Part 8: Loyalties
Lex had been lying in bed for hours, his mind too busy to even consider succumbing to sleep. He'd had a really rough few days dealing with a psychotic woman and the repercussions of the attempted murder of Jonathan Kent and he was far too edgy rest.
Technically, none of it had been Lex's fault, but most people still found it easier to just blame him for every problem they ran into. He couldn't say he was surprised, but he couldn't help but be slightly disappointed with those he considered an ally. Or at least those he considered an ally at some point in his life, even if not now.
And he'd yet to hear from Chloe.
His gut clenched painfully at the thought of her avoiding him, his heart stuttering in his chest as he contemplated the possibility of her turning her back on him. He knew she'd been hurt by the entire ordeal, her undying loyalty to her childhood friend interfering profusely with her newfound loyalty to him, and he hated the fact that she was always torn between her friendship with Clark and her love for a Luthor.
Of course, he couldn't really blame her for being apprehensive, but he couldn't stop himself from feeling hurt by her avoidance tactics either. He was so used to her colliding with him head on, her inability to defy her first loyalty by confronting him, cut him deeply.
Too deeply.
Earlier that week, his heart had pounded painfully in his chest when she'd avoided being alone with him.
Then, the knife had been twisted again when he saw her earlier that very day and she'd refused to even meet his gaze.
She had completely ignored his existence and his security guard had actually stepped in his way when he'd made a move to walk towards her. He had been livid at the time, but in the end gave the man a raise for running a much needed interference. One thing he didn't need right now was a public display of passionate rage, and he knew Chloe would've been even more upset had he given in to his feral instincts.
Lex frowned at the shadows surrounding him, mentally berating himself for letting her become an unneeded weakness. He had always known how easily she'd get under his skin, which is partly why he'd forced himself to stay away from her for so long, only allowing himself to succumb to her wiles after years of dancing around the attraction.
But he hated feeling vulnerable and that's exactly how Chloe made him feel. Defenseless, exposed – helpless.
He sighed heavily, rolling over and closing his eyes. He growled in the back of his throat as her face appeared before him and he quickly opened his eyes against the unwanted vision.
Muttering to himself, Lex rolled out of bed, standing up and pacing back and forth restlessly. He shivered slightly from the chill, his naked body protesting the sudden change in temperature.
But his mind was elsewhere, oblivious to the complaints of his body, his psyche totally wrapped up in his devotion to Chloe.
He needed to see her. He would never rest until he knew for certain that she still felt the same way about him and he couldn't wait any longer.
Lex walked to the bedside table, picked up the phone then punched in the numbers violently.
He didn't have to wait long for an answer.
His security man picked up on the second ring, "Yes?"
"Where is she?" Lex asked roughly.
"Sir?"
"Chloe. You know, the person you're paid to protect? Where the fuck is she?"
"Oh, I'm with her, sir. I never let her go too far without me."
Lex rolled his eyes impatiently. "And what exactly is your location?"
"Actually, sir, I'm sitting in my car and she just walked into your building."
Lex blinked in surprise, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat before responding. "Good. That's all then."
The man's voice over the line stopped him from hanging up. "Should I stick around, or will you take over from here?"
Lex was silent for a few moments as he contemplated the different scenarios of the impending discussion. "Hang around for thirty minutes or so, and if she doesn't return by then, head home. I'll call you when your presence is necessary."
"Understood, sir, I'll be waiting for your call then."
Lex smirked to himself at the man's parting words, wishing he felt that self-confident that she'd stay with him.
Decided immediately that he'd give the man a healthy raise for remaining positive under pressure.
Sighing again, Lex got back into bed, stretching out to wait for her to make an appearance. She had full access to his penthouse, so he knew she'd make her way to him without any assistance, and he felt starting things in the bedroom would be the most practical. In the off chance he had to try seducing her into staying with him.
Lex scoffed at the thought, knowing full well it was laughable for him to think he could ever seduce Chloe into doing something she didn't want.
He considered crossing his fingers. Then his toes. Perhaps even his legs. Finally shaking his head at his own obsessive nature he forced himself to quit overanalyzing. He had to draw the line somewhere and he figured praying to God that she'd always love him unconditionally was pushing his luck.
This was his mess and not even God could save him in the wounded hands of Chloe Sullivan.
He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't hear her enter the bedroom. Didn't hear her strip off her clothing and move towards the bed.
He jumped slightly as he felt the edge of the bed dip down under her weight, immediately feeling a small amount of relief as she climbed under the blankets with him.
He almost stopped himself from reaching for her, then thought better of his hesitation and pulled her against him. He sighed contently as she rolled towards him willingly, wrapping herself around him as he around her.
He felt her take a deep, shuddering breath, her hands clutching at him almost desperately as she burrowed against him. Finally her voice broke the silence, soft sweetness, weaving through the shadows.
"I tried to stay away," she said against his chest. "I told myself to stay away from you, but I just couldn't do it any longer."
"Thank God." Lex said roughly, his voice thick with long repressed emotion.
Chloe chuckled softly, her soft hands stroking his chest leisurely as she tilted her head back to peer at him in the shadows. "I'm sorry, Lex, but I was scared and angry and – utterly confused."
Lex sighed, pulling her closer to him. "I know, baby, it's not your fault. I need to start worrying about how things are going to effect you, instead of just worrying about the end results of my various agendas."
Chloe shook her head, her cheek rubbing against his shoulder as she retorted heatedly. "There's no need for that. You're absolutely wonderful just the way you are."
Lex scoffed at her words, "Wonderful? All I do is hurt you and you continue to consider me wonderful?! How is that possible?"
Chloe shrugged, "At first I blamed you and then I blamed myself. But then I thought about it – really thought about it – and I came to the conclusion that neither of us can take the blame this time because it's really not our fault."
"What do you mean?" he asked skeptically.
"Think about it, Lex," she said passionately, sitting up suddenly and peering down at him intently. "For once it's everyone else. We've continuously been trying to do the right thing for everyone around us. The Kents, your father, the voters, the Daily Planet, school, friends, family and everyone in between, and in doing so, we constantly lose sight of what's really important to us. We end up neglecting each other and throwing accusations and making threats and saying things we don't mean."
Chloe paused, taking another shuddering breath and moving closer to him, leaning over him until he could see the intense emotion radiating in her eyes. "That's why, after the most recent cluster fuck rolled through our lives, I forced myself to stay away from you. I knew if I rushed over here feeling hurt and angry, I'd only end up making things worse and I couldn't bear the thought of hurting you for no reason other than wanting revenge. Deep down, I knew I couldn't blame you for the wickedness of other people and I refused to allow myself the luxury of doing so."
"I don't know, Chloe." Lex said apprehensively. "I can't put all the blame on other people. Not knowing how I instigate some of my problems – unintentionally or otherwise. You always give me more credit than I deserve."
Chloe rolled her eyes at him, slapping him on the chest lightly as she tsked. "Give it a rest, Luthor. If you can honestly tell me that you told that freak to shave her head and strip down naked in your study, then I will definitely be furious and you'll have to ignore my urge to gouge someone's eyes out in rage." She looked down at him dryly, her mouth curving humorously as she continued. "And if you put that gun in her hands and told her to assault my cousin and kill Mr. Kent, then you definitely need to be punished."
"And how would you punish me?" he asked suggestively.
"Oh, I don't know," she responded throatily. "Perhaps a spanking, or a time out or some time spent in the corner."
Lex chuckled appreciatively. "Well, the spanking sounds interesting."
Chloe raised a brow at him, "Really? I didn't know you were into that sort of thing."
"Baby, I'd take your hands on me any which way I can." He replied, his voice teasing and sweet.
"Ooh. Now that sounds like a plea if I ever heard one." She taunted.
"You have no idea."
Chloe's gaze softened, her brow furrowing slightly as she watched him. "Yes, I do. I know exactly how you feel."
Lex's breath caught in his throat as she ducked her head down and brushed her lips across his gently. He remained motionless, not daring to move until she gave him permission to take what he wanted. To take what he needed.
"Lex." She breathed against his lips, her hands stroking up his body to cup the smooth skin of his skull. "Kiss me."
Lex didn't waste anymore time being patient, her soft plea immediately punching a hole through his tattered control. He surged up, pushing her over onto her back, and taking her lips in a searing kiss.
His lips were firm and demanding, nipping and teasing, begging for access to the hot depths of her mouth. His tongue came out, lapping at her bottom lip persistently, then ran along the slick surface of her teeth.
He growled as she opened for him, her total lack of hesitation fueling his desire beyond the limits of any restraint. The long days of anxiousness and unneeded vulnerability, effectively unleashing his primal need for release.
He plunged his tongue into her mouth, swallowing her gasp of pleasure as he fell into place between her legs, his hard cock sliding along her slickness deliciously.
She stroked her hands along his back, running her fingers around to rub his chest, then his stomach, her fingers caressing the puckered scar from his bullet wound. She turned her head to the side, pulling away from the heated kiss and shaking her head slowly in disbelief. "Fuck, Lex," she panted. "I can't believe how quickly your body heals itself. It's just not normal."
Lex chuckled, bending over her to nuzzle her neck affectionately. "I've been told that on numerous occasions." He said against her heated skin, his lips and tongue working on her pulse point as he continued. "I guess I'm just a quick healer."
Chloe giggled, groaning softly as he hands cupped her peaked breasts. "Well, thank God for that. You certainly get injured often enough to make it worthwhile."
Lex massaged her breasts, tweaking and pinching her nipples, reveling in the soft sounds of pleasure coming from her mouth. He bent over her, smirking against her lips as he kissed her again, moaning into her mouth as her hands left his scar and moved down his body.
He released her breasts, bracing himself on his arms as he pulled his pelvis away from her, making way for her capable hands to fondle his hard flesh.
He gasped, automatically thrusting into her hands as she gripped him, his gasps of pleasure quickly turning into moans as she reached a hand down further and cup his balls. His eyes closed, his head falling forward mindlessly as she worked him over, her lips and teeth insistent on his shoulder and neck, her body already starting to writhe beneath him.
Lex reached down, pushing her hands out of the way and aligning his cock with her wet opening. "Fuck." He muttered harshly, his body shaking with need. "I need you, baby. I can't wait any longer."
Chloe purred beneath him, raising her head and shoulders off the bed and gripping his ass tightly, urging him to take what he needed.
She pulled him into her as he thrust forward, her yielding flesh clinging to his hard cock, her arms falling away from him and her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. She grabbed his arms, pulling him forward, silently asking him to lean on her, to let her cradle him in her warmth.
He eased himself down on top of her, groaning loudly as he sunk into her fully, their pelvises flush, their bodies pressed together erotically. He wrapped his arms around her, her head falling back on a moan as her arms came up around him, pulling him impossibly closer to her.
She rocked beneath him, pushing her hips up, her hands stroking his back encouragingly. She lifted her head, biting his shoulder gently then licking a path up his neck until she breathed hotly into his ear. "I love you."
Lex bucked against her, his hips crashing into her, his arms tightening around her. He pushed into her, withdrawing slightly and pushing forward again, the insistent pull of his release throbbing within him.
She writhed frantically, her hips rocking and pushing up against him, meeting his urgent thrusts and demanding more. She panted against his shoulder, her teeth nipping him hungrily, reaching down and digging her nails into the tight curve of his ass relentlessly.
Lex shouted hoarsely, letting his head fall forward against her neck, his teeth sinking into her pulse point, his tongue firm on her damp skin. He took her sweet flesh between his teeth, sucking desperately, his hips continuing to crash into her, his cock moving inside her unevenly, his thrusts quickly becoming frantic.
She cried out, her nails gripping his ass even tighter as she clamped down on his hardness, trying to trap him within her, bringing him to the very brink of pleading for release.
He renewed his assault on her neck, knowing he was marking her and not caring, his hips thrashing wildly, his hands gripping her desperately. He thrust forward, grinding against her forcefully, the base of his cock rubbing against her engorged clit just the way she needed.
She moaned loudly, her hips bucking recklessly, her hands on his ass imprisoning him against him, her inner muscles clenching viciously.
Lex's eyes rolled back into his head, shouting in relief as her entire body tensed beneath him, her broken, incoherent sounds of pleasure swiftly pushing him over the edge.
Then she came under him, his body convulsing, her core clamping down on his cock spasmodically. Her high, keening sounds of release pulsing through him, coalescing with the almost painful throbbing in his balls.
And that was his undoing.
He came with a guttural roar, his head rearing back, his muscles rigid with effort as he met her lust-filled gaze.
His cock throbbed inside her.
Once.
Twice.
Then oblivion washed over him and he pulsed into her powerfully, his hot release crushing and inescapable.
She whimpered underneath him, her arms and legs clinging to him helplessly, her panting breath warm on his shoulder as she placed small kisses on his damp skin.
He pulled out of her, then rolled to the side, taking her with him so they lay facing each other. Reached out a hand and cupped her cheek adoringly. Smiled gently as she purred with satisfaction.
His gut clenched again, his heart suddenly thudding painfully in his chest. He knew he had to say something, had to make her understand how much she meant to him, even if his actions were mostly selfish and immoral.
He reached out placing his fingers under her chin and tilting her head back to look at her. "Open your eyes, baby," he whispered. "I need you to focus on me for a moment. There's something I have to tell you."
Chloe opened her sleepy eyes, smiling at him teasingly. "What is it, Lex? What's so important it can't wait until after I sleep?"
"I love you, Chloe." He said hoarsely, clearing his throat then continuing strongly. "I don't know what will happen from here, or how the choices I make will affect our relationship, but I need you to understand that you'll always be first in my heart, no matter how things may look on the outside."
Chloe reached her hand out, stroking his cheek lovingly. "I know. Me too." She replied softly, her hand falling away and her eyes drifting shut involuntarily as sleep overtook her.
Lex smirked knowingly then pulled her close to him, cradling her sleeping form against his chest and rubbing his cheek on her hair.
He sighed in contentment, stroking his hands along her spine, reveling in the feel of having her close to him again.
And as he started to drift off to sleep, he chuckled ironically.
Because he had caught himself – thanking his last lucky star for the indestructible love of Chloe Sullivan.