Title: Strength, Reserve, Control
Part: 6/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Wow, this is longer than I intended . Enjoy! And as always, feedback greatly appreciated.
*~*~*~*
Lana was bent forward, her dark hair swinging slowly, hiding her face from view. Lex was leaning in to her - his grin huge, blue eyes sparkling mischief and mirth. At the tinkle of the door chime, she looked up. Lex followed her gaze, his smile fading at Chloe's arrival.
"Chloe!" She walked briskly over, and Chloe exhaled. "How ARE you? It's been so long since we've - since you've . you know ." Lana trailed off, her words sliding into a brilliant smile before hugging her.
"Too long," Chloe replied, trying to prevent Lana's enthusiastic embrace from bowling her over. "I feel like I've been gone forever." She looked at Lex, who was making his way over slowly.
"Chloe," he said coolly, after Lana released her. He leaned in to kiss her cheek. Chloe looked up in surprise, causing Lex to hit the corner of her mouth - where he lingered for a bit longer than necessary, she thought.
"Lex," Chloe said. "Weren't you just in Metropolis?"
"Yeah - I needed a bit of sanity." he smirked.
". so of course, the first person he came to see was me," Lana finished.
Chloe couldn't help smiling at Lana. She had changed so much - no longer a fragile fairy princess, Lana was a woman with a life and a family.
"How's Pete?" Chloe asked. She'd decided before coming in that she would never tell Lana about that call.
"Still traveling with Senator Gray," Lana sighed. "He was supposed to be home last week, but they extended the campaign tour."
"It's been ages since I've seen Pete," Lex said.
"I feel the same way, although it's only been a month," Lana smiled sadly. "Can you keep a secret Chloe? I already told Lex."
"Sure, what is it?" Chloe knew what it had to be. Lana was -
"I'm pregnant!" She whispered excitedly. "I can't wait to tell Pete when he gets home."
"He's going to be thrilled, Lana," Chloe said, hiding her lack of enthusiasm. She knew what would happen if Lionel found out; he would start pushing the child issue.
"Chloe's thinking of having a child," Lex remarked.
"Really?!" Lana squealed. Ok, so there was a little bit of cheerleader in her still, Chloe admitted. "That would be so great! When?"
"Um, I'm not sure." Chloe glared at Lex, who was leaning innocently against the counter.
"Didn't Lionel say he wanted to start after the Season was over?" Lex asked. "They're going for artificial insemination - it's the surest way."
"We're not positive yet, Lana," Chloe said, ignoring Lex.
"Well, it would be wonderful if you were to get pregnant, Chloe. Do you think you'd come back to Smallville?" Lana asked hopefully.
Before Chloe could come up with a suitable, yet evasive answer, Lex spoke again.
"Haven't you heard, Lana? Chloe's gave up Smallville when she married the devil."
Confused, Lana looked from Lex to Chloe. She gave a small laugh, looking around. "Wow, it's getting busy in here - I guess I'd better go do my job, huh?" Without waiting for an answer, Lana hurried over to some customers.
Chloe was angry. She faced Lex. "What the hell are you doing?" she hissed.
"What do you mean?" Lex raised his eyebrows.
"I helped you, Lex. I got your father to sell his building to you! The least you could do is to help me fix things in Smallville."
"I raise my glass to you, Mrs. Luthor. You actually surpass my father in the selfish motives race."
"You know what, Lex? I think I've had enough," Chloe said. "I've got to go see my dad."
She walked to the door, but didn't get more than a few steps before she felt a hand on her arm.
"Chloe," Lex looked suddenly remorseful. "I'm sorry."
"Why? You were only speaking your mind," Chloe said curtly, turning back to the door.
"No," Lex said. "I'm sorry because what I said wasn't just rude, it was unkind."
Chloe sighed. "It's fine."
"No, it isn't," he lowered his voice. "I've never adjusted well to change, even though you've been married to my father for three years."
"I don't love him," she whispered, so softly he couldn't hear.
"What?"
"Nothing," Chloe said. "Anyway, I really do have to go see my dad."
"What are you doing tonight? For dinner, I mean."
"Nothing, I think."
"Come to the manor. Let me make up the last few days to you."
"Lex, you don't have to -" he raised a hand, and Chloe resigned herself. "What time?"
"Seven?"
"Ok," Chloe glanced at her watch, "seven it is."
*~*~*~*
And now it was seven. Chloe was sitting outside the manor in her car, staring at the forbidding wood and iron wrought doors. She wasn't sure why she felt so unsettled. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd spent an entire hour deciding what to wear - which was fairly amazing, considering the only clothes she had to choose from were the ones in her closet in her old room. She'd settled on a pair of black trousers she could, amazingly, still fit into, and a strapless shimmery red shirt she'd never had the guts to wear.
She willed herself to get out of the car and walk to the front door. Before she could knock, Lex was in the doorway, smiling. Smiling nervously, Chloe thought, as he drew her into the house.
"I'm glad you came," Lex said, leading her to the dining room. "Are you famished? Dinner's ready."
"Did you think I wouldn't?" Chloe asked, as they entered the room.
"No, it's not that," he said, looking at her. "I'm just glad you're here - it makes it easier for me to make amends."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Chloe avoided his eyes and looked at the beautiful flower arrangement of orchids and lilies on the table. "I mean, we were never particularly close, Lex."
"I guess I feel like I owe you something," Lex said, quickly pressing a finger to her lips before she could protest. "I completely took Clark's side when that whole thing went down. That wasn't at all fair to you. It had to be hard being his girlfriend - he's always running off on one secret mission or another."
"You noticed that too?" Chloe grinned, taking her seat.
"Absolutely," Lex leaned forward. "I think that's why he and Lois get along so well - they're two of a very elusive kind."
Dinner was companionable. Chloe ate each course with the growing feeling that Lex was watching her - appraising her. By the time they got to dessert, it was all she could do not to ask him what he was thinking. They made small talk, but more often then not, the only sound was that of utensils meeting the plates.
"Finished?" Lex asked, about five minutes after Chloe had drifted into a daydream.
"Hmm? Yeah, I'm done. Dinner was delicious," she said, looking at his eyes, which were suddenly bluer than anything she'd ever seen.
"I'll tell the chef - she'll be quite happy to hear it; she's an avid reader of your column."
"Really? Perhaps I should tell her myself."
"Don't bother. I'll pass it along." Lex stood, prompting Chloe to do the same. "Come to the library. I just got a new collection of books by journalists. There's a few in there that might interest you."
Chloe reluctantly followed him down the hall. She was in no mood for reading.
"Or perhaps you'd rather get drunk?" He smiled rakishly. "There's still plenty of liquor from when I lived here."
Chloe knew it was a terrible idea, yet she answered: "Let's get drunk."
*~*~*~*
Two hours later - or at least Chloe guessed it was two hours later - and she was about as drunk as she had ever been in her life. Lex made her have water after every two drinks, claiming that as fun as this was, a hangover would certainly put it all in perspective.
"So, my dad was like, 'Honey, are you sure you don't want to come home?' and I was like, 'Dad, I AM home. Met - metrop - Metropolis is home!'"
"So you say," Lex said slowly, looking down into his glass. "So you say."
"And I'm married, Lex. You know, I'm married to you father - Lionel."
"You sure are."
"I guess that makes me your step-mother . how is that? Having a young step- mother, I mean," Chloe puzzled. "Is it weird?"
"No weirder than anything else in my life, I guess," Lex murmured.
"Plus, I'm hot," Chloe continued. "That's what the pool boy said once. He said, 'you're really hot, Mrs. Luthor.'"
"He's right," Lex was looking at her now, and that definitely made Chloe feel warm.
"But you know what I told him, Alexander? I told him I was married. Married to Lionel!" She finished, a little less triumphantly than she'd hoped to - Lex's gaze was throwing her off.
"But who do you love?" Lex asked, up-ending his glass.
"What?" Chloe asked, suddenly sobered by the question.
"You said you don't love him. Earlier today. At the Talon."
"Oh."
"So, who do you love?"
"My dad, my friends -"
"You know what I mean. Clark?"
"Not Clark," Chloe said. "At least, not anymore. I can't love Clark like that anymore. There's too much in the way."
"You're not in love at all?"
"Yes - no. Um, what about you? Don't you love April? Or is that just a thing?"
"A thing? Define."
"A thing: something that isn't serious, but keeps you occupied."
"She's too normal for me to love."
"What's wrong with normal?" Chloe reclined on the couch, pulling her feet up onto the leather.
"Says the woman who married Lionel Luthor," Lex smirked, and Chloe fought a sudden urge to kiss the curled lips.
"I'll give you that one - but it's not like I'm sleeping with him," Chloe retorted, dropping her stockinged feet in his lap.
He looked at them for a moment. "Who are you sleeping with? Not the pool boy," he grinned.
"Not the pool boy. And no one, currently."
"Are these knee-highs?" When she nodded her assent, he slowly slid one hand up her pant leg.
"When was the last time you had sex?" he asked.
Chloe swallowed hard as he gently pulled the stocking off. "Umm, not since Clark."
"Before or after the wedding," he murmured, peeling down the other.
She closed her eyes as he began to rub the heel of one foot. "Before, of course."
"Three years is a long time," Lex said, trailing his fingertips up the soles of her feet.
She shivered. "You're telling me." Without thinking, Chloe crawled over to straddle him. Lex hands slid, heated and firm, beneath her shirt as she rocked against him. Chloe kissed his mouth, welcoming the warmth of his tongue against hers.
"Chloe," he groaned as she increased the motion. "Oh, God this is so - wrong ."
"No, it isn't," she whispered recklessly. Reaching for his pants, she cupped him, squeezing gently.
"It is!" He shoved her away from him, walking out of the room quickly.
Chloe lay on the couch, panting. She had never been so aroused and simultaneously frustrated in her life. It took her ten minutes to calm down sufficiently to get ready to leave. Just as she was reaching for her purse, Lex's butler Enrique appeared.
"Mr. Luthor had a room prepared for you earlier, if you care to stay, Mrs. Luthor."
"It's Sullivan!" Chloe shouted, pushing past guilt and onto the next sentence. "And no, I won't be staying." She picked up her purse and jogged out of the house. In the car, she blasted the first rock album she could find.
She drove home. Metropolis was her home now - and it always would be. Outside the penthouse, she searched through the glove compartment.
Dialing the number she found on the card, Chloe tapped her foot impatiently.
"Hello, Tony?" She tilted the rearview mirror, smiling her sexiest at the reflection. "I'm sorry to be calling so late . It's Chloe Sullivan . oh good, you do remember me. What are you doing tomorrow for lunch.?"
*~*~*~*
tbc
Part: 6/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Wow, this is longer than I intended . Enjoy! And as always, feedback greatly appreciated.
*~*~*~*
Lana was bent forward, her dark hair swinging slowly, hiding her face from view. Lex was leaning in to her - his grin huge, blue eyes sparkling mischief and mirth. At the tinkle of the door chime, she looked up. Lex followed her gaze, his smile fading at Chloe's arrival.
"Chloe!" She walked briskly over, and Chloe exhaled. "How ARE you? It's been so long since we've - since you've . you know ." Lana trailed off, her words sliding into a brilliant smile before hugging her.
"Too long," Chloe replied, trying to prevent Lana's enthusiastic embrace from bowling her over. "I feel like I've been gone forever." She looked at Lex, who was making his way over slowly.
"Chloe," he said coolly, after Lana released her. He leaned in to kiss her cheek. Chloe looked up in surprise, causing Lex to hit the corner of her mouth - where he lingered for a bit longer than necessary, she thought.
"Lex," Chloe said. "Weren't you just in Metropolis?"
"Yeah - I needed a bit of sanity." he smirked.
". so of course, the first person he came to see was me," Lana finished.
Chloe couldn't help smiling at Lana. She had changed so much - no longer a fragile fairy princess, Lana was a woman with a life and a family.
"How's Pete?" Chloe asked. She'd decided before coming in that she would never tell Lana about that call.
"Still traveling with Senator Gray," Lana sighed. "He was supposed to be home last week, but they extended the campaign tour."
"It's been ages since I've seen Pete," Lex said.
"I feel the same way, although it's only been a month," Lana smiled sadly. "Can you keep a secret Chloe? I already told Lex."
"Sure, what is it?" Chloe knew what it had to be. Lana was -
"I'm pregnant!" She whispered excitedly. "I can't wait to tell Pete when he gets home."
"He's going to be thrilled, Lana," Chloe said, hiding her lack of enthusiasm. She knew what would happen if Lionel found out; he would start pushing the child issue.
"Chloe's thinking of having a child," Lex remarked.
"Really?!" Lana squealed. Ok, so there was a little bit of cheerleader in her still, Chloe admitted. "That would be so great! When?"
"Um, I'm not sure." Chloe glared at Lex, who was leaning innocently against the counter.
"Didn't Lionel say he wanted to start after the Season was over?" Lex asked. "They're going for artificial insemination - it's the surest way."
"We're not positive yet, Lana," Chloe said, ignoring Lex.
"Well, it would be wonderful if you were to get pregnant, Chloe. Do you think you'd come back to Smallville?" Lana asked hopefully.
Before Chloe could come up with a suitable, yet evasive answer, Lex spoke again.
"Haven't you heard, Lana? Chloe's gave up Smallville when she married the devil."
Confused, Lana looked from Lex to Chloe. She gave a small laugh, looking around. "Wow, it's getting busy in here - I guess I'd better go do my job, huh?" Without waiting for an answer, Lana hurried over to some customers.
Chloe was angry. She faced Lex. "What the hell are you doing?" she hissed.
"What do you mean?" Lex raised his eyebrows.
"I helped you, Lex. I got your father to sell his building to you! The least you could do is to help me fix things in Smallville."
"I raise my glass to you, Mrs. Luthor. You actually surpass my father in the selfish motives race."
"You know what, Lex? I think I've had enough," Chloe said. "I've got to go see my dad."
She walked to the door, but didn't get more than a few steps before she felt a hand on her arm.
"Chloe," Lex looked suddenly remorseful. "I'm sorry."
"Why? You were only speaking your mind," Chloe said curtly, turning back to the door.
"No," Lex said. "I'm sorry because what I said wasn't just rude, it was unkind."
Chloe sighed. "It's fine."
"No, it isn't," he lowered his voice. "I've never adjusted well to change, even though you've been married to my father for three years."
"I don't love him," she whispered, so softly he couldn't hear.
"What?"
"Nothing," Chloe said. "Anyway, I really do have to go see my dad."
"What are you doing tonight? For dinner, I mean."
"Nothing, I think."
"Come to the manor. Let me make up the last few days to you."
"Lex, you don't have to -" he raised a hand, and Chloe resigned herself. "What time?"
"Seven?"
"Ok," Chloe glanced at her watch, "seven it is."
*~*~*~*
And now it was seven. Chloe was sitting outside the manor in her car, staring at the forbidding wood and iron wrought doors. She wasn't sure why she felt so unsettled. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd spent an entire hour deciding what to wear - which was fairly amazing, considering the only clothes she had to choose from were the ones in her closet in her old room. She'd settled on a pair of black trousers she could, amazingly, still fit into, and a strapless shimmery red shirt she'd never had the guts to wear.
She willed herself to get out of the car and walk to the front door. Before she could knock, Lex was in the doorway, smiling. Smiling nervously, Chloe thought, as he drew her into the house.
"I'm glad you came," Lex said, leading her to the dining room. "Are you famished? Dinner's ready."
"Did you think I wouldn't?" Chloe asked, as they entered the room.
"No, it's not that," he said, looking at her. "I'm just glad you're here - it makes it easier for me to make amends."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Chloe avoided his eyes and looked at the beautiful flower arrangement of orchids and lilies on the table. "I mean, we were never particularly close, Lex."
"I guess I feel like I owe you something," Lex said, quickly pressing a finger to her lips before she could protest. "I completely took Clark's side when that whole thing went down. That wasn't at all fair to you. It had to be hard being his girlfriend - he's always running off on one secret mission or another."
"You noticed that too?" Chloe grinned, taking her seat.
"Absolutely," Lex leaned forward. "I think that's why he and Lois get along so well - they're two of a very elusive kind."
Dinner was companionable. Chloe ate each course with the growing feeling that Lex was watching her - appraising her. By the time they got to dessert, it was all she could do not to ask him what he was thinking. They made small talk, but more often then not, the only sound was that of utensils meeting the plates.
"Finished?" Lex asked, about five minutes after Chloe had drifted into a daydream.
"Hmm? Yeah, I'm done. Dinner was delicious," she said, looking at his eyes, which were suddenly bluer than anything she'd ever seen.
"I'll tell the chef - she'll be quite happy to hear it; she's an avid reader of your column."
"Really? Perhaps I should tell her myself."
"Don't bother. I'll pass it along." Lex stood, prompting Chloe to do the same. "Come to the library. I just got a new collection of books by journalists. There's a few in there that might interest you."
Chloe reluctantly followed him down the hall. She was in no mood for reading.
"Or perhaps you'd rather get drunk?" He smiled rakishly. "There's still plenty of liquor from when I lived here."
Chloe knew it was a terrible idea, yet she answered: "Let's get drunk."
*~*~*~*
Two hours later - or at least Chloe guessed it was two hours later - and she was about as drunk as she had ever been in her life. Lex made her have water after every two drinks, claiming that as fun as this was, a hangover would certainly put it all in perspective.
"So, my dad was like, 'Honey, are you sure you don't want to come home?' and I was like, 'Dad, I AM home. Met - metrop - Metropolis is home!'"
"So you say," Lex said slowly, looking down into his glass. "So you say."
"And I'm married, Lex. You know, I'm married to you father - Lionel."
"You sure are."
"I guess that makes me your step-mother . how is that? Having a young step- mother, I mean," Chloe puzzled. "Is it weird?"
"No weirder than anything else in my life, I guess," Lex murmured.
"Plus, I'm hot," Chloe continued. "That's what the pool boy said once. He said, 'you're really hot, Mrs. Luthor.'"
"He's right," Lex was looking at her now, and that definitely made Chloe feel warm.
"But you know what I told him, Alexander? I told him I was married. Married to Lionel!" She finished, a little less triumphantly than she'd hoped to - Lex's gaze was throwing her off.
"But who do you love?" Lex asked, up-ending his glass.
"What?" Chloe asked, suddenly sobered by the question.
"You said you don't love him. Earlier today. At the Talon."
"Oh."
"So, who do you love?"
"My dad, my friends -"
"You know what I mean. Clark?"
"Not Clark," Chloe said. "At least, not anymore. I can't love Clark like that anymore. There's too much in the way."
"You're not in love at all?"
"Yes - no. Um, what about you? Don't you love April? Or is that just a thing?"
"A thing? Define."
"A thing: something that isn't serious, but keeps you occupied."
"She's too normal for me to love."
"What's wrong with normal?" Chloe reclined on the couch, pulling her feet up onto the leather.
"Says the woman who married Lionel Luthor," Lex smirked, and Chloe fought a sudden urge to kiss the curled lips.
"I'll give you that one - but it's not like I'm sleeping with him," Chloe retorted, dropping her stockinged feet in his lap.
He looked at them for a moment. "Who are you sleeping with? Not the pool boy," he grinned.
"Not the pool boy. And no one, currently."
"Are these knee-highs?" When she nodded her assent, he slowly slid one hand up her pant leg.
"When was the last time you had sex?" he asked.
Chloe swallowed hard as he gently pulled the stocking off. "Umm, not since Clark."
"Before or after the wedding," he murmured, peeling down the other.
She closed her eyes as he began to rub the heel of one foot. "Before, of course."
"Three years is a long time," Lex said, trailing his fingertips up the soles of her feet.
She shivered. "You're telling me." Without thinking, Chloe crawled over to straddle him. Lex hands slid, heated and firm, beneath her shirt as she rocked against him. Chloe kissed his mouth, welcoming the warmth of his tongue against hers.
"Chloe," he groaned as she increased the motion. "Oh, God this is so - wrong ."
"No, it isn't," she whispered recklessly. Reaching for his pants, she cupped him, squeezing gently.
"It is!" He shoved her away from him, walking out of the room quickly.
Chloe lay on the couch, panting. She had never been so aroused and simultaneously frustrated in her life. It took her ten minutes to calm down sufficiently to get ready to leave. Just as she was reaching for her purse, Lex's butler Enrique appeared.
"Mr. Luthor had a room prepared for you earlier, if you care to stay, Mrs. Luthor."
"It's Sullivan!" Chloe shouted, pushing past guilt and onto the next sentence. "And no, I won't be staying." She picked up her purse and jogged out of the house. In the car, she blasted the first rock album she could find.
She drove home. Metropolis was her home now - and it always would be. Outside the penthouse, she searched through the glove compartment.
Dialing the number she found on the card, Chloe tapped her foot impatiently.
"Hello, Tony?" She tilted the rearview mirror, smiling her sexiest at the reflection. "I'm sorry to be calling so late . It's Chloe Sullivan . oh good, you do remember me. What are you doing tomorrow for lunch.?"
*~*~*~*
tbc