most women were simply after his money and status, there was also the knowledge that very few people could be trusted period. His father had always taught him to never rely on someone else being there - that he was basically alone and it was something he had to get used to. And Lex felt he had done an excellent job so far. He dated women too numerous to count but the only one that had ever been even slightly regular was Victoria and Lex had never associated the term 'girlfriend' with her. Theirs had always been a mutual understanding of sex and manipulation. A game to see who could get the most out of whom before they both got so sick of each other that they couldn't stand being in the same proximity any longer.
Lex ran a hand over his bald pate in frustration. So what did all of this mean? He wasn't even certain of where to begin. Was he supposed to take her on dates to the movies and share a milkshake with two straws and drop her off on the Kent's porch each night at eleven with a peck on the cheek? He almost visibly cringed at the thought.
"Lex? Did I. Did I do something wrong?"
Cady's voice snapped him out of his reverie and Lex turned back to her, shaking his head. "No, sweetie." Walking over to her, he took her hands in his to hold between them. "I just have some thinking to do."
"I don't want to push you in to anything," Cady told him softly.
Lex allowed a ghost of a smile before bending down to brush his lips across hers. "As if you could," he whispered against her mouth before pulling back. "Let's just. see where this goes, shall we?"
No pressure. That was what he had to remind himself. When Cady left here, Lex would be able to think again, to be rational. Once that happened, he would be able to decide if this had all been some horrible mistake - or the first 'right' thing he had ever done in his life.
"You should probably get home," he told her softly, squeezing her hands slightly.
Cady searched his gaze for a moment before glancing to the floor. "Okay."
"Hey." Lex reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look back up at him. "I'm glad you came by. I'm glad that we're being honest with each other. I don't regret what's happened. do you?"
She shook her head mutely.
Lex smiled. "Good." He paused, watching her for a moment before telling her, "I'll pick you up tomorrow on the way in to work."
Her eyes widened slightly. It was beyond belief to think that Lex meant for this not to end, that something was really and truly occurring between them. She had thought that by her reticence he would want nothing to do with her. So what did all of this mean?
"Sounds good," she whispered, unable to find the voice for much more.
Lex moved in for another, deeper kiss, drawing her lower lip into his mouth to suckle at it for a moment before letting go. "Thank your aunt for the food," he said against her mouth before kissing her again. "And thank her and your cousin and you for the basket. It was wonderful."
The kiss gentled and he held Cady in his arms for a moment, savoring the feeling of her soft, trusting form pressed against him. Sighing a little, Lex let her go, sending her home, back to the safety of her family and away from temptation's reach.
For now.
***
When Cady got home, she sat in her SUV for a good twenty minutes, still attempting to reconcile in her head what had just happened. She swore she could still feel Lex's kisses, his hands against her skin and his scent covered her sweater. All she wanted to do was go back to the mansion and wrap herself in his arms and stay there and to hell with the consequences. Of course, her mother's familiar words 'Why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free?' kept running through her mind. But then, she doubted her mother had ever been kissed by Lex Luthor before. Closing her eyes, Cady leaned her head back against the seat, fervently wishing her mother and father were there right now to talk to. They had both raised her to give people the benefit of the doubt and though her father had never particularly had good things to say about Lionel Luthor, neither had he ever said bad things about Lex. And in Cady's opinion, that meant she could have received a more objective point of view from her parents, as opposed to her aunt and uncle. Then again, she couldn't help but wonder if aunt Martha had known what she was doing by sending Cady to Lex's place this afternoon to begin with. Sighing, Cady opened her eyes, pulling the keys from the ignition and tossing them into her purse before climbing out of the car. Glancing to her right, she noticed the lights were on in the loft. Not in the least bit tired, she knew she had to talk to someone and, as long as Clark could keep his big mouth shut, he would do just fine.
Clark had heard his cousin's car pull up and wasn't surprised when the barn door opened and her light footsteps headed up the stairs. Keeping his head bent, he didn't turn from the eyepiece on the telescope as Cady walked up beside him.
"Did Lex like the food?"
"Mmmm."
"Dad was definitely not pleased when he found out mom sent the last of the peach cobbler over with you." Lifting his head, Clark turned to glance over his shoulder at Cady who was gazing up at the dark sky with a slight smile on her face. He half-frowned, half-grinned at her dreamy expression. "What's up with you? You look like you have gas."
That worked. Snapping out of her daze, Cady glared down at Clark before cuffing him upside the back of his head. "Brat." Pushing him slightly out of the way, she leaned over to peer through the telescope, snickering when she discovered it was, as usual, pointed at the nearby home of Lana Lang. "You really are pathetic, you know that?"
Clark made a face as his cousin walked away from the telescope to drop down on to the couch with a heavy sigh. "It must have moved slightly when I lifted my head. I was looking at the Crab Nebula - "
"Sure you were."
"Fortunately I don't have to look anymore. I have a crab right here on my couch."
"Bite me, Clark Kent." Cady smiled.
"You're in a good mood." Standing, Clark walked over to his desk to sit down and peer at his cousin. Reaching out a hand, he placed it on her forehead. "You don't feel like you have a fever."
"Bite me, again," Cady replied, slapping his hand away. "Can't a person be. happy?"
"Sure. They just can't be 'creepy' happy. And you're 'creepy' happy." Clark leaned further near her, examining her face. "Your expression is all wistful and there is this little smile that says you have been up to no good and your color is really heightened." He frowned. "And your hair is all tangled on one side. "
Cady reached up to run her hands through the tangles, her smile growing as she did so.
Clark blinked, a very strange idea crossing his mind. No, it just wasn't possible. "Cady, what happened at Lex's?"
"Whatever do you mean?" She looked up at him, smiling.
His eyes widened. "What happened between you and Lex?"
Smirking, his cousin replied, "Not much. I gave him the food and he ate and then I had him open his basket. and stuff."
"Stuff." Clark stared at her. "What kind of 'stuff'?"
"Clark Kent, I do not kiss and tell. "
"Holy cow! " Clark was instantly on his feet, staring down at Cady. "You and Lex. No way!"
Cady frowned. "Why 'no way'? Think I'm not good enough for Lex Luthor or something?"
"No! It isn't that at all. It's just. " Clark sat back down and suddenly grinned. "My cousin and my best friend. That is so cool!"
"Well, its nice to know I'll have the support of at least one person in this family."
Grimacing, Clark glanced over at his cousin as she picked at some lint on the cushion beneath her. "Oh. Dad. Didn't think about that."
"Yeah, he was pleased as punch about the thought of Lex and I going out yesterday." Cady glanced up at Clark. "He should be just jumping through hoops over the thought of Lex and I being. well, whatever it is we are."
Clark scratched his head for a moment. He had been about to say 'Well, aren't you boyfriend and girlfriend?' but stopped himself just in time when he realized that attempting to apply the term 'boyfriend' to Lex just seemed. well, strange really. Especially when associated with his cousin. "I see what you mean."
Silence fell between the cousins, each lost deeply in their own thoughts. While Cady's were centered firmly on the few hours she had spent in Lex's castle, Clark couldn't help but surreptitiously watch his cousin and worry. Not that he was too worried about Lex doing something to hurt Cady. At least not purposely. But Lex had a way of finding trouble - or trouble finding him - and it was rare that those closest to him or even associated with him were left untouched. Clark didn't blame his friend specifically for when those things occurred, he simply blamed it on the fact of how Lex was raised and the environment he lived in. He felt he knew Lex enough to understand that he didn't actively seek out ways to hurt and upset people like the whole thing with the spaceship. Besides, ever since the investigation into the accident, Lex had been completely honest with Clark (as far as he knew). Clark highly doubted that his friend had any questionable or evil plots in mind with regards to the research he was doing. Lex's problem was that he was too curious, that he couldn't simply let things 'be'. He always had to have the answers to every question that crossed his mind. And that usually led to more trouble than even a Luthor seemed capable of handling.
Cady sighed, pulling Clark from his musings. "You really like him, don't you?"
She glanced up at her cousin and smiled a little. "Maybe." Then she laughed at the look of disbelief on Clark's face. "Okay. Yes. I really like Lex. And, he kisses really nice!"
"Whoa. Too much information!" Clark declared, holding up his hands in surrender. "I don't need to hear about your seedy exploits with my best friend, thank you very much."
Laughing, Cady replied, "Like I would share them with you anyway." Stretching out on the couch, she placed her arm behind her head and stared up at the rafters for a moment, imaging a pair of haunted blue eyes, before turning back to her cousin. "So how's Chloe doing?"
"Better." Clark stood and wandered back over to the window. "That guy is still out there, so she's a little freaked. But I talked with her this evening and she had a nice Easter at home and her dad wants her not to go to school until the police find a little more information."
"The poor thing. I can't even imagine." Cady watched her cousin for a moment. "She's lucky she has you for a friend. In fact, it seems all of Smallville is quite lucky to have you. Is that going to become your occupation - saving lives?"
"Yeah, that's me." Clark chuckled. "Spiderman!"
Cady shook her head. "You'd have to raise your coolness level a few notches to achieve Superhero status, Clark." She paused. "Besides, I just can't see you in tights."
Clark was about to respond to her coolness comment when he heard the word 'tights' and cringed. "Me neither!"
"I can see you as a fireman though," she continued thoughtfully. "Rescuing kittens from trees and little old ladies who've fallen and can't get up."
Turning, Clark threw a Nerf football at Cady who laughed, catching it. "You should be a little nicer to me, you know," Clark warned. "Being that Lex is my best friend and you are my cousin, I could easily invite him over to look at some embarrassing baby pictures of you taking a bath. "
Cady sat up. "Clark Jerome Kent, you wouldn't dare!"
"Oh yeah?" He grinned. "Try me!"
Darting down the steps, Clark let out a laugh as he heard his cousin scamper to her feet from the couch and race after him.
***
Taking a deep breath, Cady headed down the stairs to the kitchen, flashing a smile at her aunt who turned from the stove to greet her good morning. Clark was sitting at the table, wolfing down a stack of pancakes, eggs and bacon, taking just enough time to grin up at her before returning to his breakfast.
"You got back late last night," Martha commented, placing a plate with two pancakes and an egg in front of her niece as she took a seat at the table. "Did Lex enjoy the food?"
"Yes, he did," Cady replied, grabbing the salt and pepper shakers.
"More than expected," Clark commented across from her.
"What was that, honey?" Martha glanced up from the sink to see Cady through a piece of bacon at her son. Brow furrowing, she flashed a quick smile. "What's going on with you two?"
Cady glared a warning at her cousin before picking up her orange juice for a sip. "Nothing, aunt Martha. Clark was just upset that Lex ate all of the strawberry pie." She realized she was not quite prepared to have this discussion with her aunt yet. Besides, it was very possible that Lex would have changed his mind during the night. "Lex was very appreciative of the food. And the basket. I think he liked the bunny."
"Everyone likes bunnies," her aunt replied matter-of-factly. "Busy week at work ahead of you?"
Nodding, Cady thoughtfully chewed and swallowed a bite of pancake before answering, "I've got a couple of brochures I'm working on that need to go to the printers. And Lex and I have a meeting with Arrow Shipping on Wednesday. Just the usual stuff."
"Tell you what," Clark said, finishing off his glass of milk and then wiping his hand across his mouth to rid himself of the milk mustache. "You go to school for me and I'll go to the Plant for you. That way you can take my Biology test for me."
"You do want to pass, right?" Cady asked with a smile. "I barely made it through science. Clark, I'm telling you now, college is so much easier than high school, it isn't even funny."
Clark raised his eyebrows at that. "Maybe I could just take my GED and - "
"I don't think so, young man," Martha warned with a playful slap to his shoulder. "You just get those thoughts out of your head."
Smiling, Cady returned to her meal as a knock on the screen door drew the family's attention away from the breakfast table.
"Good morning, Lex," Martha called out as she saw the young man standing in the framework of the door. "Come on in."
"Good morning, Mrs. Kent, Clark." Lex glanced across the table to see Cady watching him, a slow smile crossing her face. He found himself returning it. "Hey, Cady."
"Hey, Lex."
In front of him, Clark snickered. Lex looked down at his friend with a raised brow. "Something funny, Clark?"
"Not a thing, Lex," Clark replied, standing to carry his dishes over to the sink. "So did you ah. enjoy everything last night?"
Brow furrowed, Lex turned a quick glance to Cady only to discover that she was bright red and glaring at her cousin. Ah. Now he got it. Turning his attention back to Clark, Lex couldn't refrain from smirking somewhat arrogantly. "As a matter of fact, every bit of it was quite enjoyable. Smelled good, tasted even better. "
"Okay, time to go to work!" Cady announced, sliding her chair back loudly and glaring at both Lex and Clark who were grinning back at her.
Martha stared in confusion for a moment, certain she had missed something, before telling her niece, "But you haven't finished your breakfast."
"Sorry, aunt Martha. Can't keep the boss waiting!" Cady declared, grabbing Lex's hand as she moved past him toward the door. "Bye! See you both tonight!" Clark's laughter was the last thing she heard as she moved down the porch steps.
"Something wrong, Cady?" Lex asked with amusement as she half-dragged him down the steps.
"It's bad enough I live with a 15 year old. No reason for you to behave like one as well," she smirked, shaking her head.
"Hey." Lex stopped, yanking Cady back a step and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Maybe I like being 15."
Cady smiled up at him and Lex realized he couldn't resist any longer, leaning in to brush his lips across hers. He hadn't meant to do so. Last night he had convinced himself not to let this happen. This morning he had continued the litany in his head on the drive to the farm. He had reminded himself over and over as he had walked up to the door of the house that this was a really bad idea. Then he had seen Cady and she had smiled at him and he had silently told his conscience to go to hell. Now here he was, holding and kissing her not more than ten feet from the Kent farmhouse and every bit of it felt right. She tasted like orange juice and maple syrup and Lex couldn't help but deepen the kiss, enjoying the mixtures of flavor and the sweetness that was all Cady. When she sighed against his mouth, it was all he could do not to push her onto the grass beneath them and take her then and there. God, but she was temptation itself.
"Ahem!"
Lex and Cady jumped, pulling apart guiltily to find Jonathon Kent standing not more than four feet behind them, fixing Lex with a dark glare. The young man swallowed hard, glad that Cady's uncle wasn't holding a rifle in his hands. He had no doubt that he would have used it then and there.
"So you've gone from corrupting Clark to corrupting my niece, Lex?" Jonathon demanded, angry beyond belief that any Lex Luthor would have the nerve to grope and kiss Cady right there beside the house. Let alone that he would touch her at all!
"Uncle Jonathon!" Cady snapped in outrage. "That was uncalled for!"
"I expected a little more sense out of you, Cady O'Rourke."
Cady sighed and shook her head. "We are not having this conversation, uncle Jonathon. Lex and I need to get to work."
"Let Lex get to work," he replied, taking a step forward. "I want to have a talk with you."
"Cady, maybe I ought to go on ahead with you," Lex began but the woman beside him was shaking her head and holding his hand and he couldn't go anywhere. Which was slightly disconcerting the closer Jonathon Kent got.
"Hey dad!"
All three turned to see Clark leaning out of the door, waving his hand. "Mom needs your help - "
"Tell her I will be there in a minute," Jonathon barked back.
Clark peered his head in and leaned back outside once more. "She says not 'in a minute'. Now!"
Jonathon glanced back at Cady and Lex, glowering. He knew fully well that Martha didn't need him for anything. That likely all she wanted to do was pull him away from the conversation he had all the right to have with his niece. And he wanted Lex Luthor off of his property, dammit. A friendship with Clark was one thing. Jonathon trusted his son, knew that he could monitor any changes that might come over Clark's personality due to Lex's influence, could forbid his son to see Lex if he had to. But a young woman, swept off of her feet by the money and charm and luxurious life that people like the Luthors possessed would be difficult, if not impossible to contend with. Besides, Cady had always harbored a somewhat rebellious nature, ever since she had been very young, and the two of them had always clashed heads because of it. In fact, Jonathon would not have been entirely surprised if she wasn't perpetrating this whole interest in Lex simply because she knew he wouldn't approve.
"I will speak with you later, young lady," he told his niece before casting one more hard look at Lex and then turning and stalking toward the house to have it out with his wife for interrupting.
Clark darted back inside the kitchen the moment he saw his father heading in his direction. "Here he comes," he warned his mother who was busy wiping her hands on a dish towel before turning to face the door.
"We could have avoided this if you and your cousin had just been honest with me first thing this morning, Clark," Martha scolded him lightly, bracing herself for the argument that was about to ensue with her husband.
She had just glanced out the window in time to see Lex kissing Cady only moments before her husband had come walking out of the barn. It hadn't given her enough time to warn them. Of course, both her niece and Lex should have been smart enough not to engage in such an action right where Jonathon could spot them. If they had planned on keeping this a secret, they should have been a little more discreet on the farm.
"Martha," Jonathon called out angrily as he stepped into the kitchen. "You are not going to tell me to calm down and accept what I just saw out there!"
"I most certainly am, Jonathon Kent," she replied, placing her hands on her hips. "And you are going to sit down and listen to me before you go running off half-cocked to further alienate yourself from your niece."
"You can't tell me you are pleased about this!" Her husband commented, taking his seat at the table before turning to lean an arm over the back of the chair to face her. "Cady and that - that Luthor?! I'm not going to allow it, Martha!"
"Dad," Clark began. "They really like each other - "
"Stay out of this, Clark," Jonathon told his son. "You're too young to even begin to understand the implications here."
Clark rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he stood and grabbed his backpack. "Yeah. Okay. I'm going to school. See you this afternoon, mom." Leaning over to kiss her cheek, he hurried out of the house, not really in the mood to hear any more of his father's insults against Lex.
"Is hating Lex so much worth destroying this family over?" Martha demanded.
Jonathon sighed. "I don't hate him, Martha. You know that."
"Well, that is the impression you are giving our son, our niece and Lex," she told him, shaking a finger in her husband's direction. "Instead of calmly sitting them down and explaining that you think a relationship could be a bad idea, instead of discussing it with them like the adults that they are, you scream, yell, jump up and down and cast angry glares. Just how far do you think that is going to get you in Cady listening?"
Frowning, he commented, "I never jumped up and down."
"Jonathon." Martha sighed, moving to sit down beside him. "I know why you're worried. I am, too. But I've seen this coming for a while. Cady has been moonstruck over Lex since the day she met him. I never seriously considered that interest being returned - she never seemed much like Lex's type. Not to say anything against Cady - I just always thought she would be a little naïve and sheltered for Lex." Shrugging, she added, "Then again, neither of us can really claim to know Lex well, as Clark always reminds us, so for all we know she might very well be exactly what he is looking for."
"I don't need to hear this, Martha," he groaned.
"I think you do, Jonathon. By accepting Cady into our home, we have become, in affect, the only parents she has. We need to be here for her, no matter what happens. We need to let her know that we support her in her decisions and won't judge her when those decisions are wrong." Reaching out, Martha laid a hand on her husband's forearm. "Try to see it from her point of view. For any young woman, this would be the dream of a lifetime. Someone as charming and wealthy and powerful as Lex Luthor, sweeping her off of her feet is the Cinderella fantasy that every little girl dreams about."
"Did you ever dream of being Cinderella?" Jonathon asked with a frown, thinking that the life he gave his wife was much more that of Cinderella living with her evil stepmother than her prince.
"What little girl didn't?" Martha smiled and kissed her husband's cheek. "But I grew up and realized what was important to me."
"Well, Cady is old enough to come to the same realization," he argued.
Martha shook her head. "While I doubt Cady cares how much money Lex has or what kind of life he leads, I do know that every woman's dream is different." She paused a moment in thought. "In actuality, I think Cady believes that Lex needs her."
"What?" Jonathon frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember the menagerie of animals that Cady used to keep here once her parents moved from the farm? Every little creature that she came across that was injured or sick or homeless, she took in and took care of. Now that Cady is all grown up, she still has that same nurturing nature embedded within her, except it extends to her friends and the people she cares about."
"Lex is no hopeless creature, Martha. I think a Viper is much closer to the reality."
Sighing, Martha replied, "As a male, you don't see it. But any woman with an ounce of natural nurturing instinct in her is instantly drawn to it. Even I tend to want to be a mother to Lex whenever he is over - "
"You what?!"
"Now, let me finish." She patted her husband's arm consolingly. "I know you will easily agree that Lionel Luthor is the last man any child should have for a father. Any problems that Lex may have regarding his personality I have no doubt stem from that man's influence - "
"Which is exactly why - "
"Jonathon. I said let me finish." Waiting for her husband to nod and sit back, Martha continued, "You tend to forget that Lex also had a mother. One who obviously loved him and taught him about morals and values or he would be exactly the monster that you seem to picture him as." She paused as Jonathon mumbled something about not seeing Lex as a monster. "Lex lost his mother before he could become a man, and it is something that very apparently eats away at him, causing him to want to reach out for any offering of love and understanding that is cast in his direction. I see it every time he is over here. It's why he is drawn to our family, because we give Clark something Lex was denied at a young age. Cady saw it as well, and her heart responded to it. Whether you like it or not, Jonathon Kent, I believe Lex needs Cady. And if you would just sit back and consider it, Clark's influence, along with your niece, could very well save Lex from ever becoming like his father."
"You might as well ask the sun to not rise tomorrow morning, Martha."
"You're never going to give him a chance, are you?"
"I have given him plenty of chances. But Lex has yet to prove to me that he is anything other than a Luthor."
"Then you obviously haven't been looking very closely." Standing, Martha moved back over to her dishes. There was a long moment of silence before she told him, "I'm just asking you to give this a chance, Jonathon. If Cady gets hurt, then we'll be here to help her. For now, let her enjoy life. Let her live out her dream."
Realizing he didn't have much of a choice, Jonathon stood and walked over to his wife, drawing her in to his arms. "What would I do without you?" He kissed her sweetly. "I'll do as you request. But, if he purposely hurts her, I am not going to be responsible for my actions."
"Jonathon," Martha laughed. "If Lex purposely hurts Cady, he'll have enough to worry about from Clark!"
***
The drive to the Plant was silent. Cady stared out the window at the passing countryside which, at eighty miles an hour, was little more than a blur of a slowly blooming spring. She could palpably feel the tension of the man beside her and couldn't think of a single thing to say that would lessen it. What she was preparing herself for was Lex to pull away from her once more, to decide once and for all that anything happening between them simply wasn't worth it when it came between the Kent family. And while a small part of her secretly agreed with that logic, the larger part railed against it. After all, she was old enough to make her own decisions, her uncle truly had no say in what she did with her life. Plus, she knew her cousin and her aunt were on their side - if anyone could get her uncle to see reason, it was his own family.
"Cady. "
Lex trailed off when he felt her hand lay itself against his thigh. He took a quick moment to look away from the road in front of him, casting a glance in the direction of the young woman beside him. Her expression clearly stated that she knew what he was about to say. And she seemed to be staring him down about it. Letting out a breath of air through his mouth, Lex turned back to the road and grew quiet again. Her hand was comforting and he hoped she would keep it there. Inwardly, he tried to tell himself that the situation wasn't really that impossible. After all, they had been allowed to leave the farm together, without injury to him, which was a good thing. While he doubted that Jonathon Kent would ever accept the idea of him dating his niece, he did know that Clark had no problems with it and apparently Martha Kent was intent on keeping her disapproval to herself as well.
Pulling in to his parking space, Lex turned off the engine of the Ferrari and leaned back in his seat, turning his gaze to Cady. "Cady, this is impossible. "
"What's impossible, Lex?" She asked quietly.
He waved his hand in front of him. "This. Us. It's not. " Lex sighed and ran his hand over his head. He shifted in his seat to face her, laying his hand over hers. "This morning I was going to tell you that nothing more can happen between us. Not ever again." He paused and glanced out the windshield for a moment.
"But. ?"
Lex frowned slightly. "But I realized I couldn't - didn't want to do that."
"I'm glad." Cady smiled a little.
"You're not understanding." Lex shook his head. "What just happened with your uncle - that's only the beginning. If this," he indicated them again with a wave of his hand, "Becomes something, what do you think I can give you? What do you truly believe is in my capacity to give?"
Leaning forward, Cady reached up to place her fingers against his chin, gently drawing his face around, forcing their gazes to meet. "I'm not asking you for anything, Lex. You're the one who said let's take this slow, see where it leads. So maybe I get out of this car and go in to work and we barely say two words to each other all day. Maybe we go through the whole week like that. And maybe on Saturday you'll call me up and ask me to dinner. And maybe you won't. That's okay, too."
What was it about the Kent's? From the moment he had opened up his eyes, back to life from death, and saw Clark hovering over him in concern, he had known he never wanted the boy out of his life. He wanted to remain friends forever. And Martha and Jonathon - he knew they would never accept him, but he would always long for it. Always want to be a part of their lives.
Now there was Cady. Cady, who had opened her heart like Clark and accepted him into her world without question. Who was unselfishly offering to keep him there, if he wanted, or let him go, as was his will. Who wasn't asking him for anything more than he could give to her, and truly wasn't expecting anything at all. And yet, she cared. She was there - always seemed to be there lately when he needed someone - and selfishly, Lex didn't want to let that go. Even if it meant battling Jonathon Kent. Even if it meant giving in to the idea of commitment, giving up the security of relying only on himself. Beyond anything else, Lex wanted to accept what Cady was offering. No, he needed to accept it.
Lex found his hand reaching up to curl around Cady's neck, drawing her closer until he smelled the scent of honeysuckles sweep over him. Leaning in to her mouth, he asked against her lips, "And what if I want to take you out to lunch? And then to dinner? And what if I call you tonight, just to say 'sweet dreams'?"
Cady's eyes closed at the feel of his breath over her skin, the scent of minty toothpaste and orange juice assaulting her senses. "Th - that's okay, too," she whispered, sighing as his lips brushed over hers, once, twice, three times before he claimed her mouth completely, holding her in a wholly possessive manner with his hand at her neck.
Worshipping her with both tongue and lips, Lex finally drew back to stare in to her eyes. "This isn't going to be easy," he said quietly.
"Nothing worthwhile ever is, Lex," came the breathless reply.
Watching her for a long moment, Lex ran his thumb over her lips. "Is this worthwhile?"
Cady threaded her fingers through the hand that still lay over hers. "What do you think?"
What did he think? He thought that her kisses were pure Heaven and her touch was something he wanted - no, needed to feel time and again. He wanted to know that the next time the world just became too much, the next time his father hurt him beyond understanding, the next time he saw the familiar expression of disappointment in Clark's eyes, that he could simply turn to Cady. And she would make him smile, make him laugh, hold him until all of the demons went away.
"I think," he replied slowly, moving in for another kiss. "That you're going to be late for work, Miss O'Rourke. "
CHAPTER EIGHT
I want you now
Tomorrow won't do
There's a yearning inside
And it's showing through
Reach out your hands
And accept my love
We've waited for too long
Enough is enough
I want you now - Depeche Mode
Time had stopped. Lex had no idea how long he had been standing there, holding Cady in his arms, kissing her until she seemed incapable of standing on her own, her hands clutching to him tightly - behind his neck, against his shirt - soft whimpers occasionally issuing from her throat. With each one, Lex found himself falling deeper into the feeling of euphoria that was Cady. Her honest and innocent reactions to each new sensation held him captivated and wanting more. When his slipped his tongue past her lips, she had moaned softly against his mouth, tentatively meeting his with her own and Lex had crushed her to him ever more closely, devouring the sweet taste of her.
Lex was uncertain how much time had passed since that moment had taken place or when he had found the strength to pull her over to the leather chair and on to his lap. He currently held her possessively against him while his mouth moved away from her lips to caress her cheek and jaw, down to her neck where he grazed the skin lightly with his teeth. The girl/woman in his arms shivered against him at the touch, arching her neck against his mouth and Lex smiled against her skin at the reaction. Moving his hands down her waist, over her hips and thighs, he forced himself to take a deep breath and slow down. Just because Cady had kissed him - had obviously given leave for him to do the same to her - did not also mean she was expecting him to ravish her on the leather chair in his study on Easter Sunday. Inwardly he simultaneously chuckled at the image and sent a silent apology to Clark for whatever it was occurring between himself and his best friend's cousin. God forgive him but he never wanted it to end.
Of course, good intentions had a way of flying out the window, especially when his hand snaked under the edge of her sweater to brush against the soft skin of her stomach and Lex felt Cady tremble against him once more. She was currently raining light kisses across his cheek and. Lex felt a resulting shiver of his own when her lips pressed against his ear. Cady hesitated at the reaction, and suddenly her warm breath was fanning over the shell.
"Do you like that?" She whispered.
Lex felt his eyes closing at her words. What could have been a sensual, teasing question out of any of the many other women he had been with, had actually been spoken with pure curiosity and a sense of discovery by the female in his lap. He clenched his hands against her. "Yes," he told her quietly in reply, waiting for her to continue.
Tentatively, Cady leaned in and kissed the edge of the delicate shell, growing bolder as her lips moved down to the lobe and her tongue darted out to sweep over it. Hearing a sharp rush of breath escape from Lex, she was encouraged to continue, marveling at the simple touches that could elicit such a response from the normally staid man holding her. Cady would be the first to admit that she hadn't realized she would be quite so responsive to something as basic as his fingers touching her belly or that his lips against her neck could dissolve her entire body into liquid form. Of course, the entire moment seemed like a dream - the only difference being that the reality was so much better. Her dreams had always been vague, the sensations and emotions hard to pinpoint. But this moment, being in the castle, in Lex's arms, the scent of him - leather and liquor and the musk cologne he wore - engulfing her, far exceeded the fantasy. Again, her preconceived perceptions of Lex Luthor had been far off course. She had never believed that his kiss could be so gentle, his touch so tender, his reactions so honest. Mask upon mask seemed to dissolve away, leaving a Lex that she had previously only imagined.
Cady didn't want to allow herself to believe that it was all some trick to get in to her pants. Then again, she wasn't entirely naïve. She knew the way of the world and had been warned enough by her own parents about how careful a girl needed to be with a guy who knew that she was interested in them. Especially when said guy was as worldly and experienced as Lex Luthor. He could have her completely wrapped around his finger and she would never know what hit her. And at the moment, Cady really didn't care one way or the other.
Lex's mouth returned to her neck and coherent thought immediately left her. Cady decided that this was now her favorite thing in the world - having Lex's lips drawn over her skin, at the point where neck and shoulder met, feeling the warmth of his tongue move against her, the light grazing of his teeth. Yes, Cady was quite certain she could have died happily then and there. All thoughts of the exploration of his ear left her as he drew her skin into his mouth and suckled at it, his hands moving further beneath her shirt to caress her skin. Goosebumps broke out on her skin at the combined sensations and she could have sworn she felt Lex's lips move in to a smile against her neck. One hand, warm and gentle, moved up under her sweater and over her back, cradling her in his embrace, while the other continued to splay across her stomach, moving slowly, maddeningly. His fingers danced across her ribs, then down to the hollow of her stomach and back up again, tracing lightly just along the edge of her bra. Cady sucked in a breath at the touch, her eyes opening wide as she felt his fingers skim across the underside of her breast. She shook but this time it wasn't entirely from desire.
"Shhhh." She felt Lex whisper soothingly against her neck, obviously more in tune to her body's reactions than she was. "This won't go any further than where you want it go, Cady."
Another misconception. Cady could clearly hear her uncle the night she had informed them of the date to Metropolis, when he said that Lex Luthor wanted only one thing from her - and being in his presence alone for more than five minutes would guarantee that. Wow, the argument that had broken out over that remark had not been pretty. And here she was, alone in Lex's presence for a hell of a lot longer than five minutes and his hands were on her and she was much too relaxed to do anything about it and he was assuring her that she was in control of the situation. She felt like she needed to apologize or something.
"Cady?" Lex pulled away from her neck to meet her gaze.
For a long moment he just stared at her, the thought crossing his mind how he had always considered her very pretty, not classically beautiful, but enough to cause one to look again. There had always been a certain 'something' that had kept him sneaking stolen glances at her, kept him wondering what it was that made Clark's cousin stand out when there was nothing particularly stunning about her appearance. Sure, her eyes were very bright in color, captivating in shape and size, but there were other more beautiful women with equally striking eyes. Cady did have a perfect mouth, but the lipstick she wore was generally either a simple gloss or a natural pink that tended to lessen their impact rather than draw them out. The rest of her facial features were fairly simple and nondescript.
Except for at the moment. Her lips were swollen and bruised from their kisses, and slightly parted for the shallow breaths she was taking, her nostrils slightly flared with each breath. Her eyes were large with wonder but glazed over with passion, the green more smoky than bright, her dark hair mussed. There was pure sensuality there, a combination of innocence and natural instinct, mixed with a lack of artifice - which was lacking in Lex's experience - that made Cady more beautiful in his eyes than he had ever before considered her. In fact, Lex couldn't remember the last time he had wanted someone quite this strongly and that alone complicated matters between them.
Taking a deep breath to calm the raging desire running through him, Lex prompted once more, "Cady? Are you all right?"
Cady nodded, reaching up to touch his cheek, running her fingertips down it lightly, smiling a little when Lex leaned in to it. "I. I was wondering something."
"What is that?"
"What. what if I don't where I want this to go. or not go?"
Lex smiled, his thumb on her back gently caressing the skin beneath it. "There are no expectations, Cady. No pressure. I highly doubt that either of us was expecting this to occur when you came over today?" He paused as she slightly shook her head. "Have you been enjoying yourself so far?'
"Yes," Cady replied quietly, a smile crossing her face. "Very much."
"Then that's all that is important," he told her before leaning in for another kiss. This one was more like the gentle kisses at the beginning, as Lex tried to soothe her fears and convince her to relax once more. Moving his hand back to her stomach, he continued to slowly caress her, accustoming her to his touch and the associated sensations.
And then. what?
In the past, this encounter could only lead to one place - be it here on the chair, the pool table, the floor, the staircase on the way to the bedroom. Sex was the logical and obvious step from the desire that was more than prevalent between himself and Cady. It was what had been expected in the past, with women like Victoria Hardwick who, Lex had no doubt, had been experienced in the art of manipulating sexual encounters long before Cady even knew the meaning of the word sex. But Cady wasn't Victoria and Lex had already promised her that this would only go as far as she wanted it to, which suddenly put to mind some very difficult questions. Where was this going? If this wasn't going to lead to sex, what were they doing here? Cady deserved more than a casual romp on the floor of the study in the Luthor Castle. Not to mention, Lex doubted that her uncle and cousin would be very appreciative of such an act. Neither did Lex find himself accepting the idea that he just wanted to steal a few kisses and then he would be over this infatuation he had with Clark's cousin. He could be honest enough with himself in this situation to admit that he wanted her, and now that he'd had a taste, he wasn't going to stop there. Luthors took what they wanted - it was what he had been taught from birth - and now that the door had been opened, he wasn't about to walk out.
Except for one minor snag. He was in unfamiliar territory. The implications of what he had said, of what Cady would be looking for, were not lost on Lex. A relationship. Or that long-dreaded term that had luckily never been applied to him - boyfriend. Lex mentally cringed at the thought. In fact, it quickly rid him of all thoughts of lust and debauchery as easily as a visit from his father would have. Snapping back to reality, Lex broke the kiss, moving to stand while he gently set Cady on her feet and walked away from her, ignoring the look of confusion on her sweet face.
Relationship. Boyfriend. Commitment. Lex prided himself on staying away from such terms. Beyond the fact that most women were simply after his money and status, there was also the knowledge that very few people could be trusted period. His father had always taught him to never rely on someone else being there - that he was basically alone and it was something he had to get used to. And Lex felt he had done an excellent job so far. He dated women too numerous to count but the only one that had ever been even slightly regular was Victoria and Lex had never associated the term 'girlfriend' with her. Theirs had always been a mutual understanding of sex and manipulation. A game to see who could get the most out of whom before they both got so sick of each other that they couldn't stand being in the same proximity any longer.
Lex ran a hand over his bald pate in frustration. So what did all of this mean? He wasn't even certain of where to begin. Was he supposed to take her on dates to the movies and share a milkshake with two straws and drop her off on the Kent's porch each night at eleven with a peck on the cheek? He almost visibly cringed at the thought.
"Lex? Did I. Did I do something wrong?"
Cady's voice snapped him out of his reverie and Lex turned back to her, shaking his head. "No, sweetie." Walking over to her, he took her hands in his to hold between them. "I just have some thinking to do."
"I don't want to push you in to anything," Cady told him softly.
Lex allowed a ghost of a smile before bending down to brush his lips across hers. "As if you could," he whispered against her mouth before pulling back. "Let's just. see where this goes, shall we?"
No pressure. That was what he had to remind himself. When Cady left here, Lex would be able to think again, to be rational. Once that happened, he would be able to decide if this had all been some horrible mistake - or the first 'right' thing he had ever done in his life.
"You should probably get home," he told her softly, squeezing her hands slightly.
Cady searched his gaze for a moment before glancing to the floor. "Okay."
"Hey." Lex reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look back up at him. "I'm glad you came by. I'm glad that we're being honest with each other. I don't regret what's happened. do you?"
She shook her head mutely.
Lex smiled. "Good." He paused, watching her for a moment before telling her, "I'll pick you up tomorrow on the way in to work."
Her eyes widened slightly. It was beyond belief to think that Lex meant for this not to end, that something was really and truly occurring between them. She had thought that by her reticence he would want nothing to do with her. So what did all of this mean?
"Sounds good," she whispered, unable to find the voice for much more.
Lex moved in for another, deeper kiss, drawing her lower lip into his mouth to suckle at it for a moment before letting go. "Thank your aunt for the food," he said against her mouth before kissing her again. "And thank her and your cousin and you for the basket. It was wonderful."
The kiss gentled and he held Cady in his arms for a moment, savoring the feeling of her soft, trusting form pressed against him. Sighing a little, Lex let her go, sending her home, back to the safety of her family and away from temptation's reach.
For now.
***
When Cady got home, she sat in her SUV for a good twenty minutes, still attempting to reconcile in her head what had just happened. She swore she could still feel Lex's kisses, his hands against her skin and his scent covered her sweater. All she wanted to do was go back to the mansion and wrap herself in his arms and stay there and to hell with the consequences. Of course, her mother's familiar words 'Why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free?' kept running through her mind. But then, she doubted her mother had ever been kissed by Lex Luthor before. Closing her eyes, Cady leaned her head back against the seat, fervently wishing her mother and father were there right now to talk to. They had both raised her to give people the benefit of the doubt and though her father had never particularly had good things to say about Lionel Luthor, neither had he ever said bad things about Lex. And in Cady's opinion, that meant she could have received a more objective point of view from her parents, as opposed to her aunt and uncle. Then again, she couldn't help but wonder if aunt Martha had known what she was doing by sending Cady to Lex's place this afternoon to begin with. Sighing, Cady opened her eyes, pulling the keys from the ignition and tossing them into her purse before climbing out of the car. Glancing to her right, she noticed the lights were on in the loft. Not in the least bit tired, she knew she had to talk to someone and, as long as Clark could keep his big mouth shut, he would do just fine.
Clark had heard his cousin's car pull up and wasn't surprised when the barn door opened and her light footsteps headed up the stairs. Keeping his head bent, he didn't turn from the eyepiece on the telescope as Cady walked up beside him.
"Did Lex like the food?"
"Mmmm."
"Dad was definitely not pleased when he found out mom sent the last of the peach cobbler over with you." Lifting his head, Clark turned to glance over his shoulder at Cady who was gazing up at the dark sky with a slight smile on her face. He half-frowned, half-grinned at her dreamy expression. "What's up with you? You look like you have gas."
That worked. Snapping out of her daze, Cady glared down at Clark before cuffing him upside the back of his head. "Brat." Pushing him slightly out of the way, she leaned over to peer through the telescope, snickering when she discovered it was, as usual, pointed at the nearby home of Lana Lang. "You really are pathetic, you know that?"
Clark made a face as his cousin walked away from the telescope to drop down on to the couch with a heavy sigh. "It must have moved slightly when I lifted my head. I was looking at the Crab Nebula - "
"Sure you were."
"Fortunately I don't have to look anymore. I have a crab right here on my couch."
"Bite me, Clark Kent." Cady smiled.
"You're in a good mood." Standing, Clark walked over to his desk to sit down and peer at his cousin. Reaching out a hand, he placed it on her forehead. "You don't feel like you have a fever."
"Bite me, again," Cady replied, slapping his hand away. "Can't a person be. happy?"
"Sure. They just can't be 'creepy' happy. And you're 'creepy' happy." Clark leaned further near her, examining her face. "Your expression is all wistful and there is this little smile that says you have been up to no good and your color is really heightened." He frowned. "And your hair is all tangled on one side. "
Cady reached up to run her hands through the tangles, her smile growing as she did so.
Clark blinked, a very strange idea crossing his mind. No, it just wasn't possible. "Cady, what happened at Lex's?"
"Whatever do you mean?" She looked up at him, smiling.
His eyes widened. "What happened between you and Lex?"
Smirking, his cousin replied, "Not much. I gave him the food and he ate and then I had him open his basket. and stuff."
"Stuff." Clark stared at her. "What kind of 'stuff'?"
"Clark Kent, I do not kiss and tell. "
"Holy cow! " Clark was instantly on his feet, staring down at Cady. "You and Lex. No way!"
Cady frowned. "Why 'no way'? Think I'm not good enough for Lex Luthor or something?"
"No! It isn't that at all. It's just. " Clark sat back down and suddenly grinned. "My cousin and my best friend. That is so cool!"
"Well, its nice to know I'll have the support of at least one person in this family."
Grimacing, Clark glanced over at his cousin as she picked at some lint on the cushion beneath her. "Oh. Dad. Didn't think about that."
"Yeah, he was pleased as punch about the thought of Lex and I going out yesterday." Cady glanced up at Clark. "He should be just jumping through hoops over the thought of Lex and I being. well, whatever it is we are."
Clark scratched his head for a moment. He had been about to say 'Well, aren't you boyfriend and girlfriend?' but stopped himself just in time when he realized that attempting to apply the term 'boyfriend' to Lex just seemed. well, strange really. Especially when associated with his cousin. "I see what you mean."
Silence fell between the cousins, each lost deeply in their own thoughts. While Cady's were centered firmly on the few hours she had spent in Lex's castle, Clark couldn't help but surreptitiously watch his cousin and worry. Not that he was too worried about Lex doing something to hurt Cady. At least not purposely. But Lex had a way of finding trouble - or trouble finding him - and it was rare that those closest to him or even associated with him were left untouched. Clark didn't blame his friend specifically for when those things occurred, he simply blamed it on the fact of how Lex was raised and the environment he lived in. He felt he knew Lex enough to understand that he didn't actively seek out ways to hurt and upset people like the whole thing with the spaceship. Besides, ever since the investigation into the accident, Lex had been completely honest with Clark (as far as he knew). Clark highly doubted that his friend had any questionable or evil plots in mind with regards to the research he was doing. Lex's problem was that he was too curious, that he couldn't simply let things 'be'. He always had to have the answers to every question that crossed his mind. And that usually led to more trouble than even a Luthor seemed capable of handling.
Cady sighed, pulling Clark from his musings. "You really like him, don't you?"
She glanced up at her cousin and smiled a little. "Maybe." Then she laughed at the look of disbelief on Clark's face. "Okay. Yes. I really like Lex. And, he kisses really nice!"
"Whoa. Too much information!" Clark declared, holding up his hands in surrender. "I don't need to hear about your seedy exploits with my best friend, thank you very much."
Laughing, Cady replied, "Like I would share them with you anyway." Stretching out on the couch, she placed her arm behind her head and stared up at the rafters for a moment, imaging a pair of haunted blue eyes, before turning back to her cousin. "So how's Chloe doing?"
"Better." Clark stood and wandered back over to the window. "That guy is still out there, so she's a little freaked. But I talked with her this evening and she had a nice Easter at home and her dad wants her not to go to school until the police find a little more information."
"The poor thing. I can't even imagine." Cady watched her cousin for a moment. "She's lucky she has you for a friend. In fact, it seems all of Smallville is quite lucky to have you. Is that going to become your occupation - saving lives?"
"Yeah, that's me." Clark chuckled. "Spiderman!"
Cady shook her head. "You'd have to raise your coolness level a few notches to achieve Superhero status, Clark." She paused. "Besides, I just can't see you in tights."
Clark was about to respond to her coolness comment when he heard the word 'tights' and cringed. "Me neither!"
"I can see you as a fireman though," she continued thoughtfully. "Rescuing kittens from trees and little old ladies who've fallen and can't get up."
Turning, Clark threw a Nerf football at Cady who laughed, catching it. "You should be a little nicer to me, you know," Clark warned. "Being that Lex is my best friend and you are my cousin, I could easily invite him over to look at some embarrassing baby pictures of you taking a bath. "
Cady sat up. "Clark Jerome Kent, you wouldn't dare!"
"Oh yeah?" He grinned. "Try me!"
Darting down the steps, Clark let out a laugh as he heard his cousin scamper to her feet from the couch and race after him.
***
Taking a deep breath, Cady headed down the stairs to the kitchen, flashing a smile at her aunt who turned from the stove to greet her good morning. Clark was sitting at the table, wolfing down a stack of pancakes, eggs and bacon, taking just enough time to grin up at her before returning to his breakfast.
"You got back late last night," Martha commented, placing a plate with two pancakes and an egg in front of her niece as she took a seat at the table. "Did Lex enjoy the food?"
"Yes, he did," Cady replied, grabbing the salt and pepper shakers.
"More than expected," Clark commented across from her.
"What was that, honey?" Martha glanced up from the sink to see Cady through a piece of bacon at her son. Brow furrowing, she flashed a quick smile. "What's going on with you two?"
Cady glared a warning at her cousin before picking up her orange juice for a sip. "Nothing, aunt Martha. Clark was just upset that Lex ate all of the strawberry pie." She realized she was not quite prepared to have this discussion with her aunt yet. Besides, it was very possible that Lex would have changed his mind during the night. "Lex was very appreciative of the food. And the basket. I think he liked the bunny."
"Everyone likes bunnies," her aunt replied matter-of-factly. "Busy week at work ahead of you?"
Nodding, Cady thoughtfully chewed and swallowed a bite of pancake before answering, "I've got a couple of brochures I'm working on that need to go to the printers. And Lex and I have a meeting with Arrow Shipping on Wednesday. Just the usual stuff."
"Tell you what," Clark said, finishing off his glass of milk and then wiping his hand across his mouth to rid himself of the milk mustache. "You go to school for me and I'll go to the Plant for you. That way you can take my Biology test for me."
"You do want to pass, right?" Cady asked with a smile. "I barely made it through science. Clark, I'm telling you now, college is so much easier than high school, it isn't even funny."
Clark raised his eyebrows at that. "Maybe I could just take my GED and - "
"I don't think so, young man," Martha warned with a playful slap to his shoulder. "You just get those thoughts out of your head."
Smiling, Cady returned to her meal as a knock on the screen door drew the family's attention away from the breakfast table.
"Good morning, Lex," Martha called out as she saw the young man standing in the framework of the door. "Come on in."
"Good morning, Mrs. Kent, Clark." Lex glanced across the table to see Cady watching him, a slow smile crossing her face. He found himself returning it. "Hey, Cady."
"Hey, Lex."
In front of him, Clark snickered. Lex looked down at his friend with a raised brow. "Something funny, Clark?"
"Not a thing, Lex," Clark replied, standing to carry his dishes over to the sink. "So did you ah. enjoy everything last night?"
Brow furrowed, Lex turned a quick glance to Cady only to discover that she was bright red and glaring at her cousin. Ah. Now he got it. Turning his attention back to Clark, Lex couldn't refrain from smirking somewhat arrogantly. "As a matter of fact, every bit of it was quite enjoyable. Smelled good, tasted even better. "
"Okay, time to go to work!" Cady announced, sliding her chair back loudly and glaring at both Lex and Clark who were grinning back at her.
Martha stared in confusion for a moment, certain she had missed something, before telling her niece, "But you haven't finished your breakfast."
"Sorry, aunt Martha. Can't keep the boss waiting!" Cady declared, grabbing Lex's hand as she moved past him toward the door. "Bye! See you both tonight!" Clark's laughter was the last thing she heard as she moved down the porch steps.
"Something wrong, Cady?" Lex asked with amusement as she half-dragged him down the steps.
"It's bad enough I live with a 15 year old. No reason for you to behave like one as well," she smirked, shaking her head.
"Hey." Lex stopped, yanking Cady back a step and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Maybe I like being 15."
Cady smiled up at him and Lex realized he couldn't resist any longer, leaning in to brush his lips across hers. He hadn't meant to do so. Last night he had convinced himself not to let this happen. This morning he had continued the litany in his head on the drive to the farm. He had reminded himself over and over as he had walked up to the door of the house that this was a really bad idea. Then he had seen Cady and she had smiled at him and he had silently told his conscience to go to hell. Now here he was, holding and kissing her not more than ten feet from the Kent farmhouse and every bit of it felt right. She tasted like orange juice and maple syrup and Lex couldn't help but deepen the kiss, enjoying the mixtures of flavor and the sweetness that was all Cady. When she sighed against his mouth, it was all he could do not to push her onto the grass beneath them and take her then and there. God, but she was temptation itself.
"Ahem!"
Lex and Cady jumped, pulling apart guiltily to find Jonathon Kent standing not more than four feet behind them, fixing Lex with a dark glare. The young man swallowed hard, glad that Cady's uncle wasn't holding a rifle in his hands. He had no doubt that he would have used it then and there.
"So you've gone from corrupting Clark to corrupting my niece, Lex?" Jonathon demanded, angry beyond belief that any Lex Luthor would have the nerve to grope and kiss Cady right there beside the house. Let alone that he would touch her at all!
"Uncle Jonathon!" Cady snapped in outrage. "That was uncalled for!"
"I expected a little more sense out of you, Cady O'Rourke."
Cady sighed and shook her head. "We are not having this conversation, uncle Jonathon. Lex and I need to get to work."
"Let Lex get to work," he replied, taking a step forward. "I want to have a talk with you."
"Cady, maybe I ought to go on ahead with you," Lex began but the woman beside him was shaking her head and holding his hand and he couldn't go anywhere. Which was slightly disconcerting the closer Jonathon Kent got.
"Hey dad!"
All three turned to see Clark leaning out of the door, waving his hand. "Mom needs your help - "
"Tell her I will be there in a minute," Jonathon barked back.
Clark peered his head in and leaned back outside once more. "She says not 'in a minute'. Now!"
Jonathon glanced back at Cady and Lex, glowering. He knew fully well that Martha didn't need him for anything. That likely all she wanted to do was pull him away from the conversation he had all the right to have with his niece. And he wanted Lex Luthor off of his property, dammit. A friendship with Clark was one thing. Jonathon trusted his son, knew that he could monitor any changes that might come over Clark's personality due to Lex's influence, could forbid his son to see Lex if he had to. But a young woman, swept off of her feet by the money and charm and luxurious life that people like the Luthors possessed would be difficult, if not impossible to contend with. Besides, Cady had always harbored a somewhat rebellious nature, ever since she had been very young, and the two of them had always clashed heads because of it. In fact, Jonathon would not have been entirely surprised if she wasn't perpetrating this whole interest in Lex simply because she knew he wouldn't approve.
"I will speak with you later, young lady," he told his niece before casting one more hard look at Lex and then turning and stalking toward the house to have it out with his wife for interrupting.
Clark darted back inside the kitchen the moment he saw his father heading in his direction. "Here he comes," he warned his mother who was busy wiping her hands on a dish towel before turning to face the door.
"We could have avoided this if you and your cousin had just been honest with me first thing this morning, Clark," Martha scolded him lightly, bracing herself for the argument that was about to ensue with her husband.
She had just glanced out the window in time to see Lex kissing Cady only moments before her husband had come walking out of the barn. It hadn't given her enough time to warn them. Of course, both her niece and Lex should have been smart enough not to engage in such an action right where Jonathon could spot them. If they had planned on keeping this a secret, they should have been a little more discreet on the farm.
"Martha," Jonathon called out angrily as he stepped into the kitchen. "You are not going to tell me to calm down and accept what I just saw out there!"
"I most certainly am, Jonathon Kent," she replied, placing her hands on her hips. "And you are going to sit down and listen to me before you go running off half-cocked to further alienate yourself from your niece."
"You can't tell me you are pleased about this!" Her husband commented, taking his seat at the table before turning to lean an arm over the back of the chair to face her. "Cady and that - that Luthor?! I'm not going to allow it, Martha!"
"Dad," Clark began. "They really like each other - "
"Stay out of this, Clark," Jonathon told his son. "You're too young to even begin to understand the implications here."
Clark rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he stood and grabbed his backpack. "Yeah. Okay. I'm going to school. See you this afternoon, mom." Leaning over to kiss her cheek, he hurried out of the house, not really in the mood to hear any more of his father's insults against Lex.
"Is hating Lex so much worth destroying this family over?" Martha demanded.
Jonathon sighed. "I don't hate him, Martha. You know that."
"Well, that is the impression you are giving our son, our niece and Lex," she told him, shaking a finger in her husband's direction. "Instead of calmly sitting them down and explaining that you think a relationship could be a bad idea, instead of discussing it with them like the adults that they are, you scream, yell, jump up and down and cast angry glares. Just how far do you think that is going to get you in Cady listening?"
Frowning, he commented, "I never jumped up and down."
"Jonathon." Martha sighed, moving to sit down beside him. "I know why you're worried. I am, too. But I've seen this coming for a while. Cady has been moonstruck over Lex since the day she met him. I never seriously considered that interest being returned - she never seemed much like Lex's type. Not to say anything against Cady - I just always thought she would be a little naïve and sheltered for Lex." Shrugging, she added, "Then again, neither of us can really claim to know Lex well, as Clark always reminds us, so for all we know she might very well be exactly what he is looking for."
"I don't need to hear this, Martha," he groaned.
"I think you do, Jonathon. By accepting Cady into our home, we have become, in affect, the only parents she has. We need to be here for her, no matter what happens. We need to let her know that we support her in her decisions and won't judge her when those decisions are wrong." Reaching out, Martha laid a hand on her husband's forearm. "Try to see it from her point of view. For any young woman, this would be the dream of a lifetime. Someone as charming and wealthy and powerful as Lex Luthor, sweeping her off of her feet is the Cinderella fantasy that every little girl dreams about."
"Did you ever dream of being Cinderella?" Jonathon asked with a frown, thinking that the life he gave his wife was much more that of Cinderella living with her evil stepmother than her prince.
"What little girl didn't?" Martha smiled and kissed her husband's cheek. "But I grew up and realized what was important to me."
"Well, Cady is old enough to come to the same realization," he argued.
Martha shook her head. "While I doubt Cady cares how much money Lex has or what kind of life he leads, I do know that every woman's dream is different." She paused a moment in thought. "In actuality, I think Cady believes that Lex needs her."
"What?" Jonathon frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember the menagerie of animals that Cady used to keep here once her parents moved from the farm? Every little creature that she came across that was injured or sick or homeless, she took in and took care of. Now that Cady is all grown up, she still has that same nurturing nature embedded within her, except it extends to her friends and the people she cares about."
"Lex is no hopeless creature, Martha. I think a Viper is much closer to the reality."
Sighing, Martha replied, "As a male, you don't see it. But any woman with an ounce of natural nurturing instinct in her is instantly drawn to it. Even I tend to want to be a mother to Lex whenever he is over - "
"You what?!"
"Now, let me finish." She patted her husband's arm consolingly. "I know you will easily agree that Lionel Luthor is the last man any child should have for a father. Any problems that Lex may have regarding his personality I have no doubt stem from that man's influence - "
"Which is exactly why - "
"Jonathon. I said let me finish." Waiting for her husband to nod and sit back, Martha continued, "You tend to forget that Lex also had a mother. One who obviously loved him and taught him about morals and values or he would be exactly the monster that you seem to picture him as." She paused as Jonathon mumbled something about not seeing Lex as a monster. "Lex lost his mother before he could become a man, and it is something that very apparently eats away at him, causing him to want to reach out for any offering of love and understanding that is cast in his direction. I see it every time he is over here. It's why he is drawn to our family, because we give Clark something Lex was denied at a young age. Cady saw it as well, and her heart responded to it. Whether you like it or not, Jonathon Kent, I believe Lex needs Cady. And if you would just sit back and consider it, Clark's influence, along with your niece, could very well save Lex from ever becoming like his father."
"You might as well ask the sun to not rise tomorrow morning, Martha."
"You're never going to give him a chance, are you?"
"I have given him plenty of chances. But Lex has yet to prove to me that he is anything other than a Luthor."
"Then you obviously haven't been looking very closely." Standing, Martha moved back over to her dishes. There was a long moment of silence before she told him, "I'm just asking you to give this a chance, Jonathon. If Cady gets hurt, then we'll be here to help her. For now, let her enjoy life. Let her live out her dream."
Realizing he didn't have much of a choice, Jonathon stood and walked over to his wife, drawing her in to his arms. "What would I do without you?" He kissed her sweetly. "I'll do as you request. But, if he purposely hurts her, I am not going to be responsible for my actions."
"Jonathon," Martha laughed. "If Lex purposely hurts Cady, he'll have enough to worry about from Clark!"
***
The drive to the Plant was silent. Cady stared out the window at the passing countryside which, at eighty miles an hour, was little more than a blur of a slowly blooming spring. She could palpably feel the tension of the man beside her and couldn't think of a single thing to say that would lessen it. What she was preparing herself for was Lex to pull away from her once more, to decide once and for all that anything happening between them simply wasn't worth it when it came between the Kent family. And while a small part of her secretly agreed with that logic, the larger part railed against it. After all, she was old enough to make her own decisions, her uncle truly had no say in what she did with her life. Plus, she knew her cousin and her aunt were on their side - if anyone could get her uncle to see reason, it was his own family.
"Cady. "
Lex trailed off when he felt her hand lay itself against his thigh. He took a quick moment to look away from the road in front of him, casting a glance in the direction of the young woman beside him. Her expression clearly stated that she knew what he was about to say. And she seemed to be staring him down about it. Letting out a breath of air through his mouth, Lex turned back to the road and grew quiet again. Her hand was comforting and he hoped she would keep it there. Inwardly, he tried to tell himself that the situation wasn't really that impossible. After all, they had been allowed to leave the farm together, without injury to him, which was a good thing. While he doubted that Jonathon Kent would ever accept the idea of him dating his niece, he did know that Clark had no problems with it and apparently Martha Kent was intent on keeping her disapproval to herself as well.
Pulling in to his parking space, Lex turned off the engine of the Ferrari and leaned back in his seat, turning his gaze to Cady. "Cady, this is impossible. "
"What's impossible, Lex?" She asked quietly.
He waved his hand in front of him. "This. Us. It's not. " Lex sighed and ran his hand over his head. He shifted in his seat to face her, laying his hand over hers. "This morning I was going to tell you that nothing more can happen between us. Not ever again." He paused and glanced out the windshield for a moment.
"But. ?"
Lex frowned slightly. "But I realized I couldn't - didn't want to do that."
"I'm glad." Cady smiled a little.
"You're not understanding." Lex shook his head. "What just happened with your uncle - that's only the beginning. If this," he indicated them again with a wave of his hand, "Becomes something, what do you think I can give you? What do you truly believe is in my capacity to give?"
Leaning forward, Cady reached up to place her fingers against his chin, gently drawing his face around, forcing their gazes to meet. "I'm not asking you for anything, Lex. You're the one who said let's take this slow, see where it leads. So maybe I get out of this car and go in to work and we barely say two words to each other all day. Maybe we go through the whole week like that. And maybe on Saturday you'll call me up and ask me to dinner. And maybe you won't. That's okay, too."
What was it about the Kent's? From the moment he had opened up his eyes, back to life from death, and saw Clark hovering over him in concern, he had known he never wanted the boy out of his life. He wanted to remain friends forever. And Martha and Jonathon - he knew they would never accept him, but he would always long for it. Always want to be a part of their lives.
Now there was Cady. Cady, who had opened her heart like Clark and accepted him into her world without question. Who was unselfishly offering to keep him there, if he wanted, or let him go, as was his will. Who wasn't asking him for anything more than he could give to her, and truly wasn't expecting anything at all. And yet, she cared. She was there - always seemed to be there lately when he needed someone - and selfishly, Lex didn't want to let that go. Even if it meant battling Jonathon Kent. Even if it meant giving in to the idea of commitment, giving up the security of relying only on himself. Beyond anything else, Lex wanted to accept what Cady was offering. No, he needed to accept it.
Lex found his hand reaching up to curl around Cady's neck, drawing her closer until he smelled the scent of honeysuckles sweep over him. Leaning in to her mouth, he asked against her lips, "And what if I want to take you out to lunch? And then to dinner? And what if I call you tonight, just to say 'sweet dreams'?"
Cady's eyes closed at the feel of his breath over her skin, the scent of minty toothpaste and orange juice assaulting her senses. "Th - that's okay, too," she whispered, sighing as his lips brushed over hers, once, twice, three times before he claimed her mouth completely, holding her in a wholly possessive manner with his hand at her neck.
Worshipping her with both tongue and lips, Lex finally drew back to stare in to her eyes. "This isn't going to be easy," he said quietly.
"Nothing worthwhile ever is, Lex," came the breathless reply.
Watching her for a long moment, Lex ran his thumb over her lips. "Is this worthwhile?"
Cady threaded her fingers through the hand that still lay over hers. "What do you think?"
What did he think? He thought that her kisses were pure Heaven and her touch was something he wanted - no, needed to feel time and again. He wanted to know that the next time the world just became too much, the next time his father hurt him beyond understanding, the next time he saw the familiar expression of disappointment in Clark's eyes, that he could simply turn to Cady. And she would make him smile, make him laugh, hold him until all of the demons went away.
"I think," he replied slowly, moving in for another kiss. "That you're going to be late for work, Miss O'Rourke. "