Reviews have been fantastic, they make me smile so much when i read them, thank you times a BILLION! :D
I am so very very happy you are liking this. Ahhhhh, love you ALL!
Now, I did say the word 'dance' but that might be interpretted very loosely. Lex doesn't dance, and well, Mr Queen is too busy charming women's panties off (or is that just mine, haha) so... this is more of a business event mascaraded as a charity event. But if you wanted a dancey dance dance, then fear not, the rich and famous are forever going to these social/charity events, there may be one in the future (and she may be going on the arm of another man *hint hint* - I say NOTHING).
Anyhoooo, this chapter should have some more 'excitement' rather than being filler-esque. Hope you enjoy! Reviewers get invisible zero calorie chocolate muffins and banoffee pie (I LOVE banoffee pie!) as well as imaginary kittens and puppies :)
(Bribery? Me? Never...)
Xx
Previously; Chloe went visiting a contact and found out about a clear tie to Vordigan :O We learnt how Bart met our dear heroine. Chloe stole a car. Ollie lost a car. Lex got cancelled on by Lana and gave Chloe the last minute task of accompanying him to a social charity event thing.
Now; All three of Chloe's men in one delicious chapter ;)
Chapter Thirteen; Dance with the Devil
"Tell a lie long enough, you believe it to be truth" – Lincoln Cole (Season Five, Episode Mercy)
Chloe took Lex's offered hand to step from the limousine, his smile as approving of the dress as when she had first stepped into his sight wearing it. The 'assistant' had been next to useless, but at least she brought a good selection with her. The deep crimson wasn't something Chloe would have chosen for herself, but it didn't look half bad when she tried it on, it looked devilish, sexy, powerful. It was in its own way, perfect.
Chloe's hand rested casually on Lex's arm as he walked her past the paparazzi line and into the plaza. There was a secret part of Chloe that loved these function, it loved to dress up, to show off, to capture lustful eyes. Her heels clicked lightly in step with Lex's paces , ever so quiet a sound, but it drew male attention with ease. Chloe followed the eye line of the first group of business men they passed. It started with the heels, rising up the showcased legs, wondering how far the slit in the dress would let them see. The flow then outlined the curve of her ass which captured a lot of eyes, heels did a wonderful thing to a woman's ass, it was empowering really.
Lex paused, passing a casual nod to an acquaintance he knew. The men continued to stare, it didn't matter they had women of their own, it didn't matter she was on the arm of another man. She was something of a sight they didn't wish to lose.
"I trust you will behave yourself." Lex spoke under his breath so only she could hear.
"Always."
"If you find Queen, feel free to spike his drink." Lex's eyes met hers, it was hard to tell if he joked.
"My best behaviour." she promised sickly sweet, her attention drawn back to smile to the intrigued men.
Chloe stopped herself from jumping as Lex's hand caressed her arm, a gesture both commanding and sweet; not a wholly Luthor act.
"Keep your phone close." he warned, more for her to be aware he would be texting when he needed her to intervene, rather than a security reason. Chloe's fingers tightened around the clutch bag and followed Lex's step up to the bar where they'd go their separate ways.
A sly smile took over her lips as she sipped her cocktail, eyes were still on her, examining her like the prize specimen placed before all the cheater, liars and immoral men of the rich world. Their gaze lingered over the dip in the dress' material that formed low between her breasts. With every step men would wish for the material to move aside, to show the true curve of her breasts, it would never happen, but they would never stop praying.
Women were less accepting, the familiar insults slipped from their lips as they always did at these events. Not that she could blame them, their partners were staring at another woman after all, but jealously didn't suit them well.
Two cocktails, three business interceptions and one persuasion to invest in Luthorcorp later, and she was feeling the boredom . But she didn't quite know which was worse, the fact she was annoyed Lex was ignoring her, or that she found herself searching the room for Queen. And like a giant 'Where's Wally?' game, her eyes tracked him down with ease. There he was, talking to some other fancily dressed men discussing something important and chuckling in a manly fashion… but compared to all the other suits in the room, Queen wore it best.
Chloe swirled the champagne she'd lost her taste for and focussed on that something that was extra sweet. Oliver Queen, dressed to the nine's in a tux like he was doing it a favour. The man shouldn't be allowed near women dressed like that; it had serious implications to heart health. Chloe pulled her lip back out from under her bite and scolded the thoughts of said implications.
Whatever pull that man had, whatever magic he held in his posture, his voice, his face… it was powerful. Her mind, like every mind of the women staring at him, ached to know what it felt like to have his arms around them, the touch of his lips to theirs. His reputation alone gave each of them the thought that they could be the next notch in his chipped bedpost. If it wasn't the dream of pleasure, not the allure of the riches, it was the face, the smirk, the tipped smile, the chuckle that lifted hearts to soar.
Chloe focussed on the features; the smile that dropped a little early, the eyes that drifted to other areas of the room, the lids that seemed too heavy to properly open and show the sparkle of his piercing orbs.
He was tired.
He didn't look like he'd be at home in board meetings.
He didn't look like his was enjoying the current conversation as much as his posture said. Was he just another one of the many people wearing a mask tonight? Sure, he'd thrive off the power of being head and CEO, but… he didn't like it.
It was all screaming from his eyes. His eyes screamed other things too, like the glance to the brunette's legs to his left, the flickered of a look to the waitress' chest as she offered to refresh his drink.
As much as Chloe hated to admit it, the man had interested her, she wanted to be seen by him, she wanted to hear his praise, to be noticed, to be swept off her feet.
The vibration of her mobile broke her moment of desire.
'Find me'
Chloe sighed and turned slowly, scanning from the left around to the right. Lex wasn't hard to find. She knew his posture off my heart, knew to look for the shiny bald spot in the room of rich men concerned with plugs rather than greying.
"Ah, my assistant, Miss Maine." Lex introduced her as she came closer. "She'd be more than happy to fill you in with the details of my new energy proposal. Regretfully, I have to shake more hands."
"Luthor's; always busy." She was Cruelle de vil, just without the bad dye job. Chloe smiled and reached out to shake her hand and that of the other business men and women interested in Lex's proposal as Lex made another apology and left the group.
Lucky bastard.
"So, Lex's got some new energy ideas." A fatter man started the conversation again, he smiled as he spoke, light hearted and close to tipsy by the looks of him.
"Oh, when doesn't he?" Cruella spoke again, puffing out a cloud of smoke and wrapping her fur coat closer to her body. "Alright doll, let's hear this new one."
They were shareholders; Chloe presumed, but she pulled out her smile and explained as best as she could Lex's energy plans. She knew more than enough about them, she'd read all of his business proposals inside and out, well, the ones that were legal and on the book anyway.
"Of course, Mr Luthor has plans to revolutionise the way we use energy, potentially removing all negative effects upon the environment and even going so far as to reducing the effects already in place." The audience raised an eyebrow, and Chloe took off with Lex's new solar and hydro plant ideas.
Chloe sighed, finally having a chance to step away from the group that had hounded her with questions. Her eyes found Lex discussing something with two other men, but her phone remained clear.
Time for some air, the perfume of Cruella de vil was choking after a while. Chloe found herself a balcony and leant against the outside wall, cooling off her skin from the heat of alcohol and the body packed room.
It wasn't longer than a second before she had company on the otherwise deserted balcony.
"I was told you were in town." Chloe turned to find a smartly dressed stick thin man leaning against the archway with eyes locked on her. Cautiously, she checked around to avoid eyes before she lifted up the hem of the dress and slunk into the shadows with him. She expected news to travel as soon as she walked into suicide slums, but this was faster than she remembered.
"I won't ask how you got in." she replied. "You here for me?" The man nodded once, the slick black hair pushed back and held with an absurd amount of gel that gave it a water-like shimmer as he moved.
"Quick job. Poker match." he breathed and took the cigarettes out of his jacket pocket, tapping himself one out. "Interested?"
"I'm still Luthor property." she informed him, turning back to the doors again, cautious of being seen talking.
"Sad, but irrelevant." he answered. Chloe took the cigarette from him before he could light up. A grunt left him, but he focussed his attention. "Mr Chan wants the best and he's willing to pay for your services. You have a week before he looks elsewhere." He held out his hand expectantly for the return of his addiction stick. Chloe wanted the money if she was honest, something Lex didn't know about. New account free from the Luthor's all-seeing eyes. A little cash save she could use to get herself started once she'd dealt with Arrow.
"Inform Mr Chan I'll be in touch soon." Chloe handed back the smoke. The man gave her a mocking bow and lit up his cigarette as she walked away back into the light. He envied her ability to walk in both the light and dark so well, she seemed to belong in both. While he… he sighed and turned his back to the party, he was limited to the shadows.
Chloe found Lex again without even trying, in fact he found her.
"You stink." he hissed to her as she hooked onto his arm. "You won't be smoking again." he insisted and she nodded quietly, wondering if he'd push it further, but that wasn't Lex's style. She didn't bother correcting him. A large part of their deal was that Lex was the one and only. He was the only one she would be sleeping with, and he was the only one she'd be working with. If he found out she'd agreed to meet with someone else she'd be in a lot of trouble. But she never could say no to the defiance, it gave her a secret thrill he could never understand. "Go and sort yourself out." he nudged her and she left him where he was.
Time kept trotting on and she became lonelier and more bored. This wasn't her place, she wanted nothing from these people except to never see them again. Her eyes fell to the exit again, her buzz of being here gone completely. How easy it would be to backtrack her steps and leave, walking, a cab… even hitchhiking was an option right now. She just didn't want to be here. Her feet hurt in the heels, she was tired and she wanted her comfy pyjamas and bed.
The all too familiar mental plea came back to her mind 'If only she hadn't made the deal'… if only…
Her eyes found Lex again, his black deceiving aura easy to spot. But even the hellfire's could be warm, if you stayed an arm's length away. Maybe Lex wouldn't chase, maybe she could leave for good… but the cold grip of his hand was strong. She owed a debt, and she would pay. She'd made a deal and she would see it through. To be free. She dreamed the words. To not be tied down, to be eternally without the Luthors. Chloe felt her heart race, her skin bubble with excitement, a crashing heat then followed- would he really let her go?
The heat started to itch and burn under her skin.
Fear.
It was fear that had her.
Her chest felt heavy, the trapped feeling was suffocating; she needed air.
In a rush for life, she targeted the balcony again, the cool air would help. But there, standing on the balcony like a greek god, pensively staring into the gardens below was Queen. She was NOT dealing with him tonight. Lex could fuck off.
She redirected herself to the ladies, cooling herself under the cold water, redoing her make-up composing herself and after 10 minutes later stepped out with a smile and a plan. She'd find a group of men, play innocent, weave a story about how Luthorcorp was superior to Queen Industries, get some rich pockets to switch sides, tell Lex and get him to let her go home due to extreme good behaviour.
The plan went well… for three minutes. She found herself a group of slightly tipsy middle aged men discussing Queen Industries recent developments and she slipped herself in as an ex-employee that had some 'inside' information they wouldn't like to hear. But just as she started spinning her tale an arm hooked around hers, a voice replacing hers as he pulled her away onto the closest balcony.
"Sorry Gentlemen, she's spoken for tonight." Some groaned at the loss of the view, others just chuckled, ignorant to the fact she'd been dragged off, practically kidnapped.
"Who do you think you are?!" she hissed under her breath as she stumbled after the man pulling her arm still.
"I'd like to know who you are." The man replied in a seductive tone, before stopping at the edge of the balcony and turning her to face him. "Because not once have you ever been called Charlotte. Miss Maine."
She smiled, recognising her kidnapper.
Time for some fun?
"And you don't often reply to Jonas, Mr Queen." Okay so maybe that a tad aggressive to start, but he had just ruined her plan to leave.
"Middle name." he simply answered.
"I am aware."
"Whereas you change your name as often as you like."
"How do you know Charlotte's not my middle name too?" she asked with innocence and tugged her arm free, taking herself to the cold breeze of the fresh air on the balcony. Somewhere away from the clouds of perfume and aftershave, somewhere that stank of smoke, but where she could clear her head if Queen got too mesmerising.
"Is it?" he asked, following her quickly, his hand on the small of her back, leading her to the end of the balcony. She didn't answer, just smiled to him and leant herself against the stone banister.
"So, you've claimed me for tonight have you?" she asked playfully. He let her change the conversation, knowing she could easily have walked away instead.
"It seemed the appropriate thing to do." She rose her eyebrows when he didn't continue. "They were looking at you like a feast, I wasn't going to wait for one to take a bite." He smiled and took a small step closer to her. "Not that I can blame them." he added.
She smiled.
"You like?"
"I wonder what is possessing Lex to let you out of his sight like that." he replied instead. She turned her head to look at the grounds, but he could swear he saw her roll her eyes.
"Lex has other things on his mind at the moment." she answered, inspecting a tree with great detail.
"Then he's an idiot." Chloe felt Oliver's breath on her neck, his warmth on her. Slowly she met him face to face, barely a breath between them.
"Is that so?" she asked, not making any retreat. Tonight she was playing with fire, why not tease it too.
"I wouldn't have let you leave my touch if you were on my arm." he spoke quietly. Past him, she watched out of the corner of her eye as the only other people on the balcony stubbed out the cigarettes and went back inside. Aware that they were now alone, she felt an electricity as his hands came to rest either side of her hip on the cold stone banister. "Dressed like that… you wouldn't have made it out of my bedroom."
With a grin she met his eyes.
"You'd have to get me into your bedroom first."
His head tilted in a sexy way that could only tell her she was in trouble somehow.
"I don't think you'd have any want to fight me." Through the material she felt when his hands slid onto her hips, she felt the tingle through her body. Her eyes closed in some secret pleasure. He chuckled. "Just say the word angel."
This was the lure she warned herself about, this was the spider trapping the fly. Chloe assured herself she wouldn't fall for his charm.
"In your dreams cowboy." she replied and watched the fire rise in his eyes as she slapped her hands onto his ass and gave it a valued squeeze. "Just say the word." she repeated in a whisper to his ear. "Sometimes I can be too much to handle." she purred and her hands moved under the bottom of his tux jacket, sliding over the contours hidden by a thin shirt. And oh my, what ropes of muscles they were, the man had a serious love for tummy crunches.
"I thought Lex owned you." The words ran cold through her shaking her with a truth, but she knew he didn't mean it the way it was.
"Lex is… business. I can go with whoever I want."
"As I see." he answered. But he stilled his hands on her body. She did the same, letting him have those few seconds of thought. "Let me take you out." Chloe could have sworn her heart suffered a miniature cardiac arrest. Here she was, practically offering herself to him, and he wanted a date. It felt oddly like rejection to her.
"Why?" she asked, dropping her hands completely.
"Why not? Would it hurt to get to know me?"
"I know you. I know all men, they aren't exactly the more complex of the sexes." She scoffed and pushed him off her. Her mind offered up her warning from before in a taunting way, as she so cleverly put, the man had an effect on hearts and she'd just let him beat hers with one move.
Oliver let her push off, but she didn't leave, only moved a few centimetres away.
"And I'm the same as all men am I?" he asked, keeping his anger tied down.
"You want me. Every man in there married or single wanted me. I put on confidence I show them legs and breasts and they fall at my feet. It's not hard."
"And how quickly do they leave in the morning?" he asked bitterly. She snapped her head to him, then quickly back to the gardens below. "You know how to get sex. You've probably never been able to keep a man for more than a week." Chloe felt the anger boil, she felt the rage, she felt the sting of tears forming in her eyes. Bastard! He didn't know half of what she'd been through. How could she be so stupid to let Queen so close?! It was like all her years of barriers had been knocked flat.
With a shove, she pushed herself towards the balcony door, but again she was snagged and brought back to his arms. "No you don't. You don't get to run away from me." he told her firmly and set her back where she'd been before, a hand either side of her to keep her locked. "Curse me however you like, but I don't want to be through with you after a week. I don't just want one night and I don't want to rush into something you've done so well with men before."
"Calling me a slut now?" she hissed, the anger shoving down the tears.
"No. I'm saying you've had shit luck with guys, but I'm where it turns around. We're going to go out, on a date, and you're going to get to know me. I'm going to get to know you and then I'll call you and we'll do it again."
"If I don't want to?" she questioned.
"Three dates, then you can leave and forget about me. If you feel nothing for me after three dates you can consider me a memory and nothing more."
"Three dates?" she repeated, testing it in her mind. The anger already fading. At least her heart's beating hadn't ruined all of her chances of ruining Queen's life. A sadistic smile toyed with her lips.
"Just three. I'm paying. If nothing else you get some free food and sparkling conversation." His humorous smile returned and she couldn't help but smile again.
"Three dates Mr Queen." she confirmed already forming her plan of sabotage.
"Now that's sorted, I think I should get your name. Don't you?"
They both turned to the sound of the balcony door opening and a waiter stepped through, looking at Chloe.
"Miss. Mr Luthor is requesting your presence."
Chloe nodded, but he still remained, waiting to escort her back. Slyly, she slipped her hand into her clutch taking out a card with her number on, the number for the mobile even Lex didn't know about, the one she used for crooked business clients.
"It was nice to meet you Mr Queen." she spoke aloud, shaking his hand and transferring the card. Oliver inclined his head, watching her walk away on the arm of the waiter. His fingers flipped the card as they left. No name, no details. Nothing but a number written in an italic hand, the 5's looked like S's and the 2's looked like L's, but he smiled and slipped it into his inner jacket pocket.
"Where have you been?" Lex asked in a whisper over his champagne flute as he grabbed her arm.
"Mingling. I met a few business men." she replied, taking herself a drink from a walking waitress as she passed, though it should probably be her last of the evening considering the buzz in her brain.
"Did you now." he sneered. "I thought you didn't want to come."
"I got bored." Silence was her reply.
Chloe dutifully followed Lex's lead around the room being introduced as his assistant, boosting Lex's image as he spoke about more ideas for the business. A few 20 handshakes later they found a pause of silence. Lex turned back to her.
"Did you introduce yourself to Queen?" he asked, feigning lack of interest.
"In a way." she spoke. "We bumped into each other."
"And?"
"And nothing." she answered.
"Queen met you in that dress and nothing happened." Lex huffed a laugh.
"Oh, no. He hit on me if that's what you mean. But so did every other man in this place." she smiled. Lex did not take it as comically.
"And the Green Arrow." he added in a cold whisper. "How's the progress going?"
"Slowly."
"And there's nothing you could be doing to speed it up?" he enquired, heavy with the implication.
"Of course." she answered, purposefully ignoring the hint.
"Then shouldn't you be doing it." he hinted hard. "Now." His eyes stared down at her. "I thought you wanted your freedom Chloe."
The reminder hit home and she finished what remained of her drink quickly.
"I won't bother waiting up. Right?" she asked. He didn't reply, just found another business man. Chloe sighed and made her way back to the cloakroom and to find her driver.
Only she found someone else.
"Lex pulling the plug on your night?"
"Good night Mr Queen." she dismissed him without even turning back.
"I still need your name." he reminded her.
"Maybe by the third date I'll have told you." she replied with a grin over her shoulder.
"Tomorrow." he stated. "I'm taking you out tomorrow."
"I'm busy." she naturally replied, not actually knowing.
"Then the day after."
"I'm bu-"
"Sure. But I will get my three dates, and I will call you every single day until you can agree to a time, so learn to clear your schedule angel."
"I-" She turned to him to verbally insult him, instead she found herself pulled in to be lip locked. He was warm and clearly had kissed some sex guru or something because she felt her insides turn and heat, her body seemed to want to fall to him and to wrap herself closer. Thankfully, he ended the kiss before she lost the fight with her consciousness.
"Just a taster angel." And with a wink he went back inside and as perfectly timed as these things were, her driver pulled up and opened her door to take her back to the Luthor's castle. But her suddenly picked up mood was wiped clean as she saw Lex peering down at her from the balcony. He could never just leave her be. The kiss wouldn't have been seen, no, that was out of eye sight, but the possessive way he stalked her movements from above wiped everything the kiss had given her straight from her mood. With a muttered grumble she lowered herself into the car, slamming the door closed.
Chloe removed the heels as soon as she was inside the Luthor mansion, her feet fell in tiny thumps of hot anger. Her life had suddenly become more difficult, she was juggling a whole load of Lex, some Green Arrow nonsense and now a great big pile of Oliver Queen. She stormed her way through the empty, thundered up the stairs and set her fingers on stripping the dress from her. It was a hot night, her blood was boiling with anger and she just wanted to relax.
Chloe stopped her momentum, pausing where she stood, dress still mostly clung to her. Lex would be another few hours at least… there was no-one else around. Sure, it half crossed her mind to fiddle with the video footage and start another snoop. But she couldn't care less about doing work right now. She'd been working for Lex the entire time since she'd been here. It was Chloe-time.
Chloe turned on the spot and marched back down the stairs and continued her strip as she went. She stopped only when she reached the blue glow of the water, letting the dress drop around her feet as she stared at the pool. The strapless bra and panties were just as good as the bikini she didn't have the energy to change into. Chloe stepped closer, leaving the dress and its memories of the night behind. Taking no time to dwell on the temperature of the water she threw herself into it, finding it pleasingly not too cold.
The skies were dark, the night had taken over again and was in full swing, but the air was heavy, the clouds were adding to the darkness in the night.
It was going to rain, she thought.
And true enough, as Chloe tired herself of laps and rested against the side of the pool she noticed the skies open and pour down their stored tears. She tipped her head back, letting it fall on her face. It was cold, harsh, unforgiving… she didn't care.
"Shouldn't you be inside?" Her eyes flashed alive, she knew who that voice belonged to, and it wasn't Lex.
"Shouldn't you be skinning children for pleasure?" she hissed, not in the mood to deal with him. She refused to even turn to acknowledge him, it didn't matter, he moved himself into her view anyway.
"Ah yes. The latest addition in the web of lies Lex keeps spinning you." he spoke. His voice was grumpy, but strangely jesting. At least someone had a good night. "You never did answer my question about the scars." he probed.
"And you never did answer my question about your name." she seethed and rolled herself in the water, putting her back to him as she swam to the other side.
"You realise it's raining?" At least he hadn't pushed for an answer.
"You realise your trespassing?" she fired back. "On ground covered with guards with guns who have the order to shoot you on sight." she added in a second breath, tilting her head towards him questioning his sanity.
"I had to clear the record."
"Yes, yes, you didn't do those terrible things. Lex planted them." The words sped out uncaring of their meaning. "Look Green and Mean, I've got things to do, your plea of not guilty is falling to deaf ears."
Chloe heard the angry breath slip from his lips. She shrugged it off and pulled herself out of the water. Arrow was quick grabbing her arm tightly, forcing her eyes to him.
"Then listen up Blondie. Whatever part of your humanity hasn't been stolen by the Luthors yet, you tell it to listen to me. You know I didn't do those things and you know what you're doing is wrong."
"Yet I'm still going to do it." she snapped back at him. He paused his assault and dropped her arm.
"You don't care do you?" He even seemed shocked.
"I made a deal, I'll see it through. You're no Mother Teresa, there's a part of you that deserves locking up."
"Could say the same about you." The silence hung around for a few seconds then faded with her voice.
"Goodnight Arrow. You've got about a minute before I go inside and signal an alarm." Arrow smiled, knocking her off her feet a little. "What?" she demanded.
"You do care."
"Whatever you like to think Robin Hood."
"What are you doing with Queen?" That was completely out of the blue.
"What?" Chloe raked her eyes over the features she could see.
"You were with him tonight."
"I was with a lot of men tonight." she bluntly spoke without a care.
"You didn't end up lip locked with other men." And the confused piece fell into place.
"Jealous Mr Green?" she laughed.
"Ever thought of just having one man in your life instead of three?"
"Whoever said it was only three?" she jested again, her mood picking up. The rain started to hammer down, her skin was chilled, a cold settling over her.
"Go inside. You'll get ill dressed like that." he ordered.
"You don't like? And here I was thinking you had plans to make me yours." Arrow grunted under his breath, something carnal and lustful.
"I. Don't. Share." he breathed out heavily.
"Shame." she whispered with a smirk and turned back to the doors.
"I'll be back tomorrow. We'll talk." Chloe's instinctive response was to tell him she wouldn't be there… but… he'd find out for himself.
"Tomorrow." she agreed, stepping back inside. "Night Arrow." Her voice called over her shoulder and she disappeared from Arrow's sight.
Chloe barely managed a few steps into her room before she sneezed. If she'd got a cold tomorrow she was infecting Arrow, somehow she felt it logical to blame him.
Lex wasn't long to come home, she heard the front door shut and her lack of sleep instructed her to visit him and give him the good news about her new connection with Queen. But as she followed the corridor she became more aware of the feint sounds of music. From under Lex's study, a soft light danced with a sombre piece of music. The need to share faded, replaced by a hauntingly beautiful trance drawing her closer. The satin of her nightgown brushed her thighs as she moved, the dressing gown too long for her trailed behind as she descended the stairs closer to the source of sadness. Even with the door closed she had a knowledge of what she would see; Lex, at the piano, fingers flowing along keys.
She wasn't wrong, she silently made her way in, taking in the sight. Lex's suit jacket was across the back of the sofa, bourbon on the table beside the piano.
Chloe watched the muscles in his back move under the crisp white shirt.
She padded her way to the piano, she knew the piece well, it was difficult, but Lex didn't drop a single note. She could probably recall the name of it if she tried, but it had been years since she had last heard it. Years since she'd played it too, she watched Lex sit there without music sheet, playing it from memory.
There was something warm in Lex, he had a musical talent that could make you forget all reasons of why to be mad at him, instead there came sympathy, something was troubling him. Lex laid his eyes on her, they were tired, hurt, desperate in some ways. Lex, without his defences. But he didn't stop playing, didn't order her out, he was too soothed by the music.
Wordlessly, she came closer, losing the dressing gown and smoothing out the satin before taking her seat beside him on the leather. Chloe stretched out her fingers, found her count and started playing the accompanying part. It was easier, softer, sweeter, it gave the music an edge of tranquillity, an area of calm in the sadness.
She guessed she was like Lex in some ways after all, the music spoke to her as well, she felt at peace beside the piano. Her mind, her troubles, everything became irrelevant with the music. Life was easy when it was a bunch of notes that told your life story. The speed picked up as the songs mood rose and she dutifully kept pace with Lex. The music slowly climaxed, taking her emotions with it.
Lionel had once told her the story behind this piece, two lovers, torn apart by circumstance. But wasn't every tragedy along those lines? But this one was something more special. In her youth she had just labelled it as sad and moved on, it was deeper now. Now she had a place in someone's life. A lover of her own to think abo- her mind woke from the music, her fingers stumbling over the keys and halting on the piano. It seemed music wasn't the answer to all her problems. She cursed herself, as soon as her mind had free roam and got onto the topic of love and lust three heads appeared. Lex, Arrow and Oliver. She was in over her head. Maybe Arrow was right, she had too many men in her life.
Lex's playing ceased and his eyes searched hers. Of course it was Lex she was thinking of, she forced herself to answer. Lex was the only constant in her life. He saved her from his own father for God's sake. He'd always been here. He was… Chloe felt unable to find any word to describe her connection to Lex. Instead of trying she turned to the man, intending to ask of his night, what had caused his troubles? But Lex's eyes were deep with something more than trickery and deceit… he looked sad. His hand raised from the keys and touched her face, gentle, almost a ghost. Did he fear rejection like his touch spoke of? Chloe nudged herself into his hand, her eyes closed and she finally could breathe as his fingers raised a trail of an electric fire in their wake. His hands became more confident after a heartbeat of touch, they slithered to her neck and pulled her to crash against him, taking her lips as her eyes flashed open in surprise.
Chloe felt her insides spike with the question of if this was right or wrong. But who was causing all these questions, this was just sex. Lex clearly needed some physical comfort, and Chloe wouldn't turn down the touch of a man who cared for her like he did. Arrow belonged in the shadows, he could never offer her anything more than a rough fuck. Queen lived in the light, he wanted to love her. Lex… Lex was somewhere between, like herself. He was love when she wanted it, sex when she needed it and everything else in between.
Chloe closed her eyes and put her desire back into the returning kiss. Arrow was a job, Queen was a job, Lex was reality, he was safety, he was her calm in the storm. Chloe's hands fumbled across Lex's shirt, his own hands busy on her thighs pulling her closer.
The piano's keys sounded at random, a foot in the wrong place, a desperate hand looking for a place to grip, a belt dropped at the wrong time. Echoes of pleasure accompanied the clusters of notes; the music of raw passion and need.
It must have been the food, she concluded as she knelt next to the toilet, her stomach swimming as she begged the gods yet again to stop the ache. Maybe it was the alcohol… she didn't usually get this bad. But events were never usually that stressful…
Her head wasn't that bad… then again it never was.
Another wave of nausea hit her and she leaned closer again. Her stomach pulled tighter, the contents of last night making another appearance from her throat.
Her eyes watered under the strain, her throat scratched and burned again. If Arrow was right, if she'd caught some violent bug from standing outside with him she was going to kill him.
"Always a lady." Chloe felt like throwing something at the pretentious voice coming from her doorway. A quick glance around had nothing solid around her, so she lost the idea.
"Go away." she groaned.
"Are you pregnant?" Lex's voice followed, the cold question emotionless. Chloe narrowed her eyes at porcelain throne and she turned back to see the accuser.
Last night was nothing, her mind echoed.
"No." she hissed, trying to stop the wave of sickness that threatened to hit.
"You'll take a test."
"I said no." Her dark mood seemed to be making an appearance all day.
"You'll still take it."
Chloe turned away from Lex's dark posture and held back the violent retort. "If it's positive you'll abort." Chloe already knew the response that came.
"I know." She weakly answered when his presence didn't fade.
"We have an agree-"
"I KNOW!" she snapped at him, her eyes glaring sharply with hatred at his. Her gaze stayed locked on his challenging another word to leave his mouth. With nothing more than a snap of his own eyes, he turned and left her to be. A parting word left his lips but her gag reflex was overcome yet again and his words were drowned out by the curse of last night coming back to her violent and annoyingly harsh.
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I wouldn't?! ... Would I?!
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