A/N2: Dec 22, 2012: Hello all! Another edit to this story, and I'm happy to report the world is still here. :) Anyways, halfway through the edits on this one. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville.
Chapter 10:
"I was right about one thing, you know, Lex…"
After much internal struggle on whether it was ok for her to go on this trip with Lex or not, Chloe finally settled into the idea of a night and day in Paris. She had nothing against Paris itself; that wasn't why she had half a mind not to go. It was the fact that Chloe was finding it harder and harder to control herself around Lex. She was leaning quickly that the man was tantalizing.
At the moment, they were sitting in a fancy Parisian restaurant that sported a name she couldn't pronounce.
"What was that?" Lex asked nonchalantly.
"I bet the meals do cost as much as my car," she exclaimed.
He chuckled happily. "Not quite, but almost…"
They'd sat down at a nice little table for two some fifteen minutes ago and they had yet to get their menus. "Where is that waiter?" Chloe wondered out loud, her annoyance showing through.
"You that hungry?" he asked lightly. "You were ready to skip dinner, remember?"
"That was when I didn't think we had enough time to see the sights," she explained, breathlessly. "But now that we have more time I just want to get started as soon as possible."
"I admire you're enthusiasm," Lex told her in a low voice that put a blush to her cheeks.
"Well, it's not every day that a handsome billionaire takes me to Paris. I want to enjoy it," Chloe replied, a smile on her face.
"So, you think I'm handsome, do you?" Lex stated smugly.
She laughed as he suddenly sat up a bit straighter. "Please, don't let it go to your head," Chloe replied, jokingly.
"You really know how to build a guy's ego," Lex said with mock hurt.
She laughed at the sad face he gave her. "Lex, really, can yours get any bigger?"
After dinner ~ ~
"All finished?" Lex asked Chloe as she set her fork down on the plate.
"Yeah, definitely," Chloe said eagerly. "Let's go."
She stood up quickly; very excited at the prospect of touring Paris, and happy about the good company she'd be keeping.
Her energy was catching. Lex let out a laugh. "All right, let's go before you explode!"
He'd seen Paris a handful of times before, but there was something about the idea of seeing it with Chloe that made it feel like it was his first time ever to the iconic city. He was sharing something special with her, he suddenly knew.
They hurried out of the restaurant where Lex gestured for Chloe to get inside the waiting limo before him. He lingered outside, speaking with the driver. She didn't hear what he had to say, but she knew she would find out soon enough.
"I thought we'd save the Eiffel Tower for last tonight, if that's ok with you?" he said once seated inside with her.
The Eiffel Tower. She would be seeing the Eiffel Tower tonight. How the heck did that happen? she asked herself. One moment she's sitting at home working on her English essay and the next she's on a date with Lex Luthor. And not just any old date, a date that included a round trip to Paris.
Chloe had never identified herself with any of the Disney Princesses, but she suddenly felt like she was now living one of their fairy tale lives. Things like this just never happened to her.
But it was happening to her and it was all because of Lex.
Warm thoughts and feelings rushed through her body, all centered on the man sitting there with her. Generous, sweet, sexy, irresistible, Lex, she thought.
Before she knew what she was really doing, her arms were suddenly around Lex's neck and she was closing the distance between them. Her lips met his in a feather-light kiss. Caught off guard for a moment, Lex tentatively began to kiss her back.
The kiss, light brushes against each other's lips at first, soon deepened when Lex settled his mouth more firmly against hers. He slowly skimmed his tongue along the seam of her lips, gently urging her to part her lips. Chloe sighed into the kiss, allowing him entry.
Her hands reached up to run their fingers over the smooth skin of his head, sending tingles down his spine. Each of their bodies was burning up. Chloe pressed her body into his as he deepened the kiss.
It was some time later when they finally parted, panting for breath.
It took them a few moments more to catch their breaths enough to speak. "I'll take that as a yes, then," Lex said against her now swollen lips.
Chloe gave him a sweet smile before apologizing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to throw myself at you. It's just…when you said the Eiffel Tower it all hit me at once. I'm in Paris… I got so happy and excited… well, I just couldn't help myself."
"Don't apologize," he reassured, grinning. "I know I'm irresistible."
"Yes, that's it," Chloe said sarcastically. "It had nothing to do with the fact that I'm in a city I thought I'd never get to see…"
Though she protested lightly, Chloe knew he was pretty much on the mark. He was irresistible. But she saw no need in telling Lex that.
Later that night ~ ~
"Oh wow, Lex, this is just… perfect," Chloe breathed out, as she stared out over the city of Paris from her Eiffel Tower vantage point. "This view, it's incredible. I always thought people exaggerated how great the Eiffel Tower is, but it actually is. Don't you think the view is beautiful, Lex?"
She recognized that she was so clearly babbling, but at the moment it was hard to care. She was having such a perfect time that it was hard to control her excitement.
"Yes, very beautiful," Lex replied absently.
To Chloe's ears it sounded like he was lost in his own world. What could be so distracting as to take his attention away from the breathtaking views?
She turned to observe Lex and found that he was staring right at her, blue eyes admiring, adoring her.
Whoa, she thought, surprised. Has he been watching me this whole time?
She blushed under the intensity of his gaze, not sure what to say or how to react to his attention.
And then, as if suddenly waking up from a dream, Lex's eyes lost the dazed look. He looked down at his watch and said, "We should probably get going, it's getting late. That is, if you'd like to?"
How could she leave this wonderful place? Reluctantly, she too glanced down at her watch.
"One am!" she exclaimed, not believing her eyes. "I guess time does fly when you're having fun."
"Yes, it sure does," Lex murmured.
They made their way down the tower in silence and found their waiting car.
A wave of tiredness hit Chloe the minute her head was pressed back against the seat. She hadn't known how exhausted she really was until just now.
Closing her eyes, she commented contently, "That was the best, thank you, Lex."
Lex took one look at Chloe, immediately seeing how happy and at ease she looked. He couldn't resist the urge to kiss her on the cheek, his lips lingering on her smooth skin for a second. She murmured something unintelligible in response. He let her lean against him, putting his arm around her. And the next thing he knew she was fast asleep.
He gave her one last lingering kiss on the forehead and then let her sleep away.
That's it for this one. Hope you enjoyed.
