Part 3: Smoke and Mirrors
She cried. She ranted. She cried some more.
Each tear, an acidic reminder of betrayal, her sobs intermittent and wrenching. She let anguish run rampant through her, shuddering and sobbing messily. Bleakly jaded and perpetually aggrieved, eyes red-rimmed and glassy, she stared at her image in the mirror. She took a deep breath, holding it as scrubbed her hands over her face, rubbing the tears from her eyes with her fists as she mentally berated herself for her weakness.
His words echoed in her head –"Just remember…no matter what happens or how it may look -- there's only you." – a calming reassurance slowly defeating the initial ache in her heart.
The entire ordeal had been a painful reminder of the lies ruling her life. Past, present and future crashed violently as paranoia sabotaged familiarity, suspicion overwhelming diplomacy. Already strained relationships shattered by deception, rocked by reckless uncertainty and terrorized by the crushing anxiety of psychological weakness.
Chloe turned the water on, bending to splash cold water over her eyes. Her own secrets a slap in the face as she forced herself to remain dispassionate even as disenchantment punched her in the gut by way of Clark's visions of love and fairytales in ruins. His super utopia crushed by the sweet words and supple lips of his former best friend, the magnificence he himself had saved on numerous occasions, come back to snatch what was there for the taking.
Chloe shuddered at the thought -- Clark's detailed account of indecency and treachery causing her stomach to clench painfully. He had been out of control, sweaty and jittery, obsession on the brink of breakdown, eyes wide, vacant and irrational. She'd tried to rationalize with him only to have him accuse her of deceiving him, of telling his lifelong secret to those wanting to use him for their own gain.
She'd been appalled by his accusations, hurt and angry that he thought so little of her she'd crack that easily. Realizing he wasn't in his normal state of mind lessened the sting of his words, but knowing the ordeal was triggered in part by at least a glimmer of distrust troubled her. She couldn't understand why he would believe she'd betray him after all they'd been through and triggered by a hallucinogen or not, a part of him believed she'd cave.
Then there was the underlying vibe of secrecy she detected between Lex and Lana and the idea that Lex would ever truly seek the brunette out for anything meaningful repulsed her. She knew there was more behind the elusive spaceship than what Lex was telling her, but having her own extraterrestrial secret she didn't want to learn too much and have to feign ignorance for Clark's sake and end up putting her relationship with Lex at risk.
Even now, knowing the cause of Clark's collapse, the wounds of his accusations and the dreamt betrayal he'd spewed at her were open and raw with lingering doubt. His delusions regarding Lex and Lana's betrayal were continually magnified by her own insecurities, a residual effect of earlier abandonment. Her incessant need for acknowledgement and reassurance making her forever fearful of rejection and continuously desperate for answers.
She splashed more water on her face then shut the tap off and rubbed a towel over her face briskly. She dropped the towel on the counter in disgust, glaring at her reflection, squaring her shoulders as her shattered perspective realigned with what she knew to be true. She whirled around, stalking out of the bathroom, Lex's words reverberating through her psyche as she went in search of renewed hope.
"And that's why Lana Lang will never love you, son."
Chloe waited for Lionel to leave, standing in the shadows of the hallway as he walked past her and out of the mansion. She closed her eyes, letting the conversation she just overheard wash over her, her view of Lex's face as Lionel spoke of Lana's love a double-edged sword through her heart due to the unreadable mask if neutrality overshadowing his cool disdain. She wanted him to scoff at the idea of wanting Lana's love, to scorn any such thought and profess his undying love -- for her – but he remained quiet and unmoving.
She moved on silent feet, stopping in the doorway to watch him. He stood with his back to the door, a drink in one hand, the other in his pocket. He appeared relaxed to the untrained eye, but Chloe knew better, she saw the tension in his neck, the combative placement of his stance. She drank him in, all cool charisma and restrained power, her daunting life force.
"And I – I dare not want the love of such vapid ignorance." He said firmly, his voice resonating throughout the room. "Certainly not after succumbing to the love of one so – tempestuously seductive..."
Chloe smiled softly. "And at what point did you decide such sweet words would be beneficial to your well-being?" she asked, walking across the room and standing in front of him.
Lex shrugged, smirking at her as he replied. "I knew you'd come to me…"
Chloe rolled her eyes, snorting at him. "Someday you might be surprised, Lex, then what are you going to do?"
Lex looked at her intently, his gaze hot and demanding on hers. "What else, but go in search of you?"
"You'd hunt me down?" she peered at him skeptically, "You, yourself or a bunch of your goons?"
"I'd find you, Chloe…without a doubt…" He turned towards the roaring fire, the bruise on his face prominent under the glaring light as he stared into the flames.
Chloe frowned slightly, reaching a hand out to brush over the bruise lightly. He flinched as he leaned into her, pressing the side of his head into the palm of her hand and closing his eyes. She stepped closer to him, cupping his face in her hands as she forced him to look at her.
"Lex, are you okay?" she asked softly.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You appear rather drained. I didn't know if you'd want to fill me in on what happened here…"
"I don't know, Chloe…are you going to fill me in on what happened with you and Clark?" he asked dangerously, his voice low and silky as he pulled his head from her grasp, moving to lean on the mantel.
She shivered at the provocative undertone in his voice, her belly clenching as arousal pulsed to life inside her. She squashed it down, forcing herself to ignore the manipulatively sexual side of Lex, focusing once more on her original question. "Don't answer a question with a question, Lex. Did you send Lana the silver meteor rock?"
"Chloe, you already asked me and my answer has not changed -- I did not send Lana the silver meteor rock." He answered firmly.
She nodded her head, adequately convinced he wasn't lying to her. "Then where did it go? Did you see anyone else here who would have taken it?"
"I have no idea, Chloe, I was rather indisposed at that point, remember?" He answered dryly, pointing to his damaged head.
Chloe smiled softly and rolled her eyes at him teasingly. "You sure do get knocked around a lot."
Lex smirked at her, reaching a hand towards her as he beckoned her closer. "Come here, Chloe…" he breathed.
She closed the distance between them, quickly wrapping her arms around his waist and melding into his heat. She rubbed her face against his chest, sighing deeply as he enveloped her, tightening his arms around her and burying his face in her hair.
They stayed like, seconds blending into minutes, momentarily content to cling to one another, each lost in their own thoughts as warmth chased away the coldness of insecurity. Lex loosened his grip on her slightly, pulling back slightly as he cleared his throat, "So, has my father made any headway with his plot to keep me out of the state senate seat?"
Chloe snorted, "Not really. He keeps coming up with a lot of trivial shit everyone already knows about. I really don't who he's trying to fool, but he's not doing a very good job of bringing you down" she giggled into his chest, "I'm actually kind of disappointed in the old bastard. I'm starting to think he's losing his touch."
The vibrations against her cheek were reassuring and calming as Lex chuckled, his voice light as he spoke, "Do you think the old man's getting soft as of late?" he asked.
Chloe snorted, "Soft? Psh, that's putting it mildly, Lex. I was going for senile."
"Senile? What makes you think he's becoming senile?"
She peered up at him incredulously, "You even have to ask? How about the fact he believes I'd help him at all after he tried to have me killed…repeatedly. How fucking stupid is that?"
"Good point."
"Thank you." She rubbed her hands over his back, placing soft kisses along his neck as she leaned into him.
He looked down at her curiously, "What do you think you're doing, Miss Sullivan?"
"Oh, I don't know…" she answered slyly, biting his pulse point gently then soothing the sting with her tongue.
"Mmm…can I help you?" he asked, lifting her slightly and tilting his head to allow her better access.
"Why thank you, Mr. Luthor…" she purred, sucking and licking a line up his neck to his ear. She exhaled slowly, biting his earlobe and nuzzling her face against him as arousal seeped through her.
"Oh no, thank you…" he drawled, dipping her head to suckle her neck gently.
Chloe gasped, her eyes drifting shut as his lips assaulted her neck, his tongue swirling along her pulse, his teeth nipping hungrily, her hips bucking involuntarily against his pelvis. He brought a hand up, cupping the back of her head and holding her in place as he devoured her neck, rubbing his lower body on hers encouragingly. He moved his free hand to cup her ass, squeezing the firm flesh as he pulled her heat against the burgeoning bulge in his pants.
He moaned low in his throat, her soft whimpers urging him to take what she offered, to lose himself in the sweet oblivion of her body. He hesitated, pulling back a little to watch her, already panting and flushed from his brief ministrations. He released the back of her head, moving his hands down and around to cup a full breast, swirling his finger and thumb around her nipple.
She gasped in pleasure, the pull of his fingers on her hard peak starting a corresponding tug in her core. Her head rolled back, her mouth open, panting breaths mingled with small gasps and whimpers. She leaned into him, her body soft and pliant in his arms, her hands clutching at him erratically, her pelvis bumping against his rhythmically.
He growled at the contact of her curves on his pulsing erection, pulling her closer to him and walking her to the middle of the rug in front of the fireplace. He dropped to his knees, pulling her down with him until she too was kneeling, her body pressed against his as they fell into a scorching kiss. Lips clinging hotly, tongues dueling, they panted for breath as passion drenched them.
Lex pulled away, spreading her yielding body beneath him as he watched her. She stretched her arms over her head languorously, her shirt lifting to reveal the smooth expanse of her belly. Lex shifted until he was kneeling by her head, grasping her shirt in his hands and pulling it off of her, tossing it towards the couch.
He leaned over her, cupping her breasts in his hands and pushing them together, bending to suckle a stiff peak through the satin of her bra. He shifted to her other breast, lapping and nipping her sensitive flesh as he moved a hand down her body, unfastening her pants and dipping underneath her panties. He stroked her hot flesh, delving his fingers into her slit as she spread her legs for him.
Chloe moaned as his fingers rubbed over her clit, his mouth hot and wet on her breasts. She reached up and unbuttoned his shirt, scraping her nails over his nipples, gasping as he moaned on her sensitive flesh. "Lex…take it off…" she said softly, pulling at his shirt insistently.
Lex sat back and pulled his shirt off, his eyes intent on the flushed skin of her face, her heaving breasts. He swooped forward, once again latching onto her nipple, his tongue swirling around the tight peak as he suckled her. He plunged a hand into her panties, rubbing her slick heat as he continued to work her breasts.
Chloe moaned loudly, one hand stroking over his smooth head as she squirmed under the intense pleasure of his mouth and hand. She opened her eyes, lifting her head and flicking her tongue over his flat nipple, smirking as he gasped audibly. She put her hands on his back, using his body to haul herself up enough to lick and nip at his chest until he became motionless above her.
Lex groaned at the feel of Chloe's hot mouth on his skin, her tongue fluttering over his nipples, her teeth nipping gently. Her groan of frustration brought him back to attention and he switched breasts briefly before pulling away from her and kissing his way down her stomach, tugging on her pants. "Chloe…off…" he muttered thickly.
Chloe lifted her ass off the floor, wiggling out of her clothes and kicking them away from her. She gasped as she felt his hands on her inner thighs, spreading her open for him, his tongue licking a path along her hip to the trimmed hair between her legs. He paused, breathing in the scent of her arousal as he rubbed his nose over her and she hummed in anticipation of his tongue in her heat.
He smiled against her curls, kissing a path across her pelvis to her other hip, licking and biting the sensitive skin as she groaned beneath him. He placed a hand on her hip, holding her in place as she bucked up into him. He chuckled at her sounds of frustration, continuing his exploration of her hip, his tongue hungry on her skin.
Chloe groaned loudly, her irritation evident as she squirmed, biting her lip as his mouth tortured her. She looked up, smirking to herself as she noticed his naked torso above her. She reached up, scraping her nails around his nipples and down along his flat belly to the prominent bulge in his pants. She rubbed her palm on his length, unfastened his pants and freed her erection, wrapping her fingers around his hardness.
Lex groaned as she tightened her grip on his cock, her fingers moving over his flesh teasingly. He bit down on her inner thigh as she stroked him, her fingers rubbing the sensitive head with each stroke. He eased his grip on her legs, licking his way down to her center, dipping inside then quickly moving to her other leg.
Chloe lifted her head up, licking his shaft lightly, her tongue fluttering over his hardness then swirling around the tip. She sucked him part way into her mouth, twirling her tongue around him before releasing him and dropping her head back down. She pulled at his pants, "Lex…" she panted, "take them off."
Lex rolled to the side, removed his pants then knelt beside her again. He over her, spreading her legs again only to have her stop him with her hand on his arm. He looked at her questioningly, "What?" he asked softly.
"Come here," she said, "like you were."
He moved to kneel by her head again, placing a knee by each of her ears, resting his forearms on the floor on either side of her hips. He turned to look at her, "This okay?" he asked.
"Yeah…" she breathed, licking her lips. "Just like that."
She reached her hands around, gripping his ass as she lifted her head up, taking his cock into her mouth. She let her head fall backwards, opening her mouth wider as to take more of his length, her tongue stroking rapidly. She took her mouth off of him, lifting her ass off the floor and bumping her core against his face. "C'mon, baby…" she pleaded.
Lex groaned, burying his face in her wetness as she took him back into her mouth, the taste of her on his tongue and the feel of her lips on his cock overloading him with lust. He licked her from top to bottom, dipping his tongue into her depths and fucking her rapidly.
Chloe thrust her hips up into his tongue, her groan of pleasure vibrating around his hardness. She closed her lips around him, sucking hard as she maneuvered under him turning her head slightly as she took more of him into her mouth, moving one hand around to cup his balls. She whimpered as she felt his tongue on her clit, her head falling helplessly back to the floor as she moaned. "Lex…please…"
Lex continued to suck on her clit, his tongue fluttering voraciously as he moved his lower body around. He reared up, licking his lips, his nostrils flaring as he took in the image of her naked and panting beneath him. He quickly moved between her legs, moving onto his side and hooking her legs over his hip, pulling her towards him as he entered her.
Chloe moaned as he pushed his substance into her depths, wiggling closer to him, using her legs to move on his length. She pushed herself into his thrusts, spreading her legs wider and lifting her upper body off the floor, bracing herself on her elbows. She whimpered as she watched his slick shaft disappearing into her body, her stomach muscles clenching with lust.
Lex grabbed her ankle, spreading her open more by putting her leg under his head. She mover her other knee over, flattening her leg out and digging her heel into his ass as she urged him on. He ran his hand up her leg, slipping his fingers into her heat, pinching the tight bundle of nerves between his thumb and finger, growling as her inner muscles contracted around his cock.
She moaned loudly, his fingers on her clit pushing her towards release. Her body tensed in preparation, the ache in her center exploding through her body as he thrust into her frantically. She turned her head, gasping and panting her grunts of pleasure loud, incoherent words of encouragement, his blazing gaze intent on the joining of their bodies.
He shouted mutely, closing his eyes tightly as her inner muscles tightened around his cock, his face a mask of concentrated pleasure as he help himself back. He looked at her, the rapture on her face almost his undoing as she arched in pleasure. "C'mon, Chloe…" he groaned, "come for me…"
She shrieked in pleasure as her release rushed through her, her hoarse cries echoing throughout the room as she convulsed around him, his name on her lips the culmination of ecstasy.
He shouted in relief, spilling his seed inside her constricting channel, pushing into her, shuddering with his release, her name a chant from his lips, his silent plea of euphoria.
Finally, he pulled out of her heat, urging her closer to him and enveloping her in his embrace. She snuggled close to him, inhaling the sweet, musky scent of there mating, sighing in pleasure.
They lay there, wrapped around each other, sated and content lost in soft touches and gentle words.
Not noticing as someone gently closed the doors to the study and quietly walked out of the mansion.