Out On The Town – Chapter 18
Chloe turned over and saw the bed was empty. He's already up? The man never sleeps she thought to herself. She tried to remember last night and fell back into bed. "Damn," she scolded herself for falling asleep before they could make love.
"Good morning," Lex chimed as he walked through the door with Julian in his arms. Chloe smiled watching him lay Julian on the bed in between them. She had fully expected that Lex would have been dressed and already doing business on the phone or computer.
"You're not in the office already?"
"Actually, I didn't come into town this weekend on business." He tickled Julian and rubbed his hand down Chloe's arm. "This weekend is a pleasure trip – to see you and to shop."
Chloe turned around to face him. She wrinkled up her face in confusion. "I thought you usually had people come to you." She put her hand on the back of Julian's head to hold it steady as Lex laid him in the pillows and practiced sitting him up. Lex had told her about the small exercises the nanny had suggested for helping Julian mature and build muscle tone.
"Watch him." Lex got up and left the room. Chloe sat with Julian and tickled him; he was starting to gurgle in laughter. Lex stopped in the doorway, unnoticed. He watched as she continued the exercises that he was doing. He smiled and almost laughed about the absurd discussion they had the night before. She had been in love with him from the beginning – all the time that was wasted to get to this moment, and yet it had been worth it. Walking back into the room, he tossed the front page of the paper on Chloe's lap. "Let the inquisition begin."
Chloe read the headline, 'Billionaire's Capacity as a Father Questioned – your editorials in tomorrow's paper.' "Looks like they are ready to pick you apart. Your move?"
He sat down next to her and smiled, pushing the paper out of the way and playing with Julian's toes. "We are going to get some breakfast and go shopping."
Chloe looked at Lex quizzically. The light came on. "You're using this trip as a good PR move. You want to show the doting parent side that your father never did?"
"Very good." He kissed her quickly on the lips and walked to the closet. "Now, pick out something comfortable and yet photogenic and get dressed." He disappeared into the closet and came out a few minutes later. Chloe still sat on the bed with Julian and stared into space. Sitting back down on the bed, he touched her, and she jumped. "What is it?"
"I just realized that we were going out." Lex could see the panic on her face. "We've never been out together like that. What will people think? It'll get back to school before I do. Lana will realize I stayed … here. Lex, she already thinks that I'm pregnant." She watched Lex shake his head in confusion and partial worry.
"What?"
"I kind of got mad and told her the day my article came out that we were a thing and I was pregnant with your second child." Chloe lowered her head as her voice trailed off. "I didn't think she would take me seriously, but she came and asked again yesterday, but I didn't tell her no." Chloe waited for a rebuttal from Lex and was well prepared to be kicked out. She looked up with fear in her eyes. Lex briefly pondered that she may have not been sarcastic, especially from the look on her face.
Wrapping his arm around her and taking a deep breath, he asked quietly, "Are you?"
Chloe looked up at him wondering what he really wanted to hear. She shook and dropped her head. Lex took embraced her once more.
Taking her hand, he pushed her hair back with his other. "Then let people think what they want. Why are you particularly worried about Lana or Clark think anyway?"
"Not so much Clark, you talked to him. But Lana I don't know." She stopped because she had never seen Lex laugh so hard. He got up from the bed, picked up Julian, and continued laughing going out of the room. Chloe was stunned; she wasn't quite sure the reason for the laughing and was a little worried. She could still hear him laughing as he put Julian in his bouncing seat in the living room. Coming back in the room, he still couldn't quit giggling. "Lex, come on – it's not that funny."
Lex walked over to the bed and pushed Chloe into the pillows. Running his hand through her hair, he ran his tongue over her lips and plunged it into her mouth. He felt her writhe underneath him as he ran his hand down her side. Pulling out of the kiss, he gazed at her. Tilting his head, he smirked, "Then we better get busy – we wouldn't want to think you lied to Ms. Lang." He watched as Chloe bit her lip and slapped him in the chest.
"Lex!"
Backing up, he adjusted his quick arousal, knowing there was not time at the moment, and laughed again. "I'm just kidding." He walked to the doorway and turned around. "We'll take care of that when we get back tonight – now get dressed. And don't worry about Lana; I'm not since it's none of her business."
Chloe walked out into the living room to be greeted by Lex, Julian, and several very large men. Lex looked incredible, yet very laid back. Dressed in black slacks and a light blue sweater, he held Julian who he had dressed almost as well as daddy. No doubt the shirt that Julian had on was more than anything that Chloe owned. She looked down at herself. She felt underdressed in her simple blue skirt and matching top.
Lex walked over and kissed her in front of the guards. He looked up as they all turned away. "You look great," he whispered. "Come on." He took her hand and walked out to the elevator. Chloe stood in the between Lex and a very large black man in a back suit. He looked over at her, "Don't worry. They're not following us everywhere, but I can't be too careful. Not with my son and my girlfriend."
Chloe's head popped up, "What?" He didn't respond back but wrapped his free arm around her and kissed her on the top of the head. She stood and thought about that word, girlfriend. She had never been anyone's girlfriend. She felt a smile creep across her face and her head rose in confidence a little higher before the elevator doors opened. Lex grabbed her hand.
"Stay close; the car is right outside, along with the barricades for the public." Chloe shook her head and saw him squeeze Julian up a little tighter. One of the bodyguards opened the door to the car and Lex motioned Chloe in first and handed her Julian. He glanced around at the crowd that had gathered and breathed a sigh of relief that they had at least made it to the car. He sat back in the small limo and watched Chloe buckle Julian in. "I can do that, you know."
"I got it. Can people see in these windows?"
"Not a chance, but that doesn't protect us the rest of the day. They're all going to be judging me, including why I'm with you. They are going to dig up the past and tie you and me together. Nit pick every wrong move today to prove I can't parent. Like the paper said, the editorials take up enough of the paper for them to run a special section." He reached out across the seat and took Chloe's hand. "Promise me you will not worry about what people say."
"I won't," she responded weakly. She felt Lex squeeze her hand as the car came to a stop. "Please say we're eating." Lex shook his head as the car door opened and the large black guard named Bruno helped Chloe out. The whole parenting act was completed in reverse with Bruno escorting the three into the small bistro. Chloe wrapped her arm into Lex's free arm and awed over the small French bakery that was tucked back between two buildings. "How did you find this place?" She looked around as she sat down. There were only four tables in the place.
"They are usually closed on the weekend; it's more a business grab it and go place during the week that happens to be very relaxing and reminiscent of old New Orleans." Chloe didn't even order anything but an old, overweight black woman sat a tray down and unloaded the plates and large cups of coffee in front of them. Chloe's eyes grew at the amount of food on the plate. Lex smiled at her, "you know what they say about never trusting a skinny cook. Trust her. Eat; we have a long day ahead."
They sat and enjoyed breakfast in complete privacy except for the old woman scooting back and forth in the small kitchen. Chloe continued to eat slowly as Lex finished what she supposed was all he was going to eat. She felt like a cow next to him, but he insisted she eat what she wanted while he fed Julian. "Lex, that lady's watching you."
"I know." He winked at her and she understood. Every person that saw him playing the good father was one more person that knew he was trying, or at least putting up a good act. The three finished up breakfast and returned to the car in relative calm. The entire crowd of reporters had not followed them to the restaurant, and Chloe breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where to next?"
"Shopping. He's growing like a weed and frankly my staff that picks out my attire is not quite getting the whole baby clothes thing. I think I'd like some personal input. And of course, then there's my girlfriend, who needs a dress for tonight." Chloe looked at him in shock. He took her hand and cupped her face. "You've been under a lot of stress, and I admit I put you in that position. Therefore, we're going to relax tonight. I arranged for a capable babysitter that's not the nanny, and we are going out. And I'm not telling you where." He leaned over and just barely brushed his lips to hers.
Chloe leaned back in the seat and watched as Lex eyed Julian quickly. Lex knew exactly where they were going and knew he had talked to the driver earlier about the route. Lex leaned over and slid his hand up Chloe's skirt. "Lex, what about Julian?"
"Shh." Moving quietly out of the seat next to Julian, she straddled Lex in his seat. Kissing up her neck, he nuzzled in her ear. "I'm going to make up for last night right now." He slid both hands up her side and caressed her face, pulling her into his hot, wet lips. She felt her tongue drag next to his and bucked at the taste.
He ran his hands down her sides and then cupped her breasts in each hand. He pinched each already hard nipple through the shirt and bra as Chloe undid his pants. She smiled at the extraordinary hardness she already could feel rubbing through his designer slacks. She pulled him out and rubbed her hand gently over his length. He bit his lip in order to hold back the groan.
He started matching her movements to his by rubbing her rhythmically with his thumb. Their movements matched perfectly and still amazingly to both of them, not a sound. He wanted to test her control and pressed one finger up inside her and watched her bite her lip. Kissing her, he felt her let a small groan out into his mouth. Looking over her shoulder, Julian didn't move.
Sliding another finger in, he kept moving them at a more rapid pace as Chloe sped up her stroking of his girth. She leaned over and gasped into Lex's ear, "I'm going to come." He pulled his fingers out of her and pushed her down on top of his hard cock, straining not to make a sound. The two rocked, silently and in rhythm, biting into each other's shoulders to stifle the noise.
The movements came harder and faster as Lex pulled her down on him more viciously. Lex' pants wrapped at his thighs were the only thing keeping the slapping of her ass quiet. She mouthed, "coming," silently and opened her mouth like she was going to scream and nothing came out. Lex drove into her harder through her final pulsations.
Chloe lifted off of him and adjusted her underwear back into place. She looked back at Julian, who had turned but was still asleep. She knelt down in the floorboard and continued to stroke Lex, now wet with her juices. She leaned over him, taking him deep into her mouth. Her eyes glazed over at the taste of her in her own mouth. She looked up and saw Lex gasp in silence as one hand went back to grab the seat and another stroked her head.
She watched as she went down on him in the rhythm that he set by moving her hand. She could feel the final swelling and saw his face loosing control as his body quivered with every stroke. He looked down at her and placed both hands on her head. She nodded, and he released himself into her mouth. She rode out his final pulsation and swallowed him down. He watched her lick up her tiny drips and still silently shuddered. Lex pulled her up and kissed her, tasting himself in her mouth and immediately groaned in pleasure.
Chloe glared at him as he did and looked at Julian stretch. His eyes were open now as Lex finished buckling his pants up. He cleaned himself up with a baby wipe, handed her a water, and kissed her again while pulling a teething ring out of the baby bag for Julian. Sitting back in the seat across from him, Chloe sipped on the water and giggled.
"Now we know who can't be quiet in the bedroom. And you didn't think I could do it; I knew you were testing me and look who failed. Look who broke first, Mr. I'm So in Control." She giggled at her snide remark that got no reaction.
Finally getting a grip on himself, he glared at her. "Look, you are a lot of woman to control. I usually don't have such formidable competition."
"Get used to it; I hope to be your competition, as you say, for a long time to come."
Lex smiled. "I'm sure hoping you will be." Lex spied the location of the car. "We'll be there in a couple of minutes." He sat silently watching Chloe play with Julian and blurted out, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For all of this. For you being here with me, being here with Julian. I don't think you fathom how much you mean to me."
Teasingly, she said, "Tell me."
"I love you Chloe Sullivan." Chloe smiled and took his hand, suddenly hoping he would have slipped Luthor on the end, just on accident maybe. Now that she was comfortable in her situation, she could dream. "We're here."
The Meaning of Value – Chapter 19
Chloe looked out and saw the massive department store and never had seen such a large building just to shop. This was going to be an experience, and that wasn't even counting the press.
Once again, Bruno guided Chloe out of the car followed by Lex. Chloe held Julian to her chest as Bruno pulled out a stroller. She looked at Lex in amusement and confusion. "You're serious? I was thinking that Bruno would just follow you around and carry your stuff, and we would carry Julian." Chloe watched as Bruno expertly set the stroller up.
Lex took Julian from her arms and knelt down to buckle him in. He looked back at Chloe, who was still stunned. Leaning over her shoulder, he pointed out, "People are watching. Besides, I lived holed up in a dark mansion or at a boarding school for all my years – I would like to expose Julian to more than I was."
Chloe nodded and ran her hand along the stroller and matching baby bag. He had billions – he had a child – his child has billions, she thought. "Lex, this is really nice, almost better than my car." Lex smiled at her as he offered her an arm and started pushing Julian to the entrance.
Chloe latched her arm and hand tighter around his, looking at the crowd that was now forming. She glanced up at him, watching his calm, almost emotionless demeanor take over. He followed Bruno through the main entrance and into the store. Lex seemed to know exactly where he was going as he led to a small boutique area in the back of the children's department. A woman behind a small desk greeted him and turned her attention immediately to Julian.
"Mr. Luthor, what are you eyeing for today?" The lady was polite and gentle as she played and cooed at Julian. Chloe noticed the woman was older and obviously experienced with children. Lex knew exactly where he had wanted to go and why. The woman was the epitome of motherhood and style wrapped into one. Chloe sat in one of the oversized leather chairs as the woman led Lex through the few sparse racks in the small area. She turned around and saw that Bruno and his partner were at either end of the small marble hallway cutting off the flow of traffic from the general passerby.
She had never been around so much affluence. The other two couples in the small area were being helped by one or more well dressed older women as well. They all carefully touched each piece or item, feeling of the fabric and asking detailed questions. "Chloe," Lex called from across the small floor, "come here."
She glanced over at Lex motioning her to join them. She suddenly felt strange again, but a new kind of sensation. She felt apprehension. This was definitely not her world, but he wanted her to fit into it. He was including her in decisions that were easily his. She felt warm and yet unsettled as he wrapped his free arm around her. She glanced one more time at the other two couples in the boutique who suddenly stopped and pointed.
"Chloe, so the blue or the purple?" She rolled her eyes in slight irritation, wondering if he expected her to only choose from those. She gazed up at Lex and then at Julian. She rubbed Julian's chin and watched as he drooled on Lex's very expensive, yet modest looking sweater.
Chloe pointed to the same outfit, a velour pant and shirt set, and whispered, "Green."
Lex glanced at Chloe as she bit her lip, picking from neither of his options. She watched the woman pull the small green set off the rack and hold it out for Lex and her to see. Lex eyed the outfit and curled his lip slightly. "Hold them all up."
The woman nodded her head and held up all the colors. Lex eyeballed each as if they were cars. He watched Julian as he reached for one.
"Green it is. I will take a green of each rack." He felt Chloe tug on his arm. Looking down, she looked upset. "What is it?" She tugged on his arm and moved away from the saleswoman slightly.
"This isn't the way to shop. Pick one outfit from here and let's go." Chloe let go his arm and started toward the exit. She turned around and saw Lex bewildered and slightly upset. She wandered past Bruno and Lex motioned him to follow her.
Chloe got several paces in front of him and turned around. "Bruno, stop right there. Do not treat me like a lost child – I am going to the regular priced infants section and look there. If Lex wants to talk to me, I'll be there. Otherwise, I'll get a ride to the dorm and tell him not to expect me tonight." Bruno stood motionless, probably considering his options of either upsetting her or being fired. He nodded his head and went back to the boutique.
"Sir, she's in the infant's section." Lex rolled his eyes in displeasure, knowing that she had sent him back. "What would you like me to do?" Lex signed the small receipt and motioned for the woman to give the packages to his man servant that had recently joined them from the car.
"Go back to the car and wait." The three men looked at him as he strapped Julian back into the stroller. Looking back at them, he snarled, "Go." Lex pushed Julian quickly in the direction of the regular children's clothing. He was irritated at the childish move on her part. He loved her – he wanted her to have everything – but she infuriated him with her stunts of panic she had called them. He looked around and saw her wandering though the racks upon racks of what Lex felt were commoner's clothes. He walked around the corner of a rack and saw her carrying several items.
"Decided to join me?" She flipped through the clothing on the rack and walked away. She glanced back to see that Julian had nodded off. She flipped around momentarily and sneered, "You even put him to sleep in that stale room you called a children's store. Lex, look around you."
Lex glanced uncomfortably at the small group of people, including press that had gathered. "I see people waiting for what appears to be the makings of an argument."
Chloe turned around and faced him, handing the items she had picked out to a young woman who had braved the couple to come help. "Really look. You think Julian is going to grow up with any kind of knowledge of being a real child in the real world by marching you and your staff into a stale room and buying one outfit that looks just like the five I'm getting him for less. And before you tell me no – everything I get is a gift from me to him, not you. So you can hide them away or whatever you want, but I don't want Julian to grow up like that." Chloe walked up to the counter and Lex followed behind her.
"Chloe, I really don't think this is the time or the place to have this discussion."
"I'm not discussing anything with you. I'm telling you – as much I love you, I can't imagine living like this. You have never known me to care about your money or your power, so understand when I try to explain that I think you need to look at some things differently now with Julian and with yourself."
Chloe paid for the items she bought and wrapped the handle of the bag around the stroller handle. She saw Lex pick up his phone and glared at him. "What?"
"You were calling Bruno or someone to fetch the bag – Lex, this is how normal people shop, live, eat. This is me. I'm not going to be one of your busty no nothing girlfriends that spend your money and leave." She took him around the waist and watched as his stern face waited for her to get out her last breath. In the back of his mind, he swore to himself that everything about this weekend was going to change. Maybe he wasn't ready; maybe she was too much for him, he didn't deserve her.
She squeezed his arms and looked up at him and then down at Julian. "Now, I'm going shopping on my terms. I'm a big girl and I can buy my own things and few a little things for him. We are going to FAO and picking out something reasonable that he can actually play with now."
Lex watched as she pushed her purse up on her shoulder and started pushing Julian through the store and out into the mall. He could feel his blood pressure rise from the amount of cameras that were clicking of the spat that will be unmistakably splashed all over the papers. He quickly thought about the number he desperately needed from the penthouse and became more inwardly flustered. Strolling quickly, he followed her out into the very public forum, conscious of the circus that was following the two of them.
Walking up behind Chloe, he leaned over and halfway offered a truce for the meantime, "I'm sorry, but we need to talk." Chloe looked up at him and nodded complacently. They walked into FAO together but separately. He grimaced a smile in her direction when she looked at him and checked on Julian as Chloe perused the aisles. He was thankful for the security at the store so they had a little more privacy but he knew the pictures still were frustratingly apparent that they were not a happy couple.
He picked up Julian out of the stroller and sat him down on the over stuffed plush alligator in the giant play area and watched Chloe. She turned and her face softened as she walked over to them. In a soft tone, she put her hand on his shoulder and let Julian tug on her finger. "This right here is what you should want. Look, he's laughing. It's something soft and playful – he doesn't care if it thirty or thirty thousand dollars. Do you understand?" Chloe sat down on the make shift tree stump seat in the indoor plush playground.
Lex sat down on the stump next to her, still balancing Julian on the back of the alligator. "Look around though. This is my life; this is going to be his life."
"No, you are not the same person here as you are with him in Smallville. You lose your personality here, your compassion. It's like you're afraid for people to see you for who you really are. Are you really convinced that if you show some compassion that people in the business world are going to think you're soft? It's ok to be human. " Chloe pulled his jaw to face her. He bit his lip in frustration over the mixed signals of love and anger at her touch. "I want you to loosen up and be the man, the father, you are to Julian when no one is around. Quit trying to impress everyone and just be a good parent and a good boyfriend. That will make all people respect you more; believe me, they'll still be scared of you."
Lex sat in silence for several long seconds as Chloe leaned over and played with Julian. He hated to admit the obvious, but she was right. And he would lose her now and probably his own son like his father had lost him if belongings and image were his biggest emphasis. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "I'm gong to need a lot more help." Chloe turned and her rosy cheeks were back. She smiled slightly, a promise that things could improve. And without warning or concern, he leaned in and gently kissed her.
She closed her eyes, feeling the kiss was some kind of treaty. She had just won a battle of wits with Lex Luthor, put him in his place, and make him want mercy. Pulling out of the kiss, she smiled again, even wider. "Sit right there." She pulled a small camera out of her purse and lined up a shot. Looking at Lex's strange face, she explained, "I figure we need some personal pictures of the family and not just what we cut out of the newspaper. Say cheese." She could hear the shutters of other cameras behind her as Lex actually braved a smile for the press.
The rest of the day Chloe pushed the stroller through the mall with Lex in stride with her every move. The two stopped for lunch as passers by gawked. Occasionally someone would come up and congratulate Lex on his new fatherhood and dropped tips even if not asked. Several people had made condescending remarks, but he ignored most of them. One toddler had walked away from his mom and played with Julian. The mother apologized profusely, afraid that Lex could come after her for invading his privacy. Chloe intervened saying the two boys were just chatting in their own way.
The afternoon flew by as the three continued through the mall. The media was now getting tired of the show finally as Chloe and Lex had evidently made some amends. The two walked arm in arm taking turns pushing the stroller. Against Chloe's advisement, Lex had most of the items bought run to the car, but Chloe admitted it was a lot to handle. The three returned to the car pleasantly.
"Where to next?" Chloe asked as she buckled Julian into the car seat.
"We have to drop him off at the babysitter." Chloe giggled slightly and Lex looked at her confused.
"Sorry, the word nanny out of your mouth makes sense but you sound funny talking about a babysitter. Where is the sitter?"
"Metropolis Grand."
"The sitter is at a hotel that … you are paying for. I get it." Chloe and Lex both sat and watched Julian in amusement bat at the soft hanging plush toys that attached to the seat.
Chloe followed Lex up to the penthouse suite of the Metropolis Grand and stared at the empty living room. The so-called room was as large as his apartment. Sitting down on the couch, Lex unhooked Julian from the seat and pulled out a bottle.
"Hey, can I?" Chloe sat down on the couch next to him and waited as he placed Julian in her arms and handed her the bottle.
"You ok?" She shook her head but Lex could tell she was nervous. She had played with him most of the time but was now feeding his son like a mom. It didn't seem like such a large step for her, she was bonding with him. Lex's thoughts were in complete disarray. One moment she was having a fight with him in public and then she kissed him in public. Now, she was feeding their son. He glanced over and closed his eyes – my son, he corrected himself mentally.
"Hey, sorry we landed late. Rain." Martha dropped her bag and embraced Lex in a friendly hug followed by Jonathon. She wanted to stipulate that it was no Luthorcorp workers error where Lex didn't jump on any employees.
"We still have plenty of time. Chloe's finishing up his fifth feeding for the day. He may want one or two more before the evening is over. The nightly CD is in the bag along with his changes of clothes. He goes to sleep at eight and will usually sleep until four." He mentally went over any other details in his mind.
"Lex, we have done this before. But I have to say I'm impressed with the knowledge you've gained. You have become quite the parent." Jonathon stated looking at the room around him. "Lex, this place is outstanding."
"I know it's not exactly the thank you gift you were wanting with having to sit for us, but at least everyone will be comfortable." Martha smiled as she headed into the large bedroom.
"Dad, how did you get this –" Clark stopped abruptly and glanced at Lex before his eyes fell on Chloe. She had not looked up but was cooing with Julian, holding him up to her and blowing raspberries on his stomach.
"Clark, nice to know you get to enjoy your time here." Lex extended his hand in a friendly gesture before taking Julian from Chloe. Chloe walked over and smiled at Clark.
"Chloe, what's going on?"
"Ya'll are babysitting." Chloe stated matter-of-factly. Clark stared at her.
"Us? Not me; I thought my parents were babysitting. I'm actually going out with Lana tonight if you're interested in joining us. She got some free tickets for some movie marathon." Clark eyes suddenly lit up at the thought of the three of them back together again.
Chloe glanced over at Lex as he nodded. "Actually, I have plans tonight but thank you for the offer." She nuzzled against Julian one more time in Martha's arms and picked up her purse. "We should be going." She took Lex's arm and started pulling him toward the door. "Come on – he'll be fine."
Clark watched as Chloe rubbed her hand up and down Lex's arm reassuring him that Julian would be fine. "Thanks; I'll be back sometime tomorrow afternoon." He separated from his son, slipping his arm around Chloe's waist and touching her in the small of the back. Clark watched in dismay. Maybe Lana was right about hearing Chloe's statement. Chloe looked up at him and smiled as they left. Clark knew it was wrong but had to know for sure. Watching the door close, he saw Chloe lean against the wall next to the elevator as Lex pressed his body to her and kissed her. It's not a rumor; he just wondered how much of what Lana had heard was the truth.
TBC