IMPROBABLE EDEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Author's Note: Thanks to Sothys for turning me on to Bird York
and suggesting the song "Open Wider" for Lex and Cady. Also to my friendly inspiration, Rael, who leads me to ideas through her brilliant RPG posts.
Like a mantaray gliding serene through strange farmland,
newly runaway, I got away clean in your car,
in your hands.
Sliding the warm black tongue highway,
your hands there, so smooth, between my legs
the cornfields sigh with freedom
Feel the world open wider
(turning me inside out)
Open Wider - Bird York
Cady's breath escaped her at the feather-like touch and she found herself grasping his waist in an attempt to steady her legs. It only succeeded in bringing his body closer to hers and, at the contact, his teeth grazed over her neck before he nipped lightly, causing a half-ticklish, half-painful sensation to sweep over her. Unable to bring her head back down because of the hold of his glass, Cady felt helpless and vulnerable and just slightly thrilled as he continued to move his mouth over her skin, his tongue darting out to caress its way up to her jaw before streaking back downward to her collarbone. Lex nipped with his teeth again and she heard a strange whimper that sounded as if it was her voice. Her legs were quickly turning to jelly and she was about to ask if they could sit down when he tipped the glass further and the cool liquor streamed in a steady trickle down her throat, past the folds of the robe where it disappeared into the valley between her breasts. Swallowing hard at the slight tickle, it wasn't long before another whimper escaped her as Lex's hand moved up to part the cloth only slightly, enough for his tongue to press against her where the line of scotch ended and lick his way up to her chin. His mouth closed over the tip for a moment then continued upwards to finally claim her lips.
Cady could do little more than hang on as he teased and played with her mouth, drawing her lower lip in between his teeth, sucking on it, pulling it lightly before letting go only to start the process all over again with her upper lip. She felt like she was being devoured and found herself not minding at all. A dull thud of something falling to the floor pulled her thoughts away from the onslaught for a moment but as she felt Lex's arms move around her waist, pulling her flush against him, Cady realized he had only dropped the glass he was holding. Her practical mind wanted to mention that it might stain the carpet but the inclination was quickly swept away as his tongue pushed past her lips, caressing her palette and gums and stroking across her own tongue.
Pulling back from the kiss, his mouth still hovering over hers, Lex offered a small smile to the child/woman in his arms. His fingers reached up to brush against her cheek tenderly. "Everything okay?"
Licking her suddenly parched lips, Cady nodded. "Y-yes. But you d-dropped your g-glass."
Lex watched her a moment longer before shrugging just as she had expected. "Someone will clean it."
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in to continue the worship of her skin with his mouth, beginning at her ear and moving slowly down the column of her throat. Cady felt his lips against her collarbone and shuddered slightly at the sensation. His hands gripped her waist momentarily, holding her close before his fingers skated across the cloth of her robe over her stomach and the belt suddenly loosened, cool air caressing her skin as the folds of the cloth parted. Grasping his shoulders with her hands, Cady's knees trembled.
"Lex. " She began nervously.
"Shhh," he assured her softly, kissing her throat, the lobe of her ear, finally her cheek. "When you want me to stop, just say so." The backs of his knuckles brushed across her belly, sending a tingling sensation over her skin, from her hair to her feet. She felt his breath against her ear, the tip of his nose nuzzling her cheek. "Slowly, Cady," Lex whispered. "Slowly."
She didn't understand what he meant; she didn't care. Lex's hands gripped her waist again, pulling her against him as he claimed her mouth, kissing her until she was breathless, until she could barely stand on her own, until she had no idea where they were or how they had gotten there. Cady closed her eyes and felt his warmth and the smoothness of his tongue against hers and the sharp taste of scotch. Briefly, she wondered if it were possible to get drunk on Lex, on his taste and his scent and the hard strength of his body against hers. His hands moved upwards, his fingers brushing against the underside of her breasts lightly before moving back down over her stomach. Cady heard herself whimper again and thought she couldn't have possibly lost complete control over her reactions. But by the smile on Lex's mouth against hers, she knew had.
Cady almost whimpered once again, though this time in disappointment, as Lex stepped back from her, pulling his mouth away from hers and half- smiling at her - a predatory, possessive smile that sent of shiver of expectation down her back. Reaching out, Lex grasped the edges of her robe in his hands and slowly pushed it off of her shoulders, allowing it to puddle at her feet. The heat of embarrassment quickly swept over her, filling her face with warmth as Cady dropped her eyes to the floor and sought for a way to cover herself with her hands. But before she could do so, Lex caught her wrists and pulled them to her sides, holding them there for a moment as if daring her to move them again. And then he loosened his hold and reached up to cup her chin, lifting her gaze to his.
"Don't," he demanded softly.
"Lex, I've never - "
"I know." Another smile, then his gaze swept over her.
Lex knew very well that he was the first man to look on Cady's unclothed form. He had no intention of making love to her, of taking from her the innocence which had been so heavily guarded all of these years. Well, at least, he hadn't started out with those intentions. But as he continued to enjoy the sight of her body, he wondered if maybe he wouldn't be changing his mind. Cady had long legs, as he had expected, slightly muscular from years of horseback riding, attached to well-rounded hips that flared out nicely from a waist that was tinier than one would believe. She wasn't thin - not like the aspiring models he had dated in the past -- her ribs were barely noticeable and her stomach was slightly rounded. Her breasts were beautiful; high and full and so pale that her veins carrying her life's blood were readily visible through her skin. Lex found he couldn't wait to wrap his lips around a dark nipple and suckle one of the orbs, wondering how reactive Cady would be to the touch. He was tempted to throw her to the ground and take her then and there but his lifelong training set in and Lex grabbed hold of his emotions, forcing them back, tempering his desire and reminding himself that he was the experienced one here. No need to behave like a randy 16 year old virgin.
Knowing he was tormenting her, Lex watched silently a few moments longer, hiding the smile he felt at the continued color of embarrassment that flushed her skin as the minutes ticked by. What he wanted was for her to feel comfortable with him, and he would wait however long that it took for that to occur. Though the blush was enchanting, Lex didn't want Cady to fear him. He wanted her to enjoy his perusal of her body, in hopes that she would feel a bit more bold when it came his turn to bare all. Finally ceasing the torment, Lex took a step inward and reached out to her, skimming his hands over her shoulders and down, barely brushing his palms across the tips of her breasts before moving back up again to grasp her upper arms.
"Beautiful," he breathed against her cheek, kissing her temple once then returning his mouth to her neck.
Cady shivered once, relaxing against him, her palms flat against the lapels of his jacket as she closed her eyes, losing herself for the moment in the comfort of his lips and tongue on her skin. She didn't for a moment believe that he found her beautiful, not when Lex Luthor could have any woman he wanted and had likely dated supermodels. It was more probable, in her mind, that he hadn't wished to hurt her feelings, fearing that she would return to the farm and tell her aunt and uncle what a horrible letch that he was. But if what he wanted to do was pretend, then so could she. Besides, there was something about Lex, about just being with him -- the way he looked at her, spoke to her, touched her -- that made Cady feel beautiful, and maybe that was enough.
"Are you cold?" Lex asked quietly against her ear when he felt her shudder. "C'mere."
Stepping away from her, Lex took her hand and pulled her over to the fireplace where he motioned for her to sit down on the rug beside it. Leaning over, he turned the handle, igniting the gas, causing the flames to flicker to life. Pulling her knees up against her chest, Cady watched silently as he moved over to the couch and grabbed some large pillows, tossing them down beside her, then he toed off his shoes and slipped out of his jacket, laying it on the chair.
"Thirsty?"
Cady shook her head mutely as Lex moved over to the bar, taking a bottle of Ty Nant from the small refrigerator before walking back over and sitting beside her on the rug. Setting the bottle down on the tile of the hearth, he reached behind her and began arranging the pillows, fluffing them. Lex then reclined back against them, picking up his bottle once more, opening it, taking a silent drink, his eyes never leaving her. Cady wrapped her arms a little more tightly around her legs, hoping that the pounding of her heart wasn't as obvious to him as it was to her. She was just beginning to feel a tad vulnerable and frightened all over again when Lex set the bottle back down and leaned over her, placing his hands on either side of her body against the rug and moving in for another kiss.
This one was gentler than previously but just as possessive, leaving no doubt between them as to who was in control. Cady did not resist as Lex pushed her back against the pillows, his hands moving up to hold her by the waist, his thumbs moving in lazy circles over her skin to calm her as he continued to distract with his mouth slanting against hers. Slowly, his hands moved upwards, his fingers brushing over the undersides of her breasts, teasing the skin lightly until he felt Cady pushing into his touch, silently seeking more. At the encouragement, Lex moved his hand over her left breast, palming the nipple into a hard bud as beneath him Cady moaned against his mouth. The sound was enough make him forget control for the moment as he felt himself harden to the point of pain and he deepened the kiss as his fingers took the place of his palm, pinching gently. She shifted beneath him and Lex felt a slight tremble, enough to make him pull slightly away from her mouth though his hands remained where they were.
"Remember," he told her softly. "Whenever you become uncomfortable with what I'm doing, just say stop. Do you understand?"
Cady lifted her gaze to his and found the strength somewhere to nod, though currently all of her attention was focused on his hands and the sensations he was eliciting throughout her body. Certainly she had touched herself before out of curiosity, and there had been those dates in the cab of some pickup truck during which she had been groped in the dark, but nothing beyond roaming fingers over the cloth of her bra. This was something different altogether and, for some reason, the only thought that could register in her mind was the want/need/desire for more.
Lex must have sensed her enjoyment. "Does this feel good?" He asked.
Reddening a little, Cady bit her lower lip but nodded in reply. She received a smile in response to her answer and another quick kiss against her mouth before Lex continued down her throat and over her collarbone again.
"I'm glad to hear that," he spoke against her skin. "Because its only going to get better."
Cady tried to imagine better and couldn't, not until his lips closed over a nipple and a small cry of surprise and pleasure escaped her. Lex suckled the sensitive skin gently, more than pleased with her uninhibited reaction to the sensations. One hand drifted back down over her belly, caressing her hip, before moving inward between her thighs. He felt her jump at the contact and freeze and Lex waited with her, his hand unmoving as his tongue flicked over the hard bud between his lips. The moment he felt her body relax once more against him, his hand continued its exploration, moving through the silken curls to slide into the warmth beneath. He heard Cady gasp above him and he pulled his mouth away from her breast, moving up to kiss her soothingly as his fingers gently probed and teased.
"Shhhh," he whispered against her mouth, kissing her lips tenderly. "Don't think, Cady. Just feel."
Don't think. That had been the problem; she had been thinking. A little too much. Thinking about how stupid and inexperienced and boring she must seem to him, how frightened she was of doing the wrong thing, how much she enjoyed everything he was doing to her but she didn't want to appear overly enthusiastic. Cady simply didn't know what to do. But at Lex's words, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to just feel everything - every touch, every kiss, every stroke of his tongue and the brush of his clothing against her skin. And it was like a symphony of sensations and it all seemed meant to drive her mad. Her hips began moving of their own accord, pushing against Lex's hand and she felt herself redden at the reaction but Lex seemed encouraged by it, his kisses growing more aggressive, his touch more insistent. A groan threatened to escape her but Cady bit her lip, trying to hold it back. Unfortunately she felt Lex still his movements, and remove his lips from her skin. She opened her eyes to find him watching her.
"Don't hold back, Cady," he told her, his tone slightly scolding. "If it feels good, I want you to let me know. However your body feels necessary to express itself."
Could she do that? It didn't matter. Lex returned his attention to her breasts, lapping at the untouched nipple with his tongue and some kind of sound issued from her throat. His hand continued its own form of torture, finger pressing against the swollen nub, rubbing rhythmically. Cady's hands crept around the back of his neck, curling against the collar of his shirt and pulling him to her, holding him in place as her hips continued to move into his hand. Smiling as her inhibitions seemed to melt away, Lex allowed his thumb to take over while his fingers delved further into the wet warmth beneath his hand, brushing against her and finally sliding one finger further inside, exploring the tight sheath. He nearly groaned as the thought of burying himself deeply within her consumed him and the pain of wanting to take her became almost unbearable. But no, he had promised himself not tonight and he meant it. This night was about her.
Keeping that thought in mind, he moved away from her breasts, kissing her belly, tracing the edge of her rib cage with his tongue while Cady began to writhe more emphatically beneath him. Lex hesitated at her belly button for a moment, teasing the indentation with his tongue, circling it over and over as the whimpers from the woman beneath him increased. He nipped gently at the skin of her abdomen before trailing a path of soft kisses to her hip, her thigh. Slowly, quietly insistent, he pushed her legs apart and moved between them, kissing her inner thigh lightly before taking her with his mouth. He laved at the core of her with his tongue before tenderly grabbing the swollen nub between his lips and suckling gently. Cady's hips rose up to meet him in silent offering, her cries growing louder. Lex reached up with one hand to grab hold of hers, her fingers instantly lacing through his, while the other he lay possessively against her belly, caressing her. Squeezing her hand in encouragement, he continued to pleasure her until she cried out his name and he felt her body shuddering against him.
One minute Cady was certain she couldn't handle any more of the incredible sensations that were coiling up into a tight ball within her. She thought she would break Lex's fingers from the need she felt for something to let go. Then it hit, a million stars exploding before her eyes, the coil springing loose deep within, her entire being on fire. She heard herself cry out Lex's name and then fell into soft whimpers as her body trembled uncontrollably, her heart racing, her breath ragged. She couldn't move as Lex rose up over her, laying his body against hers, his clothing scraping at her sensitive skin. She wanted to wriggle beneath him but could barely lift a finger to do so. Cady could feel Lex watching her, and opened her eyes to find him smiling smugly. At any other time, she probably would have slapped him for such an expression but at the moment she found herself smiling in return.
"I think Cady O'Rourke enjoyed herself," he commented softly, his tone arrogant and self-congratulatory.
"Maybe," she whispered in reply, color staining her cheeks.
Lex raised an eyebrow at that and then leaned in to kiss her. Cady could taste herself on his lips and while it was completely foreign to her, she just knew that if she thought about it too long, it would likely embarrass her to no end. She felt him wrap his arms around her, then he laid back against the pillows, pulling her over and on top of him, his mouth never leaving hers. Sighing in contentment, the languid pleasure still settling within her body, the soft feel of Lex's lips against hers, Cady was certain she would be quite happy to stay right there forever. Lex's fingers moved through her hair, gathering at the back of her head, pulling her toward him to deepen the kiss. She found the strength once more to squirm, his clothing still not quite comfortable against her skin. Wanting to remedy that, her fingers pushed between them, working at the buttons on his shirt until she could feel his chest and stomach beneath her. She reached up, fighting to push the cloth from his shoulders until she felt him chuckling beneath her.
Pulling away from the kiss, Cady looked down at him in frustration. "A little help would be appreciated," she commented.
"Yes. But not quite as much fun as watching you struggle," came the retort.
Cady made a face which caused Lex to chuckle again but he sat up and removed his shirt anyway, much to her pleasure. She pushed him back against the pillows, her fingers moving over him in exploration, feeling the curve of every muscle, the dip of each indentation, the strength in his arms and the way his stomach flexed beneath her touch. She glanced up to find Lex watching her guardedly, as if worried about something that she could not quite fathom. Keeping her eyes locked with his, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against a nipple, causing one of his eyebrows to raise. Still unable to discern the expression he was giving her, Cady returned her attention to the body beneath her, her fingers moving lightly over his stomach before she bent once more to kiss his belly button. Laying her cheek against his belly, she stared down at the front of his trousers for a moment then brushed her hand over him, feeling the hard length of his sex beneath her fingers.
"Cady - " Lex began.
But she cut him off. "I want to see you, Lex."
The sound he made was somewhere between a laugh and a gasp as she touched him again. "I don't think you're ready for that, Cady."
"Yes, I am," she countered, turning her head a little to look up at him.
Lex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Then I don't think I'm ready for that."
"Please, Lex. " Cady watched as he closed his eyes with a sigh and knew that was his silent way of granting her permission without actually saying it.
Turning her head back to the way it had been, she slowly undid the buckle on his belt, sliding it through the loops, then released the button and pulled down the zipper. Sitting back up, she reached out and grabbed the waist of his pants, carefully pulling them down to reveal black silk boxers which stood out against his pale skin, and if she hadn't been alerted to his desire before, the tenting of the material was enough to clue her in now. Glancing up, Cady found Lex watching her, his expression once more guarded, as if waiting for something that she didn't understand. Feeling the need to reassure him with a touch, she found herself reaching out to stroke his stomach, the way he had done with her.
After a few moments, she reached into the flap of his boxers to touch him. His skin was even warmer than she had imagined and very smooth, like hot, hard marble. It hit her then that there was absolutely no hair present. Curiously, she slid his boxers down, wanting to see everything for herself. His sex was certainly nicer to look at than she had thought and she loved the way it twitched in reaction to her touch and her gaze. Cady ran her fingers over the tip, watching in fascination as a drop glistened on the head. Swiping it off, she rubbed it between her fingertips for a moment before returning her gaze to the view before her.
Running her hand once more over him, her fingers lightly touching his groin, she commented quietly with wonder, "You're hairless everywhere."
Watching her closely, Lex had planned on helping her with his pants, but she seemed to be doing fine all on her own. What he hadn't expected was for her to touch his stomach, and when she did so, he'd been forced to repress a sigh of satisfaction. When she had finally touched him, the anticipation had become tremendous, and a very small sigh escaped before he could stop it. He noticed his breathing became heavier as she continued.
As endearing as Lex found her curiosity and exploration, he was beginning to rethink what he had allowed her to do. The only consolation he had was that the light was low, but her hands and eyes still noticed how different he was. So many partners had laughed or worse yet, become repulsed. Silently, he told himself that no matter the unease, if he and Cady were going to continue to have fun together, this was something they needed to address.
Shifting again under her observation, he replied, "Yes. From the meteors. Does it bother you?"
"No," Cady replied softly, continuing to skim her fingers over the skin before her, quietly marveling at how soft he was. "I think you're beautiful."
Curious to feel exactly how soft he was, she laid her head down against his stomach, her cheek rubbing against the skin where she could see him even more closely. She wrapped her fingers around the hard shaft, finding that she could barely get her hand around the girth, then began to move slowly upwards, her fingers trailing. His penis jerked in response to the touch and Cady realized the movement must be correct. She slid her hand down and then back up again, while turning her head just slightly to kiss his belly.
"Does that feel good?" She asked in a quiet whisper.
Lex took a moment to respond because as she had placed her head on his stomach, his mind saw the little innocent in his lap doing a lot more then just touching him, and he tried quickly to banish the thought. The image only added to his enjoyment as her hand moved.
At her question, he breathed out, "Yes." Now that he knew she meant what she said, that his lack of hair was not an issue with her, he got a hold of himself and forced out his next idea. "You don't have to throw me kind words. I know what I am, and beautiful is not it."
Cady frowned, wondering how someone as perfect in appearance as he was couldn't possibly see it. Lifting her head up, she moved her body over his, keeping her hand on him, continuing to move it against his sex, as she brought her face level with his.
"Maybe people have different perceptions of beautiful. I look in the mirror and I see nothing that anyone would even consider pretty. But you seem to believe otherwise." Cady stared into his blue eyes for a moment, thinking that if she knew anything about poetry, she could write entire sonnets about him. "I think you are beautiful. Every time I look at you."
Leaning down, she kissed him gently.
Lex accepted the kiss, closing his eyes to her as her mouth claimed his. Her eyes had told him he was beautiful, and her kiss was telling him the same. It didn't make any sense to Lex, and he couldn't allow himself to believe that it was true.
Cady moved her mouth away from his and down his cheek to his neck, kissing there lightly as her hand continued to stroke him until she decided to try some of the things she enjoyed when he did them to her. She drew some of his skin gently into her mouth, sucking on it, her teeth grazing over it lightly. Her hand on his penis strengthened it's grip slightly as it moved upwards, reaching the tip, her fingernails drawing over it teasingly.
Her hand strengthening around his sex coupled with her fingernails made Lex reflexively move in her hands, and he wanted to thrust once in the joy of what she was doing, but he remained still. Licking his lips once in frustration of needing some kind of release, even if it wasn't the one he knew would eventually come, he forced himself not to outwardly react to her touch more than he already had. He could understand how the little innocent beside him could so completely throw his control out of whack. It wasn't his usual behavior and he reached deep inside for the strength that he knew dwelt within.
Pulling away from his neck suddenly, Cady looked up at him and asked, "Am I doing something wrong? Are you not enjoying yourself?"
His eyes opened as soon as her mouth left. He looked at her in confusion, "Very much. You are not doing anything wrong."
"Then men react to things differently?" She asked quietly. "How am I... how does a woman know a man is enjoying himself? I mean, if you do not... that is if your body does not react with the same... " Cady sighed. She was becoming frustrated at her inability to say what she was thinking. Trying again, she told him, "When you were touching me, I had to move, had to be a part of it. Even though you were doing the touching, I felt my moving into your touch would make it better. Are men not the same?"
Lex looked at her for a long moment deciding how to explain without revealing too much about his own need for self-control. Touching her face, he said, "Everyone is different, Cady. But from what I've seen, most women are more responsive. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of men exist who get into it just as much if not more. On the other hand, I have been with women who simply lie there and wait for me to finish.
"There are many factors involved: your partner and familiarity with that partner, your mood, your upbringing, what is being done, the situation and setting.I could probably go on. But, don't be embarrassed by expressing yourself. The more responsive my partner is, the more I enjoy what we do."
So either he was telling her he wasn't the responsive type or she was doing something wrong or he wasn't comfortable with her... or something. Accepting his words without question, since she knew he was much more experienced than she was, Cady laid her head down on his chest, her gaze turning to watch her hand as it continued to stroke him. She wondered to herself what she could do to make it more enjoyable for him but she was at a loss. Would two hands feel better? Should she go faster? Or slower? Was she gripping too hard or not hard enough? Cady bit her lip to keep from crying from frustration and admitted to herself that she was just going to have to ask someone for some in-depth information, whether she wanted to or not.
Angling her head back up, she returned to kissing and nipping at Lex's neck.
Lex couldn't tell if he had eased her mind or not, but a big part of him thought probably not. Perhaps he should have mentioned that she shouldn't expect much input from him verbally or physically, but he thought she already knew that about him. If not, she would. Even her hold on him seemed to change to reflect something was wrong. He was going to ask what it was, but she returned to his neck and thought was becoming more difficult. He breathed in sharply once because of what she was doing and decided to cover it up by asking her a question immediately after, "Did my explanation clear up your questions?"
"Yes. It did. Thank you," she replied against his neck before kissing it again.
Cady liked kissing him. She thought his skin tasted very good and he always smelled so wonderful; she figured she could do that forever. Smiling a little at the thought, she moved her mouth to just beneath his ear, her tongue snaking out to lick him there before sucking his earlobe between her lips and drawing on it gently. Her free hand joined the other and together both continued to move in a strong, caressing motion against the shaft of his sex.
Lex wasn't sure how long she stroked him, but it couldn't have been much at all. With all of the buildup, he didn't expect he could hold out much longer and her mouth on his ear was not helping matters. He found his eyes closing once more as both hands now touched him, surprised again by how his body was reacting to her. Cady knew little of what she was doing, but her enthusiasm and need to please made up for it, as did the soft, gentle warmth of her hands. Lex could distinctly feel every part of her body against his own and that in itself was sending his senses reeling. He knew his hips hand begun to move into her hand, even though he had silently ordered them not to. He knew that the barely-whispered groans breaking the silence were coming from his throat. Unfortunately for his much-regaled self-control, before he knew what was happening Lex cried out, his body shuddering as he sat up, pushing her gently aside as he came hard, spilling onto himself and the white carpet beneath them.
Collapsing back against the pillows, Lex willed his breathing to calm as he felt Cady move against him, curling into his side, her head pillowed against his shoulder. Closing his eyes, he tried to still the unexpected emotions that were crashing through him, wave after wave, in the aftermath of an act that typically meant little more beyond the pleasure it gave to him. But this time. he had lost all control. Cady, an inexperienced virgin, had little more than touched him, little more than looked at him with her wide, guileless eyes and he had turned into a shuddering, out of control teenager. It would have been embarrassing had the woman he was with knew any better.
Her hand was currently splayed over his stomach, her fingers gently caressing his skin and her hair felt soft and comforting against his neck. Cady was obviously content laying against him, he could even feel the smile on her face, the glow of happiness that surrounded her and gave off both light and warmth. And the worst of it was, he felt the pull, he felt his own need to welcome it in, wrap himself in the silent comfort it was offering. Lex could so easily close his eyes and fall to sleep there, holding Cady against him, safe from the outside world with her innocence and gentleness protecting them. He could. It wouldn't take much. Not much more than a leap of faith that Lex was certain was nowhere to be found within him. That kind of faith, that kind of belief in someone, was far beyond what he believed he had the ability to give. From the beginning, Cady had been unexpected, uninvited and not very welcome. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped fighting, knowing that it wouldn't last, couldn't last.
And yet, here they were and a new dimension had been added and Lex didn't want to accept it.
Frowning, he gently moved Cady away from his side and sat up, running his hand over his bare scalp in aggravation. He had to take care of this before it got out of hand (or more out of hand than it already was). Rising to his feet, he grabbed the robe from the floor and tossed it to Cady. Without looking back at her, he said, "You might want to get some sleep. You're welcome to my bed. I'm going to take a shower."
Lex didn't mean for it to come out wrong, to hurt her, or anything like that. He just knew it had to end here, that it couldn't continue, that it would be much worse for her in the end if it did. He wanted to tell her that. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her and tell her how wonderful she made him feel and what an angel he thought she was and that if he could - oh, if he could - he would lock her away in his castle and throw away the key and she would belong to him always. But some things couldn't be and this whatever it was between them, this nameless something that Lex was afraid to attach a label to, it had to stop. He would make it stop before it was too late. He didn't even glance back as he walked from the room.
Silently, Cady watched as Lex disappeared around the corner toward the bedroom.
What had just happened?
She clutched the robe in her grasp for a long moment, fighting the rising flood of tears that seemed entirely childless and foolish to allow to flow, before slowly sliding her arms into the garment and tying it around her waist. Climbing unsteadily to her feet, Cady looked around the room, as if something nearby would explain to her what had gone wrong, what she had done to send Lex scurrying away from her so suddenly. But the room, and everything in it, was silent.
Wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, Cady walked quietly to the bedroom, glancing toward the bathroom where the light streamed onto the carpet from beneath the closed door and the sound of the shower wasn't quite enough o block out all thoughts. She stared at the enormous bed with the burgundy-colored down comforter and king size pillows and thought it looked very cold and very lonely.
What had she done? Why had Lex walked away?
Taking a deep breath, still fighting back the tears, Cady pulled down the blankets and crawled onto the mattress, huddling down beneath the covers while her attention continued to drift to the sound of the shower in the wall behind her. She didn't understand Lex, that much she could readily admit. And she wasn't certain if she ever would, no matter how much time they spent together. She understood that Lionel's idea of parenting had left his son with emotional scarring that would likely never be erased, that the loss of his mother had left Lex simultaneously wanting and rejecting love and that the world and people he had grown up in had left him bitter and cynical. But if Lex chose to never let her in, to never accept what she was so willing to give to him without expectations or designs for something more, then they were doomed before they even had a chance to begin. Cady had believed she had seen a chink in his armor a few times that evening but just as suddenly as they had appeared, all traces were gone. He had walked away from her as effectively as if she hadn't even been in the room. And she simply didn't know how to deal with that. Not when she had invested her entire heart into him. Wiping in frustration at the tears that had escaped, Cady closed her eyes, allowing the sound of the shower and the clean scent of the Egyptian cotton sheets to lull her into a restless sleep.
After his shower, Lex emerged from the bathroom impeccably dressed and feeling a little more like himself until his gaze settled on the sleeping form in his bed. Throughout the shower, he had done his best to put Cady from his mind, keeping his thoughts focused on the Plant and ideas he had for changes he wanted to see made, improvements. But now the entire day and the pleasure he had felt from it came back to him and, inexplicably, he was drawn to the bed, sitting gingerly on the edge of it, silently watching the sleeping form before him. Her eyes were slightly puffy and the tracks of dried tears colored her cheeks. Anger with himself for hurting such a gentle creature flowed through him but Lex stilled it quickly, telling himself that it was for the best. The past few weeks had given him a peek into a world that he otherwise would have never known but it was over now. Cady needed to forget him, needed to find someone more like her, from the world she understood and loved. And he needed to go back to being the Luthor heir, the person he was born to become.
Reaching out, Lex lightly, brushed his fingers over her cheek, a final touch. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, lingering for a moment, memorizing the familiar and loved scent of her. This was the last time he would touch something so innocent and pure, the last time he would have a chance to know what his life could have been like, were he someone else. He wanted to remember and carry it with him always.
***
The drive back to Smallville the next morning was silent. Cady sat staring out the passenger window, watching as the open fields flew past her, the scenery never changing but seemingly becoming dimmer the nearer to Smallville they drove. Clouds gathered overhead, signaling a coming thunderstorm, for which Cady wasn't too upset, considering the weather appeared to match her mood.
When she had awoken that morning, it was only to find that she was still alone in the large, uncomfortably cool bed. The other side had obviously never been touched. Crawling from the sheets, she had moved quietly out of the bedroom and into the main room to find Lex sitting in a corner of the couch, reading the paper. He was already impeccably dressed and ready to hit the road, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. She had stood there for a long moment, staring at him, before he finally took the time to look up at her, acknowledge her presence. Cady had trouble remembering what had hurt worse - that he had pretended for so long that she was not there or the cool expression he regarded her with when he did notice her.
"Good morning," he had stated in that bland, uninterested tone of his that Cady hated beyond measure. "I trust you slept well?"
She felt like slapping him. Instead, she replied, "Yes. You?"
Lex nodded. "There's coffee in the kitchen. The doorman brought some warm croissants if you're hungry. Other than that, I have little to offer you."
Cady had a feeling he wasn't talking about food anymore. She remained unmoving as he returned to his paper, effectively ignoring her once again. Clenching her fists at her sides for a moment, she finally found the courage to call out, "Lex."
"Yes?" He didn't even bother to look. Just kept his gaze focused on the copy of the Daily Planet in his well-manicured hands.
Her courage quickly fled. "I. nothing." Turning, Cady walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee, placed a croissant on a plate and returned to the bedroom to take a shower and dress.
They had spoken little to one another since. When Cady had followed Lex to the street below, she thought that they would be taking the limo back to Smallville and, being in that space together with nothing to occupy either of them, they would be forced to converse. Instead, she discovered that a brand new car, a dark blue Porsche, had been delivered and Lex was able to focus on driving, instead of paying any attention to her. And for the next two hours, he did so with a singular purpose, shifting gears a little too forcefully, taking turns without slowing and weaving in and out of traffic without a care for what might be around them. Cady had tried to convince herself that he knew what he was doing, but most of the trip was spent white-knuckled and tense.
Twice, she had tried to start a conversation. Once she had asked about work at the Plant the next week and received little more than a grunt in reply. The second time she had mentioned a camping trip that Clark and her were planning with some friends and would he like to join them? Lex had completely ignored the question, finding interest in playing with the stereo instead. Cady had almost demanded in that moment to let her out but, in the middle of Kansas on I-70 early on a Sunday morning, she could be waiting for quite some time before someone actually happened by to pick her up. So she had simply sat back in her seat and glared out the window and thought of all of the painful things she would like to do to the man sitting next to her. Things like driving a railroad spike through his head, smashing his fingers one by one with a hammer and throwing him into a vat of razors and lemon juice. After a few minutes of picturing such horrors and the screaming they would cause Lex to do, Cady was feeling much better, even to the point of smiling, be it an awful, evil smile full of malice as it was.
It was with great relief that Cady watched out the windshield as Lex pulled up the gravel road to the Kent farm. Finally, the torture of sitting in such tense silence would be over and she could go talk to Clark and demand to know what was up with his extremely screwed up, rich friend.
"I'm going to be out of town on business for my father for the next few days," Lex commented in a cool tone as he pulled the car to a stop. He didn't even bother turning the ignition off.
Cady turned to glare at him, she really wanted to demand an explanation, to scream at him for being such an insensitive jerk, to tell him she should have listened to her uncle and all of his warnings. But something inside of her held her back. She continued to watch Lex silently for a long moment, finally noting that he appeared to be as tense as she felt and he couldn't seem to meet her eyes.
Last night, he could have had anything that he wanted to take. She would have willingly given it to him, had offered it to him. But Lex had held back, had told her not yet, had instead taken the time to show her how wonderful intimacy between two people could be. He had practically worshipped her body, asking for nothing in return. It could have been different. This morning could have been much worse for her. But Lex had cared last night; he hadn't planned on taking advantage of her, he hadn't planned on hurting her. And he obviously hadn't planned on whatever had happened to happen.
Lex was afraid.
As the realization washed over her, Cady felt as if she had reached some sort of epiphany. Lex was afraid of her and whatever was happening between them. She wasn't what he was used to, and while that was fairly obvious from the beginning, Cady had the feeling that he hadn't counted on responding to her the way he was learning to. His defense mechanism was to pull away, put his shields back in place and make her believe he was a jerk so that she would run off screaming back to the farm. She almost smiled. Obviously, Lex had never encountered the stubbornness of an O'Rourke before.
Instead of snapping at him in reply as she had originally planned to do, Cady leaned over and kissed his cheek. "All right. Take care, Lex, and don't work too hard," she told him quietly before opening the passenger side door.
As she slid out of the car, she turned back to find Lex staring at her, his expression inscrutable. "I. I'm sorry about last night, Cady," he told her, his tone even.
She knew he was speaking, in part, of the attack. Smiling, Cady shook her head. "I'm not," she replied, specifically ignoring the mugging. "I had a good time, Lex. Thank you."
"I. " He appeared at a loss for a moment and Cady wasn't used to seeing Lex Luthor lose his cool. Apparently, he wasn't either because his brow furrowed as if in confusion and he swallowed once before his jaw seemed to snap together as if in resolution. "You're welcome."
Hiding the smile she felt, Cady took another step back away from the car. "Goodbye, Lex. See you later."
Lex blinked up at her for a moment, as if he had something to say regarding seeing her later. Only Cady knew there was nothing he could say, since she was now interning at the Plant. They would be seeing each other, whether he specifically wanted to or not. Finally, he nodded and turned back into position to drive away. But Cady hadn't closed the door yet and he made no move to put the Porsche in reverse.
"I. " Lex began again and hesitated before finally ending with, "See you later, Cady." He remained unmoving for a long moment as she closed the door and walked towards the yellow farmhouse before shifting the gears into reverse and peeling out of the drive.
Clark watched from the loft as Lex drove off. He had expected his friend to come up and visit for awhile but that obviously wasn't happening. Maybe he had a lot of work to do or something. Rising from his chair, he hurried down the stairs and out the barn to catch Cady as she was walking past.
"Hey."
Cady glanced up in surprise, then wondered why, when she knew her cousin had to have been watching from his usual spot. "Spying again?"
"Looking out a barn door while people drive up to your family's farm isn't exactly spying, Cady Jo," he replied, his eyes scanning her critically. She didn't appear broken in anyway though there were some dark marks, obviously caused by fingers, around her neck. He reached out and touched them gingerly. "The muggers tried to strangle you?"
"One." Cady nodded, her thoughts far from the events of the attack that had occurred the night before. Although, if none of that had happened, she doubted she would have had to have gone through what she did this morning. Lex would have brought her home late last night, they would have kissed and that would have been the end of it. "Guess your parents told you?"
Clark snorted. "Dad was halfway out the door with shotgun in hand ready to drive to the city to get you and kill Lex."
Cady raised an eyebrow at that.
"Okay, maybe the shotgun part isn't true but you get the idea." Taking her arm, Clark began leading her towards the house. "Mom and I had to calm him down together. He was really steamed. You're okay, though, right? I mean, they didn't hurt you beyond those?" He pointed to her neck.
"I'm fine, Clark. Really." Cady didn't feel like giving him details of what occurred. It was an event best left between her and Lex.
"I wish I could have been there."
Cady laughed. "And done what?"
Clark looked as if he were about to say something then changed his mind and simply shook his head.
"There is nothing you could have done," she told him, waiting as he pulled the screen door open and walking into the kitchen. "There simply would have been three of us getting attacked instead of two of us."
It was difficult not to argue. Clark wanted to blurt out that he could have stopped both muggers before anyone could have been hurt, that when the police arrived they would have been unconscious and waiting to be taken to jail. Cady wouldn't have those marks on her neck and his father would have never had to worry because Clark could have taken care of his cousin but he couldn't tell her any of that. He couldn't even apologize for not being there because she would have just given him stranger looks than she was already. Maybe he could convince Lex to only take Cady on dates around Smallville. It would be safer. Well, maybe not when it came to be attacked by mutants or anything, but at least Clark wouldn't have to worry about random acts of violence.
"So where are the parental units?" Cady asked as she walked over to the refrigerator to pull out the jug of milk.
"They went into town to get some new bulbs for planting and drop off a pair of dad's boots that need to be re-soled." Grabbing an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table, Clark sat down and glanced over at his cousin as she took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with the milk. "So why didn't Lex stick around longer? Afraid of running into my dad?"
Turning to lean against the counter, Cady took a sip of her milk and shook her head. "He's being. Lex." She gave a small wave of her hand as if that answered everything.
Clark smirked. "And that means. ?"
She sighed. "You know how he is. fine one moment and then all of a sudden - "
"He closes up and pretends like you're only acquaintances?"
Cady glanced at her cousin, a little shocked. "You've seen that too?"
"I think I'm his favorite target for that behavior." Clark bit into the apple, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before asking, "So what brought it on?"
"I don't think you want the gory details, Clark."
He took another bite of his apple, staring in confusion at his cousin for a moment while he chewed before sudden realization swept over him and he turned three shades redder in color. Swallowing, and unable to meet her eyes, he commented, "I thought that's supposed to make you happy or something."
"Don't ask me," Cady replied, washing out her glass. "I wouldn't know."
Clark grinned, more comfortable now that he knew his cousin was in as uncharted territory as he was. "So, like, what happened? I mean, did you do It?"
"Do 'It'?" Shaking her head, Cady began rummaging around in the cupboards until she found a bag of chips. She walked over to the island to sit across from her cousin. "I don't think I'm going to dignify that with a response."
"Awww, c'mon," Clark pressed. "Inquiring minds wanna know."
"Inquiring minds are going to get slapped upside the head," she warned.
"You are so unfair." Holding the apple in one hand, Clark reached into the bag of chips with other and withdrew a handful, setting them in front of him on the wood surface. "So does Lex's behavior have anything to do with what did happen between you two? I mean, do you suck at it or something?"
Cady stared at her cousin, slack-jawed for a moment. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."
"If you don't discuss it with me, who can you discuss it with?" Clark reasoned, enjoying how flustered his cousin was becoming. Truthfully, he couldn't have been teasing her about all of this without turning bright red himself had someone else been around. But seeing as how it was only Cady, it really didn't bother him.
"Your mother."
Clark shook his head. "I know Lex better than anyone. I can give you better advice."
Her cousin had a point, not that Cady was going to admit it. Aunt Martha would be worried and judgmental when it came to Lex. Clark wouldn't. However much there was that she didn't feel like discussing with him, there was quite a bit that he might be able to help her understand when it came to the completely perplexing Lex Luthor.
"Okay." Cady nodded. "Let me go change into some jeans and I'll meet you in the loft. We'll see if either of us can make heads or tails of our dear friend, Lex."
Clark smiled as she disappeared up the stairs, then grabbed the bag of chips and a couple of Pepsi's from the refrigerator and headed outside to the loft. The truth was, he didn't really want to talk about her and Lex as much as he did the upcoming Spring Formal and Chloe. Sure, he had made it past what was supposedly the hard part - asking her. But that didn't mean that the actual date wouldn't be just as difficult. This wasn't like him, Chloe and Pete all going to a movie together or to the Talon to grab some coffee and chat; this was an actual, honest-to-God date and Clark had no idea what he was supposed to say, how he was supposed to behave, what was expected of him - nothing. He just hoped that his cousin could provide him with a little direction.
This was a big step for him, in Clark's opinion. Going on this date meant giving up on Lana, something which he still wasn't certain he was entirely ready for. Sure, his mother had assured him that the door to Lana was closed but was it really? After all, lately when he was staring at her, he would find her staring right back. Didn't that mean something? Maybe Lana was as interested in him as he was her and she just didn't know how to break it off with Whitney with everything he had been through in the past few months. What if Lana had no idea how he felt about her so she was as afraid of rejection as he was? Clark almost laughed at the thought. Sure, Lana Lang would be interested in him. And maybe the pigs on their farm would fly tomorrow. The whole idea was ludicrous, even though it still occasionally popped up in the back of his mind, sowing little seeds of hope that now he seemed to be tossing into the wind because he was going on a date with Chloe. For the past few nights he'd even had this horrible nightmare where the night of the dance, Lana came up to him and told him she was in love with him just as Chloe drove up to pick him up for the dance. And he was standing there, unable to say anything to either of them because he really wanted to admit the same to Lana but there was no way that anyone could convince him to hurt Chloe. So there he was, unable to think of a single intelligent thing to say and they were both waiting for answers. It was the kind of thought that could send a teenager into hermithood.
Cady stared out the window of her bedroom at the approaching storm clouds as she slowly slid into her tennis shoes. She thought she had presented a pretty good front to her cousin when in truth all she really wanted to do was have a good cry. How would aunt Martha react to that? She wondered. Her niece bawling all over her because of Lex Luthor. She doubted it would be taken well at all. While she knew her aunt wasn't quite as prejudiced against the Luthors as her uncle was, that didn't mean that any of the Kents were any less protective of their own.
What she really wanted to do was charge over to the castle and demand that Lex tell her what was wrong, say it in his own words. But she knew that confronting him would do nothing beyond angering and upsetting him. Cady had to give Lex time, let him come to terms with whatever was happening on his own, and then she thought almost certainly, he would come to her.
Glancing up at the darkening sky overhead, a shiver moved down her spine and Cady found herself wondering where it came from.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Author's Note: Thanks to Sothys for turning me on to Bird York
and suggesting the song "Open Wider" for Lex and Cady. Also to my friendly inspiration, Rael, who leads me to ideas through her brilliant RPG posts.
Like a mantaray gliding serene through strange farmland,
newly runaway, I got away clean in your car,
in your hands.
Sliding the warm black tongue highway,
your hands there, so smooth, between my legs
the cornfields sigh with freedom
Feel the world open wider
(turning me inside out)
Open Wider - Bird York
Cady's breath escaped her at the feather-like touch and she found herself grasping his waist in an attempt to steady her legs. It only succeeded in bringing his body closer to hers and, at the contact, his teeth grazed over her neck before he nipped lightly, causing a half-ticklish, half-painful sensation to sweep over her. Unable to bring her head back down because of the hold of his glass, Cady felt helpless and vulnerable and just slightly thrilled as he continued to move his mouth over her skin, his tongue darting out to caress its way up to her jaw before streaking back downward to her collarbone. Lex nipped with his teeth again and she heard a strange whimper that sounded as if it was her voice. Her legs were quickly turning to jelly and she was about to ask if they could sit down when he tipped the glass further and the cool liquor streamed in a steady trickle down her throat, past the folds of the robe where it disappeared into the valley between her breasts. Swallowing hard at the slight tickle, it wasn't long before another whimper escaped her as Lex's hand moved up to part the cloth only slightly, enough for his tongue to press against her where the line of scotch ended and lick his way up to her chin. His mouth closed over the tip for a moment then continued upwards to finally claim her lips.
Cady could do little more than hang on as he teased and played with her mouth, drawing her lower lip in between his teeth, sucking on it, pulling it lightly before letting go only to start the process all over again with her upper lip. She felt like she was being devoured and found herself not minding at all. A dull thud of something falling to the floor pulled her thoughts away from the onslaught for a moment but as she felt Lex's arms move around her waist, pulling her flush against him, Cady realized he had only dropped the glass he was holding. Her practical mind wanted to mention that it might stain the carpet but the inclination was quickly swept away as his tongue pushed past her lips, caressing her palette and gums and stroking across her own tongue.
Pulling back from the kiss, his mouth still hovering over hers, Lex offered a small smile to the child/woman in his arms. His fingers reached up to brush against her cheek tenderly. "Everything okay?"
Licking her suddenly parched lips, Cady nodded. "Y-yes. But you d-dropped your g-glass."
Lex watched her a moment longer before shrugging just as she had expected. "Someone will clean it."
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in to continue the worship of her skin with his mouth, beginning at her ear and moving slowly down the column of her throat. Cady felt his lips against her collarbone and shuddered slightly at the sensation. His hands gripped her waist momentarily, holding her close before his fingers skated across the cloth of her robe over her stomach and the belt suddenly loosened, cool air caressing her skin as the folds of the cloth parted. Grasping his shoulders with her hands, Cady's knees trembled.
"Lex. " She began nervously.
"Shhh," he assured her softly, kissing her throat, the lobe of her ear, finally her cheek. "When you want me to stop, just say so." The backs of his knuckles brushed across her belly, sending a tingling sensation over her skin, from her hair to her feet. She felt his breath against her ear, the tip of his nose nuzzling her cheek. "Slowly, Cady," Lex whispered. "Slowly."
She didn't understand what he meant; she didn't care. Lex's hands gripped her waist again, pulling her against him as he claimed her mouth, kissing her until she was breathless, until she could barely stand on her own, until she had no idea where they were or how they had gotten there. Cady closed her eyes and felt his warmth and the smoothness of his tongue against hers and the sharp taste of scotch. Briefly, she wondered if it were possible to get drunk on Lex, on his taste and his scent and the hard strength of his body against hers. His hands moved upwards, his fingers brushing against the underside of her breasts lightly before moving back down over her stomach. Cady heard herself whimper again and thought she couldn't have possibly lost complete control over her reactions. But by the smile on Lex's mouth against hers, she knew had.
Cady almost whimpered once again, though this time in disappointment, as Lex stepped back from her, pulling his mouth away from hers and half- smiling at her - a predatory, possessive smile that sent of shiver of expectation down her back. Reaching out, Lex grasped the edges of her robe in his hands and slowly pushed it off of her shoulders, allowing it to puddle at her feet. The heat of embarrassment quickly swept over her, filling her face with warmth as Cady dropped her eyes to the floor and sought for a way to cover herself with her hands. But before she could do so, Lex caught her wrists and pulled them to her sides, holding them there for a moment as if daring her to move them again. And then he loosened his hold and reached up to cup her chin, lifting her gaze to his.
"Don't," he demanded softly.
"Lex, I've never - "
"I know." Another smile, then his gaze swept over her.
Lex knew very well that he was the first man to look on Cady's unclothed form. He had no intention of making love to her, of taking from her the innocence which had been so heavily guarded all of these years. Well, at least, he hadn't started out with those intentions. But as he continued to enjoy the sight of her body, he wondered if maybe he wouldn't be changing his mind. Cady had long legs, as he had expected, slightly muscular from years of horseback riding, attached to well-rounded hips that flared out nicely from a waist that was tinier than one would believe. She wasn't thin - not like the aspiring models he had dated in the past -- her ribs were barely noticeable and her stomach was slightly rounded. Her breasts were beautiful; high and full and so pale that her veins carrying her life's blood were readily visible through her skin. Lex found he couldn't wait to wrap his lips around a dark nipple and suckle one of the orbs, wondering how reactive Cady would be to the touch. He was tempted to throw her to the ground and take her then and there but his lifelong training set in and Lex grabbed hold of his emotions, forcing them back, tempering his desire and reminding himself that he was the experienced one here. No need to behave like a randy 16 year old virgin.
Knowing he was tormenting her, Lex watched silently a few moments longer, hiding the smile he felt at the continued color of embarrassment that flushed her skin as the minutes ticked by. What he wanted was for her to feel comfortable with him, and he would wait however long that it took for that to occur. Though the blush was enchanting, Lex didn't want Cady to fear him. He wanted her to enjoy his perusal of her body, in hopes that she would feel a bit more bold when it came his turn to bare all. Finally ceasing the torment, Lex took a step inward and reached out to her, skimming his hands over her shoulders and down, barely brushing his palms across the tips of her breasts before moving back up again to grasp her upper arms.
"Beautiful," he breathed against her cheek, kissing her temple once then returning his mouth to her neck.
Cady shivered once, relaxing against him, her palms flat against the lapels of his jacket as she closed her eyes, losing herself for the moment in the comfort of his lips and tongue on her skin. She didn't for a moment believe that he found her beautiful, not when Lex Luthor could have any woman he wanted and had likely dated supermodels. It was more probable, in her mind, that he hadn't wished to hurt her feelings, fearing that she would return to the farm and tell her aunt and uncle what a horrible letch that he was. But if what he wanted to do was pretend, then so could she. Besides, there was something about Lex, about just being with him -- the way he looked at her, spoke to her, touched her -- that made Cady feel beautiful, and maybe that was enough.
"Are you cold?" Lex asked quietly against her ear when he felt her shudder. "C'mere."
Stepping away from her, Lex took her hand and pulled her over to the fireplace where he motioned for her to sit down on the rug beside it. Leaning over, he turned the handle, igniting the gas, causing the flames to flicker to life. Pulling her knees up against her chest, Cady watched silently as he moved over to the couch and grabbed some large pillows, tossing them down beside her, then he toed off his shoes and slipped out of his jacket, laying it on the chair.
"Thirsty?"
Cady shook her head mutely as Lex moved over to the bar, taking a bottle of Ty Nant from the small refrigerator before walking back over and sitting beside her on the rug. Setting the bottle down on the tile of the hearth, he reached behind her and began arranging the pillows, fluffing them. Lex then reclined back against them, picking up his bottle once more, opening it, taking a silent drink, his eyes never leaving her. Cady wrapped her arms a little more tightly around her legs, hoping that the pounding of her heart wasn't as obvious to him as it was to her. She was just beginning to feel a tad vulnerable and frightened all over again when Lex set the bottle back down and leaned over her, placing his hands on either side of her body against the rug and moving in for another kiss.
This one was gentler than previously but just as possessive, leaving no doubt between them as to who was in control. Cady did not resist as Lex pushed her back against the pillows, his hands moving up to hold her by the waist, his thumbs moving in lazy circles over her skin to calm her as he continued to distract with his mouth slanting against hers. Slowly, his hands moved upwards, his fingers brushing over the undersides of her breasts, teasing the skin lightly until he felt Cady pushing into his touch, silently seeking more. At the encouragement, Lex moved his hand over her left breast, palming the nipple into a hard bud as beneath him Cady moaned against his mouth. The sound was enough make him forget control for the moment as he felt himself harden to the point of pain and he deepened the kiss as his fingers took the place of his palm, pinching gently. She shifted beneath him and Lex felt a slight tremble, enough to make him pull slightly away from her mouth though his hands remained where they were.
"Remember," he told her softly. "Whenever you become uncomfortable with what I'm doing, just say stop. Do you understand?"
Cady lifted her gaze to his and found the strength somewhere to nod, though currently all of her attention was focused on his hands and the sensations he was eliciting throughout her body. Certainly she had touched herself before out of curiosity, and there had been those dates in the cab of some pickup truck during which she had been groped in the dark, but nothing beyond roaming fingers over the cloth of her bra. This was something different altogether and, for some reason, the only thought that could register in her mind was the want/need/desire for more.
Lex must have sensed her enjoyment. "Does this feel good?" He asked.
Reddening a little, Cady bit her lower lip but nodded in reply. She received a smile in response to her answer and another quick kiss against her mouth before Lex continued down her throat and over her collarbone again.
"I'm glad to hear that," he spoke against her skin. "Because its only going to get better."
Cady tried to imagine better and couldn't, not until his lips closed over a nipple and a small cry of surprise and pleasure escaped her. Lex suckled the sensitive skin gently, more than pleased with her uninhibited reaction to the sensations. One hand drifted back down over her belly, caressing her hip, before moving inward between her thighs. He felt her jump at the contact and freeze and Lex waited with her, his hand unmoving as his tongue flicked over the hard bud between his lips. The moment he felt her body relax once more against him, his hand continued its exploration, moving through the silken curls to slide into the warmth beneath. He heard Cady gasp above him and he pulled his mouth away from her breast, moving up to kiss her soothingly as his fingers gently probed and teased.
"Shhhh," he whispered against her mouth, kissing her lips tenderly. "Don't think, Cady. Just feel."
Don't think. That had been the problem; she had been thinking. A little too much. Thinking about how stupid and inexperienced and boring she must seem to him, how frightened she was of doing the wrong thing, how much she enjoyed everything he was doing to her but she didn't want to appear overly enthusiastic. Cady simply didn't know what to do. But at Lex's words, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to just feel everything - every touch, every kiss, every stroke of his tongue and the brush of his clothing against her skin. And it was like a symphony of sensations and it all seemed meant to drive her mad. Her hips began moving of their own accord, pushing against Lex's hand and she felt herself redden at the reaction but Lex seemed encouraged by it, his kisses growing more aggressive, his touch more insistent. A groan threatened to escape her but Cady bit her lip, trying to hold it back. Unfortunately she felt Lex still his movements, and remove his lips from her skin. She opened her eyes to find him watching her.
"Don't hold back, Cady," he told her, his tone slightly scolding. "If it feels good, I want you to let me know. However your body feels necessary to express itself."
Could she do that? It didn't matter. Lex returned his attention to her breasts, lapping at the untouched nipple with his tongue and some kind of sound issued from her throat. His hand continued its own form of torture, finger pressing against the swollen nub, rubbing rhythmically. Cady's hands crept around the back of his neck, curling against the collar of his shirt and pulling him to her, holding him in place as her hips continued to move into his hand. Smiling as her inhibitions seemed to melt away, Lex allowed his thumb to take over while his fingers delved further into the wet warmth beneath his hand, brushing against her and finally sliding one finger further inside, exploring the tight sheath. He nearly groaned as the thought of burying himself deeply within her consumed him and the pain of wanting to take her became almost unbearable. But no, he had promised himself not tonight and he meant it. This night was about her.
Keeping that thought in mind, he moved away from her breasts, kissing her belly, tracing the edge of her rib cage with his tongue while Cady began to writhe more emphatically beneath him. Lex hesitated at her belly button for a moment, teasing the indentation with his tongue, circling it over and over as the whimpers from the woman beneath him increased. He nipped gently at the skin of her abdomen before trailing a path of soft kisses to her hip, her thigh. Slowly, quietly insistent, he pushed her legs apart and moved between them, kissing her inner thigh lightly before taking her with his mouth. He laved at the core of her with his tongue before tenderly grabbing the swollen nub between his lips and suckling gently. Cady's hips rose up to meet him in silent offering, her cries growing louder. Lex reached up with one hand to grab hold of hers, her fingers instantly lacing through his, while the other he lay possessively against her belly, caressing her. Squeezing her hand in encouragement, he continued to pleasure her until she cried out his name and he felt her body shuddering against him.
One minute Cady was certain she couldn't handle any more of the incredible sensations that were coiling up into a tight ball within her. She thought she would break Lex's fingers from the need she felt for something to let go. Then it hit, a million stars exploding before her eyes, the coil springing loose deep within, her entire being on fire. She heard herself cry out Lex's name and then fell into soft whimpers as her body trembled uncontrollably, her heart racing, her breath ragged. She couldn't move as Lex rose up over her, laying his body against hers, his clothing scraping at her sensitive skin. She wanted to wriggle beneath him but could barely lift a finger to do so. Cady could feel Lex watching her, and opened her eyes to find him smiling smugly. At any other time, she probably would have slapped him for such an expression but at the moment she found herself smiling in return.
"I think Cady O'Rourke enjoyed herself," he commented softly, his tone arrogant and self-congratulatory.
"Maybe," she whispered in reply, color staining her cheeks.
Lex raised an eyebrow at that and then leaned in to kiss her. Cady could taste herself on his lips and while it was completely foreign to her, she just knew that if she thought about it too long, it would likely embarrass her to no end. She felt him wrap his arms around her, then he laid back against the pillows, pulling her over and on top of him, his mouth never leaving hers. Sighing in contentment, the languid pleasure still settling within her body, the soft feel of Lex's lips against hers, Cady was certain she would be quite happy to stay right there forever. Lex's fingers moved through her hair, gathering at the back of her head, pulling her toward him to deepen the kiss. She found the strength once more to squirm, his clothing still not quite comfortable against her skin. Wanting to remedy that, her fingers pushed between them, working at the buttons on his shirt until she could feel his chest and stomach beneath her. She reached up, fighting to push the cloth from his shoulders until she felt him chuckling beneath her.
Pulling away from the kiss, Cady looked down at him in frustration. "A little help would be appreciated," she commented.
"Yes. But not quite as much fun as watching you struggle," came the retort.
Cady made a face which caused Lex to chuckle again but he sat up and removed his shirt anyway, much to her pleasure. She pushed him back against the pillows, her fingers moving over him in exploration, feeling the curve of every muscle, the dip of each indentation, the strength in his arms and the way his stomach flexed beneath her touch. She glanced up to find Lex watching her guardedly, as if worried about something that she could not quite fathom. Keeping her eyes locked with his, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against a nipple, causing one of his eyebrows to raise. Still unable to discern the expression he was giving her, Cady returned her attention to the body beneath her, her fingers moving lightly over his stomach before she bent once more to kiss his belly button. Laying her cheek against his belly, she stared down at the front of his trousers for a moment then brushed her hand over him, feeling the hard length of his sex beneath her fingers.
"Cady - " Lex began.
But she cut him off. "I want to see you, Lex."
The sound he made was somewhere between a laugh and a gasp as she touched him again. "I don't think you're ready for that, Cady."
"Yes, I am," she countered, turning her head a little to look up at him.
Lex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Then I don't think I'm ready for that."
"Please, Lex. " Cady watched as he closed his eyes with a sigh and knew that was his silent way of granting her permission without actually saying it.
Turning her head back to the way it had been, she slowly undid the buckle on his belt, sliding it through the loops, then released the button and pulled down the zipper. Sitting back up, she reached out and grabbed the waist of his pants, carefully pulling them down to reveal black silk boxers which stood out against his pale skin, and if she hadn't been alerted to his desire before, the tenting of the material was enough to clue her in now. Glancing up, Cady found Lex watching her, his expression once more guarded, as if waiting for something that she didn't understand. Feeling the need to reassure him with a touch, she found herself reaching out to stroke his stomach, the way he had done with her.
After a few moments, she reached into the flap of his boxers to touch him. His skin was even warmer than she had imagined and very smooth, like hot, hard marble. It hit her then that there was absolutely no hair present. Curiously, she slid his boxers down, wanting to see everything for herself. His sex was certainly nicer to look at than she had thought and she loved the way it twitched in reaction to her touch and her gaze. Cady ran her fingers over the tip, watching in fascination as a drop glistened on the head. Swiping it off, she rubbed it between her fingertips for a moment before returning her gaze to the view before her.
Running her hand once more over him, her fingers lightly touching his groin, she commented quietly with wonder, "You're hairless everywhere."
Watching her closely, Lex had planned on helping her with his pants, but she seemed to be doing fine all on her own. What he hadn't expected was for her to touch his stomach, and when she did so, he'd been forced to repress a sigh of satisfaction. When she had finally touched him, the anticipation had become tremendous, and a very small sigh escaped before he could stop it. He noticed his breathing became heavier as she continued.
As endearing as Lex found her curiosity and exploration, he was beginning to rethink what he had allowed her to do. The only consolation he had was that the light was low, but her hands and eyes still noticed how different he was. So many partners had laughed or worse yet, become repulsed. Silently, he told himself that no matter the unease, if he and Cady were going to continue to have fun together, this was something they needed to address.
Shifting again under her observation, he replied, "Yes. From the meteors. Does it bother you?"
"No," Cady replied softly, continuing to skim her fingers over the skin before her, quietly marveling at how soft he was. "I think you're beautiful."
Curious to feel exactly how soft he was, she laid her head down against his stomach, her cheek rubbing against the skin where she could see him even more closely. She wrapped her fingers around the hard shaft, finding that she could barely get her hand around the girth, then began to move slowly upwards, her fingers trailing. His penis jerked in response to the touch and Cady realized the movement must be correct. She slid her hand down and then back up again, while turning her head just slightly to kiss his belly.
"Does that feel good?" She asked in a quiet whisper.
Lex took a moment to respond because as she had placed her head on his stomach, his mind saw the little innocent in his lap doing a lot more then just touching him, and he tried quickly to banish the thought. The image only added to his enjoyment as her hand moved.
At her question, he breathed out, "Yes." Now that he knew she meant what she said, that his lack of hair was not an issue with her, he got a hold of himself and forced out his next idea. "You don't have to throw me kind words. I know what I am, and beautiful is not it."
Cady frowned, wondering how someone as perfect in appearance as he was couldn't possibly see it. Lifting her head up, she moved her body over his, keeping her hand on him, continuing to move it against his sex, as she brought her face level with his.
"Maybe people have different perceptions of beautiful. I look in the mirror and I see nothing that anyone would even consider pretty. But you seem to believe otherwise." Cady stared into his blue eyes for a moment, thinking that if she knew anything about poetry, she could write entire sonnets about him. "I think you are beautiful. Every time I look at you."
Leaning down, she kissed him gently.
Lex accepted the kiss, closing his eyes to her as her mouth claimed his. Her eyes had told him he was beautiful, and her kiss was telling him the same. It didn't make any sense to Lex, and he couldn't allow himself to believe that it was true.
Cady moved her mouth away from his and down his cheek to his neck, kissing there lightly as her hand continued to stroke him until she decided to try some of the things she enjoyed when he did them to her. She drew some of his skin gently into her mouth, sucking on it, her teeth grazing over it lightly. Her hand on his penis strengthened it's grip slightly as it moved upwards, reaching the tip, her fingernails drawing over it teasingly.
Her hand strengthening around his sex coupled with her fingernails made Lex reflexively move in her hands, and he wanted to thrust once in the joy of what she was doing, but he remained still. Licking his lips once in frustration of needing some kind of release, even if it wasn't the one he knew would eventually come, he forced himself not to outwardly react to her touch more than he already had. He could understand how the little innocent beside him could so completely throw his control out of whack. It wasn't his usual behavior and he reached deep inside for the strength that he knew dwelt within.
Pulling away from his neck suddenly, Cady looked up at him and asked, "Am I doing something wrong? Are you not enjoying yourself?"
His eyes opened as soon as her mouth left. He looked at her in confusion, "Very much. You are not doing anything wrong."
"Then men react to things differently?" She asked quietly. "How am I... how does a woman know a man is enjoying himself? I mean, if you do not... that is if your body does not react with the same... " Cady sighed. She was becoming frustrated at her inability to say what she was thinking. Trying again, she told him, "When you were touching me, I had to move, had to be a part of it. Even though you were doing the touching, I felt my moving into your touch would make it better. Are men not the same?"
Lex looked at her for a long moment deciding how to explain without revealing too much about his own need for self-control. Touching her face, he said, "Everyone is different, Cady. But from what I've seen, most women are more responsive. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of men exist who get into it just as much if not more. On the other hand, I have been with women who simply lie there and wait for me to finish.
"There are many factors involved: your partner and familiarity with that partner, your mood, your upbringing, what is being done, the situation and setting.I could probably go on. But, don't be embarrassed by expressing yourself. The more responsive my partner is, the more I enjoy what we do."
So either he was telling her he wasn't the responsive type or she was doing something wrong or he wasn't comfortable with her... or something. Accepting his words without question, since she knew he was much more experienced than she was, Cady laid her head down on his chest, her gaze turning to watch her hand as it continued to stroke him. She wondered to herself what she could do to make it more enjoyable for him but she was at a loss. Would two hands feel better? Should she go faster? Or slower? Was she gripping too hard or not hard enough? Cady bit her lip to keep from crying from frustration and admitted to herself that she was just going to have to ask someone for some in-depth information, whether she wanted to or not.
Angling her head back up, she returned to kissing and nipping at Lex's neck.
Lex couldn't tell if he had eased her mind or not, but a big part of him thought probably not. Perhaps he should have mentioned that she shouldn't expect much input from him verbally or physically, but he thought she already knew that about him. If not, she would. Even her hold on him seemed to change to reflect something was wrong. He was going to ask what it was, but she returned to his neck and thought was becoming more difficult. He breathed in sharply once because of what she was doing and decided to cover it up by asking her a question immediately after, "Did my explanation clear up your questions?"
"Yes. It did. Thank you," she replied against his neck before kissing it again.
Cady liked kissing him. She thought his skin tasted very good and he always smelled so wonderful; she figured she could do that forever. Smiling a little at the thought, she moved her mouth to just beneath his ear, her tongue snaking out to lick him there before sucking his earlobe between her lips and drawing on it gently. Her free hand joined the other and together both continued to move in a strong, caressing motion against the shaft of his sex.
Lex wasn't sure how long she stroked him, but it couldn't have been much at all. With all of the buildup, he didn't expect he could hold out much longer and her mouth on his ear was not helping matters. He found his eyes closing once more as both hands now touched him, surprised again by how his body was reacting to her. Cady knew little of what she was doing, but her enthusiasm and need to please made up for it, as did the soft, gentle warmth of her hands. Lex could distinctly feel every part of her body against his own and that in itself was sending his senses reeling. He knew his hips hand begun to move into her hand, even though he had silently ordered them not to. He knew that the barely-whispered groans breaking the silence were coming from his throat. Unfortunately for his much-regaled self-control, before he knew what was happening Lex cried out, his body shuddering as he sat up, pushing her gently aside as he came hard, spilling onto himself and the white carpet beneath them.
Collapsing back against the pillows, Lex willed his breathing to calm as he felt Cady move against him, curling into his side, her head pillowed against his shoulder. Closing his eyes, he tried to still the unexpected emotions that were crashing through him, wave after wave, in the aftermath of an act that typically meant little more beyond the pleasure it gave to him. But this time. he had lost all control. Cady, an inexperienced virgin, had little more than touched him, little more than looked at him with her wide, guileless eyes and he had turned into a shuddering, out of control teenager. It would have been embarrassing had the woman he was with knew any better.
Her hand was currently splayed over his stomach, her fingers gently caressing his skin and her hair felt soft and comforting against his neck. Cady was obviously content laying against him, he could even feel the smile on her face, the glow of happiness that surrounded her and gave off both light and warmth. And the worst of it was, he felt the pull, he felt his own need to welcome it in, wrap himself in the silent comfort it was offering. Lex could so easily close his eyes and fall to sleep there, holding Cady against him, safe from the outside world with her innocence and gentleness protecting them. He could. It wouldn't take much. Not much more than a leap of faith that Lex was certain was nowhere to be found within him. That kind of faith, that kind of belief in someone, was far beyond what he believed he had the ability to give. From the beginning, Cady had been unexpected, uninvited and not very welcome. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped fighting, knowing that it wouldn't last, couldn't last.
And yet, here they were and a new dimension had been added and Lex didn't want to accept it.
Frowning, he gently moved Cady away from his side and sat up, running his hand over his bare scalp in aggravation. He had to take care of this before it got out of hand (or more out of hand than it already was). Rising to his feet, he grabbed the robe from the floor and tossed it to Cady. Without looking back at her, he said, "You might want to get some sleep. You're welcome to my bed. I'm going to take a shower."
Lex didn't mean for it to come out wrong, to hurt her, or anything like that. He just knew it had to end here, that it couldn't continue, that it would be much worse for her in the end if it did. He wanted to tell her that. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her and tell her how wonderful she made him feel and what an angel he thought she was and that if he could - oh, if he could - he would lock her away in his castle and throw away the key and she would belong to him always. But some things couldn't be and this whatever it was between them, this nameless something that Lex was afraid to attach a label to, it had to stop. He would make it stop before it was too late. He didn't even glance back as he walked from the room.
Silently, Cady watched as Lex disappeared around the corner toward the bedroom.
What had just happened?
She clutched the robe in her grasp for a long moment, fighting the rising flood of tears that seemed entirely childless and foolish to allow to flow, before slowly sliding her arms into the garment and tying it around her waist. Climbing unsteadily to her feet, Cady looked around the room, as if something nearby would explain to her what had gone wrong, what she had done to send Lex scurrying away from her so suddenly. But the room, and everything in it, was silent.
Wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, Cady walked quietly to the bedroom, glancing toward the bathroom where the light streamed onto the carpet from beneath the closed door and the sound of the shower wasn't quite enough o block out all thoughts. She stared at the enormous bed with the burgundy-colored down comforter and king size pillows and thought it looked very cold and very lonely.
What had she done? Why had Lex walked away?
Taking a deep breath, still fighting back the tears, Cady pulled down the blankets and crawled onto the mattress, huddling down beneath the covers while her attention continued to drift to the sound of the shower in the wall behind her. She didn't understand Lex, that much she could readily admit. And she wasn't certain if she ever would, no matter how much time they spent together. She understood that Lionel's idea of parenting had left his son with emotional scarring that would likely never be erased, that the loss of his mother had left Lex simultaneously wanting and rejecting love and that the world and people he had grown up in had left him bitter and cynical. But if Lex chose to never let her in, to never accept what she was so willing to give to him without expectations or designs for something more, then they were doomed before they even had a chance to begin. Cady had believed she had seen a chink in his armor a few times that evening but just as suddenly as they had appeared, all traces were gone. He had walked away from her as effectively as if she hadn't even been in the room. And she simply didn't know how to deal with that. Not when she had invested her entire heart into him. Wiping in frustration at the tears that had escaped, Cady closed her eyes, allowing the sound of the shower and the clean scent of the Egyptian cotton sheets to lull her into a restless sleep.
After his shower, Lex emerged from the bathroom impeccably dressed and feeling a little more like himself until his gaze settled on the sleeping form in his bed. Throughout the shower, he had done his best to put Cady from his mind, keeping his thoughts focused on the Plant and ideas he had for changes he wanted to see made, improvements. But now the entire day and the pleasure he had felt from it came back to him and, inexplicably, he was drawn to the bed, sitting gingerly on the edge of it, silently watching the sleeping form before him. Her eyes were slightly puffy and the tracks of dried tears colored her cheeks. Anger with himself for hurting such a gentle creature flowed through him but Lex stilled it quickly, telling himself that it was for the best. The past few weeks had given him a peek into a world that he otherwise would have never known but it was over now. Cady needed to forget him, needed to find someone more like her, from the world she understood and loved. And he needed to go back to being the Luthor heir, the person he was born to become.
Reaching out, Lex lightly, brushed his fingers over her cheek, a final touch. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, lingering for a moment, memorizing the familiar and loved scent of her. This was the last time he would touch something so innocent and pure, the last time he would have a chance to know what his life could have been like, were he someone else. He wanted to remember and carry it with him always.
***
The drive back to Smallville the next morning was silent. Cady sat staring out the passenger window, watching as the open fields flew past her, the scenery never changing but seemingly becoming dimmer the nearer to Smallville they drove. Clouds gathered overhead, signaling a coming thunderstorm, for which Cady wasn't too upset, considering the weather appeared to match her mood.
When she had awoken that morning, it was only to find that she was still alone in the large, uncomfortably cool bed. The other side had obviously never been touched. Crawling from the sheets, she had moved quietly out of the bedroom and into the main room to find Lex sitting in a corner of the couch, reading the paper. He was already impeccably dressed and ready to hit the road, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. She had stood there for a long moment, staring at him, before he finally took the time to look up at her, acknowledge her presence. Cady had trouble remembering what had hurt worse - that he had pretended for so long that she was not there or the cool expression he regarded her with when he did notice her.
"Good morning," he had stated in that bland, uninterested tone of his that Cady hated beyond measure. "I trust you slept well?"
She felt like slapping him. Instead, she replied, "Yes. You?"
Lex nodded. "There's coffee in the kitchen. The doorman brought some warm croissants if you're hungry. Other than that, I have little to offer you."
Cady had a feeling he wasn't talking about food anymore. She remained unmoving as he returned to his paper, effectively ignoring her once again. Clenching her fists at her sides for a moment, she finally found the courage to call out, "Lex."
"Yes?" He didn't even bother to look. Just kept his gaze focused on the copy of the Daily Planet in his well-manicured hands.
Her courage quickly fled. "I. nothing." Turning, Cady walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee, placed a croissant on a plate and returned to the bedroom to take a shower and dress.
They had spoken little to one another since. When Cady had followed Lex to the street below, she thought that they would be taking the limo back to Smallville and, being in that space together with nothing to occupy either of them, they would be forced to converse. Instead, she discovered that a brand new car, a dark blue Porsche, had been delivered and Lex was able to focus on driving, instead of paying any attention to her. And for the next two hours, he did so with a singular purpose, shifting gears a little too forcefully, taking turns without slowing and weaving in and out of traffic without a care for what might be around them. Cady had tried to convince herself that he knew what he was doing, but most of the trip was spent white-knuckled and tense.
Twice, she had tried to start a conversation. Once she had asked about work at the Plant the next week and received little more than a grunt in reply. The second time she had mentioned a camping trip that Clark and her were planning with some friends and would he like to join them? Lex had completely ignored the question, finding interest in playing with the stereo instead. Cady had almost demanded in that moment to let her out but, in the middle of Kansas on I-70 early on a Sunday morning, she could be waiting for quite some time before someone actually happened by to pick her up. So she had simply sat back in her seat and glared out the window and thought of all of the painful things she would like to do to the man sitting next to her. Things like driving a railroad spike through his head, smashing his fingers one by one with a hammer and throwing him into a vat of razors and lemon juice. After a few minutes of picturing such horrors and the screaming they would cause Lex to do, Cady was feeling much better, even to the point of smiling, be it an awful, evil smile full of malice as it was.
It was with great relief that Cady watched out the windshield as Lex pulled up the gravel road to the Kent farm. Finally, the torture of sitting in such tense silence would be over and she could go talk to Clark and demand to know what was up with his extremely screwed up, rich friend.
"I'm going to be out of town on business for my father for the next few days," Lex commented in a cool tone as he pulled the car to a stop. He didn't even bother turning the ignition off.
Cady turned to glare at him, she really wanted to demand an explanation, to scream at him for being such an insensitive jerk, to tell him she should have listened to her uncle and all of his warnings. But something inside of her held her back. She continued to watch Lex silently for a long moment, finally noting that he appeared to be as tense as she felt and he couldn't seem to meet her eyes.
Last night, he could have had anything that he wanted to take. She would have willingly given it to him, had offered it to him. But Lex had held back, had told her not yet, had instead taken the time to show her how wonderful intimacy between two people could be. He had practically worshipped her body, asking for nothing in return. It could have been different. This morning could have been much worse for her. But Lex had cared last night; he hadn't planned on taking advantage of her, he hadn't planned on hurting her. And he obviously hadn't planned on whatever had happened to happen.
Lex was afraid.
As the realization washed over her, Cady felt as if she had reached some sort of epiphany. Lex was afraid of her and whatever was happening between them. She wasn't what he was used to, and while that was fairly obvious from the beginning, Cady had the feeling that he hadn't counted on responding to her the way he was learning to. His defense mechanism was to pull away, put his shields back in place and make her believe he was a jerk so that she would run off screaming back to the farm. She almost smiled. Obviously, Lex had never encountered the stubbornness of an O'Rourke before.
Instead of snapping at him in reply as she had originally planned to do, Cady leaned over and kissed his cheek. "All right. Take care, Lex, and don't work too hard," she told him quietly before opening the passenger side door.
As she slid out of the car, she turned back to find Lex staring at her, his expression inscrutable. "I. I'm sorry about last night, Cady," he told her, his tone even.
She knew he was speaking, in part, of the attack. Smiling, Cady shook her head. "I'm not," she replied, specifically ignoring the mugging. "I had a good time, Lex. Thank you."
"I. " He appeared at a loss for a moment and Cady wasn't used to seeing Lex Luthor lose his cool. Apparently, he wasn't either because his brow furrowed as if in confusion and he swallowed once before his jaw seemed to snap together as if in resolution. "You're welcome."
Hiding the smile she felt, Cady took another step back away from the car. "Goodbye, Lex. See you later."
Lex blinked up at her for a moment, as if he had something to say regarding seeing her later. Only Cady knew there was nothing he could say, since she was now interning at the Plant. They would be seeing each other, whether he specifically wanted to or not. Finally, he nodded and turned back into position to drive away. But Cady hadn't closed the door yet and he made no move to put the Porsche in reverse.
"I. " Lex began again and hesitated before finally ending with, "See you later, Cady." He remained unmoving for a long moment as she closed the door and walked towards the yellow farmhouse before shifting the gears into reverse and peeling out of the drive.
Clark watched from the loft as Lex drove off. He had expected his friend to come up and visit for awhile but that obviously wasn't happening. Maybe he had a lot of work to do or something. Rising from his chair, he hurried down the stairs and out the barn to catch Cady as she was walking past.
"Hey."
Cady glanced up in surprise, then wondered why, when she knew her cousin had to have been watching from his usual spot. "Spying again?"
"Looking out a barn door while people drive up to your family's farm isn't exactly spying, Cady Jo," he replied, his eyes scanning her critically. She didn't appear broken in anyway though there were some dark marks, obviously caused by fingers, around her neck. He reached out and touched them gingerly. "The muggers tried to strangle you?"
"One." Cady nodded, her thoughts far from the events of the attack that had occurred the night before. Although, if none of that had happened, she doubted she would have had to have gone through what she did this morning. Lex would have brought her home late last night, they would have kissed and that would have been the end of it. "Guess your parents told you?"
Clark snorted. "Dad was halfway out the door with shotgun in hand ready to drive to the city to get you and kill Lex."
Cady raised an eyebrow at that.
"Okay, maybe the shotgun part isn't true but you get the idea." Taking her arm, Clark began leading her towards the house. "Mom and I had to calm him down together. He was really steamed. You're okay, though, right? I mean, they didn't hurt you beyond those?" He pointed to her neck.
"I'm fine, Clark. Really." Cady didn't feel like giving him details of what occurred. It was an event best left between her and Lex.
"I wish I could have been there."
Cady laughed. "And done what?"
Clark looked as if he were about to say something then changed his mind and simply shook his head.
"There is nothing you could have done," she told him, waiting as he pulled the screen door open and walking into the kitchen. "There simply would have been three of us getting attacked instead of two of us."
It was difficult not to argue. Clark wanted to blurt out that he could have stopped both muggers before anyone could have been hurt, that when the police arrived they would have been unconscious and waiting to be taken to jail. Cady wouldn't have those marks on her neck and his father would have never had to worry because Clark could have taken care of his cousin but he couldn't tell her any of that. He couldn't even apologize for not being there because she would have just given him stranger looks than she was already. Maybe he could convince Lex to only take Cady on dates around Smallville. It would be safer. Well, maybe not when it came to be attacked by mutants or anything, but at least Clark wouldn't have to worry about random acts of violence.
"So where are the parental units?" Cady asked as she walked over to the refrigerator to pull out the jug of milk.
"They went into town to get some new bulbs for planting and drop off a pair of dad's boots that need to be re-soled." Grabbing an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table, Clark sat down and glanced over at his cousin as she took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with the milk. "So why didn't Lex stick around longer? Afraid of running into my dad?"
Turning to lean against the counter, Cady took a sip of her milk and shook her head. "He's being. Lex." She gave a small wave of her hand as if that answered everything.
Clark smirked. "And that means. ?"
She sighed. "You know how he is. fine one moment and then all of a sudden - "
"He closes up and pretends like you're only acquaintances?"
Cady glanced at her cousin, a little shocked. "You've seen that too?"
"I think I'm his favorite target for that behavior." Clark bit into the apple, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before asking, "So what brought it on?"
"I don't think you want the gory details, Clark."
He took another bite of his apple, staring in confusion at his cousin for a moment while he chewed before sudden realization swept over him and he turned three shades redder in color. Swallowing, and unable to meet her eyes, he commented, "I thought that's supposed to make you happy or something."
"Don't ask me," Cady replied, washing out her glass. "I wouldn't know."
Clark grinned, more comfortable now that he knew his cousin was in as uncharted territory as he was. "So, like, what happened? I mean, did you do It?"
"Do 'It'?" Shaking her head, Cady began rummaging around in the cupboards until she found a bag of chips. She walked over to the island to sit across from her cousin. "I don't think I'm going to dignify that with a response."
"Awww, c'mon," Clark pressed. "Inquiring minds wanna know."
"Inquiring minds are going to get slapped upside the head," she warned.
"You are so unfair." Holding the apple in one hand, Clark reached into the bag of chips with other and withdrew a handful, setting them in front of him on the wood surface. "So does Lex's behavior have anything to do with what did happen between you two? I mean, do you suck at it or something?"
Cady stared at her cousin, slack-jawed for a moment. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."
"If you don't discuss it with me, who can you discuss it with?" Clark reasoned, enjoying how flustered his cousin was becoming. Truthfully, he couldn't have been teasing her about all of this without turning bright red himself had someone else been around. But seeing as how it was only Cady, it really didn't bother him.
"Your mother."
Clark shook his head. "I know Lex better than anyone. I can give you better advice."
Her cousin had a point, not that Cady was going to admit it. Aunt Martha would be worried and judgmental when it came to Lex. Clark wouldn't. However much there was that she didn't feel like discussing with him, there was quite a bit that he might be able to help her understand when it came to the completely perplexing Lex Luthor.
"Okay." Cady nodded. "Let me go change into some jeans and I'll meet you in the loft. We'll see if either of us can make heads or tails of our dear friend, Lex."
Clark smiled as she disappeared up the stairs, then grabbed the bag of chips and a couple of Pepsi's from the refrigerator and headed outside to the loft. The truth was, he didn't really want to talk about her and Lex as much as he did the upcoming Spring Formal and Chloe. Sure, he had made it past what was supposedly the hard part - asking her. But that didn't mean that the actual date wouldn't be just as difficult. This wasn't like him, Chloe and Pete all going to a movie together or to the Talon to grab some coffee and chat; this was an actual, honest-to-God date and Clark had no idea what he was supposed to say, how he was supposed to behave, what was expected of him - nothing. He just hoped that his cousin could provide him with a little direction.
This was a big step for him, in Clark's opinion. Going on this date meant giving up on Lana, something which he still wasn't certain he was entirely ready for. Sure, his mother had assured him that the door to Lana was closed but was it really? After all, lately when he was staring at her, he would find her staring right back. Didn't that mean something? Maybe Lana was as interested in him as he was her and she just didn't know how to break it off with Whitney with everything he had been through in the past few months. What if Lana had no idea how he felt about her so she was as afraid of rejection as he was? Clark almost laughed at the thought. Sure, Lana Lang would be interested in him. And maybe the pigs on their farm would fly tomorrow. The whole idea was ludicrous, even though it still occasionally popped up in the back of his mind, sowing little seeds of hope that now he seemed to be tossing into the wind because he was going on a date with Chloe. For the past few nights he'd even had this horrible nightmare where the night of the dance, Lana came up to him and told him she was in love with him just as Chloe drove up to pick him up for the dance. And he was standing there, unable to say anything to either of them because he really wanted to admit the same to Lana but there was no way that anyone could convince him to hurt Chloe. So there he was, unable to think of a single intelligent thing to say and they were both waiting for answers. It was the kind of thought that could send a teenager into hermithood.
Cady stared out the window of her bedroom at the approaching storm clouds as she slowly slid into her tennis shoes. She thought she had presented a pretty good front to her cousin when in truth all she really wanted to do was have a good cry. How would aunt Martha react to that? She wondered. Her niece bawling all over her because of Lex Luthor. She doubted it would be taken well at all. While she knew her aunt wasn't quite as prejudiced against the Luthors as her uncle was, that didn't mean that any of the Kents were any less protective of their own.
What she really wanted to do was charge over to the castle and demand that Lex tell her what was wrong, say it in his own words. But she knew that confronting him would do nothing beyond angering and upsetting him. Cady had to give Lex time, let him come to terms with whatever was happening on his own, and then she thought almost certainly, he would come to her.
Glancing up at the darkening sky overhead, a shiver moved down her spine and Cady found herself wondering where it came from.