Disclaimer: see Chapter 1
A/N: This is the end.
CHAPTER 18: Hook, Line and Sinker
Lex´s study- Luthor Mansion
Lex opened the oaken double doors of his study and Chloe followed him in. Her legs were so shaky that she was afraid they would give way any minute, but she didn´t feel like having Lex looming while she was sitting. Better wait to see how he was planning on conducting their chat before giving him the upper hand. She definitely wanted to be at eye level when he told her what he had on his mind.
Lex chose to remain standing on the Aubusson rug and Chloe followed his lead. No words were spoken for a few minutes while he loosened his silver tie and undid the first few buttons of his immaculate shirt.
¨So, Lex, am I expected to watch in silence while you strip for me or do you have something else on your mind? ¨ she quipped.
¨Impatient, are we? ¨he smirked. ¨ Would you like me to pour you a glass of juice? Or would you rather have a coffee? ¨
¨I´m no longer a teenager, Lex. Have you got another bottle of Bollinger in that fridge of yours? ¨
¨I wouldn´t like you to end up with a hangover, Chloe. ¨
¨Afraid I might embarrass you, Lex? ¨
¨There´s no one here but you and me, Chloe. ¨
¨Does that mean that you´re beyond embarrassment or that you´d welcome any advance on my part? ¨
¨I thought my little scene in the reception room have proven my point, ¨ he raised an eyebrow.
¨I wouldn´t know for sure. You´re constantly sending me mixed signals, Lex, and I´m done with your games. I know what I want; I´ve known it for a long time. Tell me without mincing your words what it is that you want. ¨
¨I want what you want, ¨he said passionately.
¨Not that I´m not glad, but... what´s made you change your mind? ¨
¨My mum. ¨
¨Your mum? ¨
¨I had a dream two Christmases ago while I was in a coma. She showed me what my life could be like if only I made the right choices. I didn´t listen to her and everything I´ve done since then has sped up my descent into darkness. You were right about 33.1, Chloe. It does exist. Believe me when I tell you that it all started as a project to protect society from the most dangerous meteor freaks; but my obsession with Clark, the rocks and the Kawatche Caves has many a time overruled my common sense. ¨
¨Bart was right, then. You´re experimenting on people, Lex. ¨
¨Was, Chloe. The 33.1 facilities that are scattered around the world are being dismantled as we speak. ¨
¨What are you doing with the subjects of your research, Lex? ¨
¨The most dangerous, the ones who have committed crimes, will be turned over to the authorities. The rest will be offered free-of-charge medical assistance in the health care facility chosen by their next-of-kin. I´ve thought of creating a Meteor Victims´ Foundation with Lexcorp funds. What would you think of administering them? ¨
¨I´d be honoured. I have to say this is a giant step in the right direction, Lex. ¨
¨I knew you´d approve, ¨he said, uncorking the bottle of champagne.
¨OK. So far you´ve talked about making amends with other people- which I believe is great- but what´s there for me in this, apart from a job doing charity work? ¨
¨I´m coming to that, Sullivan. Just bear with me, will you? ¨ he smirked, pouring her a glass of the sparkling beverage.
¨I´ve seen you, Lex. What have you slipped into my drink? Are you planning on drugging an innocent damsel to have your way with her? ¨
¨Innocent damsel, Miss Sullivan? ¨he cocked an eyebrow.
¨Do you want me to have second thoughts about letting you prove your theory, Lex? ¨
¨I already know how things stand, Chloe. ¨
¨You must think I´m pathetic, right? Even Lana and our sanctimonious best friend have more experience than I do. ¨
¨You have nothing to be ashamed of, Chloe; if anything, it makes me treasure you even more. You must think I´m full of myself for saying what I´m about to say... That you´ve decided to wait until the right one came along speaks of how highly you think of a commitment between a man and a woman. ¨
¨Are you implying you don´t take such commitments seriously? ¨
¨On the contrary, I wish I had been wiser in my choice of female company. Still, I think you´ll welcome my worldly experience, ¨he smiled wryly.
¨You´re full of yourself, Luthor, ¨ she blushed when her hand brushed his on taking the glass.
¨Careful. Don´t choke, ¨he smirked, watching her take a sip.
¨What the hell! ¨she exclaimed, taking something out of her mouth. ¨Couldn´t you do things the proper way, Lex? ¨she added, looking at the engagement ring on her palm.
¨Nothing about our relationship has been typical. ¨
¨It´s been prim and proper. So far, I´ve only had a kiss from the groom and I had to make the first move. ¨
¨Are you complaining, Sullivan? Because if you are, I´m ready to comply with your wishes and several of my own, ¨he murmured seductively, taking the glass from her hand and leaving it on the coffee table.
¨Not before you out that engagement ring round my finger, Luthor, or I´ll scream blue murder. ¨
¨Come here, ¨he said, taking the exquisite jewel and sliding it on her wedding finger. ¨Can I kiss the bride, now? ¨
¨Fiancée, Lex. It´s fiancée.¨
¨Semantics, Chloe, ¨he whispered next to her lips.
¨Wait! ¨she stopped him with a hand on his chest. ¨You haven´t got a ring on your finger. ¨
¨We can solve that later, Chloe, ¨he said impatiently. ¨You´ve got me hook, line and sinker, love. Now... will you stop squirming and let me kiss that tempting mouth of yours? ¨
¨The guests must be wondering what we´re doing that´s taking us so long, Lex. ¨
¨Far be it from me to disappoint them, ¨he said, bringing their bodies flush and making slow love to her mouth.
¨God, guys! Get yourselves a room! ¨exclaimed Lois from the threshold.
¨Miss Lane, ¨hissed Lex, ¨shall I remind you that I´m in my house and that there´s something called a door? ¨
¨Sorry, Lex, ¨said a red-faced Clark apologetically, ¨I sincerely tried to stop her but... ¨
¨Yes, I know the feeling, ¨ responded Lex with a sigh, locking eyes with Chloe.
¨Hey, Smallville, don´t put all the blame on me! You wanted to know what these two had finally decided as much as I did, ¨shouted Lois, nudging Clark in the ribs. ¨So... what have you got to say for yourselves, then? ¨ she asked, looking at Chloe and Lex.
¨We were dealing with the small print when you barged in, Miss Lane. So, if you don´t mind, ... ¨ responded Lex gravely.
¨Shut the door when you leave, Lo´, ¨ added Chloe, tightening her hold on Lex.
¨Come on, Lois, ¨warned Clark, grabbing her by the sleeve and dragging her to the door.
¨Wait, Smallville! What shall we tell the guests? ¨
¨Tell them the negotiations are well underway, ¨stated Lex, boring his stormy blue-grey eyes in the blond reporter. ¨Now... where were we? ¨he asked, after Clark shut the double doors firmly behind them.
¨I told you, Green Arrow, ¨Lois´ muffled voice was heard from behind the door, ¨ Miss Pompom doesn´t hold a candle to my cuz´. ¨
¨Green Arrow? ¨asked a puzzled Lex, stopping midway.
¨I´ll explain it to you later, Lex, ¨murmured Chloe, bringing his head down to meet his lips in a passionate kiss.
¨ Lois! ¨hissed Clark in the corridor. ¨What the hell are you doing? ¨
¨What do you think, Smallville? ¨she chuckled. ¨You owe me big. ¨
¨Owe you? ¨
¨You´re no longer in Chloe´s bad books, are you? ¨she said seductively. ¨So how about replaying that little closet scene? ¨
¨Looois... ¨he warned her.
¨I´ll spill the beans, Clark, ¨she said, followed by a crash.
¨What the hell is going on in that corridor? ¨asked Lex exasperatedly.
¨Another guy trying to fight what´s written in the stars, Lex. One of these days you´ll have to share your pearls of wisdom with Clark, ¨explained Chloe with a beaming smile.
¨I hope he realises what he´s got before they finish my art collection. ¨
¨Knowing those two, I think you´ll have to take a new insurance policy. ¨
¨I gotcha, Smallville, ¨squealed Lois.
¨Damn! ¨shouted Clark.
So... loved it? Hated it? Give me your final feedback, please.
If everything goes as planned, I´ll be posting the first instalment of my new romance, ¨Shadows from the Past¨, next week.