After a long hiatus, here, at last, is an update. thanks for all your patience! Enjoy. :)
Lois Lane was in turmoil. She had just been kissed by the wealthiest man in Smallville, if not all of Kansas and the United States. Now she stood in the cold, stone hallway of said man's mansion, her back against the roughly hewn stone.
Recalling the kiss caused her heart to pound and her breath to escape her. She slowly raised her fingers, gently touching her lips which still pulsed from the heated kiss. Lois dropped her hand, and leaning her head back she broke into a grin, a giggle threatening.
All night long Lois had been at odds with herself. She'd agreed to this date to simply get Lex off her back about it. And much to her dismay she'd found herself actually having a good time. It had been midway through dinner that the transition occurred. The discussion about running away had opened Lois's eyes to the fact that Lex was, in a way, just like her. He missed his mother and wished his father was more involved in his life. The specifics weren't quite the same but the general feelings were. He simply needed acceptance for who he was. Lois understood that feeling very well.
As she had stared at the stars in the clear sky she had found herself wishing Lex would kiss her. She'd wanted to curse herself for it. All her grandstanding and resistance to his advances were for naught. She was inexplicably drawn to him. For Lois, it felt like she was seeing the person Lex would have been had his life been a bit different; had he not been raised by nannies and strict schoolmasters; had his mother lived and his father cared about more than an heir to an empire.
As the night progressed Lois had found herself becoming nervous, and dreading the end of the night when she was sure Lex would try and kiss her. He hadn't bothered to hide his attraction to her, and by the limo ride to the bowling alley Lois had started accepting some of his advances. This hadn't eased the feeling of dread that had settled in her stomach. For as much as she thought herself worthy of any man, she had still wondered why Lex Luthor would have any kind of interest in her.
But she couldn't believe how wonderful it felt to be held, and she couldn't deny it regardless of who was holding her. She'd forgotten the feeling as she nestled next to Lex, his strong arms holding her to him. Lois, for the first time that night, had relaxed and let herself be held, be protected. When the limo driver almost ran over the dog Lois had been jolted, literally and figuratively, out of her reverie. She'd scolded herself, and once again built up her defenses, keeping her distance from Lex. She had felt almost ashamed of allowing herself to feel. It was much easier not to feel anything at all, and in not feeling she didn't run the risk of being hurt.
Lois had managed to keep her distance at the bowling alley, while still having a good time with Lex. She didn't think he'd really noticed the difference. Lois was actually a little surprised with how comfortable she felt in the presence of Lex. She'd found herself joking with him, and actually revealing her father's pet name for her. A name she'd never so much as whispered to another person. Lois was utterly confused, her heart tugging in one direction, her logical mind pulling her the other way.
But Lois lost the tug of war with her heart when she saw Lex bruised and bloodied in the bar of the bowling alley. Her heart had won out, and truth be told, Lois's logical mind wasn't really trying very hard to resist.
She had held his injured head in her lap, absently stroking his forehead while a cool cloth rested on his bruised face. Lois had been quite unprepared for the feelings that were brewing within her. She had kept shaking her head slightly, as if to clear the fog that had somehow managed to cover everything around her, leaving Lex clearly centered, the focus of her attention. All she had heard were the voices of Clark and Chloe, warning her about getting involved with Lex Luthor. But Lois was beyond that now. She had been sucked in, and she wasn't entirely sure she was sorry about it. Lex knew how to treat women, and Lois had never been treated as wonderfully before in her life. Was it wrong that she enjoyed the flattery and the attention?
When they had finally left the bowling alley, Lex was sporting a black eye and a slightly swollen nose. His shirt had been covered in blood. But still he stood back while Lois entered the car first, and when they reached the mansion, he held the doors for her. Always the gentleman.
Lois had been stunned with her own willingness to go back to the mansion with Lex. She really had been worried for him, but part of her didn't want the night to end without some kind of validation of her newborn feelings. It turned out Lois wanted that goodnight kiss she had dreaded at the start of the evening. But it had proved harder and more awkward than she had thought. Lois was of the opinion that the man should make the first move. So she had waited for Lex to do so. And it wasn't until she had made her way to the door that he did.
Lois recalled the moment, replaying the scene in slow motion. He had grabbed her arm, the heat from his hand sending shocks through her system. For a moment Lois had been frightened, the intensity of the feelings and the desire so strong she felt powerless to resist. His fingers had tracing her neck, his breath hot and his lips so soft they almost tickled her skin. Lois had felt she would go insane. He had then turned her towards him, and had kissed her in such a way that Lois was certain no one would ever give her such a perfect kiss again.
Lois turned her head, looking at the closed door that led back to the den where Lex sat. She wanted to go back in, but couldn't resolve herself to appear so needy and weak. She cursed for not staying after the kiss initially happened. But how was she to know? She had been frightened, and completely out of control.
Lois sighed and stood upright from the wall. Turning, she started towards the front entrance when she remembered; her shawl. She left it on the lounge chair. Lois grinned once again, and spinning on her heels she headed towards the closed door. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle and swung the door inwards.
Lois found herself staring at Lex, a shirtless Lex, and she felt her insides writhe with nervousness and self-doubt, she averted her eyes, looking up, down, left and right. She looked everywhere except at the man before her.
"Uh, I forgot my wrap," she heard herself say, fumbling over the words and knowing she sounded like a complete idiot.
She shifted her eyes from the blazing fireplace to the smooth wood floor, and staring down she caught the perfect reflection of Lex. She watched the reflection as he lifted her shimmering, sheer shawl from the black leather lounge chair. She watched him walk slowly towards her, the shawl in one hand. Lois, even through the mirrored floor, could see his tight abdominal muscles move beneath his skin with every stride. She swallowed, a lump forming in her throat.
Suddenly he was before her, and Lois, unable to stop herself, raised her eyes to meet his. Lex's already bright green eyes were staring right through her. Lois felt her face grow hot as she absently reached one hand out to take the shawl. She was unable to tear her eyes away. When their hands met, Lex pulled her to him, cutting off her surprised gasp with a deep kiss that rivaled the first.
As they broke apart, each breathless, Lex leaned his forehead against Lois's.
"I'm glad you forgot your wrap," he whispered.
All Lois could do was nod in agreement. She didn't trust herself to speak. She allowed Lex to lead her back to the couch where they had first sat after coming in. He lowered her to the sofa.
"I'll be right back," Lex whispered, planting soft, butterfly kisses on Lois's lips, and nose, and cheeks. She nodded again as she watched him go out the side door.
He paused in the doorway. "Don't go anywhere," he added, sounding almost like he was pleading with her.
Lois smiled but didn't answer. Lex disappeared through the dark doorway and Lois could hear faint echoes of his footfalls as he proceeded to some unknown destination within the giant mansion.
The silence that greeted Lois was deafening. Not even the crackle of the fire could drown out the nagging voices that were giving hold in Lois's mind. She could hear the rationale voice of her cousin, and the irrational but passionate objections of Clark. She could even hear the wise advice of Mrs. Kent.
A cloud of confusion settled over Lois. Her previously contented expression faltering as she looked around the dimly lit room. The artifacts and ancient weapons mounted on the wall, the shelves of books rising higher than Lois stood started to create an intimidating feel.
In a sudden flash of panic Lois stood, and grabbing her shawl she bolted from the room, vaguely hearing echoes of her name being called from behind her but refusing to stop for them.